The Signorile Report

Tim from New York called in to my SiriusXM show to defend Donald Trump’s response to coronavirus, focusing predictably on Trump’s claim that he shut travel from China to stop the virus. When I debunked that and asked him about Trump and testing, he claimed Trump did ramp up testing adequately. And when that was debunked, and after I raised other issues, he eventually switched to…Bill Clinton.

It’s a classic Trump cult call. Let me know your thoughts.

(A reminder that if you’re not a SiriusXM subscriber, through May 31 you can listen free to my SiriusXM program, “The Michelangelo Signorile Show” — live each weekday, 3-6 ET — and to a ton of other talk and music shows and channels by downloading the SiriusXM app and streaming on your phone, or you can listen online here. I’m on SiriusXM Progress, channel 127, where you’ll catch all of our great progressive political shows. No credit card info taken or trial, just sign up and listen.)

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Independent journalist Frank Smyth, spoke with me in depth on my SiriusXM show about his illuminating new book, The NRA: The Unauthorized History, in which he does an amazing job of unearthing the relatively secret history of the National Rifle Association — that is, a history the NRA itself has done a lot to try to hide.

He details how the group began in the late 19th century as a marksmanship group and was an organization dedicated to gun control, fighting organized crime and terrorism in the early part of the 20th century. That was true even right up until the assassination of President Kennedy and Martin Luther King, when the NRA helped spearhead a new federal gun regulation. It was soon after that, however, that a revolt took place at the NRA, and the shift began to occur, which turned the group into the dangerous lobbying group that is today very much a pillar of Trumpworld.

As the NRA has experienced some recent debilitating scandals, as well as financial damage and layoffs amid the coronavirus pandemic — even as it uses the pandemic to fear-monger among gun owners — it’s a good time to look at its history. Take a listen to this eye-opening interview.

(A reminder that if you’re not a SiriusXM subscriber, through May 31 you can listen free to my SiriusXM program, “The Michelangelo Signorile Show” — live each weekday, 3-6 ET — and to a ton of other talk and music shows and channels by downloading the SiriusXM app and streaming on your phone, or you can listen online here. I’m on SiriusXM Progress, channel 127, where you’ll catch all of our great progressive political shows. No credit card info taken or trial, just sign up and listen.)

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.signorile.com/subscribe

I meant to post this clip shortly after that last call I posted from a Trumper to my SiriusXM show (Michael in Alabama), as they’re like two bookends of idiotic know-it-all-ism. Tim from Midland, Texas said he was a new, “short-term” listener to “progressive” radio and he wanted to call in and school us with a “conservative view” on coronavirus, because, you know, we just weren’t fully informed of things.

He told my producer he wanted to explain how this was all China’s fault. So I had ready all the facts about what Trump had said about China. He became kind of befuddled.

Listen in.

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He called Kayleigh McEnany “pure” and “all-American”

What would a weekend be without posting those combative calls from Trump supporters to my SiriusXM show? (I’ll be posting another one later.)

A lot of people couldn’t believe Michael in Alabama was real. But yes, he was — a true cult follower, unhappy with me for not “giving credit” to the president, whom he praised. I must say, however, he was much more on the mellow side than most of those who call.

But he surely sounded like a white supremacist when he called Trump’s new press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany — a hard right, religious extremist who has lied over and over again for Trump — a “beautiful, pure, all-American” woman.

Take a listen, and of course comment with your thoughts.

(And just a reminder for those who aren’t subscribers, much of SiriusXM is free online until May 31. You can download the SiriusXM app, or listen online, and hear my show each weekday, 3-6 ET on SiriusXM Progress, channel 127).

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He also claimed there’s a “cure” for coronavirus, and that I’ve been distorting facts about it.

This one underscores the dangerous misinformation about coronavirus that Donald Trump peddles to his supporters — in addition to their cultish loyalty.

John from Pennsylvania called into my SiriusXM show to defend Trump’s complete reversal on Georgia governor Brian Kemp’s lifting of stay-at-home restrictions in his state.

First he claimed that Trump really didn’t flip-flop, only to admit it after I pointed it out — and admitted it was “stupid” of Trump to say he had “total authority” over the states.

I then bombarded him with facts —- which always confuses the cult followers. But jarring them is a good thing.

In between insulting me, he also claimed that I’m also not telling the truth about the “cure” for coronavirus, promoting the drug Trump has promoted, hydroxychloroquine, which has now been shown to have no benefits and dangerous side effects.

Then he said I should have “real” medical experts on my show — like Dr. Oz.

Listen in and let me know your thoughts!

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After Jason from Georgia called in on Monday SiriusXM to show to say “freedom” is more important than “death” regarding stay-at home orders amid the coronavirus crisis, Zack from New York called in to back him up.

Zack then called governors enforcing public health laws are “authoritarian,” but claimed Trump wasn’t an authoritarian — even though Trump said a week ago that he has “total authority” over country. Hilarity ensued.

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Jason from Georgia calls in….

On Monday, Jason from Georgia called in to my SiriusXM show saying it was time to lift stay-at-home restrictions amid the coronavirus crisis — and his reckless governor has decided to do just that, as rates of infection in the state rise — even if it means people will die: “Open it back up and let people decide — eventually people are going to choose freedom.”

We got into it. I know, I got a bit snappy with him — I’d just about had it with these arguments as people are dying. And the logic of these individuals, whether their demeanors are friendly and cheerful or not, is vile and offensive.

His call was followed up by that of Zack in New York, who supported him. I’ll send that one out later!

UPDATE: Here’s the call from Zack in New York.

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Welcome to The Signorile Report, where you’ll read hard-hitting political commentary and exposés; find interviews with enlightened newsmakers; hear me slay right-wingers who call my radio program; and connect with like-minded, passionate people everywhere.

Photo by Yigithan Bal from Pexels

Listener Michael from Texas called my SiriusXM Progress show last year and the first thing he said, after, “How are you doing today?” was, “It’s amazing to me you still have a job.” (Listen to the call above.)

This was in the days after the Mueller report was released and showed various instances of obstruction of justice. Michael decided to try to change the subject to — you guessed it! — Hillary Clinton’s emails.

Some people think I’m too harsh when the Trump supporters call into my show to challenge me, even when they veer off into insults, propaganda and lies. I don’t know why so many listen, but I’m happy they are, I guess, and glad to debate them. Often though, they tell our producers one thing when they call in, and then get on their air and say another, hurling insults. Which is what Michael did.

And here’s the deal: I’m happy to debate anybody with any point of view that is different from mine. But no one is going to be allowed to push propaganda, changing the subject. That will be aggressively challenged. And anyone who insults me will get hit back hard.

Again, some will say I’m too mean, too harsh, or that it’s not “productive” or it’s “childish” or “sinking their level.” You know the criticisms.

And I get that. But when I soon realize someone is deep in the cult and their mind isn’t going to be changed no matter what, I decide the more productive thing is to actually lay out the truth, boldly and simply, for many other listeners — including some conservatives who might be reachable — and, yes, shake them like hell.

It might work. But whether it has an impact on the caller or not, it does make us feel good. So basically, I decide to use them for our satisfaction, and to our advantage.

And I believe that helps us to be galvanized, to get in the fight, to organize and beat them big time at the ballot box —- and to not be afraid of these cowards!

Honestly, none of this is planned when someone like this calls in. It’s all in the moment and often it’s a manifestation of my blood boiling over regarding the lies.

Let me know your thoughts.

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Many listeners to my SiriusXM Progress show will remember Laura from Michigan who called the show on March 18th. You can listen to it in this clip.

(And actually, I promised listeners I’d sent out the clip in this newsletter once I launched it — and they’ve been writing me over and over asking for it!)

On that day, Donald Trump had promised two navy ships that are floating hospitals would be deployed amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

"So those two ships are being prepared to go,” Trump said that day, explaining the ships are in "tip-top shape” and would arrive in a week.

Except it wasn’t exactly true.

According to the Pentagon, one of them was undergoing maintenance at the time, and they wouldn’t be able to be in operation for several weeks. (It appears they were then rushed out after the story became public, arriving in two weeks in ports in New York and Los Angeles.)

The issue of the ships, however, was just one example I brought up to Laura, a Trump supporter who wanted to express “positivity” about the pandemic response. She was pleading with me not to “look back” regarding Trump’s response.

“There’s nothing productive” about it, she said.

It was yet another way that Trump supporters excuse Trump for engaging in horrendous actions that jeopardize the lives of millions of people.

By the end of the call, after I admittedly got harsh with her, commanding her to “snap out of it,’ Laura revealed that her support for Trump was based on her Christian faith.

“Let he who is without sin cast the first stone, sir,” she said.

Happy to hear your thoughts on this one.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.signorile.com/subscribe