Topic: Access Hollywood

Former DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson testified before Senator Dianne Feinstein regarding the timing of public warnings about Russian election interference. Johnson explained that a "blunt statement" was issued on October 7, 2016, but it was overshadowed by the release of the Access Hollywood "pussy" tape on the same day. The media's focus on the scandal rather than the intelligence warning is highlighted as a major turning point.

CBS News is criticized for framing the Matt Lauer scandal around President Donald Trump's past controversies. The network highlighted Trump's tweets regarding Lauer's firing while simultaneously revisiting the Access Hollywood tape and allegations from Summer Zervos. The hosts argue that the media is using the Lauer story to maintain pressure on the President regarding his own history with women.

NBC's Katie Tur discussed the "Access Hollywood" tape on a podcast with Kara Swisher, describing the moment she first heard the "grab them by the pussy" remark. Tur noted that despite the media's belief that the tape would end Trump's campaign, his supporters remained enthusiastic. The hosts clarify that Access Hollywood is an NBC-owned production, making Tur's distinction between the two entities disingenuous.

The women's group Ultraviolet organized a 12-hour loop of the Donald Trump Access Hollywood tape to play on the National Mall in Washington D.C. to mark the one-year anniversary of its release. The hosts characterize the event as a distraction from emerging scandals involving Harvey Weinstein.

The hosts and Sharyl Attkisson discuss the 2005 Access Hollywood tape featuring Donald Trump and Billy Bush. Attkisson argues that while the tape was real, its hyper-speed circulation and characterization constituted a smear campaign. The hosts debate the "horrific" nature of the recording, comparing it to private locker-room bragging common among certain men.

Katy Perry's recent public emotional struggles and interviews on Access Hollywood are characterized as potential publicity stunts to promote her new album and tour. The analysis suggests that her distress may be a genuine reaction to the 2016 election of Donald Trump, given her vocal support for Hillary Clinton. Comparisons are made to Britney Spears' historical breakdown, questioning the authenticity of Perry's "authentic self" rebranding.

Former DHS Secretary Jay Johnson expresses frustration that the FBI did not inform him of the DNC hacking for several months. Johnson also notes that the Obama administration's October 7th statement on Russian interference was "drowned out" by the release of the Access Hollywood video. The hosts argue that the media intentionally prioritized the Trump scandal over the national security warning.

Hillary Clinton alleged that WikiLeaks acted as an arm of Russian intelligence by dumping John Podesta's emails within one hour of the Access Hollywood tape leak. She described the emails as "anodyne" and claimed they were weaponized by allies in the "internet world," specifically mentioning Alex Jones and InfoWars. The hosts debate the definition of "anodyne" in the context of political scandals.

Listener Donald Borosky writes in to discuss the history of HP and Agilent Technologies. Another listener, Thomas Shannon, questions why NBC has not been investigated for "meddling" in the election by leaking the "Access Hollywood" audio. The hosts agree that the NBC leak was functionally similar to the hacks and leaks attributed to Russia.

Legal analyst Lionel discusses potential civil and criminal causes of action for Donald Trump and Billy Bush regarding the leaked Access Hollywood tape. The discussion posits that NBC may have violated California's strict laws against surreptitious recording. There is speculation that Billy Bush was targeted for removal from The Today Show by NBC executives who disliked him.

The release of the "Access Hollywood" tape featuring Donald Trump's vulgar comments is analyzed as a strategic "Friday night distraction" to overshadow the WikiLeaks release of John Podesta's emails. The leaked emails revealed Clinton's private positions on open borders and trade, which the hosts argue are more substantively damaging than Trump's 11-year-old audio.

The hosts discuss the fallout from the Trump tape, with Adam Curry noting that such "banter" is common among men in certain industries. They critique the media's pearl-clutching reaction and predict that the Clinton campaign will continue to release similar "dirt" and potentially fake rape allegations to derail the Trump campaign in its final month.

Singer Rihanna appeared on Access Hollywood to promote the Kony 2012 movement and her involvement with the Invisible Children foundation. She expressed a desire to use her 14 million Twitter followers to spread awareness and mentioned plans to visit Uganda. The discussion characterizes her involvement as part of a broader celebrity-driven propaganda effort.

The hosts perform a "media consulting" critique of entertainment news programs including Access Hollywood, The Insider, and Entertainment Tonight. They analyze how these shows use sensationalist teasers about Charlie Sheen, Nancy Grace, and celebrity weight loss to promote network fall lineups and corporate products like the Fiat 500.

A critique of entertainment news programs like *Access Hollywood* highlights their obsession with the British monarchy and celebrity tragedies, such as the death of Amy Winehouse. The hosts express disdain for the "real news" segments that prioritize royal wedding details over substantive global events.

The hosts play a montage of "Access Hollywood" teasers to contrast "real news" with celebrity gossip. The clips feature Billy Bush and Maria Menounos discussing Michael Douglas's cancer, celebrity weddings, and Golden Globe preparations.

The hosts conclude the show by mocking an Access Hollywood segment that asked viewers to vote on their favorite Lindsay Lohan mugshot. They contrast this "disgusting" media distraction with the serious topics covered in the episode. Adam Curry signs off from Southern California, warning of a potential earthquake, while John C. Dvorak signs off from Silicon Valley.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's proposed 60% tax on mining companies in Australia has led to significant economic concerns and a drop in the Australian dollar. In entertainment news, Access Hollywood covered the reunion of Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell, as well as the post-win activities of American Idol's Lee DeWyze. The segment critiques the frantic pacing and heavy use of sound effects in celebrity news broadcasts.

The hosts mock the "teaser" format of entertainment news shows like Access Hollywood. They transition to discussing the media coverage of Jesse James, specifically allegations of him being a Nazi based on his collection of German military regalia, which they view as a sensationalized character attack.