In short
The episode previews and argues for the “No Kings” mass protests planned for the next day, framing them as resistance to Donald Trump’s alleged authoritarian moves, including intimidation of dissent and potential election interference. It also discusses Trump’s “fake awards” and alleged ego-driven foreign policy risk, plus a separate segment on Democrats demanding answers about missing Epstein evidence (computers/hard drives) removed by private investigators.
Guests and backgrounds
Lisa Gilbert, president of Public Citizen and an organizer of No Kings; Cheyko Manduri, an Obama campaign veteran; Ty Cobb, former White House counsel/White House attorney in Trump’s first term and a former prosecutor.
Key claims
3,300 No Kings events across all 50 states and globally; Trump sends “masked agents” and uses ICE/DOJ to intimidate and chill dissent; fake awards reflect narcissism and can compromise judgment; DOJ files suggest Epstein-linked investigators removed three computers and 29 phone directives, plus sexually explicit materials.
Notable examples
Kennedy Center renamed for Trump; Trump “dictator” messaging; CPAC remarks about ICE at polling places; references to Venezuela statue/regifted Nobel; Epstein hard drives and Democrats’ April 9 response deadline.
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Chapters
Tap a time to open that second in VOThe No Kings Protests
0:30 to 0:57
Discussion on the mass protests planned against Trump and autocracy.
“At Uber, every single driver is required to pass a thorough background check before they can start driving.”
The No Kings Protests
1:20 to 2:26
Discussion on the mass protests planned against Trump and autocracy.
“There is more measurable support for this protest movement, the democracy movement, than there is for Trump or MAGA at this point.”
Autocracy and Trump's Actions
2:26 to 4:26
Exploration of Trump's actions and their implications for democracy.
“We chose to hold today's action in front of the John F.”
Public Response to Trump's Leadership
4:26 to 7:16
Analysis of public sentiment and the importance of speaking out against autocracy.
“embraced the violence of that insurrection by later freeing, pardoning, and rewarding all those people.”
Guest Discussion: No Kings
7:16 to 14:00
Ari Melber hosts Cheyko Manduri and Lisa Gilbert to discuss the protests.
“which we still have in this country, to speak out tomorrow.”
Importance of No Kings Protests
14:00 to 14:38
Discussion on the significance of the No Kings protests against Trump.
“It's really pathetic to see his psychology playing out on a national and international level like this.”
Trump's Fake Awards and Their Implications
16:15 to 24:04
Analysis of the fake awards given to Trump and their impact on his governance.
“How many fake trophies they were made specifically for him?”
Todd Blanche and ICE's Role in Politics
24:04 to 28:00
Discussion on Todd Blanche's comments regarding ICE and its politicization.
“he's going to consider himself Lincoln and think he should replace him on Mount Rushmore.”
Trump's Manipulation and Election Threats
28:00 to 30:32
Discussion on Trump's actions and the implications for upcoming elections.
“because he, unlike she, had some federal trial experience.”
Epstein's Legal Challenges and Missing Evidence
30:33 to 31:57
Exploration of Democrats' demands for testimony regarding Epstein's case.
“There's a spotlight on this generational divide.”
Show all 16 chapters
Victims' Reactions to Trump's Promises
31:58 to 34:51
Victims of Epstein express their disappointment in Trump's failure to act.
“Donald Trump's own cabinet member who visited the island accuses him of that.”
Introducing Special Guests and Their Insights
34:52 to 37:14
Introduction of guests Jason Johnson and Ish Marby, discussing various topics.
“A big issue in the midterms, the search for new leaders.”
The Role of Aging Leaders in Politics
37:15 to 41:31
A discussion on the need for new leadership in Congress and its implications.
“You get the first fallback as home court.”
The Evolution of Slang and Communication
41:32 to 42:00
A humorous take on modern slang and its generational relevance.
“Like if you're 80 years old and no disrespect to anybody, one, we have parents and grandparents and our grandparents and our parents.”
The Evolution of Slang
42:00 to 44:20
Discover how slang evolves over time and the difference between real slang and abbreviations.
“almost as stubborn as Joe Budden, your podcast colleague.”
Political Discontent and Activism
44:21 to 45:14
Explore the dissatisfaction with political choices and upcoming activism events.
“It's the way I want to start asking everybody, are you happy with your choices?”
Transcript
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1:00Ty Cobb:Welcome to The Beat, everyone. I'm Ari Melber. We begin with the ramp up to something that Donald Trump is already mad about and that a lot of people in America think couldn't come any sooner and at a more pivotal time. The long planned next round of mass protests, the no kings rallies around the country. This is a term that has become straightforward. There is more measurable support for this protest movement, the democracy movement, than there is for Trump or MAGA at this point. The context is something we all know from grade school. The founders fought a revolution against a king, King George.
1:36Donald Trump, well, he is far from a king,
1:41Ty Cobb:but he has done many things to show that he wishes he were. Americans are fighting back. There are now not 100 or 500 or 1 ,000 demonstrations planned, but in the news we track this. There are 3 ,000 different demonstrations scheduled. They've covered all 50 states. There is massive interest. Of course, we, as always, will have to see what actually happens. We'll be reporting that in special coverage across MSNOW tomorrow. So if you're out living your life and you happen to be at a rally, fine. But if you want to keep track of it, as we follow all kinds of news, we will have you covered on the air and we'll discuss it, of course, next week.
2:16Ty Cobb:But that's what we're seeing in the ramp up. Earlier today, there was another group of artists and cultural leaders protesting at a place in D.C. that once was more nonpartisan, but under Trump and some of his autocratic push has become more magified. The Kennedy Center. We chose to hold today's action in front of the John F. Kennedy Center. that's right because this beloved citadel of the arts has become a symbol of what is happening a symbol of what is happening she is referencing that despite the long-standing bipartisan tradition in the united states that government buildings are not named after living political figures which makes sense for all the obvious reasons and when congress names schools and post offices.
3:08Ty Cobb:It is usually an honorific after someone has passed, most commonly a bit of time after the person has passed. But Trump has done what we see more in autocratic non-democracies. He renamed the Kennedy Center, which already, of course, honors a former and deceased president, to name it after himself. He wants to put his signature on all paper currency. They plant a gold coin minted with his portrait. He is pushing for this large arch, very kind of old school French. Of course, don't tell some of his fans that, but that would be on the National Mall. And they've been festooning federal buildings with more temporary banners of his face and official portraits.
3:53Ty Cobb:Now, that is the style. And if it were only that and nothing else, then like other issues in politics, people might debate it. You could imagine if your favorite politician, only did that but otherwise followed the rule of law and democracy, then you might say, well, let's not exaggerate. It's just style. Here the problem is that style is backed and consistent with autocratic moves. Remember, Donald Trump is the only president in American history who was caught trying to overthrow the peaceful transfer of power. He was tied to an insurrection. He embraced the violence of that insurrection by later freeing, pardoning, and rewarding all those people.
4:32Ty Cobb:It was a very anti-police, anti-public safety move, but it was his way of showing through his abusive power that he literally put his rule and the people who would overthrow democracy above brave police officers and federal officials and safety. Now that just sits there. That is one of those things that there aren't two sides of. And that is of a piece with the calls from some around Trump to try to break the Constitution, to steal a third term, which is not allowed, or become some sort of, quote, dictator. They say, we don't need him. Freedom, freedom. He's a dictator. He's a dictator. A lot of people are saying maybe we'd like a dictator.
5:15So the line is that I'm a dictator, but I stopped crime. So a lot of people say, you know, if that's the case, I'd rather have a dictator. They say he's a horrible dictator type person. I'm a dictator.
5:26Ty Cobb:But sometimes you need a dictator. The final statement there, the most direct, his assertion claimed that you might sometimes need a dictator. That should be concerning if you want to live in a country where you have your own freedom and liberty and aren't ruled by a king or a dictator, the very thing this country was founded to stop. You also heard a classic bit of propaganda there. Trump clearly, it's not that sophisticated, he's clearly trying to convince people that there's a wider support for this than there is. There isn't actually a lot of polling that supports the idea that a lot of people want a dictator.
6:02Ty Cobb:It also wouldn't matter because in our system of rule of law, if a lot of people want something that's unconstitutional, they still don't get it. Constitution supports a system that protects minority rights and protects our democracy and rule of law, even sometimes when certain things might be unpopular. That's why so many groups, sometimes conservative groups, whether you talk about gun rights, sometimes liberal groups, when you talk about civil rights, have often invoked the Constitution against even popular will. So in that sense, fact check, false, Trump is doubly wrong. As for how he's doing, majorities disapprove of him on immigration, on his failure to bring down prices.
6:39Ty Cobb:56 % now disapprove on the young but costly war in Iran, where MAGA supporters have had to square why we're spending 200 plus billion dollars over there and whether that makes America great again over here. The war of choice is unpopular. The Pentagon is now floating the idea of some troops on the ground, according to the journal. That is exactly the kind of mission creep of a unilateral choice that neither the Congress nor the public has been able to weigh in on, which reminds you that the banners and the coins and the autocratic style, it's not just style, it's substance, which is why so many people are exercising their rights, which we still have in this country, to speak out tomorrow.
7:19Ty Cobb:I'm never here to tell you what to do or how to vote, but I will tell you those rights are very much yours, and they include telling the government, you will not be ruled by a king. I want to bring in Cheyko Manduri, an Obama campaign veteran, And fittingly, Lisa Gilbert, president of Public Citizen, one of the organizing groups of these No Kings protests. Welcome to both of you. Lisa, your thoughts on that and anything you can preview about tomorrow. Well, first, thank you so much for having me and just listening to that litany of kingly trappings and also the true crisis of our democracy. It just underscores why we will all be out tomorrow.
8:00Donald Trump is sending masked agents into our streets and now our airports, terrorizing our communities, detaining people without warrants, threatening to overtake our elections, trying to make voting harder. And as you said, spending billions of our tax dollars on missile strikes abroad in support of an illegal, unauthorized war. So all of this, all of these blatant, aggressive, lawless actions, which are attempts to intimidate people and chill dissent, that is the reason why people are going to be turning out tomorrow in droves. As you mentioned, 3 ,300 events planned. There are only, to put that in perspective, 3 ,150 counties in the entire country.
8:43We're going to have events in every state, in every congressional district. and as of today in every continent globally except Antarctica. The penguins need to get it in here. But we are going to be everywhere, and it is important to note as well that this is not just an urban action. We will be in rural areas. We will be in suburban areas. This is people turning out to say in what is truly a mass movement, we do not have cakes.
9:12Ty Cobb:Yeah, really interesting, as you say, very broad. Che, it's Friday. And as you know, sometimes if you go to someone's house for dinner, it's customary. You bring something, maybe a bottle of wine or something. I've been informed by the great beat producers here that earlier today you wanted to bring something tonight. No pressure on Lisa. She's busy building something for tomorrow. But you brought a clip from Star Trek, which you say actually is relevant to the No Kings protest. Let's play that and you'll explain on the other side. Right. And I will resist you with my last ounce of strength. Strength is irrelevant.
9:49Resistance is futile.
9:51Ty Cobb:Resistance is futile. It isn't. Explain. Yeah, that is the central message of the Donald Trump administration. They want to say resistance is futile, that this country is MAGA, that Stephen Miller and Russell Vod have created a MAGA state. They've gotten rid of the civil service. They're getting rid of scientists. They have a secret police that simply disappears people. Resistance is futile is what they want to say. Mar-a-Lago is the new Rome. And a protest like this shows that resistance is not futile, that their whole attempt at executing an authoritarian playbook has been an enormous failure.
10:35It has been an enormous failure because the American people simply do not want this. This is not what anybody has voted for. This is not where the American people are. And it's important to send this message to them and to Donald Trump, to people around the world who are kind of worried at the direction this country has taken, and to the CEOs, the elites, the university presidents, all of those people who have also bent the knee to Trump to show the people are not with you, the people resist.
11:05Ty Cobb:Lisa, what do you think about that argument? Because Che is certainly touching on the fact that early last year, there were folks who seemed to over-interpret and over-react to Trump's narrow victory. And they thought, well, maybe we're in Turkey or even Russia. And they, especially behind closed doors in Wall Street, would say things like, well, hey, doesn't matter what we think. This is it. That type of capitulation. Che pointing out that this type of mass movement might do more than just rattle the White House. It might change the public. I mean, I couldn't agree more, Che. I think that a big part of the administration's strategy is to keep people scared and isolated and bending the knee and that no kings is the exact opposite.
11:51We're joining together in overwhelming numbers, speaking out against authoritarianism, speaking out against the horrific abuses of power we've been seeing. And I think there's nothing more American than standing together, nothing more patriotic than saying we do not have a king in America. And I think that that clip really evidence is how people are feeling. You know, you can't terrorize us into silence. He picked the wrong country for that. You know, we don't roll over for dictators. We fight back.
12:20Ty Cobb:And Jay, Trump has his own style, but it does seem that he has kind of lost the thread on some of his weaknesses. You know, he used to pivot a lot, certainly during the campaign. Whatever, you'd say he's bad at this and he'd pivot often. Lately, he just says, oh, affordability is a scam. I won't call it war, but it's a war. So it sounds very cynical to a lot of people. And then here he was in the cabinet meeting talking about a statue in Venezuela. In Venezuela, Chris and I both had a chance to be there. I literally think they're going to put up a statue to President Trump. And I'm not being it's not a political statement.
12:59Ty Cobb:It's I hope so. That would be a great. No, because lowering the price of gas in America. So it's forget that. When are they going to do the statue? Yeah. How was the. Ha ha ha. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, this is actually rather sad. What we're seeing is not simply a matter of authoritarian style. Yes, it's true, as Walter Benjamin pointed out, that authoritarians really do care about aesthetics, and Trump is part of that. But this is really about Trump's feelings. I mean, one thing you get if you read, say, Mary Trump's excellent book about the family is that Donald Trump had a disapproving father who never liked anything he did.
13:40And Howard Stern has said that he knew Trump for many years. He said the one thing about Trump is he really wants people to like him. And so Donald Trump has created a fantasy world where people love him. People are delighted by the image of him. People find him funnier and more charming than any stand-up comedian. They find his pronouncements more wise than any great book you can get in a library. He has created this fantasy world. It's really sad. It's really pathetic to see his psychology playing out on a national and international level like this. But that is exactly what is happening. And that's why No Kings is also important.
14:15We have to show Donald Trump we don't love you. We don't like you even. That is extremely important. Otherwise, it incentivizes more bad behavior from him.
14:25Ty Cobb:Really, really interesting here as we tee up what's going to be, according to the accounts, quite a big, a big protest set of protests tomorrow. Che and Lisa, thank you very much. We'll be checking in. Have a good weekend. Coming up, we have a lot more on this show. We have Democrats demanding answers about these Epstein computers and drives that were removed. Also, back on the program, one of the most sought-after guests you can get on this White House. Ty Cobb is back with us in 90 seconds. It's the Smucker's Uncrustables Radio Hour. With round-soft, pillowy bread filled with delicious PB &J, here's your host, Uncrustables.
15:01Call her on line three. What's eating you? No one. Crust, is that you? Ugh. Uncrustables are the best part of the sandwich. Sorry, Crust. If you're a parent and want to help set up your child for success, then IXL is a right for your family. As an effective and affordable online learning program, IXL covers math, language arts, science, and social studies using interactive practice problems for kids from pre-K to 12th grade. Listeners can get an exclusive 20 % off IXL membership when they sign up today at IXL.com slash 20. Visit ixl.com slash 20 to get the most effective learning program out there at the best price.
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16:15How many fake trophies they were made specifically for him? Is this guy going to get? That is going on the mantle right next to his regifted Nobel Peace Prize and the Olympic gold medal. He didn't win. And the three tournament championships he won at his own golf club. He's getting a participation trophy for something he didn't even participate in. I can't figure out who should be more embarrassed, the guy who came up with the new award or the guy who proudly accepted the new award.
16:43Ty Cobb:President Trump's fake awards becoming a punchline. This keeps happening. Speaker Mike Johnson just this week gave Trump a made up award. This is amid the Iran crisis. The government's partially shut down, but that was apparently a priority. And without embarrassment, they did it in public. There has been a string of these made-up awards. He is the suitable and fitting recipient of the first-ever America First Award. We can think of no better title for what that is.
17:18That's this beautiful golden statue here. To show our appreciation, the trophy says the undisputed champion of beautiful, clean culf. Thank you, sir. Mr. President, this is your prize.
17:31Ty Cobb:This is your peace prize. There is also a beautiful medal.
17:39Ty Cobb:A medal, a made-up peace prize. Some of this is, frankly, embarrassing. It's one thing if there was corruption and real annual awards were being diverted to Trump, which would, of course, weaken the value of those awards. But in many cases, as you just saw, that was the global soccer group, FIFA, they just made up a new award. So it has no value. It's literally whatever the physical value of the couple hundred bucks to have the fake shiny award. It's also deeper than just entities currying favor like international soccer. A president who is this easily swayed by flattery and awards can be compromised in foreign policy and judgment.
18:18Ty Cobb:Consider that one of the opposition leaders in Venezuela, where the U.S. has complex interests about who it wants to work with, tried to basically use and exploit Trump's very transparent need for these awards, something our prior guest just mentioned, to do something that you cannot do, to sort of regift her Nobel Prize Prize. She may have had good reasons for that and her strategy, and you can have a whole other segment on the complexities in Venezuela, but the fact that the president publicly posed for this photo that the White House government account then posted tells you a lot about the weaknesses at the very top of the White House food chain.
18:58Ty Cobb:As mentioned, this is not just about style. Trump is abusing government power. He's using the Justice Department to go after opponents in many cases that are failing and flailing, but involve real misdirection of taxpayer dollars, subpoenas, and government energy to go after his enemies, which can be illegal, and thus not pursue the real cases that relate to national security and homeland defense and crime in the United States. For a perspective on this from a former prosecutor who knows all these issues very well, Ty Cobb also served as White House counsel, the White House counsel's office, I should say, as White House attorney in the first Trump term.
19:35Ty Cobb:Welcome back, Mr. Cobb. Your view of those above issues and as the No Kings rallies commence tomorrow, the union here of the style, the fake awards, the idea that you can re-gift a Nobel, and then the very serious abuse of power. That's no small task, Ari. Thank you very much. Good to be with you. So I think if you look at Trump, these fake awards, it's no secret why he receives them. Everybody in the world and certainly all American politicians, his cabinet, and those who want favor or reward from him know that his narcissism controls everything he does, that to appeal to him and put him in a mood to be generous with you, all you have to do is compliment.
20:23And they do. I mean, they play him like it's a puppet. I mean, look at how successful Putin is. You know, Putin, who couldn't sell, you know, other than limited barrels of oil a day for a maximum of$75 a barrel just a few weeks ago, is now selling, you know, as many barrels as they can produce at$154 a barrel. You know, that's pretty impressive Same with Iran I mean, we're bombing You know, bombing the hell out of Iran But they're making money on it now Because Trump, because of the abject humility That he's suffering for having Started this war without a purpose And having no idea What the exit ramp is Has to pay these guys to try to ease his humility With the hope that they'll get him out of it But they're not getting out of it What we know is Russia is building new generation of drones that they're about to ship to Iran, and they're selling intel that's going to be used to attack and potentially kill our people.
21:23It's pure insanity. But the way to get Trump to do anything you want is to play to his ego. Right.
21:31Ty Cobb:It seems like a real leadership weakness. If you were picking someone to run even a company, a CEO, or be CIA director, where we hear that they have to really be disciplined because they have important work to do and they can't just be easily, as you said, played or compromised. I want to show you President Trump talking to Stephen Miller and FBI Director Patel. And as with so many of these things, there's the vague cover of joking for habits that seem all too real. Take a look. What President Trump has done on border security and public safety is a national miracle that will be studied, not only for generations, but for centuries to come.
Read the full transcript
22:13Ty Cobb:Thank you, President Trump. So, Cash, see if you can top that. I don't know. Mr. President, thanks for delivering America the safest, safest, safest country on God's green earth. You did pretty good. Ty, what do you see there? And is this governing? No, it's competitive sucking up. That's not governing. And, you know, for Kash Patel to, you know, thank the president for the safest country. We are probably we have never been as vulnerable internationally or nationally as we are tonight. And it's it's been a steady decline ever since they began the cacistocracy that is the governance of the inept at the FBI is a perfect example.
22:58What has Kash Patel done at the FBI? He's fired almost everybody with experience. There is no counterterrorism unit anymore. He fired the Iranian intelligence people a week before the war started. And those that used to do counterterrorism or used to do violent crimes, they're now all doing immigration work. And they've abandoned the college education requirement for agents. Do you think any of that makes us safer? No, it makes us more vulnerable. And internationally, you got rid of the experienced JAG officers who could explain what the legal limits were to prevent war crimes. You've gotten rid of inspector generals throughout the government who were intended to keep agencies and their people within bounds and acting lawfully.
23:49We don't have that anymore. The people that have replaced the inspector generals who've been fired are not independent people. They're all Trump loyalists. I mean, you're going to wake up someday and figure out that now that Trump has started the functional equivalent of a civil war, he's going to consider himself Lincoln and think he should replace him on Mount Rushmore. And Mike Johnson may think that's a good idea.
24:11Ty Cobb:Right. And as you say, then you get out to, well, it's not just a made up award. It's it's reforming the real things. I do want to show you what Pam Bondi's deputy, Todd Blanche, was saying at a very political conference, at the CPAC conference, where he used this sort of questioning style to basically give cover to this ICE plan. And so, Ty, I know you agreed to stay with us. I'm going to fit in a break. We're going to show those remarks and get your further analysis right after this.
24:41It's the Smuckers Uncrustables podcast with your host, Uncrustables. Okay, today's guest is rough around the edges. Please welcome Crust. Thanks for having me. Today's topic, he's round with soft pillowy bread. Hey. Filled with delicious PB &J. Are you talking about yourself? And you can take him anywhere. Why'd you invite him? And we are out of time. Are you really cutting me off? Uncrustables are the best part of the sandwich. Sorry, Crust. If you're a parent and want to help set up your child for success, then iExcel is right for your family. As an effective and affordable online learning program, IXL covers math, language arts, science, and social studies using interactive practice problems for kids from pre-K to 12th grade.
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26:15We'll never get another president like Donald Trump. Never.
26:24And that's why it's important that we do everything that we can to try to get him re-elected.
26:33Ty Cobb:That's not from four years ago. That's Franklin Graham talking at CPAC this week, apparently forgetting that there is no more re-election campaign for President Trump because we have a constitution. Ty Cobb, White House veteran, is back with us. That was just a flavor of CPAC. Of course, people can do politics all they want, and they have a First Amendment right to say all kinds of stuff, Ty. The Deputy Attorney General is a different matter. In the past, as you know, FBI and DOJ leadership would carefully avoid even being at hyper-partisan events. But here was Todd Blanche, the deputy. Take a look.
27:09Why is there objection to sending ICE officers to polling places? Illegals can't vote. It doesn't make any sense. We see our most activist judges that we lose to every single day. Alvin Bragg, Fannie Willis, this cast of characters. ever get any justice? Well, yes.
27:41Ty Cobb:Ty, your thoughts? So Todd Blanche was somebody, I think, that the prosecutorial community writ large had some hope for, given his experience in the Southern District. All that's gone. I mean, he's proved himself to be, you know, Pam Bondi's pet bulldog because he, unlike she, had some federal trial experience. He's maneuvered forward, first extorting Ghislaine Maxwell for a favorable comment on President Trump and then rewarding her with a prison confinement that she's not entitled to at a minimum security prison. He bragged today about firing all the people that ever had anything to do with any Trump prosecution within the Justice Department and the FBI.
28:29And he attacked Bob Mueller today to pile on what was probably the most indecent statement ever in the history of our republic that a president has ever made publicly. When he said good, he was glad Bob Mueller, a decorated war hero and former FBI leader, was dead. Ty Blanche has lost all credibility. Why shouldn't ICE be at the polls? Because they have no jurisdiction. And the law prevents federal officers from going to the polls, and it also prevents intimidation at the polls. Those are the only two illegal purposes for which they could be there. And if they're there, they're in violation of the law.
29:03These are simple questions. And he knows that, right? But it is part of what we've seen. And it's part of what we've seen. First of all, when Bannon said, don't make any mistake, we're going to flood the polls. Trump said we need to be in 15 jurisdictions. Tom Homan the other day asked the same question that Blanche said. And it was all transparently for the purpose of trying to sensitize Americans to the likelihood that they will be at the polls. That is the plan. This has always been about the elections. The dry run in Minnesota with ICE, you know, taking over, being menacing, scaring people, shooting them 10 times in the back.
29:36That's ICE. That's Trump's secret police force. They're overfunded at a level that's unprecedented for a law enforcement agency more than the Army. And they are accountable to no one, and he's using them for purposes for which they have no statutory authority, like being at the airports.
29:54Ty Cobb:And the best way to counter that, if what you're defining is the likely threat, and I have about a minute left. Certainly, you know, take your iPhone to the polls, that's for sure, and, you know, record anything unusual that you see. Try to protect the poll workers that they threaten. You know, try to definitely make a record of the ballots that they try to seize. And make sure that the claims that they later made can be disproved about, you know, threats or fraud. can be later disproven, which they will be baseless. Understood. Ty Cobb, really appreciate, as always, your experience, your sobriety, your clarity.
30:31Ty Cobb:Have a good weekend, sir. Let me tell folks what's coming up. There's a spotlight on this generational divide. We've heard about it in many contexts, including, of course, the aging current president. I have a special guest on that tonight, which is pretty interesting. But next, we go to that Epstein story, Democrats fighting for answers. Stay with us.
30:55Ty Cobb:while trump is focused on the iran debacle the rising gas prices or his concern about these protests that we're covering tomorrow lawmakers are still bearing down on this epstein story democrats demanding answers about missing hard drives they're demanding now testimony from three private investigators who were basically contracted by epstein's legal team using epstein's riches which themselves are controversial they removed and stored a trove of evidence from his Palm Beach mansion. This was before a 2005 search. They've been asked to sit for transcribed interviews and to preserve relevant materials.
31:28Ty Cobb:They have until April 9th to respond. Now, there are DOJ files which suggest those investigators working at Epstein's behest were able to remove three computers, 29 phone directives, a list of local Florida masseuses, and boxes of materials that are described as, quote, sexually explicit, according to DOJ. The hard drives could have all kinds of critical information. We know enough to know that of all the things that they were frantically dealing with, they got to this stuff, this evidence, quickly. And while Epstein was never prosecuted for blackmail, Donald Trump's own cabinet member who visited the island accuses him of that.
32:05Ty Cobb:Epstein's longtime attorney has discussed the hard drives in the related deposition. After he served jail time through conversations with defense counsel, I became aware that there were computer hard drives in the possession of private investigators. I don't know when they were removed, when they came in their possession, if they were removed. I just don't know how they came into possession. But I knew of the existence of hard drives. The hard drives exist. The hard drives may not have been accounted for. A person who, over time, was accused of these crimes in multiple jurisdictions, Florida and later the feds accused him, apparently was pretty good at moving evidence around.
32:47Ty Cobb:And that's bad. Feds reportedly also attempted to recover this evidence when investigating Epstein in a different matter. But then they abandoned the effort because Epstein agreed to the 2008 deal. That deal looked worse and worse. The more information came out, it was negotiated by Acosta, who went on to serve in the Trump cabinet as well. So many Trump links. Another Epstein accuser, meanwhile suing the current Trump administration, as well as Google, over claims of wrongful disclosure and then distribution, publication, of information from these files that identified her. She claims the DOJ for violating not only the privacy of one individual, but roughly a hundred victims, and that Google went along for the ride, so to speak.
33:31Ty Cobb:Another victim who has spoken out, remember, none of this has to be political, although obviously there are implications because it's about the current president, some of the DOJ stuff. But one victim who happened to be a Trump voter says she now regrets that. Trump ran his whole freaking election on the release of these freaking files. Yeah. And it sparked it back all up again. Gave us hope. He runs his campaign on this and he runs it really, really hard to the point that a lot of us voted for him. I mean, they strung us out. So haven't seen my files in there. And I know that they have files because I did speak with the FBI.
34:16Ty Cobb:This is where the claims that sometimes seem to be so political coming from Trump and others, that they don't relate back to the actual human beings involved in the victims, also have repercussions because there you hear someone. And I've always said there's no reason to judge other people for how they decide to engage in democracy. And when they learn things, that was someone who just believed him. If you follow Trump really closely, you might find him not that credible, but she did believe him. And now, having looked at his failure to do what he said he would do, and the DOJ's manifold Epstein's secrecy and failures, she now feels betrayed.
34:48Ty Cobb:That's an update on that story. We're going to fin a break when we come back. A big issue in the midterms, the search for new leaders. Stay with us.
35:02Ty Cobb:There has been so much going on, but we are still making time to fall back. And we are joined by two very special guests. You know, Professor Jason Johnson, MSNOW analyst, who is such a friend of the beat that he is actually the beat some nights. He is one of our favorite guest hosts. He's been on Fall Back with many legends from U-God to Kenny G. I'm going to give it to you with no trivia. It would be two parts for him. It would be a part that would go...
35:36And then it would be...
35:41Because he's a nerd, but he's also got soul.
35:44Ty Cobb:That was Kenny's wonderful little medley for him. Antoine Ish Marby makes his debut tonight. If you are anywhere in the podosphere, you already know this renaissance man who goes by Ish. He also has worked on Wall Street and has real estate properties, but we know him and the reason he's here in all seriousness is his illustrious, ineffable, relentless participation in one of my favorite podcasts, the Joe Budden podcast. Could I write them rhymes? My daughter could write them rhymes. So if you start talking about somebody wrote that song, somebody might not have written that song. Chat GBT might have written that song, but then somebody wrote that song.
36:25Yeah, that's true. If Chad GVT wrote the song Then somebody wrote the song Yo dawg that would be the first first thing I would do If I was like wealthy wealthy Learn how to fight No you would just take a different You would just take a different level of martial arts What do you think your aura gives off In the G insurance I wouldn't know what it gives off Cause I'm not the recipient Do you believe black people should get reparations Um no I think black people should get equity And I think the two are different Like when you be going through stuff is the studio and the music your getaway. Exactly.
36:58You know what I'm saying? That's your safe space. That's your safe space.
37:01Ty Cobb:It's free. Respect. Welcome to both of you. How you doing, Ish? Thank you, sir. Glad to be here. I'm well. Yourself? I'm good. It's great to have you. You know, I thought of bringing you two together because you have something in common. What might that be? Supreme communicators. Wow. Okay. Okay. And here we are. So he knows his way around here. You get the first fallback as home court. Well, first fallback I got is Pete Hegseth needs to fall back. He is our secretary of war. And basically he is trying to create the Terminator, the Matrix, the plot of, you know, Captain America Winter Soldier by basically saying we're going to block Anthropic because they won't allow the United States to use AI to use to make weapons, to make weapons that can kill people.
37:50And what is Anthropic? Anthropic is the creator of Claude, which is the most...
37:54Ty Cobb:That's how we'd be doing on the news. You got to explain everything. You got to explain anything on your pod. You'll reference an old fight with a car from eight years ago. We're all trying to catch up. This is what we do. So yeah, what is Anthropic? So Anthropic created Claude, which is actually like, it's the most advanced AI you got out there, right? And Claude said, hey, you can use this for the government, but you can't use it for surveillance and you can't make weapons and machines that can kill. And Hegs have said, we will block you from all government contracts if you don't allow us unfettered use.
38:22I'm glad Anthropics said no, because that is dangerous to American safety and world safety.
38:27Ty Cobb:And you think about like when doctors say first, do no harm. There's all sorts of medical technology, but it's valid to say this technology is so powerful. We want it to be for healing, not killing. Right. You can't just take any any medical technology or pills and just use it however you want. Now, the government obviously wages war and it does kill. So you're pointing out that they actually have standards, which I think is a great thing. You don't want zeros and ones making the final decision as to whether somebody lives or dies. And if that's something that our federal government wants, I'm glad Anthropic for once.
39:00One of the few AI companies with ethics said, hey, you guys got to fall back.
39:04Ty Cobb:Yeah. I mean, on the one hand, it's complicated. On the other hand, it's like, did y 'all see any of the Terminator? I was going to say, it doesn't seem that complicated. morality in 2026 is a chef's kiss for somebody at least having some in 2026 is few and far between what's on your fallback list um my fallback list it was it was kind of i'm gonna go with congress i think um as of 2026 it's 120 people in congress that are over 70 that's way past retirement they have to hang it up yeah they have to hang it up and allow some new regime or new changing of the guard to take place. I think you got to think some of these guys were around when they could tell you, get off, go to the back of the bus.
39:46So I think some of their ideologies and some of their...
39:53Premises. Oh, it's just, it's so antiquated and outdated that we have to have some new blood in there. I think some diversity needs to be in Congress. You have to have inclusivity to properly govern. You got to have some skinny people, some fat people, some short people, some tall people, some white people, some black people. You have to have everybody come to a round table. And that's the only way, in my opinion, that you can properly govern. It's like the three of us running a nation of women. It's impossible. Right. Right. So how do you have this small, small, small sector of predominantly rich white men governing the masses that they can't even identify with the needs of the masses?
40:31It makes no sense to me. And you know what Lil Uzi said?
40:38Ty Cobb:what might that be sir if he talking bad about me he lying my money older than joe biden i doubt if uzi's money's that old but it's fine wow you're fact checking the rap unless he got like a buffalo coin that's pretty indian head nickel well why would it be good for him to have old money let's break down the bar he's saying it's almost like generational wealth. Like maybe he's got more money than you know about. I'm sure he's making a ton of money. Be clear. I'm sure he's making a ton of money. I don't know. I mean, the reason why I reach for the bar is that to Uzi, I don't know if he's a voter and I don't know how he'd vote, but to Uzi, you think of something old, he thinks of the president and that would apply today.
41:23Ty Cobb:He could make the same bar today about the current president. We've had two presidents in a row who are over 80 respect, but the question is, is our system working or is something happening that's even bigger than partisanship? I think it's relatability. Right. Like if you're 80 years old and no disrespect to anybody, one, we have parents and grandparents and our grandparents and our parents. And when they get a certain age, they're stubborn. You can't tell them anything, even if it's for their own good. They're just going to ignore you. And I think we see that every single day. I'm not trying to put you in a tough spot.
41:56Ty Cobb:So you take it where you want to take it. There are people who say Trump is now almost as stubborn as Joe Budden, your podcast colleague. I doubt it.
42:10Ty Cobb:I doubt it. They might be running neck and neck. Neck and neck. There you go. See, independence. Here's my fallback. Abbreviations claiming to be new slang. you're not really slang if you just abbreviate a word okay now i'm going to show you because it's the news okay we bring show and tell here riz charisma sus suspect delulu delusional mid basically comes out of mediocre now i'm talking about real slang okay cool that's been around since the fawns we still know what it means the 80 year olds and the 20 year olds know what it I mean, it's real slang and it doesn't mean cold temperature. As you know, Jason, cool means something else.
42:56Ty Cobb:Slaps, that's been staying with us because originally the beat slap, but now like, yeah, sometimes that Roquefort could slap if it's really good cheese. Cook, we cooking out here. Cap, no cap. The aura came up in even the clip of you. What do you think? Because I want to involve you, but my view is real slang sticks around because it takes on its own meaning. Abbreviations are lazy and I don't think they'll last the same way. I agree. I agree. I say the same thing. And look, I'm, as somebody who never wants to be a get off my lawn guy, right? When I hear my students say things like Riz, I'm like, you know, that's just a derivative, right?
43:32Like, that's not, no one's saying cool instead of cool, right? Right. Cool actually lasted. We don't be using, we're going to be farming aura, using aura, took my aura. Aura is going to last for a minute. A lot of these other words, you know, they come in, they come out, you can't understand it. And part of having cool new words, right, is also that the older generation can't understand it. Yeah. Half of us still don't know what 6-7 means, right? But it's cool. If you say real sus, they don't know what it means.
43:57Ty Cobb:And chopping off the P-E-C-T off a suspect, you didn't do that much. No, you didn't do it. You see how this bothers me? It's true. Yeah. I'm agreeing with it. So we just need to fall back-ish. Your debut, I hope you come back. I hope you'll have me back. Respect. Always.
44:20How serious is the gas phone now? It's the way I want to start asking everybody, are you happy with your choices? I do regret my vote. A billion dollars a day almost is being spent to rain death and destruction onto random civilians in the Middle East with my tax dollars. So how are we, the people that voted for Donald Trump, supposed to continue to support him when his name has been mentioned? 5 ,000 times in these files. They are paying for this war with your health care, with your grandmother's insulin.
44:56Ty Cobb:People speaking out in many ways and online about Trump's performance tomorrow. We're going to see how that translates into activism. There's going to be special MSNOW live coverage of these No Kings protests with reporters flanked out at so many places all day tomorrow. So tune in throughout the day to see what's happening in the country. And of course, We'll see you again on Monday as we check in on that and other stories.
45:44I wanna hug ya. I'm gonna hug ya. I'm coming in for a hug.
From the publisher
March 27, 2026; 6pm; MS NOW's Ari Melber reports on the eve of the nationwide “No Kings” protests, with more than 3,000 demonstrators expected across the country. Plus, Melber is joined by Ty Cobb, former White House attorney during the first Trump administration, for an extended conversation on the latest developments
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