05/11/23 Let him bray! – Radically Rational

05/11/23 Let him bray!

I understand why so many viewers found Wednesday night’s CNN “Town Hall” interview with Trump so maddening and frustrating. That level of maniacal insanity is always unsettling.

But I found it surprisingly calming and affirming. Trump is fucking nuts, as in literally, clinically, medically insane. Reminders of his mental illness are always useful.

It’s not us, Orange One. It’s you.

Who in their right mind would want to “run back” a Trump presidency? But there’s the rub. His Cultists are not in their right minds. That’s what makes them a Cult.

It was all there. The lies—starting with The Big Lie and “trickling down” from there. The stolen election bullshit. Blaming Pence. Calling Jan. 6 a “glorious day.” Blaming Pelosi, who had nothing to do with Capitol security. Saying he will pardon some Jan. 6 rioters. Lying about his phone calls to Georgia election officials. The Wall that he didn’t finish. More misogyny. Placing Russia and Ukraine on equal moral footing. Telling the GOP to go ahead and force default on our debt.

Let Trump be Trump. As often as possible. His lies now serve only to advance truths. The cure for lies and bad speech is truth and good speech. Suppressing lies does nothing to defeat them. Let him talk. Let him lie. Then continue to expose him.

CNN is taking heavy criticism for giving Trump a forum. I think the criticism in this case is unfounded. News organizations cover the news and newsmakers. Trump’s lies, while not “new,” are nevertheless news. And Trump, as a former president who wants to return to the White House, is absolutely a legitimate newsmaker.

I have been and remain a frequent critic of CNN, an organization that can never quire figure out what it wants to be. But I fail to see how the network mis-stepped in any way Wednesday night, and in fact I think it showed genuine resolve in conducting that interview in front of a very hostile—and irrational—live audience.

Essentially, CNN did its job. News organizations do not take a pass on covering the news.

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Paul's Bio

I clearly have the attention span of your median fruit fly.Look! Airplane!

Sorry. I’m back.

It’s both a curse and a blessing. I’ve never bought this stuff about, “He who dies with the most toys wins.” But I do think that a wide range of life experiences helps us grow as people, and helps us better relate to other people. I’ve been fortunate. And I am beyond grateful.

I show up on time. I go like hell. I’m a good listener. I hold myself accountable. I own my mistakes. And I have a natural and an insatiable curiosity. I’m never afraid to say, “I don’t know,” when I don’t. But then I try to find out.

The flip side is I’m a lousy ballroom dancer and my clothes sometimes fit me funny.

Stuff matters to me. I care. But while I take that stuff seriously, I try hard to never take myself seriously. As a result, I have sometimes been told, “Paul, it’s hard to tell when you’re serious and when you’re just having some fun. Which is it? Serious or fun?”

My answer is “yes.” But I think that is a legitimate criticism. I promise I’m going to work on that.

This has been the quickest and strangest half-century I’ve ever experienced. During that period, I’ve been afforded amazing opportunities in news and sports journalism across all platforms. I have taught wonderful students at the high school and collegiate level. Always, I learned more from them than they did from me. I’ve been a high school administrator. I spent ten seasons as a high school varsity football coach. I’ve been an advertising executive. I’ve hosted nationally syndicated television entertainment shows. In maybe the biggest honor I ever received, I was selected by NASA to be “Chet The Astronaut” for the “Land The Shuttle” simulator at Space Center Houston. (All I can say there, is “Do as I say, not as I do.” I put that thing in the Everglades more often than not.) Most recently, I just wrapped up a decade as a television news director, during which time our teams distinguished themselves in holding the powerful accountable, achieving both critical and ratings success.

What does all that mean? It means I am profoundly grateful. It also means I’m ready for “next.” So here we are. Radically Rational. It’s an idea I woke up with in 2017. I scribbled “Radically Rational” on a piece of notebook paper and used a magnet to stick it on our refrigerator. I saw it every day, and it just would not leave me alone.

I am second in charge at Radically Rational, LLC. My wife, Jo (also known as BB), is the president. Clearly, I have failed in my attempt to sleep my way to the top of this organization.

I hope you will learn that I’m loyal as a Labrador. But I will admit that this doggie can bite every now and then. My promise to you? I will show up on time. I will go like hell. I will listen to you earnestly and attentively. I will hold myself accountable. I will never be the least bit hesitant to say, “I don’t know,” when I don’t.

But then I’ll try to find out. Let’s do it.