Sage Steele | Club Random with Bill Maher
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LinkedIn, the place to be, to be. The Club Random merch line is up and ready to go. Get your Club Random t-shirts, hats, hoodies, and glassware at clubrandom.com. I was screaming at your podcast. Thank you, James Carville, for speaking for all black men and why they're all of a sudden conservative. Are you kidding me? You know what? Watch hockey with Donald Trump. I don't care. I don't think Donald Trump watches hockey. No, but you do, and that's great. Club Random.

Don't sit down, I'm coming. Hello! I'm inviting Kanye over here, or what are you calling him? Isn't that an awesome painting? Did he just say yay? Great to meet you. How are you doing? It's so nice to meet you. You look fantastic. Thank you. Yeah, that was a gift from one of my writers. Oh my gosh. That is so funny. I mean... At first I was like, white, and then I saw it's every Kardashian. All of them. Look at her abs. That's not fair. Well, it's a painting.

Yeah, it's fake for sure. Hello. So thank you for doing this. Oh my gosh, thank you. I think you're...

Just here for this or you're on a- Just for you. Oh, thank you. Well, the Republican debate is here in California tonight. So you go, you can finish here. I'll finish quick. No. And we can like drive up to the Reagan Library. No, thank you. Oh my God, no thank you. You don't want to go to the Reagan Library? You know what? I actually would do that, but not with the debate there. I went to the debate in Milwaukee.

Which one? The one that we just had? Yeah. Why? Random, because a friend of a friend-- I live in Connecticut. A friend of a friend was going, and I had just left ESPN. And he's like, hey, you don't have to work. No excuse. I have a plane. Let's go. And I thought-- you know what? Because I've always wanted to-- Yeah. As a journalist-- Hey, it's a sport. --wanted to see it. Totally. But one of the things I thought was so cool, like the body language. When the camera's not on them--

And that's what I actually really enjoyed it. Well, I mean, it is especially that debate is a sport because it's only pointless to the extreme because Trump is not there. So the actual candidate who's going to win the thing, who's going to, in other words, the team that's going to win the Super Bowl is not there. Totally. So these guys are just, I mean, I watched it too. I don't know if I can watch the one tonight, but

You know, it's just about scoring points. It is. It's just like sports. And boy, the way they do it, I mean, some of them are so clumsy. I mean, they're just not performers. They're, you know, politics is the only job you can really get in America with no skills. You don't have to have any, nothing has to really. I know. Almost everything else you do, you have to know something to operate the tilt-a-whirl.

But politics, you can, as long as you have a clip on tie. No, it's a good point. You're right. No, and you can't, you know, there's no, nobody ever calls you in and say, here's your performance review, except the voters. But, you know, you can fool them. I saw when you had Vivek on. That. Here. Uh-huh. In this chair. Yeah, yeah. I was like, oh my. Oh, I know. Oh my. Because that was right before that Milwaukee debate, I think. But he's charming. Oh, he's charming.

He's one of those scary, brilliant guys. Yeah. Yeah. I said to him, I find you disarming and alarming. Did you plan that line? No. I have to plan. Does any here look planned?

But you, first of all, you're you, and you just came at him with legit questions. And again, body language and watching him, he always has that big smile on his face, no matter what you're talking about. When it comes to politics, he is born to the manner. I mean, he is a glad hander, and he's Mr. Optimistic and...

energy for days. Well, he's 38. He's a baby. He's like a puppy. I know. He's so cute. Well, he just got so much energy. Yeah, it's not right. It's actually not fair. Anyway, so... I get to do this. Yeah, what do you want? What do you drink? Wine? Yeah, the red wine. Usually I'm a lightweight and I'm like one and done. However...

We'll see. However, I mean, I'm in Club Random. Why not? You're in Club Random. I mean, it is supposed to be a nightclub. It really looks like one. I always say this, but without the music, it's just like a three-legged stool with two legs. But I wanted to have a place where

It felt like we were not on camera. There's nobody else in the room. As close as I can get to what it would really be like just to sit down and talk to you, which I've always wanted to do. So I always thought you were great on ESPN. You watched? Of course. You don't think I'm a sports fan? Well, yeah.

You're busy and you're California and... California? Well, I'm East Coast. I'm from the East Coast. Well, it doesn't feel like that anymore, though. I've never abandoned the New York teams as I was rude for, you know. I was an owner of the Mets. Did you know that? I was a minority owner of the Mets for 10 years. Yeah, Steve Cohen bought the team two years ago. Thank God, because during the pandemic, we lost, I lost a fortune, everybody, all the minority, because we didn't play any games. Exactly. And we had capital calls up the S.

But he came in and I did very well at that. Immediately. Well, I mean, the Mets, are you kidding? I couldn't believe when they were – they sold 40% of the team in 2011. Not all to me, but to a selected – whoever. It was like first come, first serve. I couldn't believe I got – of all the rich in New York City –

None of them want a piece of the Mets that comes with your box in a parking spot. Even if it was just that, it's Trump changes it. Just to say that you're an owner of a professional sports team. Yeah, that's weird. Yeah, so. So do you miss it? No.

No, because I'm you know what? There's too much sweating of the money like the man's like. I mean, Christ, if I was part of what Steve Cohen spent. Oh, my gosh. The most expensive team in baseball that just shit the bed. Yeah. Again, I would. The capital calls issue would be I would I would be I can't even speak. No, would not be good. So, no, it's nice to just be a fan.

It was a great thing for a decade. But yeah, I'm glad to just be a fan. Unless we were guaranteed to make money. Blame me, we're not. Blame me, that team. I mean-- It's sad. To have Verlander and Scherzer

And it just doesn't work. And then now they're both leading their teams to the... Of course. You know, they're doing what they were supposed to do for the Mets. Not that they... They weren't wrong that those two guys can't still do it. Oh, no. They had rough starts for different reasons. And it just... It's jinxed. And listen, I was a Cubs fan. Still am. But, you know, when you're covering it... That's where you're from, Chicago? No. I'm homeless, kind of.

My dad was military. Oh, so you moved around. Yeah, but I literally don't have a home. I was talking with a friend recently. I'm part-time in Florida. I have a place down there, and within a year, I'll be down there full-time. Your favorite place, right? I do like Florida. I love Florida. And she's so cute. We had lunch, and she had just come from picking out the burial plots for her and her husband and her son when they all die. Oh, Lord. And I was like, oh.

You did what? And she was all excited. She was like, oh, it's beautiful. And they're having some mausoleum, some walk-in. And she goes, I'll be buried here. And then my husband and eventually my son, who's eight. And I thought, wow. And she's excited. She goes, well, where are you going to be buried? And I thought, I've actually never considered that.

And I don't have a home. I haven't either, really. OK, so if I ask you now, I mean, being New York. I'll be dead. I don't care. So you don't care about that? It's not my job. No, but what about for the-- Somebody else will have to. No, see, that's not fair to leave it for them. For the many people who love you, who want to come visit you. Visit me? When I'm dead? Yeah.

Well, I'm not going to be very good company. True, true. You know, I used to have a bit about they, for a while they were making literally what they call a talking tombstone where they would put a message. Your voice? Yes. No. And I remember saying the joke was, you're dead. Let somebody else talk. Enough of you.

But no, I don't really care. I mean, I guess maybe when it gets closer to the time where I feel like it's happening, I'll be like, oh, shit. I haven't even really thought about cremation or burial. I don't really want my body to be eaten by worms. But then again, I'm dead. But you don't care. Do you? I do now. About mine or yours? Of course. Got to start with you. No, because I have kids.

- Oh, you do? - I don't want them to feel obligated to come to visit me. Mother's Day, my birthday, whatever, once a year. Like, I don't want them to feel that. So, and again, I don't have a hometown, so-- - You're nice.

I am really nice, actually. That's very considerate. I know, I like them. Even after you're dead, you're thinking of people. That's very nice. Before I die and after that, good luck. Okay, here's the thing. Me, I'm like, fuck you. I'm dead. No, but here's the problem. It's your problem now. No, but that's not cool, in my opinion, because you're going to leave them when you have the power to do it now. You're going to leave them having to make decisions. Okay, mom. Like, just do it for them. Okay, stop nagging me. I know, I'm not going to. If I wanted to be nagged, I'd get married.

Yeah, you've never been married. You're welcome. No, I mean, I take it as a point of pride at this point because for years it was like, oh my God, what a weirdo. And now everybody gives me a high five because they've all been through horrific divorces. Yeah. You're married? Not anymore. Oh. Yeah. I mean, it just seems, it seems not inevitable. There's certainly happy marriages.

But it takes a certain kind of person who I think is becoming rarer and rarer in the world, partly because the world changes. Things move so quickly, and there's so many things hitting your sensory organs

whatever, et cetera, things in your brain. It's not like the old days when you lived on the prairie and you only, you know, it was easy to stay with your spouse because you never met anybody else. And now you're bombarded with all this stuff. And it's very hard to reconcile, I think, this overload of stimulation in the real world. And then, you know, I mean, no marriage can stay fresh on the prairie.

I know where you're going. I feel like the look says it all. What? You just gave me that.

No, I'm actually looking forward to this conversation. Well, I mean, that's true. I mean, what marriage people-- I mean, there's no such thing-- I don't care what anybody says-- there's no such thing as hot monkey love 20 years into a marriage. There just isn't. There is I've made my peace with a kind of a married sex life. I've made my peace with it. OK. Or there's lots of sexless marriages. That just happens. Or there's cheating. It happens a lot. Or there's cheating. Or there's divorce. Those are the choices.

So if you're in a committed relationship, though, there's no difference, right? No difference between what? Well, it can still be boring in that way if you're in a committed relationship. So your point is, why would you...

Why would you sign some piece of paper? Why would you have the government involved in something like that? Especially if then you have to have potentially an ugly divorce. I mean, but if you're in a committed relationship. You better have a, I mean, if you want to be long term with someone, you better have a plan to stretch it out is my view. In other words, like I don't think you can see someone every day. It just doesn't work. That's what's going to kill it.

But that doesn't work with like kids and shit. Kids and shit, exactly. You know, it just can't be like... Well, but I actually think it's especially for people who travel for work and then one's home with the kids. I actually think that that probably does...

enhance the marriage, yeah, if you're not together 24/7, 365. - Totally. - For the kids, and ideally, I mean, the statistics say, right, with two-parent households. I mean, here's the problem, and it's not a problem. I come from, I mean, I'm so lucky. I'm so blessed. My parents have been married almost 52 years.

And they got married in 1971. Mom's white, Irish-Italian, small town in Massachusetts where she's from. My dad's black, army brat himself. And in '71, interracial couples were not allowed, were not a thing. I mean, they were just recently allowed.

What they went through-- - Well, they were legally allowed, but barely. - Legally, yes. - I think Loving, the Supreme Court Loving ruling was '67. - So yeah, it had just been a few years. - So it was a new thing. - And aside from whatever the law did or didn't say, just within their homes and my mom's family, like my mom's parents disowned her.

for marrying a black man. Right. So for them to now be 52 years in. Right. So my bar was here. And think of, I mean, look, you always have to say this in woke America. Yes, we still have a lot of work to do.

But think of how far we've come. I mean, for them. I mean, to look at TV, I mean, Biden once said this in a speech. Of course, you know, he was just rambling, but he wasn't wrong. He went off once about like, turn on the TV and you'll see like every couple in a commercial is an interracial couple now. I swear to God he did this. Oh, I believe it. Yeah. And he's not wrong. You know, that...

I mean, to come from a place in 1971 where it was barely legal and people were disowning you to where everybody in a TV commercial looks like you. Well, they force that now for sure. And every commercial is so diverse. That's a long way. But I agree. And people want to talk about, and this is where I get in trouble, people want to talk about how terrible it is now and all the things that we have gone through. We, meaning everybody. People want to big themselves up.

By thinking like, if I think it's worse than you, I'm a better person. That doesn't make you a better person to be gloamier. Be realistic. You know what I love in a person? Realism. Just tell me what it is. Because I don't deny...

The horrible side, they're still horrible in America. Lots of horrible, including racism. But the progress that's been made is significant. Significant, exactly. We're not in these people who are like, irredeemable and will never change. We have changed. I mean, I lived through it. This is the thing with young people. Like, I don't have to look it up.

I saw it. We all saw it. Lived it. Yeah, we saw it. We saw the change happen. And yes, still work to do and places to go. When Barack Obama was elected, I'll never forget the conversation with my dad and his mother, who I forgot how old she was at that point. Also biracial, Obama. Yes, which...

That topic is so fascinating to me. I hate that. Because he doesn't own that. He owns it when it's convenient. He doesn't own that, and that is his absolute right. And I've gotten in trouble for these comments before. It's his absolute right. But on that note, it is...

when he won, what my 90-some-year-old grandmother, black grandmother said, what my father said, it had nothing to do with his policies. It was the fact that this country had gotten to the point where that could happen. And that was a beautiful thing. And I didn't vote for him, but I loved... You didn't vote for Obama? I did not. Who did you vote for? McCain? Really? I did, yeah. Look, I like John McCain, but I voted for Obama. I mean, you know, John McCain was an honorable guy.

He's the only Republican I can remember that when somebody in an audience, some crazy redneck, said some shit about Obama, and we've seen this with other Republicans who just never deny it and said, you know, he's a Muslim who wants to destroy him or something, you know. And McCain didn't go, thank you, ma'am. He went, no, ma'am. No, ma'am. He's not. He's an honorable guy.

who just has different policies. I love that. I love that. It's so simple. So I like John McCain. I do too. But he would not have been a better president than Obama. I just didn't like, I didn't like. You're so lucky you lost that election. Because as soon as Obama got into office,

the economy crashed like crazy, like it hadn't since the Depression. - Yeah, right away. - And fucking no drama Obama. He just still doesn't get quite the credit he should for that. I mean, this country could still be in a depression. Mitt Romney wanted to like let General Motors go down.

you know, Obama like calmly got the money. Yes, they all hated him because he bailed out the banks. Yeah, but we'd all be wearing rags. Yes, the bankers are always going to win. Here's the thing, as I don't disagree with that at all, but to me...

and this might sound cheesy or annoying to some people, but this was literally how I was raised. It wasn't about race. As wonderful as it was that we as a country got to that point, and as, I mean, I was so happy to see him there and his wife and his beautiful daughters on the stage in Chicago. Like, I was so happy because I, even at that, at a younger age, obviously, than my father and my grandmother, to see that we had come that far.

But to me, it wasn't about this. Because if we're voting based on this, that's racist. Even if it's for the minority candidate. I'm the whole Martin Luther King, content of my character versus color of my skin. I'm an army brat. And to me, it is not about this. And so I had to put that aside, even though I loved seeing him there and respect him tremendously to this day. But I don't care what race you are. And if I do, then I'm being a hypocrite.

Now, that's my politics, too, because I'm an old school liberal. And that's the Martin Luther King liberal. That's the, by the way, the kind of the old Obama, because Obama doesn't sound today like he did when he ran. You know who sounds like Obama in 2008 is Tim Scott.

So interesting. So interesting. Fascinating. Differently, though, because his delivery is quite different from Obama. Oh, he's not nearly the politician. But he's like, you know, only in America is my story possible. And, like, racism is real, but it's not the only fucking thing. That's Obama, and that's Tim Scott. And Obama, because his party has gone way left on that issue. Mm-hmm.

I think, through a weird place. But, and that's why I always try to say there's a difference between woke and liberal. - There is. - Liberal is what we're talking about. Martin Luther King, content of their character. That's not what the woke believe. Woke believe race is the most important thing to see all the time, everywhere, in every situation. - They want to divide. They want-- - It certainly has that effect. - 100%. But because in my lifetime, we've never been this divided.

And it's never been this ugly. Period. - Isn't that crazy? - Yeah. - I know. - So, and I love what Tim Scott is saying. I love what Obama said. Martin Luther King was a Republican.

Yes. People don't talk about it. And again, that definition has changed as well. Totally. That's the thing people don't understand, I think, when they're young and they don't teach it in school anymore, so they just live in the present. And no, us older people, we do remember things. And back in our day, they taught them in school. Yes, until Kennedy died.

The Republican Party was the party that more supported the rights and aspirations of the African-American population. I mean, Dixiecrats, this is as late as 1948, walked out of the Democratic Convention because it was considering a civil rights bill. The South used to be called the Solid South. They meant the Solid Democratic South.

because they were the ones who undid Reconstruction after the Civil War. They were the ones who put in Jim Crow. Everybody in the South was a Democrat, political-wise, until Kennedy came into office and said, no, we're going to integrate, and then they switched to the Republicans.

So, you know, no one knows any of that history. Nobody does. Like none of the people who attack me don't. Yes, exactly. I know we have a lot in common, which is insane because I never thought I mean, years ago, I never thought that we would say that. But I I've been watching a ton over the last couple of years. And I think we do. And by the way, even if we didn't.

That's the thing that frustrates me the most. Who cares? Exactly. But that's also what we have in common. We both believe that. To be respectful. That's what I'm always preaching. To be respectful of each other's different opinions. Stop being in your little silos where you only want to talk to the people who are just like you. And anybody else, I'm going to unfriend you. I don't want to know. It's like, you know what? You have to. It's just like a marriage. Not that I would know. But like, I always say the three key words are not I love you. They're let it go.

You just have to let it go. You have to be able to talk to somebody and say to yourself, how can this person be so cool and so smart and so right about A, B, C, D, and then E? They're completely nuts. They want to vote for Trump, you know, or whatever it is. And they're saying the same thing about you. And you have to be okay with going, yeah, okay, A, B, C, D, and E.

I let it go. I can't. We're all different. Get over yourself, people. So that's the hypocrisy, I think, in where we are today. And in particular, with that woke side that preaches all of it.

diversity and tolerance and acceptance and inclusion. And to me, and I've been saying this a lot lately, I remember I did a speech at my alma mater. I went to Indiana University probably 12 or 13 years ago. And there were some things in the news, I don't remember what, but it was, I came up with the title of my speech, "Practice diversity, but mean it."

And who knew that all these years later... So that's where it begins for me. And so when we silence you because of our opinions and our positions on things, that is so hypocritical. And I'm just going to say, based on my experience, the people who are the most guilty of that are obviously, in my position being more...

more center-right, definitely more on the conservative side, are from the left. But it's not just disagreeing. It's attacks. It's death threats. It's threatening to rape my daughters. It's another level of ugliness that to me is inexcusable. But here's the thing. What has happened is quite often when those threats come and when it gets super ugly and then you get canceled on Twitter X,

That's happened so many times now, I'm like, bring it. Like, I'm so not afraid anymore. But what they expect is for you to be afraid and to just go quiet and run from it. And that's what I did, and many people do, and I see why, because it can be very costly in many ways. But the beautiful thing to me is when you realize, wait a minute, they took me down, and they tried, and I'm still here, and I'm back again and again.

they just believe that you're eventually gonna go away and be scared away. And I get it because it usually works. And then they don't know what to do when you're no longer freaking afraid. - Another thing we very much have in common is-- - It makes me crazy, but no one will talk about it and the hypocrisy in it. - Well, I talk about it. - Yeah, you do. - Not you specifically, but I will now. Club Random is brought to you by the audio marketing gurus at Radioactive Media.

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Head to factormeals.com slash random50 and use code random50 to get 50% off. That's code random50 at factormeals.com slash random50 to get 50% off. I mean, if you're talking about the vaccine stuff, we're almost exactly on that, not just the same page, I think, but also the same history because...

You had a show they wouldn't let you do unless you got the vaccine. And my life absolutely-- I would never have been allowed near that building if I didn't get the vaccine, or to work on the road doing stand-up in theaters.

That was where people were in 2021. So there was just no, and I didn't want it. I didn't, I'm not an anti-vaxxer. I recommend it to people who have comorbidities. If you're obese, if you're 90, whatever, but it should be your decision with your doctor. We're talking about Obama. His big thing was, if you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor. What fucking good is that if I can't

Take my doctor's advice. And thousands of doctors dissented, many more because they're intimidated from talking out. But even the ones who did, I mean, it was just a giant case called Missouri versus Biden. I don't know if you saw that, but two doctors, Jay Bhattacharya and Martin Kulldorff, they're esteemed, brilliant people in their field. They dissented on how we handled this. And they were...

The lawsuit which they won in federal court says, yes, the government colludes with tech companies to silence anybody who doesn't want to put out your version. And we're talking about medical science. It is something that is, of course,

Of course debatable. That's what science means. So it was great that a court finally recognized this. It's disgusting, though. And, you know, we should have been allowed to, like, continue our lives and treat our bodies. I mean, I'm not saying vaccines are evil. I'm just saying that one for that disease for my body wasn't right. It would be like telling everybody to take antibiotics. Yes.

Yes. I mean, we're not wrong. We are-- They want to shut us up because they know they're not right. They know that we are right. And they know that now things are being discovered and it's getting out. I remember May of 2020.

I always stay up late and listen to podcasts late at night, folding laundry, whatever. And I remember, I forgot which podcast I was listening to, but there was a doctor on from the Mayo Clinic. There's no one that fits better with folding laundry. Obviously. Come on. Wouldn't you rather be in club random than be with the penis microphone? Come on, it's

There's a lot there that you could say. There's just... Yes, but the good thing is now I know where to find you. Exactly. Now I know where to come to Club Random. Yes. There's so many good people that we already did to listen to. I know. I've been listening. I saw Stephen Jay defended you. He was here once. We got drunk. I didn't know Stephen A. Stephen A. Yeah, Stephen A. Stephen Jay. I'm doing a Biden thing.

Did you see him try to say LL? So you put LL called J and for Stephen A. Say what you want about Trump. He remembers it's Kanye. Yes, he does. He certainly does. I interviewed Biden right after he was elected. Really? Yeah. Wow. And it was taped. It was for the 6 p.m. For ESPN? Mm-hmm.

It was right before the Major League Baseball All-Star game. Of course. Which they ended up moving out of Atlanta, if you recall, because of the alleged racist voting rules, which is insane and so stupid. Well, they did have egg on their face for that one because they did polling afterwards, and I think I'm getting this correct, 0%.

of people, including people of color, said they had a bad voting experience. Of course. Of course. It's so stupid. But by the way, that's so racist. That could have been because they shone such a light on it that they dared not. No, I don't think so. Give me a break. Good, good. Argue with me. No, give me a break. That is so stupid. That, for the people to say that it's racist to have people to show a freaking ID to vote

What? Because-- I agree. Because we're not-- as black people, we're not smart enough to remember our driver's license? It's so funny when the woke do these things that they think are so not racist that are then-- It's actually racist. Yeah, same thing with the-- they constantly conflate black people committing violence with police being bad to black people. Like, let's pull the police out.

Well, that hurts the people, you know, the people who need help the most. Yes. Who have legitimate businesses. It's almost like they're picturing that. Oh, well, of course, who are the cops going to be bad to? The criminals. And who are they? Like, it's so racist to do that. And of course, they have polling on this, too. More African-Americans want more policing than white people do. Of course.

This is the great story. In Minneapolis, they either fired, I forget, or so many cops quit after the George Floyd murder. Okay. Well, they were trying to defund completely after that, too. So, of course, what did the...

cops who weren't working for the police force do. They hired themselves out as private security. Yes. Where? In white neighborhoods that now felt unsafe because there weren't enough cops. Yes. So again, racism solved. Yes. So honestly, they show their stupidity. They're so stupid.

Constantly. Constantly. And that whole thing in Atlanta was just ridiculous. And so I was interviewing Biden leading up to that. And I had to ask him if he supported, you know, pulling the game out of there. But the story was, honestly, I don't like him. I think he's a terrible president. However, forget that. The human aspect of what we're witnessing right now with him, to me, is heartbreaking and it's inexcusable. Right. By the family.

When you knew during the election, and that was my point, is so we're taping it, not live. For my live show, it was like, let's tape this. And it is the president of the United States. So I was okay taping. Usually, I hate taping. Live, live, live, go, react, just whatever. Same thing with me. I'm better live. Me too. It's just the pressure. I don't know what it is. We're the same person. We're sickos is what we are if we like it live better. The adrenaline rush. So we had a technical issue. I'm like, really? Like, why?

The leader of the free world is sitting here, and it was satellite, it wasn't in person. We're having a technical issue. And so I had to BS, I had to chit chat in waiting for us to start rolling. - To him? - Yes.

And so-- Ask him about corn pop. What? He told-- he once told this long story about-- it's-- never mind. Corn pop. You got to look-- OK, I have to look that up. Google it. Well, what he started to do-- of course, he has someone next to him, and he-- they keep--

a black curtain over the lens of the camera so you can't see him until the last second. But you can hear, and we're chit-chatting, and we're protecting him. Maybe they do it with all the presidents. I don't know. I've only interviewed one. So I could hear him, and I heard him, and he goes, what is this for? And I'm sitting there going, because

Because my mic's on, everybody's listening in the control room. Wow. And he's like, who am I talking to? Oh. Wait, what's her name? And I was like, oh. This is like a naked gun movie. Yes, I was going, oh my God. And then he's like, he said, SportsCenter, ESPN. And they told me, he goes, oh, OK. And so I said, you know, what do you say? Hi, Mr. President. Right. Nice to meet you. And so I'm trying to just fill time.

And he said, you know, I used to play football. And I'm like, yes, I know that. And now I think it was Delaware, University of Delaware, I believe. I didn't know that. Yes. And so he started to tell football stories of his greatness. And I just was, again, I can't see him. You can see the curtain moving. And that was the theme of the stories, that he was great?

- At football? - At football. - He was the hero in the story? - And then he said, he said, he goes, "And I had the best hands." What do you say to that? - Well, ironically, Clinton used to say the same thing.

So if it was Clinton, trust me, you wouldn't have any trouble chit-chatting. He would have been all over that. I would have preferred to keep it via satellite versus in person for Clinton as well. And then I said, oh, so you were a receiver? And he started to explain it. And here's the saddest thing. His voice just trailed off. He said, I was good. And then he went silent. And he goes, oh.

Never mind. No, you're laughing. I thought it was so sad because I realized that's why he was in his basement during the whole election cycle. Because even then, he couldn't finish his sentences. He struggled. So forget about politics. I don't care. I didn't vote for him. However, that made me sad to realize-- So you didn't vote for Biden either? No.

And that's okay. Thank you. I still love you. Okay, thank you. And also... No, no, hell no, I didn't vote for Biden. And look, look what we have. Even with the choice being Trump. Yes. But see, that's A, B, C, D, E. That's just the E. You gotta accept the E. It's okay. It is. I will never really understand it or him or half the country. But you know what? I love people who have crazy E's. But I also think that

Everyone, and this is how I've learned to remain, my relationships and friendships and relationships with family members is just who cares about the political stuff or else you're going to have those rifts. But I really think that what we fail to realize is

is everybody has a reason why they vote for Trump. They don't vote for Biden, whatever it is. Absolutely. And I think if we don't respect their reasons, which are what? Based on their experiences, then we are being closed-minded ourselves. Well, it's funny you bring that up because, you know, CNN is kind of like having a hard time. Yeah. And we were doing something on CNN, my real-time show was CNN,

We do something called Overtime, which was for the internet. And it's changed now that we've been off. And CNN has new leadership and so forth. But we were doing sort of a lightning round or whatever of real time on CNN. So I kind of got involved with CNN. And I think the world needs a good CNN. And my advice to them was just what you said.

The problem with, I feel, what goes on in CNN is like Trump did that town hall and the audience fucking ate it up. Yep. I mean, they said it was a Republican and, I guess, Republican-leaning audience, or maybe they said independent. Whatever it was, they didn't dislike him from the beginning, but they just adored. And he's a good guy.

Performer. Trip. You know, she looks, it's a thankless job, the CNN. I would not want that job. I would not want that either. He's just, he's just who he is. He's, as my friend says, I always quote this, insanity photographs. The insane are charismatic. Hitler was insane. Charismatic.

No, really. I don't know enough about Hitler to know he was charismatic. I believe he was insane. Well, he was charismatic. Was he? I mean, to get elected like that, oh, absolutely mesmerizing. They have the footage. They made the movies. You know, look at Triumph of the Will. He just, look, the country was in a place like this country where there's a lot of resentment that he played on. But to be the guy who can play that fiddle, yes, it takes a certain kind of insane evil genius.

Well, and they're all egomaniacs, and it's all about them. I got to meet Trump. Got to. I know you'd like that. I didn't mean to say that. I met him, too. Okay, what did you think? Well, I met him before he was president. Oh, oh, oh. Once was at the... Oh, God, this is the dating of me and him. Like, he hasn't changed. Okay, but this is probably, like, 25 years ago, 20 years ago, when I used to go to the Playboy Mansion parties.

Everybody thought I lived there. Here, right around here. Right around here. I went there once. You went there once? I did. Super Bowl party. Not like a private Friday night invitation. Let me clarify. I didn't think you were in Haps Haram. Although now I'm single. What the hell, right? But that was a different era. I mean, I was in a different era.

I enjoyed them, but I only went like five times a year. There was like five parties they had. They had a Halloween party, they had a New Year's party, and they had the famous Midsummer Night's Dream party where your women were. I mean, everybody does it now. They wear it to fucking Walmart. But I mean, back then, it was like a big thing for a woman to wear lingerie out at night. Yeah. Okay, so that was the Midsummer Night's Dream party where you're

Men wore whatever. They wore the bed and women wore the lingerie. And he was there and he was in his power suit with the red tie. No, he wasn't. Yeah, he was. And you're wearing what? I was a cool smoking jacket. Okay, that's cool.

Because I always loved smoking jackets, and I have some great ones. And that's what I was wearing. Everybody was in some sort of sleepwear. And he walked around. He did like a couple of laps as I woke up. I feel like I saw him. Like the laps he did around Hillary on the stage, like that? Yeah, like a shark just going around the pool. I don't know what. And, you know, he was, I've heard this from everybody who knew him. He was charming. Yes. You know, he was a guy who really,

He did, and ironically, he didn't seem like an egomaniac, quite the opposite. It was like, you know, he tried, you could tell he wanted to make friends. Yeah.

I think he's human, despite, you know, I do. I do. I think they all are, even the ones I don't like. Like, even, that's what I mean, that moment with Biden. He is human, but he is insane. You know that. Oh, I do. I mean, like, actually crazy. So many of the things he does are just only a crazy person would do. I don't disagree. And I was always thoroughly entertained by Twitter.

and the craziness that he put out on Twitter. I'll say this, when I met him last summer and it was at his golf course in Jersey Bedminster, it was with the Live Golf Tour. And it was unexpected, to say the least. I didn't know I was going to be meeting him. And I walked in and I had already begun my lawsuit

against Disney and ESPN when they punished me. And so I was introduced to him and they said, "Yes, she's doing Disney." And all of a sudden, I was like, "Oh, let's have a conversation." And it was quick, whatever. I had a couple interesting stories to share with him. And immediately, you know what he wanted to talk about? Football. And that's my language.

I mean, remember USFL and Trump? And so we got into a great, I mean, as a sportscaster, we got into a great conversation about Justin Fields in particular, who's now the Chicago Bears quarterback, who was the Ohio State quarterback, who was part of the real push of athletes in college during COVID that pushed for the sport to come back. And when college football came back, the

The rest of the sports, the NBA followed. And Trump was responsible for helping bring sports back based on continuing to talk to commissioners and athletic directors and athletes. And so Justin Fields had been one of the kids talking to Trump, begging him to get him back. And so I'm just saying that it was cool to have a football conversation with him. He brought the sport of football back.

Quickly, I'm going to give him a point for that. Now let's go to where he was at the beginning of the crisis. It's nothing. It's not going to happen. He completely fucking shit the bed when it was entering the country. Plainly, it was going to happen. We got it completely under control. It'll never happen here. I mean, how the how the disease originated. That's another which he was right about the whole time.

You mean talking about the lab? Mm-hmm. And everyone denied it. Well, look, I, from the beginning, was always on the page, we don't know. But stop saying I can't say it might be the lab because it absolutely might be. And of course, as time goes by, it is now at least 50-50.

Right now? Yes. It's well beyond 50-50. That's your opinion because I believe that too, but that is not something, you cannot get a consensus of people to believe that. Well, because we also won't report all the facts. Of course, that's what you and I believe and know. But the consensus is, again, right, because a lot of this is suppressed. But if you just ask the man on the street, they would not...

they would not give you that answer. Well, it depends on which street. It depends on which street. Because here, you're right. I think in many other parts of the country, it's wrong. And I also think that people then, sure, I mean, even me, you laugh at some things, you roll your eyes, and two years, three years, I guess, when you think back to 2020, have made a massive difference. Here's the thing. I hate the way all of it was handled. What I do try to do is think back to...

that time and when everybody said, "Oh my God, it's coming," shut down. I have a cousin who's really, who pays attention to everything and this is in January of 2020. He's like, "Listen, order your hazmat suits. There's these masks called N95." - Oh, jeez. - "Go to Home Depot." Like, 'cause everybody thought the world was ending. - Washing the mail? - Correct. Leaving your packages on the front step for a week, like stupid. I didn't do that. I wanted the package. I needed my Amazon stuff.

But point being, no one knew. And at that point, we all said, fine, we'll flatten the curve. Let's stay home. I left work. I had just gotten divorced. I had my three kids at home. So it was all new, and we're shut down in freaking Connecticut, New England, because the rules there were a lot different than in other states, certainly. So you just got divorced. I had just gotten divorced. Well, that's better than if you were about to get divorced, and you'd have been trapped with the enemy. Okay, everyone talk to us about how many people's

questionable marriages were solidified, like we're done with things to COVID. - Right. - Or maybe went the other way. We had just finished it. - Right. - My point is at that time, nobody knew. We didn't know what we didn't know. And it was something unprecedented. - Well. - I try not to judge 'cause it's easy to Monday morning quarterback and go back, even with Biden. - I was never afraid of it. - Of what? - COVID.

I was for two weeks, and that's it. And then I wasn't either. I was never. Like those first two weeks when they said, if you go inside. Because I knew people had already had it. Sure. I remember I got sick. Thanksgiving, I was going to go someplace. I was really looking forward to going on Thanksgiving 2019. And maybe it was just a cold.

But, you know, many, many people got it. We had known that even in the beginning, or we suspected it. And we're not affected at all. Right. And that's still true today. I mean, these people are not, like, talked about a lot. But there are people who are just very healthy with very strong immune systems. And all COVID for them was just one day they got up and they felt a little off. Yeah.

a little off because your immune system is, you know, that's the police force and the bacteria and the fungus, that's the criminals. And, you know, it depends on what state your police force is in. And, you know, there are police forces that just like Beverly Hills, they don't

When we had the riots here, they asked the Beverly Hills belief chief, you know, what would he do if the riot got to Beverly Hills? And he said, we simply wouldn't allow that. Thank you. I was like, I want to live there. I love it. Hello. That's exactly where I want to live, you know? No, I wasn't. I was never afraid. I was concerned. And again, all we had was what was being reported. But then after a couple of weeks, first of all, I wasn't.

I was getting on planes the entire time. I was-- I-- The entire-- I was going down to Florida to the beach, and I'm like, I'm out of here. I'm not staying in this. I will not go into specifics, but my friends thought I was trying to get it.

Can you give me one specific? No, I cannot. But I mean, look, this could possibly just be coincidence, but I was fine for the 14 months when it was out there, when I didn't have the vaccine. Then I got the vaccine and I got it like a month later. Oh, me too. And of course it wasn't serious when I got it. And I always say, perhaps the vaccine spared me from a very, uh,

serious bout. I don't think that's the case, but it's possible. We just don't know. And anybody who says they know the definitive answer to that question is lying. And this was always my thing with vaccines was I'm not against them. It's just that there's so much we don't understand about the human body and the vaccine's role in that, that I'm more afraid of cancer than I am

of COVID. So am I saying COVID causes cancer? Of course not. I'm saying we don't know what causes cancer. We don't know what confluence of things that affect us, especially in the modern world, in a way stuff never did before.

So many thousands of chemicals that were never in our system before. Mercury and lead, you know, the metals in our body, electromagnetic energy. The cell phone doesn't happen from magic. Of course. You know, there are people who like are driven mad, you know, by the waves from cell phones. And there's like one little place that's

I saw a documentary on this in West Virginia where there's no fucking signals. Normal times, never anything. And they all live there, like in the woods to get away from it. They like it. And now the cell phone companies are like, no, every place has to happen. They're literally going to drive these people crazy. So I'm just saying we don't know what causes this.

Cancer, Parkinson's, a million things they just haven't figured out. So don't fucking tell me that you people who haven't figured shit out how I should treat my body.

Especially considering, I know, I'm first of all so grateful that you've said this for all this time because you've been consistent with it. And so few people have. And I wanted to hug you through my... Sounds like you faced even worse things than I did. Oh, it's insanity. These threats to your children, that is so unconscionable, especially from the people who see themselves as the good people.

We just assume Trump's bad. And by the way, Trump is bad. But, okay, but, yeah, he is bad. That doesn't make you the good people if you do things like threaten children. No, they're hypocrites. Children? When they go on social media to find my kids. You know, the fact that they're willing to drag children into all their political squabbles, the fact that a lot of the LGBT community

you know, battles are being fought because, well, we want to do this with and, you know, tell children about this at this age. And, you know, I feel like it's, you know, we used to leave children out of the battle. Forget who's right or wrong on which side of the battle. And by the way, like everything, I think there could be a sensible middle position, like, of course, trans is a real thing. Of course.

But it's also trendy right now. You know, like both things are true. If you're a reasonable person, you get that. Of course. We didn't, you know, one of my daughters, my youngest, this is probably two years ago. How old is she? She's now 17. 17? You have a 17? 17, 19, and 21. When are people going to... I have a legal drinker, a 21-year-old.

Just one more thing on the biracial thing. When are people going to realize, especially the people who like want to divide us even more, that almost always the biracial people are gorgeous. I don't know about that. Name one bad one.

Derek Jeter, Mariah Carey. I mean, I could list like so many people. So awkward. Yes. Obama. Just because nature wants us to fuck far apart from anyone who like we could be related. Oh, my God. I can't. Well, that does happen in royal families. I mean, the Egyptians.

That dynasty fell. Yes. Not that I have to tell our listeners, partly because they were so royal. Talk about privilege. They were so royal that they could only like fuck their brother or sister. Stop. Like nobody else got into the VIP. I swear to God. So they were like sister fucking. And of course...

You know, eventually the Egyptians were being-- Coming back to Beijing? Yeah, being ruled by, you know, slobbering fools, you know, like Trump. Oh, my-- oh, my god!

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I love it that you love Trump. I do. No, you don't. I do. It's so much more interesting.

Okay, what is interesting about it though? It's honest. It's honest and also- Wait, wait, wait, can I correct one thing? I don't love him. There's a big difference in voting for someone and loving them because by the way- Well, you don't hate him and I do. I don't love any politician. I think there's always a screwless with all of them because who would want to do that? And we're grateful because somebody needs to, but the way that it has been done, I don't care on which side.

is despicable in most ways. I don't love him, I don't hate him. - I hate him. - I know, you made that clear. I've been watching you for so long. - It's okay. - But here's the thing though, what I have been able to do, well I forced myself to do, no matter who it is, separate who they are as people

and whatever they've done in the past, their track record, as my dad used to say, from their policies. And I literally try to vote based on what they believe in, what they're saying, hopefully we can believe what they're saying, right? And making my decisions based on that, because I think most all of them are crappy human beings. Well...

Some of them, yes. I mean, crappy, it does attract crappy because power. A hundred percent. And again, that thing I said before, you don't have to actually be good at anything. Right. You just have to want it and get elected class president. It is kind of an amazing thing.

I just think it's important, and I don't think most people can separate. And they go with their feelings, and our feelings don't freaking matter. So no matter how much you hate or love someone, what are they doing that is not just best for you and your family, but for the country and our national security and our economy? And so I just try to separate and not look at the crazy.

I have a habit on this show, not that it's really a show. This is a show. This is a show. I like getting ideas for people in their career, but I swear to God, I just had a brainstorm. You should be on The View. Hell no. They should pay you, they should like... I've been on The View, and it didn't go so well.

Because you know what? At The View, they don't want your view. They only want theirs and their bullshit. And the problem is they've never had anybody who's smart enough to actually say it the way you're saying it. I disagree with that. I don't. Who? Elizabeth Hasselbeck.

I love her and she's smart, but guess what when you're four on one. No they Yeah, you're born one and and I've experienced it I felt it and they were nice to me relatively speaking whoopee was very nice to me Jenny McCarthy this is whoopee Jenny McCarthy Sherri Shepherd and Barbara Walters and They were great to me Barbara whatever the other three were great and I

What I know for a fact, I did it four times, and then they had me audition when they were making changes again. They 100% are full of it. They don't want to hear your view if you think differently than they do. And they are fine telling lies on that stage and that set. And because they know that if someone calls them on it, then they're just going to talk over them and have the audience clap and go to break. So the show to me is despicable. And it makes me sad because the potential...

For 20-some years, I respect the length that they've done it, but the potential is incredible, and they've ruined it. But I think you could handle it.

You know what, though? It's exhausting. Like, do we want to walk into that every day? And I think that, to me, I'm trying. Yes, because it's like. They don't want me there. They won't even call. I'm telling you. I worked for ABC. I worked for them for 16 years. They didn't want my view. I was under the same umbrella of Disney. They easily could have called me, especially the last several years when these conversations have to take place. You're so right. They won't call me. Why? Right. Because they know. They know that I'm not afraid. They don't want that.

I mean, so no, thank you. I've had the most amazing run with HBO and I love them dearly for it. Yeah. You know, the show wasn't that good the first year they stuck with it, things like that. And, you know, I'm not somebody who's ever going to win them an Emmy. I mean, that's just, and we've made our peace with that. But I always, you know, live under the sword of Damocles also. I feel like

When you say the things that we're saying, which are ironically not really always conservative. I mean, maybe you are a little more than I am, but just sort of like commonsensical. And how can you argue with that shit? They don't want to hear it. They don't. And I always, I never decorate my office because I always think, I mean, I've been fired once by a network. I always think tomorrow could be the last day. As long as I am going to do what I do, now so far it's working, but yes, it could just

But you've got to get back on because this is exactly what the country needs. It's like somebody who you can't say they're a hick or they're dumb. It's like, come on, man. Can you just listen to everybody? Maybe they have a point. I don't think. And number one, thank you because that means a lot from you. You'll do real time, please. Will you?

You'd be great on a real-time panel. Really? Of course. You'll have me. Yes, you're doing me a favor. I'm always looking. I mean, it's hard to find good panelists for real-time. It wasn't for my old show, The Politically Incorrect Show, because, you know, the whole point of it was, let's mix the idiots with people who know things, and it'll be funny. And it works. Yeah, it did. It was funny. Some people to this day say they...

like it better than the one I do now, which is way better. But that's what they see. That's what they see. But no, but real time, we need people who know their shit, know shit, know things, that old...

thing that people used to do, know things, and can speak in a way that's not conventional. It's what I'm always looking at. It's called real time for a reason. You know, people who just, I do not want to hear the talking points of the left or the right. I have, you know, my little group of people, we're going back Friday. And, you know, it's Sam Harris and

DeSantis is at the top of the show. Is he? Yeah. Awesome. Yeah, isn't that awesome? Wow, that's awesome. I have a lot of things I don't like about him, and I love the COVID shit. So good. He wasn't wrong.

I said it then. My audience, who was like, yeah, you know what? He read a lot about it. And he handled it way better than the guy in New York. That was a disaster. And the New York Times did a hit job on him that was so disingenuous. But see, the fact that you're saying this. Okay, let's name one other person in your industry, in Hollywood, who...

is, okay, pretty well known for being more on the left, right? Yes. Correct? Not right? The left? Oh, I still get attacked for being crazy liberal. Yeah. Sure, but for looking at each situation independently. Yes, and issue by issue. Each issue. I don't agree with, yeah, I don't know like a lot of what DeSantis has done. He campaigned for election deniers. That I do not forgive.

Sorry, I go into the Godfather. But yeah, but on COVID, why can't you admit? This New York Times article was so... It's disgusting. Because they ran a headline saying, basically, I don't remember what it said word for word, but it was, you know, he fucked up the...

the pandemic. And then way at the end, it says Florida did better than most States in America. It's like, if that's the, if that's in the article, shouldn't that really be the headline? Of course it should. And that's what breaks my heart. They cherry picked like a three month period during like the Omicron or whatever, right? There were so many, um,

But does it surprise you, though? Like, this doesn't surprise me one bit. Well, the New York Times didn't used to be that newspaper. Correct. They didn't used to. But I feel like over the last, honestly, since 2016, that's when everything has kind of gone south. Because of Trump. Because of your guy. Because when one poll is insane, it's going to generate insanity everywhere.

- In a mirror image. - Yeah, but how about we act like adults and control ourselves and not allow that to happen? - Well, okay. - No, like again, just talk about the facts. - You're right. - One of the things, and with DeSantis, I mean, did anyone actually take the time to read the "Don't Say Gay" bill?

Right. Those words were not in there. This has nothing to do with not saying the words gay. And what did everybody do? The media tapped at that. Look at what ended up happening with Disney, which is ongoing. And those words were never once uttered. What he was doing was what every parent, my kids are old now, older, whatever.

is to say, you know what? Maybe we don't need to be talking about this in third grade. Right. And so, but they turned that bill into something completely political and it was BS and no one stopped and called them on it. And the New York Times and all of those

Raps that should have done it that we had their comp right our conference for all those years right now So now they wonder why we don't trust exactly because read it. I said the same thing I said they could have called the don't say gay bill. Let's go back to what we were doing five years ago bill

Yeah. I mean, it wasn't that. They act like it was the post-Civil War period when we were so primitive, when we didn't think every baby was a jump ball as to what. Okay, look at the sports analogy coming in. Exactly. Well, I love sports. Oh, I know you do. I love it. Well, the big three. No hockey. No hockey. No fucking soccer. Why did that make you angry when I said hockey? Because I'm an American. Oh, my God.

M-E-R-I-C-A-N. American. American. Yes. Okay, can I say this, though? Baseball, football, basketball, those are sports, not soccer. The hockey players, though, the NHL players. And tennis. What? Tennis. You like tennis. Well, I watch the finals of, like, Wimbledon and the big ones. Okay. I mean, that's great. So that's not American, then, if it's Wimbledon and Australian Open. No, but it's...

And it's not even an American sport, right? It's British. I mean, now it's dominant. So is baseball originally. Well, and now certainly with the Latin American influence on baseball. So you were always a sports nut? Oh, yeah. Wait, let me tell you this, though. NHL, those guys, by far, of the four professional sports in North America, the best to deal with. Yeah, let me clarify. The best. I know what you're doing. No, no. You just said the best. I don't know. What? What?

The best to deal with, the most kind. Who? Hockey players? Hockey players. They're so accommodating. Their sport sucks and it's boring. Their sport does not suck. They're such incredible athletes. You know what? Watch hockey with Donald Trump. I don't care. I don't think Donald Trump watches hockey. No, but you do and that's great. I actually don't watch that much anymore. I really don't spend kind of night. Okay. No, football. And I agree because I've never been big into soccer. I haven't.

I knew enough to do my job. Yeah. And I appreciated it. Soccer's another one like hockey. No, but I'm football, basketball, like you. I'm the same. Yeah. Yeah. Come on, man. Did you watch, did you ever watch the Ken Burns show?

Oh, his amazing documentaries. Did you watch that? Yeah, I watched, well, not all of it. Really? Yeah, and it's a shame because I know the history. Well, it is because, well, basically, I was having too many kids. I was literally like, I was in survival mode. I wasn't accusing you. No, because for me, it was one of those things like,

As a sports lover and a baseball lover, the history, the historical part of baseball, you have to have watched all that. So it's on the list. It is interesting. Yeah. I mean, it really is a story of America at that time, you know, the whole racial aspect to it. I mean, and, you know, Ken Burns, he's pretty amazing. Oh, gosh. Yeah. Brilliant. And think about it. There's very few, well, there's no other sports that have had that done, that kind of a historical look done.

back at how it began and how it's evolved. No other sport has that. Really? I mean, what other doc do you have? You have the NFL films that does great pieces. Yeah, you're right. But no one else has taken that kind of a look back. And football doesn't go back that far. Yeah, not compared to baseball. I mean, really, just the 1920s. Right. You know, that's a century. Yeah, that's it. Yeah. But the history within that is really awesome. I'm sure Netflix will be working on it now.

- That they should. - So where are you gonna land? You have to be on TV. You're really too good at this. But, you know, I would never, if I didn't sit down and talk to you today, I would never have guessed that you had this breadth beyond sports because that's what we saw you do. - Well, no, thank you. Here's the thing. I had a job.

And my job was to talk about sports, to interview athletes and analysts, and to have those conversations. And I think when you're on ESPN,

or your job is a sportscaster, I'll stay in my lane. I think it's important to do. And when we got out of our lane, that's when I had a problem with what our network did, because then you'd start to divide. So I thought it was super important to stick to that while at work and to go deep on those stories and interviews. And we did two hours live every day. And we write everything that we do. It's a...

real grind, but I loved it. And so I shouldn't have inserted my other beliefs about other things into my job. I think there's other platforms now to do that, but that gets a little bit-- - What about a Club Random podcast? - Wait, are you offering me a-- - Absolutely. - What? - Yeah, we're gonna start having other podcasts under the Club Random umbrella. - Well, to talk about what? - This, everything. What's in the news, not just sports.

- That's-- - Because I don't wanna do just sports. - I love it still. - Well, once again, we're in agreeance. Because I feel like-- but I do feel like sports does-- this is why I wanted to do it as a kid. It brings us together. You know what? When Aaron Rodgers was here, we had, I thought, the most lovely talk about that, and he was, you know, always charming and truthful. He's great. And I said, "You know,

Sports is a place where we really see races together because the players are black and white. And certainly in two of them, majority black. Baseball, they're always like,

Trying to make an issue out of like, there's less black baseball players. It's like, so what? This would be an issue if there were less black ballplayers than there were 20 years ago because we were barring them. But we're not barring them. They're choosing to play other sports or no sports at all. They're not into baseball. This is not an issue. It's not. We are. Right. Not we. They are creating it. Right. Again. Again.

Okay, so this is the kind of common sense stuff. I'm telling you, America needs to hear. And I think there's just, there's got to be an audience that's enormous for this because so many people come up to me and say, you know, just the common sense. I appreciate you just, you know, that like,

the people who are sick of the liars on the fringes. -Right. -Both fringes. I truly believe that more people think like we do. Even if you're on the right or the left of, you know, of the middle, for the most part, I think the vast majority of people agree with us in that you can have different opinions, but let's have

calm, professional, not even professional, just kind, leading with kindness with our discussions. And you don't have to freak out and scream and yell. And, oh, by the way, okay, I might be able to talk a hell of a lot of things about football, but, you know, I'm a mother. Right. I'm an Army brat. I care so much about our country. I always got along well with Army kids. Why? Because they're not spoiled little kids.

bitches, you know, because they grew up with a military father and they just have a decorum. - So we're down to earth. - You know, they just, there's a few institutions left, I hate to say this, but the Catholic schools

I can usually tell if someone went to Catholic school because even though it's the religious school, ironically, it's the last one that like teaches kids actual shit and doesn't put up with nonsense. So kids like no grammar and spelling and they can form a sentence. God forbid. You know, like the old stuff that they used to do in school when I went, Catholic schools.

Funnily, ironically, the last place. That's why lots of people who aren't Catholic try to get their kids into that school because they're like, yeah, they'll treat their kids the way kids should be treated. Yeah, and guess what? You're not going to be a furry and pee in a litter box outside the classroom either. And one of my kids, I was sitting there, like the pronoun thing, and she said about one of her friends, I won't say the name, and she said, well, Mom, she's a they now.

And I about pulled the car over. I'm like, you didn't even know what a bleeping pronoun was until a year ago. Like, stop. We're not doing this. So in Catholic schools, you're right. That's not what it is. They are based more in reality. And oh, by the way, facts. Which is ironic since they're not based in reality because they're religious. It's so ironic. Oh, I forgot. That's great. Oh, yes. I'm an atheist. You're a Christian. I'm an atheist.

You're a Christian. I'm a Catholic, yeah. Oh, Catholic. Me too. I was raised Catholic. But then who was Jewish? My mother. Your mother was Jewish, but you found out late. Correct. And not until I was 13. My mother didn't go to church with us. And I was just so, I think, traumatized by the experience of having to go and catechism that I never thought, why doesn't she go? Because she just didn't always go. It's funny with kids. Like if you don't point out something specifically, they just think that's the way it is. Moms don't go to church.

I never asked. Isn't that funny? So you were raised--

Catholic. Catholic in what way then? We went to fucking catechism in church. It was a nightmare. I'm sorry. So you went to church, but she didn't. With my father and my sister. And why didn't she go? Because she's the Jew. We left at home because that's funny. Here's something we have in common. When my parents got married, even though it wasn't an interracial marriage, it was almost as controversial. Sure. They got married in 1951. Same thing. Both families.

did not want to have anything to do with the other family. The Catholics were like, marrying a Jew? You mean the people who killed our Lord? And the Jews were like, what? You're bringing the goyim into... I can't do a Jewish act. But I mean, it was not considered... If you do it, that could be racist. Be careful.

We know we... Well, we're not the types to get into trouble, are we? Never. Never, never. I used to be that person. I used to be a goody two-shoes, and now that's a very boring life. I am telling you, you would afford me some credibility, right? Okay. I'm telling you, just talking sports is a waste of your talent. You really have to get on this tip. Well...

Spill the tea. I honestly don't want to do just that anymore because here's the thing. I am so, I'm not just saying it.

i was 11 years old when i told my parents i wanted to be a sportscaster and then i got in high school i wanted to be at espn i literally achieved my childhood dream and then some and did things i never dreamt of of hosting our nba finals or super bowl coverage and the masters where me at the masters and no women who look like me were at the masters just the name the masters so i've done things which apparently that's okay but fine i i've done things

things I never beyond what I dreamt of and I now know that there's really nothing left and oh by the way I don't work there anymore it's over and you know so I can tell you this because I've had some time now I've been gone from ESPN for six weeks even though I knew it was coming it was still traumatic almost and there's a lot of years right how many years 16 16 that's a chunk

And I gave my life as a mother, too. But I have zero regrets, and I wouldn't change a thing, even the crap. But I do know now that the ups and downs and the more recent downs prepared me in many ways for what I hope is next, and that is...

being the next Bill Maher and doing-- -I'm telling you, you have to do a part. -Because I'm not afraid. Like, I don't care anymore because I know-- -You just said it. -Yeah, I'm not afraid. That's what I'm looking for in this casting situation. That's what I strive to do and be. That's what I want. That's my brand.

Well, you've proven that. Yes, I have. But I don't know anyone else who has. Well, no, there are people who have. Well, yes. Oh, I don't want to say, well. No, because it's a compliment to these people. Yes, it is a compliment. Who else? I mean, I think Howard Stern.

speaks his mind, even though I often-- not often, actually, but, you know, COVID stuff that we disagree. Very much so, yeah. But I think he's, you know, a voice that matters. He does not pull a punch. Correct, yeah. He just doesn't care. Yeah. If we're talking about what we're talking about, which is like challenging conventional wisdom-- Yes. That-- the field narrows. But I'm sure there are-- no, there are-- let's--

I have them on my show, I'm sure. I just, most of the ones that I've been around,

aren't willing to do this. Barry Weiss started a media company called Free Press, and they are writing things that sound like the way we're talking. I totally agree. Like, let's just get the fucking truth out. Yes. Let's keep it real. Based on what happened at the New York Times, and being like me, being silenced. Yes. And it took her being beaten down

to say enough and to write that op-ed and say, "I'm out," and take a chance on herself. And Barry, I've never met her. I hope to meet her someday because when I saw Barry do that, and it was a different situation, but when I saw that, it made me emotional, especially when I read the op-ed that she wrote or whatever that was because I thought, "Oh my gosh, that's me." But then you have to actually pull the trigger when you stand up to your company.

And. Yeah. Especially that one. Devastating. Especially that company. The Times? Yes. Yes. I mean, that's a behemoth to stand up against. New York Times. No, no. Yeah. Yeah. It is. But she. Yeah. She inspired me. And not that I needed. No. For me, it was I had just. It's inspiring. Hit a wall of being inspired.

beaten down and silenced, silenced, silenced, and then made an example of when I was just being me. Oh, so they can all be themselves, but then I can't? And that's when at some point you go, screw you, I'm done. And if I don't do this, not only are my three kids watching when I preach to them about standing strong in their values and not hiding under the table even when it's scary,

But other people, and not just women, other humans, especially during this era, who are being forced to do things they don't want to do, whether it's to their bodies or just keeping their mouths shut because they'll get canceled and lose their job. And I thought, I'm being a total hypocrite if I continue to stay silent because what they did to Barry, to me, to others, Disney, is wrong.

And here's the thing. Just be consistent with your rules. Either you can speak your mind about things or you cannot. But you can't pick and choose. And especially if your job is, you know, you're a speaker. If you're given the assignment of talking to the president of the United States, we assume you have thoughts.

we're hiring a smart person to do this. So yes, I mean, the idea that you can say something that is so verboten that we can't even tolerate hearing it. You know, we don't have to agree with it, but we can't even be tainted by this idea wafting into our head. But the difference is, and I do think it's legitimate, if you are

hosting your show on CNN, on Fox News, on ESPN, and you have a job as a journalist, my opinions in that moment don't matter. And I think that that is important. My opinions were said on someone else's podcast on an off day in my own time. And to me, that's a safe space

And apparently not, but the key was is that many of my peers were allowed to say all their opinions on our airwaves. And it was okay because it followed the narrative at this company. And so all I asked for, and it goes back to parenting, and it's my dad's fault, the Army, the West Point grad, where it's just about consistency. And if this is your rule, fine, you're clear with it, but you can't pick and choose.

And at some point, it's so much bigger than me. Like, this is so much bigger. I'm gone now. I'm going to figure it out. But this is how millions of people feel, afraid, afraid to just be themselves because it doesn't fit the narrative. And that breaks my heart. And I feel like if I don't talk about it and have conversations with people, then shame on me because I have this platform. I don't know for how long.

But it broke me for years almost. I can't even. And I just, if we stay silent, like it's our own fault when this country continues to do this. We just can't afford it. Yeah, it's such a Hobson's choice. I have the same thing in my life. Like as long as I am going to say the things that I really think are the truth about whatever issue it is,

I'm not going to be a person who's going to be able to live a stress-free life. Yeah, that's okay. I accept that. Well, yeah, I debate whether I should. It's too late, Bill. It is too late, exactly. It's too late. But I constantly say to myself... But don't you think you're doing such good? Yes, I do. But that's also, you know, comes with that price. I mean, I'm constantly saying to myself, boy, you know, you picked the wrong...

son, if you wanted to live a stress-free life. But what's the alternative to just... Right. There's no middle ground. The alternative is not...

or do something trivial or retire, and then you're right. - Your voice is too important. Especially now. Your voice is too important and we would be doing a disservice. - Okay, thank you, I appreciate that. - You're not good at accepting comments. - No, I do, I very much appreciate it. - I just feel like-- - No, I mean, that's what keeps me going a lot of times is just knowing a lot of people feel that way. - These rules, I can't, it's ridiculous. It's ridiculous. How about this rule?

that if you're black, if you have skin color like mine-ish, well, then you have to be a liberal. Right. Don't you? No. I mean, all of these rules are actually racist. There is a lot of black conservatives. They're just not allowed to be on like... No, we're not allowed. ...mainstream sites. But they have shows... Excuse me. They have shows...

And they're good. And they're funny. And they keep it real about stuff. There's one, the twins. You ever see these two? Two guys. Two guys. The Hodge twins. I think that's it. They're very funny. They are.

But God forbid there's a couple of black conservatives out there. But the point is that through the mainstream media and through social media, if you're not silenced, then you're just considered completely crazy. Just because I have certain views, I'm immediately, oh, she's Candace Owens. Because you can't be an individual person. I had Candace Owens here. And that's another ABCD thing.

With her, I might ABC and I don't agree with D&E. No, don't D&E. But it's still okay. Well, it is, but I... We got to talk to everybody. Yes. She's really smart. She's brilliant. She is quick. And I told her, I said, when you get on a subject that we agree with, I love watching you. Because she puts the shiv in. Oh, she doesn't stop. I mean, she is smart.

and relentless and she wants to carve you up, debate, and she's got right and common sense on her side, yeah, you don't want-- - You're done. Like you are done, exactly. I just, I don't really get offended by much. I really don't. I don't like that word, everybody's offended or something.

The one thing probably that is somewhat offensive, because the hypocrisy of it, is people saying that you have to think a certain way based on your skin color. And oh, by the way, that's coming from black people as well. It's not just white people, it's more so black people. And to me, that is a bigger issue. - But it's changing. It's changing. It's slow, but Trump's actually doing better with minorities.

Black unemployment was at historical lows when he was in office. Like, numbers, facts. So there's a reason why... Yeah. There's a reason why they like him. By the way, I think I saw... Who was on... Who said this? Was this... Oh, it was Carville on your show. Okay. And I think you asked him a question about why more blacks are siding with Trump. And he gave...

I was screaming at your podcast when he said this. He said, "Well, I mean, think about it. You go down to Louisiana," where he's from, right? - Right. - And there's a black guy and he's working as a mechanic and, you know, scratches his ass every once in a while and, you know, he smokes some pot.

I mean, like the examples that he's flat out gave is like, you know, and he sees that his paycheck's a little bit lighter and so he's gonna like Trump. Like, thank you, James Carville, for speaking for all black men and why they're all of a sudden conservative. Are you kidding me? Like, liberal left wing, liberal open-minded thinking Carville is saying, let me tell you why black people like Trump. Get out of my face. Like, what is that? Tell me how you know that. Have you spoken to the guy that you just described who's the mechanic scratching his ass? No, like-

I can't-- when people try to lump everybody together, whether it's us, whether it's Jewish people, whether it's women, whether it's gays, when you lump people together and say, this is why they do this or believe this, you are guilty of what you preach against. See, you preach so good. I'm mad. I was mad at Carvel for that. Really, this is your calling? Really? This is not what I ever, ever-- I'll say this. I never thought-- first of all, I never thought Bill Maher would invite me on his show. I'll pay for the wine.

I do like red wine and I'm talking too much. I haven't drank it. No, that's good. That's what we want. We want people talking. I just... We want to get on that level that's realer than the next guy. But that's why you can never stop. Because you've allowed people like me... I have to stop now. ...to be okay with it. Because my shows back in production, like this is our first day. Back, we had a Zoom meeting.

And we hadn't seen each other in six months. It was wonderful. But we're scrambling the jets to do a show on just a couple of days.

work time that I usually have the whole week. Oh my gosh. So, but. But you're starting off with DeSantis. Yes. That's amazing. Yeah, that's a great. That's good timing. Yes. Are you going to go, you're going to go hard on him? No, no, not hard. No, hard in a good way, like you did Vivek. Both. I'm going to, you know, what would I say to DeSantis? Probably like, Governor, um,

You want to, the part where I don't like you, the part where I do like you. Where do you want to start? You know. Can you have Kamala on? She would never do it. She couldn't. Well, Democrats, it's so funny. Democrats should vote.

want to do my show more than Republicans, but they're the ones who are afraid. What does that say to you? AOC would never do real time. That would be a waste. Kamala Harris would never do. I mean, Gavin Newsom used to do the show all the time. He's in our, you know, 25th anniversary show. He was almost like a friend of the show. And then governor, you know, I understand, you know, it's a wide risk and, you know, but

It's the Republicans who are almost always willing to come. So that's fascinating to me. Yeah. What does that say to you about the liberals who won't? Because I'm surprised, too. That they're sheepish about being contested about anything. They're so used to going on MSNBC, where it's just roll out the red carpet, and, you know, I couldn't agree with you more. And it's just that one point of view is...

It's not always the wrong point of view. It's probably likely, again, old school liberal. Very often I think they have the right point of view, but the fact that it's the only point of view and that you never just contradict or at least challenge someone. But I do challenge. And if I hear something that

you know, sets off my bullshit meter. I will say it. I love it when you get hot like that. Well, they, they know, but they know that. I mean, I've been around a long time, you know, there's tape on this, so. Yeah, but the Republicans know that too, but they still come on.

Not all of them, but yes, many of them do. Because they are braver about it. They just fucking are. And also, they're happy warriors. That was always what Republicans were, happy warriors. So like, even if the crowd is against them, and I'll get you, and that's the attitude, and that's the attitude you have to have.

Yeah. When you do stuff like The View, but don't do The View. Do Club Random. I will never step foot. And again, by the way, when you sue the company, they're not going to have you back on to do the show. I don't know why I was trying to get you on The View when we really want you to do this here. No, this would be, wait, does that mean California? Does that mean California? No, no, you can do it anywhere. Because your state's crazy. Well, you live in Florida? I'm Connecticut and Florida, but eventually all Florida.

We could build a Miami or a Fort Lauderdale studio with all the colors. Well, I don't think... There's only one club random. No, you're right. I don't think you could ever... I would come to this. But I do think that it should have the same feel, like there's nobody else in the room. It's just us. I love it. All right. Well, I am sure this is like the first of many...

Many times we chat. Do you know how much this means to me? Well, I appreciate it. That you've had me here. Oh, please. It is really awesome. We are. Thank you, thank you, thank you. We want you as part of the Club Random family. Thank you. Club. Thank you, thank you. What a blessing. Thank you. Okay. That was so much fun.