The discussion takes a sharp turn towards the political, as Mike and Mark explore the intriguing strategies of Trump’s presidency. They ponder on the motivations behind his polarizing actions and what it means for the future of American politics. This episode also covers essential topics like America’s stance on Meals on Wheels, the complexities of social security, and potential tax reforms, offering listeners a rich tapestry of insights and thought-provoking dialogue.
Mike Gallagher. Every day, Mike visits with Mark Davis, morning host on 660 AM, The Answer in Dallas. Here’s today’s M&M experience.
SPEAKER 05 :
I want to get to 90. Well, you’re a mere 25 years away, coming up just in a few days.
SPEAKER 04 :
How bad was 65 for you? Be honest. Oh, it was meaningless. It didn’t matter?
SPEAKER 05 :
It was absolutely meaningless. I turned 65 in November of 2022.
SPEAKER 03 :
I wish I could be like you. 40 was meaningless. 50 was meaningless. 40, 50 didn’t mean anything. No, they’re numbers. No, no, to me. Especially if it’s you. No, I know. But 65 is hitting me hard. I don’t know what the heck’s going on with me here.
SPEAKER 05 :
And we all had fun when the AARP mail started to arrive in our late 50s or when you could get senior discounts. I take every single one of those senior discounts. Not me. Nope.
SPEAKER 04 :
Nope. I get offended. Oh, man. When they ask me, I say, how dare you? How dare you? And I’ll do it when I’m, I don’t know. I don’t know why I’m so bothered by this. It’s the weirdest thing. Meaningless.
SPEAKER 05 :
And 65 is the new 50. I mean, just come on. Look at Trump.
SPEAKER 04 :
Seriously.
SPEAKER 05 :
He’s old enough to serve a third term.
SPEAKER 04 :
All right, well, let’s talk about that, because I’ve got to get this off my chest. All right, is this going to be the first time I make MAGA mad at me? This may be the first time since he came down the escalator that I’m going to have, I know the emails are going to come in, I know people are going to get annoyed, but you know what I’m going to say, right? But just that it’s stupid? It’s just not my favorite thing. I don’t know. He’s got so much going on and there’s so much on the table. Why troll everybody? Why do this? Why fan these flames?
SPEAKER 05 :
Because it’s fun. It’s this and golf are his sports.
SPEAKER 04 :
I mean, it is kind of a spectator sport, I guess, but I just wonder if he’s not doing enough great, great stuff substantively that he doesn’t need to do this, but maybe the distraction is the point? Is that why he does it?
SPEAKER 05 :
I think the first mistake we make is trying to analyze it with earth logic. I think he just loves watching people’s heads explode. And the point that I don’t want to read your mind, but I think we are of the same mind on this, that when so many wonderful things are going on, don’t do things that give the haters a reason to even poke at you. Just, you know… So we kind of agree. I just don’t think it matters. Yeah, sure.
SPEAKER 04 :
Oh, good.
SPEAKER 05 :
So direct all correspondence, MarkDavis at KSky.com. You think it matters, and I don’t.
SPEAKER 04 :
No, I don’t know that it even matters. I mean, we’ve got bigger fish to fry, there’s no question. But I know in my gut why it bothers me. I’ll tell you why it kind of just bothers me a little bit. It’s not a big deal. You’re right. It’s not the end of the world. I want people who are on the fence to take him seriously. Yes. Yes. I want people – I’m thinking about the people who are sort of the undecideds, who will say, look, I don’t really love his tweets and his personality, but I love his policies. His policies are good for us. I want to reach those people. And then they turn around and they say, well, Mike – How do you reach me when he says, I’m going to run for president? Actually, this is his strategy. J.D. will run. J.D. will win. And then on day one, J.D.
SPEAKER 03 :
will resign so Trump can take them.
SPEAKER 05 :
I mean, it’s ridiculous. It’s funny because I don’t think I had actually heard what the plan was.
SPEAKER 03 :
Oh, yeah, that’s the plan.
SPEAKER 05 :
Okay, let’s go step by step through this. How does J.D.’ ‘s resignation make him president again? Who? Who? Because when J.D. steps down, Trump would have to be his VP running mate. Nope. No one ineligible to the presidency can be vice president.
SPEAKER 04 :
We’re talking logically here like it’s any of it’s normal. That’s the whole thing. I mean, like you said, earth logic. And I mean, look, I watched this report yesterday. And this is why people are scared. CBS Sunday morning did a whole thing about the Kennedy Center. And, you know, you and I both love the arts. I know. But again, to the undecideds, they see that. Look, I’m not. I’m with him on this. Don’t get me wrong. I’m just saying those are the kind of substantive things we ought to be debating, discussing, analyzing. You know, does it make sense for him to run the board at the Kennedy Center and yada yada?
SPEAKER 03 :
No one cares. No, maybe not. Maybe I care.
SPEAKER 05 :
When I say no one, I mean only you. No, I’m teasing. I mean, there’s some things that are so close to invisible on the public radar. Yeah, that’s true. But on the Kennedy Center thing, he also has a good point. Ditto on the Smithsonian. Where this museum, this wonderful, this magnificent national jewel in the crown that is the Smithsonian Museum System, they absolutely have had a woke poison running through their history, their actual portrayals of history, for a really long time. So I think that’s okay, too.
SPEAKER 04 :
Did I see a headline that we’re going to get rid of Meals on Wheels? Did you see that headline? I don’t know. I mean, but again, I’m torn because on the one hand, you think, oh, crap, you know, people who are incapacitated who get meals, that’s a federal program. But on the other hand, is that something that, you know, that philanthropy takes over? Shouldn’t that be in the private sector? Or should the government be involved in that?
SPEAKER 05 :
Or our friend the state. Right. Do I need to be paying money to feed people in Indiana? I’m going to go no.
SPEAKER 04 :
And certainly, are we going to pay to feed people in Ukraine? I’m going to go no. I mean, now when we go America first, though, then we start getting down into, we peel the layers and layers and layers of the onion. All right, so America first. Does that mean then we stop? Do we abdicate helping seniors and the disabled through a program like Meals on Wheels? And incidentally, I don’t even know that that’s true. I just saw the headline, and I had enough this weekend. I wanted to watch basketball. I wanted to just detach. And I have a happy announcement to make. Two episodes into the pit, and they got me. I’m in. I’m all in. Love it. Love it.
SPEAKER 05 :
Friendships. survives yes we can survive because you’re right it’s a great show and it isn’t no little little young dr carter the fledgling in er yeah not only is he great what if i will listen 10 episodes from now you will say to me that if he doesn’t get an emmy they need to stop giving away emmys I will say that I’m a little— He’s that good in the entire cast.
SPEAKER 04 :
He’s great. But I will have to admit, though, I’m a little tired of the he-solves-every-problem formula. I mean, no matter what goes on, oh, Dr. Robbie will fix it.
SPEAKER 01 :
Dr. Robbie will answer.
SPEAKER 04 :
are this dr robbie will handle this he’s like the you know he’s the wise sage of the other and then you got the villainous the lady the administrator keeps coming in and yelling at him because the rats are running around because of the homeless guy brought in the rats and it’s a little trite but i’m still enjoying it you’re right i’m enjoying listen
SPEAKER 05 :
And on a side note, on the world of streaming and the world of TV, we are really in a golden age. Lisa and I had a little, we floated something and we’re going to work on this. This is either fair or unfair, either true or not true.
SPEAKER 1 :
1923.
SPEAKER 05 :
You on board? Are you doing 1923? Without to be, after I get through the pit, I’m going to. I’m ready to tell you it’s better than Yellowstone.
SPEAKER 04 :
Because I love me some Yellowstone.
SPEAKER 05 :
As soon as I say that, I kind of stop myself. Because what it is, is it’s more ambitious. It is kind of like an epic movie in terms of quality of direction. Yellowstone is just a churn it out, really cool podcast.
SPEAKER 01 :
Hi, everyone. Tom Mustin here for the Legal Help Center. If you or someone you know were diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma within the past 20 years, listen up. You could be entitled to significant compensation. For years, the weed killer Roundup was used in homes, farms, and gardens. And now studies have proved a direct link between Roundup and this deadly cancer. So, if you or someone you know have been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, call us and find out if you qualify for a cash settlement. Call 800-220-3800. That’s 800-220-3800. Time to file a claim is running out, so don’t delay. The call is free, the consultation is free, and you can find out if you qualify for a monetary reward. Call 800-220-3800. 220-3800. That’s 800-220-3800. Call now. Advertisement sponsored by Legal Help Center. May not be available in all states.
SPEAKER 05 :
Alpi’s soap opera, A Masterpiece. And I love it on its own terms. They really are, even though it’s a prequel of Yellowstone. It’s very different. But this particular season of this formative story, 1923, is a masterpiece. Got it.
SPEAKER 04 :
Can’t wait, can’t wait. You mentioned I drove by the Tesla dealership over the weekend. Yes, tell everybody about that. That was fun. Well, I mean, it was interesting because they all looked like, well, you and me. I mean, it was a bunch of white boomers with printed up signs that were very professionally done, which leads me to this headline over at Fox News this morning. Critics speculate that the Tesla protests are not a grassroots movement, but a carefully organized, orchestrated campaign. Yeah.
SPEAKER 05 :
There was a weird moment. They had one in Southlake. There’s a Tesla dealership in Southlake where apparently they also had record sales. So, whoops. Kind of a boycott, the opposite of a boycott, where when somebody you like is being victimized, you actually give them your money. But something weird happened. Did you notice that the window was supposed to be like 9 a.m. to noon or 10 a.m. to noon or something? In a real human protest, if it’s supposed to be 10 a.m. to noon, there are protesters, and then noon arrives, and everybody kind of stands around them. lingers and you know has a cup of coffee or and then then they filter slowly away at noon it was like the whistle blew at the plant they dispersed they were gone by 1201 i know it looked very planned i also saw a picture online they were holding like scripts they had talking points for their protests
SPEAKER 04 :
And they were all printed out like cue cards. I mean, it just doesn’t seem legitimate. I don’t know. But look, I took a picture of them. I started to post it online and send it to you. And I thought, nah, you know what? Let them do their thing. If they want to stand out there on a Saturday morning, I don’t care. Go buy a Tesla. Go do what you want to do. It’s a great car, incidentally, and it’s a great American company. And what Elon Musk is doing is nothing short of heroic. I hope you saw the clip from him in Wisconsin introducing one of his Doge engineers and what they’ve uncovered about Social Security. Now, we’re all worried and wringing our hands, oh, are we going to lose our Social Security? And believe me, as of next week, Social Security is very much on my mind. I’ll bet it is. As I go to a faraway country to try to avoid what’s happening next week, this monumental achievement. And I’ll be, by the way, on vacation next week, so don’t call me, I’ll call you. And by that, I mean don’t call me.
SPEAKER 05 :
It’s not coming at all.
SPEAKER 04 :
No. Or wish me a happy 37th birthday. You can do that. But Social Security is desperately in need of an overhaul to reduce the fraud, waste, and abuse. I’ve got a five-minute clip I’m going to play on my show. I’m going to play the whole thing. It’s five minutes. I think Laura Ingraham retweeted it. Everybody should see it. What they’ve discovered, not only about the millions of dead people getting Social Security. Yep, 120-year-olds and stuff like that. But how about the illegals? How about all the illegals getting Social Security? And this is the plan, Mark. This has always been the plan. They’re on Medicaid. They’re on Social Security. They’re getting American benefits now. And this guy lays out in this five-minute clip that I’ll play that everybody should watch, Mark. And I’ve posted it on my social media. I’ve got it online, too, as well. Good, good. The guy lays out, well, this is why they want to have an open border. Of course. Because you’ve got to get them in here first, and then you give them benefits, and you reward them with things like Social Security for Meemaw or the Abuela or whatever. And then before you know it, you’ve got people who are here illegally living off the dole. Legalized, naturalized, and energized about Democrat forever. That’s all they want is just don’t vote Democrat. That’s your only payback for us. So it’s a really, really fascinating thing. Meanwhile, speaking back to Trump for a minute, CBS poll, he’s at 50% overall approval rating. And considering what’s all going on, I think that’s a big win. It is remarkable. People are worried about the tariffs, and I get that. There’s going to be some short-term pain. And whether or not we have the stomach for this, but I heard our buddy Chris DeGaulle before you this morning go on a rant about how Republicans fail to lead when they’re in control. And he’s right about this. Every time we get the reins, it’s like we just all fall apart. We don’t know what to do. I mean, we’re happier. It feels like Republican leadership is more satisfied with the Democrats. We’re better out of power.
SPEAKER 05 :
Sometimes we’re better when we’re out of power, tapping on the windows, trying to get in.
SPEAKER 04 :
Right, and we’re complaining about not being able to do anything. Well, now we can, and now you’ve got to get it done, and you better get it done. You better figure out how to lower taxes. Speaking of taxes, by the way, do you want to know what DeSantis and the Florida legislature wants to do? They want to get rid of property taxes. Hello. Is Texas paying attention? Hello. Hello. Oh, my word. I mean, that’s real savings. And they’re talking like realistically that it could happen. I don’t know where the money comes from because I look at my property tax bill. Holy moly.
SPEAKER 05 :
Our buddy Don Huffines ran for governor on that whole point. I was always asked him, how do you replace the money? And he said, I’m asking the wrong question. And by that, he means if you’re going to get rid of property taxes, you don’t look for other places. You look for things to cut. You look for ways to save. You doge the living daylights out of your state so that you don’t need as much money. I think that works to a degree. But the other part, though, the other part is this starts another talk show. Maybe we can do it tomorrow. They’re in Florida here in Texas. If we do away with it. Hello, sales tax. Yeah, well, that’s your refrigerator just got a little more expensive.
SPEAKER 04 :
But maybe that’s as it should be. Is that kind of a flat tax? No, no, no. Wait a minute. Consumption tax. Right, exactly. That’s more of a consumption tax, which I think makes sense. If you make more, you spend more. You buy more. You pay more. If you make less…
SPEAKER 05 :
Except it’s a little bit regressive. People who make a million dollars don’t buy 10 times as much stuff as people who make 100 grand. Somebody making 500 grand doesn’t buy 10 times as much stuff.
SPEAKER 04 :
I’m a mixed bag on the sales. I get it. I am, too, but we’ve got to overhaul the tax system. And you know what? Before he’s done in 2028 or 2032, depending on… But before he’s done, I think we’re going to see an effort to overhaul the tax system. And I hope we do. Get rid of the IRS. Abolish the IRS. That’ll be my protest. I’ll walk around and say, I’m not really 65 and I’m against the, I’ll abolish the IRS. You’ll deny it if anybody holds you to it. All right. Happy Monday. Happy Monday. Final day of March. Can you believe it? I know.
SPEAKER 05 :
Tomorrow, April fools, who knows what we’ll do.
SPEAKER 04 :
I hate pregs. I don’t do April Fool’s. I don’t either. Well, now the FCC is all hot and bothered about it. You’ve got to be careful about it. There’s FCC dictates about what you shouldn’t be able to do on April Fool’s Day to scare people, to fool people.
SPEAKER 05 :
What would be an example of something that will anger the FCC?
SPEAKER 04 :
Well, I don’t know, like War of the Worlds stuff, I guess.
SPEAKER 05 :
Wacky DJ pranks and stuff like that?
SPEAKER 04 :
Yeah, I guess. I saw some memo the other day saying, be cautious. Don’t go overboard. All right, very good. My April Fool’s, I’m turning 65.
SPEAKER 05 :
Exactly, which is totally untrue. Total joke.
SPEAKER 04 :
Goodbye.
SPEAKER 02 :
Download the podcast and hear all of Mike and Mark’s conversations at MikeOnline.com for the Eminem experience.
Cracker Barrel Goes WOKE