rant · moment 2 of 12

The Show's Real Subject: Power, Not Politics

from Weinstein Company Man · #66

Audio-only archive episode — no video to seek.

3 min

Tim lays out the guiding philosophy of the show — focusing on 'operators' who get things done rather than political debates — and revisits the Lou Pearlman blimp-hangar audition story as an example.

In this bit7 moments
  • 2:21Tim describes the show as an apocalyptic news show, not a debate platform about issues of the day.
  • 3:05The show differs from Rogan's format—instead of intellectuals discussing ideas, it focuses on operators who get things done in society.
  • 3:35This description of 'operators' fits everyone from Lou Pearlman to George H.W. Bush, though at vastly different scales.
  • 4:05Lou Pearlman episode haunts Tim because Pearlman ran a blimp business before holding boy band auditions in a blimp hangar.
  • 4:31The image that disturbs him: a 13-year-old auditioning in front of a sweaty Pearlman while parents accept this as normal business.
  • 4:43Tim connects the Lou Pearlman story to child trafficking in desperate areas, where parents themselves traffic their own children for survival.
  • 5:07This is where the show's problems emerge when he tries explaining it—the conversation spirals into dark territory about exploitation and desperation.
Mentioned here

Lou PearlmanBlue ApronJoe RoganGeorge H. W. BushNicki Minaj

All 12 moments in this episode →