Topic: George Michael

The media continues to scrutinize Katie Zachariah's past social media posts regarding "pedo-cannibals" and Hillary Clinton. The hosts compare her performance to past spokespeople like Marie Harf and Jen Psaki. The segment transitions into a critique of a George Michael tribute at the MTV Awards, which Adam Curry describes as disappointing due to its focus on trans activism rather than the artist's music.

Adam recounts a recent Uber ride in Oakland where the driver shared photos of himself having drinks with Frank Sinatra at the Stars restaurant. The driver's playlist, featuring George Michael and Aaron Neville, sparked a conversation about the "good old days" of celebrity culture. Larry jokes about this being his own eventual retirement path.

A review of George Clooney's film career highlights "Michael Clayton" as a quintessential "No Agenda" movie for its portrayal of a legal fixer. Other discussed titles include "Syriana," "The American," and "The Men Who Stare at Goats." The hosts praise Clooney's work in political thrillers and films dealing with corporate espionage and drones.

George Clooney is the executive producer of "The Agency," a new espionage series starring Michael Fassbender that is a near-exact remake of the French show "Le Bureau des Légendes." The American version features shot-for-shot recreations of the original script with minor adjustments for U.S. audiences, such as changing the ethnicity of key characters. The show is being noted for its realistic portrayal of intelligence tradecraft and the "creepy" nature of modern surveillance.

Sir Michael Douglas Carlin promotes his documentary film "Minnesota," which covers the protests following the death of George Floyd and alleges the presence of police infiltrators. The segment also includes birthday tributes for listeners and their families.

Climate scientist Michael Mann appears on ABC with George Stephanopoulos to discuss the IPCC report. Mann claims that climate change is now visible "on television screens and in newspaper headlines." The hosts speculate that the next phase of the narrative will involve connecting climate change to COVID-19, potentially using pollution levels in Wuhan as a link to justify "climate lockdowns."

The Inspector General report concludes there was a legitimate predicate for the Trump investigation based on a conversation between George Papadopoulos and Australian diplomat Alexander Downer. Critics, including Joe diGenova, argue this predicate is "ludicrous" because the information was allegedly planted by CIA asset Joseph Mifsud. The hosts compare the FBI's tactics to "entrapment" schemes used against low-level targets to make agents look like heroes.

Speculation continues regarding the mechanism for Hillary Clinton to enter the 2020 race, with theories suggesting a "draft" by party bigwigs or major donors like Michael Bloomberg. There is further speculation that Hollywood figures such as George Clooney or Leonardo DiCaprio could be involved in producing a high-profile announcement. Clinton's recent attacks on Tulsi Gabbard are viewed by some as a "warning shot" to the field.

Anthony Scaramucci labels author Michael Wolff a "total liar" while calling Sean Hannity a close friend and "street fighter." He expresses respect for Robert Mueller's reputation but criticizes James Comey as "sanctimonious." Scaramucci also defends Omarosa Manigault's tenure despite their public disagreements and predicts that Scott Walker will face a difficult re-election battle in Wisconsin.

The concept of a "fixer" is explored through the lens of the film Michael Clayton, starring George Clooney. The hosts observe that the mainstream media, including reporters like Andrea Mitchell, appeared visibly excited by the legal developments surrounding Michael Cohen. They argue that paying off a porn star is a moral issue rather than a criminal one.

Nadine Smith of Equality Florida is leading the "No NRA Money" campaign, which pressures political candidates to refuse donations from the gun rights organization. The movement is described as a coordinated effort funded by figures like George Soros and Michael Bloomberg to influence the 2018 elections.

The Logan Act of 1799 is defined as a federal law prohibiting unauthorized citizens from negotiating with foreign governments. The potential application of this law to General Michael Flynn's communications with the Russian ambassador is discussed, alongside claims that the Clinton Foundation frequently violates the same statute.

The hosts critique the public obsession with celebrity deaths at the end of 2016, specifically mentioning Debbie Reynolds, George Michael, and Carrie Fisher. They argue that social media tributes are often performative and hypocritical, noting that many people posting about George Michael ignored his struggles with drug addiction while he was alive. A contrast is drawn between the massive coverage of entertainers and the lack of attention given to figures like playwright Edward Albee or author Richard Adams.

A former New York banker describes James Comey as a "fixer" who was strategically placed in the FBI by the Obama administration. The banker also claims to have nearly dated Cheryl Mills, describing her as highly argumentative. The discussion references the film *Michael Clayton* to illustrate the role of a high-level corporate and political fixer.

The hosts discuss George Michael's 2002 song "Shoot the Dog," which featured an animated video satirizing the relationship between Tony Blair and George W. Bush. They suggest the backlash to this political commentary significantly damaged Michael's career in the UK.

John Dvorak compares 1988 Democratic nominee Michael Dukakis to the Seinfeld character George Costanza, noting similarities in their smirks and mannerisms. They play a clip of Dukakis's convention speech where he suggests neighbors should teach each other to read, which the hosts find absurd.

Former Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff defended George W. Bush's record on national security during an interview with Wolf Blitzer. Chertoff listed the creation of tougher travel barriers, expanded intelligence capabilities, and the invasion of Afghanistan as key successes. The hosts criticize Chertoff's defense, characterizing the measures as an assault on civil liberties and a expansion of the surveillance state.

The repeal of the Smith-Mundt Act in the 2013 National Defense Authorization Act is analyzed as a move to allow domestic propaganda in the United States. A viral video by Marine veteran Michael Whaley criticizing the Black Lives Matter movement is introduced. The discussion links the funding of activist groups to George Soros and the Open Society Institute.

George Clooney is criticized for using a "99% of doctors" metaphor to argue for climate change action. The hosts reference Michael Crichton's book State of Fear and argue that scientific consensus is often wrong, citing examples of lone physicists who were vindicated decades later. They assert that science is never truly "settled."

The hosts contrast the anti-war protests of 1970s artists with the perceived compliance of modern celebrities like Jay-Z and Beyonce. They discuss how George Michael's career suffered after protesting the Iraq War and lament the lack of mainstream protest music in the current era.