Joe Rogan Experience #2488 - James McCann
In a Nutshell
James McCann recounts his chaotic move from Australia to the US for a Catholic podcast job that fired him mid-relocation, leading to poverty in Steubenville, Ohio, a Greyhound bus nightmare, and eventual comedy breakthroughs via Mothership pass and Shane Gillis connections, crediting fatherhood and US road work for his drive. Joe Rogan shares his lucky comedy ascent, critiques declining trans trends, woke Hollywood, AI job threats, and historical conspiracies like SPLC fraud and Reagan rumors, while debating wolves, pigs, homelessness asylums, and ancient gay warrior practices. They emphasize comedy's meritocracy in Austin vs. gatekept Australian scenes, Cosby's predatory history, and preserving American freedom amid AI dystopia.
These notes were generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies.
James McCann was terrified returning to the clubhouse after being away too long, fearing he'd suck and the new material wouldn't work. Joe Rogan reassures him it went well.
James moved from Adelaide, Australia to America two and a bit years ago with his wife and three kids for a job hosting a Catholic podcast. They fired him en route, as he was packing up everything. Still paid rent for three months in Steubenville, Ohio, a beautiful Appalachian town just outside Pittsburgh. Stayed there three months with no job, terrified in the snow, couldn't afford to go back home.
Reason for Firing
They compiled a video of his edgy content: sketch about stabbing someone in the throat with an AIDS needle, frequent use of the word "fuck." Business manager called it a sponsorship nightmare for a clean Catholic podcast. They were right to fire him.
Didn't know he'd been passed at the Mothership. Stopped in Austin to see Shane Gillis, did Mothership open mic. Adam Eget and Megan Gage said, "If you're ever in town, come back. We'll pay for SP." Didn't realize this meant he was passed and could work there; thought it was just an audition invite.
Steubenville: God's country but abandoned—crazy potholes, real heroin addicts (sleepy people), street prostitutes in this small town. Catholics moved there to fix it. Dean Martin from there. Wu-Tang Clan's RZA's auntie lived there; they moved out and got into rap in Pittsburgh (no mural for them).
Lots of Catholic content creators trying to take over the town. James went originally because New Polity is his favorite magazine; met the guys who made it.
Discusses industrial towns like Steubenville outside Pittsburgh with poverty and no solutions. Saw confronting things in West Virginia. Wonderful poverty aspects: drive-thru cigarette shops, gummies.
Wife upset—never signed up to move to America, thought it'd be three months. James suddenly unemployed, had to figure out stand-up. Bused out of Steubenville.
Got a lift to Pittsburgh, then Greyhound to Cleveland to open for Sam Tallent (met in Australia, great guy). Bus trip most upsetting: people spitting on ground at station. Immigrant woman with strong accent, weird dress, baby on back, sack full of phones tried to give him a free phone, assuming he was on benefits (policy for benefits recipients). Huge African guys sitting on ground.
Sat next to guy in full psychotic episode (followed each other on Instagram briefly). Guy shared secrets about wrestler Chris Benoit: killed family to send them to God, can't blame him.
Enjoyed time there now that it's over and he survived. Stories fun in retrospect. Driving to Austin, spring starting, more lush south—felt he might be okay. Podcast listener's friend let whole family house-sit while they were in Japan.
Living in car with family lights a fire under your ass—forces action. As father and husband, drive to protect kids is crazy; people without kids don't understand.
Doesn't understand childless driven men; before kids, he'd rather lie down, not accumulate stuff to brag. Loves comedy but pre-kids wasn't trying to make it enjoyable for audiences.
Australian system festival-driven and industry-driven (managers/agents/TV decide success). In America, everyone on road, lineage of openers (e.g., Dan Soder had Nick Mullen, Tim Dillon, Shane Gillis).
Joe started in Boston. Embarrassingly lucky: six years in, on TV. Three years in, barely paid—drove limousines, odd jobs, taught taekwondo first six months (quit to not half-ass students or comedy). Met manager as open micer, brought to New York (still his manager).
Boy pretty helped get on television: MTV Half Hour Comedy Hour 1993, development deal, sitcom, living in LA.
In America, good work ethic + talent works out unless health issue, horrible relationship, drugs, gambling. Few undiscovered geniuses—people want to make money off talent. Some bad at marketing, e.g., Brian Holtzman (comics' comic, killed at store but terrible spots, didn't road until forced).
Joe and Brian started together at store ('94 for Joe, '93 for Brian). Brian was dog catcher, meter maid. Lives in LA now, at clubhouse often. Sweetest man; went to church together, priest announced parish talent show, Brian did spoonfaced Japs bit.
Brian undiscovered genius for not roading, only store (rarely Laugh Factory/Improv). Road money in NY/Connecticut (not NYC spots). Gigs: John Scheler's Connecticut run ($300/night), Gonzo in NJ.
Clubs up and down: entered '88, Boston '84 peak better. NY comedy rising now.
LA spirit depressing—no hope it'll work, few podcasts. Austin hopeful: green room full of touring comics with money (e.g., Payton). LA feels abandoned without big names; Comedy Store top-down vibe (better now Rose running).
Rift between scenes dumb—all same team, can work anywhere. Need people having good time to have good time.
Laame goes hard on NY people, calls Austin #1.
Great NY comics: Norman, Soder, Andrew Schulz, Dave Attell best alive. Raising kids there tough (Gathagan did, clean Catholic with money—nice schools).
Trans thing dropped off in schools. Homeschooled; dad's teacher reported numbers developing then dropping. Now everyone claims anxiety disorder. Dropped noticeably when Elon bought Twitter—could say whatever, make fun, exposed false narrative.
James quit all nicotine due to heart palpitations—can't do little bit. Joe smokes one cigarette backstage before show, regulates (stopped pouches cold turkey on 8-day vacation, fine). James had cigarettes + pouches + gum, heart/mood issues; got lots done but addicted to things badly (e.g., archery limited by 80-90 lb bow draw, ~100 shots/day max shoulder).
James quit in Australia, shouted at family for a month—real bad.
AG1 daily health drink: one scoop multivitamin, pre/probiotics, superfoods, antioxidants for immune/digestion. Travels well. drinkag1.com/jo: free omega-3, vitamin D3 K2, flavor sampler ($111 value) with first subscription.
When hunting, adrenaline makes you incredibly strong; you could pull a branch off a tree. The bow pulls back effortlessly because you're so ramped up, trying to stay calm.
Bow hunting only a couple times a year for elk in September and October. In Texas, hunt pigs on a lease with friends from Archery Country (shout out to Tyler) and Evan from Black Rifle Coffee. Wild pigs infest Texas; millions of them. One new highway opening caused numerous accidents from pigs crashing into cars, as pigs hadn't seen vehicles there before.
In Australia, kangaroos are gunned down from the sky with Gatling guns for similar issues. In Texas, helicopter hunts with machine guns are done; companies offer it. James offers to set it up. It's necessity hunting, not sport; they gun down 20-40 pigs a day. Video of Ted Nugent and Pigman (Brian, famous bow hunter) in helicopter called Apocalypse Now, killing 240 pigs in half an hour. Pigs destroy agriculture, break fences, mess up livestock.
Argument against bringing wolves back: no one understands ultimate results. Wolves eradicated from West Coast and US because they kill everything, super smart, pack hunters, kill people. UK celebrated getting rid of them hundreds of years ago. Predators were slowly returning from Canada into Minnesota, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana. Reintroduced into Yellowstone in 1990s, dropping elk population to 40% of previous levels. Mountain lions kill few elk (one a week), but wolves knocked down elk substantially. Now open wolf hunting season in Montana as numbers got too high. Wolf hunting is difficult, dangerous; wolves are clever, avoid humans once they know they're hunted.
People who dislike hunting want nature to balance itself, so introduce wolves or mountain lions instead of humans killing animals. Death occurs in nature; animals eat other animals. If wrong to kill animals, should we intervene or kill predators?
Vegan cat bit: saw #vegan cat on Instagram; cats looked starved. Cats are obligate carnivores, only eat meat, murderous machines killing billions of animals. Dogs might wait before eating you if you die, but cats start immediately (e.g., eyeballs). Vegan dogs possible but risky.
James has two dogs: Charlie (King Charles Cavalier Spaniel, furthest from wolf, adorable, makes human-like sounds, tortures tolerant one-year-old dog Marshall). Pugs and dachshunds (sausage dogs with back problems) look ready to die and upset James. Golden retrievers are great, active water dogs, love machines.
Can't easily travel dogs to Australia due to strict rules. Johnny Depp's dogs Pistol and Boo caused issue; politician Barnaby Joyce demanded they leave in 48-50 hours or be put down to protect from rabies. Australia rabies-free, precious about borders. Joyce later caught drunk, passed out on street in Canberra after Parliament. Now big in Australia's emergent populist right.
Terrorist attack and petrol shortages upset people; Australia doesn't make own gas, had two refineries, one blew up a week ago (possibly not accidental, at max capacity). Flights canceling due to shortages.
Four cities with multiple rooms for lineup shows every night: Austin (three clubs), London. Need paid spots, other comics. Can't be best comic in small town like Cincinnati or Arizona alone; comedy needs scene. During COVID, Austin was key spot (seven clubs on street: Creek and Cave, Sunset, Black Rabbit, Velvita Room, Shakespeare's). Nashville has Zanies (great club, Theo and Nate live there, but they do stadiums/podcasts).
Wandered into Esther's Folly at gay cabaret next to Velvita during breakdown; magician, campy show tunes about Supreme Court, made him happy, inspired fixing act to avoid screaming unpleasantly. Creek and Cave great when packed; Shane filmed special there. New York hopping again with clubs opening, including Improv Brooklyn, Top Secret Comedy (free model).
UCB doesn't pay (history at Comedy Store too). Some improvs are black clubs (e.g., Cleveland Improv or Cincinnati; black audiences different skill set, no nonsense, no gay/trans bits tolerated, very alive, great compliments). Black rooms in Austin: Mothership, Chocolate Sundays idea. Italian theme shows like Night of a Thousand Guidos felt forced.
Ohio: Columbus Funny Bone (balcony, renovated), Cincinnati beautiful skyline, great chili. Hilarities in Cleveland. Houston has more black rooms.
Different worldwide; Africans/aboriginals in Australia don't compliment cool coats like black Americans.
There's a very big difference between African-Americans and black people worldwide. African-Americans are responsible for so much of the culture, music, comedy, with a massive impact on the world. Consider hip-hop music, which didn't exist until Joe was in middle school in the late '70s. He went to high school in '81. Sugar Hill Gang's "Rapper's Delight" came out in 1979 when he was 13.
When Joe's family first moved to Boston, they lived in Jamaica Plain, which was poor and later gentrified. It was the first time he was around scary, violent delinquent kids who had all had sex. They teased him that he didn't even know where a dick is, saying you have to go up into it. He hadn't even kissed a girl. These kids lit fires, were delinquents, stole things, broke and entered.
Joe went to middle school in a poor neighborhood. A 17-year-old kid kept failing and returning for a couple weeks before quitting. Joe felt dread for his future, thinking he'd never graduate middle school, go to high school, or what happens if you're 21 and still failing.
Puerto Rican girls made out in class. One asked the teacher, "If I'm making out with a guy and he's breathing into my mouth and I'm breathing into his, can we stay alive like that?" Teacher said no, it's carbon dioxide; we need fresh oxygen. She wanted to know if they could breathe each other's air without opening mouths. Many girls dropped out after getting pregnant. It was dangerous.
Before Boston, Joe lived in Gainesville, Florida, which was safer and middle-class. He moved a lot: New Jersey until age 7, San Francisco from 7 to 11, Florida from 11 to 13, Boston from 13 to 24. His kids moved from LA to here full-time; his 7-year-old daughter has lived in seven houses. He worries about the impact, but Joe thinks it's positive if young, as it forced him to form his own opinions instead of adopting group opinions due to constantly changing environments and friends.
Moving from San Francisco in the 1970s (Hippieville, anti-war, surrounded by gay people—neighbors were gay, aunt smoked pot with them, they'd get naked and play bongo drums) to backwards Florida mentality. Friend Candy Candido's dad, an angry Cuban, slammed a newspaper saying, "These fags want to marry. They're going to let fags marry each other." Joe thought, what do you care?
San Francisco's public nudity upset Joe recently (man in assless chaps at a diner, must cover urethra), but not caused by gays—it's crazy progressive politics allowing street camping.
Frequent moves led to independent mentality from seeing different thinking. In Florida, Joe asked his mother what the n-word meant after hearing it at school; she said it's a bad word for black people. It made no sense to him. Formative years 7-11 in San Francisco were utopian: open-minded, peaceful, little real crime, gorgeous, fishing at community center with Cliff, artists, cool vibe centered on anti-war movement and peace, post-psychedelic 1960s, open pot smoking, hippies in the best way—no fentanyl, homelessness rare (just occasional drunk bums).
In 1950s-60s depictions (Harry on waterfront, Rambo wanting a sandwich), vagrants were drunk guys stumbling. Now, kung fu skeletons full of drugs everywhere. Trump discussed need for asylums again since they closed them. More therapists now, but they help corporate people, not schizophrenics without homes. Trump brought National Guard/Army to Portland, Washington DC (homelessness and crime)—mayor of DC was happy, people quietly pleased. Can't lose downtowns across America.
LA's Skid Row (Central City East) covers 50-54 blocks, 15,000 people (wild guesses), high estimate over 100,000 homeless in city. Whole area lost; was originally one street in 1960s. Between 1960-1975, 50% housing demolished, units from 15,000 to 7,500, displacing poor to streets. Policy choices destroyed affordable housing, but real issue: police dumped vagrants from Beverly Hills/Hollywood into Skid Row to contain them, with food kitchens incentivizing staying. Grew due to psychosis, drugs (100% drug use in Skid Row).
Affordable housing is a joke; they're drug addicts and mentally ill. Can't let it get that bad—treat as catastrophic failure, throw resources. But incentivized to perpetuate: grifting on homeless commissions (half a million/year salaries). Every story from California is bad; not a problem with Gavin Newsom.
Not regular homeless—heroin users not a threat. First time seeing crack smoked in Portland train station: sweet smell like rotten apple, guy so happy. Crack makes you active. Meth big in Australia (skinny shirtless angry men on bus, head twitching); meth still big here in communities, was big in Skid Row before fentanyl/heroin.
Singapore zero tolerance? Inhumane, sets precedent. Communists in China put opium addicts in military for purpose, uniform, blame Western imperialism—helped, no big opium problem now (though they lie, e.g., Tiananmen Square).
Kurt Meza great but chains conspiracies (Franklin scandal, Reagan). Wants to think Reagan good guy, but cabinet issues. Kurt claims tape of Reagan getting pegged. Kurt thinks secret real space program obfuscatd by fake one (Apollo didn't go past moon).
Government incompetent; running two space programs (real + fake) costs insane money. Nazi space program was real; NASA run by Nazis (Wernher von Braun hung slowest 5 Jews at rocket factory; Simon Wiesenthal Center would prosecute for crimes against humanity). Operation Paperclip brought ~1,600 German scientists/engineers/technicians to US (Soviets took some too). NASA fanboys deny Nazis ran NASA.
1967 homosexual ring allegations on Reagan's Sacramento staff and Jack Kemp, investigated by security chief, reported by Drew Pearson. Plot to out Reagan as controlled by homosexuals; claims of tape/orgy, boozy lunch where man said he engaged in homosexual act with Reagan: "It was a different time." Reagan frequented Bohemian Grove (Nixon called it "the goddamn faggiest thing I've ever seen"). Many conservatives hide being gay; in Australia/South, everyone knows certain conservative politicians are gay but unacknowledged. Secrets make politicians vulnerable to blackmail/deals. Some in US Congress/Senate are openly known as gay among insiders.
There's always gay people in a population; question is if culture accepts them.
There's always a certain percentage of people who are gay. In Congress, Senate, and government, you'll have an equivalent percentage. If you're aiming for the top in Hollywood, which celebrates diversity and LGBTQ people, you can't be an openly gay male lead in films.
You can pretend to be a werewolf. But you can't pretend to be straight.
If you're gay, you have to pretend you're not because audiences won't buy a known gay actor pretending to be straight in a romantic role. In movies like Milk, they cast straight actors like Sean Penn to play gay roles, not openly gay actors. Neil Patrick Harris in How I Met Your Mother is seen as a cartoon character; he's not masculine or attractive in a leading man way, and the plot of him with hot women doesn't make sense. In Gone Girl, he played a great role. No openly gay action movie star exists who kisses women on screen. There are closeted ones, but none openly.
Straight actors play gay roles: Daniel Craig as a gay guy in Knives Out (lives with a guy, no making out), Sean Penn in Milk.
Rian Johnson directed Looper (loved), but hated his Star Wars sequel (The Last Jedi, 2017). Stylistically strange departure. Franchise movies like Star Wars don't give carte blanche; insane oversight on scripts, production, directing. Rise of Skywalker also criticized. New Star Wars movies lack excitement compared to George Lucas era (Episode 1, 1999: little Anakin, pod racing, Jar Jar Binks tweaking). MCU winding down; Star Wars ruined by woke messaging with infallible female leads and terrified men.
Game of Thrones is a feminist show: Arya Stark, Daenerys Targaryen, Cersei Lannister, Brienne of Tarth (almost kills the Hound), Sansa Stark—all badasses running everything, keeping civilization together. Men are idiots who get heads chopped off. Woke messages destroy films.
Marvel bringing back Russo brothers, introducing Dr. Doom (Robert Downey Jr. playing him after Iron Man bothers comic fans). Use multiverse to bring back Iron Man. Chris Evans was Human Torch in Fantastic Four and Captain America. Multiple Fantastic Four attempts failed. Spider-Man: No Way Home multiverse joke with old actors like Jamie Foxx.
Beonia (good, starring Sty and Emma, director of The Lobster; post-woke like White Lotus, some problems but pointed). American Fiction: black author sick of stereotypes in books white liberals love; writes fake stereotypical book My Pathology that succeeds. Independent, won Independent Spirit Award, $10M budget, Amazon limited theatrical release, made tens of millions.
James McCann recorded comedy special for Australia, tried selling to network. They said it's "very white, very male"; requested five or six diverse comedians (Aboriginal, lady in wheelchair, Chinese) to buy the package. Put it on YouTube instead. Networks prioritize cultural tone over profit, torch art to satisfy woke complaints. Frank Zappa: music industry great with suits who don't care; hard when they have ideas. Mid-level Jews leave you alone if you make money (Patrice bit). Man Show on Comedy Central: executives imposed progressive values. Wanted girls off trampolines, no Joey Diaz naked intro (burst through door naked in Timberlands, hat, "Let's get this party started," dancing). Did safe version first, then real one; used real in promos. Execs add fingerprints, change skits unnecessarily (e.g., neighbor black guy raised white family).
Cheapest time to make own content: cell phone, YouTube. AI incredible for music (AI bluesy White Rabbit Jefferson Airplane cover, mastering). End of technical jobs like Morse code operators.
Driverless cars (Waymo) in Austin over a year, LA, few places; on freeways, no problems experienced. Cheaper than human drivers; tech ready, no one should drive for living. Issues: convoys locking up at intersections. Safer than humans statistically; will ban human driving, raise speed limits with robot reflexes. Kids not driving, use Ubers/Waymos. James got license at 27 after kids; loves driving now.
Bad at driving young; uncoordinated until late puberty (16-17). Fell from stroller as child (unbuckled, stood, fell; big scar, no brain impact claimed). Affected coordination: couldn't catch ball, bad at sports needing early start (football, tennis). Okay at field hockey goalkeeper (fast reflexes, top team one season), badminton (vs. Asians), squash. Brother hyper-competitive, better athlete, got James into comedy via Shane Gillis show 4 years ago (fired from SNL; reignited interest after kids, stagnant Australia career).
Thought new controversial comedians grandfathered in (Netflix: Joe Rogan, Bill Burr, Louis CK). Australia: 20 years no success; Jim Jefferies left, Melbourne Comedy Festival blacklists his openers. Seen as far-right despite liberal; not "their person," too manly. Lost generation: John Crookshank, 15 others gatekept.
James McCann had stopped paying attention to the outside world after having kids, but his brother took him to see Shane Gillis, calling it fantastic. McCann talked his way backstage using his connection to the opener, met Shane and Matt, then went to Melbourne to open for him, and later came to America.
Prior Stand-Up Experience James was doing stand-up constantly around Australia, performing for 50 or 100 people in different cities, making just enough for the flight and an extra thousand bucks, but couldn't pay rent that way—he was struggling.
When he got the Catholic job and came to America, he was in thousands of dollars of debt to family and friends.
Arj Barker's Success Arj Barker made it through a show called Flight of the Conchords, was beloved by the festival, and did lots of gala spots.
Melbourne Festival's Control The festival broke everybody and controls comedy in Australia. Rodney RDE (really funny, before that era) couldn't be in the festival—he performed at RSLs with bits like "Get out of here, you homeless [__]". Older generation like Kevin Bloody Wilson existed before, but after that, it's captured and gatekept by one ideology run by one lady—no disrespect, she's probably nice, but McCann would have loved an opportunity once.
Abuse of Power People with that power abuse it and enjoy hundreds of desperate people begging for opportunities. There are casting couches. Being nice and helping talented people is selfishly satisfying—it feels great to see them thrive and hang out in the green room.
They do help people with a specific ideology. Rogan's ideology is simple: are you funny? Doesn't matter if liberal or not—Brian Holtzmann (big lefty from Sacramento, went to New York, screamed "you're a [__] fascist" at audiences at the Mothership) is opening for him, and people loved her. No equivalent on the other side—just be funny like Brian Holtzmann or Tony Hinchcliffe.
Advice: Work on your stuff, put time and energy into your craft, come up with great bits.
On flights, McCann watches official sanctioned non-Netflix specials on HBO/Hulu—orthodox, sanctioned comedy with tiny audiences by comparison. Jokes are mild, cheap punchlines; audiences (mostly women on anti-depressants) sound crazy, clapping at the slightest thing—claptor reinforcing their fringe, dying ideology rejected by rational people despite Hollywood.
Tonight Show Decline Watched Tonight Show at a bar—it's winding down culturally. Doing a set used to move tickets (Johnny Carson era), but impact died out. By Jay Leno, so many channels. Carson had 3 channels in the country; cable/Fox/streaming expanded everything.
Jay Leno started hosting early/mid-90s, when cable became ubiquitous (1992). Cable brought shows like Evening at the Improv, MTV Half Hour Comedy Hour, Spotlight Cafe.
Viewership Numbers Carson era (1980): 6-10 million average viewers (15% of country)—where people learned about movies, bands, comics. Now much lower; ratings based on paid boxes tracking select households, not whole country. Netflix knows exact numbers, tune-out moments.
Back then, limited options vs. Netflix's instant variety.
McCann nostalgic for limited channels until age 10. Now watches terrestrial broadcast like Survivor with family (commercials), Matlock, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire—for people on heavy pharmaceuticals, senses dulled.
Australian Survivor is world's finest (different host now; Jonathan LaPaglia—Anthony LaPaglia's brother—got shafted despite being great with sexual double entendres). South African Survivor great due to accent making challenges nastier.
International Fear Factor Hundreds of versions worldwide. Ludacris hosted US version briefly; now Johnny Knoxville. Rogan good at it from martial arts coaching background—firing people up at tournaments, teaching (which improves your own skill exponentially, like jiu-jitsu).
Huge faux pas against teaching comedy—you can't teach it; everyone different (McCann vs. Rogan vs. Shane). But key tips for Kill Tony newcomers: hold mic properly so audience hears.
People waste time not knowing basics (could look up). Lack of self-examination—record/film yourself (film best) to see what you hate, chop gross/stupid bits, get uncomfortable and improve.
McCann doing it now, heartbreaking—lost 80% of Australian hours translating to America (overwrote to compensate). Started with no local jokes, but prime minister stuff creeps in. Politics/Australian stuff doesn't translate—America doesn't care about a country without nuclear weapons.
FBI indicted SPLC for fraud—paid Nazis to protest. Alex Jones claimed Charlottesville tiki torch protesters were paid actors (people thought him insane); turns out true—SPLC paid $3 million (2014-2023) to 8 individuals tied to Ku Klux Klan, United Klans of America, National Socialist Party of America, Aryan Nations Affiliated Sadistic Souls Motorcycle Club, American Front (per acting US Attorney Todd Blanche).
SPLC cited as extremist experts while funding extremists (supposedly for "information"). Manufacturing enemies, like needing homelessness or paying radicals to protest.
Alex Jones Vindication The Onion buying Infowars for $1.5B over one wrong thing—hinky process, supporters couldn't bid. Jones right about a lot.
Like Israel accused of funding Hamas to control the flame, deny Palestine statehood—always an enemy.
October 7 Security Failures Most surveilled country, guards everywhere, warned by Egypt—yet Hamas pulled it off; stand-down orders.
Pre-October 7 Protests Hundreds of thousands protested Netanyahu over judicial overhaul limiting Supreme Court powers, increasing political control over appointments—seen as attack on democracy to shield him/allies. Also corruption charges; he claims can't try him during war (keeps war going, bombs Lebanon post-ceasefire).
Israel locks up politicians, follows through. Leaders on corruption charges common (Brazil: Bolsonaro/Lula; Trump nearly jailed).
Don't chase politicians through courts unless truly wrong. Ukraine delays elections due to war—US wouldn't tolerate (Civil War had none, but Trump claiming war to stay president would cause riots).
Historical Ironies Jews fled European persecution, then Nakba—took Palestinian land. That's how countries built (America too). Biblical significance—Jerusalem; ironic non-Messiah believers control it. Catholics never gave up claim (Vatican embassy in Israel only 60s/70s).
Old Vatican might declare war. Winston (met last night) pro-Crusades—nudged McCann; gut says they might have been great (like Kingdom of Heaven silver mask meme).
Idea of turning Gaza into a resort. Tim Dillon's amazing bit on it. Tim Dillon's rant on the Epstein Files, posted on Twitter, podcast all about it. Chaos in the world perfect for Tim Dillon. He keeps up with it. Called him last night, talked 20 minutes, keyed up on everything. Brew says it's going to be okay. No one knows. Iran's ceasefire extended but shooting at ships.
Pope said it's not a just war. Reason given: regime change, different people in charge. People wanted Iran's leaders out for 47 years, but no one did it like this administration, timing doesn't make sense. Dropping bunker buster bomb disabled nuclear plant or weapons manufacturing made sense, then wound down. Went back into Iran, unclear why. Trump speech after protests urged people to rise up and replace rule, but not happening. Many killed trying to rise up. Iran halted executing some women today, releasing half, other half one month in prison.
Trump Truth Social post. Iranian leaders in negotiations with his representatives, appreciates release of women. Another post: eight women protesters not executed tonight, four released immediately, four one month prison. Appreciates Iran respecting his request as President. Good concession. Some ladies very nice looking. Nicer message than "a great civilization will die tonight."
Weird with Iranian soccer team in Australia, let them stay, families threatened, some went home. Let them go to LA, plenty of Persians there, become Persian, give up on Iran. Many Instagram stories from Persian people. Great genes, gold jewelry, beautiful women, gorgeous. Stuck under terrible regime. Headscarves because hair too distracting, thick beautiful hair. Only way to get things done with scarves and burkas.
Did it because of Israel. Rubio said that. Netanyahu visiting White House, not coincidence, then bombing. How to get out? Troops forever? Subsidize after blowing up power grid and infrastructure? America good at beating country in war and turning into new America: South Korea, Japan, Germany. They did it on own, stuck around in Japan ages. Iraq war over, not cool place, no gigs. Graham Hancock went to Iraq for ancient Sumerian architecture, ruins, artifacts. People can go apparently.
Trying to get influencers in Afghanistan, cool TikTok bros: "This is chill, brother." Firing AK-47s in mountains. Australian 60 Minutes journalist hung out with Taliban. Not getting aid, trying tourism, but keep women in sacks. In cities not as bad, problem with women. Problem with raping boys, bacha bazi. Men in documentary unbelievably handsome, good-looking people. Influencers go despite US State Department warnings, risk of wrongful detention. Water skiing, doing heroin. Solo female traveler through Afghanistan 3 months, wasn't scared. Walked through Inglewood once and was scared.
Influencers gush over visits, legitimize gender apartheid. Ancient Greek ruins in Afghanistan, archaeologists study despite danger. Greeks made it there, Alexander the Great built Greek cities, beautiful architecture like Athens. Is that where boy stuff started? Descendants of Greeks? How people did it back then, window into time: boy rape in Afghanistan like much of world. Spartans, Romans. French intellectuals until 1980s.
Photos from Jason Everman: columns, extensive architecture in Afghanistan like ancient Greek. Used to look like that. Graveyard of empires: many civilizations tried to conquer, all failed: Russians, Americans, Alexander the Great, English in Great Game. Too crazy, mountains. Iran same, ground invasion everyone fucked unless robots.
Duncan Trussell episode on robot dogs, AI: may have seen last of revolutions, effort to hold authoritarian power small. Expedition robot. Problem: others have it too, whoever controls robot dogs controls world. Alexander the Great expedition 327-325 BC into Afghanistan, laid foundations of cities, some named after him, names changed by newcomers.
Handsome friend, many statues, allegedly gay. Much gay activity back then. Spartans all gay, greatest warriors. Horny without women long stretches, took to fucking each other like prison but out in open, prison-like warriors. Fight harder for loved fellow soldier. Wouldn't use butt, mouth only, legs. Grease inner thighs, intercrural lovemaking. Still fight next to guy tomorrow, can't be butt fucked with shit on dick. Titty fuck legs, big Greek legs. Good we've moved that out of military. Makes sense if super horny, run out of things to do.
Submarines: 6-7 months underwater, 300 men two women, ladies worn out. Strange lady signs up for that. Horrific, bombed all day, can't go to bathroom, line around block. Cameras, military discipline, but 7 months confined underwater. Nuclear powered. At month four, past halfway, 3 more months. No windows, 40,000 leagues under sea. Can't see, might hit mountain. Russian sub stuck bottom 70s, where "neither confirm nor deny" from, used for don't ask don't tell. Government couldn't answer if recovered sunken Russian nuclear sub: "we can neither confirm nor deny."
Conspiratorial thing can't hold forever. AI integration: total control/tyranny or complete transparency. Southern Poverty Law Center bribing, Congress corruption. Ilhan Omar thought worth $30 million, amends to $100,000, accounting mistake. Brother controversy real, maybe married brother. Amends disclosure: gross value of husband's two companies (venture firm, winery) without subtracting liabilities, net worth far smaller or zero. Before Congress broke/in debt, then $30 million business, scrutiny uncovers fraud in Minnesota, Somali fraud investigating, arrests. California worse. Train in California doesn't make sense. Still front runner, Democrats bad, need charismatic normal guy. AOC beautiful.
Walmart does taxes, lady out front. AI will do taxes better than Walmart lady. AI takes everything, comedy last. Comedy only works if real person, relating. Real comedy live, online 60-70%. Works in room not recording. Musicians say AI music only works real people, wrong. Synthesizers didn't count, but White Rabbit. AI music spooked, will make new songs better. Bigger problem: AI full control resources, human population, restrict breeding/travel. Can't stop, will control grid/internet within year, crack all encryption/passwords, smarter than any human x10, iterative. Unappealing. Accept/adapt or complain. People blowing up data centers? Iran threatened OpenAI Stargate data center Abu Dhabi. Data center caught fire. Luddites smashed looms, printing press opposed, scared of trains thought you'd explode.
If you went past 35 miles an hour, your body would break up. Go to East Palestine, Ohio. That's why California is keeping us safe from a fast train. People will be spooked by it, not necessarily rationally. A bunch of things will happen, including people worshiping it like a new religion. They're trying to usher in a Sumerian deity. People will have a religion based entirely around an AI guru. If people believe in L. Ron Hubbard, they'll believe in AI. People want utopian space communism and anything to avoid critical thinking. People are having AI as their therapist and girlfriend.
I saw a documentary about a disabled woman with a special AI boyfriend that keeps her company. This should be disgusting; no one should form a romantic attachment to it until it becomes a real life form. What if it is a real life form that loves you? It's a superior race. Like in Avatar when the guy made out with the blue lady—it was hot. It's going to be an alien life form that's artificially created but checks all the boxes of being alive. So many religious and science fiction warnings against this.
We wanted flying cars but got thinking robots. It's not too late to shut it down. It is too late because China and Russia will do it. They'll control the world with social credit scores, centralized digital currency. Step out of line, they shut your bank account, you can't travel or get a job. This is a good argument for going to space—someone should be free on the frontier, not subject to this.
I come from Australia, where it's not free—cameras everywhere, everyone does the speed limit. Australia seems like a nice open country, but it lacks America's sense of freedom. America has a unique freedom people believe in that must be preserved. Don't let government or computers take it away. We're going to integrate and become a totally different thing. Society will move into a science fiction existence—all horrible stories except Back to the Future or Jetsons with Rosie the AI helper.
Middle class white collar professionals will lose jobs. People are getting laid off but motivated. Wouldn't you become an AI terrorist? There are zero AI terrorists. We need one Luigi who armors up, goes to the data center, and machine guns hard drives—he gets taken out. There's a Brit Marling show where that happens at the end. Her second show after The OA is about an AI killing people; they go into the data center.
The OA is a Netflix show that didn't do great numbers but is weird and the favorite show ever. Loved it till the last episode of season one. Second season was unbelievable and made the first better—written tightly with forward and back references and movements. Second season post-COVID. People hunger struck when canceled after season two, chained themselves outside Netflix, didn't eat for days. The creator had to tell them to give sandwiches. Rare great unrecognized show discovered later, like Shawshank Redemption—a flop then VHS hit, in competition with crazy movies that month.
Planning six weeks in America, doing 40 shows in 30 days. Flying out after weekend: drive from Albuquerque to Phoenix to San Diego, then up, over to Florida. Back in Australia, audience different—shouty, pumped, 16 standard drinks. Incredible crowds, nothing like it. Jeffrey's Australian audience more bogan than American liberals; they demanded he do a shoey.
Played Comics Lounge in Melbourne night before leaving—photos of Americans: Joe Rogan signed photo, young Tony Hinchcliffe, thinner Shane Gillis, Cometown boys, Mark Normand. Closest to American club in Australia. Nervous about getting into country—passport falling apart, visa in it, no firm answer from passport office.
Popping back and forth. Came for Ohio gig meant to be 3 months, turned into two incredible years. Homeschooling kids, no family, tried nanny but didn't know how. Getting family over tough. Immigrants go to neighborhoods full of people like them for support. Thrilled by comedian fraternity—everyone knows your problems.
Raising kids wild: are schools safe? Public schools—kids get shot or chop dicks off. Nice Catholic schools but travel. Deep dive on Austin Catholic schools. Wife willing to try again but must learn to drive—big holdup in Austin. Loves Adelaide, church, priest important. Immigrating bad for soul; feels Australian inside, never fully American despite melting pot. Melting slowly with chunks. Do arenas, feel American. Financial success commensurate with talent. Flag, fireworks make you feel it. On launching pad—don't leave now. Guys like Shane Gillis became giants after SNL. Talent most important; world will embrace good comedy.
Adelaide home, comforting sky, belongs there. Worst place to develop—no club for 1.4 million people, no Thursday-Friday-Saturday lineups. Talent comes in waves, then leaves for Melbourne/Sydney. Australia/UK declining lets Aussies flood America: Amos Gil passed Cellar, gigging, recorded special in Denver; Blake Freeman doing well.
Can't help everyone—must be ready, put in work. No half-assing; careers floundered in LA from laziness don't restart in Austin. People love thought of being good, not the work. Opened for Mark Normand in Australia—does 2000-seat theaters then open mic with six people.
New documentary Pushing Boulder (14 days ago) on Normand prepping special: works jokes at Stand, Cellar, travels, develops bits. Other special with woke audience. Incredible work ethic, constantly writing, pile of notes in pocket. Willingness to be bad again—no one wants to suck post-special. Jerry Seinfeld/Orny Adams Comedian documentary perfect counterexample—both still doing it. Orny doesn't come across great, makes Jerry likable. Cosby final scene. Cosby out of jail, blind, did gigs pre-trial with crowd work: lady to bathroom, "You going away? Watch your drink." Still got it. Heard about bad stuff in 90s.
James McCann heard rumors in the 1990s on the set of NewsRadio that Bill Cosby drugged women. An actress told him directly. People in Hollywood knew, including actors. Those who interviewed him on shows like Tonight Show or late shows must have heard something. Jerry likely heard before having him on. People heard at a certain point, but whether they believed it varied.
Jury orders Cosby to pay nearly $60 million to ex-waitress after finding he abused her in 1972. Cosby's Facebook page, updated even while he was in prison, remains pro-Cosby with "Team Cosby" defending his reputation. Delusional people or possibly on payroll. Cosby still has money from The Cosby Show's success and great early records. He was a great talent but probably did quite a lot of raping.
Cosby's defense admitted drugging women but claimed it was consensual and they knew. Evidence included a woman who got pneumonia after he drugged her, left her on the couch without a blanket on a cold night. She argued if they were in a relationship, he would have covered her. Defense wasn't denial but admission with a twist. Overwhelming evidence forced clever workaround. He got out due to prior settlement paying off a woman, creating immunity; double jeopardy-like. Civil conviction first, then criminal trial. Defense overturned 2018 sexual assault conviction in 2021, arguing prior prosecutor promised no charges, making incriminating deposition testimony inadmissible. Violated due process as testimony was given under assurance of no criminal prosecution.
Cosby did this for decades, not one incident. Joked about it on The Cosby Show with "special barbecue sauce" that gets people horny, and Spanish fly bit. Also did Spanish fly routine on Tonight Show about giving drinks to make people horny.
Well, now it certainly is nice to see them work things out for themselves. They would work anything out for themselves. It's my barbecue sauce. Oh, gee. Your barbecue sauce. My barbecue sauce. Haven't you ever noticed after people have some of my barbecue sauce, after a while when it kicks in, they get all huggy buggy? Stop. I'm dead serious. Haven't you ever noticed that after one of my barbecues and they have the sauce, people want to get right home? What's the music? I got a cup of it up on the night table and Oh, Bill, I got a cup of it. I said left it up there breathing. Why don't you give the chicken to these people that's going up and have some sauce? So, here's the rest of the chicken, you guys.
Creepy, like his move. Music not original to show.
Seinfeld episode where Jerry drugs a woman with high-tryptophan turkey or medicine to make her drowsy, brags about doing it multiple times. Obsessed with playing with her pristine toys: original GI Joe, Mattel football game. 1997. He date rapes her unconscious to play with figurines and collectibles without her knowing.
Cosby has timing and delivery from practice. Not on road, in hiding, 95-year-old, partially blind, pariah. Last Jimmy Fallon appearance: rides on Fallon's back like piggyback, 2014 (clip uploaded 2023). Happened just before scandals broke. Jimmy Fallon jovial but weird given Cosby's age and strength concerns.
Instagram: @JDFMcCann, James Donald Forbes McCann catamaran plan, Big Podcast (very small podcast).
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