Podcast Summary
Lev Parnas's Documents Detail Involvement in Ukraine Scandal: Lev Parnas, an associate of Rudy Giuliani, released documents to the House Intelligence Committee revealing his role in the Ukraine scandal, implicating high-profile figures including the President, Vice President, and Attorney General in the scheme, and detailing requests for investigations into Biden.
This week, Lev Parnas, an associate of Rudy Giuliani, made headlines by releasing a stack of documents to the House Intelligence Committee, detailing his involvement in the Ukraine scandal. He regretted trusting Giuliani, Trump, and various Russian and Ukrainian mobsters, and revealed that many high-profile figures, including the President, Vice President, and Attorney General, were involved in the scheme. Parnas's notes included requests for Ukrainian President Zelensky to open investigations into Biden. In a lighter moment during the podcast, the panel discussed how Parnas's handwritten notes reminded them of keeping food diaries or other deceptive records.
Tension at Democratic Debate over Sexist Remarks: The Democratic debate before Iowa saw a heated exchange between Warren and Sanders over past sexist comments, leaving Democrats stunned. Houston Astros were also in the news for cheating in the 2017 World Series.
The last Democratic debate before the Iowa caucuses was filled with tension, as candidates Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders had a heated disagreement over allegations of past sexist remarks. Tom Steyer attempted to intervene, but the moment was met with stunned dismay from Democrats. In baseball news, the Houston Astros were found to have cheated during the 2017 World Series by stealing signs using technology, which is against the rules. Former Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia reacted with disappointment to the scandal. These events have left many wondering what will unfold in the upcoming elections and on the baseball field.
UK PM's Failed Attempt to Crowdfund Big Ben's Bells: Boris Johnson's attempt to raise funds for Big Ben's bells failed, and this news coincided with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's decision to step down as senior royals.
Boris Johnson, the UK Prime Minister, attempted to crowdfund the ringing of Big Ben's bells to mark the country's departure from the EU, but the campaign failed almost immediately. The name of the campaign was "Bonga Bob for Big Ben Brexit Bombs." This news came during a segment on the radio quiz show "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me," where the panelists joked about various topics, including a school cafeteria cook who had been secretly giving students marijuana in their mac and cheese, leading to a calm student body. The failed campaign may have been the final straw for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who announced their plans to step down as senior royals shortly after. The episode also featured a segment where listeners called in to play a game of truth or fiction.
Retiring Cafeteria Lady's Marijuana Giving Raises Questions, Royal Family Member Retires, and Diego the Giant Tortoise Retires: A cafeteria lady's retirement after admitting to giving children marijuana for decades sparks a debate on societal norms and legal boundaries. A royal family member and a prolific giant tortoise breeder also retire, highlighting the impact of individuals' contributions.
The retirement of a cafeteria lady in Canada who admitted to giving children marijuana for decades raises questions about the boundaries of legal substances and societal norms. While recreational marijuana is legal in Canada, giving it to children is not. The woman, known as Miss Bennett, has managed to avoid punishment due to the reluctance of parents to press charges. Elsewhere, another unexpected retirement took place in the British royal family, as the "royal repository of the blood of sovereignty," a crucial member holding the title in the event of the royal lineage's destruction, revealed his intention to retire. In the animal kingdom, Diego the giant tortoise from the Galapagos is retiring from his role as a prolific breeder, having contributed to over 40% of the tortoise population's growth. These stories illustrate the significance of individuals and their contributions, whether they are human or animal, and the complexities that come with the passing of time and the transitions that follow.
Discovering new talents at any age: Galapagos tortoise Diego and food writer Alyson Roman prove it's never too late to find new passions and purpose in life.
Retirement and discovering new talents can come at any age, even for a Galapagos tortoise named Diego, who produced over 800 hatchlings, and for Alyson Roman, who started off working in restaurants but found her true calling in writing recipes for Bon Appetit and the New York Times. Diego's ability to reproduce ensured the survival of his species, while Alyson discovered her talent for creating unique and beloved recipes. Both stories remind us that it's never too late to find new purpose and passions in life. Additionally, Alyson shared her thoughts on the challenge of coming up with new recipes, comparing it to the limitless possibilities in music and the importance of finding a unique place in the world with one's creations. Despite her fame, she remains humble and appreciative of her friends and fans.
Following instructions is crucial when critiquing recipes: Critiquing recipes without following them can be unfair and emotionally charged. Alison Roman, a cookbook author, emphasizes the importance of adherence to instructions when offering criticism.
Alison Roman, a cookbook author and New York Times columnist, emphasizes the importance of following instructions when critiquing recipes. She believes that criticism without adherence to the recipe is unfair and can be emotionally charged. Roman also shared her experience with online criticism and the need for maintaining a professional image. During a game on NPR's Wait Wait, Don't Tell Me, Roman showcased her knowledge of historical financial frauds. She correctly identified that members of the Roman Praetorian Guard tried to sell the entire Roman empire to unsuspecting investors and that Count Victor Lustig sold the Eiffel Tower twice. However, she incorrectly guessed that Lustig sold William Shakespeare's brain instead. Roman's newest cookbook, "Nothing Fancy," is now available. Despite the challenges of online criticism and the emotional investment in her work, she continues to share her passion for cooking and creativity in the kitchen.
Japanese Billionaire's Search for a Moon Girlfriend: A billionaire is seeking a girlfriend for a moon trip, encouraging applications from optimistic women worldwide, raising humorous concerns about extended confinement and potential inspiration from reality TV.
A Japanese billionaire, Yusaku Maezawa, is looking for a girlfriend to join him on Elon Musk's proposed moon mission. Maezawa announced a worldwide search for a woman over 20 who believes in world peace and has a positive attitude. The idea of spending extended time in a confined space with a new partner raised some amusing concerns from the panelists. Meanwhile, the popular show "90 Day Fiance" was mentioned as a potential inspiration for the woman's fear of being left on the moon if she doesn't marry her billionaire boyfriend. During the show, listeners were invited to call in and complete limericks based on the news. In one limerick, the missing word was "arts," which rhymes with "hearts," and in another, the missing word was "parts," which rhymes with "hearts."
Exploring Art's Impact on Aging and Unusual Olympic Dorms: Engaging with art can improve health as we age due to emotional benefits. Olympic athletes will sleep on cardboard beds this year, causing concerns about durability.
Engaging with art regularly, whether it's in a museum or through other means, can contribute to better physical health as we age. This is likely due to the emotional benefits that come from strong responses to art. Additionally, some unexpected news for Olympic athletes: their dorm beds this year will be made of cardboard, raising concerns about its durability. Meanwhile, some celebrity couples are choosing to live apart, claiming it reduces relationship tensions and even saves on drains. In the news, President Trump signed a trade deal with China, Nancy Pelosi criticized Facebook, and Michael Flynn filed to withdraw his guilty plea. A massive snowstorm disrupted schools, and Joker led the Oscars with 11 nominations. In a bizarre turn of events, a border patrol station in South Texas is dealing with an influx of vultures that have taken over its radio tower.
Current Events Discussed in the Show: Tom won the quiz with 14 points, notable events included political statements, presidential bids ending, trade approvals, Supreme Court hearings, international aid, record-breaking temperatures, daring escapes, and opposition to new projects.
The news cycle moves quickly and covers a wide range of topics. During this discussion, Bill and the panel covered various current events, including politics, trade, entertainment, and crime. Tom led the quiz with 14 points, while Helen and Maeve trailed behind with 12 and 7 points, respectively. Notable events included Chuck Schumer's statement about limiting the president's war powers against Iran, Cory Booker dropping his bid for the presidency, the Senate approving the USMCA, and the Supreme Court hearing arguments related to the New Jersey bridge gate. The Australian Navy delivered aid to a coastal town affected by wildfires, and NASA confirmed that the 2010s were the hottest decade on record. Carlos Ghosn's daring escape from Japan made headlines, and residents in North Carolina opposed a new solar farm due to concerns about it "sucking up all the sunlight." Despite lukewarm reviews, the ninth movie in the Star Wars saga passed the $1,000,000,000 mark, and tennis star Serena Williams won her first title in 3 years. The police in Texas identified a vandal by obtaining fingerprints from a slice of cheese left at the crime scene. Tom Bodette emerged as the quiz winner. The news cycle is constantly evolving, and it's essential to stay informed about various developments in different areas.
Unexpected antics from guests: Tom Bodette plans to be a third wheel on a billionaire's date, Helen Hong discusses toys mating, and Tom Steyer's future actions are left open-ended, keeping the audience engaged with quick wit and playful banter. Sponsors BetterHelp and Fundrise offer valuable information on therapy and real estate investments.
Key takeaway from this episode of "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me" is the unexpected and humorous antics of various guests. Tom Bodette, for instance, plans to be the third wheel on a billionaire's date by buying the last seat on the SpaceX shuttle to the moon. Helen Hong was mentioned in relation to toys mating, and Tom Steyer's future actions were left open-ended, promising potential surprises. The panel kept the audience engaged with their quick wit and playful banter. Additionally, the episode featured sponsor messages from BetterHelp and Fundrise. BetterHelp offered a discount for those considering therapy as a way to manage stress. Fundrise highlighted the potential of high interest rates leading to discounted real estate assets and the expansion of their $1 billion real estate portfolio. Overall, the episode showcased the entertaining and informative nature of "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me," while also providing valuable information from their sponsors.
