Topic: Celebrity Politics

The hosts discuss how celebrities like Julia Louis-Dreyfus damage their personal brands by alienating audiences with political commentary. Dvorak mentions that his wife, Mimi, avoids reading Dreyfus's opinions to keep from ruining the experience of watching the show Veep. They conclude that Michael Moore's film failed because audiences are tired of rehashing Trump-related grievances.

The history of celebrity in the American presidency is examined, comparing the public profiles of Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump to potential candidate Michael Bloomberg. Reagan's extensive career in film, television, and the Screen Actors Guild is cited as a more traditional path to fame than Trump's reality TV success. Bloomberg is described as lacking the necessary "celebrity" charisma to succeed in the current media landscape.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is characterized as a "modern-day celebrity" who uses platforms like Instagram to build a following similar to the Kardashians. The hosts debate whether her photogenic nature and social media savvy can overcome her perceived lack of policy depth. One host predicts she has a genuine chance at the presidency, while the other remains skeptical of her long-term viability.

With John Kerry's Senate seat potentially opening up, speculation has turned to actor Ben Affleck as a possible candidate. Affleck, who has been active in advocacy for the Congo and recently released the film *Argo*, did not rule out a future in politics during recent interviews. The hosts compare his potential trajectory to that of George Clooney.

Singer Madonna's comments during a concert, where she referred to President Obama as a "black Muslim," are played. The hosts use this as an example of celebrity political ignorance and the general confusion of the public.

Celebrity gossip suggests that Oprah Winfrey may have a personal infatuation with Barack Obama, with some observers claiming she "hangs on" him during public appearances. This dynamic is viewed as a potential complication for the President-elect as he manages various agendas within the black community.

The rise of aggressive paparazzi culture is examined through the lens of TMZ.com and its coverage of celebrities like Lindsay Lohan. The hosts question why the same level of scrutiny and aggressive questioning is not applied to politicians. They suggest that the media's focus on "de-lebrities" distracts from substantive political reporting.

The Democratic party's shift toward aggressive, negative campaigning is seen as a risk to their appeal among youth voters. The hosts compare the orchestration of Obama's public persona to the management of a celebrity like Amy Winehouse. They argue that the "celebrity" strategy was effective until the Republican party began using it against them.