Joe Rogan Experience #2451 - Cheryl Hines
These notes were generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies.
Joe Rogan welcomes Cheryl Hines. They note it's been a few years. Joe mentions thinking of her when Bobby Kennedy announced his presidential run. Joe praises Curb Your Enthusiasm as one of the greatest comedy shows. He says she's not built for politics, and nobody is except Trump, who survives attacks unchanged. Most people feel terrified and anxious when rejected by their tribe, leading to groupthink and agreeing to insane things. Ideologies can become cults. Both right and left have cult-like sections with extreme 10% on each side keeping everyone fired up. Most people are in the center.
Intelligent people get captured by extremes. Bill Maher, lifelong left-winger and reasonable critic of both sides, had a spat with Jimmy Kimmel over politics. Kimmel stopped talking to him after Maher dined with Trump, which is taboo. Cheryl spoke to Maher about this; people went insane over it. Even when Bobby ran as a Democrat, Democrats were angry. Politics makes people mean, vicious, uncharitable—worst for power. They lie, take things out of context, even within their party. Hollywood is competitive but not about tearing others down. Attacks on Bobby intensified when he ran for president, creating a feeling of doom. Bobby is tough, having been targeted for 20 years, developing thick skin.
During Kamala Harris-Biden debate, Harris accused Biden of sexual assault-like behavior, then dismissed it as debate tactics. Politicians viciously attack then act friendly afterward. Contrast with Mitt Romney-Barack Obama debates: civilized, polite, Romney super religious Mormon who never swears, Obama matching energy. They discussed policies, not personal attacks. Trump debates devolved into insults like calling Romney a convicted felon. Biden-Trump debates tried matching Trump's energy unsuccessfully. Debates should focus on running the country, policies, spending—not insults. Catchphrases like Trump's "Crooked Hillary," "Sleepy Joe" work by throwing opponents off. Social media allows responses now, unlike before when ruling party controlled narratives.
Hunter S. Thompson spread rumor that Ed Muskie was addicted to ibogaine treated by Brazilian witch doctor; Muskie cracked on campaign trail, had nervous breakdowns, fell off despite being competitive. Bobby's appearance on Joe's podcast was game-changing; Joe is curious, great listener, non-judgmental. People heard Bobby directly, countering negative press.
Joe knew Bobby before pandemic, read his book, had negative opinions initially. Pre-pandemic, Joe trusted academics, saw others as believing snake oil. Pandemic showed experts lying, even about Joe. Joe recovered quickly from COVID in his 50s using ivermectin, called veterinary medicine—a flat-out lie. Media thought they were bullying him but amplified his reach; his show got 10x more viewers. Reading Bobby's The Real Anthony Fauci in sauna revealed Fauci and cohorts suppressing medications, promoting profitable ones, gaslighting, lying about data—same during AIDS crisis. Book has footnote after footnote, no lawsuits. Highlights irresponsible journalism. Bobby's environmental work: cleaned East River, sued corporations polluting waterways causing cancer, helping people—not tracking with narrative he's out to hurt people.
Bobby's vaccine questioning now mainstream. Joe trusted scientists initially but knew friend whose child became non-verbal autistic post-vaccination. Taboo topic causes visceral reactions from tribal fear of ostracism. Frustrating when parents share experiences of child changes post-vaccine and get attacked. Should allow discussion for shared experiences. We've been lied to by government and pharma; many drugs pulled after harm discovered, like thalidomide causing birth defects, prescribed to pregnant women. Pregnant women x-rayed to check babies. X-ray technicians calibrated machines daily on hands, causing hand cancer—one normal hand, one deformed.
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TSA body scanners use millimeter wave radio waves, non-ionizing, low risk per agencies, below flight or medical x-ray radiation. Dentists hide behind walls, patients wear lead vests. Airplane flights expose to cosmic radiation like spread-out medical x-ray due to less atmospheric protection. Pilots get daily x-ray equivalent from frequent flying. Plane screens, Wi-Fi add EMF concerns. Old planes had ashtrays, no-smoking signs. Everything poses risks: Wi-Fi, 5G, EMF from electric cars, earbuds.
Pilots and air crew receive more radiation than typical travelers, but whether it causes health problems is still being studied, with any added risk appearing modest on a personal level. They are ideal subjects for studying if flying is bad for health. Many studies find pilots and flight attendants have higher rates of some cancers, particularly melanoma and other skin cancers, and in some studies breast cancer. Reviews indicate it's not clear how much is from cosmic radiation versus disrupted sleep, UV exposure during off time, and lifestyle. No firm causal link to flight radiation alone has been established.
Disrupted sleep from late night flights wrecks the body, similar to night shifts messing up circadian rhythm by sleeping during the day.
Question of adjusting to permanent night shifts, like working at a factory from 8:00 p.m., where it becomes your life. Shooting films with three or four night shoots causes someone to snap, like Chad freaking out and going crazy from lack of sleep. Some people become big babies when they can't sleep, very emotional.
On sets, actors indulge in lack of appreciation for their fortune, spazzing out over sleep while crew works two hours before and after but gets fired if they spaz out. Actors are treated like royalty. It's a unique experience because the actor's face is magnified six feet tall on screen, so everyone ensures they are okay, hydrated, need water or turkey—if not, there's nothing to shoot.
Psychologically over time, constant pampering like hair care, lip touch-ups, brushing shoulders makes people weird. Early success, especially young, is not good—it's not normal. Can't recover from a bad developmental period. Bad childhood in public with no real work or struggle, interactions based on looks and fame, not good for kids. Especially women, looking good is a big factor. Likened to concrete mixed wrong—once solid, can't fix, results in weak concrete that breaks.
Cheryl's first break was Hardball sitcom on Fox, moved to LA for it. Show cancelled, would have returned to New York if not for apartment lease—hated it. Used to fight gyms, pool halls, comedy clubs with brash, blunt, jolly people cracking on each other. Hollywood felt like weird group think, reading Hollywood Reporter daily and getting upset—called it the devil's rag. Had to agree a film was good if everyone said so, couldn't say hated it.
Example: Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt in As Good as It Gets—plot made no sense, medication made him racist; felt bad for her, get out of that relationship. Argued on set, others pretended it was amazing because Jack Nicholson.
Precious: nothing else bad could happen, then it does, gets worse, leaves you feeling why are we alive—don't like those movies.
Stayed in LA for NewsRadio because of lease, had money from six episodes of Hardball, considered paying it off to leave but got NBC development deal. They had a pilot, firing one person—auditioned, knew it was friend Ray Romano fired first (replaced by another, then that guy fired). Ray's firing led to Everybody Loves Raymond, best thing for him. Watched pilot with Phil Hartman, Dave Foley, Khandi Alexander, Maura Tierney, Andy Dick, Stephen Root—amazing show.
NewsRadio: 1994-1999, five years, not popular until syndication reruns, moved slots nine times.
Before Curb Your Enthusiasm in 1999, worked as personal assistant for Robby Michele Reiner (likely Rob Reiner's production), catered at night. One catering job at NewsRadio green room for agents and VIPs—stood ensuring food table looked good for hours. Phil Hartman came in, asked who she was there for; said in charge of the table.
Joey Diaz, recently out of jail, visited set, found VIP green room with good food like shrimp cocktail, barged in as big scary Cuban guy, freaked everyone out.
Always wanted to leave LA—felt radioactive. Weather great, Comedy Store amazing, but too many people devalue individuals; better in small town or city. Highway like 405 at 4:00 p.m., 10 lanes bumper to bumper, everyone annoyed, road rage. Group think to get cast: ingratiate with producers, casting directors, fake same opinions—gross. Casting people arrogant, treating auditioners poorly.
Got parts like Fear Factor by not caring, making fun of it.
Ate Iraqi cave spider, Madagascar hissing cockroach, tomato hornworm, sheep's eyeball to show contestants it's doable. Never threw up on set, only once at home watching contestant re-swallow spit-up worms—editing and music got her despite being nearby.
Good host because helped contestants, not mocking; encouraged chewing and swallowing, took mind off it, ate things to demonstrate like roach—not bad taste, crunchy, mostly in head.
Rats: contestants in coffin covered with pet rats nibbling—healthy diet, not street rats.
Nothing horribly wrong, got lucky. Warned against bull riding—not worth catastrophic injury like bull stomping face; not 0% chance of getting kicked in air. All contestants did it anyway; one 98 lb lady bucked off, landed on back, knocked out.
Had bull riders on podcast and Fear Factor. Played clip of Mexican OT (podcast guest, rapper) getting bucked off bull.
Discussion on protective gear: wear cup, but saw guy get horn up butt—no protection there. Not healthy, lots of pressure.
Cheryl never rode bull, healthy respect for big animals; people delusional about size—monkey smaller but rips face off, picks eyes out.
Video of guy in India letting monkey on lap, monkey tears football-sized chunk off scalp—strong, no stopping it. Pet emu: dumbest birds, tiny heads, had to walk with shovel for protection. Friend hates his ostriches on Texas ranch—mean faces.
Fear Factor: ostriches bit heads, pecked; contestants drank raw ostrich egg.
Falconer lady: falcons fascinating, golden eagles amazing (one tried landing on campfire), hawks problem—as soon as loose, they
Birds of prey like owls, eagles, and hawks are natural killers. As soon as you release them, they immediately find something to kill. Owls kill birds and squirrels; eagles and owls return after hunting, but hawks go straight to kill. Bobby loves hawks and falcons; Cheryl went hawking with him using two trained birds that hunt together after leaves fall. They communicate from tree to tree, spot a bunny, coordinate—one distracts, the other swoops, tears it apart into bunny guts. It's beautiful until the carnage.
Joe found beheaded hawks in his backyard from an unknown predator, likely something bigger like an owl. Owls eat hawks; they're silent flyers. Video compares bird flight sounds over microphones: pigeons loud, hawks pretty loud, owls almost completely silent. Night-vision video shows owl swooping silently on hawk nest, snatching hawk out—the other hawk barely reacts. Owls see well at night, heads turn crazy angles, work alone unlike noisy hawks that hunt in pairs.
Joe saw an owl fly off with a big rabbit in talons, drop it mid-road—rabbit gutted. Rabbits can't hear owls coming, making them brilliant nocturnal hunters. Owls eat cats; friend found six cat collars in owl nest. Video demo: pigeon loud, hawk loud, owl silent over super-sensitive microphones. Owls are super predators. Pigeons have no chance against owls.
Rats in New York City kill and eat pigeons—video shows rat grabbing, attacking, dragging pigeon. Rats kill pigeons if they catch them slipping. Netflix documentary Rats reveals rat biomass in NYC roughly equal to human biomass initially thought, but clarified: 8.3 million humans at 70kg each = 580,000 metric tons; rats at 0.102% human biomass despite visibility. Estimated 3 million rats vs. 10 million people, likely underestimated due to subway populations.
Biomass of ants on Earth (20 quadrillion individuals) equals 20% human dry biomass, more than all wild birds and mammals combined. Leaf cutter ants in Joe's yard carry tiny leaf pieces; colonies underground are massive. Scientists fill colonies with cement, excavate to reveal structure: enormous tunnels size of a house, fermentation chambers for rotting leaves, air pipes to surface. Ants work together instinctively worldwide.
Some female ants find males, cut off arms/legs, drag to colony for breeding. Ants operate like biological robots on program, no feelings. Praying mantises scariest: strong for size, snatch hummingbirds from feeders despite smaller size, kill/eat on spot. Videos show mantis motionless, snatch hummingbird mid-feed, hold on definitively. If mantis size of dog or monkey, it'd kill humans easily.
Instagram Cryptic Mantids (with K) shows mantises eating roaches bigger than themselves entirely, head first—roach alive initially, then consumed whole. Mantises eat massive amounts relative to size, look like twigs. Peruvian dragon mantis example. If giant, like giraffe-sized, it'd rampage cities eating everything—like eating a poodle whole.
References The Fly (1986 Jeff Goldblum remake, original weirder with fly mask on human body). Goldblum's transformation: spikes, madness, fly in telepod merges DNA. Cheryl hasn't seen Jurassic Park, avoids sci-fi. Joe praises: rational scientist role (Goldblum), early great CGI for dinosaurs (unlike vague CGI lions in 2007 I Am Legend). T-Rex debut at night, obscured—brain accepts unknown dinosaur look. Without Yucatan asteroid, dinosaurs might've prevented human evolution.
Colossal Biosciences recreated direwolves (extinct large wolf breed, bigger than regular wolves, white with mane)—geneticists debate purity, but matches characteristics. Joe saw 6-month-olds in summer; they're weird-looking, walk on all fours.
Apparently, these direwolves were about 6 months old and will get a lot larger. They came back from extinction through genetic engineering, mixed with direwolf DNA and greywolf DNA. Joe explains the process but notes he'll forget it soon. It's something that never existed before since direwolves went extinct.
Joe fears scientists creating a Jurassic Park on a 50,000-acre island with dinosaurs for visitors. Cheryl agrees it sounds possible but compares it to AI threats on computers and brains. Joe is more afraid of AI than dinosaurs because AI is more likely. With dinosaurs, you'd have a choice to visit or not.
Cheryl mentions talking about a poncho with a friend, then getting poncho ads on her phone. Joe wonders if he'll get poncho ads now, confirming they're all dialed in.
Joe would rather die squashed by a dinosaur than go crazy from AI-planted thoughts. Cheryl doesn't want to die either way but notes dinosaur death is unlikely while AI disruption is possible. No good roadmap exists where AI isn't completely disruptive; optimists profiting from AI claim it'll increase productivity.
Elon Musk predicts AI will lead to universal high income where no one works. Problem: people identify with jobs for purpose and happiness. People like providing for themselves—working, getting a paycheck, buying things like a poncho with their labor. People enjoy being good at something, like Henry who fixes things.
What happens to Henry when his job becomes useless, like owning Blockbuster Video? Not like wealthy people born into money who never prove themselves. With universal high income, everyone has basics covered, freeing time to pursue interests like becoming an expert or studying languages.
Some became alcoholics during COVID; others started profitable online businesses that couldn't be shut down. Laborers might prefer soccer, painting, or other meaningful activities over factory work like putting dials on boxes, which hasn't been around long.
For thousands of years, no money—people hunted, fished, traded, raised animals, gathered food to stay alive.
If nobody works, could money disappear? Resources like oil remain valuable for gasoline, power, plastics, medicine. Even if everything's free, no one would make a Ferrari without scarcity driving value. AI takes jobs, generates income; cars still made, but maybe rationed—does everyone need a car?
Oxford, England established 15-minute cities with limited travel passes to leave your area. Costs equivalent to $100/day if exceeded. Similar to New York City congestion zone (stopped). Government controlling movement, passing laws to profit.
England lacks jury trials except for murder, rape; judges decide cases like social media abuses. Arrested 12,000 people last year for social media posts—one judge deciding fates, aligning with government.
Terrible precedent like COVID "two weeks to flatten the curve" lasting 1.5 years in LA. Can't give government power to restrict leaving areas or houses. LA Mayor Garcetti said "snitches get rewards" for reporting violations at coronavirus.lacity.org/business violation.
Garcetti encouraged reporting neighbors for too many people or not 5 feet apart. BLM protested outside his house daily for a month.
Fake sign language interpreters: one at Obama speech (Mandela memorial), guy next to Obama making it up; another at event. People faking to get close.
Cheryl's turning point: Bobby running for president. Crash course in elections—constant scheming, rumor-spreading by operatives. Success if story picked up, even if false; camps celebrate or strategize damage control. More exciting if personal, like lifts in boots or height lies.
Florida's DeSantis denied lifts but walked on tippy toes on late-night show, adding 5 inches. Self-inflicted wound—people say he's too short to govern. Scrutinized after decades in public eye. Women wear heels, but men lying about height is inauthentic.
Toupees worse if worn suddenly after baldness; character flaw for 60-year-old man obsessing over attractiveness. Should let it go to be taken seriously. Male hair loss devastating; Joe tried transplants, minoxidil.
UCLA new topical medication grows hair (works on mice, in tests). Would end wig business. Joe wouldn't use it—loves shaved head, shaves every couple days, no barber chats.
Joe loved crew cut texture but got transplant for TV. Works temporarily: transplants from back die as surrounding hair falls out, leaving sparse look. Guys go to Turkey for full redo, but risk weird hairlines.
Women okay with transplants/wigs (e.g., alopecia). Joe dislikes men in wigs, lipstick unless singers/non-binary. Would mock guy at dinner with makeup. Biden admin hired man with lipstick/shaved head stealing women's clothes from airport, put in charge of nuclear energy—hiring mentally ill for wokeness.
Politics involves watching one group of weird people replaced by another in each election. It's a trap to think only Republicans or Democrats are weird; most who seek that job are unhinged because it's not normal. Politicians are often bad at public speaking, making it glaringly obvious. Rare exceptions like Obama, Clinton, or Trump excel at talking to large groups authentically. People good at that usually avoid politics because the job is horrible and crazy.
You must be good at talking for the campaign trail. Running for office is like auditioning but requires a completely different skill set from governing. Campaigns involve pretending: staging scenarios with fake chiefs of staff or secretaries of defense to show crisis handling, like a mini Cuban Missile Crisis play. People confuse great presidential portrayals in films with real leadership potential, leading to cases like Zelenskyy, a comedian who played president on TV and became Ukraine's real president.
That could happen here too—all actors who've played presidents could run. Martin Sheen could be president if he wanted. Top actors campaigning would captivate audiences but face attacks, smears on them and their families. Actors often have thinner skin than politicians due to constant insecurity from criticism, while politicians are accustomed to it and comfortable being full of shit.
Some politicians are authentic and work to improve the country, like innocent people on death row—they exist but are few. Most enter for fame, to say what people want to hear, gain approval, and make money. Once in, they must conform to groupthink or get cast out, like John Fetterman, hated now for saying voters should need ID. Fetterman is authentic, worked in charities and philanthropy, wears Carhartt hoodies and shorts even to inaugurations—a genuinely sweet, big teddy bear despite his stroke affecting recall (uses iPad for translations). Same happens to Republicans like Thomas Massie for deviating opinions—they're called traitors.
Many start with good intentions but succumb to the position's weight amid theatrics.
Congress members make money via insider trading, a ubiquitous dark secret. Nancy Pelosi is worth $400 million on $170k salary—her net worth keeps rising (PelosiTracker.com shows she's better at stocks than Warren Buffett or George Soros). Why stay at 85 if rich? Possibly to influence politics or avoid prosecution. Congress trading is a gray area; they buy stocks knowing decisions they'll make will affect markets—evidence exists across parties.
Not all do it—Tulsi Gabbard didn't—but many become millionaires. Ilhan Omar entered in debt, now worth millions. Some enter wealthy for right reasons, but gains post-office are suspicious (e.g., starting cryptocoins for pump-and-dump). Watchdog efforts by online independent journalists exist but get no mainstream coverage, as media wants access.
Presidents earn $400k (Trump donates his). Post-office, some live simply like Jimmy Carter; others give $300k/hour speeches to banks or join boards—cynically, legal payoffs for favors done in office.
Sackler family and opioid crisis exemplify corruption. Netflix's Painkiller (Peter Berg docudrama, Matthew Broderick as Sackler) reveals FDA approver resisted until taken to a hotel for days by Sacklers, then approved OxyContin. He later got a high-paying job at the company. Revolving door: regulators join regulated industries for consulting gigs—logical if objective, they'd avoid hiring strict enforcers. Seems like payoffs, legal via loopholes.
Sacklers got a sweetheart deal (small percentage of profits, immunity), pulled by judge post-Painkiller, then news vanished despite their responsibility for countless deaths, ruined lives, homeless children, addiction cycles. Doctors pushed non-addictive claims based on company lies—documents later proved they knew.
Conspiracy theories are dismissed until proven (e.g., opioids). Term popularized post-Kennedy assassination to label skeptics fools. A conspiracy is two+ people doing something nefarious—common when profit, power, control, or resources involved; most such theories prove true upon digging. Efforts make them seem ridiculous to avoid seeming foolish.
Joe Rogan embraces being called conspiracy theorist (e.g., Gulf of Tonkin faked for Vietnam; Afghanistan occupation led to 94% world heroin production; CIA sold cocaine in LA ghettos to fund Contras vs. Sandinistas)—all true. He's a cage fighting commentator, easy to mock, but ignores it like improv. Doesn't check trends—smart, doesn't change reality. Kids build resilience; family gets him—he's an honest fool who speaks beliefs openly (moon landing hoax, UFOs).
Don't fear judgment for true beliefs. Comedians soften acts for TV to avoid viral clips out of context—same for politicians.
Trump sued BBC for clipping 50 minutes of speech to falsely imply he incited Capitol attack; BBC head resigned. AI will make elections crazier.
Trump changed political debates like Elvis changed music—emulated by others. Campaigning is performance art. Kamala Harris's 'say it to my face' speech spiked her polls—a great performance piece.
Elvis Presley shook his hips, shocking everyone and changing performance norms. Jimi Hendrix lit his guitar on fire, inspiring others. Trump has turned everyone into an insult artist.
Obama-Mitt Romney debate is interesting without commentary. Clinton's presidential run was measured and effective. Clinton's 1990s points on immigration now sound like right-wing talking points, looking out for the American middle class. Hillary in 2008 said: if you're in this country illegally, pay a stiff fine; if arrested for any crime, get kicked out, no questions asked; learn to speak English. Everyone cheered. That's more MAGA than JD Vance.
Democrats lack self-awareness. Gavin Newsom is the slick politician: good-looking, tall, nice hair. He wins despite California's and San Francisco's issues because people are dumb. He could play president on TV. Politicians must look the part and speak presidentially, even if fake. Normal people don't talk like that. Newsom apes Trump's behavior.
Need a good left candidate; James Talarico is interesting. Had him on podcast. Religious, in seminary, opposes Ten Commandments in Texas public schools. Pushes people away from Christianity; unfair to non-Christians (Buddhist, Muslim rules). Speaks measured as religious person. Former school teacher saw budget cuts affect vulnerable students: one kid progressed with counseling from troubled background, then funding cut, he fell apart and dropped out.
Talarico (35-36 years old) points to wealthy oil people funding religious schools, cutting public school funding to create theocracy. Christian nationalists with enormous money push rigid evangelical ideas.
Running for president takes huge money, but donors board if you can win. Once in, rarely do what promised. Cynically, say what people want to hear to get elected. Bill Hicks bit: taken to dark room, shown new Kennedy assassination angle, then asked for agenda.
When in office, see bigger things; deep state real—long-term officials in enormous organizations with corporate support, regardless of president. Hard to enact change. Thousands of jobs to fill quickly: career people who brake, throw wrenches, make backdoor deals. Tulsi says offices stop what you want; must navigate back-scratching.
AI could handle efficiently, weed out corrupt Congress members making insider trades. Not illegal to invest, but unethical. Nancy Pelosi clip: pushed mic away when asked about banning stock trading for Congress/spouses. She's been in game forever—photo with young self next to Kennedy.
Pelosi and Chuck Schumer wore Kente cloth, knelt for BLM; cloth from Ghanaian tribe historically involved in West African slave trade.
Insider trading: 49 Congress members, 182 staff violated STOCK Act. Pelosi: free market, should participate. Evidence both sides do it. Pelosi scapegoat, not top earner (e.g., David Rouzer 149% portfolio gain). 70% return insane; like Madoff.
Joe bets on fights (not cards/Vegas), stopped before UFC banned it due to fixed fight scandals, dives approached. Has insight from watching fighters, early advantage knowing Pride/Rizin fighters. Told friends bet house on Anderson Silva: he'd dominate, be champion in a year.
Gambling ruins lives like cheeseburgers/Pop-Tarts/Mountain Dew. Bobby educates on junk food; new food pyramid aligns with health experts (not grain-heavy like cows).
Food pyramid unarguable, but people mad. Favored nations drug pricing: America won't pay more than other countries; some furious, likely paid off. Paid influencers push narratives on pharma, foreign policy.
COVID: paid influencers promoted vaccines. If medicine good, no need—like penicillin.
Matrix: Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) offers Keanu Reeves blue pill (stay in matrix, ignorant) or red pill (reality). COVID redpilled many. Blue pill: can't define woman. Hearings (Josh Hawley): circular logic on men menstruating, getting pregnant.
Black pill: doomed, pedophiles/Satanists run government. White pill: everything great. Gray pill better: probably Satanists/pedophiles in power, and
There's a real good chance we'll pull through this and be better than ever before. There's exciting possibility about the future of human beings. The good and bad thing about the internet is the free distribution of information. More people have an understanding of how things are really working than ever before.
The Epstein files were a big eye opener. After 2008, after he was arrested and went to jail, many people actively took money from him. MIT took money from him and tried to hide it, listing donations from Jeffrey Epstein as anonymous. People referred to him as Voldemort—you couldn't say his name. Many met with him, did business, and traveled with him after his arrest.
Cheryl Hines hasn't read them; it's toxic and messes with your head. Joe Rogan tries not to read them either, has experts on, loops reads. She sees things on the news but avoids diving in due to the dark blackmail influence over a long time through different administrations.
Joe Rogan is in the files for not going—Epstein tried to meet him in 2017 via a guest. Rogan refused after Googling him.
Some get intoxicated by rich and powerful circles, even without ambitions to join them. Epstein cleverly gathered powerful, respected people like Nobel Prize winners, Clinton, Steven Pinker. Parties in New York with celebrities, comedians (Lewis Black, Chelsea Handler), intellectuals, professors, Noam Chomsky deeply involved. He'd lure with famous names like "Brad Pitt's going."
Some blindly ambitious ignore risks, skip Google searches on hosts. There are probably multiple Epstein-like operations ongoing undetected. If Epstein's perversion wasn't underage girls but adult women or sex workers, no one would know. His started in 2005 from a fight at Royal Palm Beach High School in Florida: two girls fought, one called the other a prostitute; purse had $300 cash. Confession led to police: girl paid for massages by Epstein. At least 15 students recruited from that school to his Palm Beach home.
If those girls didn't fight, it might've continued. FBI concluded Epstein wasn't running a sex trafficking ring for powerful men (AP reporting circulating recently). This enables blackmail for business deals, manipulation.
People might not know initially, lured by eccentric billionaire. People crave access to billionaires, celebrities (Bobby), thinking it rubs off. Natural primate behavior from tribal days—want to be near the chief. Best case: around good people who lift you up. Others name-drop ineffectively, like a "classy lady" bumper sticker.
Fame hinders normal life; B-list is ideal—make money, go to movies, Disney World unrecognized.
No running for president; not designed for controlling 350 million people. Elections hell, rules vary by state to hinder independents.
Nobody claims zero election fraud. Example: woman in California registered her dog, voted mail-in ballot. California bans showing ID to vote. No sensible reason; Kamala's explanation about poor people without ID is nonsensical. If not cheating, some invalid votes occur—effect unknown. Applies both parties; Bush v. Gore shady, took weeks. Hacking Democracy HBO doc on Diebold systems showed third-party input could change numbers, owned by Republican donor. Hillary claimed 2016 stolen via Russia. Outrage every election, but nothing changes; people enjoy outrage for purpose over TikTok.
Borders wide open four years, invited people, gave aid; now arresting them—both crazy. No pathway for long-term residents (25 years, taxes, family)—must leave country to apply legally. Can't have open borders letting criminals, murderers, cartel in to vote. Let 10 million in without vetting; sanctuary cities released them. Political pawn for census seats, voter base in swing states.
Things headed good direction; understanding problems is first step. Elon buying Twitter revealed government censoring accurate speech by experts (Stanford, MIT) via Twitter Files—orchestrated silencing, career losses. Should outrage both sides, but people okay if aligns with values. Need rock-solid ethics/morals.
Discussion on people seeing signs like the Virgin Mary on a grilled cheese sandwich. Cheryl Hines notes she's seen pictures; Joe Rogan wonders what to do if hungry but must preserve it in a baggie or freezer, show relatives. They hope for a unifying event without tragedy, unlike 9/11 which briefly united people, making them realize humanity should be one group. Concern that division into right vs. left persists because people adopt others' opinions without forming their own, can't question without being cast out, framing it as good vs. evil, with every election claimed as the end of democracy.
"This might be the last time you're ever allowed to vote."
Oprah said this during a campaign; skepticism about claims like Trump becoming emperor. Hyperbole riles people up to vote by making them mad.
Joe asks if Cheryl would tell Bobby (RFK Jr.) "Fuck you" if he ran for president again. She says he's not running but if he did, it would differ from before. First time, she didn't anticipate the chaos like having a baby—constant stress hoping he survives daily. Now she knows the attacks: people online and at events trying to expose or paint him negatively. It was overwhelming shit all day, affecting her career, friends, decisions. Things have changed, so less chaos, though still a different type.
Understands why politicians run again (e.g., Hillary after tough campaigns)—gave best shot, can't reuse same arguments, intoxicating to win, be announced as president on TV. People want to win like Oscars.
Pre-TV presidents still cared about winning. Eisenhower in 1961 farewell address warned of military-industrial complex:
"Vital element in keeping the peace is our military establishment... This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new... The total influence, economic, political, even spiritual, is felt in every city... We must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence... The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists... Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals."
Aired on TV in 1961, no internet or recording, so forgotten until rediscovered. Predicts current issues: machine profiting from war, more money than anything. President should keep country out of war.
Most disturbing for Cheryl: worry for Bobby's safety, watching him. Her life changed; people altered attitudes, assuming she's not who they thought, though she's the same. Reveals who's real, painful when liked people betray. Strangers assume untrue things. Politics unexpectedly permeated her life. Bobby's safety most stressful; now travels with marshals. Wrote book Unscripted about denial of Secret Service protection despite running, only granted briefly after Trump assassination attempt due to nearing election.
Learns to spot threats: guy sweating suspiciously, guard up for "cooks." Weaponized unstable people thinking they're doing good by assassinating, advocating "someone needs to step up."
Bizarre time knowing more behind-the-scenes than ever; issue is who to believe. Rogan podcast valued for uncensored discourse, not advertiser-controlled like friends' shows with notes to cut topics. Internet's wild west (Elon owning Twitter) essential; reality resurfaces despite tricks. Only one truth amid many lies; hard to deny persistent truth. Government truth complex with deep rabbit holes.
Unscripted covers Curb, Bobby before/after politics. Cheryl did audio; sister suggests 1x speed faster. Thank yous and goodbye.
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