I'm looking forward to an honest discussion about the out-of-touch media elites.
Of course, any trues discussion would have to point the finger squarely at Matt Taibbi. As much as he'd like to beat the dead Russiagate horse some more, it would be instructive if Matt looked long and hard at the mirror.
Mind you, Taibbi recently told us that, were it not for Donald Trump's disastrous decision to go to war with Iran, all he'd need to do was ride out the rest of his term and he'd be met with parades and widespread approbation by an adoring US public. Which shows a level of disconnect hard to fathom— Trump already has historic low ratings BEFORE his dumbass move. Of course, it has only slid even further. Perhaps, that parade would have happened in Taibbi's high income zip code, but it's hard to imagine it would happen anywhere else. And mind you, one of the voices that most cheered Trump on in his saber rattling was precisely that of Taibbi and MAGA sidekick Wlater Kirn. Let's not forget that, Matt, in a rare moment of actual transparency, told us that he was in favor of Trump's 'Take the oil!' rants. And of course, Taibbi, has found Trump's bullying ways terribly amusing, even endorsing talks of grabbing Greenland.
In two other towering examples of being out of touch with reality, Taibbi mused that because Trump had misused a preposition recently we might only now BEGIN to concern ourselves about a decline in his mental acuity. This will earn Taibbi the moniker of Sleepy Matt, since he seems to have completely missed innumerous examples of Trump's mind melt, including confusing Nikki Hailey with Nancy Pelosi (not simply mistaking their names, but their entire biographies, and going on and on) and confusing Karoline Leavitt for Kellyann Conway. Not to mention interchanging Greenland and Iceland over and over again in the same rambling sentence. And of course, telling reporters his dad was from the UK (it was his mom). Not to mention numerous examples of his slurring words, going wildly off topic and nodding off dating back to his first administration.
However, nothing shows Taibbi to be out of touch more than his recent headline: Has Trump stopped being funny? This after January 6th. And after Rennee Good and Alex Pretti.
Have to admit I stopped reading when you displayed your ignorance about who wealthy zip codes vote for. Dems are the party of white privilege and the only income demo Kamala won was voters earning over $100k. Ooh- that bubble is so nice! Please give us your thoughts on Epstein next time- can’t wait! Maybe a pic of his bobble head next to Mueller’s and Fauci’s on your RH coffee table?
Ah the good ole days, when billionaire conman Donald Trump with the help of elites like Tucker Carlson and Matt Taibbi conned the working class into thinking he was looking out for their best interest. Of course many who voted for him might be uneducated, but they’re not stupid, and I suspect they won’t be organizing any parades when they see the price of gasoline and look at their grocery bills. The one constituency he has gone to bat for consistently and dependably, though, are those in Matt’s income bracket and above.
What is Matt's income bracket? Do you have contacts with the IRS who shared his income data? Is it the same agents who arrived at his home to harass him the day he was testifying before Congress?
Matt obtained the best Eastern liberal education money can buy, attending uber exclusive Concord academy in Massachusetts. A back of the envelope calculation based on his subscription rates and number of subscribers would point to him being very comfortably in the top 1% of earners. There’s nothing wrong with that in my book, all the power to him. But please spare me the pitchfork rhetoric about the evil elites who are out of touch when he himself is part of the elite and is so obviously out of touch.
So only poor people can write about rich elites? Seems a little all-or-nothing to me. And even if he is a 1%er, he's among the poorest of them. He's not pulling down Matt Lauer Today Show money, or even Joy Behar money, much less Hannity/Maddow money.
Also, Racket News revenue does not equal Matt Taibbi income. There are a few expenses to pay from that revenue stream. Like a staff, for instance.
There are three groups of people who trash Matt:
1. Liberals who became insane with identity politics and woke bullshit who got pissed when he started calling it out
2. Conservatives who thought the Twitter Files meant Matt was 100% anti-Democrat who get pissed when he criticizes Trump
Ps I’m none of the above, it’s a kind of reductive list, wouldn’t you say? Consider me one of those who abhors those who normalize and even cheerlead the dictatorial rightwing, nativist turn this country has taken.
Not at all! Rich people writing about the rich elite sounds eminently reasonable, who knows them better? But rich people who are out of touch complaining about rich people who are out of touch is a little … well, rich, wouldn’t you agree? As for the significant expenses that Matt has to fork over. For years the Racket has skimped on editors and correspondents — basically a guy in the basement with his sidekick and a skeleton crew— compare that to the Free Press or Zeteo.
replying to that asshole only encourages him. He will never just go away. It seems to be pathological with him. Something in his psyche needs to expresses it darkness and each reply only encourages the demons to erupt.
I understand your point. I would, however, argue that so many voters/the electorate had been left behind by policies of the Uniparty.
Perhaps self-destructive, certainly naive, maybe willing to believe ANYONE might actually change the course of Empire. But one thing I do know to be true is none of the governments or presidents from Reagan onward helped middle America ( the majority).
The propaganda is absolutely fabulous and many will wrap themselves in their flags and parties and try to convince themselves it’s that other party - but that’s living a lie.
So, yeah, people got conned. Just like they have been for 50 years. That’s what happens when you get hopeless and blinded.
So instead of listening to the actual 3-hour interview you thought it was more important to just slam Taibbi in your rant against Trump. You aren't actually "looking forward to an honest discussion," you just want to do your "Orange Man Bad" routine for a few paragraphs and then go back to trolling people on X or something equally productive. Literally nothing in your brain-dead rant has any substance or makes an actual point; you just lob grenades here and there for fun. Get a life.
fyi, I’ve listened to the interview, and nothing in it changes my opinion that it is utterly hypocritical of Matt Taibbi to lob hand-grenades at the elite media for being out of touch, given that he is 1) of the elite 2) out of touch.
The thing about Russiagate... It's a prime example of a situation where none of the participants will ever suffer any ill consequences. I still can't get over that Martha Stewart literally went to prison for lying about a two-bit insider trading scheme while the Swamp is a place where laws are laughable suggestions.
I guess one real consequence is that ordinary citizens now dismiss pretty much everything the federal government tells us. We quickly deduced Trump has been captured by the Jewish lobby, the US military is a hired mercenary force, the "protesters" were Kurds armed by the US, etc. It's common knowledge and the old taunts of "that's a conspiracy theory" are met with weary eye rolls.
I feel like you are the only one who "quickly deduced" any of those things or provide "weary eye rolls" to correct assertions that those are conspiracy theories invented by losers in Mom's basement.
I just scanned through all of the back-and-forth's that begin with this comment, and what's abundantly clear to me is that you come here, dukes up, ready for a fight. That makes you a bully. If your first impulse when you approach someone is to push them, whether physically or mentally, you're a bully.
IMO, you're a perfect example of why Trump is president today, because you represent the same mentality that this country, the rest of us, SOUNDLY told (and continue to tell) to Get The Fuck Out! You are responsible for Trump. You did this! Are you still happy there in your stewing anger at everyone who's not you? You're not only a bully, you're a masochist and/or an anarchist.
The problem with people like you is that you continue to minimize Russia Gate because please tell us where the justice has been done? He should keep talking about it!
I'm watching your interview with John Papola and I take issue with your self-analysis of "not being a good talker". Did you mean that you weren't a good talker and are one today? Because you ARE a good talker! I don't sit here thinking, "Boy, I'd love to have a few beers with Matt Taibbi", if Matt Taibbi is not a good talker, thank you! I know what makes a good talker and you are a good talker! You're not just a good talker, you also have a unique style. A style that actually betrays your sincerity and it shows. So, as a Canadian would say while waving a hand dismissively, "Oh, go on with ya then, Matthew!"
I agree, but I think he's comparing his speaking to his writing. And since I can't think of a better-writing journalist out there, the speaking is always going to be secondary.
Alas, in these days of podcasts, when people are too lazy to read words, the written word continues to lose its place.
"Alas, in these days of podcasts, when people are too lazy to read words, the written word continues to lose its place."
podcasts are the height of laziness. I hate them. So much time to express so little. They are lazy - compared with writing - because they are stream of consciousness. Writing takes creative effort, editorial effort as well, and produces much better stuff.
I really hate podcasts. I listen often but not always to Taibbi and Kirn's ATW. Because it was funny and had great takes. But even then I could listen the whole way and not every one.
Heart felt, sincere, and a paragon of liberalism. Also refreshingly self-aware about your own strengths and weaknesses. This interview is exhibit A of why Matt built a loyal readership one somewhat snarky observation, though…I noticed Matt approvingly cited Rob Reiner’s American President as an example of free speech values. It’s true that Andrew Shepherd uses the free speech mantra in his takedown of Sen. Bob Rumson, BUT Reiner showed his real colors in two other scenes:
1. When the Michael J. Fox character scolds the Prez for letting Rumson set the terms of the debate saying the people are so thirsty for leadership they’d drink sand instead of water, Shepherd retorts that the people drink the sand because they don’t know the difference! Classic Progressive elitism that is Reiner’s true view.
2. When the lobbyist Sidney Allen Wade twist Congressman Pennybacker’s arm to back the clean air bill, her clinching line is that his constituents will back the bill because she tells them what to think.
The real message of Tge American President is that the people are pretty stupid and it’s a short jump from that to Rick Stengel and Katharine Maher.
As you have been writing about, it's not just the legacy media that has no credibility, I am more and more worried about these podcasters. They sound insane to me, many of them. Matt Walsh sounds sane still, and Daily Wire overall might be TOO enthusiastic about supporting Israel since Ben is Jewish, but I am starting to think you are the only sane voice left in this loony bin of a country. Even when I disagree with you, I feel like you are a steady, intelligent person not easily swayed by anyone. It is worrisome to think the podcasters are all about money. I know you all need followers to make money, but these people do not seem to care about our country at all, and most of them are darn right nuts, incapable of critical thought --legacy media, podcasters, all of them. Makes me pretty depressed. Journalism is indeed dead.
Wow… what a great interview; so interesting! USSR to Russia with Putin genesis sprinkled in, to Wall Street bail-outs, to Russiagate, COVID, Twitter files. Lengthy but still too short! Did this interview get recorded before the ruling that the State Department is barred from funding tools that suppress speech of Americans on media outlets? Finally some vindication!
Cool. I'm not a regular listener of his, but I've caught a handful of his podcasts and I recall they were quite decent. This will be his audition to be added to my regular rotation.
You are losing me here. A three podcast to interview another podcaster? Add that to another 5 or 6 hours a week of Today's News. I'd rather watch TV sitcoms.
Thanks - great interview and appreciated that you had the time to really go in depth. Very interesting to one of us who is still confused. My question - Your thoughts on Trump. He is a bully, but never bullies Putin or Netanyahu. In fact, seems to defer to both. Seems very strange to those of us in the confused category.
A second thought on the interview. For a period of about 80 years America got its news from about the same places. Beginning in the 1940’s with radio and then TV, large newspapers. So regardless of the bias we all sort of had the same facts. (I may be stretching that a little) Today news is becoming so fragmented we are increasingly listening to different facts. How do we hold together as a country?
Wonderful interview. I especially enjoyed being able to hear Matt's thoughts without him being constantly interrupted, something that has been occurring more and more frequently on his own podcast. You and John Papola make a great conversation team - let's hear more like this in the future.
Great interview, Matt:). I especially enjoy hearing your stories about living in the end times of the Soviet Union.
I'm looking forward to an honest discussion about the out-of-touch media elites.
Of course, any trues discussion would have to point the finger squarely at Matt Taibbi. As much as he'd like to beat the dead Russiagate horse some more, it would be instructive if Matt looked long and hard at the mirror.
Mind you, Taibbi recently told us that, were it not for Donald Trump's disastrous decision to go to war with Iran, all he'd need to do was ride out the rest of his term and he'd be met with parades and widespread approbation by an adoring US public. Which shows a level of disconnect hard to fathom— Trump already has historic low ratings BEFORE his dumbass move. Of course, it has only slid even further. Perhaps, that parade would have happened in Taibbi's high income zip code, but it's hard to imagine it would happen anywhere else. And mind you, one of the voices that most cheered Trump on in his saber rattling was precisely that of Taibbi and MAGA sidekick Wlater Kirn. Let's not forget that, Matt, in a rare moment of actual transparency, told us that he was in favor of Trump's 'Take the oil!' rants. And of course, Taibbi, has found Trump's bullying ways terribly amusing, even endorsing talks of grabbing Greenland.
In two other towering examples of being out of touch with reality, Taibbi mused that because Trump had misused a preposition recently we might only now BEGIN to concern ourselves about a decline in his mental acuity. This will earn Taibbi the moniker of Sleepy Matt, since he seems to have completely missed innumerous examples of Trump's mind melt, including confusing Nikki Hailey with Nancy Pelosi (not simply mistaking their names, but their entire biographies, and going on and on) and confusing Karoline Leavitt for Kellyann Conway. Not to mention interchanging Greenland and Iceland over and over again in the same rambling sentence. And of course, telling reporters his dad was from the UK (it was his mom). Not to mention numerous examples of his slurring words, going wildly off topic and nodding off dating back to his first administration.
However, nothing shows Taibbi to be out of touch more than his recent headline: Has Trump stopped being funny? This after January 6th. And after Rennee Good and Alex Pretti.
Talk about being out of touch!
Bbb…but Trump!
Have to admit I stopped reading when you displayed your ignorance about who wealthy zip codes vote for. Dems are the party of white privilege and the only income demo Kamala won was voters earning over $100k. Ooh- that bubble is so nice! Please give us your thoughts on Epstein next time- can’t wait! Maybe a pic of his bobble head next to Mueller’s and Fauci’s on your RH coffee table?
That guy, The Wrong Stuff, is an idiot and a troll. He is best ignored. He won't go away, but it is easier to just scroll to the next comment.
Ah the good ole days, when billionaire conman Donald Trump with the help of elites like Tucker Carlson and Matt Taibbi conned the working class into thinking he was looking out for their best interest. Of course many who voted for him might be uneducated, but they’re not stupid, and I suspect they won’t be organizing any parades when they see the price of gasoline and look at their grocery bills. The one constituency he has gone to bat for consistently and dependably, though, are those in Matt’s income bracket and above.
What is Matt's income bracket? Do you have contacts with the IRS who shared his income data? Is it the same agents who arrived at his home to harass him the day he was testifying before Congress?
Matt obtained the best Eastern liberal education money can buy, attending uber exclusive Concord academy in Massachusetts. A back of the envelope calculation based on his subscription rates and number of subscribers would point to him being very comfortably in the top 1% of earners. There’s nothing wrong with that in my book, all the power to him. But please spare me the pitchfork rhetoric about the evil elites who are out of touch when he himself is part of the elite and is so obviously out of touch.
So only poor people can write about rich elites? Seems a little all-or-nothing to me. And even if he is a 1%er, he's among the poorest of them. He's not pulling down Matt Lauer Today Show money, or even Joy Behar money, much less Hannity/Maddow money.
Also, Racket News revenue does not equal Matt Taibbi income. There are a few expenses to pay from that revenue stream. Like a staff, for instance.
There are three groups of people who trash Matt:
1. Liberals who became insane with identity politics and woke bullshit who got pissed when he started calling it out
2. Conservatives who thought the Twitter Files meant Matt was 100% anti-Democrat who get pissed when he criticizes Trump
3. Those who favor censorship for whatever reason
Which one are you?
Ps I’m none of the above, it’s a kind of reductive list, wouldn’t you say? Consider me one of those who abhors those who normalize and even cheerlead the dictatorial rightwing, nativist turn this country has taken.
Not at all! Rich people writing about the rich elite sounds eminently reasonable, who knows them better? But rich people who are out of touch complaining about rich people who are out of touch is a little … well, rich, wouldn’t you agree? As for the significant expenses that Matt has to fork over. For years the Racket has skimped on editors and correspondents — basically a guy in the basement with his sidekick and a skeleton crew— compare that to the Free Press or Zeteo.
replying to that asshole only encourages him. He will never just go away. It seems to be pathological with him. Something in his psyche needs to expresses it darkness and each reply only encourages the demons to erupt.
I understand your point. I would, however, argue that so many voters/the electorate had been left behind by policies of the Uniparty.
Perhaps self-destructive, certainly naive, maybe willing to believe ANYONE might actually change the course of Empire. But one thing I do know to be true is none of the governments or presidents from Reagan onward helped middle America ( the majority).
The propaganda is absolutely fabulous and many will wrap themselves in their flags and parties and try to convince themselves it’s that other party - but that’s living a lie.
So, yeah, people got conned. Just like they have been for 50 years. That’s what happens when you get hopeless and blinded.
So instead of listening to the actual 3-hour interview you thought it was more important to just slam Taibbi in your rant against Trump. You aren't actually "looking forward to an honest discussion," you just want to do your "Orange Man Bad" routine for a few paragraphs and then go back to trolling people on X or something equally productive. Literally nothing in your brain-dead rant has any substance or makes an actual point; you just lob grenades here and there for fun. Get a life.
fyi, I’ve listened to the interview, and nothing in it changes my opinion that it is utterly hypocritical of Matt Taibbi to lob hand-grenades at the elite media for being out of touch, given that he is 1) of the elite 2) out of touch.
The thing about Russiagate... It's a prime example of a situation where none of the participants will ever suffer any ill consequences. I still can't get over that Martha Stewart literally went to prison for lying about a two-bit insider trading scheme while the Swamp is a place where laws are laughable suggestions.
I guess one real consequence is that ordinary citizens now dismiss pretty much everything the federal government tells us. We quickly deduced Trump has been captured by the Jewish lobby, the US military is a hired mercenary force, the "protesters" were Kurds armed by the US, etc. It's common knowledge and the old taunts of "that's a conspiracy theory" are met with weary eye rolls.
I feel like you are the only one who "quickly deduced" any of those things or provide "weary eye rolls" to correct assertions that those are conspiracy theories invented by losers in Mom's basement.
The founders of CodePink must have started paying by the paragraph. Congratulations.
Of course any true discussion of bias would have to point the finger at The Wright Stuff
I just scanned through all of the back-and-forth's that begin with this comment, and what's abundantly clear to me is that you come here, dukes up, ready for a fight. That makes you a bully. If your first impulse when you approach someone is to push them, whether physically or mentally, you're a bully.
IMO, you're a perfect example of why Trump is president today, because you represent the same mentality that this country, the rest of us, SOUNDLY told (and continue to tell) to Get The Fuck Out! You are responsible for Trump. You did this! Are you still happy there in your stewing anger at everyone who's not you? You're not only a bully, you're a masochist and/or an anarchist.
The problem with people like you is that you continue to minimize Russia Gate because please tell us where the justice has been done? He should keep talking about it!
You are correct that at a minimum Trump should have been charged with obstruction of justice.
Lots of hot air nonsense.
I'm watching your interview with John Papola and I take issue with your self-analysis of "not being a good talker". Did you mean that you weren't a good talker and are one today? Because you ARE a good talker! I don't sit here thinking, "Boy, I'd love to have a few beers with Matt Taibbi", if Matt Taibbi is not a good talker, thank you! I know what makes a good talker and you are a good talker! You're not just a good talker, you also have a unique style. A style that actually betrays your sincerity and it shows. So, as a Canadian would say while waving a hand dismissively, "Oh, go on with ya then, Matthew!"
I agree, but I think he's comparing his speaking to his writing. And since I can't think of a better-writing journalist out there, the speaking is always going to be secondary.
Alas, in these days of podcasts, when people are too lazy to read words, the written word continues to lose its place.
"Alas, in these days of podcasts, when people are too lazy to read words, the written word continues to lose its place."
podcasts are the height of laziness. I hate them. So much time to express so little. They are lazy - compared with writing - because they are stream of consciousness. Writing takes creative effort, editorial effort as well, and produces much better stuff.
I really hate podcasts. I listen often but not always to Taibbi and Kirn's ATW. Because it was funny and had great takes. But even then I could listen the whole way and not every one.
Podcasts. They’re like opinions, every asshole has one, or so it seems.
When Taylor Swift’s boyfriend’s brother’s wife got one, it was clear that anyone can pod.
OK, that's funny. Also true.
Good point. His writing is the shit.
...absolutely terrific discussion ...
Heart felt, sincere, and a paragon of liberalism. Also refreshingly self-aware about your own strengths and weaknesses. This interview is exhibit A of why Matt built a loyal readership one somewhat snarky observation, though…I noticed Matt approvingly cited Rob Reiner’s American President as an example of free speech values. It’s true that Andrew Shepherd uses the free speech mantra in his takedown of Sen. Bob Rumson, BUT Reiner showed his real colors in two other scenes:
1. When the Michael J. Fox character scolds the Prez for letting Rumson set the terms of the debate saying the people are so thirsty for leadership they’d drink sand instead of water, Shepherd retorts that the people drink the sand because they don’t know the difference! Classic Progressive elitism that is Reiner’s true view.
2. When the lobbyist Sidney Allen Wade twist Congressman Pennybacker’s arm to back the clean air bill, her clinching line is that his constituents will back the bill because she tells them what to think.
The real message of Tge American President is that the people are pretty stupid and it’s a short jump from that to Rick Stengel and Katharine Maher.
As you have been writing about, it's not just the legacy media that has no credibility, I am more and more worried about these podcasters. They sound insane to me, many of them. Matt Walsh sounds sane still, and Daily Wire overall might be TOO enthusiastic about supporting Israel since Ben is Jewish, but I am starting to think you are the only sane voice left in this loony bin of a country. Even when I disagree with you, I feel like you are a steady, intelligent person not easily swayed by anyone. It is worrisome to think the podcasters are all about money. I know you all need followers to make money, but these people do not seem to care about our country at all, and most of them are darn right nuts, incapable of critical thought --legacy media, podcasters, all of them. Makes me pretty depressed. Journalism is indeed dead.
Yeah, can’t wait to add the AI news to the mix. If it’s hard to determine what is real now I can’t even imagine how bad it will be then!
Love seeing Matt's media appearances shared here.
Wow… what a great interview; so interesting! USSR to Russia with Putin genesis sprinkled in, to Wall Street bail-outs, to Russiagate, COVID, Twitter files. Lengthy but still too short! Did this interview get recorded before the ruling that the State Department is barred from funding tools that suppress speech of Americans on media outlets? Finally some vindication!
Transcripts of all these videos (including with Michael Tracy), like we used to get on ATW would be great! Please and thank you!
Cool. I'm not a regular listener of his, but I've caught a handful of his podcasts and I recall they were quite decent. This will be his audition to be added to my regular rotation.
Great interview. It filled a bit of the void left by America This Week.
Want more stuff like this!
You are losing me here. A three podcast to interview another podcaster? Add that to another 5 or 6 hours a week of Today's News. I'd rather watch TV sitcoms.
Can you even name a sitcom that is airing today?
This was great. Loved the historical framing of stories.
Thanks - great interview and appreciated that you had the time to really go in depth. Very interesting to one of us who is still confused. My question - Your thoughts on Trump. He is a bully, but never bullies Putin or Netanyahu. In fact, seems to defer to both. Seems very strange to those of us in the confused category.
A second thought on the interview. For a period of about 80 years America got its news from about the same places. Beginning in the 1940’s with radio and then TV, large newspapers. So regardless of the bias we all sort of had the same facts. (I may be stretching that a little) Today news is becoming so fragmented we are increasingly listening to different facts. How do we hold together as a country?
Wonderful interview. I especially enjoyed being able to hear Matt's thoughts without him being constantly interrupted, something that has been occurring more and more frequently on his own podcast. You and John Papola make a great conversation team - let's hear more like this in the future.
Why isn’t this popping up in your rss feed?