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Hi, I'm Tara Palmieri, and this is Somebody's Gotta Win. I just finished watching the GOP debates from the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, and I'm about to go into the spin room. That's where staffers for the candidates try to convince us reporters that their candidate won the debate.
What I saw was a complete shitshow with candidates shouting over each other in a thirsty attempt for more time and the ability to prove their fight. But if the point of the debate was to find one candidate who could rise up victorious above the pack and take on Trump, that didn't happen tonight.
And with each passing debate, it's feeling increasingly unlikely that it will ever happen. Sure, some of the candidates performed better than others, or at least showed better performance in the last debate in Milwaukee. Like Nikki Haley, who probably had the most command of all the people on stage and was able to really lay some punches on the candidates. And Tim Scott, he actually showed up this time ready to fight and show that he was able to dominate the stage.
Ron DeSantis, he seemed to have dropped some of his weird tics, his agitations on stage. I'm not sure that his performance was that much better, but he's a little bit more likable. But is it really enough? Maybe enough to win over some anti-Trump donors so they can carry on for a few more months on the campaign trail until Iowa. But it certainly did not help winnow the field around one candidate's take on Trump. No, that definitely didn't happen.
It all just helps Donald Trump, who again seemed to win by not showing up. Okay, I'm going to go walk into the spin room now. So I'm in the spin room right now and I'm listening to Ron DeSantis' spokesperson, spinmeister, whatever you want to call him. ...to the voters. Governor DeSantis shows up. He gets the job done. He's not afraid to defend his record. It's the best part about him. And that's why he had a really strong debate tonight defending that record.
You guys are with the Chris, you guys are with Christie campaign? Yes. Okay. What's your name? Mike. Oh, Mike, it's Tara Palmieri. Oh, hi Tara. How are you? Oh my God. Oh my gosh. Yeah. So what did you think about that truth social post that came out after the debate? I think it showed that Donald Trump is really only concerned with one person who could beat him. He's concerned with Chris Christie. Christie's under his skin.
So I found Alex Thompson in the spin room. You probably remember him from the last debate. We did a wrap up. And, you know, the reason I picked Alex out of the crowd of many, many reporters is because he's kind of a baddie in DC. I mean, he's the kind of guy who would write that Joe Biden wears sneakers and is currently getting physical therapy so that he doesn't trip. And believe it or not, that causes heads to spin in Washington. I can tell you, um,
I heard a lot, a lot, a lot of complaints about it. And, you know, it's something like, it's so incredible the way this town works where you would think that is just like the most, you know, basic story that you could write. And yet it would cause so much pain and grief. And that's why I love Alex Thompson. He reports about fear of favor.
Well, that's a very flattering introduction. I guess it's just like, if it's true, then whatever. I don't know. If people are going to troll you on Twitter, then... But the reason they're mad is because it is true. Yeah. I mean, I'm talking about like Democratic establishment. Yes. Furious. How dare you point out. Yes. Now, I also want to say that since... I know this is a debate wrap-up podcast, but like, if Fetterman's wearing shorts and Biden is wearing sneakers...
do I need to even wear a jacket anymore? Like, do I need to wear loafers? Am I good? I mean, I feel COVID ruined it for everyone, right? I still don't think we're out of the athleisure era of that COVID block. Okay. So I can't just like show up in like a t-shirt and rip jeans to the White House. No, I think you can. I still think... To the White House though?
I mean, the White House pointed it out very clearly that they all wear sneakers there, not just Joe Biden in response to that story. So I think you could probably get away with, you know, tennis shoes, jeans, maybe like, you know, a short sleeve button up. Got it. Okay. Well, we're moving on from fashion. Thank God. Yeah.
to the debate, which, uh, it was, it had some high moments, had some low moments, but on the whole, I would say it was just like very messy, kind of a snooze. Um, and,
What were the high moments? I mean, there were really no high moments. I mean, there was just like moments of intensity. Yes. And kind of like... There were a few moments that made me just like either... Well, cringe. There was a lot of cringey moments. I mean, I know the most cringe of all really belonged to Fox News when they asked people to vote someone off the island at the end. They asked all the candidates to write a name of who they wanted to not be on the debate stage. And it just felt like...
You know, I think people have commented that with these debates, they increasingly... Politics does increasingly seem like a reality television show. And now we're actually doing reality television show gimmicks in presidential debates. And it just... It was gross. I actually was sort of glad the candidates didn't do it. They didn't take the debate. Honestly, I really was grossed out by that Mike Pence...
about how he sleeps with his wife, who's a teacher. And then even like... But he was following up on Chris Christie's line, which is that Joe Biden sleeps with a teacher union member. Yeah. He was just talking about... Jill Biden, doctor. Yeah. He was talking about how the First Lady is a member of the NEA. But it was like... It's just corny as hell, man. It's a cringeworthy...
It's a cringy way of saying it. Like, the president sleeps with somebody. It made it sound, like, nefarious, where it's like, you know, it's just, I don't know. It was odd. And yes, like, and then Pence, you know, used the exact same language. He's like, yeah, I do sleep with the teacher. It's just like, and also, does that address the mother question? No.
Unclear. Unclear. Yes, I sleep with a teacher and I call her mother. Yeah. So it is as Pence moved past mother. Okay, well, there are winners and there are losers, whether it was cringy or not. I mean, let's give them Olympic gold medal. Okay, we can do it. I don't really feel like anyone deserved a gold medal for that performance, but I felt like the person with the most command of the stage was Nikki Haley by far.
Well, I will. Thankfully, last time we just agreed on everything. So I'll disagree and give my gold to Donald Trump. How dare you? Oh, Donald Trump. He wasn't on the stage. I know it's a gimmick, but there are no rules. So this is the second. But like the winner, the winner of this debate was Donald Trump. Right. Because because no one really stood out. Like the dynamics of the race coming in after DeSantis has slid is that like
is that it's Trump versus everybody else. And no one else did enough to make this a two-man race, which is the one thing Donald Trump does not want this to be. Because if the field does consolidate against one person, it's the only way Trump could lose. Right.
That's fair enough. Okay. So I think that Nikki won the debate, but she didn't come up victorious enough to be the one challenger to take on Donald Trump. Yes. And it'll be interesting. You know, it'll be really interesting to see. She's doing a bunch of fundraisers in California to try to finish out the quarter. It'll be really interesting to see if donors have started lining up.
behind her, given that she has done really well. I think she's the only person probably that is going to meddle in both debates. Right. Because she was good last time. She was good this time. Even when Tim Scott went at her, she had that bring it Tim sort of attitude. She was just quick on her feet. And then there was the good Vivek singer. She just gets a lot of time. And she's poised. And she shows command. And she's kind of
like a little sassy, bitchy, you know? I like it, though. I mean, I'm not saying that in a derogatory, like, you know, feminist, sexist attack. I think it's like, okay, she's showing she's got some metal. And I think...
there's always like a subtle question with a woman is like, is she going to be tough enough on the world stage next to Putin? She going to be able to stare down she and like, she keeps trying to prove that over and over again. But like, can you also just stare down Ron DeSantis and Tim Scott and all the other people on the stage and show that you might have
the ability to take on Trump, yet she didn't mention Trump's name once. That's interesting. And it's different from last time because last time she attacked Trump for increasing the deficit and for not keeping the fiscal class in order. And also it was interesting because on television lately, she's been saying that Trump could be erratic and stuff. So I don't think she's completely shying away during the campaign, but I think to your point, she was focused on the people that were on the debate stage with her, not Trump. Right. Silver. Silver.
We have to rank them. Okay. So are you going to give Nikki Haley silver? Is that how it works? Yeah, I am. Fair enough. So on my ranking, which includes only people on the stage, I would say... I think... I mean, if the expectations were low, and that's what it's based on, probably Tim Scott for actually showing up. Yeah, I think that is the right choice. Like Tim Scott...
But I don't think it's going to cause any needles to move. I mean, Tim Scott's campaign heard the criticism loud and clear that he's too nice. Like they've been hearing it from donors. They've been hearing from voters, like good guy, too nice. And he's never going to attack anyone. And he was like on the offensive early. He like,
He picked a fight with Vae Curley. He picked a fight with Nikki Haley. And some sort of interesting backstory there is because Nikki Haley, I believe, is the governor that appointed him senator. She was, yeah. And there's sort of like big sister, little brother energy between them. And you could see it when he, you know, went at her. It was always going to be awkward. And if they continue to stay on the debate stage, which I doubt they'll make it to South Carolina, both of them. But if they did, it will be awkward. I mean, losing in your own state, that's kind of a...
Well, and Tim Scott really needed to do well in this debate because it's possible he may not qualify for the third debate. They were even sort of lobbying the RNC to sort of change the rules to qualify for the debate because he's not polling very high in national polls. And so he really had to come out. And it was interesting. I was talking to one of his people in the spin room right afterward, and I asked for the headline. And essentially, it was like, Tim Scott knows how to fight.
Yeah. So that was clearly what they were trying to message. And interestingly, Vivek's person, the message they were trying to send is like, Vivek's a really humble guy. Yeah. He's really not the smartass you thought he was at the first debate. Right? Also, Tim Scott doesn't shave. Is that supposed to make him look bold and hard? Yes.
Don't shave. Little goatee action. I did. You know, I did sort of want... I mean, because nothing's by accident in like these appearances. And it was just... But it was just enough that it wasn't... Enough stubble. Yeah, it was like... It was gray, right? And so it was... Show age. Yes. Because, listen, he looks great. Because he's 57. He looks awesome for his age. Right. And he doesn't have a girlfriend. So it kind of makes him... Or...
Or a wife, so maybe people perceive him as young, inexperienced. Yes. Not having to be able to test the many trials of life that come with relationships and families, etc., etc. Yeah, now he's the grizzled fighter. Oh, yeah. That was clearly... He's tough as hell, yo. Yeah. Okay, well, fine. So we're giving him... I'm giving him a silver and you're giving him...
A bronze? Yeah, I'm giving bronze. Does that mean I have to give... Who should I give bronze to? This is hard. I guess I still feel like Ron DeSantis was not great, but he was... It's hard. I mean, he's uninspiring on the stage.
You think so? Yeah. I don't know. I also just think that smile at the end that he does, that's obviously been taught to him by a coach, is a little creepy. Yeah, there was a... I think there was a report at the beginning of the campaign where they had the internal debate footage from his 2018 debates. And then... Be nice. Be likable, I think. Be likable, yeah. And, you know, when you have to... Matt Gates wrote that for him. Yeah. Like, right on the top of the paper, be likable. And you can sort of tell, like, he's like...
I don't know. You gotta... I feel in some of those cases, like, you also just gotta be you. And, like, he's not, like, a smiley dude. Yeah, he'd just be, like, hardcore the whole time and don't actually smile. I don't know. He seemed, like... He seemed flat-footed in the fights with Nikki. Yeah.
I mean, I think... I actually think Ramaswamy's performance was not as authentic. So I wouldn't give him the bronze, but... Yeah, the first debate was the authentic side. And clearly they decided it was like a little too authentic. Well, because his unfavorables went up so much, right? They probably thought that was... This is the way to counter the unfavorables. So maybe that's the case. I guess like from know-it-all to like hardworking student. But I feel in some ways it was like...
I don't know, it felt like a little bit like an overcorrection. But yeah, but I don't know. I'm not the audience. Like, you know, he's trying to get, you know, nice old voters in Iowa to vote for him. And, you know, and there's something to be said, like, you know, that sort of
That's Pete Buttigieg's style. A little bit more like hardworking earnest student. Like, I'm your nephew. Vote for me. I'm your smartest nephew ever. Yeah. The one who never forgets your birthday and brings you nice things. Yes. Totally. Yeah. I guess you need those people in Iowa, right? Yeah. Well, I think that... It was trying to Mayor Pete himself a little bit, I think. Right. Yeah.
Would you give him the bronze if you didn't include Trump, who obviously is the winner and will probably be the nominee? If there's anything I've learned from the debate, that Trump will be the nominee, probably. Most likely, yeah. I mean, that's why, despite you giving me a hard time, that's why I gave him the gold. Okay. Because it didn't... But I mean, the one thing I will say... Who do you think performed better, DeSantis or Vivek Ramaswamy?
The Vic. You do? Okay, fair enough. I mean, he was in the mix. I don't know. I think, like, DeSantis had a really rough, like, two or three months at the very beginning. And this is no longer the two-man race that it was. And he did nothing to...
capture that back. No, he's not the top of the 10 pole or whatever. You know, he's not. So you're right. Maybe he doesn't deserve it. I'm just trying to, you know, throw him a bone. I mean, it's not really... For no reason at all, by the way. But your point is well taken. I think DeSantis probably had a better performance. Yeah, better performance. But because of expectation game, like, I don't think anyone thinks Vivek
will be the nominee. But like DeSantis at one point did have like a chance, like a real chance to like potentially be the nominee and he has much less of one now. And I think it's like an opportunity cost. Okay. First person to drop out of the race besides Doug Burgum. Um... Tim Scott because he doesn't qualify. Mike Pence because he doesn't qualify.
Well, they have money. So that's the hard part. They don't qualify for the next debate. That's what I meant. Yeah. I mean, originally, it was going to be Nikki Haley, right? Because she had real finance problems. And the old saying goes, campaigns... Candidates don't drop out. They run out of money. And Tim Scott has a lot of money. I mean, Mike Pence has the least amount of money and is probably the most likely. But the thing is, Mike Pence is almost... I sort of feel like he's running for his own sense of pride after...
Trump sicked his own supporters on him. He's basically running for his legacy, essentially. Yeah. And I think he's just like, I just got to get to Iowa. And like, if I have to just like drive my own car, I mean, you can, you really don't need a big campaign. They have super PAC money. I also, but the funny thing about it is like,
it's not funny, but if you really are doing this for your legacy at every turn, you just keep getting confronted with the Trump administration and like the failures of it. And then you have to own up to questions. Like he was asked about, what was he asked about? Obamacare and how it's so popular and how Trump had said that he was going to repeal Obamacare and he didn't do it. Like,
you're a part of that administration, you have to answer for all the failures of the Trump administration. Plus January 6th, just keep getting hit on every, every, every which way. So I don't know. And what makes it worse is that all the people that really, he did. Oh shit, no one read it. Did you? No.
Okay, thank you. So Help Me God, I'm sure it's on Amazon. That sounds about right. That sounds like the right title for his book. Yeah. And probably for the last words of the end of his campaign. So Help Me God. Okay. All right. So Massive Loser. Okay.
massive loser. Doug Bergamow, obviously, but besides him. I mean, I did think, I think Mike Pence didn't have like the best night because I'd say the two biggest losers would be like Mike Pence and Chris Christie. Like Chris Christie seemed like all he wanted to do was like get on the stage and call Donald Trump, Donald Duck.
That was so lame. I put that in maybe top cringe moment after the sleeping thing. Which one was top cringe? Yeah. The what? The cringiest moment of the debate, maybe. I mean, yeah. The sleep, like, we were doing that, like, the survivor question, the sleeping with your wives. And then Donald Duck. And Donald Duck.
It was pretty brutal. Oh, God. And Christy was there for two of them. But it just seemed he wanted to get on stage and call Drump a coward. And the rest of it, he's like, I don't care. Honestly, if I didn't do this for a living, I don't think I could have watched that whole thing. I really wanted to shut it off. I mean, I don't know...
what voter was going to be watching that debate after the first 45 minutes? At some point, they were just yelling at each other too, just at the same time, just like, and then they drowned out Vivek so he couldn't speak, which I think was an effective tactic in a weird way. Clearly everyone is now, every candidate is like, oh, we can like,
We can attack him. Like they, there was like a little bit of, it wasn't just strategy. There was delight. Yeah. And like trying to just like not knock him off. He was an easy one. He's an easy one to attack.
I still think it amazed me that Nikki Haley came out unscathed. Like, they just won't touch her. And I was texting with someone with one of the camps being like, why won't you go after Nikki? She's being brutal. The fangs are out. She is just clawing the fuck out of everyone here. And they were like, she's a woman. And that's such a ridiculous bias. But it's like...
It's amazing. And it just kind of also just gives you insight into the GOP's thinking. They're probably all just fucking scared that there's a woman on the stage next to them. That's interesting. I mean...
That's interesting. I guess, like, I mean, that's been a concern in Democratic politics, too, but it wasn't as much of an issue in 2020. But obviously, like, the famous, there's been some famous ones where, like, Hillary Clinton thought that her Senate candidate, like, came over in an aggressive way, right? Like, back in, like, 2000. But it's interesting that, like,
The Republicans are scared of being called sexist. Yeah. Because a lot of Republicans I know seem to not care about being called sexist. Okay. Maybe. I have no idea. But it just seems to me like, why wouldn't you guys go after her? Unless they're afraid of what she's going to say back.
She has been the sharpest tongue, and she's got the quickest responses. You saw that with Tim Scott, right? I think Scott was capable in a few of the other exchanges, but he was using this sort of very complicated curtain controversy from 2017 that no one remembers. Which they had a correction, a massive correction in the New York Times about it. I'm pretty sure the reporter lost their job over it. I'm not even sure. Well, that's...
That's what happened, right? He no longer works at the New York Times. We're not sure about that. But the fact is that, like, that was a big scoop at the time. But then they had a massive correction saying it was the Obama administration that actually ordered these curtains. But it's, you know, it's curtain day. Yeah, and the way that she just, like, brushed him off, I thought, was... Yeah. She's like, you're uninformed. Like, you know, you're grasping at straws. She's definitely the best debater. Yeah. Yes. Yeah.
But I don't think... And that might make donors give her money, which means she might last longer. Yes. I think like... I mean, the name... You asked earlier, who's the first candidate to drop out? I mean, Doug Berger maybe, but also he has money too. So you might not. The real question is how many of them drop out after Iowa?
And that's what's going to happen is that like you could see basically this debate stage go from seven to two. Yeah. Right after Iowa. Right, right, right. But that's a while from now. That's months. Yes. And at least one debate, probably two. So we're going to have another debate with like six people again, you think? Five or six. Yeah. Next month. Because it's possible that Burgum and Tim Scott and Mike Pence. So you could actually have four. It's possible that. But we don't know.
So we're really, yeah, as this will continue, there'll be another kind of sloppy debate next month, probably with no real winner again. I mean, the less candidates, the fewer candidates, the better. But even, you know, some, I mean, one, one, uh,
like top Republican official was texting me like as like all the crosstalk was going on and they were just like, like, they're like, I'm pressing one for English. I bet you, I mean, maybe people tune in at first, but I bet you there's a huge drop off in the ratings. Yeah. The word shit show was like texted to me several times. Yeah. No, it was a mess.
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Let's say, best takedown, obviously, like that line that Nikki Haley had against Vivek. She's like, I actually feel like I'm getting stupider listening to you. Or I actually feel like I'm getting dumber listening to you. Was that the word? It wasn't even feel. She's like, I get dumber every time I listen to you. I think that was what it was. It's like the line I've used on my brother. Yes. When he was asked about it in the spin room, and his response was like, no one's ever said that about me before.
Oh, wow. I was like, your whole team is out here, like trying to convince everyone that you're humble. But that was, that was, you're just a sweetheart. He clearly was just like thinking about that. Like, how should I have responded? You know, for two hours. Exactly. Um, I don't think he really got a chance to talk that much this time. He didn't dominate like he did the last time. And it seems like that was intentional. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Moment of the debate.
I mean, I do think that that zinger was like pretty great. Yeah. I mean, when it was just in, and it also was, cause it was also about like a broader issue, which is about, about China and like Tik TOK and, you know, his connections to China. So there was like substance, it was both those like substance and style to the whole, the whole exchange. Um, but it's also, it wasn't even like, I don't know if any of these moments would have been the top five of the first debate. Yeah. No, no,
The first debate had more fireworks. It feels like a million years ago, but it was last month. Yeah. Right.
I know. What was your favorite moment? That was the same one for me. I mean, it was so cringy at so many moments that I was just like, "God, stop. I can't anymore." And it was... The one thing, the one criticism I'll give to Hailey, even though I felt like she had command, I feel like she packed way too much in at the same time. I think they all did. I think they... It's good to get into the nuts and bolts of the policy, but I think it got lost a lot as well. I think that they just went
I think that there was a lot packed in there. You could argue, I mean, it was a more substantive debate than the last one. But also, I don't know, I mean, how much does that matter in this era of politics and a debate? Like, debates are so much now about, like, style and, I mean, for better and worse. Well, it's really about style. Like, I think that these debates are really about showing that you could be the person who could take on Trump. Yeah. And...
I don't know. And also showing donors that you should get some money. Yes. Which is what they need right now, obviously. But Ron DeSantis has so much money in the Super PAC. He'll probably be around forever. He has like $100 million in it. Actually, he's the one that might not make it to Iowa, though. Because his campaign might not have enough money to survive. And I don't know if he's willing to...
I mean, the Super PAC can only do so much, right? Well, they're doing a lot. They're doing a lot. But I think, you know, given his, you know, preference for private planes and everything else, I mean, I think there's... He's staying at the Four Seasons. If he has a bad... Is he staying at Four Seasons here? I'm pretty sure. And I think if he, you know, if he does not have a good quarter, which we're about to find out, I think the cash crunch is real. Really? Yeah. Yeah.
Because I thought that like Jeff Rowe and the Superbus in Iowa were just running the game, like setting up all the events and then doing the mailers, doing all of the on-the-ground coordination. And they could just keep going that way. And they just play it all for Iowa. And then...
That's true, but he still has a payroll of like 50 people. He still has... There are some limits of what the super PAC can do. Why do you have to have a payroll of 50 people? Like if Mike Pence is going to be like hobbling along with four people. But he already fired over a third of the original staff. Oh, he doesn't want more process stories. Is that what you're saying? He doesn't want more stories about how his team... Like he could fire all of them. About how his campaign is anemic and he's running out of cash. Yes.
But that's going to happen anyway because those numbers are going to come out soon, the fundraising numbers. Yeah. And it's a downward spiral because the more processed stories about how you don't have enough cash means that donors also don't want to give you more cash, which means you have to then... You have more processed stories how you have no cash. And it's just... He might be stuck in that spiral. We're going to find out in the next two or three weeks. And it probably makes more sense for him since he's just like...
Does it make more sense when you're a young guy to just drop out early and be like, it's just not my time? Or does it make more sense...
to keep going? I mean, or is this all about Casey 2028? I did love... That was... I love that story that you did about her probably running for governor. Yeah. And then... You mean 2028 for her to run for president? For him to run for president in 2028, too. Over him? Yeah. I mean, or her. I was joking about her. I mean, I don't think it's the last time we'll see her in Iowa. No, no, no. I definitely think she's the one with the political career ahead of her. And I think everyone in Florida sees that, too. But...
maybe she won't. I think she first has to win. She smiles really well on the debate stage. Yeah, she doesn't need anyone to tell her to smile. Those eyebrows? Come on now. Who's not voting for her? Yeah, I think... I do... I just wonder if his political career, his future... Does dropping out early save his future? Or is that kind of whatever? It doesn't really matter. I mean, it's possible he might not have a choice. I mean, the... I don't think...
whatever, Scott Walker. See, I don't remember his name. Scott Walker's career never recovered. Right. That's true. But, you know, Kamala dropped out early and now she's one heartbeat away from the presidency. Yeah, but I doubt Trump would ever pick DeSantis as his vice president ever. Oh, no. Zero chance because he's disloyal. And he actually said, like he said tonight at the rally, he's like, do you think there's any VP contenders on this stage? I don't think so.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Also, Chris Christie, Trump truthed about him immediately after. Yeah. Calling him a bum and saying like he ruined Jersey. And I guess that's good for people in New Hampshire. Like his last plea of like, let's, you know, like we need to, I know the pain you felt of being around Trump. And that helps, I guess, with his standing. They really think that he can win New Hampshire. And then this is the thing. It's like, it's all feels very like, it feels like,
The spin room is kind of a funny place because you're hearing these big dreams and it's like, just don't see it. Yeah. When everyone's like, well, who won the debate? We're like, we won. So somebody's lying or they're all deluded. I don't know which one. Well, you have to say you won. I get, but that sort of, it sort of shows how awful the spin room is as a practice. Why do reporters go to a place where everyone is lying to you?
It's gross. That's why I was like this. I was like, I need to take a small walk. I did a little hike around here. So it's just like, I know I'm just gonna have a bunch of bullshit fed at me and I need to just keep clear. And also you're hearing it on the stage. You're just trying to like...
I know we're talking a lot about points stylistically, but I do think it matters probably more than ever before your points stylistically in this race because you're taking on a guy, Donald Trump, who's all about style. Policy for him has never been a thing. He changes his mind about policy all the time. And so you have to be able to challenge him on style, really. And I don't think any of them can. Well, I mean...
You know, I think in some ways we're just seeing 2016 replay itself over where you had all these very earnest public servants, you know, ambitious ones and some craven ones. But they were like, and then they got on the base stage with Donald Trump and like he was playing by a different set of rules. Right. They were all very confused. And then everyone's like, well, you should drop out. Well, you should drop out. And like, we need to consolidate behind one person. They couldn't decide who.
And they were also like scared of attacking Trump or they all wanted someone else to attack Trump. And we're just the same thing all over again. Okay. Biggest Hail Mary. In the debate or like, what do you mean? In the debate. Like who do you think took like the longest shot hoping to land the, land the,
I mean, Doug Burgum trying to get noticed was a very valiant effort, I would say. I just like... Okay, there are less... You cannot use North Dakota as an example for healthcare. There are less than a million people that live in North Dakota. I think it's actually 774,000. I looked it up. How is that an example?
of how you would run the federal government. It's just not the same thing. It's crazy. But I don't know enough about like the policy topic, but I did, I guess I was just saying like,
He really, he was relentless about being like, I'm here. I'm here. I know. What did Dana Prino say? She's like, I will get to you at some point. I promise. I promise I'll get to you. I promise I'll give you a question. And then one time when she was introducing the question, she's like, I have a question for you. I promise you're really going to like it.
She said something along those lines. It's like you got to be in the spelling bee, okay? Yeah, yeah, yeah. You're going to get a chance. We're going to throw an easy one at you. Don't you worry. It's also got to be... I mean, for a guy that's like, you know, created a huge business, is the governor of a small state, but like a state, it's got to be very like humbling to be up there. Is he a billionaire? Yeah.
I think it's been reported he's a billionaire, but I think he said that that's a little distorted. He's only a multi-multi-multi-millionaire. But anyways, it's just got to be very humbling to be there with his torn ACL in that boot. They wheeled him out. Yeah. Trying to just be like, Hey, I matter. Yeah. I just... I don't know. That's tough. I think the biggest thing for him that will ever happen is when Eugene Levy plays him on SNL. Right.
Well, the writer strikes over, right? Yeah. We should be able to see it. And that will be his legacy. I think... So help him, guys. Eugene, if you're listening. Please, God, yes. Do it for us, okay? That's interesting. Who should all the... I'm trying to think of other cast... Who should play Nikki Haley? Oh, that's a good one. I don't even know the cast that well, the new cast. But like... Do you know the new cast well? No, I don't. I don't. I'm just trying to think like who...
Yeah, DeSantis too. Like, does he get his own character? That would be making it for him, frankly. Who would be... Because that actually builds your profile when you're on SNL. Weirdly, it builds your profile. Like, does everyone really know who Ron DeSantis is? I feel like the guy who does Weekend Update, not Colin Jost, but the other one should do Tim Scott.
Okay. Yeah, yeah, yeah. For sure. Anyway, we clearly are not up to date enough with SNL cast members. No, it's sad, right? The writer's strike. Yeah. All right. Well, thank you so much, Alex. Always so fun. Love having you on. Maybe we'll be in Miami. Maybe our editors will say, you know what?
You're not going back. I mean, clearly a lot of people here, like there were dozens of empty seats. People like just didn't pick up their credentials. Editors are just like, we don't want us to spend the money. Actually, there were empty seats during the, like,
during the debate too. Did reporters just go out for smokes? Like, for cigarettes? I just, I didn't know what to do. I was like, should I take a walk? I stayed in my seat, okay? I watched the whole damn thing and I don't know if anyone at home did. We'll see. Yeah, money well spent, Puck, on Spotify. Yeah.
Thank you for joining me for this episode of Somebody's Gotta Win. If you like my reporting, if you want my full analysis debate wrap up, you know, what everyone's really saying behind the scenes about this debate and how it played out, please sign up for my newsletter, The Best and the Brightest at puck.news slash Tara Palmieri. And you can get 20% off with my discount code Tara20. And I will be back next Tuesday. Thanks.
