Maggie Haberman flinched backward blinking her eyes rapidly, each blink a pull on the mental ripcord attached to her interrupted thoughts. “I-I..” These words she uttered, these sounds had no meaning they were placeholder rumbles of a machine coming to life, the sputtering catch of a clutch finally engaged.

“I’m sorry..” she said, putting one hand to the side of her temple as she took in her surroundings. “There was a bright light and…” Maggie trailed off as her senses finished translating sensory data into meaning. There was a horrible ringing sensation in her ears.

She was in an unremarkable conference room, she shared the space with two that she knew, both Jake and Kathy who were at the far end of the room appearing just as dazed and confused as she was, as well as two she did not know some professionally dressed men in black: black suit, black tie, and large black sunglasses. One man stood at the far end of the conference room where Jake and Kathy were and appeared to be engaging the two of them in what looked to be a confident and assured manner, though Maggie couldn't hear what they were actually saying. The other darkly dressed man stood in front of her and she supposed that it was to him she had reflexively apologized to earlier even though to her mind, this was the first time she had ever laid eyes on him.

“That’s quite alright ma’am,” the man in the suit assured her and Maggie watched as he slipped an item into his breast pocket. The action was done swiftly and all she could make out was what appeared to be some high-tech-looking, chrome-painted cigar before it disappeared out of view. Probably one of those state-of-the-art vape pens, she thought.

“Now ma’am we're just about done here, I just have one final question if that's alright.”

Maggie had no idea what the gentleman was on about, final question? To her mind, this was the first time they were exchanging words, but she was clearly out of it and he seemed like he was in charge so she went along.

“Yeah, sure.”

“How did you and Yashar become friends?” Yashar…Yashar, Maggie scoured her memory, sifting through the raging river bank that was her thoughts to try and snag that one slippery pebble at the bottom. After some time she was able to grasp it, or thought she was. “Yashar, yes. I… actually don't remember how we became friends, I’m sorry.”

The man in black smiled at her answer. “That’s quite alright ma'am, you’re free to go.” He turned from her then and made a sharp whistling sound. At the sound, the other man at the far end of the room ceased his conversation with Jake and Kathy and gave a little nod. The pair then exited the room together speaking in low tones. Maggie never saw the men again and neither did she see Yashar. But he still visited her, in her dreams and always after a bright flash of light appearing to her not as she knew him to be, but instead as a shriveled alien creature handcuffed in a conference room, spitting foul curses as it was led away by two men in black suits.

Topics discussed on today’s episode include Biden’s DOJ, Xanala Harris, Yashar Ali and Ghostbusters Jr!

Airdate: 06/10/21 - https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1051813906