Chad and Haley One on One

In the aftermath of the 2024 election, America is even more divided than before. Half the country fears the end of democracy, and the other half welcomes it. As America inches toward the brink of authoritarian rule. Now more than ever, we must force ourselves to have the necessary conversation. Welcome to the necessary conversation. I'm Chad Coulter. me today is my sister Haley and no one else. My parents are um indisposed, shall we say. My mom had to destroy their dog that they've had for 12 years or so this week. >> 14 >> 14 years. >> She had to do that a couple of days ago. Kitty now dances with the angels. Kitty cat sugar bear. >> God rest her immortal soul. But my mom is not doing well with it. So, she's taking this weekend off and my dad has fallen down, but he he was able to get back up with some aid, I suppose. So, he's resting as well. They're both in bad shape, both emotionally and physically, banged up. And so, it's just going to be me and Haley this week, which I think is going to be an interesting episode. I went back and listened to your very first episode in preparation for this, which was aired on August 29th, 2022. Mhm. >> Three years ago. Over three years ago at this point. >> I don't remember what I said. >> Uh well, it was basically I encourage everybody to go back and listen to the first three episodes of this podcast, by the way, that are only audio. It they are individual interviews with my mom, my dad, and Haley. And it kind of all three of them talk about early political leanings, why we feel the way we do, why we think the way we do, and what we kind of think about each other. And it what it really kind of like laid out for me is it gave you and me an interesting opportunity to talk about our relationship with mom and dad without them right there in our face yelling at us. So hopefully we're going to get to a little bit of that today as well. But I wanted to start off this show by asking you how do you think the show is going? How has it affected your life in the past three years to do this? Um [Music] uh I I do I do think it has had a positive effect on like I talk to mom every day. >> Mhm. >> I talk to mom almost every day. >> Yeah. Same. I'm in that same group chat. I mean, >> no, I like I call her every day. >> Wait, I Okay, hang on a minute. For those who don't know, our mom has now taken to sending us these rambling voice notes that get translated into text that are I don't even know how I mean there are 500 words a piece. >> It's just 10 of them a day. It's like I'm going to the barn with shiny. Oh my god, I can't what's going on. It's it's wild. I read every word of them. >> But beyond those messages, you're also calling her and talking to her. >> Yeah. >> Okay. I I talk to I maybe not every day, but certainly like three times a week. >> Jesus. I talk to her about every other week maybe on the phone >> cuz we do this. We talk to her here as well. >> Yeah. But like there's a lot of [ __ ] going on with dad, a lot of [ __ ] going on with Kitty and like she's got all the barn drama. So I and I have my own [ __ ] going on. So I talk to her at least >> I would say at least two or three times a week. >> Okay. And that wasn't the case prior to us doing the show. >> No, we were not talking like at all. I had no idea what was going on with them period. >> Mhm. >> So yeah, it's changed that. Um I don't know. And dad's not like when I went to help them with his hip and all that [ __ ] like he was not an [ __ ] to me. There wasn't I don't know. I didn't feel the rage. Um, but when we get on the pod, like it all suddenly comes back like, "Oh, there you are. There he is. >> There's daddy. >> There's mad." So, I don't know. It's I I I think we've benefited from it. >> Okay. What do people in your life think about this show? >> Um, so there are a few people who are close to me that I am with every day. Um, >> this is your husband and children. >> No. Uh, >> [ __ ] them. >> No, they they understand. It's my family. They're my parents. >> They're the kids' grandparents. Um, they get mad, you know, at some of the [ __ ] that they say. And it's I think hard for them to take in, but ultimately, you know, they are our family and so they get it. They know why we're doing this. Uh people that I am friends with outside of my family, they kind of think I'm insane, but they get it because again, like it's my mom and dad. Some of them have had like similar experiences, you know, with um like really abusive parents that they have had to cut off and >> yeah, >> you know, so they they get where I'm coming from. I I think no one in my friend circle would probably still be talking to their parents if this was the case. >> For sure. >> So, they think I'm crazy a little bit for doing it. Um, customers that come into the baker are like, "Man, >> I listen to the pod and I just I don't know how you do it." They're like, "I had I had to stop listening." Or like, you know, my parents are that way and I cut them off. So, I hear from literal like people I don't even [ __ ] know coming into the bakery and like, "Oh [ __ ] heard that last pod. Don't know how you do it. How do you not cry yourself to sleep every night?" I'm like, "Uh, I'm just [ __ ] used to it." Do you think you're getting like recognized around your town more now with the podcast than you were prior or is it about the same? >> Yes. Yes. Today at the [ __ ] grocery store, they're like, I bought a shirt, love the pod. It used to just be like, you know, I love your baked goods. Now it's like those [ __ ] parents though, you know. >> Yeah. I was in Chipotle the other day. It happened to me. >> Yeah. Yeah. It it resonates. I think like a lot of people are experiencing same [ __ ] So, >> I don't know. Makes them feel less alone, I guess. >> Is there any part of you that has regret at doing this? >> No. >> Or that you are like, I don't want to do this anymore. >> No, >> I agree. Same. Um, okay. Those were all my questions kind of about the show itself, how it's affecting your life or or let me ask you one more question actually. Do you think there's anything we should be doing on the show that we're not? uh in feedback from people who listen to the show, they do like when we talk about our family more and not politics all the time. >> Yeah. >> Um but the nature of the show, you know, is to hash out our political differences and try to like I think >> pull mom out of the dark side. So it's that is that is ingrained in like what this show is. But maybe we do an episode from time to time where it's just like us being a family talking about normal [ __ ] Here's the thing about that. We've done anytime we start veering into like certain family [ __ ] mom and dad get >> defensive. >> Yes. You know, it's very difficult to actually talk about real family [ __ ] You you remember the thing with uh we I forget who it was or how it came up, but we talked about somebody that was a cousin of ours and it blew up into a little family drama and mom and dad got pissed and I had to that was the only time I ever edited something out of an episode and it had nothing to do with a political view. It was just like I don't want that [ __ ] in our [ __ ] podcast. All right. >> It's it's kind of like uh a little bit of covert narcissism, you know, like we got a little >> covert. >> Holy [ __ ] Okay. you know, they can't h I don't know cuz like every not every but a lot of childhood memories, you know, revolve around something that was kind of like traumatic, you know, that caused trauma for us. >> Of course. Of course. >> So, like in bringing up anecdotes, you know, there's it kind of always circles back to, well, mom and dad did some crazy [ __ ] when we were kids that I thought was normal that wasn't. >> Totally thought that was normal. Or even like I laugh at some of the [ __ ] now. I remember I used to do this other podcast called Dudesy and I remember telling a story on Dudesy of when dad used to come in I would be like taking a bath as a little kid six or seven years old and he'd come in and pour beer on my head >> and I told that as like ah isn't that funny and my co-host on that show Will was like >> I'm sorry dude you were abused and I was like what that was hilarious you know so my memory of these things even is like skewed to be like dad was a jokester >> that was the The way I remember that was that he read somewhere or like his great grandma or some [ __ ] used to wash his hair with beer when he was a kid. >> Sure. >> And so that's how that came about. He's washing our hair with beer. >> I don't know. >> I guess I just remember him pouring beers on my head when I was in the tub. Like, well, I guess this is normal. >> But uh yeah, I remember definitely there were a few times as a kid. Um, one very specifically, I was at a friend's house >> who I now still play Dungeons and Dragons with on Zoom uh every every Saturday and we broke this vase in his upstairs um >> uh living room. We were [ __ ] around throwing pillows or something at each other just like teenage boy [ __ ] and we broke this vase and his mom wasn't home but his dad was and I was just like, "Oh, his dad's going to kick the [ __ ] out of us now. That's how that's going to go." And his dad was like, "What did you guys do? Oh my god, clean this up. I'll go to the store and get a new one and we'll have this fixed before your mom gets home. And I was just like, huh? >> Yeah. >> What? And that was my first kind of like, oh [ __ ] maybe what we do at home isn't really what other families do at home. >> No. >> Yeah. >> I mean, it was like, dude, does he pour beer on your head? No, I I did not say that. But >> no, that was our Yeah. I mean, that was us growing up. Like, uh, >> what do you mean your dad doesn't make you? So, like I would go to high school early in the morning, practice softball, you know, take a shower, go to school, do the whole thing. Then I would have like after school practice, sometimes two a days or whatever. I wouldn't get home until like 6:30. I would have to then get in the car with dad, drive 45 minutes down the road to then practice softball again for another like 2 and 1/2 hours. That was my life. And I was like, same. >> That's normal, right? Like the reason we are workh horses now is because we were raised to be them then. >> And of course a a very large part of me is grateful for it. But like looking back and you know how sports was with us and dad >> it was like gladiator school. I mean nuts. Yeah. >> Um none of that was [ __ ] normal. Uh but like and it's [ __ ] sick but like it made me it made me an overachiever. made me >> 100% >> who I am. And so it's like without that, would I be here? Would I be successful now? I don't know. >> I think about this all the time because it was like for sure we were abused. >> Mhm. >> And and I guess like on a per person level, it's like what do you do with that? How do you reconcile that as an adult when you have enough like wherewithal and kind of distance from it to look back at it? And I'm not saying it was good, but I'm saying our reaction to it was because I think if there's any >> it wasn't like malicious. I don't think the abuse. I think it was like a byproduct of >> him being raised in an environment where he didn't understand how to show love because it was never shown to him. And so for him, that expression of loving his children was like being involved in every second of their lives. And [ __ ] for him, sports was kind of the only thing he knew. So it was like drilling us with that again and again and again at the cost of like uh high degree of anger if there were mistakes made. We'll just say that. Yeah. >> Um you know which everybody makes mistakes especially kids learning sports and stuff but I definitely remember moments of like after a baseball game >> and this would be like little league. Um you know whether we won or lost. >> Yes. >> I'm staying after the game all the other kids are and their parents are leaving. We are now on the baseball field until they turn off the [ __ ] lights at that place and he's got me up against a backs stop just [ __ ] hitting >> trailing you. Yeah. >> Line drives at me as hard as he can from the pitcher mound. Um and it's like in retrospect that's [ __ ] crazy. And I remember hating it, dreading it, fearing it, all of that. >> Yes. >> But it also did at some point flip the switch in my head where I'm now like there was a piece of me even then that was like all these other [ __ ] kids went home. [ __ ] them. >> Exactly. It turns you into a like I can do anything. Are you [ __ ] kidding me? >> Um, >> so you know there's some benefit to have been taken from it. At what cost? I don't know. Cuz we we are who we are. There's no way to like go back and relive that era of our lives, you know, >> but uh I I tend to agree with you that I think our work ethic comes from that from what he did to us. >> I mean it's not it's not coincidental. It cannot be because we are both in my opinion like wildly successful at two very different things and you know I'm constantly kind of striving for like what's next, what's next. I'm never satisfied. I can't like I it's the only thing that keeps me like happy in quotes is like chasing something else, something bigger. There's always something on the horizon. And I do think that that is dad like instilled that in us. I think so too >> because like you said, you know, I'd get [ __ ] reamed for just a >> missing a ground ball or something, you know, uh all the way home >> for 45 minutes. The finger to the chest and >> absolutely just screaming. >> Yeah. Yeah. And and it never like beat me down to where I guess I I didn't believe in myself or I questioned myself. It was like, "All right, [ __ ] Like, next game I'm going to hit a [ __ ] home run." And it just made me like, "Oh, you don't all the people around me like, "Oh, you can't do that. You don't think I can [ __ ] do that? I can do it three times." So, it kind of like it made me a maniac, I think. And you like, "You can't tell me no. You can't tell me what to do." >> My dad used to [ __ ] hit line drives at my face. You know what I mean? Like, >> yeah, it definitely made me fear no other human being because I was like, "You don't know what I'm dealing with at home." >> Correct. Yes. >> It's true. It's it's why it's why like, >> you know, in high school people struggle with like, you know, following the crowd and like pure pressure and, you know, not really loving yourself and that [ __ ] I was like, "Fuck that. I [ __ ] love me. I'm awesome. Get out of my [ __ ] way." And it's because dad always taught me like, "You're better than everybody on the [ __ ] field." In fact, making me play baseball with boys, >> you know? It was like, you're better than that. You can do that. and and I believed it and like to this day I'm like [ __ ] it, I can literally do anything. >> Yeah. I mean there was some I guess I it hit me in that way too I think. But also in those long car rides home uh just getting screamed at. I remember there was one game I went four for four but I didn't uh turn one of the singles into a double and that was it. that was like my only transgression in his mind and just [ __ ] screaming at me for the whole ride home. >> And in those um moments I would like dissociate sometimes and go into like fantasy worlds. And the first book I ever wrote, which was I think I was maybe a freshman in high school, was this weird big sprawling fantasy epic that most of the writing I did for it was during getting screamed at by dad. I would just be visiting this weird world with my little >> uh creatures in it and stuff. Um >> but yeah, I mean it's it's a hard thing to say that maybe something good came out of all that [ __ ] Yeah. >> But it maybe it did, you know. >> I think I mean it did. >> Yeah, I agree. >> It did. >> I agree. So, let me ask you this. We're kind of talking about how the show has affected us and stuff. What do you think the effect has been on mom and dad? Dad seems to be getting angrier if possible. Uh, mom, it's definitely it's helping mom a lot. I think >> yeah, >> she's like admitting that things are wrong or like, oh, maybe I question that. So, I see a difference in mom. Dad's just getting angrier. I don't know if it's the show or dementia or I don't know, pain levels. Like, he's got a lot of like medical [ __ ] happening right now. So, I don't know if that is part of why he's so [ __ ] mad all the time. But, I don't think the show is helping him. >> I don't either. But what's to be done about that? Well, let me let me ask you on the back of that, how concerned are you about the medical [ __ ] going on with dad? >> A lot. >> Me, too. >> Like like I feel like he's in decline. Like once somebody, you know, you read all the time that the thing that that like all these super aers, they're busy, like they're active, they're lifting weights, they're swimming, they're cooking, they have all these hobbies, you know, like 95year-olds like going for two mile walks and lifting weights and [ __ ] dad stopped moving when he retired and like we have seen the decline I think pretty dramatically. Um >> I agree >> and so I am very concerned. He doesn't like move enough. He's not active. So >> he just sits in that chair. >> Yeah, it's a concern. >> I agree. I And I don't know what's to be done about that necessarily. I try to get mom to even just have him like sit in that chair and like lift his legs up a couple of times a day, >> you know, like that. That's He doesn't even do that. Um I don't know. It is concerning. What do you think you do? You read the comments for the show >> sometimes. >> And what is your reaction to them? >> I don't know. I just have an indifference toward comments now. It doesn't they do not affect me. Uh >> they kind of like on the back of what we were just talking about with dad's abuse of us and [ __ ] I like the bad comments. >> Me, too. Yeah. It kind of fuels a fire, you know? >> Yes. It's like, "Fuck you. Stop giving them a platform." No. >> Yeah. >> Nope. >> Yeah. Well, I do. And this is It coincides with like what I get at my bakery, >> the comments on my bakery page. And in the beginning, it was like, damn, that's pretty hurtful. But as I kept reading them and just like absorbing them, it was like, I literally love this part of it. I love it [ __ ] at me all the time. It doesn't hurt me. >> Same. I'm I'm immune to it. And maybe that's also a gift from the abusive years of dad. I don't know. >> It is. I mean, he's called us every name under the [ __ ] sun. You hurt me. >> Exactly. A [ __ ] anonymous comment from burner account 1234 saying like, "You're platforming hate." It's like you don't >> I don't give a [ __ ] >> Come on. Uh, also I I just don't like I completely disagree with that comment. And I know we've talked about this on the show before, but like I don't believe in the idea of like deplatforming or whatever. >> Every human being on this planet has some way of thinking about their experience here in every area, politics, religion, life, whatever, love, all of it. >> Um I don't think anybody should be afraid of hearing someone else's opinion. >> Correct. I >> I don't get that. It's like if you disagree with it, fine. And and even in in the case of like making media about it as we're doing here, it's like don't watch it or don't listen to it if it's not for you. This show is not for everyone. That's that's a very clear thing. We're not trying to make this to have broad general appeal. That would be great if it happened, but like we are making this show, at least I am. My my kind of goal behind it is to establish reestablish this relationship with our parents, which we've already kind of talked about is happening, >> but also to document what I firmly believe is like the average view of a MAGA voter. I I think there are a lot of liberal people who do not know what goes on in the minds of MAGA. And when you have parents who are uh MAGA, you know, it's like we do know. We we talk to them. And I think it's important for people who don't get like this is how they think. >> You know, our dad is talking about genocide that he's in favor of it. Or last week he was talking about how he wouldn't give up his gun even if it would save like the life of one child. Like when you hear him say that kind of [ __ ] >> it's hard for me to I mean talk about dissociation in those conversations sometimes. I'm just like there's no [ __ ] way he really thinks this. So why is he saying it? >> What What do you think about when he says that [ __ ] Does he really believe these things? >> I don't know. I cuz I know, you know, growing up like he has always been racist and, you know, had like really [ __ ] terrible views on things, but like I have to believe that some of this is like him just kind of riffing off of the conversation and just being an [ __ ] Like I I don't really believe that he wants children to die. Like I just can't believe that it can't be real. >> I'll say this. When I was um I must have been 15 or 16 in that range somewhere. I remember it was approaching Christmas and this is when we lived in Lewisville. And I had to go get some Christmas present for whoever, maybe my girlfriend at the time, I don't even remember. But he was taking me to the mall at to Vista Ridge to go do this. And we pull into the parking lot and it's super crowded. And I just remember like this is such an indelible memory. He's like, "There's so many [ __ ] people here. It'd be great to just pop out and drop a few of them." And I was like, "What?" And he's like, "Just go in there and take out as many of them as you can. That'd be fun as hell." And I was just like, "Uh, okay. So, I'm going to go get a Cinnabon and I'll meet you back, you know." Um, >> it was [ __ ] wild. But like he's he's said that type of [ __ ] this kind of like uh anti-soccietal messaging has like really always been a part of him. And maybe it's gotten more extreme now, >> but I like I I think he does believe this [ __ ] I don't think it's like a a put on or something. I I get that DM from time to time, too. Your dad's he's reading a script. He's playing a character. I'm like, it's there is no script. >> No. >> Is he playing a character? Is he like is there some piece of him that's like I'm on this show and they think I'm funny. Let me say this crazy [ __ ] >> Yeah, I don't >> I don't think so. >> It is It is hard to hear him say some of the [ __ ] So, in my mind it's like he just can't believe that. Um >> but that is our dad. Like that is our dad. The [ __ ] that he says when we're all home together, even out in public, like I'm always afraid he's going to get his ass beat. >> He says [ __ ] out in public that's like wild. >> Yeah. and and kind of on purpose. And I think that that's kind of like that attitude we were talking about earlier of like [ __ ] everybody, I can do whatever I want. He's got it >> also that was imparted unto us. But I think we are >> using it to different ends or or coming at it with a different angle. You know, it's a similar kind of like >> it's not even an ideology. It's almost just like a >> a personal relationship with the world around you that is kind of adversarial. I mean, mom and dad obviously have that and I think we have it too, but it we use it as like a motivation to create art essentially, right? >> And uh dad just uses it as >> a way to like say [ __ ] you to everybody, I guess. I don't know. Um >> what do you think mom and dad I know mom sometimes reads the comments. She obviously in our little text message thread talks about like she got this one or that one or whatever. She'll screenshot them sometimes. I don't believe dad does, but he must be roughly aware through mom of how people are reacting to the show. What do you think their reaction to it is? What do you think mom and dad feel about how people are receiving this? >> Dad doesn't give a [ __ ] >> Yeah. >> Does not give a [ __ ] Mom is affected by it. She gets emotional because, you know, we'll tell her just don't [ __ ] read it. Don't pay attention. She's like, "You're right. You're right." And then 3 days later, look what this [ __ ] said. You know, so it's clearly always going to bother her. I don't think she'll ever not be bothered by it. >> Yeah. >> Like I agree. >> Yeah. Because it either hits real fast that like, oh, [ __ ] you. I don't care. Or like, you know, it affects you and it is affecting mom. So, uh, it's just part of it for her. I don't know. That's part of this ride for her. She's going to have to just, >> I guess, get over it, but I don't know if she ever will. It affects her. Speaking of her being affected, do you think the show is working on her? Is she starting to crack? >> Yeah. Yeah. That keeps her under duress. Okay. She's >> I know. I don't mean to laugh at that either cuz it's [ __ ] terrible, but like what else can we do? >> She's living in duress. Um, she sent us a picture, which I will not post, uh, a few days ago. >> You know, in between my dad having all these medical issues and sleeping in this chair and Kitty being up 24 hours a day and all this, she was getting like no sleep like two hours a night and she sent us a a photograph of herself one morning. That was like, holy [ __ ] >> It was really sad. Yeah. I >> It was >> I constantly feel bad for mom. >> Me, too. >> Like, can we can we hire somebody to help you? Can we I mean I have always told her like I can come back and help you whenever you need help but she is also a martyr. >> She just says and so uh you know no no I almost had to like force myself to go there for like some of the hip [ __ ] and I was like you can't do this alone. Um I think mom actually might be a super aager though. I think she might make it to like a hundred. Um think about this. She's riding horses. She lifts bales of hay that are like 50 lbs almost every day. >> She takes like a two-mile walk every day. Mom hasn't stopped. Like she's always moving. She's taking care of dad, the [ __ ] dog, >> sleeping. She's still with it, active. Her mind is all all there. >> Yeah, I totally agree. you know, she just has like this uh dad kind of and >> got a boulder chain to her ankle >> that's screaming at her. >> I I feel bad for her. I >> So do I. >> I really do. I think that in it is dad that that just fers like the anger and mom. She's not an angry person. >> I'm sorry. >> She's like a >> not an angry person. It's it's also like newsmaxes on their TV 24 hours a day. If dad's not there, that ain't the case. >> I think without dad, >> mom would revert to just kind of like she really at heart, I think she's almost like a hippie. >> Yes. >> You know, I think >> butterflies, my dogs, >> that would be it. She would just be this sweet old lady who is planting butterfly plants in her backyard and tracking butterflies on the internet like >> Yeah, I know. I I think like I think about a Tik Tok a mom Tik Tok like just completely politically unrelated. >> People would love her. >> Yeah, >> they would love mom. She's funny as [ __ ] and like weird and just kind of hippie dippy and um you know, >> I encourage you to look at um my phone. I encourage everybody out there to go look at my mom's Instagram account if you want to see like >> some weird [ __ ] She makes posts of uh it's primarily like her pets and stuff, but I just I'm going to look at the amount of posts. How many posts do you think mom has posted on Instagram? >> I mean, it's like three a day. So, I don't know. A lot. >> It's more than that. >> Thousands. >> Yeah. >> In the tens of thousands. >> 15.9,000 posts on her Instagram. >> Yeah. Average people have like 500 or something. >> Yeah, >> it's compulsive. And I I remember when I was back in my compulsive squirrel photography days. >> Yeah. >> I was like, "Oh, this is crazy. I'm a maniac. Why am I doing this?" But I can't help it. I like it. I enjoy it. Then I looked at her Instagram account and it was like 15,000 posts of horses and butterflies and I was like, "Oh, I see where I get it." >> Yeah. Yeah. >> We have not fallen that far from the tree. >> But I don't mind it. I don't I like it. I like that she's still techsavvy. I like that she makes her weird art with like whatever apps she's got. Like this is important, you know? It's why I'm telling you she's a superager. >> She's still [ __ ] with it. >> Um >> I don't know. She just seems really unhappy right now. I hate it. >> Uh I feel like here in a minute we need to try to get her to California to see the the butterfly migration. >> I 100% agree. I'm in I'm in for that trip. >> Yeah. So, I need to look up time frames and like when that actually transpires and then I would like to get mom to LA and then we can like go do that [ __ ] >> What are we going to do with dad? >> May have to have Ceda babysit him. I don't know >> what. Speaking of, let's not, you know, um wish this possibly, but there is a possible future where dad outlives mom. >> Mhm. >> Is he living with you? >> He's living with you. Ah, what? How am I going to get him to LA? >> He's not coming to live with me. >> You think he's going to come to Los Angeles, California? Hell no. >> I don't know. What am I uh I don't want to think about that. >> He's living with you. >> No. >> Yes. Okay. Let me let me switch gears for a second here. We've talked about our parents a little bit. I want to talk about your kids. Um, we were gonna try and have your son Roman on today, but he had some school work and stuff. I still would love to get him on the show at some point because I'm so curious to hear from him >> what he thinks about >> what he calls Mimi and Monkey, his grandparents or parents. >> Yeah. >> Um, and just politics in general. But like >> what what has been your experience with your kids with relation to mom and dad and their political views? I assume all three of your kids are very liberal. >> They are. Um, it's been hard for them because both sets of grandparents are conservative. >> Um, and like they've kind of had to endure some things on both sides and so they kind of feel I think cheated out of like the grandparent experience a little bit. >> Yeah. Um, so I mean it's been hard for them and I hate seeing it and I don't want to be the parent that like forces them to go, you know, during holiday to go see this set or the other if they just really don't [ __ ] want to. Um, >> so it's been hard. Uh, the kids love all their grandparents. Like they love mom and dad. Um, they understand like they have they watch the podcast like they know all about it. But it is a lot more difficult for them to kind of accept the [ __ ] that they say than it is for me. >> Uh, and I don't I don't force them to do that cuz they're their own people. So, it's been hard for them. I don't know. They still love mom and dad, >> but you know, like when they hear some of the [ __ ] that comes out of dad's mouth specifically, it's like, well, [ __ ] that guy. >> Yeah. >> You know, that's that's a that's a hard thing for a [ __ ] kid to hear their grandparents say. >> Absolutely. >> Yeah. So, there are times where they just, I don't know, kind of turn it off and try to ignore it. Uh, as long as they don't talk politics, like when the kids are in their house, like it's kind of a non-existent issue. Um, >> well, I remember there was a time when your kids were much younger that mom and dad just had like loaded guns in their nightstands and [ __ ] >> Yeah. When they were like toddlers. So, >> Yeah. Yeah. And I had to beg them to like unload the guns. Uh I don't know. You know, mom and dad have always been really overbearing, I think. And >> no [ __ ] >> Well, when I became a parent, >> you me when I had kids, like my my thought process was like, okay, you know, they're going to be grandparents now, >> and that means that I'm the parent, and like I'm the authoritarian to my own children. >> Mhm. And in the beginning it was just like they undermined everything I did. You're doing it wrong. That kind of [ __ ] And so at some point I just had to like tune it out, turn it off, like stop asking for opinions. Um that was really hard for me as a new parent. Uh because they're my kids. Like I want to raise them. >> They're my kids. And so having mom and dad kind of like all the time was really draining. Um, as the kids have gotten older, it's gotten much better because >> you guys live further away, too. You used to live literally like on the same street as them, you know, and I remember that >> when you first had Roman, mom and dad were at your house literally 24 hours a day. >> Teach them to play baseball. >> That was hard. >> Well, also that it was like they were reliving, you know, what they did to us. >> Absolutely. >> And I just said, full stop. [ __ ] no. Uh, Roman hates sports. What's a [ __ ] sports ball? He doesn't want to play baseball. Like, you know, they they're just not they're not me. They're not you. >> Uh, they have they have that problem even still today, like not allowing people to just like be themselves. So, I don't know. It's It's been a weird ride with mom and dad as grandparents. >> Mhm. >> But they've been great. I mean, it hasn't all been like weird or bad or anything like that. They're always supportive now of like what the kids do and they've helped us immensely with paying for things for our kids. Like mom and dad have been super supportive as grandparents. It's just been like really interesting. I guess you don't ever really know what you're going to get. >> Yeah. Well, I think mom and dad too are people that, you know, they really were How old were they when they met? Like 15 years old or something. >> Yeah. Young teens. >> And they've been together for their entire lives. So their family, >> that kind of like group has been everything to them, >> their entire reason for living. Like I don't think dad, he he enjoyed his job or whatever, but I don't think it was like his dream >> to trade natural gas, weather futures, you know, I think that was just something like he liked numbers to some degree and was pretty good at it and kind of became that. I don't think mom's dream was to be a PE teacher at an elementary school. She just kind of liked working with kids and like you're saying was athletic in college and you know liked to be active and so it kind of fit well with her for a while and being a tennis coach at a high school and all that stuff. >> But I think like >> we were their primary focus of everything >> and so when we leave when we become adults and when we start our own lives it's like their entire reason for existence is now gone and they have to figure out what the [ __ ] is it going to be. And the fastest thing for them and easiest thing was like, "Oh, our daughter just had a kid. There's our new kid." And then all of that energy that they've been kind of uh, you know, pent up inside them for however however long it was from when you left to college to when you had your first kid, which was probably what about five or six years. >> Yeah. Something like that. >> Something like that. >> Yeah. >> That just all came out in a [ __ ] title wave on Roman. You're going to play baseball, you know? >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. But they love the kids. Um, >> yeah, >> it's it's it is what it is. I don't know. It's not all great, but it's not all bad. Just like I think with most grandparents. I don't know. >> I don't know. >> It's been all right. >> All right. Well, let me shift gears now. I want to talk about politics with you. None of the big issues this week. I I think I know where you stand on everything. I think you know where I stand. But I want to ask you just like some general ideological questions. Um, some of these we asked in that that very first episode that we did back three years ago or whatever, but I think it's there's a lot of new viewers for the show and stuff. So, for some of them, I would like to just kind of reestablish some of your baseline attitudes. >> Um, I'll start with this one. You mentioned that you are now the authoritarian. Do you think right now the United States is an authoritarian country? >> Yeah, >> 100%. >> Yes. I mean, we've got like military in DC, >> but >> courts are saying that his use of military in Los Angeles and DC is illegal. >> Okay. What have they done about it? >> I don't Well, that is the second part of this is like the enforcement of that. But at least like in a true authoritarian country, the court system is not ever checking the president or or whatever the prime minister, whatever. >> Period. Yeah. >> Yeah. Well, they help him get whatever he wants. They only side with him in every decision. So far, the courts here are not doing that. Yes, they have given him some big insane victories like he can't be prosecuted for a crime if he's doing something in service of defending the country, whatever the [ __ ] that means. But, uh, this week a bunch of big legal things did not go his way. The tariffs got ruled illegal. I think all of them almost across the board. >> Uh, the Gu or not Guantanamo Bay, Alligator Alcatraz, they're saying you got to shut it down. They tried to stop the deportation of I I think it was >> 600 >> 600 kids. No. >> Yeah. >> Was it 600 kids? >> Yes. >> Okay. So they they tried to stop that. So there are legal decisions being handed down that are against his agenda. That to me >> again whether it can be forced or not is you know remains to be seen or how they're going to react to it and all this. But at least in a very public way, there is one branch of the government that is saying, "No, you can't do this." Um, you know, in in effect, is it an authoritarian country? Yes, I agree with you 100%. But I don't know if on paper it is quite yet. >> Well, it certainly feels like it to me. I live in a state where women cannot get abortions. If you are even mailed like the pills that cause abortion, whoever sent it to you can be sued by anyone who like knows about it. >> Like in Texas, you can't get an abortion or you go to [ __ ] prison. >> That's crazy [ __ ] Trans people um don't exist here. >> Like they're calling it fraudulent. They can put them in jail essentially >> for what now? being transgender. >> Like if you if you're driving and your license doesn't match, you know, what they perceive your gender to be, they can charge you with fraud and put you in jail in the state of Texas. >> What's the fraud? >> Saying that you're someone you're not if your gender does not match on your license because you now your gender marker had to be changed in Texas to whatever. >> What the [ __ ] I didn't know that. Jesus. >> Yeah. whatever your you were born like whatever gender you know was on your >> birth certificate um if that does not match your driver's license then they will put you in jail for fraud >> you can now uh not use I think it's any kind of government building and public school bathrooms you must use whatever gender you were born at birth assigned um if you use the bathroom that you want to use, uh, you can go to jail and it is $125,000 fine. So, there's an attack on trans people, an attack on gay people, an attack on women, [ __ ] immigrants. I I feel like I am definitely living under authoritarian rule. I feel like democracy is dead. Um, every day I wake up like, do I want to live in this country anymore? I don't want to be here. It's [ __ ] terrifying. the stories that I saw of one high schooler comes home and tells me, you know, so and so said this to my best friend who she has like a Latina best friend said, "We're going to call ICE on your grandpa." Like [ __ ] like that. Nword being yelled in the [ __ ] hallways of a high school. >> Mhm. >> [ __ ] like Billy Isish used to be good, but then she came out as gay, now she sucks. [ __ ] like that. Just all day long in high school. Like all these [ __ ] [ __ ] have just been emboldened >> by all of these ridiculous policies that are being passed specifically in the state of Texas. This is like the worst state to live in. There's like ten commandments in all of the public school classrooms. Um >> god >> librarians or what it was something about they can now basically choose what books your kids are reading and take out any book they want from the library in your schools. you know, no DEI [ __ ] >> So, >> like that library thing to me when they're like, "Oh my god, they're banning these books in schools." I'm like, "There's the internet. Who gives a fuck?" There's like a little bit of a stupidity about these what I perceive to be like performative conservative actions to be like this we must ban to kill a mockingber. Whatever the book, whatever the things are. It's like but okay, you can get it for free on the [ __ ] internet any number of places. You know, >> it's behind it though. you know, they're filling classrooms with people like that, teaching my kids. And so, you know, that's they're not going to learn what they need to learn in school anymore. They're just going to push agendas. And that's uh a terrifying feeling. I'm [ __ ] thankful that I only have two more years left in public school, then we're out. >> Um, >> out of Texas, you mean? >> Out of public schooling. >> Oh, I see. Yeah. >> So, I don't know. Uh, I hate it here. I hope Donald Trump dies. But even if he dies, does that really matter? >> I believe it does. >> You do? >> Yeah. Just >> because he's the face of it all. >> Yes. And I do think for whatever you want to say about Donald Trump, I'm not a fan, but he has a very specific and and valuable talent, which is the grift. He lies to people. And I think there's a a big percentage of the population that can see through it and be like, "This guy's [ __ ] totally lying. He's just trying to suck your money or trying to do this trying to like I don't actually think he believes in the ideology of anything he's doing. >> No, he doesn't. He's unaware. I don't even think he gets it. Yeah, he's stupid. >> He's just the frontman for the the worst band of all time, basically. But the guy on the drums is the one writing all the music and that's like Steven Miller and all the Project 2025 people. And I think JD Vance is like very plugged into that and the techno billionaires and he's friends with all of them. But I don't think JD Vance or whoever they're gonna put up next, that person is just gonna be like a standard run-of-the-mill politician. >> Yeah, >> Trump is something different. He's like a showman. He's a reality star. He's a WWE wrestler. He comes from, in quotes, outside of politics. And I think that mix of whatever he is was just kind of a a perfect thing for a big enough percentage of the population to win the swing states in 2016. >> And and we're where we are now. And maybe the election has been completely corrupted at this point. I don't know. You you might think it is or been hacked. I starting to believe that more and more with each passing day. >> I do. >> So >> I do. >> Yeah. It may not matter, but um you know, if you get to a point where it's like, okay, JD Vance now has to win an election. >> Really, I don't think we're going to sit by and watch that lie be told. Do you think though like the flip side they're going to try to come up with some kind of celebrity for the other side for Dems? Like who is that? Because it's got to be a strong front runner. >> I think Gavin Newsome is in the lead now because of the basically the trolling that he's doing to Trump. >> It's working. Like um he's playing his own game and just like every time the the Republicans feain offense at whatever he's done, he's like go [ __ ] yourself. >> Um he's playing Trump's playbook better than Trump is at this point. Yeah. >> So maybe he's in the lead. I don't know. But I do think we're going to have a wild primary season with the Democrats. I think they're going to throw a bunch of candidates out there, which is great. That's what they need to do. >> Um but yeah, I don't know. Like my next question, I guess, is what do you think a postTrump America looks like? >> Just [ __ ] like rebuilding everything. >> But what happens to the people who voted for him, to the people who worked for him? What happens to the ICE officers right now who are committing crimes against people in our country? >> Well, I mean, my hope is that they all get what's coming to them. >> They should be put on trial. You should be [ __ ] put in jail. Like, all of these people are criminals. And they are. They're criminals. What they're doing is criminal activity. So they uh you know like the [ __ ] trials after Nazi Germany. >> But who who starts that in your mind? It's Democrats saying, "Okay, we're back in power. Now it's time to prosecute every ICE officer >> because you may not even know who they are." I don't know. I don't know. I don't know who starts that. >> Beyond not knowing who you are, Democrats are not good at that type of a a game. They're not good at being like, >> yeah, they're psies. They don't do [ __ ] >> They Yes, exactly. They'll get in power and Okay, finally back to business as usual. That's kind of what Joe Biden did. And I'm not saying he was like a bad president necessarily. I think he did do some good things. >> Um his his main thing that he did poorly was the exit. Obviously, he he ran saying he was only going to be a one-term president and then he was like, "Nope, let me do it again. Oh, just kidding. I'm too old." >> Like, he [ __ ] that whole thing way up. And I think for uh a big part of why we're we are where we are now has to do with that, unless the election was hacked, then it doesn't matter what the the Democrats do. But um I think a postTrump America is I don't know. It's hard to um it's hard to really like pace out exactly what's going to happen once he dies because I don't think there's a postTrump America with him alive. Mhm. >> Whether he's in politics or not, he will be ever present in the conversation until he dies. >> But >> do Trump supporters have a change of heart at some point? Do they pretend they didn't vote for him once it becomes like very clear he was a Hitler-esque figure? Um, do they remain stubborn about their allegiance? I feel like that's what dad would do, you know? I don't know. I'm more worried about like Greg Abbott, you know, he runs Texas. Um, I want people like that to be held accountable for all the [ __ ] that they've done. Uh, so I think on a state level, like people need to be prosecuted because some of this [ __ ] is criminal. >> Mhm. >> So I don't know. Uh, MAGA supporters, I think it ends when Donald Trump ends. I think they just kind of like fizzle out and dissipate and like I'm I'm a Republican. >> I'll vote Republican on a ticket. But I think like the whole MAGA persona like it dies when he dies. >> I totally agree. I like I don't think JD Vance is going to be able to sell millions of dollars worth of sneakers and cologne. >> Oh, >> like Trump can. Um, >> no. >> But there's I I'm very mixed about it. I don't think he'll have like the same kind of strength as a leader of a cult of personality that Trump has, but I think he's like more devious and more kind of uh a traditional malevolent being, you know, like he really is plugged into the Peter Teal and all the what what do they call it? It's the the Dark Renaissance. he's in that um where they really want to like reshape America into an all-white ethnically cleansed uh techno kingdom or whatever with the richest people at the top. He is very into that. That's why he is the vice president. Like this is all designed by those 2025 authors to eventually get their guy in charge who like knows what the [ __ ] is doing right now. Trump is kind of their puppet and they've got to push him this way and that way. We saw Elon Musk literally in the White House almost every day trying to do that and it didn't work because Trump has a crazy ego and he's not really down for the cause. He's down for his own cause. >> And so they have to put up with him grifting on selling his Bibles and all this kind of [ __ ] and they're just like rolling their eyes. But like as long as he passes the laws they need passed, >> they're fine. It >> doesn't matter, >> which he's doing obviously. Um >> yeah. >> Yeah. I don't know. I don't know. I think about this a lot because I do think we're getting close to a time where he will be gone. I mean, even if he survives this entire term. >> Mhm. >> There's going to be some kind of an election. Whether it's real or not, we don't know. But there will be one. Like, I don't think he can just be like, "No election. Sorry, no more elections." That won't fly. Um, but >> will will there ever be like a [ __ ] revolution? I feel like that's what's necessary, an over. I don't know. Apparently no one because I feel like we're at that point. I feel like when we do that like when you see ICE on the streets and the military on the streets like this is when that happens >> but that's doing it >> that Trump and I mean he definitely wants authoritarian control and I think they want that too. Uh that's like where they're they're really super aligned the the billionaires and the Trump >> but he wants somebody to attack an ICE officer. He's waiting for it and then boom, martial law. I take control of everything now. >> Yeah. >> If that happens, then maybe there will be some kind But I mean, like, what even is the Civil War? It's ICE versus just people. >> Yeah. >> Gorilla style missions into the street to kill ICE officers or or whatever the case may be. >> Yeah. >> But like, you know, you saw this thing, I'm sure, the they raided that um factory and took 600 or however many people, 750 South Koreans just like, "Fuck you. were deporting you. >> They just decimated that business. That business is over. Whatever it was, I forget. They manufactured something. >> If that can happen and nobody is trying to stop them and fight them, >> like what who's going to fight them ever? >> I don't know. >> It's going to be one isolated incident where like uh a mom punches an ICE officer because they're ripping a baby out of her hand or something, but that won't be enough to start like a full-scale revolution. I just don't think I don't I hate to say it, but like I don't think we got it in us as a >> either. It's what needs to happen, but I like you said, I don't think we aren't the French. Okay. >> Yeah. >> We're just not We're just not. >> They're [ __ ] wild. They'll put it on the line and they have. >> We just don't We just don't We're complicit. Nobody cares. >> Yeah. There's a new season of NFL starting. >> Yeah, exactly. Taylor Swift getting married. Well, speaking of Taylor Swift, let's switch to that. Let me ask you this. >> Are there good billionaires? >> Oh, god. This is This is something that I >> No, no. You You can't have You can't have a billion dollars and like be, you know, sugar spice and everything nice. It's just not possible. >> I agree with you. >> It's not possible. I love Taylor Swift. I'm a Swifty. I love the albums and the lore and I can't get enough. and I buy the cardigans and I went to the concert and like I [ __ ] love Taylor Swift, but at the end of the day it's like she's a billionaire, >> a billionaire. And you see like all of her good deeds, you know, that she publicizes and like she did a concert for a woman with cancer and like she's donating money, you know, and it's all like >> it's planted publicity >> 100%. >> And and you know, it works on me cuz I'm like that's kind. She's a kind billionaire. You know, that's kind >> her and Oprah are the only good ones. >> It's so kind, but at the end of the day, you're a [ __ ] billionaire. That shouldn't exist. >> Correct. >> It shouldn't exist. >> 100% 100% correct to me. A billionaire really like $100 million even that is [ __ ] insane. >> Yeah. If you have that amount of money, and I'm not even suggesting like you give it all away to charities, create your own charity, whatever's interesting to you, but put effort toward the progress of something instead of >> accumulating this wealth that is just sitting in your bank account so you can buy another house or take another trip or whatever. Like I really have um since a very young age viewed humanity in in its relationship to money in this very specific way that is there is an array of things you can do and have access to on this planet in the time you are alive. >> Mhm. >> There is a number that is associated with you that represents nothing. It it's it's proxy there. It is not backed by silver by no commodity at this point. We are living in a fiat currency system where that number is completely abstract. But if your number is high enough, you get to do everything. If your number is low enough, you don't get to do [ __ ] And that even includes healthare, being able to eat, etc., etc. >> Yep. >> And it just is the most [ __ ] up system in the world. And as a billionaire, if you don't see, I mean, [ __ ] just go out and give $100,000 to a person every day. You can do that forever, >> right? if you're a billionaire, >> right? >> It is disgusting to me. Uh if anyone who has a billion dollars I think is a at core a [ __ ] horrible person, >> including Taylor Swift, Oprah, whoever. >> Um I just don't think there's like a sound argument to be made in any case that a single person having a billion dollars is deserved or that they should have it and we should all be okay with that. That to me is where the real [ __ ] problem is with all of this. >> And because those people run the governments of the world now, not just the United States. Their their bigger goal, and you're seeing it with Palunteer, you're seeing it with Elon Musk and Starlink, is to get government contracts from every big world government to get their technology into all those computers to have all the data on the globe about people so that they can reorganize us however they see fit. It's about control. >> Yeah. Yeah, I know. It's something that I uh that I think about all the time. Like when the new album drops, I can't wait. I can't wait to hear her music. Um but you know, in the back of my mind, it's always like she's a [ __ ] billionaire. And I know what those tickets cost and I know that they don't have to. And I know that you didn't have to put out 20 albums with different covers. And I know that you didn't have to do all this [ __ ] Like, it's all just a money-making venture. And I recognize that. >> Um >> but I I love her music. I don't know. And I and I like >> I'm not of course I'm not discounting her art. I think she's a fantastic artist and fantastic marketing and all of that [ __ ] You can make a billion dollars. That's great. I I don't have any problems with that. It's what do you do with that [ __ ] money? >> It's true. It's true. And and like you'll read the reports how she's building onto her, you know, palatial $50 million mansion and how Travis Kelce is now worth, you know, so much more money and all this [ __ ] And it is um it is distasteful to think that you could write a check and change so many people's lives, >> but instead you build that fourth wing on your mansion, you know. Um >> but there's it's it's to me like there's an idea with the billionaires. >> I don't know if Taylor Swift has this or not, but all the tech bro billionaires do. They have these giant bunkers in like Iceland and New Zealand. these places that they think can survive basically a nuclear holocaust. >> Yeah. >> They have all built their escape plans. >> So they're not using their money to try and avert that crisis to try and change the trajectory of humanity so that that doesn't happen. They're planning for the eventuality. [ __ ] the rest of humanity. I'll be in my bunker. >> Yeah. They already psychologically have isolated themselves from humanity in such a drastic way that they have they're planning for the death of us all and how they'll survive it. >> Yeah. >> Again, I don't know if she has that bunker, Taylor Swift specifically, but I would bet she does. >> Uh I mean, with a billion dollars, >> these people hang out with each other. >> They go to these parties. They go to these things where it's only billionaires and you're in the same room with them and it's like, "Oh, what have you been up to?" Oh, I built my bunker in New Zealand. How about you? Oh, you got a bunker in New Zealand. What's that about? >> Oh, here. I'll hook you up with my bunker guy. Like, it's they're all doing it. I I would not be surprised if she has something like that. Some kind of an escape plan in mind. But again, it's like the the grotesqueness of it to me >> is not that they have or it is that they have the bunker. Sorry. It's that they don't take their amazing resource, the power they have to do literally anything because their number is high enough, right? >> And turn that back on humanity and say, "Wait a minute. This is [ __ ] >> Let's make this better. Like there is no hope at this point, I feel like, or at least no one talking about it >> about the idea of turning this world into a utopia. >> Yeah, >> that that's such a a distant glimmer that used to be like an active thing that intellectuals and politicians and [ __ ] talked about at one time in our species evolution. Now it's just about like who's on top? Give me all I can get. [ __ ] everybody else. >> Yeah. And I just, you know, we're we're heading into a very tumultuous time in terms of climate change, technological change, all kinds of stuff, redistribution of wealth, and it's like now is the worst time for that kind of attitude to be the prevailing one. >> Yeah. I don't know. Uh yeah, I don't know. I don't I can't I can't excuse it. I can't excuse someone being a billionaire. I just can't. I enjoy the music and I will probably buy a ticket to another concert. Um, and that is where it ends for me. I'm a Swifty. I like the music. But yeah, she is a billionaire. You're right. You can't excuse that. You just can't. >> Yeah. >> And I hate all the other billionaires. So, it would make sense that, you know, I feel a certain way toward her having that much money. Uh, I don't know. It's I guess for me it's different because all of these other billionaires are men. Mhm. >> Um who do nefarious [ __ ] >> openly. >> Yeah. >> And Taylor Swift has acquired all of this wealth through her art. Probably like stepping on people to get there as well. Like you can't become a billionaire just always being kind. Um you know, but but the thought that like I guess finally there's a woman >> at the top like something about that kind of like connects with me. You're not just another [ __ ] man. And she doesn't seem villainous. Uh >> that's the worst kind in my opinion. >> Yeah. >> Which right is this? Yeah. I don't know. Um >> we know Mark Zuckerberg is just a [ __ ] piece of [ __ ] We know Elon Musk is a [ __ ] horrible pile of [ __ ] with a weird dick. We know that, >> right? But I've never like I have never felt that way toward Taylor Swift. And there was a time where she was just like famous, you know, she's famous. Yeah. >> She was maybe like, you know, had like $20 million or something. And that actually wasn't that long ago. >> Yeah, I know. >> And then something [ __ ] catapulted her. She has an ability to write music that really resonates with large groups of people. Like her demographic is [ __ ] insane. Okay, everybody loves a Taylor Swift. So, she has this capability to kind of tune into emotions and how people feel and all of her albums are like so self-reflective and she puts all of her [ __ ] out there and people eat that up. >> Yeah. >> So, she earned her spot, you know, at the top in the music industry. She earned that [ __ ] >> of course. >> So, you know, I I like to I love when women win. >> I love to see that [ __ ] celebrated. I love that millions of people love what this woman does. >> Um, and she's got a message that is quite clear and I appreciate it, you know. Uh, >> but like you said, she is a billionaire. >> She's a billionaire. >> Take take all that stuff you just said because I agree with you on all that. I'm blown away by her approach to making art, how much of it she makes, the audience size she has. >> None of that goes away if she gives all of her money away, >> right? Imagine how much better she would be if she's like, "Yes, I've made a billion dollars. I'm carving down to 50 million, which is what I need to live every year. Even that's insane." Like, can you imagine? You could do anything you want on 50 million, and give all the rest to charity or start your own charity or give it to your fans in a big giveaway or whatever. >> Imagine how much more popular she would be if she did that, >> right? >> You wouldn't have this lingering uh resentment or like questioning, should I be a fan of this person or not? Because to hoard that amount of resource in this era where resource is starting to become depleted, especially for the people at the bottom of the [ __ ] pile >> is it's just >> it's incredibly selfish. >> Uh yeah, I agree. I agree. And I even like we'll sit here, you know, cuz one of my kids is a Swifty and and you know, we wait for the drop. We watch the countdown. It's like, "Oh my god, what is she going to do? There's a lock. It's orange. Oh my god." And like we're just sitting there and then she drops the album and my kid's like, "Should I should I pre-order?" I'm like, "Yeah, [ __ ] yeah. Get the album." So she'll pre-order the album. And then literally two days later there's another lock. What is she going to do? And it's just another album and a cover and a [ __ ] cardigan and a t-shirt. And it's like, you don't have to do all that. >> You know who else does that? >> Why are we doing that? >> Who? >> Donald Trump. >> Trump. Yeah. It's like, you don't >> It's a grift. She's griing her fans. That's what Trump does, too. Yeah. So, I mean, I I do accept that that is what that is. Um, you know, I'm only buying the one album. I'm not I'm only a little I'm only I love the lore. I love that she does this for her fans. Like, there is a large part of her where like this is her art, you know, and she >> Yeah, the marketing is kind of part part of it, too. I agree. >> Yes, this is her art. And like as someone who has to promote a business and like your brand is yourself, like I [ __ ] love it. Like I love it. I get so excited when she's going to drop a new album or like we got to wait for her to [ __ ] give us an Easter egg or whatever. I'm like it's brilliant. Like she's so smart. >> But imagine if that second lock was free. >> I know. >> You bought the first album here, you get the second one for nothing, right? >> Like it it's no consequence to her to do that. But she doesn't do that. It's everything is for pay with her. >> I know. >> And that's why I think the Travis Kelsey thing is fake. >> I don't I still don't think it's fake. I think that they are actually together. I think they actually are going to get married. They love each other. Definitely a prenup though, you know, like she's a billionaire. Definitely signing prenups. Um and it's a little transactional. Like he's getting [ __ ] out of >> a little. Yeah, >> the NFL is getting [ __ ] for those televised games that she was at last year had the highest [ __ ] ratings of any NFL game in history. >> Yes. And she turned it around, but I still don't think that was planned. I think she just touched it and it it's gold. This [ __ ] can touch anything. >> It could have been the NFL, the NBA, the It could have been any [ __ ] sport or another musician or like whatever. if it was Harry Styles again, like whatever she touches because that fan base is like if it's Taylor Swift, I love it. It doesn't matter. >> How do they feel or how do you feel about Travis Kelce's uh supposed MAGA connections? >> I don't I hate Patrick Mahomes. >> Like his wife has come out and said like some racist [ __ ] >> and he's [ __ ] black. I was like are >> Jesus Christ. like his wife is racist and they have children together. >> Um, and like she's MAGA and all this [ __ ] So like yeah, gross. [ __ ] disgusting. Travis Kelsey and like the kicker, >> that [ __ ] kicker talking about like you belong in the kitchen pregnant and barefoot and all this [ __ ] at a college speech to young women. Like get [ __ ] So yeah, like [ __ ] all these guys. Um, Travis Kelsey, I've only ever heard what he has said and he has said on on the podcast um that he's not Trumpy, you know, and she endorsed Kamla Harris and all this [ __ ] >> So, in essence, I guess it's guilt by association. Uh, can you really like not be friends with the people on your football team? Does that Can you do that? I don't know. >> It's tough. >> Can you do that? I don't. >> So, I don't I don't know. I only I only know what I read and I only know what he said. And I I have been led to believe that he is not Trumpy himself. But yeah, half the Kansas City Chiefs are like [ __ ] >> Yeah. >> Donald Trump all the way. So, it's [ __ ] disgusting. >> I don't know. I wouldn't be caught at the birthday party of this racist [ __ ] who endorses Donald Trump. Taylor Swift is best friends with her. >> I wouldn't do that. >> That's what I'm saying. >> So, I don't know. I think they're way too like um keep the peace like I'm Switzerland. No, make a [ __ ] stand. Don't be friends with those [ __ ] Trumpers. >> Yeah, >> that's how I feel about it. But again, it's his my best friend. We're on the football team, bro. Like, can you do that? I don't know. Some I don't know. Sometimes you got to like clean cut, let people go. But I don't think he can because he's on a team with him. But she can't either because half of her fan base is MAGA. >> Are they? >> You don't think there's MAGA people that buy her [ __ ] >> I don't know because she has during the when the election was going on because she endorsed Kla Harris. I felt like she lost that whole group of people. >> Maybe >> like dad [ __ ] hates Taylor Swift because of it. Like hate >> That's right. You're right. She lost dad. Dad was a >> Swift and mom was like, I don't know. So, I feel like she completely [ __ ] just diminished MAGA. They don't they don't like Taylor Swift. >> And I've been to her concert and it is not >> it doesn't feel conservative at all. Like it's the girls and the gays period. Little kids and like their dads and [ __ ] Like there aren't any, >> you know, Trump paraphernalia at a Taylor Swift concert. >> Oh, maybe she's not a MAGA. Um, well, that is going to conclude this episode. Thank you for doing this with me. I hope that next week we're going to have mom and dad back on hopefully and potentially a special guest. >> Very interesting special guest. We'll see. Uh hopefully mom and dad will be back. But thank you Haley for doing this with me. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> And thank you for having done this with me for three years at this point. >> I didn't realize it had been that long. Doesn't seem like it. Well, we started in 2022, which was like I think we started it right at the tail end of the lockdown, >> which just feel I don't know. My whole sense of time is completely [ __ ] up since the >> the pandemic. I like a year passes and I'm like, was that a month, >> you know, that I I have no kind of like ability to anchor myself temporally anymore because that lockdown was such a weird [ __ ] time. But I find myself now thinking back on it fondly and missing some of the weird [ __ ] that I got to do because the city was empty. >> Um it just a I don't know weird time. Anyways, thank you for joining me. Thank you all of you for joining us for this very special episode. And uh yeah, like I said, we'll be back next week with hopefully mom and dad, hopefully special guest. >> Yep. >> Bye. >> All right. Bye.