What A Weekday: Hobby Horsing Around feat. Adam Rippon
Digest
Adam Ripon, a guest host for Love It Or Leave It, dives into the week's news, starting with Donald Trump's surprising foray into TikTok. Ripon highlights the hypocrisy of Trump joining the app after attempting to ban it during his presidency, suggesting it's a cunning move to distract from his felony conviction. The discussion then shifts to Trump's recent press conference, where he attempted to rally support for his case and called on the Supreme Court to intervene. Ripon criticizes Trump's rhetoric and the GOP's attempts to portray Biden as weak on the border. The episode also covers the ongoing investigation into the nation's COVID response, featuring a heated exchange between former health advisor Anthony Fauci and members of the GOP panel. Ripon highlights the absurdity of the accusations against Fauci and the lack of seriousness in the GOP's questioning. The episode then moves on to Simone Biles's impressive win at the US Gymnastics Championships, where she secured her ninth national title. Ripon celebrates Biles's achievements and highlights her resilience in the face of adversity. Finally, the episode delves into the controversy surrounding hobby horsing, a sport where participants use toy horse heads to mimic dressage and jumping. Ripon humorously dismisses the idea of hobby horsing as a legitimate sport, highlighting the absurdity of the debate.
Outlines
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Intro & Guest Host
This Chapter introduces the episode and welcomes Adam Ripon as the guest host. Ripon shares a personal anecdote about his experience with laser hair removal, setting a lighthearted tone for the discussion.
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Trump's TikTok Debut
This Chapter focuses on Donald Trump's recent decision to join TikTok, highlighting the hypocrisy of his actions considering his previous attempts to ban the app. Ripon suggests that Trump's move is a strategic attempt to distract from his felony conviction and gain attention.
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Trump's Conviction & Political Reactions
This Chapter delves into the aftermath of Trump's conviction on all 34 counts in his Manhattan hush money trial. Ripon discusses Trump's subsequent press conference, where he attempted to rally support and called on the Supreme Court to intervene. The chapter also explores the reactions of other political figures, including House Speaker Mike Johnson and former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who both expressed support for Trump.
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Biden's Border Policy & GOP Tactics
This Chapter examines President Biden's recent decision to sign a restrictive border policy, allowing for the temporary closure of the US-Mexico border and suspension of asylum seeker protections. Ripon criticizes the policy, highlighting its similarity to a measure passed by Trump in 2018 and questioning the rationale behind following in Trump's footsteps. The chapter also discusses the GOP's attempts to portray Biden as weak on the border and their refusal to pass a bipartisan border bill.
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Fauci Testifies on COVID Response
This Chapter focuses on the GOP's investigation into the nation's COVID response, featuring the testimony of former health advisor Anthony Fauci. Ripon criticizes the GOP's accusations against Fauci, highlighting their lack of seriousness and the absurdity of their claims. The chapter also discusses the questioning of Fauci by GOP Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis, who posed a question that revealed a lack of research and fact-checking.
Keywords
Donald Trump
Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021. He was born and raised in the New York City borough of Queens and received an economics degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Trump took charge of his family's real-estate business in 1971, renamed it The Trump Organization, and expanded its operations from Queens and Brooklyn into Manhattan. The company built or renovated skyscrapers, hotels, casinos, and golf courses. Trump later started various side ventures, mostly by licensing his name. Trump and his businesses have been involved in more than 4,000 state and federal legal actions, including six bankruptcies. Trump entered the 2016 presidential race as a Republican and defeated 16 other candidates in the primaries. His political positions have been described as populist, protectionist, isolationist, and nationalist. He won the general election against Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, despite losing the popular vote. Trump's presidency was marked by controversy, including his policies on immigration, trade, and foreign policy. He was impeached by the House of Representatives in 2019 for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, but was acquitted by the Senate. He was impeached again in 2021 for inciting the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, but was again acquitted by the Senate. Trump's presidency was also marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, which he initially downplayed. He was criticized for his handling of the pandemic, which led to a significant number of deaths in the United States. Trump lost the 2020 presidential election to Democratic nominee Joe Biden. He has continued to make false claims about the election being stolen from him, and has hinted at a possible run for president in 2024.
TikTok
TikTok is a social media platform owned by Chinese company ByteDance. It is known for its short-form videos, often featuring music, dance, comedy, and lip-syncing. TikTok has become incredibly popular worldwide, especially among younger generations. The app allows users to create and share videos, follow other users, and interact with content through likes, comments, and shares. TikTok has faced criticism over concerns about data privacy and censorship, as well as its potential for spreading misinformation. Despite these challenges, TikTok remains one of the most popular social media platforms globally.
Simone Biles
Simone Arianne Biles (born March 14, 1997) is an American artistic gymnast. She is widely considered to be the greatest gymnast of all time, having won 32 Olympic and World Championship medals, including 25 gold medals. Biles is known for her exceptional skills, particularly her high-difficulty routines and her signature move, the Biles II, a double-double dismount on the balance beam. She has also been praised for her advocacy for mental health awareness and her outspokenness on issues of race and gender equality. Biles's career has been marked by both triumphs and challenges, including her decision to withdraw from several events at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics due to mental health concerns. Despite these setbacks, Biles has continued to inspire and motivate people around the world with her talent, courage, and determination.
Hobby Horsing
Hobby horsing is a recreational activity and competitive sport where participants use a toy horse head attached to a stick to mimic dressage and jumping movements. It originated in Finland in the early 2000s and has since gained popularity worldwide, particularly among young people. Hobby horsing involves a combination of physical skill, creativity, and artistry. Participants create elaborate costumes and choreograph routines, often incorporating music and storytelling elements. The sport has its own set of rules and competitions, with judges evaluating riders on their technique, artistry, and overall performance. Hobby horsing has been praised for its inclusivity, as it allows people of all ages and abilities to participate. It also promotes physical activity, creativity, and self-expression.
Q&A
What was Donald Trump's motivation for joining TikTok?
Adam Ripon suggests that Trump's decision to join TikTok was a strategic move to distract from his felony conviction and gain attention. He believes it's a cunning way to shift the focus away from the legal proceedings and back onto Trump's persona.
How did the GOP react to Trump's conviction?
The GOP, particularly figures like House Speaker Mike Johnson and former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, expressed strong support for Trump and called for the Supreme Court to intervene in the case. They attempted to portray the conviction as a politically motivated attack on Trump.
What was the main point of the GOP's investigation into the nation's COVID response?
The GOP's investigation into the nation's COVID response was largely focused on attacking former health advisor Anthony Fauci. They made accusations of a cover-up and called for his prosecution, despite lacking evidence to support their claims. Ripon highlights the absurdity of these accusations and the lack of seriousness in the GOP's questioning.
What are some of Simone Biles's most notable achievements?
Simone Biles is widely considered the greatest gymnast of all time, having won 32 Olympic and World Championship medals, including 25 gold medals. She is known for her exceptional skills, particularly her high-difficulty routines and her signature move, the Biles II. Biles has also been praised for her advocacy for mental health awareness and her outspokenness on issues of race and gender equality.
What is hobby horsing and why is it considered controversial?
Hobby horsing is a recreational activity and competitive sport where participants use a toy horse head attached to a stick to mimic dressage and jumping movements. It has gained popularity worldwide, but has also sparked controversy, with some questioning whether it can be considered a legitimate sport. The debate centers around the use of a toy horse instead of a real one and the perceived lack of physical exertion involved.
Show Notes
Adam Rippon skates by on his good looks and incredible comedic timing for this week’s What A Weekday! This week, Donald Trump appears on America’s For You Page. Trump’s conviction reveal leads to conservative squeals. Simone Biles gives us all a reason to keep living, and the extremely online athletes of TikTok demand we all quit horsing around.
For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.
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