Episode 103 · The GaS Digital / Ray Kump Era
The Coming Collapse
Jul 4, 2018 · 1:06:31 · 20 segments, 130 moments indexed
- 1 min
Opening music, applause, and show title announcement.
1moment
- 0:26Tim opens the show and introduces Ray Kump
- 1 min
Netflix Comedy Lineup Plug and the Ghostwriter Bit
#Tim plugs his new 15-minute Netflix special and jokes about pretending a fictional ghostwriter named Susan Greenberg actually writes his material.
3moments
- 0:30Netflix comedy special is out—15 minutes, watch it in the background or on loop.
- 0:57Tim notes the credit says 'written by Tim Dillon' and jokes it would be funny if someone else's name was there instead.
- 1:10He admits he didn't actually write any of his own jokes.
- 2 min
Michelle Wolf, Death Threats, and Comedy Twitter Vitriol
#Tim and Ray discuss Michelle Wolf tweeting support for his special and the wave of trolling and death threats that followed, including a story about someone threatening her life at the Cellar over a joke.
6moments
- 1:15SNL sketches would be funny if they were written by Susan Greenberg and performed by Tim Dylan.
- 1:49Michelle Wolf tweeted out a recommendation to watch Tim Dylan's special on Netflix.
- 2:00The tweet generated a flood of vitriol, with people telling Michelle Wolf she should have two holes in her head and posting her mother's picture from Facebook.
- 2:17Tim received death threats in response to Michelle Wolf's endorsement.
- 2:41Only one person insulted Tim directly, calling him a fat mess, which he says felt kind of nice to be included.
- 2:52All the other tweets were directed solely at Michelle Wolf, not at Tim.
Michelle WolfSusan Greenberg
- 1 min
Online Combustibility, Trump's Twitter Army, and Getting Coffee
#Riffing on how online mobs are primed to explode over any perceived slight, comparing Trump supporters and left-wing Twitter armies, interrupted by ordering coffee.
3moments
- 3:04Tim describes how bad the online toxicity is and admits he didn't realize the extent of it until recently.
- 3:32The energy of Trump's Twitter army is combustible, ready to attack at any moment over anything.
- 3:44Example: people got mad at someone for making a joke about Ivanka Trump and immediately mobilized to attack.
- 3 min
Adopted Guy's Parents and the Portland Street Brawls
#Tim tells a story about doxxing an adopted online antagonist by posting his parents' photo, then pivots into Proud Boys vs. Antifa street violence in Portland and mainstream civility debates airing next to actual brawls on TV.
5moments
- 4:25Woman threatened to kill Michelle at the Cellar after one of her jokes
- 5:03Tim got in an online fight with an adopted guy and posted photos of his parents as retaliation
- 5:30Tim now regrets engaging with internet people and views them like a virus or dangerous homeless person
- 5:51Hypothetical about not biting a homeless guy back versus being willing to do it for civilization
- 6:27Tim acknowledges crazies exist on both sides but threating to kill someone over politics remains unjustifiable
- 6 min
Chris Hedges' 'Coming Collapse' Article
#Tim reads at length from a Chris Hedges essay about America's decaying democracy, corporate totalitarianism, and warning signs of societal collapse, pausing to riff on Warren Buffett's optimism.
10moments
- 7:08All news is now invective, even mainstream outlets and comedy special reviews.
- 7:46People write with hyperbole because clicks require animated takes and viral outrage.
- 8:15Mainstream media went invective, so fringe figures followed and became completely off the chain.
- 8:31Tim watches Proud Boys and Antifa beating each other with batons in Portland while cops stay out of it.
- 9:36The Proud Boys have become actual fighters, a real group that gets into street fights.
- 10:06You flip from Jimmy Fallon playing chess to people clubbing each other—these things feed off each other.
- 10:57Tim's uncle got in a fight with a guy over the Irish Republican Army despite having no real connection to it.
- 11:42Society faces constant danger of collapse into street chaos, as seen in sporting events and verdict verdicts.
- 12:29There's no organized movement like the Weather Underground yet, but advanced civil disobedience is probably the next phase.
- 12:59Tim complains the coffee is the worst thing he's ever had in his life.
Proud BoysAntifaChris HedgesNew York Timesthe coming collapseGavin
- 6 min
Public Intellectuals Who Won't Rock the Boat
#Continuing off Hedges, Tim and Ray discuss how few public intellectuals (Chomsky excluded/ignored, Peterson praised but limited) actually challenge power, and how the two of them feel they've had guests who truly do.
10moments
- 13:20Tim reads Chris Hedges' essay arguing Trump is a symptom of systemic decay, not the disease itself.
- 14:04Democrats refuse to address economic suffering and are deaf to the needs that drove Trump's election.
- 15:03Party leadership would rather implode the system than surrender their privilege and power.
- 15:22Trump taps into justified hatred for a system that has betrayed people, making his cruelty feel cathartic.
- 16:03Hedges catalogs the visible signs of societal collapse: infrastructure decay, police violence, mass shootings, opioid deaths, and debt-based economy.
- 17:09Hedges claims he's seen this pattern before in Yugoslavia and warns: get ready.
- 17:38Warren Buffett represents the Pollyanna view of America's future, bullish because he's wealthy enough not to worry.
- 18:26Very few public intellectuals hold ideas truly troubling to those in power.
- 18:48Chomsky is ignored despite being one of the few who challenges the system.
- 19:05Neither Peterson, mainstream figures, nor most public commentators genuinely rock the boat the way guests on this show do.
Donald TrumpDemocratic PartyChris HedgesChuck SchumerHillary ClintonNancy PelosiNoam ChomskyJordan Peterson+2 more
- 3 min
Conspiracy Riff: JFK, 9/11, and the Anthony Bourdain-Kennedy Connection
#Tim runs through his list of unsatisfying official explanations (JFK, Watergate, 9/11, FBI ties to mass shooters) before landing on a joking-not-joking bit that Hillary Clinton killed Anthony Bourdain, tied to a Kennedy family business connection to Trump.
7moments
- 20:13Tim lists his dissatisfactions: JFK, Watergate, 9/11 explanations, and the inability to prevent attacks going forward.
- 20:32Intelligence agencies, the FBI's repeated failures with the Boston bombers, and the pattern of mass shooters having FBI connections.
- 21:03Annapolis, Maryland held a live shooting drill a week before an actual shooting happened there.
- 21:24Tim jokingly claims Hillary Clinton killed Anthony Bourdain, then immediately disclaims it as an Alex Jones impression.
- 21:37Tim explains the show tries to avoid jumping headfirst into conspiracy narratives like the Vegas shooting.
- 22:04Kennedy's son apparently lent money to Trump at some point in a business capacity, but it's not an inherently big coincidence.
- 22:20People are trapped in a moral panic where anything advancing a memorial service becomes suspicious.
Anthony BourdainHillary ClintonCarlyle GroupFBIAlex JonesJohn F. KennedyAnnapolis, Maryland9-11 attacks+7 more
- 6 min
They look up news details about an active shooter drill near Annapolis before the actual shooting, debating how much weight to give the coincidence, and discussing how Alex Jones has poisoned legitimate inquiry into government cover-ups.
10moments
- 22:57Active shooter drill at St. Mary's High School in Annapolis, followed a week later by a shooting at a news office.
- 23:43Tim notes the shooting was June 28th, a day after a live shooter drill in the same area.
- 24:11The drill was held at a high school to improve communications between departments.
- 25:11Omar Mateen worked for a defense contractor, raising questions about shooter backgrounds in these scenarios.
- 25:27Alex Jones has tainted legitimate inquiry into government activities with Sandy Hook conspiracy claims.
- 25:41The FBI may be lying about incidents not to cover up staged attacks, but to hide their use of informants.
- 26:15Alex Jones has co-opted investigative journalism into government, which used to be respectable work like Watergate.
- 26:55Vigilant Guardian exercises at 9/11 and Boston bombing cases raise questions about timing and coincidence.
- 27:25Multiple scenarios show questionable things happening uncomfortably close in time to mass tragedies.
- 27:58Alex Jones and his followers online spread baseless claims immediately after incidents without research or understanding of normal police procedures.
Alex JonesFederal Bureau of InvestigationOmar MateenBoston bombingDonald TrumpWatergate
- 9 min
Alexa Ray Joel's Instagram and National Anthem Disaster
#Tim and Ray mock Billy Joel's daughter Alexa Ray Joel's bizarre Instagram captions, her bad singing (including a rough national anthem performance), and floating the idea of getting her on a Long Island project.
14moments
- 28:23Alexa Ray Joel is uniquely talentless, just really bad.
- 28:42Tim listens to her cover of her father's song and describes it as nightmarish.
- 29:36Her national anthem performance is a nightmare.
- 29:51Her Instagram account posts absurd things like wanting to make a coloring book for adults.
- 30:12She performed at Cafe Carlisle so badly the audience was visibly confused.
- 30:25On Instagram she does dramatic monologues to no one in a hotel room, like pretend Evelyn Waugh.
- 31:15She's just white privilege personified, a multi-millionaire who complains about nothing.
- 31:53Tim and the crew plan to contact her pretending to be fans and ask for a duet he can't sing.
- 33:15She's objectively not good at singing, and Billy Joel probably doesn't want anything to do with it.
- 33:49She's a great representative of Long Island—somebody with money and no actual job.
- 35:27One Instagram caption lists contradictory political positions like supporting both Richard Spencer and immigrants.
- 36:10She quotes herself, always a sign of a healthy person, posting pretentious captions about art and vulnerability.
- 36:46Tim can't believe she's rich enough to complain about needing art and honesty when she has a 40-acre estate.
- 37:25They plan to take the episode down before reaching out to involve her in a Long Island project.
Alexa Ray JoelLong IslandBilly JoelCafe CarlisleMastic Beach
- 2 min
Watching Alexa Ray Joel's Hotel Room Monologue Video
#They play and react live to one of Alexa Ray Joel's strange solo Instagram monologue videos, marveling at how watchable/insane it is.
6moments
- 37:46Tim judges Alexa Ray Joel's watchability and performance in the hotel room video.
- 38:26The Victorian England aesthetic of the performance creates an immersive but unsettling effect.
- 38:52He'd rather be either Billy Joel's son or daughter than pursue any other path.
- 39:03Interaction with chat room viewers isn't worth the effort since they don't deserve it.
- 39:19Proposal to pull a pool of listeners for each episode to create structured dialogue.
- 39:30Johnny called with some material to run by him.
- 2 min
Mysterious Texts from a Dead Friend and TV Recommendations
#Tim tells a strange story about getting texts that seem to be from a friend named Johnny who he believes may be dead, then the two swap TV show recommendations including his own Netflix special.
8moments
- 39:35Tim believes his dead friend hasn't texted him since dying, but saw him at a beach club recently.
- 39:51If someone contacts him about the story, he assumes they're pitching a creative project or asking for feedback on a trailer.
- 40:20Tim suggests they could bring back Noreen Gossh for another interview about the case.
- 40:33Noreen Gossh listening to Alexa Ray Joel and waking up to Santa Clara Die on Netflix.
- 40:51Tim is looking for a new show to watch and asks about Netflix comedy specials.
- 41:10He's only seen the first season of Baskets and asks when Ozark is coming back.
- 41:34Networks now bring shows back without key cast members just to have new content, stripping away novelty.
- 41:44All television networks do now is make garbage repetitive TV with repeated ideas.
NetflixHouse of CardsNoreen GoschBasketsAlexa Ray JoelKill BillOzark
- 2 min
Kill Bill 3 Delays and Roseanne's Ape Comment on The Conners
#Riffing on Hollywood's habit of rebooting everything (Kill Bill 3, Blade Runner), then pivoting to speculation about Roseanne Barr trying to get cast on The Conners after her Valerie Jarrett tweet controversy.
5moments
- 41:59Kill Bill 3 was supposed to wait 20 years to film the sequel where Fox's daughter gets revenge.
- 42:22Studios now make sequels for everything instead of just waiting like they did with Kill Bill.
- 42:38Tim speculates that Bill was involved in MKUltra shit.
- 42:57Tim expresses how great it would be if Roseanne came back to The Connors and started being even more offensive.
- 43:20Roseanne claimed in an interview that she didn't know Valerie Jarrett was Black, despite having worked with Obama.
Kill BillThe ConnersBarack ObamaValerie JarrettRabbi SchmooleyBlade RunnerMK UltraKramer vs. Kramer
- 2 min
Would Anything Turn It Around? Trump's Political Future
#Discussion of whether Trump moderates or loses re-election, and whether the current chaotic moment could ever resolve, referencing more Hedges material.
6moments
- 43:38Tim asks what "part of the ape" means in reference to the tweet about Aretha Franklin.
- 44:11He says he wouldn't get someone fired over a personal insult, contrasting his lack of power to others wielding it.
- 44:37Tim jokes about wanting to fire one person if given the chance, as a way to wield some actual power.
- 44:55Discussing whether Trump's situation could turn around, Tim concedes it's possible only if Democrats win the midterms and constrain his agenda.
- 45:08The only scenario Tim sees for improvement: Trump doesn't run again for reelection.
- 45:40Tim notes the weird thing about the Trump era is that people initially called out both-sides talk, but now it actually is both sides.
Donald TrumpChuck SchumerNancy PelosiNothing But TroubleChevy Chase
- 4 min
Democratic Party as Establishment Tool and AOC
#Tim argues the Democratic Party protects entrenched power regardless of Trump, comparing it to Rome's fall, then discusses Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Republican attacks on her platform.
9moments
- 46:00Democratic Party functions as an establishment organ protecting those in power and maintaining business as usual.
- 46:23Tim questions whether establishment corruption is actually that bad, given the alternative chaos under Trump.
- 46:53No serious effort exists to remove money from politics, with the Supreme Court having closed off that path entirely.
- 47:19Corporations blatantly write the laws to benefit themselves, and politicians promise to stop it but do nothing.
- 47:39Tim suggests violent revolution may be the only remaining option.
- 48:09The current state is so bad that Tim wishes America's only problem was inbreeding.
- 48:31AOC from Queens wants to give people health insurance and housing, which Republicans are opposing.
- 48:45Republicans claim something is wrong with AOC and attack her personally instead of addressing her platform.
- 49:09Tim advises co-opting AOC's message rather than opposing her, since attacking it makes her stronger.
Democratic PartyDonald TrumpMaxine WaterslobbyingAlexandria Ocasio-CortezSupreme CourtAugustus CaesarJulius Caesar
- 6 min
Roe v. Wade Fears and Hedges on Trump's Corruption
#Speculation about incremental abortion restrictions and abortion pills, more Hedges quotes about Trump's corruption and lack of ethics, and how Trump has accelerated erosion of democratic norms.
7moments
- 50:07Tim discusses the likelihood of restrictions on Roe v. Wade rather than an outright elimination, citing the availability of abortion pills and the difficulty of enforcement.
- 50:58Hedges describes Trump as an ethical despot who chooses appointees based on personal loyalty and obsequiousness, willing to sell anyone out while dismantling government institutions.
- 52:02Tim notes that while corporate totalitarianism may have already been happening, losing even the pretense of freedom and democratic norms matters significantly.
- 52:31Globalism is identified as deeply empty at its core, failing to give people anything meaningful to latch onto and filling them with anxiety and apprehension.
- 53:55The migration spike that alarmed Europe peaked in 2015 and has been declining for years, yet political rhetoric continues to frame immigration as an ongoing invasion.
- 54:39Tim argues that when elites fail to address legitimate economic fears—stagnant wages, job loss, social instability—they hand demagogues like Trump an opening to exploit those anxieties.
- 54:56Liberal mockery of MS-13 on social media demonstrates insensitivity to actual victims beheaded by the gang, and dismissing Trump's framing while ignoring the organization's real violence shows being completely out of touch.
- 3 min
Globalism, Immigration Anxiety, and MS-13 Twitter Wars
#A deep dive into why globalism fuels resentment, the migration crisis being overstated as still ongoing, and how liberals mocking MS-13 concerns alienates people while the left picks bad fights on immigration.
7moments
- 55:52Tim argues illegal immigration and gang recruitment have some overlap, and dismissing the concern entirely is crazy.
- 56:13Trump's initial speech painted immigrants as criminals and rapists, but opponents won't acknowledge the kernel of truth in the concern.
- 56:43Twitter breeds conformity; the same people repeat the same arguments without nuance.
- 57:09When Trump calls MS-13 animals, why do progressives rush to defend them and call it dehumanization?
- 57:32Tim criticizes the left for being so ideologically wedded they can't recognize they're handing Trump easy wins on these issues.
- 58:15These aren't stupid people, but they can't step back and see they're part of a pointless online rabble-rousing machine.
- 58:38Social media has exposed something fundamental about how people operate online.
- 6 min
Twitter Nihilism, Victim Mentality, and the Bette Midler Pile-On
#Tim argues social media exposes collective misery and death wish, critiques victim mentality on left and right via Peterson, and lambasts gay Twitter activists attacking Bette Midler over a mild joke instead of focusing on real threats.
8moments
- 58:42Twitter reveals our collective death wish—people calling for meteors and ice ages because we're deeply miserable.
- 59:14Tim acknowledges historical atrocities shouldn't be ignored but sees danger in how identity politics has replaced American self-reliance.
- 1:00:11Victim mentality on both right and left prevents people from solving their own problems, though Peterson misses slavery and civil rights entirely.
- 1:00:57The left earned credit for supporting gay rights by actually fighting bakery discrimination while the right tried to ban gay marriage.
- 1:01:35Bette Midler made a stupid joke about Putin and Trump; gay men attacking her as homophobic is exactly the purity culture destroying progressive movements.
- 1:02:24Tim argues people need to stop letting others' opinions define their self-concept, though not everyone has learned that resilience.
- 1:03:20Nick Fuentes is a 19-year-old celibate Catholic streaming politics and scripture all day—the only difference between him and Muhammad Ata is a green screen.
- 1:04:22Sexually frustrated young males radicalizing online doesn't end well, and Tim watches him in small doses before concluding we're living in a dystopian nightmare.
- 1 min
Would Tim Debate Nick Fuentes?
#Tim and Ray discuss 19-year-old far-right streamer Nick Fuentes, comparing his radicalization-by-livestream to Mohamed Atta with a green screen, and Tim jokingly agrees to debate him.
3moments
- 1:05:02Tim argues that working in a morgue and handling dead bodies makes him more authentic than someone who hasn't had that experience.
- 1:05:15He claims having held dead children is what qualifies him as a real man and real person in a debate.
- 1:05:40Guest plugs his work on Vice Sports and Instagram, with new projects in development.
- 1 min
Ray plugs his social media and upcoming projects, Tim plugs his Netflix special, tour dates in Mohegan Sun, DC, Montreal and Dublin, and closes the show.
2moments
- 1:05:49Tim teases new project in the works with Instagram, can't reveal details yet.
- 1:06:08Tour dates: Mohegan Sun this weekend, Kennedy Center in Washington DC July 12th, plus Montreal and Dublin.