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2024 has not even begun yet, and it does seem like the presidential race is effectively frozen in place, if not over.
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We know who the candidates are.
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It's too late for another to get in.
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Some have already dropped out.
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But is it too late?
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Is there anyone in this country of 350 million people who could jump in at this late date and re-scramble the calculus of electoral politics?
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Well, there may be someone, and in fact, you already know him.
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You know his face.
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And the question is, will he get in this cycle?
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And that's my question for you.
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Well, that's really a decision for the people, Tucker.
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It's not something that I really think about or want to do.
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And Merry Christmas to you, too.
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But I've always believed that nothing should be off the table in life or in art.
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I think we could both agree that we need to get some adults back in the room.
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So if that means taking on the chief executive role, well, that's a sacrifice I'm willing to make for this great nation.
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Adults in the room, I love it.
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I can see there's a bumper sticker.
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Is that your campaign slogan?
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Well, that's not a bad idea.
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Look, I think first our country needs to stop apologizing and stiffen up.
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I mean, look, we've got so many people running around with so many different issues like gun control, important issue.
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But let's be honest.
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The truth is, more people are killed by online trolls every day.
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That may be true, actually, but then they're protected by the First Amendment.
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They can say whatever they want.
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You believe in the First Amendment, I assume.
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Of course I do.
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Look, people spewing ridiculous ideas is nothing new, and they should always have that right.
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But the problem is, some are on the way we started listening.
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And we should remember the salient words of Benjamin Franklin who said, do not believe anything of what you hear and only half of what you see.
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He wasn't telling people to stop talking.
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He was telling us to stop listening.
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So let's stop blaming bots and college kids and start telling leaders what leadership really means.
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I love it.
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But how do you do that?
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Well, this country is mired in so much contradiction and confusion.
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We don't even know how we can help anyone anymore because we can't agree who needs help.
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I mean, what doesn't come with a trigger warning these days?
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I mean, Tucker, we are far too close to having a beanbag chair in the Oval Office.
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We coddle to everybody.
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Okay, you think you're a rabbit, that's fine.
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But let me tell you something.
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You sure as hell aren't going to see someone walking through my White House in bunny ears and a tail unless it's Easter.
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Well, amen.
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But how do you think we got here in the first place?
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Fear.
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Fear.
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And then some more fear.
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That's been the consistent theme, fear.
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And that's why I'm going to keep saying we need to get some adults back in the room.
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Sounds like you're running.
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If you did run, I assume it would be as an independent.
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Well, I've always been independent my whole life, no matter what my party affiliation, even though at the moment I don't quite recognize my old party.
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So at what point would you get in if you did?
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Well, I think there's time.
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I've never been afraid to show up a little late for the dance.
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But lots of people want to be president.
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What would you specifically bring that others aren't?
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Well, I think I have a long and very solid relationship with the public, and that's a bond that has never been broken.
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I mean, I've almost felt like I can talk to them directly.
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Well, I mean, you do talk to them.
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Every Christmas you give a statement.
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It is Christmas Eve.
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What is your statement specifically this year?
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You know, Tucker, I think it's just good enough to sip some eggnog and decorate the tree and listen to White Christmas and embrace all the things that make this such a special day.
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The truth is, I love nothing better on this day than to do a line of blow, drink a whiskey and coke, hit a reindeer with my car, and wish you all the naughtiest Christmas ever.
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You know, you and I have something in common, actually.
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Oh, yes, we both got canned by our network.
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True, but they actually tried to kill you.
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Yes, but here we are, Tucker, bigger than ever.
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So looking back on all the drama, do you think that legacy media played a role in what happened to you?
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Look, I think they're trying to do their best to stay relevant.
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Look, platforms like X, I mean, you move information around so quick that everybody else is just playing catch-up.
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Legacy Media's diligence has turned out to be they just cut and paste what some trusted outlet does.
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I mean, look, this will be a good example.
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Watch how they report on this conversation.
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There'll be one or two headlines that get repeated over and over and over.
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I think, actually, if Legacy Media wants to survive, they're going to have to start slowing down.
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That's smart.
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I agree with that.
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By the way, do you watch Netflix anymore?
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Probably as much as you watch Fox.
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Fair.
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So that doesn't mean that you're gone, though, from Netflix.
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I don't even know if you're aware of this, but every time a person pulls up the Netflix app, you're there in some way.
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Have you seen this?
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Yes, you know what that is?
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Boom, boom.
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So it is bizarre that they decided to publicly cut ties with me on allegations alone, allegations that have now been proven false, because I don't think there's any question.
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Netflix exists because of me.
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I put them on the map and they tried to put me in the ground.
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Do you think within Netflix and the leadership suites that your influence is still felt?
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Well, according to your research, my influence is felt every time every customer opens the app.
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I'd say that's pretty powerful.
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That's true.
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When are you getting back to work, by the way?
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Oh, I've been back at work from the moment we started talking, Tucker.
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So does that mean this is like an episode or is it real?
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Well, it's probably a little of both.
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I mean, Tucker, what's true?
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What's false?
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What's life?
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What's art?
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What's real?
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What's performance?
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I love it when these things intersect because then it gets interesting.
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What role do you see yourself playing going forward?
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I will play whatever role the public wants me to play.
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And what about you, Tucker?
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What role do you want to play?
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I mean, if I run, I'm going to need a vice president.
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I'll sleep on it.
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I mean, people have already gotten out of the race.
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People have dropped out already.
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What do you think of those?
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Well, you know, it's a little bit like jumping in the jacuzzi with a boner.
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You know it ain't going to last forever.
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So I wasn't surprised when Mike, a little too pensive, jumped out right away.
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I wasn't either.
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But what about the candidates who are still in?
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Well, I like Vivek, Dre and the Ramaswamy, and Nikki Haley is tough.
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She's no doubt learned a thing or two by watching me.
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But I think in the end, we need someone in the White House who's not afraid like me, not afraid to push our country or a journalist in the right direction if it comes to that.
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I sure appreciate your coming on.
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It was great to see you.
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Thank you.
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Well, thank you, Tucker.
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I only showed up because I was told I would get to be on X. Not the drug, not the platform.
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I was curious as to what Tucker on X might be like.
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I have never tried that.