Jonathan Karl on Trump’s Final Days

In his new book, Betrayal: The Final Act of the Trump Show, Jonathan Karl, ABC ...

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In his new book, Betrayal: The Final Act of the Trump Show, Jonathan Karl, ABC News’ chief Washington correspondent, details what was really going on in the final months of the Trump administration, and in the aftermath of the 2020 election. What was happening behind-the-scenes as Trump left the White House? How should the press cover a potential 2024 campaign by the former president?

Show Notes:

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  1. Avatar photo
    Jordan

    Now that I work at home, I only know the difference between the days of the week by which Dispatch podcast I've listened to recently. It is really throwing me off that we didn't have a Wednesday Dec. 8 episode of The Dispatch Podcast.

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    David Burke

    Hey guys!

    If you are serious about a wine podcast with Karl, I would love to curate.

    I am a certified sommelier and have worked in NYC for nearly 40 years. I have worked with the Chefs Tom Valenti, Gray Kunz, Alain Ducasse, Chris Cippalone, and Didier Virot to just name a few. Also just finished 10 years with and import/distribution company where I served the white table cloth establishments as well as neighborhood joints.

    Nothing makes me happier than blowing someone’s socks off with a $20 bottle they have walked past in the store for years.

    Keep up the good work
    Dave

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    Andrewabranch

    We need a review of the Winking Owl from ALDI. I can hear all the frenchy/spanish wine stuff while I buy $2.95 bottles of Merlot from ALDI.

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  4. Avatar photo
    The Bell Tower

    Finally got around to this and it’s quite good. I will be checking out Mr. Karl’s book. A lot of this reporting is just invaluable.

    I think there are two related questions asked here that should be pointed out. How do you cover and should you serve a president or candidate like DonaldTrump?

    I think Mr. Karl’s final comments answer both questions whether he intended or no. The answer is: neither job changes. Administration officials serve the country, journalists serve the truth. Both of these objectives can be met regardless of the character of the man.

    Good men and women who eliminate themselves from the equation accomplish two problematic outcomes: they are no longer there when they are needed and they create an opening for someone whom we might someday wish were not there.

    And Steve’s question shed light on this as well. You cover Trump as you would any other candidate. Praise the good, criticize the bad but serve the truth. Too many journalists or officials feel it is their job to stop the man. You can’t and you shouldn’t and when you try, you only damage the cause you are trying to save.

    Easy for me to say, I’m just an IT guy. Thanks to Sarah and Steve for this podcast.

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  5. John A

    Sounds like a insincere gimmick to me. Anyone can have strong political or personal beliefs and opinions and *horrors* refrain from voting.

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  6. John A

    Thanks everyone for your comments. I was insecure about my thoughts that Karl is not reliable or credible in this interview since I really like the Dispatch and figured I must be wrong or biased. But your comments confirmed Karl’s lack of credibility.
    I am not a Trump fan. But Karl sounded like a tabloid reporter as he was giggling saying he could tell Trump was lying because his voice tone went down. Karl the human lie detector. Things like body language or voice tone have long been discredited as a mechanism to discern truth.
    And that is just one example of lack of credibility in Karl’s interview.

    I’m not a all in a trump guy, but Karl’s interview was at same level of credibility as listening to high school kids gossip about each other.

    A judge would allow very little of this hearsay and non expert opinion to even be admissible as evidence.

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  7. Jon

    Carl has only slightly more credible than Trump himself these days. This interview did nothing more than confirm that bar has not been raised since Trumps departure.

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  8. Richard Kennedy

    I’ve been a fan of Spanish wines, Cava in particular. You dropped the ball by Steve not mentioning anything for the holidays. Steve! Our lonely eyes turn to you. Do a column on what to look for generally from Spain.

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    1. Avatar photo
      CynthiaW

      They don't carry wines from Santorini and Kephalonia at my grocery store.

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  9. John Townson

    I got some good info from podcast especially about talented Admin. staff struggling with whether to stay or go. Enjoyed Sarah pushing back on some of Karl's vague answers. I was disappointed that Karl was not pushed harder not the role MSM had in perpetuating our national madness: making the Horror Clown look like a victim with their reflexive, gullible ,and shoddy reporting. Maybe Im wrong-after all I don't watch MSM anymore- was Karl saying "Hey wait a minute, some of the Steele Dossier/collusion stuff doesn't add up..? Maybe the Hunter Biden story has something to it? Did he really mean Nazis are fine people?" Trump's victimhood just adds fuel to his fire; MSM crappy reporting just solidifies his base support.

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  10. Avatar photo
    CynthiaW

    I'm behind on podcasts (and cleaning the stove) and may never get to this one, but I requested Mr. Karl's book from the library, where there's a long waiting list, but oh well. I remember enjoying his earlier book.

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