207. God Only Knows What's Happening (w/ Matt Welch)

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit smokeempodcast.substack.comNancy is reporting from the land of burning Waymos, Sarah is celebrating a sobriety milestone, and “Fifth Column’s” Matt Welch joins us to talk L.A. unrest, the potential for WW III, the scope of newspaper collapse — but first! Felicia Sonmez is back at the Washington Post? Stop the presses! We also cover Weinstein and Diddy and anticipate a weekend of No Kings protest. Matt is “worried sick about Saturday.” The center has held so far, but the stage for conflict is set.Also discussed:* Happy 15th, Sarah!* Bad fake IDs we’ve had* Andersen’s Pea Soup, say it ain’t so!* The World’s Only Corn Palace does not disappoint* Quick: Someone make a GIF of Nancy’s finger diddle* The “velvet coffin” that was the LA Times* Serial murderers of the ‘70s* No Kings protest … in England?* L.A. Rampart scandal* Your protest speaker: Paula Poundstone!* Breaking news at Diddy trial: Kanye has entered the building!* “War is uncomfortable, and I don’t like that”* Do not underestimate Israel’s spy craft* Jailbirds super group alert! Diddy + Kanye + R. Kelly, produced by Weinstein* the Taint Dispensary* Raise your hand if you hitchhiked as a teenager* Sarah misses Tom Wolfe* Matt holds back tearsPlus, Matt on Iran, Sarah on “the red carpet to death,” Nancy on losing her notebook in the protest scrum, and much more!NOTE: For technological reasons (possibly owing to flaming Waymos), the Brian Wilson song that Matt chose for an outro couldn’t be uploaded, but you can find the video in our episode notes.