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Culture War Roundup for the week of October 21, 2024

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He did well, but mainly because he knows a lot about boxing and MMA and they spent half the interview talking about that, and Rogan didn't push back too hard when he kept dodging questions by going off on rambling tangents. He tried to bring him back a few times, but he would give a vague answer and then immediately veer off topic.

Harris is terrible at interviews and I don't see why she wouldn't have gone on the podcast unless she knows that.

I kinda wanted Trump to go full-bore off on that tangent about concrete because Rogan is at his best when he facilitates his guest in talking about something they know about and have enthusiasm for, and I really think Trump cares way more about concrete than he does about running the federal government.

he knows a lot about boxing and MMA and they spent half the interview talking about that

I got the impression Trump was bullshitting his way through this subject. He said nothing of substance, just mirrored and affirmed Joe.

No I don't think so at all. Trump's been showing up to boxing, pro wrestling, and MMA fights for as long as I can remember. I don't think you insert yourself (or allow yourself to be inserted) to multiple WWE storylines without at least being a casual fan. He allowed UFC events to be held in the Trump Taj Mahal when MMA became legal in New Jersey (which was the start of his long standing friendship with Dana White). Hell, he was one of the main investors in Affliction, the short lived MMA promotion that actually had quite a lot of push at the time. Famously, Josh Barnett killed the promotion by popping for steroids. Trump's definitely been a fight fan for a long time.

It could be. I know very little about it

Trump has an interest in fights (Boxing, wrestling) that stretches back decades. Even if he doesn't have technical knowledge about MMA, I believe he is genuinely interested in it.

He brought up quite a bit independently, including specific details, which were mostly affirmed by Joe.

I get the impression that you want to see Trump as having bullshitted his way through.

One of the things that I found interesting was Joe talking afterwards about how he couldn't pin Trump down. It makes sense! He's a good interviewer, politicians in general and Trump in particular manage to dodge and weave - but Joe makes it explicit.

And I think we spend a lot of time Monday morning quarterbacking communication and would do no better without additional training or something.