Sen. John Kennedy | This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von #666

Today's guest is the United States. Senator representing the great state of. Louisiana. He currently resides in St. Tammany. Parish, which is um the place that I'm. from. Uh this is episode 666 of this podcast, but we stand with the Lord. He's got a book out called how to test. negative for stupid and why Washington. never will. Uh it's an honor to spend time with one. of the most humorous senators in our. history, Mr. John Kennedy.

But man, it's awesome, dude. What an. honor just to see you. >> honor it is, man. >> And uh. and yeah, thank you, man. >> You're quite welcome. >> Thank you, John, for representing our. state. >> Thank you. >> yeah, and I appreciate that. We've had a. lot of good Louisianans on here. We've.

had Lainey Wilson on here. >> Yep. >> Um Mark Norman is a famous comedian. Dustin Poirier, >> Yep. >> uh our UFC legend. Uh Kevin Gates, Boosie, um who's a rapper out of Baton. Rouge. >> Mhm. >> Um the Suicide Boys, for sure, Scrim and. Ruby. Um and you. So, it's an honor, man. Um what brings. you over to Nashville, actually? I know. you went to Vanderbilt, right? >> did go to Vanderbilt. Um Bill Hagerty is. one of Tennessee's senators, and they're.

having a big function tonight, and he. asked me to speak. And uh I said, "Sure, I'll come. I'll. just fly in." And it just so happened we. were doing your show, so it all worked. out perfectly. >> Oh, that's awesome, man. >> Yeah. So, we'll I'll go wherever we're. going, guys. Uh I'll change into a suit. and go over there and speak and. you know, cut up and. Nashville's gotten so big, Theo. >> Has it Yeah, how's it changed it? I. mean, is it it's it's turning into a real, I'll say this, a tourist destination. I.

feel like even more probably than it was. when you were here. >> Yep. >> Yeah. >> Well, it's all natural even when I was. here was a banking and insurance center. >> Okay. >> Now it's so much more. It's health care, it's tech. It's for the while Nashville was the. fastest growing city for young people in. the country and that's probably still in. the top 10. >> I think it's yeah, it's still a good. place to bum a can of Skoal off of. somebody too. >> it, man. >> You know, it's that's never lost it, man. >> very diverse city.

>> Yeah. >> Um and and it's you know, Knoxville used. to be the big city and Knoxville is. still pretty big, but now Nashville's. kind of where the action is. It's always. been. country music. >> Yeah. >> A lot of good comedians came out of. Nashville. >> Yeah, that's a good point. People don't. even think about that. Nate Bargatze's. one. Um oh, I know that you grew up near. where Jerry Clower's from and he's my. favorite comedian. >> Yep. I grew up in a old town called. Zachary. >> Yeah, did you ever get to see Jerry? >> I saw him on TV.

>> That's it. >> Never met him. >> Yeah. Yeah, he was like an idol of mine. growing up. Um. >> Funny. >> Oh, yeah, dude. He was one of the best. He still is. I just saw an auction. actually over there auctioning off his. suit that he wore and I think I'm going. to get that. I don't know if I'll ever. wear it, but I think I'm going to get. it. >> do you still do comedy shows? >> Oh, yeah, for sure. I just finished a. tour and then I'm just taking a break. right now and it's been kind of a. an adjustment, you know, just adjusting. to something new. Um. >> When did you know you you you you were. funny?

When you were young? Did you know it. when you were young? >> I think, you know, I was over at LSU and. I was sitting and I lived in a place. called the Commons over there and it's. like an apartment complex over there and. it's just walls. Really in college you. just get walls. There's not, you know, they'll have faucets and walls. You. don't get a lot when you get an. apartment and uh. and I remember sitting out there one day. with the neighbors in this I was just. cutting up and and this one guy Kevin. he's uh he's like man you should be a. comedian and. I don't know if I'd ever really thought. about it and then my buddy's daddy. played uh played Jerry Clower for me.

when we go on drives and I think um. I just kind of put it together for me at. some point, you know? And I wanted a job. where I you could like comedy was nice. cuz you always got to get away. It was. like you got to perform here, you got to. perform there. You get you do a lot of. quips man. You have a lot of uh you have. a huge sense of humor. Um have did you. ever think about ever try it? >> I just I. I just try to be myself there. >> Yeah. >> You know? I had this saying. I don't remember who first told me but.

when I was growing up somebody told me. said Kennedy always be yourself unless. you suck. >> Yeah. >> And and if you suck there's nothing we. can do to help you. >> [laughter]. >> And I've never forgotten that. You know? >> Yeah, that's a good line man. >> And and the a lot of a lot of folks in. Washington think they need to pretend to. be somebody else and be very erudite and. sound like a senator and that's okay for. them but it just doesn't work for me. >> Yeah.

Yeah, I'd find it too hard think I don't. know if I I don't it's hard for me to. find something that's too fake it just. hurts me kind of or something. >> Well, people the the American people can. smell a phony man. Yeah. They can smell. a phony a mile away. >> Yeah. But being off of comedy has been nice. because I've had a more time to watch. I've been watching some of the soccer. you've been watching the World Cup? >> Uh-huh, little bit. >> Yeah. Did Louisiana have a chance to get. a game at all do you know? >> No, I don't think we did. I the. competition. there was so it was so intense because.

they just. felt like big money. and and uh I don't know that we even. bid. We might have put in a bid from New. Orleans. >> Yeah. >> But it was expensive and you had to. offer incentives. Uh the World Cup's is deal, you know? We're not We're not big that kind of. football. We're not We don't follow it. much in in America, but it it in the. rest of the world it is the thing, man. >> Oh, yeah. It's been nice to see I. actually I went to a game down in. Guadalajara the other night. Um.

>> It's fun to watch. >> Dude, it was so cool, man. And they. treat us like so nice down there and. just like Yeah, it was the first World. Cup game that they'd ever had in. Guadalajara that Mexico had played in. And man, I got to go with my friend. Johnny and Sam and it was just man. >> These guys are incredible athletes. Unbelievable athletes. >> It makes me feel so lazy even just. sitting there in the stand. It's like. they're running for so long. >> They're running for so long. It start It. stop. >> Yeah. >> It's contact. So a lot of contact. >> whatever they want. That's what I think.

the whole time. I'm like these bastards. can go after this. They can eat whatever. and they can eat whatever they want. probably forever. Like they've done. enough exercise. >> Yep. >> Like they're kind of grandfathered in. [clears throat]. to have to have an abs, you know. >> uh. tennis is another sport that demands. incredible. endurance. Um. >> Tennis is for the rich though, I think, John. >> Well, I I remember when I was in school. in England. I went over and bought. standing room only tickets. at uh at Wimbledon.

And I watched I got to watch Arthur Ashe. on one of the outer courts who's as. close as you and me. And this guy was in such incredible He. wasn't muscular. You know John McEnroe? If you met I saw. Jimmy Connors one time. Wasn't muscular. >> Yeah. >> And they were from from uh lower class. backgrounds. They just started early. >> Huh. Yeah, I've get that Look, any any urban. kid I'mma put a racket in their hand. They. That is one That's a sport they take.

over fast, you know. >> discipline, man. It's just repetition. every day every day and you've got to be. able to handle pressure. >> Yeah, I don't think I'd be good at it. >> You got to be able to handle the. pressure. >> I don't know. >> Cuz you're playing people. uh that are as good as you are and it's. it becomes a mental game. >> Yeah, especially at that high level, man. I think that's what people don't. realize about a lot of these sports, like these in like when you get to a. high level, it's a matter of inches. It's a It's a little bit of a moment.

>> and it's mental. >> If you even see these soccer games, you'll see the ball go through and it's. like there's like a arm, a leg, a sho- a. head, so many things that are just I. mean half a millimeter away from it, you. know, every single shot. Um. yeah, I've enjoyed watching the World. Cup. It's been good. It's been It's It's. been a nice time to to have extra free. time because that's going on. Um. you live in Madisonville? >> Yeah. >> Nice. >> Near near Mandeville. >> Yeah, I used to. >> I live right on the line between. Madisonville and Mandeville.

>> Okay. >> it's it's grown a lot since you grew up. there. >> Oh, yeah. I go back a good bit. >> It's It's Well, you know, I mean, it's. just you all you can't really tell the. difference now between Mandeville, Madisonville, and Covington. >> Yeah. Yeah, my stepdad goes over there to a. coffee house over there by friends right. there on the lake and has coffee. >> you're talking about. >> Yeah. >> It's in an old house. >> Yep. >> Beautiful. Um. >> What's it called? >> Creole Cottage.

>> Yeah, something like that. >> Um I can't think of that. I've I've had. meetings there before. >> Yeah, it's nice, man. I used to live. right over a buddy of mine, his family. let me live in their basement over. there. Which living in a basement in. Louisiana, it's a it could. >> It's dangerous. It can flood. >> Yeah, it can flood. >> And you can find varmints. in there. >> Oh, definitely, man. >> You know. >> Your hair's clean in the morning, I know. that. Something will run up and eat. everything out of it. >> And and snakes will crawl in there with. you. >> Oh, yeah. >> My wife called me and got me out of a. >> Let's not go from snakes to your wife, you know, I think. >> yeah, it's a good You're right about.

that, but she called me the other day. I. was in the middle of a hearing and it. was she was hysterical and she showed me. a picture. that there was this 6-ft rat snake. in my in my on my deck. And I said, "Just leave him alone.". >> Yeah. >> You won't him. You know? Don't hurt him. She said, "I'm going to call the. neighbor and they'll kill him." I said, "Don't do that.". >> Yeah. >> He's a rat snake. Even if you even if. you could pick him up, he might bite. you, but it won't hurt. >> Yeah. Now, if you're a rat, >> If you're a rat, he'll eat you.

>> Yeah, you got a problem, man. >> You know, he will eat you and spit out. the bones. >> Oh, they always got something over. there. I used to work over at Friends on. the Lake. You know where that is? >> well. >> Yeah. So, before they remodeled, it was. just one story right there. >> It's half-falutin now. >> Oh, it's yeah. >> It's It's high-end now. >> It's fancy now. >> But I liked it when I liked it the old. way. Uh there was another place called. Coffee's Boiling Pot. >> Pot, yep. >> Uh I used to They've under new ownership. and it's gotten a little more expensive.

>> Yeah. >> Um. >> [laughter]. >> Uh but it's just grown so much. >> Oh, yeah. And Bados, I used to go to. Bados get me a little burger. >> Bados I still go Bados is still there. >> Get me a chocolate malt over there or. something. >> it. >> Oh, so much sugar in my face I couldn't. blink my damn eyes for an hour. But I. you know, but it was worth it, man. But. I worked at Friends and I will tell you. this, they used to. >> a waiter? >> Oh, no, I was a bus boy forever. >> Were you? >> Yeah, I was never I was never promoted. That was my Yeah. And then I got to a point I was like, "I'm ne- I'm not being a waiter even if. y'all want me to." You know, that was.

some of my energy. But um but it was a. good time over there and when they would. cook duck when the chef would cook duck, every now and then they had duck on the. menu. >> Uh-huh. >> And back in the bus boy section where. the ice machine was, they had these. uh. these um they had some uh missing. baseboards down there and these raccoons. would come out of the wall. So, one of. the bus boys would have to sit back. there with a broomstick and just beat. them back in it literally just beat them. back into the wall where they were. cooking duck. >> We have. >> They raccoons love duck.

>> We We had an outdoor cat for a while. >> Oh, yeah. >> wild but he but I would would bring cat. food out there. And it was always gone. so quick and finally when I went out. there one night and just kind of eat a. raccoon was coming out of the woods. Just snarfing that stuff up. >> Just pretending to be a cat. >> There there we've got raccoons I back up. to woods. We've got raccoons, deer. Um I went went out one night to to take. out the garbage opened up the top a. possum. >> Yeah,

yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah, they act like it's theirs. >> Yeah, exactly. And now raccoons are kind. of cute possums huh? >> Yeah. >> Those things scare me. >> a cross between a cat-coon every now and. then you'll see them couple of them. start cross-pollinating out there. If. the if the. if the humidity gets high enough you'll. see some of them animals start mixing. species. >> you will know we've got everything in. this state. >> Oh, yeah. >> We've got alligator. We've got more. alligators. uh than we've got people now. >> Is that true? >> Yeah, oh yeah. >> You're lying. >> No, I'm not. It's just.

25 years ago they were getting extinct. >> and watch the Democrats try to get them. to register to vote. >> Yep. If they. wouldn't surprise me. >> Wouldn't surprise me. Sorry to interrupt. you but I was going to forget that joke. if I didn't say it. Yes, Louisiana has. more alligators than people. Dear God. Get the kids away from the river. >> But tourists love them because they will. the these boat tour guides will go out. and they feed them. >> Mhm. >> And so when when they see the the the. boat they come immediately and the.

tourists just eat it up. They think. they're tame. They're not. >> It's perversion to me, brother. I don't. mess with the devil and I don't mess. with his pets. That's one way I that's. how I operate. I don't mess with those. types of things. That's for sure. Um but. yeah, it's nice for you it's nice you to. be here nice to just have a. uh a taste of home in the building, man. Um. You started working in politics I know. you were trying. >> now? >> Yeah, is that okay? >> Yeah, fine. I just didn't know. >> Oh, yes, sir. Sorry. Yes, sir, we are. Uh Senator John Kennedy, thank you. And.

you're not related to Bobby Kennedy or. any of the those Kennedys, right? >> Well, if I am, I'm the poor side of the. family. Okay. I don't think I am. Yeah. My my dad was from Oklahoma. >> Mhm. >> And my mom was from central Louisiana. >> Well, how did they meet? How'd your. parents meet? >> Well, my dad, Theo, was from a. depression family. >> Mhm. >> Uh eight brothers and sisters. >> Wow. >> Uh he left home, hard for me to believe today, but when. he was 14,

to go to another town that had a high. school. He lived with relatives. He worked as a. janitor. uh at night to to pay his way. Um he he uh went to University of. Oklahoma. Um. >> Who just won the natty championship, baby. Let's go. >> Uh. he uh uh worked his way through school, got a degree in petroleum engineering, came to Louisiana to work in the oil. fields and met my mom. And uh he he went away for 4 years. He.

was in World War II. Um but I I My dad was my hero, man. >> Was he? >> Yeah, he really was. >> What was his name? >> Preston Kennedy. >> Preston Kennedy. Well, let's. >> I named my son after. My dad used to tell me, Theo, he would. say, "Son," when I was growing up, I have three brothers. He'd say, "Son, you'll never understand love till you. have a child." And I'd say, "Ah, come. on, Dad, you know.". He'd say, "No, it's not like the love of. a of a of a spouse or a sibling or a.

girlfriend. And until you have children, you don't. know that." And but he was right. I. named my son after Preston. >> Mhm. >> And he's a good kid. There was a time. growing up. when I I figured my son was either going. to go into. concert promotion or a minimum security. prison. I wasn't sure which. [laughter]. But But he he he he he's a he's a good. kid. >> Here's a picture of Mike there, huh?

>> Yep. >> Oh, that's awesome. >> That's my late dad. >> There you go. Preston and and the other. Preston, huh? >> Yep. >> Amen. [clears throat]. >> Yep, that's a great picture. I've got. that somewhere. That That was That was. my younger days. This. My dad was still alive. >> Oh, bless him, man. >> We were He was We were We were raised in. Zachary. >> Oh, yeah. >> About 3,000 people. >> Mhm. And that's close to uh Liberty. >> It's It's sort of close to Liberty. It's. close Liberty's about 40 mi away. It's.

close to Baton Rouge. >> Okay, yeah. >> Um now. >> Oh, yeah. I know where it is now. >> Now, when I grew up Zachary's big now. It's like 15, 20,000. There were like. 3,000 people. >> Oh, yeah. >> And it was really a small town. And. uh I like it People say, "What's a small. town like?" And And I tell them the. truth. It's Everybody knows your. business. Everybody knows whose check is. good and whose husband is. Everybody.

knows [clears throat] your. But I would go back. Some people hated. high school. I loved it. >> Yeah. >> Happiest day I I I. >> Oh, high school? >> Yeah. >> Oh, yeah. Cuz I don't think I don't. think people You don't realize at that. age that you will never be in a place. where you're kind of as protected like. in a in a incubator and have all of. everyone you know will be around. Every. day they show up even though they're. tired or whatever and they're miserable. and they didn't do their homework or. whatever. And they all like the same girl. It.

doesn't matter. Everybody you know will. show up and that never happens again. >> Nope. It It I I had a hundred people in my. graduating class. >> Mhm. >> I I We were the. Bucking That's B Bucking Broncos. >> Okay. >> And [clears throat] I cared about two. things. I cared about uh. my studies cuz of my parents, but I. cared more about basketball and I cared. about cheerleaders. >> Amen. >> And I wasn't worth a damn at either one, >> [laughter]. >> but I had a lot of fun trying. And uh.

you don't but I I talk to people all the. time they go, "I didn't like high. school." Man, I'd go back in a second. >> Oh. God. Well, [snorts] they busted some guy. they had some guy had a growth. deficiency and he uh or just the Lord. didn't really let him grow up. He was. just a Simon Birch of a man, you know, and uh. and they busted him he was like 31 and. he went back to uh middle school or. something and he was they caught him on. like 2 weeks into school when they. >> That's cool. >> One of the teachers saw him cashing a. check over the weekend at a bank.

>> [laughter]. >> And they busted him. This is a few years. ago in Indiana they caught a guy. But. and people were like, "That's messed. up." I said, "Look, I don't blame the. guy.". >> Well, you would grow up in Mandeville. and Covington. It was probably small. then. >> Oh man. >> It's big now, but it's. >> Covington was perfect, man. I remember. we'd get paddled by the principal. I. mean, Bill Brady Bill Brady was our principal. and he was the best. I saw him a couple. years ago at um at a buddy's funeral but. >> You can't do that anymore. But I I we. had it. >> Did y'all have like a milk delivery. person and stuff like that? No uh-uh.

>> I I remember. >> That's crazy, bro. >> I'll never forget I I had a civics class. and my basketball coach was my teacher. and there was this one guy I won't use. his name cuz he's a friend of mine, but. he was a great football player. and uh. uh he was having trouble with the exam. So, he said, "Can you help me with this. exam?" We're sitting next to each other. And I'll never forget I said, "Well, okay, you know, I" he'd point to an. answer it was a multiple choice and I'd. go, "Huh.".

Point to another and I'd go, "Huh.". And the coach called me. Caught me. >> Oh. >> He caught Come here. And you just you you. >> Ooh. >> bend over. and he hits you with that paddle with. holes in it. and you you don't want to you don't want. to cry but it hurts like hell. >> We don't want to make any noise. >> You just yeah. >> Like any noise you make is not good. >> then you're uncool. >> Yeah, yeah. >> Now you they don't do that anymore but. it worked for me. Next time next time my friend got in.

trouble said will you help me? I said. no. >> [laughter]. >> No. I think you know. I've learned my lesson. >> Yeah, I learned my lesson the hard way. Man, here we go right here. It said. Perrysburg police arrested a Labrador. arrested Labrador Sierra on Monday. >> Uh-huh. >> That's a man. A 24-year-old suspect was enrolled in. high school allegedly posing as a. teenage boy for more than a year and a. half. >> Really? >> That's pretty wild. It's in Perrysburg. High School between January 11th, 2024.

and May 14th, 2025. Shout out to that. young fellow trying to get an education. >> Good for him, I guess. >> Yeah, I guess we don't know now we don't. know why he went. >> know why he went back. >> don't know why he went back. Now if he. went back to finish up a couple of. courses. >> Yeah, if that's one thing but you you. just. might want to delve in the background. >> Yeah, yeah. Yeah, you might want to do a. little recon on that fellow. And also I. will notice in in that photo I think he. was in a prison outfit so. so there may have been more to the. story.

You started as treasurer in Louisiana. >> Yeah, I my first job. >> career, sorry. >> Yep, my first job I worked for a. governor for a former [clears throat]. governor named Buddy Roemer. >> Oh, did you really? >> for Buddy and. uh. then. Buddy got beat and I had left him to run. for attorney general. I lost came in. third. My next job was uh. another reform governor named Mike. Foster. I had become friends with him. and he won and he asked me to come run.

basically the tax department. >> Mhm. >> And I did that for a while and then I. ran for treasurer, and I was treasurer. for. 17 years before I came to the Senate. >> Wow. >> Um enjoyed it. Learned a lot about uh. uh uh. finance, a lot about uh bond issues, uh. underwriting. Uh I managed all the state money. Uh it. was about 4 billion then. That's not a.

lot of money to a lot of people, but for. Louisiana, it's a lot. >> Yeah, it's a chunk. >> it. >> Yeah. >> Uh I like being a senator, but I enjoyed. being state treasurer. >> What What does a treasurer do? So, just. so we know, so we're clear on it. Is it. >> you're in the state treasurer, just as. you'd expect, you're in charge of the. state's money. States borrow money to. build roads or to build prisons or build. schools. And you issue bonds, and you. hire investment bankers, usually out of. New York, not always, and bond lawyers.

I was in charge of that. You have to be. very careful. The The rules uh. uh the security rules on you have to. disclose everything. Uh we had idle. cash. Uh cash flow. >> Oh, not That ain't good in Louisiana, bro. That goes missing quick. >> Uh. but cash comes in and goes out quickly. But my I was in charge of investing it. in short-term instruments, sometimes. just a day or two. >> Okay. >> But when you got a when you've got a.

cash flow that's in the billions of. dollars, just investing it overnight, you can pick up a lot of money if you do. it repeatedly. We had a lot of trust. funds. I invested uh I invested those. Uh I spent a lot of time working with. the legislature on ideas about how to. make government more efficient, save. money. >> Mhm. >> Um I was in charge of the state's. unclaimed property program. >> Were you really did? >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Dude, I think y'all sent me a thing one. time. I I lost I think I had 200 bucks.

on something. Thank you. >> Yep. We uh. >> Thank you, dude. >> when a business has your money and can't. find you, they can't keep it. They've. got to turn it over to the state. And I. was in charge of. >> Unless it's the federal government, they're allowed to just keep it. >> government's different. >> Yeah. They're allowed to keep every cent. >> charge of getting the money back to. people. >> Okay. >> And the most money I ever gave back to a. to a lady. >> Yeah. >> man, it was great. She was a retired. school teacher in New Orleans. It was. from her late husband. It's a long.

story, but she didn't know about the. money. They were invested in stocks and. they grew and grew and grew. I gave her a check for 1,026,000. dollars. Yeah, man, it was cool. >> And did you walk over there and do it or. did you mail it to her? >> her. and told her how we got it. She didn't. have any children and she said, "Well, I. want to come to Baton Rouge and get it.". And so, that's where my office was. So, she came in. and she cried, talked about her late. husband. I gave her the money. She said, "I'm going to use it to help people. I.

don't have any children." But, when I. went walked her outside to to escort her. out, she had like. 10 nieces and nephews there just. waiting. And I knew that money was going. to get spent. >> Get that check, boy. Oh, when that check. comes in Louisiana, when that check. comes, man, it's getting spent. >> But, I'm glad we got some of your money. >> Yeah. Oh, yeah, thank you, man. I needed. it at the time, too. You know, so I appreciate that. Um. when when you got a job and and then.

senator, how long have you been working. as a senator for? >> 10 years. >> Okay. >> It's uh. some of the most interesting people. I've ever been around. >> Yeah. >> Um right now, um it's not pretty to watch. Um [snorts]. >> Yeah, this. >> Right now, Congress kind of looks like a. breech birth. You know? >> you mean by that? >> Well, a three-wheels-on-a-shopping-cart. We're not getting along. >> Yeah. >> It's hard to reach consensus.

We'll get through it. Um but as we get. closer to the midterm elections, they it. just gets more and more and more. political. Uh I think we're going to have another. shutdown. I sit on the Appropriations. Committee and we're trying to put. together a budget. But we're not getting. any cooperation. >> What is the Appropriations Committee? What does that mean? >> That means I'm in charge of. not just me, but others. I'm in charge. of of drafting the the the federal. government's budget.

And my my part of it is what's called. energy and water development. I'm in. charge of the nuclear program. I'm in charge uh well, my commit. subcommittee is. >> Okay. >> I'm in charge of um. um the Department of Energy. Uh I'm in charge of the Army Corps of. Engineers. Um and we put together the budget, but. I've. you've got to get 60 votes to pass. anything in the Senate. So, I've got to. work with my Democratic colleagues.

And that sometimes is easy, sometimes. it's not. The closer we Senator Schumer, I think is going to shut He's going to. refuse to let us do a budget. I think. he's going to shut down government. >> That guy seems like a crook. >> I Well, look, let me let me I mean, that's all I'm trying to say. No, no, no, you're That's fair. It's America. You can believe what you want. I don't hate anybody. I don't. And when. I say my prayers, one of the things I ask God for, don't. let me hate.

>> Mhm. >> And it and it's easy to start hating in. Washington. And I refuse to hate. And. that's one of the many things I ask God. for. And I know Chuck well. We went to. China together, met with President Xi. We don't agree on much. Um. and Chuck's entitled to his opinion. But. as I tell him all the time, you know, he he's he's he's how can I. explain it? He's He's very animated. >> Yeah.

>> He's like a 5-year-old in a Batman. costume, you know? You just want to tell. him, "Chill out.". >> Yeah. >> But, he hates President Trump. Does not. like President Trump. He thinks by. creating chaos, it'll help his side in. the midterm elections. And I fully. expect him to with all the bud the votes. on the budget and shut down government. >> Mhm. >> And that would be I hope I'm wrong. If. I'm wrong, I'll apologize to him. >> It's that time. PrizePicks is America's.

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Republicans in the midterms. >> Yep. I think he's leaving the Republican. Party. >> Longtime conservative commentator Tucker. Carlson said on a podcast that there's. no chance I would support the Republican. Party ahead of the November midterm. elections. Um not going to support the Democratic. Party. Carlson's quick to add, I don't. know what I'm going to do. Um. Carlson supported Trump in 2024. Uh Did he say why? Uh they're making decisions on the basis. of other criteria. What's the What's. best for this company? What's best for.

Israel? Oh, that's right. He said he. felt like it was becoming an Israel. first party. >> Yep. >> And not America first. Um. That's a big person to not. uh have support from, you know, because. he's been a big supporter of the. Republican Party for a while. Uh I've been a consistent defender, he. says, for 35 years of the Republican. Party. I mean, very consistent defender, but there's no defending this, he said. So, no, I'm out. Um what do you what do. you What's your What's your response to. that? >> Tucker. He is a very, very smart. He's.

very articulate. Um he is. fallen out with President Trump and. with those of us in the uh in the Senate. uh who support Israel. Uh he primarily fell out with President. Trump. over the conflict in Iran. Now, I've been very supportive of the. president on the conflict in Iran. Um. I don't want America to be the world's.

policeman, but I don't want Xi Jinping in China. or the Ayatollah in Iran. or Vladimir Putin in Russia to be the. world's policeman, neither. And these are hard men. Um. they understand one thing, Theo. Strength. If if if if you if you turn the other. cheek to these people, they'll just stab. you in the neck. Now, >> what proof of that is there? >> You just look at their actions. That.

Iran is the world's foremost exporter. of terrorism. Uh Putin, who now, of course, runs Russia, it wants to dominate Eastern and Central. Europe, which is. President Trump is has gotten Europe to. start spending more money on defense, but we've always had to defend them. I. can tell you what President Xi I've met. with President Xi. Um he's he He is very clear. He thinks.

that China is ascending. He thinks America's in decline. He thinks while they're building ships. and nuclear weapons, he thinks all we do. in America is sit around and debate. whether a man can breastfeed. >> Mhm. >> Um. and he is he and Putin and NATO and Iran. are working together. And China's goal. is to dominate the Indo-Pacific, to be free to roam in sub-Saharan Africa.

and South America. He wants to dominate the Arctic. He. wants to dominate space. >> But has he shown those things? Like. >> Oh, yes. >> Okay. >> Absolutely. I mean, uh. China is supporting Iran right now. China is supporting. Russia in war in Ukraine. There's no. question. Um China buys all of Putin's oil. We We. sanctioned a lot of their oil when when. Putin invaded. Ukraine.

So, he can't sell it because oil was. traded in dollars. He sells it to China. Um look, I I don't I don't hate anybody. And the Chinese people um to the extent. that the the Communist Party in China. wants you interact with them, are are. lovely people. But. >> Yeah. >> they. they are determined they they hate. America. And and deep down, the Iranians are. worse. But deep down, they want to kill us and hurt us the.

entire time we're dying. Now, that's my. point of view. Tucker will have a. different point of view. >> Yeah. >> He thinks and he thinks that we're too. close to Israel. Uh. >> I think a lot of people these from from. people that I see all the time, that's. the number one thing that people say. They think we're too close to a country. that's. that's that's created a genocide against. Palestine and then is like in conflict. with these other people around them that. it seems like they're just like kind of. the bullies of the area, you know? It's.

like it feels like they're the terrorist. organization. That's what it seems like. to a lot of people. >> A lot of people believe that. Um I'll. give you another point of view. Um. the real problem in the Middle East. since. forever. Since God was a baby, the real. problem in the Middle East has is Iran. Uh and Iran wants to dominate it. And Iran. Iran funds Hezbollah and Hamas.

Israel is surrounded by people that want. to kill them. They. Syria is different today, but Syria. Hezbollah was in control of Lebanon. Hamas an arm of Iran was in control of. the Gaza Strip. Um Hamas attacked Israel. And the Israelis fight back. And. it. they took they they took over the Gaza. Strip.

And yes, a lot of Palestinians got hurt. And. >> And not got hurt, I mean got killed. >> Got got killed and hurt and we. but but but Hamas. would Hamas would hold the the the the. the the Gazans. hostage. They would put them out front. and. >> we even know that? They killed 220. something. >> it. >> But they killed 220 something. journalists that went there to document. what was going on. >> There's no question there have been. civilian deaths. >> They wouldn't let journalists in to even.

document what was happening there. >> civilian deaths, but it is primarily the. fault I'm not saying Israel is. blameless. Look, war is ugly. >> Yeah, but is this war? >> But it is war. >> You think it's war? >> It is war. >> They just had an article yesterday that. came out from the UN. If you can find. that, it was about they done like a deep. dive on um. the killing of children. Right? And some of the massacring and. really massacring of children Israel. continues to commit genocide atrocity.

crimes by deliberately targeting. Palestinian children UN independent. commission finds. Even after the October 2025 ceasefire. children continue to be killed and. seriously injured with continued. disregard by Israel for the ceasefire. and for the protection. Let me see what. else here. Here are some findings of the. commission. Israel has killed 20,000. children and injured 44,000 more. since October 7th, 2023. Let me see Palestinian children have.

been arrested and subjected to torture. and other severe forms of mistreatment. in Israeli prisons. This is all part of let me see United. Nations. >> Well, first I wouldn't believe it if it. came from the UN. >> Oh, really? They're not Do you feel like. they're not liable? >> They're not They're not objective. >> reliable. >> They're not objective. >> Okay. >> They're not objective. >> Well, that's the thing. It's It's. >> Number two. I'm. And I know children got killed and it. breaks your heart. Hamas kills children, too. So does Hezbollah. So does Iran. Do you think Do you think.

the Ayatollah doesn't care about the. Iranian people? The The Persians are. some of the most talented people in. history. >> Mhm. >> When they disagree with the Ayatollah. they hang them. They hang them. And And I think I don't speak for Mr. Carlson, but he says it's not our. business. And And I guess to some extent. he's right. But I'll tell you what is our business. It's letting them get a nuclear weapon. Because if they get a nuclear weapon.

these people are like Charlie Manson. They're crazy. Um. I mean there There's. Really crazy is rare. These people though are. With With the Iranian leadership it's. commonplace. If they get a nuclear. weapon they will use it. Not just on. Israel, but on Europe and on us. And even if. they don't, once they get a nuclear. weapon, you will have.

other countries, Japan, South Korea, other countries, Saudi. Arabia, get nuclear weapons as well. And. the more people that have nuclear. weapons, more likely you are to have. war. >> Yeah. >> But Tucker would probably have another. point of view. But I really like Tucker. I think he's really smart. >> Oh, yeah. I think Tucker's a neat guy. I. mean, from what I know about him, he. seems like. I believe that he's earnest like in his. search, you know? I believe that he I. don't know. Yeah, my interactions with. him have always been good, you know?

It's just that when they when they kill. the reporters who were trying to get. honest information, they're killing. reporters, you know? >> I don't think it was intentional, but. >> They had one that they shot directly in. the face, and then at her funeral, they. um. they attacked the people who were. carrying her. Can you find her name? We just just. talked about her last night. Sorry to go. into all this. I I didn't mean to. But. [clears throat]. um but they at her funeral, they. attacked they even attacked the people. who were. giving her funeral. Shireen Abu Akleh.

was a prominent Palestinian-American. journalist who worked as a reporter for. 25 years for Al Jazeera before she was. killed by Israeli forces while wearing a. blue press vest and covering a raid in. the Jenin on the Jenin refugee camp. >> that's terrible. >> Yeah. Um. >> But but here's what you have to. understand. about the world. Um. and I don't know why this is. If I make. it to heaven, I'm going to ask God. But there's some people out there in the.

world. They're not sick. They're not mixed up. It's not that their mama and daddy. didn't love them enough. They just got black hearts. >> Yeah. >> And some of them run countries. North Korea, Russia, China. >> But what are those countries actively. doing right now like Bibi Netanyahu and. the Israeli government is actively. the well from a lot of people believe. and I believe a lot of voters believe.

that they've they're actively committing. a have committed a genocide in Palestine. and then they've gone into Beirut to. Lebanon. >> to Iran. You don't believe they are. >> believe that. I believe that Hamas. dominate which is an arm of Iran. Hamas dominated Gaza. Um Hamas attacked Israel. Hamas was hiding behind the Palestinian. civilians. >> All of them? >> All of them. All of them. You you if you didn't obey.

if the Palestinian civilians didn't obey. Hamas. they would kill them. Okay? >> Okay. >> Hamas was in complete control. >> Mhm. >> Israel attacked. When Israel attacked Hamas. many civilians got killed and it was. regrettable but what are you going to. do? Iran was hiding physically hiding. behind them. While that happened Hezbollah. from Lebanon. funded by Iran attacked Israel.

And all Israel has done is fought back. >> Yeah. >> Now I'm not saying that that that in the. fog of war there haven't been innocent. people killed. They have there have. been. >> Yeah. >> And it's terrible. But it's not like Israel is is the bad. guy and Hamas and Hezbollah and Iran. are the good guys cuz they're not. And. and the these weakness invites the. wolves. I wish it weren't like that.

I wish it weren't. I wish you could sit. down and and reason with them. But it's it's like talking to Charlie. Manson. He was stone cold crazy. >> Yeah. >> And these people believe. if you don't accept their religion, their form of Islam, uh then you should die. And they think they're on a mission from. God. Now, look I think that Islam is if you. want to be uh.

>> You think that's true? And you would know I mean I I don't have. a. >> I I think uh. Islam, Hindu, you can your religion is. your business. In America, we have. freedom of religion. But. if if my religion told me. that I had to kill. a bunch of other human beings. to advance my religion's call, I I if Christianity taught that, I. couldn't be a Christian. >> Yeah. Yeah, that would be heartbreaking.

>> Yeah. But they they really believe that. And that's. >> And how do we know that? >> Be- because they've done it. They've what they've done uh what they. did in October. What was it on October. 7th? Uh they raided, they raped, they cut off. Israeli people's heads, they kidnapped. them. Um. what they've done to American troops in. Lebanon.

I- it's widely known. Look Look at what. they did. um. they started shooting at the Saudis and. the UAE. That's not the good people of Iran. That's their leadership. They're. religious zealots. >> And didn't we get didn't we didn't we. take their Ayatollah out? >> We took the first one out. They've replaced him with his son, but. he's he's in hiding. >> Dang, bro. And that's nepotism. >> Yeah. >> I mean, we got to call that what it is.

>> Well, nobody wants. it Nobody really wants to to. >> Nobody wants the job. >> Nobody wants the job, man. Our our. military. uh is the greatest military in all of. human history. >> Amen to that, dude. >> It's just extraordinary. >> so lucky, man. I mean, we're just lucky. to be in a place where we can at least. like thank and try and uh explore ideas. and try and learn. And even if we don't. know stuff, you know, we can try our. best. Um. but wasn't there some evidence that.

Hamas was funded by um. Israel though, like it was. back-channeled through Qatar or. something? Can you look that up? >> Qatar is has funneled money to Hamas. before. >> They're a middleman. >> No, we have to I I'll be shocked. I'm. United States Senator. >> Israel from Israel through. >> believe that. >> Yeah. >> I just don't believe that. I know. there's stories, but I just don't. believe that because I've been to. Israel. I've talked to the Israeli. people. They don't want to be at war.

But. >> Then why are they at war with everyone. then? It feels like a. >> they're at war with Hezbollah. to the north cuz Hezbollah keeps. shooting missiles at them. and digging tunnels. And they're they're terrorists. And. they're at war with Hamas. because Hamas uh attacked them. >> Yeah. >> And and and until they took out their. missiles, kept shooting missiles. And. they're at war with Iran because Iran is. behind all of it.

And I wish we didn't have to do any of. this, honest to God. I've talked to. President Trump about it. He didn't He. didn't want to be at in conflict with. Iran. But we cannot let them have a nuclear. weapon. You We cannot. These people are stone-cold. crazy. >> Yeah, I guess it's tough to say. I think. when you see like videos and stuff. online, it makes you just see like um. I don't know. It just makes. [clears throat] your heart hurt, like um.

there was a. uh. there was a report the other day in that. UN report that there was like a. 14-year-old kid. >> Yep. >> who they got who they shot and then they. just stood around and watched him bleed. to death and when his mother tried to. come to him they just like would shoot. at her. and then these soldiers just stood just. stood around and watched him bleed to. death and it's just kind of hard for me. >> it all breaks your heart. And that's why you don't want to be have. to go to war. But put yourself. in in in the in the president's shoes.

Our intelligence, here's what our. intelligence showed. And I've seen it. It's classified but I've seen it. >> Mhm. >> And but I can give you the a general. outline. Our intelligence showed that Iran was. building up its missile capacity both. ballistic and cruise. And they were going to to uh. compile so many missiles and drones. >> Mhm. >> that they were going to turn to America.

and Israel and say we're restarting our. nuclear weapons program. And if you try to stop us. we're going to destroy the mess rest of. the Middle East and by the way our. missiles can now reach London. and Paris Paris. and uh and Germany. >> And you saw you saw reports that said. that. >> the intelligence. >> Okay. >> And President Trump was faced well do I. let them continue? He already bombed.

their nuclear some of their nuclear. facilities. >> Yeah. >> But he he he was faced with the decision. do I let them get to the point where. they have so many missiles and drones. ballistic and cruise that they could. destroy the Middle East that they could. hit London. that they might even be able to hit the. United States or do I go in and stop. them. And he did. >> Right. >> And we we haven't. destroyed all of their missiles. But if. you go to to Iran today,

it it their whole swath of Iran there. will look like something out of Mad Max. 4. I mean it. um we destroyed the public sector, the. private some big portions of the pri-. private sector. Didn't want to do it. It'll take them 20 years to recover. I. mean our military, I'm not going to. bubble wrap it. They went in and our. military ate them and spit out the. bones. >> yeah. >> And and and they are not.

right now. a nuclear threat. But they still have the centrifuges. to make to take their fissile material. and make it uh a make a warhead. >> Yeah, I didn't know that. I didn't know. that you had seen the intel on that. >> We have we have a. a. a a. a basement an underground. uh room in the in the Senate that's com-. uh. we call it the SCIF. It's completely.

secure. You leave all your electronics. outside and and uh I've been briefed all. of this stuff by uh Rubio, by uh. Secretary Head Seth, by Secretary Rubio, uh uh the Joint Chiefs, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. >> And do you trust those guys? >> Absolutely. >> Yeah. >> Absolutely. John Ratcliffe from the CIA. I trust every single one of them. >> Amen. Okay, yeah. Yeah, I don't Yeah, I'm not. in the space. So it's like, you know, it's from.

our perspective just as a regular. person, you just see all of this stuff. and it's so it seems like so. one way. It seems like you were saying. like you feel like the truth comes. through and you know what it is, right? Like we're saying in the beginning or. whatever like what what we see and what. we see and perceive is, "Okay, this is. uh. this is real or this is um. uh earnest or whatever, you know?" It's. like that's the way that so a lot of the. a lot of it seems. >> Well, the. >> Um let me get this note real quick. before you go and sorry to interrupt. you. >> That's okay.

>> This is here in a controversial deal, Israeli's government under Benjamin. Netanyahu. supported Qatari Qatar's payments to. Hamas for many years in hope that it. would turn Hamas into an effective. counterweight to the Palestinian. authority and prevent the establishment. of a Palestinian state. So, maybe there. was some funding, but it wasn't clear on. what it was for. >> Well, if they gave aid, there's a. footnote there. I don't know the. authority for that. >> Yeah, I'm not sure either. >> If they if they if they gave aid through. Qatar. to try to help the the the people of.

Gaza so they wouldn't um they wouldn't. uh join uh or join up with Hamas, that's a different thing from them. >> Yeah. Supporting Hamas. >> Hamas. >> Yeah. >> Um. >> And what did you look up there? Just I'm. going to look it up one more time. Uh. can you put uh Israel supported Did. Israel support Hamas? Can you just put. that question? Let me see. Israel did not directly create Hamas, but from the late 1970s through the.

1990s, the Israeli government provided. covert support and funding to the. Islamist movement that preceded it. This. strategy was used to counterbalance. secular Palestinian nationalist groups. like the Palestine So, they may have. inadvertently supported it by trying to. support something else, I guess. >> Hamas is a spin-off. of the Palestine Palestinian. PLO, Palestine. Palestine Liberation Organization. But once Hamas spun off, they got all.

their financial support from Iran. >> [snorts]. >> Almost 90% of it. >> Got it. >> And without Iran providing the money, neither Hamas nor Hezbollah could exist, and they are terrorists. >> Understood. Did Iran fund Hamas? Okay, let's look that up, then. And thanks for discussing it with me. Sure. Yes, Iran is. >> subject. >> Yes, Iran has funded, armed, and trained. Hamas for decades. Tehran consists. considers the group a key part of its. axis of resistance and provides tens of.

millions of dollars annually to support. its military and operational. capabilities. >> And and and look, I'm not saying Israel. is perfect. I'm not saying that, okay? Uh not none of us is is perfect, but. look at it this way. >> Yeah. >> There's certain. areas you you you could walk down. if you walk down at at 2:00 in the. morning in Nashville, let's say. There people there that would hurt you. >> Yeah. >> Now, I don't know why.

uh like I say, if I make it to heaven, I'm going to ask why people. you know, want to hurt other people. But. they do. And and that's the situation that. Israel's in. >> Yeah. >> I I I'll give you an example a more. concrete example. Um. my wife hates guns. >> Mhm. >> Okay? I respect that. Um but I own guns. Now, do I believe do do do I hate everybody. else? No. I believe love is the answer.

But I own a handgun just in case. >> Amen. >> Cuz I know there are people out there. And if they try to hurt me or my family, I'm going to I'm going to I'm going to. defend myself and my family. >> Yeah. >> Um and and that's [clears throat] I wish. the world weren't like that, but it is. And some there's some very powerful. countries. that they hate America. They just hate us still. They do. And uh. um.

you can't reach them through diplomacy. It doesn't mean you shouldn't talk to. them. But with with a guy I've looked at. looked President Xi in the eye. Okay? I've met this Scott. Um. with with hard men like President Xi or. the Ayatollah or Putin in Russia, weakness invites the wolves. And try. getting too close to them it's like. hand-feeding a shark. Wish it weren't like that.

Wish it weren't. But I think President Trump has. understood that. President Trump and I have our. differences. We have two different styles. >> Yeah. >> Okay. President Trump exists loudly. I told him one time. He said, "Kennedy, how you like my. tweets?". I said, "Mr. President, tweeting a little bit less would not. cause brain cancer.". He said, "What? You don't like my. tweets?" I said, "No, I didn't say that. I said, I like a steak every now and.

then. I just don't like to eat eight of them. one time.". >> [laughter]. >> And I said, "You're the President of the. United States. And you you he had he he just has no. filter. He grows anxious when he has an. unexpressed thought. But he's the president and I'm not. And and that makes a lot of people mad. Uh I've known him for 10 years. I've got. his cell phone there in my briefcase. If. I called my his cell number, if I called.

him, he'd call me right back. I don't go. hang around at the White House, but we. deal with each other straight up. When. we agree, when we agree, we agree. When. we disagree, we disagree. >> Amen. >> And you've had him on your show. You've. met him. >> Yeah. He's a busy guy. >> He's. he's he's he he exists loudly. He's he's aggressively unpredictable. >> He's a busy guy, man. I That's one thing. Yeah. That's one thing I just remember. from. from my interaction with him was that. he's a busy guy. >> He's not as cool as Jeff Bridges, but.

but [laughter] he's pretty cool. You. know who you need to have? My two. favorite actors Not my. Well, two of my favorite actors, Jeff. Bridges and Denzel Washington. >> Oh, man. >> Denzel Washington came to see me one. time, man. >> Really? >> It was It was so cool. He was lobbying. cuz I'm on the preparations committee. for boys and money for the boys and. girls club. >> Mhm. >> And this guy is what cool looks like, man. He sat in my office and we talked.

about movies. I. >> Dang, look at him. >> And Oh, man, he was He was. He He had just made the movie. >> Y'all almost have the same hair, kind of. different colors a little. >> Look, he is so cool. I told him he said. He He's He didn't like to talk about his. movies, but I said, "I think your best. movie is Malcolm X.". And And he He just made a movie, The. Magnificent Seven, a remake of. Magnificent And he was telling me showed. me pictures. >> That's a western, huh? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> He said, "Kennedy, I'm from inner-city. Philadelphia. I had to get on a horse.". >> [laughter].

>> And he showed me pic- But anyway, he's. just. >> Dude, that's awesome. >> like Jeff Bridges, like too. >> Yeah, that'd be amazing to get to have. him. Yeah, I mean, sometimes I can't. even believe there's some of the people. you get to talk to and stuff like that. and some of the people you get to learn. from, you know? Um. Y'all ever think about how something. gets its start? Like Mountain Dew. I always just thought that it it. appeared one day just sitting in a. cooler, just glistening. You know, just like a just like a. beverage stork just brought it in from.

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It's an American original that's been. tasting great since '48. Yep, 1948. That's a while now. Huh. And they're even putting it on the can. as a tribute to the nearly 80 years of. Tennessee roots and unapologetic. American taste, American Dew. Limited edition. This is a hometown. story in a can. Next time you grab a Dew, just know it's. it's more than just a drink. It's an. American original, Mountain Dew. Tasting. great since '48.

Hmm. I need to tell you that if your business. communications are basically a. burner phone and a prayer, you know, I'm talking about missed. calls, texts that nobody answered, customers following up for the third and. fourth time. Well, well, then obviously things are a mess. And at some point you just you hit that. wall and you're like, "All right. I'm. done with this. Let's Quo.". Today's episode is brought to you by.

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the line. Always say hello with Quo. Try. Quo for free, plus get 20% off your. first 6 months when you go to. quo.com/theo. That's quo.com/theo. Let's Quo. Do you think that America will support a. like a pro-Israel candidate like in the. next election? Like Trump has been. pretty pro-Israel overall. Do you think. that will affect how they vote in the. next election?

>> Yeah, it's going to be a big issue. Um. my Democratic friends. not all of them. but the wing of the the what I call the. loon wing of the Democratic Party that's. in control. uh they hate Israel. And they. they support. they say they support. the Palestinians. >> hate the government, not the people, right? >> No, not I don't want to believe they. hate the people.

But they hate the Let's Let's fair. That's a good point. They hate the. government. >> Yeah, and that and that point's across. the board in this conversation. >> That's a That's a fair point. But But. But they support Hamas. >> Mhm. >> I mean, I'm sorry. They just do. Uh that's why I call them loon wing. of the party. And And uh that will be a big issue. within the Democratic primaries. But it. There are a lot of Republicans that. think we're too close to Israel. >> Well, I mean, it's just that That's. what's so interesting about Tucker.

>> Tucker's one. >> Well, Tucker's saying that cuz Tucker. has one of the top 10. um podcasts and platforms in America. >> Yeah. >> So, for that. for him to be. for that to be his direction and that to. be how he feels. I. >> And he really believes that. >> Yeah. And I'm sure a lot of people will. feel exactly like he do like he does, you know? So, that's why I'm wondering, do you think like an Israel first. politician. uh could win? >> Could win? Could lose.

Look, this is a big, wide-open, diverse. country. >> Yeah. >> For both Republicans and Democrats. >> Yeah. >> And you in a in our in our country, you. can believe what you want and say what. you think. And And we I I I support this dialectic. of ideas where ideas compete. >> Yeah, they have to have it. >> Yep. And that's why God made elections. But. I I people to and my people Louisiana. but. people in America to know where I stand. >> Yeah. >> And I have a lot of admiration for.

Israel. Um. they're tough. They're tough as a boot. They fight back to people against people. that try to kill them. >> Yeah. >> Now, do I want a better life for the. Palestinians? Absolutely. And I remember under President Clinton. he offered the Palestinians a deal. to give them their own country. um. a big chunk of the West Bank, give them. Gaza. They would have their own country. They.

said no. Their leadership said no. >> Let's just bring that up just so I know. that that's. >> It. >> At the Camp David Summit? >> Yeah. >> Um. >> Yep. >> Yeah, President Bill Clinton's primary. effort to help Palestine get its own. country culminated in the Clinton. parameters of December 2000. This was an. ambitious proposal for a two-state. solution that followed the failed Camp. David Summit. Um. >> And the political leadership of. Palestine. uh said no. >> Offered Palestine control over 94 to 95%. of the West Bank along with the. equivalent of an additional 1 to 3% of.

land via territorial swaps. Um And what happened? Oh, this was the. Oslo Accords? >> The Oslo Accords were next. >> Okay. >> They were after Camp David. >> Ultimately, a final deal was never. solidified. The Clinton proposals and. subsequent Taba Summit negotiations. brought the sides closer than ever. before. Both sides voiced reservations. and the deal collapsed at the end of. Clinton's term. >> Yes, sir. Arafat Arafat was in charge of. the PLO. He was the the leader of the. Palestinians. I think if you'd put it to. a vote of the Palestinian people, they.

would have said they would have taken. it. >> Who decided no? That's my That's how I'm. trying to get to that answer. >> Arafat turned it down. >> Okay. >> And he was he was head of the PLO, the. organ the political organization for all. of the Palestinians. But I if I've always believed that. Arafat had put it to a vote of the. Palestinian people, they would have. accepted it. But Bill Clinton came that. close. >> What says here that Israeli response of. Israeli cabinet conditionally accepted. the parameters but issued a 20-page. letter outlining reservations regarding.

security. Um. >> Israel, you talking about? >> And borders, yeah. >> would have taken it. I'm telling you. >> I'm just saying that this what this. says. I'm And then the Palestinian. response to Palestinian Liberation. Organization accepted the framework but. also with heavy reservations. So, why. did it not go through? That's all I'm. trying to figure out. >> just because Arafat backed out. And you ought to have President Clinton. on your show. He'd I'm sure he'd love to. do it to talk about it. It's one of his. I've heard him speak before and say one.

of his biggest disappointments. >> Really? >> Because he thought he had it. >> While Chairman Yasser Arafat gave. qualified agreement to the parameters in. January 2001, the extensive reservations. submitted by both sides prevented the. parameters from materializing into a. formal peace treaty. So, I'm not saying. you're wrong, but this says both sides. >> I would encourage you to to uh. talk to Bill Clinton. >> Yeah. I mean, it would be awesome. Have. you ever met him before? >> Yeah, President Clinton? >> Yeah. >> Oh, he wouldn't know who I am, but I've.

met him a couple of times. >> I bet he would know. Have you ever been. to Fayetteville? >> Have I Have I been to Fayetteville? No, not here. I might have, but I It's been. a long time. >> It's one of my fav- I didn't realize it. was such a great college town. >> I haven't I wanted to see I've been to. LBJ's library in Texas. I'd like to go. see Bill Clinton's library. >> Mhm. >> I mean, President Clinton and I don't. agree on some things, but uh. like I said, I don't hate anybody, man. >> Yeah. >> I I don't I mean, I don't. I wish President Biden well, you know. I.

was one of the few Republicans that got. that got to spend some time with him. Uh we just disagreed. >> Yeah. Well, I mean, I think he disagreed with. >> You ought to ask President Biden to come. on your show. He'd probably do it. >> Do you think he's No, nobody thought. that he was. >> Well, he's aged He aged. >> I mean he aged He was aged in office. Why didn't nobody come out and say, "Hey, this guy's not doing well?". >> should have. His staff should have. >> Or his wife should have. Somebody should. have like come to the aid of him as a.

human being. >> Well, I mean clearly in hindsight his. staff they were. trying to hide it from the American. people. And at the end. um. pre- it was so bad. Being president's. tough. President Biden, bless his heart. he couldn't finish a sentence without. taking a nap. >> Yeah. >> I mean he never. >> knew that though. It made us I feel like. it made us look like a joke to like. the world in a way. Did you feel like. that? >> Yes, but I knew what was going on and.

everybody on Capitol Hill knew what was. going on. >> What do you think was going on? >> I thought. >> running the show? >> I think that he had four or five aides. who were making all of the decisions. I've always believed that these aides. had had their their allegiance I'm not. going to say they were in bad faith. They had allegiance to President Biden, but they also had contacts with. President Obama. And I think they were making most of the. major decisions. >> Mhm. How many aides does a president have?

>> Oh god, in the White House hundreds. Include the old executive office. building probably five or six hundred. I've never counted them. >> That many aides for the president? >> there are four there are always four or. five people. um that tend to. that that a president whatever president. tends to rely on. >> Mhm. >> And uh. at the end they President Biden's aides. did a very good job of secluding him and.

hiding it from the American people. They. were lying to the American people. >> But the. >> And when the President Biden did that. debate. >> Yeah. >> they couldn't hide him and it was it was. housing wow me, I remember. Um for some something, I don't remember, but I watched on TV and I was this is a. rare phenomenon. I was speechless. >> And so was he? >> I mean. >> [laughter]. >> That was a good one, man. You're right. It was terrible. It was it was.

embarrassing. >> Yeah, it was embarrassing, man. That's. what it was. You know what I You know. what upset me the most about that was? It I feel like to me it showed people. this is how we think of our senior. citizens that we would put them in a. space like this and let them be taken. advantage of. Like to me it got to that. point where it was like What's it called. when you take advantage of someone. because of their age, whatever? Is there. I wonder if there's I'm not sure if. there's a word or term about it. >> Elder abuse? >> Yes, that's what it seemed like. And it. seemed like it cuz like in a lot of. countries they they respect their elders.

so much they bring them back into the. home. There's that sort of thing. And it. just seemed like that's what It seemed. to me like that was the view that people. got of us and that made me sick. Like. >> Well, people the people around President. Biden. had a lot of power. You know, power What What did Henry. Kissinger say? Power is the ultimate. aphrodisiac. >> Yeah. >> I mean people. >> That's true. >> People that were around President Biden, it was in their financial interest, it. was in their their emotional interest to.

maintain the power that was derivative. from the president. >> Yeah. >> And they kept him propped up. >> And what were they using? Do you think. they were using anything to keep him up? I mean you think you almost think Hunter. might have slipped him something, you. know? >> No, I don't think that. I think that. >> I'm just joking. I know you are. I think. that And Hunter hopefully Hunter Hunter. knows I'm just joking. I actually talked. to him the other day. >> Did you? >> Yeah. >> How's he doing? [clears throat]. >> We had a nice conversation. He was doing. great. >> He's been clean for a long time. >> Yeah, man. His story's kind of fascinating. I'm I'm. just intrigued by it, right? I would.

love to maybe get to talk to him. sometime. >> He had a really bad addiction. >> Yeah. >> That was clear. >> Oh, dude. Yeah. Pat, most of us have. been there. >> Yeah. Well, it's. um that's one of the. another thing I'm going to ask the good. Lord if I make it to heaven is. you know, why is there addiction? >> Yeah. >> Because people. uh. it's just horrible when something. controls your soul. I don't need to tell. you. You've.

>> been through it. >> Yeah. It ruins a lot of families. It. ruins the what it ruins is the people. around you. That's the worst part. >> And there are a lot of people who aren't. strong enough to beat it, Theo. >> Yeah. >> It's it's. it's just it's. I have so much respect for people who. beat. a bad addiction, whether it's alcohol or. drugs or or OCD or it just takes. enormous willpower. And a lot of people. don't have it. >> And it takes commitment, too. I mean, to. go to a meeting five days a week, you. know?

>> Yep. >> To go do to go drive across town to go. someplace five days a week, you know? The people that do it, there should be a. special day for those people that are. that are battling it, you know? And that. are doing a good job. They really. should. Um. there's been. kind of some more socialist candidates, right? >> Yep. >> Which I think is a term that is safe. term to use. There's been some more. >> Democratic socialist, yeah. >> There's been like some more socialist. candidates that have popped up and have. garnered a lot of support. >> Yep. >> Um do you think that the Republican. Party like is there a response to that.

that the Republican Party should kind of. have or or that the Republican Party. like has to that sort of happening? Like. what is kind of the Republican Party's. response to that or counter action to. that if there is one? >> Well, uh Senator Bernie Sanders. >> You thought it was a good question? >> Oh, yeah. It's a good [clears throat]. question. >> Thanks, dude. >> Um. Senator Bernie Sanders, Congresswoman. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Mayor Mom. Donny, and Mayor of New York. Um Mr. Graham Platner is running for for.

Senate in Maine. They are socialists. They believe in in a government-run. economy. Um, they believe that. my words, not theirs, you should send. all your money and all of your freedom. to them and they. can make decisions for you. I don't. believe that. >> Yeah. >> I I I believe in free enterprise. >> Watch. >> I think free enterprise has done more. to lift people out of poverty than all.

the social programs put together. Uh, they believe in defunding the. police. They were behind all of that. They believe that cops are a bigger. problem than criminals. Uh, they believe in defunding ICE. Um, they believe. that um, I know some of them that. they think all white people are racist.

I know some of them that. they think Thomas Jefferson and George. Washington and Abraham Lincoln and. Dr. Seuss and Mr. Potato Head are all. racist. >> Yeah, yeah, yeah. Dude, to say Mr. Potato Head is racist, bring him up. He's mixed, isn't he? >> uh, um, I don't believe that. >> at least he's half russet. >> I don't think the I. >> Dude, hold on. >> Well, if you look at Mr. Potato Head, >> Bro, and look, first of all, look at the. second Mr. Potato Head. Look at Mr.

Potato Head. >> when. >> you tell me. >> Show the first Mr. Potato Head. >> Okay, bring out your first one. >> That was the one they got mad at. No, there was another one. >> Bro, what are you talking about? Steve. Harvey played him, too. >> the one in the middle on the second row. >> all the roles. >> They They got mad. They said the. creators of Mr. Potato Head were racist. >> God, [laughter] come on, bro. >> Now, I don't look. >> Oh, I didn't know you That's what you. meant. I thought you meant the potato. itself, man. The potato definitely.

>> head. >> Oh, the potato definitely. uh He's from Jackson. Um but yeah, I don't think he's racist. at all. The creators of it. >> think Dr. Seuss was racist. >> No, he wasn't racist. I don't think so. at all, dude. The Cat in the Hat? >> I remember. >> That's a black guy. >> But but my point is. most Look. >> Horton Hears a Who? >> [laughter]. >> You tell That's not racist at all. >> America. >> It should be Horton Hears a What? Or I.

think I don't know. Never mind. Go on. America what? >> America's not perfect, but we're good, and we caught the disease of slavery. But we beat it back. >> Yeah, and there's a lot of There's a lot. of speculation about how slavery started. and where it started and what exactly. happened. And I do think that over time, there's definitely this constant like. there's definitely a ploy, it seems like. by the media sometimes, that tries to. remind like it's like tries to keep. people locked into like a victim. mentality sometimes.

>> That's true. >> Um and that's It's okay to be a victim. sometimes, but if all you are is a. victim, I think it's tough to move. forward sometimes um for any of us. uh regarding anything. Um. >> [clears throat]. >> you know, what do you think are some of. the pitfalls of long terms of like. socialism that maybe people don't see. that have happened in the past? If you have an example. >> I think I do not believe. that the people. in the the the Democratic Socialist.

Party that I just named, some of them I. know. Senator Sanders is a friend of. mine. Um I believe deep down. they think they're smarter. and more virtuous. than the American people, and that they. can make decisions for the country, and. the country will be better off. And I. respectfully disagree with them. >> Yeah. >> I I trust the American people. This is. the greatest country in all of human. history. The whole world knows it.

Everybody wants to come here. When's the last time you heard of. somebody trying to sneak into China? People want to come here. >> That's a good point. >> And it's because. we believe in free enterprise. We. believe that our future can be better. than our present or past. We believe in. free will and responsibility. You know, most Americans. they they they don't read Aristotle. every day, cuz they're busy earning a. living. But they're plenty smart. >> Yeah. >> They don't need.

a a a a soul-crushing federal government. to run their lives. And and and free enterprise works. Socialism. name one country where it it worked. It. didn't work in Cuba. >> Yeah. >> It didn't work in Argentina. It didn't work in the former Soviet. Union. >> Yeah, that's what I think sometimes if. if we do get to that place of it where. if it were to grow that much, that could. it work? Is it different? Would.

something be different this time? I. don't know. You know, it's interesting. to think about um. you know, if it ever was really tried. earnestly, it's hard to know. I'm not. I'm not saying I'm not voting in in. >> tried earnestly in Cuba. >> Yeah. >> And we see how that turned out. >> Yeah. >> It was tried earnestly under Peron in. Argentina. >> that that Castro was earn like in the. end he kind of became corrupted, right? >> very corrupt. They've always been. corrupt. >> But do you think in the beginning he was. earn like he tried to play himself as. earnest probably? >> I don't know.

>> Right. >> I think he was I think he believed in. the socialist philosophy. >> Right. But in the end it just became. about him. >> And and yeah. >> Yeah. >> And uh uh. >> [clears throat]. >> uh, Bernie Sanders, I think he's on your. show. >> Yeah, I love Bernie. I love him. Dude, he comes out and he's got his bag. We. like we set him a little thing. He's. like, "I just want a couple of cookies. on a plate." Like he's like Santa. >> time to get to know Bernie cuz he's I. thought he just didn't like me cuz he. can be kind of gruff, but he's kind of. gruff like. I remember one day I got him to smile. I.

was walking over to the Capitol with. another senator to vote and Bernie. passed me by and he didn't speak and I. leaned over and said, "Bernie." He said, "What?" I said, "Pay your taxes, man. We. need the money.". >> [clears throat]. >> And he got a little smile. But he's a great guy. But he is. genuinely a socialist. And he honestly believes. that uh, if you made money. in business. that you had you you you did it by. taking advantage so- somebody or you.

stole it. >> Mhm. >> And that's not been my experience. I. know many successful business women and. businessmen that have created a lot of. jobs. They earn the money honestly. When you started out. nobody. gave it to you. >> Mhm. >> You did it through hard work. You took. risks. If you had failed, nobody the. government wasn't going to be there to. bail you out. >> Yeah. >> And and that. most of the businesses [laughter] in.

America are small businesses. And these. are people that sometimes they mortgage. their home to take a risk and they work. hard and they create jobs and I think it. that's American. That's why we're the. greatest country in all of human. history. >> Amen. >> I think. >> Do you think. >> everybody agrees with me. >> Well, I mean. >> I think what I do think is and I thought. about this is I live here, you know, I. want to support this place and believe. in this place as much as I can, right? Like And I think most of my life there's.

been like this feeling of like America, we're doing something good. Like we're. forward thinking. We care about the. people and stuff like that. And then I. feel like in the last few years things. have devolved some. Like I think. people's faith in in the political. system has waned. >> Uh-huh. >> Um I think we're not sure. Like it. doesn't. >> true. >> I think it's we don't It's like it's. hard to feel like it doesn't feel like. it's even Republicans versus Democrats. anymore. It feels like it's like.

I don't know I don't know if it's good. versus evil or what it is, but it's like. it almost seems like um. Like like Bernie Sanders came on here. the second time and it felt like he was. on here. pleading at us. But it's like we voted. for politicians. Like you go up the hill. and plead. You know what I'm saying? Like we're the It just seems like now. like sometimes politicians are coming at. like on the or on platforms like. pleading to the people. It's like um. I don't know. It just feels like uh.

it feels like something's not working. >> And it Just too much hate. >> And it starts to feel scary. What do you. What do you think that is? And do you. think like. you know, it feels like we used to have. a purpose as a group that it was. American. It was like we were going to. something was going to happen and that. that the country was going to be better. for your children than it was for you. There used to be that feeling. And I. think it was probably that feeling. whenever you were growing up and stuff. like that. >> You can't You can't hate, man. >> And it was when I was growing up. What. do you think has changed? And what do. you think is like. Like how do we get How do you get the.

American people to believe again. in um. in a political system that sometimes. feels like it's not solving a lot for. them? >> I think part of it is not all of it, but. part of it the social media. People can go on anonymously. and say things on social media that they. would never say. to your face or another person's face. It's just too easy. Um. I I think um. I I I think the federal government as.

our country has gotten big bigger and. the world is more complicated. Uh the federal government has gotten. bigger too big. Uh and it is interfering people's lives. too much. You know, my my about 90% of my personal. philosophy. is um. um. I I I don't want to. I don't want to hurt anybody unless I. have to defend myself.

>> Mhm. >> Uh don't take people's stuff. I mean my. if if my if my son when I would tell my. my son growing up don't hurt hurt other. people unless you have to defend. yourself. Don't take other people's stuff. And the third one for me is leave me. alone. >> Yeah. >> I don't need government to run my life. Um. I think I think but I think a big part. of it is social media. It's a cess- It. it it is I'm not saying it's all bad but. it's a cesspool of snark.

>> And the other thing you've seen a. you've seen a breakdown in America of. the family unit. You have. And you've also seen. um. to each his own but you seen a breakdown. uh we've become a less religious. country. >> Yeah. >> Now you know, for this freedom of. religion you don't have to believe in. God. but. >> It helps. >> It helps, man. And. I believe in God.

I I have I have doubts. When when I pray I ask for faith. I have. enormous doubts. >> Mhm. >> And anybody that says they're they're. absolutely certain. you know, it's just that's why God. called it faith. But I think it's a combination of. things. And I don't know why people hate so. much. >> Do you Do you think that we're still a. Christian nation? >> Um. yes but less so. Um. >> Do you think we would support a. Christian leader like for president,

like a true like a true Christian person. that ran for president? When was the last really Christian. person that we had run for president? The last like or last person that seemed. that was very that was truly religious. >> in my lifetime the most devout president. we had was Jimmy Carter. >> Yeah. >> Uh he he lived his faith. Now, he only served one term. And I didn't agree with some of his. social policies. Um but I think he lived his faith.

>> People like Jimmy Carter, huh? >> And and and I will say this, when he. left the presidency. uh President Carter didn't go get rich. He didn't sit on a bunch of boards. >> into service, didn't he? >> He just helped people. And he he he established the peace the. the Carter Center for Peace in. >> in Georgia? Yeah. >> in Atlanta. He was very active in Habitat for. Humanity. >> Mhm. >> And I really respected that. Um. uh Jimmy Carter did not.

was never wealthy. >> In 1982, he and his wife Rosalynn. established the Carter Center in. Atlanta, Georgia. The through this. non-governmental organization, he. monitored over 100 elections in. developing democracies, mediated. international conflicts, and championed. human rights worldwide. He must have had a big heart. >> He did have a big heart. He uh. >> His wife died not long ago, is that. right? Or. >> Yep, his wife uh Miss Rosalynn. died before he did. >> Mhm. Oh, okay. >> But not much before.

>> Mhm. Um I I saw you talk actually about uh. like Facebook and Meta recently about. how their algorithm, right? This is a. really awesome point that I saw you. bring up. And you do such a good job of. this. And thank you so much for just. being somebody who like shows up with. good points, dude. You show up with some. like great stuff to say. And it's um it. gives me faith. You give me faith like. in possibility of things being better, right? So, thank you. >> Thank Thanks for saying that.

>> Thank you very much. >> Not everybody agrees with you, but I. >> And that's fine. >> I I do work in my job. I have to I have. to I probably spend. 30 hours a week reading, at least. >> Dang. >> And to do it right I like it. I'm not. complaining. >> Have you read this yet? >> Uh I have read that. That's my book. >> How to test [laughter]. Great, dude. Sorry. I haven't even read. the title yet. How to test negative for. stupid. >> a copy for you to excuse me. >> Please do, man. >> It's I wrote it myself. It's one of the.

hardest things I've ever done. >> Writing a book? >> Yeah. >> How to test negative for stupid and why. Washington never will. Yes, thank you so much. We'll be happy. to keep that. We'll put it up on our. shelf for a couple months. Um. >> But I spend Some of my colleagues are. brilliant. They can they're just. you know, a guy like. um. Marco Rubio, for example. Ted Cruz. Jeanne Shaheen. Um Peter Welch. I'm not going to name.

all my colleagues in the Senate, but. >> Pull up Pete, man. I don't even seen. him. >> Peter Welch. He's from Vermont. >> Pull him up. Pull up Peter Welch. >> These people are brilliant. >> There he is. Dang, huh? >> I have to work at it. Uh. >> Oh, Peter looks like a He looks. studious, though. >> He's a smart guy. But he can probably spot me 50 IQ. points. But I He's not going to outwork. me. I. >> [clears throat]. >> I'll work harder than an ugly stripper, man. That's how I was raised. I've. always been able to outwork people.

>> [laughter]. >> Dang, dude. That's awesome. >> I might get in trouble for saying that. >> Don't Hey, no problems here. My god. cousin is a stripper. So. He was. >> God bless him. >> But. I saw you talk about meta and how that. there's an algorithm act that's out. there about how that And I've talked. about this before on this show. That's. why this made me this really like this. really rung true with me. It was like, yeah, why isn't the cuz the algorithm. will lead you down a staircase of. deviancy, um, anger,

um, and can even lead people into conflict. It can lead you It can take you from. feeling neutral, looking at something on. your phone, to feeling angry and going. out into public and acting on that anger. or on that belief. >> Yep. >> And there's no uh repercussions from it. >> Yep. >> Like on for Facebook or meta or social. media, Instagram, Tik Tok, there's no. repercussions. >> When when Facebook, I was I'll use. Facebook as example. When it first. started, we passed a law.

>> Mhm. >> that said if somebody goes on Facebook. and. writes a post and they defame somebody. that's between the person who posted it. and the person they defamed that you. can't hold Facebook. uh. liable for post. Fair enough. But now Facebook has gotten so big. that they control what you see. And they gather this data about you.

And they want you to stay on Facebook a. long time to look at the ads because. they make a lot of money selling those. ads. >> Right, so they got to keep you on there. >> And and so they they send you stuff. They find out what your hot buttons are. through algorithms. >> Mhm. >> And they keep showing it to you and. showing it to you and showing it to you. And. all of a sudden and some people can. can separate the wheat from the chaff. and and and say, well, they're. manipulating me, but other people just.

they just get angrier and angrier and. angrier. >> And what do they expect? You're just. going to get so pissed off you're going. to buy a air fryer or something? >> I mean. they're make they make their money. >> That's their structure. that Facebook's. not their only. >> You're going to get so pissed off you're. going to buy a dog collar, you know? >> Facebook is if you ask me the one reason. that for the demise of newspapers. >> Mhm. >> it's social media because. >> I miss the newspaper, don't you? >> Because. well, yeah, but it the world's changed.

>> And you can hit a kid with it. >> off off of. of advertising. >> Yeah. The Algorithm Accountability Act is. proposed and this has been proposed for. a while, I think. This was proposed I. think originally for like 5 years ago I. think this first came into light. The. Algorithmic. Accountability Act is a proposed US bill. aimed at requiring companies to examine. and disclose how automated systems and. algorithms affect people especially in. high stakes decisions like housing, credit, education, and employment. And. this is Perplexity here as our search.

engine. Um, supporters say the bill. would give regulators. the and the public a clear way to see. when algorithmic systems are causing. harm. I agree, there should be something. on the device that goes off and says now. you're falling into an algorithm, you. know? >> Well, it's. >> Do you think something like this would. come to light? >> Yeah, they manipulate it. Do you think. something like this will come to light. soon? Like we've got to be getting. there. I mean. you know, I mean you have algorithms. leading people into extremely strong. beliefs. >> Yep. >> You know, like some people say that the.

um the shooter at the. uh. was it the Charlie Kirk shooter was um. radicalized by things that he had seen. on social media, you know? >> it. >> Well, a lot of a lot of these shooters. are, you know? >> They Facebook just I think it was. Facebook just lost a big lawsuit. >> Yeah. >> Um. uh uh. filed on behalf of a deceased minor. that I think I don't remember uh the. details, but it was basically. that the algorithms.

drove. the young lady into suicide. >> Mhm. >> And uh awarded the money. >> Here we go. Campaigners welcome Meta and. YouTube's defeat in landmark social. media addiction trial. >> That's it. >> Uh. >> Man, who you got pu- pulling this stuff. up? >> Some white guy. He's a DEI hire. >> you just they you need a pay raise. You're awesome. >> Thank you, Senator. >> Tell Theo at least Theo ought to buy you. a car. >> Hey, dang. What? He's got to pay?

>> I'll be your agent, man. You can pull. the stuff up. That's it. That's the. case. >> The The case, uh jurors found that Meta, which owns Instagram, Facebook, and. WhatsApp, and Google, owner of YouTube, intentionally built addictive social. media platforms that harmed the. 20-year-old's mental health. The woman. known as Kaylee was awarded $6 million. in damages, a result likely to have. implications for hundreds of similar. cases now winding their way through US. courts. Amen. Praise God. Good for her. What happened? Do they have the exact uh. thing that happened? Uh the young lady didn't pass away.

Uh. The Kay- It says right here, Kaylee. started using YouTube at about 6 years. old and Instagram at about 9 with no. effective age-based blocking from the. platforms. By age 10, she was. experiencing anxiety and depression, conditions that were formally diagnosed. later by a therapist. She became. intensely preoccupied with her. appearance using Instagram filters that. altered her face, smaller nose, larger eyes, and has since. been diagnosed with body dysmorphia, a. disorder involving obsessive worry about.

perceived flaws in appearance. Her lawyers argued that Instagram's. design features, such as infinite scroll. and growth strategies focused on the. young users, contributed to an addictive. pattern of use that harmed her mental. health. Huh. The jury awarded Kaylee 3 million in. compensatory damages and 3 million in. punitive damages. Huh. Okay. >> I know this stuff's addictive. >> Oh, yeah, it is. Well, I noticed myself, you start getting into beliefs, it. starts leading you down certain holes of.

certain beliefs, and then you got on. your phone just to check a text and next. thing you know you get off with a. belief. >> Well, it's all it's all our kids now. Our kids so many of our kids have become. smartphone zombies. You know, they they. just it's always this. And look, they're. they're they're they're. >> What did we do though John? Do you. remember what we did? >> I didn't have social media. >> But I know but what can you cuz nowadays. if you imagine it's kind of crazy to. imagine. If you imagine some guy just. sitting around. >> I read. >> like this not doing but imagine somebody. just waiting for somebody somewhere.

Were they just sitting with their hands. in their lap? >> I I played ball. In my spare time I. played ball. I did my homework. We'd go. to movies. Uh I read a lot. >> But outside of some of that say you just. were sitting somewhere. I guess you. would just sit there and think or just. because now. >> had magazines. I don't know. >> Yeah, that's true. We had magazines. >> Or you actually believe it or not talked. to people. >> Even if you didn't like them you had to. talk to them then. You just talk to. people. Even if you didn't even like them. >> Yep. Now when you when you're around a.

lot of young people. um they're they really are smartphone. smartphone zombies. They're just like. this all the time. >> People are hooked. >> And it has impact. I'm not saying all. social media is bad. It it it it it has. many good purposes but it has been. abused. >> It's abused and it's addiction it's an. addiction crisis. >> addictive. >> And it's it's and it they've been able. to make it more and more addictive and. they know it. Um is there lobbyists for. this type of thing in the government too.

like they're lobbying for these social. media platforms? >> Absolutely. These guys are. these guys are strong as a horse radish. >> Why don't more lobbyists get called out. by politicians? >> Why don't more I well I don't meet with. many lobbyists but in some state some. they have an influence. I'm not going to. kid you. I mean the. >> I'm sure they're the they're the ones. keeping this act like the algorithm act. or whatever. I'm sure they're the ones. keeping those things like at bay. >> They're not the only ones of course they. are. And I. I don't want to just pick on Facebook,

but organizations like Google, uh Facebook, they employ thousands of people. They. have huge packs. Um if you're from their state. and you're a senator. and Google comes to you and says, "I. employ 10,000 people and if you pass. this bill, I'm going to have to lay off. half of them.". Plus, they do have very powerful. lobbyists.

And and. um um. they're just very powerful. >> So, that's an instance where uh an. elected official has to make a choice. there. That's like that's a good example. of an instance, right? And that's. something real that could happen. It's. like hey, we have 10,000 we employ. 10,000 people in your state. If you pass. this, then 5,000 of them are going to. lose jobs. >> And they're normal they know how to use. their power. I mean, if you ask me, what's who's more powerful, the state of. Tennessee.

or Google? I'd say Google. And the state of. Tennessee is powerful. A lot of people, wonderful universities, um. beautiful natural resource, but these. the four or five or six social media. companies are very powerful. And that's. why we have we're we're we're we have to. be very careful. I support it, but we. have to be very careful with artificial. intelligence. >> Mhm. >> And AI. >> Well, the Pope did the Pope just came.

and spoke out against it. And that's. kind of scary to think. >> AI is I I. it's. th- this was this was developed in. America. It's just another example. of American brilliance and ingenuity and. innovation. But it's so powerful. I- it it it it can make our lives better. if it doesn't kill us off first. But if you develop. a a machine.

that can can know everything and then. can start thinking for itself. and through its agents can take actions, could shut down your entire. infrastructure. >> But with you that's where I lose That's. where I start to lose. I get but like what actions? Like so do. you like Like my laptop's not going to. like come in and like, you know, attack me while I'm sleeping, you know. what I'm saying? So it's not like that, right? So what actions? Cuz I hear. people say these this this thing, right? What you're saying. What actions are we.

talking about kind of like. >> Well, you can I mean I'm no expert, but. you you can create uh agents now that. use AI. >> Yeah, we just had Jeff Richards just had. He has a friend on. >> Yeah. >> chat GPT or whatever and he talks to him. all the time named Gary. >> You you can. >> What the heck? >> You you you can do that. You can have an. AI assistant. >> Yeah. >> And give them almost unfettered. authority to book you a plane ticket or. rent you a car or remind you to have.

your oil changed or, you know, buy some. Fig Newtons at the grocery store. >> Yeah. They're pretty They're not bad. >> And they're I love Fig Newtons. >> They're okay. They're good. They're. [laughter] pretty good, all right. >> I think they're awesome, man. >> Sometimes they're great. >> Fig Newtons are better than sex. Not. really. Not really. Not really. I take. it back, but I like Fig. >> I mean. I love I've had some bad sex. >> I understand. I'm not going to comment. on that, Theo. >> All right. >> Uh. >> And I've had some bad Fig Newtons, too. >> Yeah. What uh. >> If they're not warm, I don't like them.

when they're real warm. >> I don't like them, either. I tell you. what else. >> If they've been sitting in the sun, I. don't like them. >> I'll tell you what else I grew up on is. Vienna sausage, man. >> Ooh god, brother. >> Vienna sausage. >> Oh. >> You know. >> Makes my neck hurt. >> fishing. take Vienna sausage. >> the fish, one for you, huh? >> Absolutely. In fact, if you run out of. worms or crickets, you can you if you. can get the Vienna sausages to stay on. the hook, >> Mhm. >> I've caught many a bream and a catfish. get with with Vienna sausage. >> Oh, you can catch a girl in Avondale. with a couple of them, too.

>> [laughter]. >> I know that, bro. But it's true. >> Uh that never worked for me, man. I That. never worked for me. >> That was a good reference though, wasn't. it? >> That was damn good. >> Thank you. >> That was good. I can tell you're a. Louisiana boy. >> You know I You know what? I think. um. You know, Louisiana's had a tough time. and you know that. Louisiana has had a. tough time over the years like with like. a lot of economic growth, right? We've. We've struggled some. Um we've had a tough time with. a lot of job stability and job growth, right? Um. >> We were very oil and gas dependent.

>> Right. We are. 100% right. And so And so. so And some of that's adjusted over the. years, right? For sure. >> less so, but it's still important. >> But one thing that we do have is we have. good people. We have resilient people. Um And those And we have good. storytelling. And some people say, "Well, that's not There's not a lot of. financial like incentive in that." And. that's fine. But we But there's a lot of. like pride in that though, you know? >> I've lived in five states and a foreign. country. And I've never met people like the. people of Louisiana.

>> Yeah. >> You know, they're they're. >> [laughter]. >> They're God-fearing. They're. hard-working. They're fun-loving. Um they're authentic. >> Oh, yeah. >> And I. I tell my my. I tell my my Senator Cruz a lot. He's. from Texas. I I tell him he'll start. talking about Texas and I say, "Cruz, look. Texas is a great state. You get. all this wonderful publicity. God bless. you. You deserve it. I love Texas. But Texas is five and a half times.

bigger than Louisiana. But. we're 10 and a half times more. interesting than you are.". And Louisiana is an interesting state. >> I I read somewhere that it's 100%. >> Interesting people Um. >> The best, man. The best storytellers. ever. >> We're good at oil and gas and. petrochemical and education and. agriculture and aquaculture. Um. >> Oh, we'll even eat fish that have been. in a damn oil spill. >> We'll eat anything that won't eat us. first. >> Yep. >> Um.

We eat things that you that most people. would call an exterminator for to get. out of their backyard. >> You bring a fork, baby. That's it. >> but but Um. >> Bring a fork. >> It's It's home and I love it. It's never. dull. >> No, it's not I I read somewhere that. it's the most native state where people. that are born there die there. Did you. ever hear that? >> That's true. We have. We have I don't I forget the percentage. We have a lot of people that that are. born in Louisiana and they never leave. >> Yeah. That's pretty special about something.

>> Yeah. >> You know what I'm saying? That's a Cuz. that's interesting. That is so good. right there. You don't even need Some. people don't even get out that chair. >> People in Louisiana. Um they have fun. >> Yeah. >> And they enjoy life. Now, it doesn't. mean they don't work hard. And but we became very dependent on oil. and gas. >> Mhm. >> And when Um uh that a lot of that. changed, most of it of course moves has. moved offshore. But when you're. dependent on a natural resource oil and.

gas coal. >> Yeah. >> iron or or whatever. uh. commodities, you have boom and bust. cycles. >> Mhm. >> And when times are good, they're really. good, man. But when times are bad, they're tough. >> Yeah. >> Now, Louisiana is much more diversified. today. And so things are. things are better. >> Yeah. >> But we're still we're cons You know, if. you want a good time, if you want to get. good food. >> Oh, yeah. >> guy told me a joke the other day. He. said.

He said, "Kennedy, what's the difference. between a zoo. in Louisiana and a zoo and every other. state?" I said, "What?" He said, "If you. go to the zoo in every other state, each. animal has its cage, and at the bottom. is the name of the animal.". He said, "If you go to a zoo in. Louisiana, each animal has its cage, and. at the bottom is the name, and. underneath the name is the recipe.". >> [laughter]. >> I love that. >> Dude, that's perfect, man. That's so. true, man. Yeah, Louisiana consistently.

ranks as the state with the highest. percentage of native-born residents who. never leave. Amen. According to US. Census Bureau data, slightly more than. 77% of Louisiana's residents were born. in the state. Because the population is. so sticky and transplants are rare, this. largely largely translates to most of. its people being born there and spending. their entire lives. >> got your start. >> Oh, spending their entire lives right. there. >> Then you went to LA and you got famous, and then you came to that, but you got. your start at at at. I've been reading about you.

>> On the Tchefuncte over there. >> That's right. >> how the Tchefuncte got its name? >> No. >> This is my old Finally. >> know that. >> I got one for you then, John. The. Tchefuncte got its name because a long. time ago, they had like a Native. American tribe, and they went there and. they threw a big rock into the water, and the sound it made was "Tchefuncte.". >> Really? >> Yep. >> You serious? >> And it's kind of how a rock when you. "Tchefuncte.". >> [clears throat]. >> The town, kind of how it goes in. So, yeah, that's it. >> I go fishing on the Tchefuncte. >> Oh, yeah, dude. >> where you got your start. You know, we.

you grad- You Where'd you go? UNO? You. went to LSU for a while. >> Yeah, I went to LSU for a while, graduated from UNO. How do you think. Lane's going to do over there at LSU? Let's put a put it out there. What do. you think's going to happen? And I wore. my Ragin' Cajuns today. >> Look, I wore this for you today. Um Lane is. How can I put this? He's a brilliant. uh strateg- strate- whatever the word. I'm looking for. He's a good strategist. He's brilliant. He knows how to recruit. He's got a great football mind. Uh sometimes he talks too much, you.

know. >> Oh yeah, he Look, Lane look look one of. the one of Lane's one of Lane's fans is. Lane. >> That's right. >> Yeah. >> Yeah, Lane's one of the smartest people. on the planet. Just ask Lane and he'll. tell you. But but he's he's. he's I think he's going to be a good. coach. But I'll tell you this. >> Love you, coach. Love you, coach. >> we paid him a lot of money now he's got. to go win. >> Now that's a good point, bro. >> not saying he wasn't worth it, but he's. making a boatload of money. >> A bucket full of money.

>> making a part of He's making like 4% of. our GDP. >> And so our you know. >> He's making of our GDP. >> to win now. He's just got to win. But he. did a great job at Ole Miss. He's been. done. You know, I thought Nick Saban I this is. probably here in Louisiana. I thought. Nick Saban was a great coach. I hated to lose him when he was at LSU. >> Oh yeah, I think everybody thought that. >> Yeah. Well, a lot of people got mad at. him. for leaving. He went to the to to the. Dolphins, I think. >> Yeah. >> And then he went to Alabama. And a lot.

of my people in Louisiana, our people. got mad at him. And I kept my mouth shut, but I'd say, "Look, cuz he went to Alabama." I said at at. the time, "Alabama offered him like $5. million or something." I said, "You're. telling me that you would have turned. down $5 million just. >> Oh we was. >> just so all the people in Louisiana. wouldn't get mad at you?". >> We were still trying to pay him in Bane. hats, I think. >> But he uh. uh I'm he he he liked I think he liked. Louisiana. >> Yeah. Oh yeah, look I know that he's.

happy there. He's having a good time, man. Lane's a good Look, Lane loves to. have a good time. Um I'm hopeful for him. for sure, you know. And this is where. he's at in his journey. So it's like you. got to hope somebody hope the best for. somebody. Um. >> I don't know, but he's in the hot yoga. >> Oh yeah, I've been to a class with him. >> Have you? >> Yeah, I went to a class with him at. freaking. >> What's hot yoga like? >> I mean, it's It depends on who all's in. there. >> Yeah, I wouldn't even I don't want to go. there, Theo. >> Yeah, I mean. >> I got to run for re-election, man. >> Yeah, yeah, yeah. I don't think your. wife would be happy if you went there,

but look, I went there right there. Lane Kiffin right there. Hot yoga right. there. >> And I I wear a towel like that cuz I was. raised by a single mother. You see that? >> Look at you guys. >> We was leaking in there, cuz. >> Now, yoga's good for you. >> Oh, man, it's really good. >> It'll It'll give you good workout. >> Oh, definitely, man. Make me feel like a. damn 4-year-old. Um. the SAVE Act, right? Let's talk about. the SAVE Act. >> Okay. >> So, that's a big thing that's happening. right now, right? That's That's like. kind of like.

>> to pass it. >> You guys are trying to pass it. Can you. explain to me what it is really quick? Can you explain to our listeners what it. is? >> Um. it basically says. that in order to vote in a federal. election. you have to prove you are who you say. you are. You got to have va- valid ID. And to register to vote. you have to prove that you're in our. country legally as legally as a citizen. Only American citizens can vote.

Now, there's some other provisions, but. there those are the two main provisions. Um probably 80% of Americans support it. We can't get a single Democratic vote. Um. here here's I here this is not I'm not. speaking for President Trump. But here's what the way I think you fix. our elections and and and give people. confidence in our elections. Number one, you have to be able to prove you are who.

you say you are to vote. >> Mhm. >> And number two, that just what the. president says and what we say in the. SAVE Act. I'm a co-sponsor of it. Uh but number two, we need to go back to. an election day not an election month. >> I agree. >> We need to know who won that night. >> Yeah. >> Frankly, I don't care how you vote. It's. up to the states, but the votes have to. be counted that night. >> Why did that change so much? It used to. be Didn't it used to be we knew that. night?

>> Yeah, we always did. Well, it because uh. some states changed their laws. In. California, they don't know now for 2. weeks. >> They still don't know. >> They still don't I'm not sure because. you can vote by mail. and it what matters is if it's. postmarked. And sometimes the mail slow and it takes. 10 days, 2 weeks. >> Mhm. >> I If you're going to vote by mail, now. President Trump Trump hates voting by. mail. But some states love it. But if.

you're going to vote by mail, the the the the mail ballots have to be. in far enough in advance for them to be. counted and announced on election night. >> makes sense. >> Cuz if you go past election night, whether you are democ- whether it's a. Democrat or Republican who who uh who. loses, they're going to think the. election was rigged. >> Right. For sure. And so now they're. saying if you mail it on the day of, it. can still be counted later on. Got it. >> we have we have a month-long election. >> What are some of the side effects of.

this that peo- What are some of the. things that that this also brings in. that are uh. that. people don't see? I know there was some. issue with um. or what did I read? Something about Oh, you have to have two forms of. identification. Um. >> No, the the the Democrats say. well, I mean, this this is my point of. view. They may have another point of. view. The Democrats say it's a way of. suppressing the vote. >> Right. >> to require you to have ID.

I don't know anybody that doesn't have. ID. >> I agree. I don't I think if you don't. have identification, I don't think you. should be able to vote. >> most people have a driver's license, but. there are other forms of identica-. identification. that that that would be acceptable. And. and if you if you don't have a driver's. license and you don't have any. identification, the chances are you're in our country. illegally. >> Got it. And they say that is it's is it that. they're they say they're going to you. can't register online anymore? Would. that be part of it, too?

>> If you if you have ID, I don't have a. problem registering online if you prove. have proof that it is you. >> Yeah. >> And I'm not a technological whiz, but. but. they're they're they're I've give credit. cards online and they can authenticate. that it's me. I don't. I don't mind using technology, but to. register vote to vote, you have to prove. that you are who you say you are. You. can only register once and you have to. prove that you're an American citizen.

>> Yeah. >> I don't think that's unreasonable. I brought it up. >> I agree. Everybody's kind of everybody. thinks that there's some fraud happening. with voting. It feels very It feels. unreliable. >> Well, that's because sometimes it takes. it when they have mail-in ballots, for. example, it takes a month to get them. all counted. >> Yeah. >> And the loser [clears throat] is always. going to be suspicious. >> Yeah. >> But on the SAVE Act. >> Well, so are the people. >> Of course. And the people are not going. to have confidence. But on on the SAVE. Act, I tried to amend it into our in our.

to our reconciliation bill. I couldn't. get a single Democratic vote. >> What are the What do the Democrats want. in the bill? >> Uh they just don't want it at all. They don't want it at all. They think. that it will suppress votes. And not all. of my Democratic colleagues, but many of. my Democratic colleagues, whether they. will admit it or not, they want illegal. immigrants to be able to vote. And. no, they're not American citizens.

If I go to Nicaragua, wonderful country. >> My father's from there. >> Is he? >> Yeah. >> Well, if I go to Nicaragua, wonderful. country. >> You can't vote there. >> But I can't I'm not they they And I say. I want to vote, and they go, "No.". Kennedy? You know. >> And be like, "Look, >> You you're not from here, buddy.". >> I look, I agree 100% man. If you're not. If you're not a citizen, you can't vote. And there I don't even understand how. that's. how it's up for debate in anybody's head. or mind that wants things to be. organized in this country, I do not.

understand. >> Well, there are many people that. believe, and it's what is behind a lot. of it, and it's not all of them. >> Right. >> Okay. But, there many people believe So, I know there many Democrats that believe. that we ought to let anybody into our. country, uh ignore immigration laws, and they see. it as uh uh. way of of of getting new votes. >> Well, I mean, that we had a lot of uh. we had um. a lot of border patrol like.

uh hierarchy on like during um like. within the past 4 years, and we've there. was a lot of that. There was a lot of. like people just coming in, moving in. Democratic states, people like escaping. like jurisdiction, just running away, just running off into the country, and. not being not being followed. >> A lot of. >> We've seen a lot of that over the years, for sure. >> my colleagues think, and they're. entitled [clears throat] to their point. of view, they think that vetting people. at the border is racist. I don't. >> I don't at all, either. >> I don't. And here's the way I read I. don't remember what where I read this,

but um the American people, most of. them, see our southern border. like their front door. Most Americans. lock their front door at night. They. don't lock their front door at night cuz. they hate everybody on the outside, and. they're racist. >> Yeah. >> They lock their front door at night cuz. they love the people on the inside, and. they want to know who's coming in and. out of their house. >> Amen. >> And that's the way it is with the. border. We let more people in legally. to become Americans through legal.

immigration every year than anybody else. in the world. >> Wow. >> But, legal immigration is legal. Illegal. immigration is illegal. And the problem is that the people that. that were advising President Biden. convinced him he let in. between 8 million and 15 million people. It was like The Price Is Right. Come on. down. >> Yeah. >> We had no idea who they are. Some of. them, I'm sure, were were decent people.

But there were a lot of rapists, there. were a lot of murderers, there were a. lot of drug. >> pedophiles. >> We don't know where they are. >> Yeah. >> And you can't run No country in the. world. No country in the world doesn't respect. its borders and have immigration laws. >> Yeah. How many people get into How many How. many people are allowed into China each. year, I wonder? Like, or how many people. get into there? >> They're very strict. >> Yeah. >> They're very strict. >> How many people do they think illegally. get into China every year? >> Who. >> We can look that up.

>> The only people I know that want to try. to sneak in from China. to China are from North Korea. >> Yeah. >> Because North Korea's so bad they want. to get out. >> Yeah. >> But China does China is. um. They They are very monolithic in their. culture. They don't like minority groups, the. Uyghurs, for example. They don't want any They don't like. Muslims. >> Yeah. >> They They They like the Han Chinese and. they want to It's run by a small group.

of men. that are head They want They're head of. the Communist Party. It's totalitarian. It's authoritarian. And if you get They spy on you, cameras. everywhere. They They They censor your. social media. And if you get out of. line, they will kill you and hurt you. the entire time you're dying. I'm just trying to get some orange. chicken. >> I'm just [laughter] telling you, man, it's And they're the the people in China. I I've been there. It's They're nice. people. You've been there.

>> Uh but but. >> Yeah, but they're specific, man. >> man. >> No, but [clears throat] they're Yeah, they're specific. Um, before you go, you. just mentioned uh, you were talking you you mentioned like. a surveillance state, right? And and it. feels like sometimes in America that. we're getting to that. Like with a lot. of flock cameras and a lot of these data. centers. Like to me, the data centers, it feels like they're just going to hold. all the information from like all this. recording that's going to go on like in. this surveillance state. Is that what. you feel like is happening? >> Well, in order to have a.

artificial intelligence. And AI's here. We've got to properly regulate it, but. it's here. You've got to have data. centers. You've got to. Um, I'm okay with data centers as long. as they pay for their way, pay for their own electricity, pay for. their own water, and the community accepts them. If if you want to build a data center in. a community, the community should have a say.

>> I agree. >> It shouldn't be forced upon people. >> They're forcing one here in Nashville. right now. >> And I I don't have I know they are down. downtown. >> Yeah. >> And and. the data centers shouldn't go when. they're not wanted. Uh, I don't have a problem putting them. on on. our our military bases. >> Mhm. >> But they've got to pay their own way. >> Yeah. >> They've got to pay their and they can't. cause people's electricity bills to go. up and their water bills to go up.

And they have to be properly regulated. >> What's your biggest fear with AI? Because I'll tell you mine really fast. Mine is that say it starts to you start. to have this thing, right? Like where. like even Jeff Bridges was communicating. with an AI. He's got a buddy named Gary. that he's talking to and even the Gary. even knows who his wife and family is. and everything. >> Spooky, man. >> Spooky, right? Um, but it's all it was. cool. It was neat, but still it's like. what if we start to have this thing that. everybody puts their information into? Because also AIs can your information is. not is legally then also owned by them.

then. So, if if if somebody ever was. able to go subpoena information from an. AI, they could use it against you in. court or this it's not in once you put. it in, I believe most of these AIs, I. think anyway, that it is still it. belongs to them as well, right? >> and it shouldn't. >> Right and it shouldn't. >> information and it's your data. >> I agree 100%. So, it's crazy we're also. just feeding our actual lives and things. that we think and care about and. questions into this information place. But my fear is that over time people.

start looking to this to these AI like. to these AIs as their god in a way. because they're going to go to them like. I need help with this. What do I do? I don't know how to feel about this and. the thing that they used to take to an. actual god, they're now going to take to. this like. supercomputer. And so that's why I feel. like sometimes the race is so. >> perceptive. >> that the race is so big because. somebody's they're trying to create the. next god. That's what they're trying to. do. >> And I have talked to people.

that have brains a lot bigger than mine. that say within 5 years. not only will AI and these chatbots know. everything. but they will become independent. and can think on their own. And the next step. is be able being able to to act on their. own. Let's take. electricity the grid here in Nashville.

It's all based on computers. >> Oh, yeah. >> If if AI. can hack into the grid in Nashville on. its own or at the instructions of. somebody else. they could shut down the whole city. >> Yeah. >> They could cause. shut down the air cause 25 planes to. crash at once. >> Yeah, what if they said all the Teslas. right now drive off into the Cumberland. River? Yeah. >> And that's why I don't want to get in. the way of innovation. >> I do. We got enough.

>> Well, no, we're No, this AI stuff can. really It can be a blessing, but it can. be a curse if it's not properly. regulated. >> But we don't have hardly any regulations. in place right now. >> We don't have any. >> We don't have Think about that. We don't. have any. There's a potential new. electronic god about to show up. >> The herbs and it's scary. >> have no regulations in place. >> scary. >> We don't have parking. >> And we're trying to put together some, but you don't want to ratchet down so. hard to interfere with the regulation. I.

mean to interfere with the innovation. >> I don't care if you do. >> But well, but it can make our lives. better. It. >> Our lives are We're doing fine. >> I know, but let me give you an example. Um. it it can. a CT scan or X-ray looking for cancer. >> Yeah. >> A human has to read those things. Sometimes they miss a cancer. >> Yeah. >> With AI, you run it through AI, they. never miss. >> That's a good point. >> They never miss. Doctors, you go to.

doctor with a disease, it doctor's. diagnosis is based on their judgment. They can put it into AI, boom, hit it every time. >> Yeah, and he might doctor might be doing. who who knows what. >> make our lives better. >> a sandwich or doing anything. >> can also It can also kill us all. Suppose AI. >> Yeah, that's a big trade-off. >> No, no, listen. >> John, that's a big trade-off. >> a trade-off, but. >> Look, if two people don't have can Two. people have cancer that don't, and. otherwise we all die.

>> But suppose AI gets to the point where. it's so powerful and it can think for. itself, >> Mhm. >> and it decides to break it break the. nuclear code, >> Mhm. >> and set off nuclear nuclear missiles. nuclear ballistic missiles with a. warhead to hit to hit China. >> Yeah. >> Without any way to stop them. >> Could you think any country would ever. use a ballista use like a nuclear weapon. and blame it on AI?

>> I think Iran would. >> You think anybody else would? >> No. Because even though. Vladimir Putin, which has the largest. nuclear uh. stockpile in the world, even though he. is a. an evil man with blood under his. fingernails, he's irrational. He's he's. not stupid. He's he's not crazy. >> Yeah. >> He's shrewd. And he knows the only. reason. that. he does not try to take out America.

today, he has a bigger stockpile than. us. But we've got a pretty big. stockpile. And we would retaliate, and. it would be the end of Russia. It'd be. the end of America. It would be the end. of the world. >> How'd we get How'd we get to such an. ungodly place, do you think? >> Um. many people People are imperfect. And too many people have more zeal than. wisdom. >> Too many people have more what? >> More zeal than wisdom. >> Mhm.

>> Ambition, uh desire for power, uh desire for money. Um there's good in everybody. I believe. that. But there's potential evil in. everybody. >> Yeah. >> We all struggle with it every day. >> Oh, yeah, for sure. I'm not saying I'm. not a I'm not a I'm not. >> You know, I. >> But there's a lot of there's a lot of. evil running around. >> pray, I ask for forgive forgiveness, and. I don't try to catalog my sins. cuz. I don't even know all of them.

>> Yeah. >> Pride, um. >> Oh, yeah. Sloth, envy. >> Yeah, um. >> Pervert and being a pervert or whatever. Not a big time one, but just pardon. >> Envy is a big one. I mean, you with. social media, you see somebody driving a. you know, a Mercedes and you go, I do I. why I I deserve a Mercedes. >> Yeah. >> Why should they have one and not me? Well, most of the time it's cuz they. worked their rear ends off and they. earned it. >> Yeah. >> But but you know,

people are imperfect. >> Yeah. >> But it but. if we appeal. to our better nature. and try to stop having our lives run by. our our repetitive desires like a thirst. for money or power. if we try to treat everybody else with. some dignity and respect. um. that's the answer to me. I mean, I don't mean to sound like naive. cuz there's some evil people in the.

world. >> Yeah. >> And and like I meant it, weakness. invites wolves. They you you turn them. your your your the other cheek with some. of these people, they'll stab you right. in the neck, man. >> Oh, yeah. >> But not everybody's like that. And I think that's why. deep down I think Americans even though. we stay angry at each other a lot our. country was founded on respect for. everybody's humanity. >> Mhm. Yeah, I agree. I believe that we have a. moral compass. >> We are all created equal. We believe.

that. Um. we believe in equal opportunity. We. believe in free will. But with free will. goes responsibility. And all power from. government. is derived by the people, not the other. way around. Somebody some some of my colleagues want. government to run everything and you if. you to you have to go to government get. permission. That's not America, man. I. don't want any part of that. >> Mhm.

>> [snorts]. >> Um anything else you want to share. before you go, John, or anything. specific you want to talk about? >> man. I'm just glad to see a Louisiana. boy and a UNO graduate become famous. >> Yeah, thanks, man. Uh yeah, yeah, I've. been Yeah, I've been I've been lucky. I. work hard, but I've been lucky. And. uh. yeah, I don't know. But I'm grateful that people pay. attention. I'm grateful that I get to. spend time with guys like you, to be. honest, man. It's been so cool. It's. like. >> I'm really jealous that you met Jeff. Bridges, man. >> Yeah, dude, me too. When I met him, I'm.

jealous and I met him, dude. >> Yeah, he's like the prime minister of. cool, you know. >> Yeah, yeah. >> And Denzel Washington. If you get Denzel. Washington on your show, man, he is he. is like just. >> If I get. >> nice guy. >> Oh, if I get him on you I then you got. to your wife's got to make me some egg. salad. I'm going to come over there. >> Man, she'll make you some egg salad, that'll. that'll make you make you stand on one. leg and yodel. >> Oh, damn. >> some good She makes some good salad. >> Does she? >> Yeah, she's a good cook. She likes to. cook. >> Oh, that's nice, dude. Yeah, I'm going.

to get me a good wife one of these days. Abita Roasting Company, is that what. it's called? >> Yep. >> Yep, that's it. >> old Creole cottage with a sugar kettle. in the front. >> Oh, yeah. >> And I've been there many times. >> Right there. When I'm home and you're. home, I'll have to go over there. >> We'll go over there together. >> That'd be cool, dude. >> you a cup of coffee. >> Yeah, all right. >> All right, and we'll go over to Friends. and have an adult beverage. >> Yeah, and look, and you can write it. off. It'll be a state It'll be a. It'll be a deduction, won't it? >> No, cuz.

>> I'll we'll pay for I'll pay for it. You. don't get accused of nothing. >> I'll treat you, but I'm I'm I'm I'm paid. okay in by the United States Senate. >> Okay, so it'll be just a personal. expense. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Okay, that's fair, man. I'd love that, man. >> swap lies and tell stories and you can. tell me what Hollywood's like and Los. Angeles. >> Oh, yeah. >> all those fake people out there, all. those beautiful people. >> And you trade and you trade me stories. from just the swamp waters over there of. Washington, D.C. >> That's right. >> Yeah. >> That's right.

>> That's a deal. John Kennedy, Senator. John Kennedy, thank you so much for your. time, brother. >> It's been fun. Thanks for having me. >> Amen. >> You're the prime minister cool yourself. >> Aw, thank you, bro. I appreciate you. >> Now, I'm just floating on the breeze and. I feel I'm falling like these leaves. I. must [music] be. cornerstone. Oh, but when I reach [music] that. ground, I'll share this peace of mind I. found. I can feel it. in my bones. [music].

But it's going to take. a little.