Topic: Vanity Fair

White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles is the subject of a multi-part Vanity Fair profile by author Chris Whipple based on eleven interviews. Major news networks highlighted Wiles' comments comparing Donald Trump’s personality to that of an alcoholic and her labeling JD Vance a conspiracy theorist. Wiles later characterized the article as a disingenuously framed hit piece, while Trump publicly maintained support for her performance.

Author Chris Whipple appeared on CNN with Anderson Cooper to defend his Vanity Fair profile of Susie Wiles, asserting that all controversial quotes are recorded on tape. Whipple noted that Wiles was surprisingly unguarded during their eleven months of interviews. The segment highlights a slip of the tongue where Whipple refers to Wiles as his "target" rather than his subject.

The difficulty of finding accurate, up-to-date television ratings for Jimmy Kimmel's return is discussed, with claims that the industry is suppressing data. While Kimmel saw an initial surge to 6.2 million viewers, subsequent numbers are harder to verify. The shift toward measuring YouTube views and delayed recordings has complicated traditional overnight rating reporting.

Mainstream outlets including Rolling Stone and Vanity Fair publish headlines portraying Donald Trump as a threat to voters and an admirer of historical slavery. CBS News reported a story claiming Trump complained about a $60,000 funeral bill for a "Mexican" soldier, which was later refuted by the soldier's family on social media. The hosts argue these outlets are intentionally being "caught" in lies to influence public perception.

Vanity Fair published a report claiming Donald Trump is suffering from PTSD after watching the footage of his assassination attempt "over and over." The report suggests this trauma is causing him to make "gaffes" and personal attacks rather than focusing on policy. This narrative is viewed as a coordinated media schema to garner sympathy or question his fitness for office.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faces a "hit piece" from Vanity Fair involving allegations of sexual misconduct with a babysitter in 1998 and a controversial photo involving a charred animal carcass. RFK Jr. clarified the animal was a goat (cabrito) from South America, while acknowledging he has "skeletons in his closet."

A Red Book prediction forecasts "aggressive drone activity" within the United States before the November election, involving non-lethal force against citizens. Additionally, the hosts discuss Senate hearings on international proposals to regulate the internet, expressing concern over United Nations or ITU control of ICANN.

NPR is criticized for airing a flattering profile of Queen Camilla, featuring author Tina Brown. The segment attempts to rehabilitate Camilla's image from the "other woman" in the Charles and Diana marriage to a "national treasure." The hosts contrast this new narrative with the historical public animosity toward Camilla, noting the scripted nature of the interview.

Social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook are actively removing posts from users wishing for the President's death following his COVID-19 diagnosis. Meanwhile, the Trump campaign is utilizing the hospitalization for aggressive fundraising, sending text messages and emails requesting donations alongside "Get Well" card signatures. Skeptics like Michael Moore and QAnon adherents offer conflicting theories, ranging from the illness being a hoax to it being the start of "10 days of darkness."

Investigative journalist Vicki Ward is profiled regarding her 2003 Vanity Fair article on Jeffrey Epstein. Ward claims her editor, Graydon Carter, removed testimonies from underage victims, while the hosts question her social connections to Ghislaine Maxwell and the timing of her recent media appearances.

Vanity Fair reports that the Jeffrey Epstein case could implicate hundreds or thousands of names as investigations expand. Epstein is described as a "fixture" in Palm Beach society who was known to many elite figures. The discussion notes that while the media focuses on Trump, other figures like Ehud Barak have also been linked to Epstein's properties.

Critics point out striking similarities between E. Jean Carroll's rape allegation and a 2012 episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit involving a dressing room at Bergdorf Goodman. The discussion suggests the allegation may be a promotional tactic for her new book.

Beto O'Rourke's entry into the 2020 presidential race is discussed, including his "born to do this" comment in Vanity Fair. The hosts analyze his interview with Gail King, where he avoids a firm stance on impeaching Trump, preferring to beat him at the ballot box. They predict the Democratic strategy will shift from active impeachment to using the threat of it as a campaign tool.

A 1990 Vanity Fair article detailing Donald Trump's divorce from Ivana Trump reveals that the media has been using the same "fractal" playbook for decades. The article describes journalists in the 1990s expressing regret for "creating" Trump's persona and buying into his publicity stunts. This historical context suggests that the current adversarial relationship between Trump and the press is a repetition of a long-standing cycle.

Vanity Fair released a video of actress Nicole Kidman eating various insects, including live hornworms, mealworms, and fried grasshoppers. The hosts describe her technique with chopsticks and her "reptilian" demeanor, noting the sound of the insects being crushed in her mouth as she promotes "micro livestock" as a food source.

Vanity Fair faced significant social media backlash for a video suggesting Hillary Clinton take up hobbies like knitting instead of running for office in 2020. Critics labeled the suggestion "misogynistic," while others argued that knitting is a productive form of meditation used by both men and women.

A historical anecdote from a Vanity Fair article describes Steve Jobs' alleged habit of putting his feet up on tables during meetings while wearing loose shorts and no underwear. This behavior is characterized as a deliberate, albeit disturbing, tactic to dominate and unsettle colleagues. The story was reportedly confirmed by a guest on the program Silicon Spin.

A Vanity Fair article by James Wolcott explores the concept of the "alt-left," naming figures like Mark Ames, Michael Tracy, and Jeremy Scahill. Representative Tulsi Gabbard is identified as a "political darling" of this movement. The discussion highlights the exhaustion caused by the rapid conflation of terms like Nazi, KKK, white nationalist, and alt-right in current public discourse.

Screenwriter Aaron Sorkin's open letter to his daughter, published in Vanity Fair, is condemned as "vile" and "hate speech." In the letter, Sorkin calls Trump a "thoroughly incompetent pig" and claims the KKK and "misogynist shitheads" won the election. The hosts mock Sorkin's claim that ISIS is celebrating and his suggestion that he would trade Trump for Richard Nixon.

Rumors regarding Caitlyn Jenner potentially "de-transitioning" back to a man are discussed as a predicted publicity stunt for a future book or movie. The hosts express skepticism about the authenticity of Jenner's transition, characterizing it as a "cross-dressing exercise" played out in the media. They mention Jenner's upcoming appearance in Sports Illustrated.