March 14, 2025 • 34 mins
The John Kobylt Show Hour 2 (03/14) - Mark Thompson fills in for John. Zohreen Shah comes on the show to about Pres. Donald Trump making a visit to the Department of Justice. Debra is going to an award show tonight. Tariffs could impact CA's economy. Healthcare in California is so expensive.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Can't. If I am six forty you're listening to the
John Cobelt podcast on the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
It is the John Cobelt Show. Mark Thompson sitting in
for John on this wet Friday KIM six forty Live
everywhere on the iHeartRadio app. Great to have you here.
There is there's a SpaceX launch. I think it's going
to launch tonight. Has it launched yet? I don't think so,
Debro No, But there The reason this launch is I
(00:30):
think somewhat high profile, is because they're going to rescue,
if you will, or finally transport home those two NASA
astronauts that have been up there forever. And you know,
it's been nine months. They were supposed to be up
there ten days now. They were told it could be
months before you come back. But I don't know, they're
(00:51):
really you talk about a great attitude.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
I was gonna say I saw an interview with them
and they and they basically said.
Speaker 4 (00:58):
You know, we're prepared for this to happen.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Yeah, no big deal.
Speaker 4 (01:02):
I'm thinking, I'm God, it'd be a big deal for me.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
I asked one of the astronauts in the Actually it
was one of the Kelly brothers. You know, Mark Kelly
is the astronaut, was up in space. Well his brother,
who twin brother, was on Earth and they were comparing
the two bodies when they came back. They have all
these ways that they're trying to evaluate the effect of
space on the body, et cetera. Anyway, ask him, so
(01:25):
you're in that International Space Station, I mean, aren't there
days where like Dimitri is getting on your nerves or
I mean, how do you handle that in that close quarter?
How do you handle the different personalities? And he said,
you know, they kind of test us all on that stuff.
They make sure that psychologically we're not the kind that
(01:48):
are necessarily going to you know, be quick to you know,
to anger at things, and we sort of it's just
the I guess the backbeat of everything up there is
very calm, you know, and so they don't get irritated.
Speaker 4 (02:02):
That's what do you ever be able to do that?
Speaker 2 (02:03):
Ever? Are you kidding? I'll tell you one thing. You're
not sending me up there for what I think is
ten days and leaving me up there for nine months.
That is not going to happen. So anyway, well, but
that is happening tonight.
Speaker 4 (02:17):
That's unless something else goes wrong.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
Yes, scrub, there is that always. Donald Trump has made
a rare visit, and it really is rare. I mean,
the last time he's gone to the Justice Department, the
last time there was a president of the Justice Department
is Barack Obama, I believe. But don't take my word
for it. Take the word of ABC News correspondent Zorin Shah,
my old colleague over at Fox eleven High, Zoring, Hey,
(02:42):
good to be with you.
Speaker 5 (02:43):
Yeah, all right, you're exactly right. Barack Obama was the
last president. And it is a very very rare visit
for a president. Yet Clinton go won, George W. Bush
went twice, Herbert Hoover, But those business world whore really different.
Those were more ceremonial, and this had a very different feeling.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
Yeah, tell me what the feeling was, and tell me
why this president felt the need to go to the
Justice Department.
Speaker 5 (03:09):
You know, it was more of a political rally. It
felt more in line with what you hear from Trump
when he speaks to those crowds. He was laying up
what he wants his Justice Department to do. But I
think what was really dramatic. I mean some of the
lines where we've heard before. Certainly it had the cinematic feel.
I mean, a few months ago, there were people inside
(03:30):
of that building who were working very hard to prosecute
the very president who was now standing in that building.
He was the target of a subtle prosecution, once the
target of that very Justice Department. And that's what really
made it sooka.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
Like here and so did he reference that or I know,
he spoke a bit about, you know, sort of under
his administration, they won't weaponize the Justice Department the way
they did under the prior administration. Was his kind of
general sentiment, right, yep.
Speaker 5 (04:01):
Yeah, that was exactly right. I mean, that is that
is what he repeated, is it's now the very familiar
occupation that the Justice Department was weaponized to attack him.
And he talked about this extensively. He said, he claimed that,
you know, we have to be honest about the lives
and abuses that have occurred within these walls. Of course,
his critics say that that is completely focused and you know,
(04:25):
a lot of mistruths. He talked about restoring equal justice
under the rule of law. He falsely claimed that the
prior Justice Department tries to stop him from becoming president
and spent a lot of the time really lashing out
against his political critics.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
So you've mentioned so there were some misstatements or falsehoods
along the way, but he was making if we just
take a step back, he was making a general statement
about the direction of the Justice Department and how it
won't be succumbing to any kind of sort of political agenda.
It sounds like that was his overall point.
Speaker 5 (05:01):
Which is definitely an interesting kind of case to make
because as you've seen, he's been elevating a lot of
people that appear to be very loyal to the president.
You know, he's been purging many career civil servants. But
but yeah, that is what he said that he wanted
to do. He wanted to fight the weaponization of the department,
(05:24):
and of course, you know, you have critics pointing out
that he is using his power to punish his enemies.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Yeah, the rhetoric doesn't seem to match the action a
lot of the time with Trump, that's the way it is.
But who else was there? I think Pam Bondi, whose
Attorney general was there? Who else?
Speaker 5 (05:41):
FBI Director Cash to tell you had white host officials,
Republican state Attorney General's local law enforcements. I think what
was the most striking is that you didn't perhaps see
maybe as many folks from the Justice Department as you
might under another president. They were are not invited the
(06:01):
Department of Justice rank and file members unless they got
a special invitation, and that I think is also what
is leading a lot of people to say the spelt
more like a political rally.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
I see, yeah, fascinating. Well, any word as to what's
happening with Special Counsel Jack Smith. I mean he's been
talked about as someone she obviously headed up the investigations
and even the prosecutions and indictments of Donald Trump. Is
he on the wish list for you know, cash Battel
(06:32):
and the rest. I mean, he's Patel has made no
I think bones about the fact that he has a
list of people who's going to go after.
Speaker 5 (06:42):
You know, Jack Smith was actually was brought up in
this in this rally today and I'm actually looking at
the transfer because I want to make sure I get
this part right. I mean Trump really went at I mean,
if we revoked the clearances, he called called Jack Smith's deranged.
He included him in assendance with Alvin Bragg, Letitia James,
(07:06):
people who really try to hold Trump accountable when he
was when he was running. So so don't worry. He
did bring him up. He was mentioned in this very
event today.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
It's just odd. I mean, in the same speech that
you're making these sweeping statements about sort of this past
policy of weaponizing the Justice Department and how your administration
isn't going to have any of that and they won't
be prosecuting anyone for political affiliations, and that you then
just open up a can of I'm going after you
(07:42):
when you mentioned Jack Smith, and again that is I
think part of the dissonance, you know, the disconnect sometimes
between the rhetoric of Donald Trump and the actions of
his administration. But fascinating, you know, yeah.
Speaker 5 (07:56):
It certainly muddles the water a lot of times, and
just I think can craft confuses a lot of people
who closely follow him. For sure.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
In my last minute with you, let me ask you,
did you are you guys rebuilding in the Palisades? Zorine
lost her house in the was it the Palisades or Malibu?
I thought it was, yeah, yeah, we are.
Speaker 5 (08:14):
You know, it is the most tedious process ever we
are still trying to figure out to removal. We're still
trying to figure out do we keep our foundation or not.
And everyone said it's going to be a long process,
and you don't realize how painstakingly long every little thing
is until you're in it. It's it's it's the pain
for sure.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
Now let me ask you the tough questions. This is
why they pay me. So did insurance cover you to
the point that you can get out hold and rebuild
or is it going to be uh is there going
to be some you know, some bleeding associated with it?
Speaker 5 (08:46):
So we got a portion of we have California Fair Plan.
We've got a portion of the advance in the mail already.
That was very exciting. But you don't get the full
amount until later, is what is what I'm told. You
don't get the whole thing right afar And I think
a lot of things you actually to.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
Mind are canting.
Speaker 5 (09:03):
You know, we get a bill for like when you
get debre removal, you know, you you you build it
to the you hold on those procepts. You send it
to uh, the the insurance agency or you know, if
you go with the county then they'll handle that.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
So you have to deficit finance essentially everything and then
you'll be reimbursed, is the hope.
Speaker 5 (09:22):
Not everything. I mean, so we did get an advance
and so you that is that is enough for us
at least to start the rebuilding process right now. So
I gotta say, I said, I handed to California Fairplant.
I was surprised that it's been about two months since
that fire happened and we got our advance checks. And
(09:44):
I really hope that's the same for a lot of
other folks who who have insurance, who are really trying
to rebuild right now.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
I mean, it's a huge, huge project, but I love
that you're rebuilding and then it's already underway. Great stuff.
Thanks all, come.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
Over when when we when we were there for the
open house for sure.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
Zarinshaw, ABC News corresponder for Washington, thanks so much. Appreciate
that it's the co Belt show when we come back.
I'm curious for starters. Debra's going to this big event tonight.
It's a it's the eddies. You know, if you don't
know what the eddies are, stay stay with us. When
we come back, we'll tell you what the eddies are.
And if you look up the eddies. You're going to
(10:23):
find several answers as to what the eddies are. It's
not so we'll tell you what the eddies are and
we will explore her evening's plan when we come back.
It's the co Belt Show. Mark Thompsons sitting in for
John on KFI AM six forty Live everywhere on the
iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 6 (10:40):
You're listening to John Cobelt on demand from KFI AM
six forty.
Speaker 2 (10:46):
Mark Thompson's sitting in this rainy afternoon. We've talked about
the LA County Supervisors overhauling essentially three hundred million dollars
in these annual taxpayer dollars that are going to homeless
service agencies now being reams. We talked about Tokyo and
the Dodgers fever that has gripped that city. Spoke about
(11:07):
Washington and the Justice Department getting a visit from Donald
Trump today lashing out at political enemies in a partisan
speech in front of the DOJ audience. But what we
haven't talked about is that tonight the eddies are going
down the Eddie Awards. Now, if you look up the
(11:27):
Eddie Awards, Deborah Mark is an attendee this evening with
her husband. Is he a nominee for an eddie?
Speaker 4 (11:33):
He is not.
Speaker 3 (11:34):
But the editor that he's been working with on and
off for twenty seven years is getting an award tonight.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
Lif Wow. So these are awards for cinema editors, correct?
And who is the Lifetime Achievement Award of winner.
Speaker 3 (11:52):
Her name is Mazie hoy H and she is getting
an award.
Speaker 4 (11:57):
She's amazing. She's been in the business for me any many, many,
many many years.
Speaker 3 (12:01):
And she is a very nice person as well. She
does listen to KFI.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
Wow.
Speaker 4 (12:07):
Matter of fact, I don't.
Speaker 3 (12:08):
Think she's listening now because I think she's over at
the at the ceremony. Sure it's a she's ramping up,
probably getting all glammed.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
I love that.
Speaker 4 (12:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
I'm wondering what things she has edited that I might
need her league.
Speaker 4 (12:24):
Wow, Oh you're looking it up.
Speaker 2 (12:27):
Now, Eric's this is strong, okay, Eric? Yeah? The Medea franchise,
Oh yeah, wow that part of now here's why if
I can just die well, well, Eric scares up the
rest of her credits. Let me just say one of
the things that's key. Editing is so important, of course,
but in a comedy, particularly an editor. A good editor
(12:50):
can make a moment so much funnier.
Speaker 3 (12:52):
Absolutely, you know, until I was married to my husband,
I mean in college, I remember I.
Speaker 4 (12:58):
Had to edit a documentary and I hate it.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
I did not like editing because it's hard work, sure,
and I mean seriously hard work. But I have new
found respect because I see what my husband does, I
see what Maze does, and absolutely I think editors don't
get enough. I don't want to say credit, but you know,
it's the talent, it's the director, it's the producer that
(13:22):
we always talk about and hear about. But editors can
definitely make or break a movie. So now when I
watch movies or TV shows, I always say.
Speaker 4 (13:29):
To my husband, that was a bad edit. That was
a bad edit. Why didn't they hold on to that
shot longer and then you edit it? I mean I
do that all the time.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
It is true that if you linger on a shot,
it can be making a funny moment funnier, absolutely, But
if you linger on a shot too long, it can
make a you know, it can take the edge off
app So what other films has she been involved with. Eric,
She's been involved with a couple of Dolly Parton things.
Speaker 4 (13:56):
And I actually worked on them and did voice work.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
Did you now? I see you get the end? The
single Mom's Club.
Speaker 4 (14:03):
Good, joy Luck Club?
Speaker 2 (14:07):
Wow, wow, time bomb. You could stop after a Major
League and Joy Luck Club and you can kind of
you know, plant the flag that's strong there.
Speaker 3 (14:17):
My husband and Mazie are working on two movies right
now as we speak.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
Now, when he edits, does he edit at home in
like a home edit bay?
Speaker 3 (14:25):
He does, but he also goes he also goes to
a facility and does it.
Speaker 4 (14:29):
So it just depends.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
You've been married for a while. You remember the time
when he had to always go to the facility before
the technology had gotten to the point that he could
actually have a home edit bay.
Speaker 5 (14:37):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (14:38):
Yeah, yeah? Did you like that more when he was
leaving the house and going to do it? What are
you saying, does he set up in the main house
or do you have like a little.
Speaker 4 (14:51):
You have an office and he can do it there.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
That's really great. So what are you wearing to the
eddies tonight?
Speaker 4 (14:57):
Okay, So here's the thing.
Speaker 3 (14:59):
The eddies were so post to happen right around the
time I want to say, maybe a week after the wildfires,
so obviously they were postponed and it was supposed to
be pretty fancy. Well tonight it's casual, which I'm glad
because it's raining in half of it's.
Speaker 4 (15:14):
Going to be outside.
Speaker 2 (15:15):
What a break. I think that is a huge break.
I know, I just hate having to dress up in
that formal stuff. Oh my god.
Speaker 4 (15:23):
Sometimes it's fun, but definitely not in the rain.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
It's somewhat gender specific. I think women more enjoy it
more than men. I don't know.
Speaker 3 (15:30):
It is fun, but then when you know your hair
and it's raining or your hair is frizzy like mine, yeah,
the weather. So I'm happy that. I mean, look, you
see what I'm wearing. I'm just changing. I'm just going
to change my coat for tonight, a warmer, a little
more flashy coat.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
But yeah, but you always look kind of camera ready,
to be honest, I mean you look red carpet ready
a lot of the time. So it's true.
Speaker 4 (15:52):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
So, I mean, anybody who's seen Deborah on Instagram and
all the rest, you know that that's indeed the case.
Speaker 3 (15:58):
So I love all that stuff. I'm not gonna lie.
I'm definitely a clothing whore.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
Yeah, it's good, it's well, I am excited. To see
your look for tonight. Congratulations to your husband's partner. Thank you,
professional partner. And that's a really exciting thing. And I
must tell you I had no idea. It makes sense,
it makes total sense that there would be the Eddy Awards,
but I just really never knew that they'd existed.
Speaker 4 (16:22):
Right, Yeah, that's what I mean. I don't think editors
get enough credit.
Speaker 2 (16:26):
Yeah, so all right, enjoy, I want a full report.
Speaker 4 (16:30):
I will give you a full report.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
Well kind of. By the way, how many you must
have asked him? How long is the ceremony? Well, honey,
how long is it?
Speaker 3 (16:38):
By the way, she's one of the first speakers and
gets her award because it's it's quite a few hours,
and like I said, a lot of it is outside.
Speaker 4 (16:48):
And my husband actually he just had back surgery.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
Oh my god.
Speaker 4 (16:52):
Yeah, lower back.
Speaker 2 (16:53):
L four L five every one. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (16:55):
Yes, so we're not going to be there that long.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
I see.
Speaker 3 (16:57):
So you want to be there to support her and
we'll see his life as he can handle it.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
Oh, poor guy. All right, I have the same surgery.
It's surely it's brutal. Yeah, but I mean you get
back to it, yeah, I mean, you get back to life.
It's true. That's Debora Mark and her glamorous night at
the Eddye Awards. When we come back. There are tariffs
and threats of tariffs both have an effect on the
California economy. We'll get into that when we continue. Mark
(17:22):
Thompson sitting in for John Cobelt on KFI AM six
forty or Live everywhere on the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 6 (17:29):
You're listening to John cobelts on demand from KFI AM
six forty.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
Well, the on again, off again tariffs that are both
threatened and actually imposed have an effect on California. I mean,
we had some experience with this the first go round.
Remember our first marriage with the Donald Trump was in
twenty nineteen. For example, the it was almost like an
(17:55):
interruption in the supply chain. There was Chinese cargo in
twenty nineteen. I'm seeing here at the Port of Long
Beach lost about twenty percent of that import and there
was an increase of imports from Southeast Asia like Vietnam, Indonesia,
Thailand to make that up. So there are always workarounds
(18:17):
when it comes to a tariff. Right, there are countries
when we a tariff, they are goods and there is
a matching depletion of that export on their end, they
find other countries to export too. And similarly, when we have,
(18:38):
as we do, the a tariff that's going into farming countries,
really in large measure, these soy farmers, soybean farmers will
be really hard hit and they have a terrific market
in China, but China is now going elsewhere for that
because of the Chinese tariffs. So anyway, these are the
retaliatory tariffs to China tariffs our goods, and so as
(19:03):
a result, you end up with this back and forth.
And as I say, this isn't our first go round,
and tariffs generally have this escalating pinch on the economy
now in California. And by the way, just to round
that out, what they did with the farmers and as
you may remember, again this was of Trump the first time,
(19:25):
when he was president the first time and there were tariffs,
then he took care of those farmers that were being
hit by those retaliatory tariffs. So a lot of the
tariff money oddly didn't go into the US treasury. It
went to checks sent to those farmers who were hard
hit and other industries that were a hard hit because
(19:47):
of the Chinese retaliatory tariffs. So this time there may
be that same kind of plan to take care of
those industries and many of those states, particularly his constituencies,
that helped let him to take care of them. So guys,
don't worry, I got you. A lot of this tariff
money is going to be taking care of you. The
problem with that, of course, is that undercuts the whole
(20:09):
expressed reason for the tariffs, which is supposedly to raise money,
I mean raise money for it, tax cut likely, and
so that's on down the way. But in any case,
what does it mean to California? So apparently there are
all kinds of ways in which the shoe pinches here.
I was reading this piece in the La Times that
was suggesting that, for example, there is a hardware store
(20:35):
called Annawalt. It's in Malibu, and they have lumber, and
they sell a lot of lumber. But as you know,
there is now a tariff associated with it, and the
majority of the lumber that the store sells in Malibu
comes from where anybody. Canada, and nearly all of the
(20:56):
steel products are made in anybody China. So those countries,
along with Mexico, they're part of these sweeping tariffs that
are both imposed by President Trump and he's threatening further tariffs.
So the reps for the hardware company that Ann Walt
(21:19):
in Malibu, they're saying the tariffs are one hundred percent
going to impact us. They've warned customers to expect high costs.
They'll have to be passed on. We're going to see
major increases, he said, fifteen to twenty five percent across
the board in this industry, and all kinds of businesses
around California. Farmers, automakers, homebuilders, tech companies, apparel retailers are
(21:46):
all going to be affected. But here is the odd part,
and this is why the markets are just all over
the place. The on again, off again tariff craziness makes
it impossible to really plan. And a lot of these
business people are saying, tell us what it's going to be.
Is it going to be a fifty percent terriffs, a
twenty five percent tariff? What countries involved? Because we have
(22:08):
to plan for the next quarter. So many business people
are saying, we don't know what to do. And the
twenty five percent tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico
that started, there was a ten percent limit on Canadian
energy and Chinese imports. Tariffs on them went up to
(22:31):
twenty percent. Then an exemption was granted. Remember US automakers
got the exemption. So once again this creates. Are there
going to be more exemptions? Is the tariff going to
be rolled back? Farmers in California and across the US.
Is noted here China imposed retaliatory duties up to fifteen percent.
(22:57):
This is what I was talking about. American agricultural products
including chicken, corn, beef, pork, wheat, and soybeans all hit
by that retaliatory duty of fifteen percent that imposed by China.
So businesses may have to change their operations. It's noted
across California there could be some real effect. This is
(23:19):
going to feel a little bit it suggested the way
it did during the supply chained interruptions of COVID. So
farmers it's incredibly tough for them. There's a heavy reliance
on trade with China and Mexico. Those are big, big customers.
Just a state of bluntly, and we are a global
(23:40):
agricultural powerhouse. China. I mean, China's our biggest probably our
biggest customer California. We are truly the engine when it
comes to global agriculture. But now there's going to be
a lot of this that is tariffed, and some of
it may never get exported at all. California farmers grow
(24:04):
the largest share of the nation's food. Also, more than
a third of the country's vegetables, more than three quarters
of its fruits and nuts are grown here in California,
and the state's fertile ground is a major supplier of
produce to countries around the world. That's what I was saying.
Farmers also rely heavily on fertilizer from anybody Canada, So
(24:24):
now that fertilizer costs you more, farmers in California are
going to be hurt, particularly badly almonds, soybeans, huge exports
of the US. Now I didn't even mention wine country.
These two one hundred percent tariffs that are going to
be imposed on champagne and spirits from the European Union.
(24:47):
This was just announced yesterday morning, and he's imposing these
tariffs as retaliation because he feels the plan by the
EU to put a fifty percent tariff on American made whiskey,
which should not stand. So as long as they are
going to do that. The imports when it comes to
(25:11):
champagne and wine from overseas two hundred percent. So how
will this affect wine growers in California. It's unclear. They're
all over the place. So as you look at tariffs
and ripple effects, it'll affect California in two ways. One
(25:32):
in terms of prices they will likely go up, the
other in terms of availability. I mean, you just are
going to find something akin to but maybe perhaps night
as bad as what we saw during the COVID crisis,
with something that quacks a little like the supply chain interruptions,
but not knowing for all of these businesses, the on again,
(25:56):
off again chaotic nature of it, that is the toughest
part for California, your businesses. It's the co Belt Show.
Mark Thompson sitting in for John on KFI AM six
forty live everywhere on the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 6 (26:08):
You're listening to John Cobelt on demand from KFI AM.
Speaker 2 (26:12):
Sixty KFI AM six forty live everywhere on the iHeartRadio app.
Eric getting me used to the new rhythm. Yeah, got
a whole rhythm of like when you join, when you're
going to break all that stuff Ray and de remark
all here as well, and glad you could join us
a as a You know, it's a wet day punctuated
(26:33):
by like periods of downforce. I guess it's going to
clear up a bit tomorrow. Did anybody see that red
moon last night? No?
Speaker 4 (26:39):
Did you?
Speaker 2 (26:39):
Yes? I went out and I caught just the end
of it. It was pretty cool. It really was about
eleven twenty five. I looked out over the Thompson Estate
and I saw a little red orb and that was
the moon. Yeah, it was pretty cool. I heard someone
told me it's good that gonna happening in for forty years?
(27:01):
Is that the thing?
Speaker 4 (27:02):
You got to see it?
Speaker 2 (27:03):
Now?
Speaker 4 (27:03):
I did?
Speaker 2 (27:04):
I feel quite I feel quite lucky. It's it's weird
because it's not like a big moon. You just see
a little It might have been bigger earlier, but you're
just kind of a little almost just a little disk
in the sky. Like it wasn't a big moon over
the city that then was red colored. It was higher
in the sky and smaller, but it was. It was
(27:25):
pretty cool. Yeah, gotta say so. Anyway, clouds moved in,
rain moved in, and that's what we're dealing with. Now
I think it's didn't you say it's going to taper
off tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (27:34):
Yes, it's going to be sunny and warmer tomorrow. Then
we might get some more.
Speaker 4 (27:38):
Rain on Monday.
Speaker 2 (27:40):
Well, the rain has its problems, but we do we
need it. We need we really do need it. So look,
I don't have good news about how much healthcare is
going to cost in California, and it looks like we
may have to float some kind of loan essentially to
(28:00):
cover the three billion dollar cost to overrun that the
state is going to have. We and this is something
that has been a political nationally, actually gets this political loser.
The state, as you know, is the first in the
nation to offer health care to all income eligible immigrants.
(28:22):
This just was the announcement one year ago and their
costs associated with that. So you've got nine point five
billion dollars in California state sponsored health care for undocumented immigrants,
and that's three billion above the budget that was estimated
from last summer and expected to get more expensive. So
(28:43):
Gavin Newsom and Democrats in the state legislature under a
lot of pressure to reduce this coverage to bring down costs.
I mean, we don't have the money, simply put So,
the idea somehow that you can extend this the way
it is extend in California, this healthcare coverage, it just
doesn't pencil out. Now, you had JB. Pritzker in Illinois
(29:08):
who was doing a similar thing. He proposed a three
hundred and thirty million dollar budget cut last month because
he is trying to scale back their healthcare coverage for
undocumented adult immigrants in Illinois. Now, there was a state
audit in Illinois. They said that the services for certain
(29:29):
age groups there were almost three hundred percent higher than
the cost estimates. So this is what happens. I mean,
you commit to this and then the costs well exceed
any kind of estimate. So this kind of financial pressure
that they face in Illinois is the same kind of
financial pressure we have in California, and there just has
(29:50):
to be a reduction in coverage. So nine point five
billion dollars is the price tag of California's program. It's
already effected to grow higher than the three billion dollars
above the budget estimate that it has already exceeded from
last summer. We should not bear these costs, period, but
(30:12):
especially in a budget crisis, said the Assembly member from
San Diego, Carl Demyo. California's expansion of healthcare coverage for
all residents, regardless of immigration status, has done what It's
made us a target. So President Trump other conservatives pushing
(30:34):
this agenda in Washington, the nationalist agenda, which you know
includes deportations and a much tougher scrutiny of people's legal
status in this country. So this dovetails with it. Right,
can look at California. That these people who are here
illegally are a drain on the system is the claim
(30:55):
from Washington, and you're seeing it echoed on the X platform,
you know, Elon Musk's as X. I think we have
a tweet here. It's Democrats are pushing hard to maximize
payments to illegals e g. Free luxury hotels in New
York and free medical care for illegals in California, as
(31:16):
that is their current and future voter base. Now, I
don't I think you can criticize the the plan to
cover all of these illegals in the way it's certainly
hasn't penciled out, So the way it's been done thus
far is unsustainable. It just you just can't pay it.
You know, you're a state in trouble and you can't
(31:37):
afford it. But I think the notion that the Democrats
are trying to bring in these illegals because their future,
it's their future voter base, I'm sorry, I just don't
buy that. I think that's a you don't need to
make that up. I've just told you it's a bad
idea to have. The current coverage has configured. It's just
too extensive and it's too expensive. Why do you have
(32:00):
to throw in that. Oh, and it's their future voter base,
that's why they want them here. I think these people
who are here illegally are an engine of a part
of the California economy. They pay into a lot of
these services. They never get anything out because of the
I mean, I shouldn't say anything because I just told
you about the healthcare they're getting out. But they pay
(32:22):
into Social Security, for example, they don't get that out.
They pay federal taxes, they don't get anything on those particularly,
I mean, aside from I suppose the you know, the
general lifestyle increase, if you want to think of it
that way, that that all of us enjoy in the nation.
So my point is simply, you don't have to throw
in the future voter based part. You have to figure
(32:46):
cuts to this program. You cannot manage the state of
California this way. And so I do think they're going
to have to have a, you know, a come to
Jesus moment in Sacramento, and they're going to have to
make some decisions. So how they are going to reduce
funding to medicaid, I don't know, but they're going to
(33:10):
have to do it. They're going to be compelled to
do it. As I say, forget about the politics. I'm
just talking about the accounting in California. You cannot maintain
it at current levels, and so they won't. Now, Ray
has just told me that when we come back, Laura
Engel will join us. She is from News Nation and
(33:34):
she'll join us to tell us about what's going on
in New York. And that's the Diddy trial. Did he
showed up? He didn't look good. Apparently he's got a
new look, and it's not exactly a hot look, is
what I'm hearing. So we'll talk to Laura Engel next.
(33:54):
As we continue, it's the John Coblt Joe Mark Thompson
sitting in on KFI AM six forty live everywhere on
the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 1 (34:01):
Hey, you've been listening to the John Cobalt Show podcast.
You can always hear the show live on KFI AM
six forty from one to four pm every Monday through Friday,
and of course, anytime on demand on the iHeartRadio app.
Can't. If I am six forty you're listening to the
John Cobelt podcast on the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
It is the John Cobelt Show. Mark Thompson sitting in
for John on this wet Friday KIM six forty Live
everywhere on the iHeartRadio app. Great to have you here.
There is there's a SpaceX launch. I think it's going
to launch tonight. Has it launched yet? I don't think so,
Debro No, But there The reason this launch is I
(00:30):
think somewhat high profile, is because they're going to rescue,
if you will, or finally transport home those two NASA
astronauts that have been up there forever. And you know,
it's been nine months. They were supposed to be up
there ten days now. They were told it could be
months before you come back. But I don't know, they're
(00:51):
really you talk about a great attitude.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
I was gonna say I saw an interview with them
and they and they basically said.
Speaker 4 (00:58):
You know, we're prepared for this to happen.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Yeah, no big deal.
Speaker 4 (01:02):
I'm thinking, I'm God, it'd be a big deal for me.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
I asked one of the astronauts in the Actually it
was one of the Kelly brothers. You know, Mark Kelly
is the astronaut, was up in space. Well his brother,
who twin brother, was on Earth and they were comparing
the two bodies when they came back. They have all
these ways that they're trying to evaluate the effect of
space on the body, et cetera. Anyway, ask him, so
(01:25):
you're in that International Space Station, I mean, aren't there
days where like Dimitri is getting on your nerves or
I mean, how do you handle that in that close quarter?
How do you handle the different personalities? And he said,
you know, they kind of test us all on that stuff.
They make sure that psychologically we're not the kind that
(01:48):
are necessarily going to you know, be quick to you know,
to anger at things, and we sort of it's just
the I guess the backbeat of everything up there is
very calm, you know, and so they don't get irritated.
Speaker 4 (02:02):
That's what do you ever be able to do that?
Speaker 2 (02:03):
Ever? Are you kidding? I'll tell you one thing. You're
not sending me up there for what I think is
ten days and leaving me up there for nine months.
That is not going to happen. So anyway, well, but
that is happening tonight.
Speaker 4 (02:17):
That's unless something else goes wrong.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
Yes, scrub, there is that always. Donald Trump has made
a rare visit, and it really is rare. I mean,
the last time he's gone to the Justice Department, the
last time there was a president of the Justice Department
is Barack Obama, I believe. But don't take my word
for it. Take the word of ABC News correspondent Zorin Shah,
my old colleague over at Fox eleven High, Zoring, Hey,
(02:42):
good to be with you.
Speaker 5 (02:43):
Yeah, all right, you're exactly right. Barack Obama was the
last president. And it is a very very rare visit
for a president. Yet Clinton go won, George W. Bush
went twice, Herbert Hoover, But those business world whore really different.
Those were more ceremonial, and this had a very different feeling.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
Yeah, tell me what the feeling was, and tell me
why this president felt the need to go to the
Justice Department.
Speaker 5 (03:09):
You know, it was more of a political rally. It
felt more in line with what you hear from Trump
when he speaks to those crowds. He was laying up
what he wants his Justice Department to do. But I
think what was really dramatic. I mean some of the
lines where we've heard before. Certainly it had the cinematic feel.
I mean, a few months ago, there were people inside
(03:30):
of that building who were working very hard to prosecute
the very president who was now standing in that building.
He was the target of a subtle prosecution, once the
target of that very Justice Department. And that's what really
made it sooka.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
Like here and so did he reference that or I know,
he spoke a bit about, you know, sort of under
his administration, they won't weaponize the Justice Department the way
they did under the prior administration. Was his kind of
general sentiment, right, yep.
Speaker 5 (04:01):
Yeah, that was exactly right. I mean, that is that
is what he repeated, is it's now the very familiar
occupation that the Justice Department was weaponized to attack him.
And he talked about this extensively. He said, he claimed that,
you know, we have to be honest about the lives
and abuses that have occurred within these walls. Of course,
his critics say that that is completely focused and you know,
(04:25):
a lot of mistruths. He talked about restoring equal justice
under the rule of law. He falsely claimed that the
prior Justice Department tries to stop him from becoming president
and spent a lot of the time really lashing out
against his political critics.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
So you've mentioned so there were some misstatements or falsehoods
along the way, but he was making if we just
take a step back, he was making a general statement
about the direction of the Justice Department and how it
won't be succumbing to any kind of sort of political agenda.
It sounds like that was his overall point.
Speaker 5 (05:01):
Which is definitely an interesting kind of case to make
because as you've seen, he's been elevating a lot of
people that appear to be very loyal to the president.
You know, he's been purging many career civil servants. But
but yeah, that is what he said that he wanted
to do. He wanted to fight the weaponization of the department,
(05:24):
and of course, you know, you have critics pointing out
that he is using his power to punish his enemies.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Yeah, the rhetoric doesn't seem to match the action a
lot of the time with Trump, that's the way it is.
But who else was there? I think Pam Bondi, whose
Attorney general was there? Who else?
Speaker 5 (05:41):
FBI Director Cash to tell you had white host officials,
Republican state Attorney General's local law enforcements. I think what
was the most striking is that you didn't perhaps see
maybe as many folks from the Justice Department as you
might under another president. They were are not invited the
(06:01):
Department of Justice rank and file members unless they got
a special invitation, and that I think is also what
is leading a lot of people to say the spelt
more like a political rally.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
I see, yeah, fascinating. Well, any word as to what's
happening with Special Counsel Jack Smith. I mean he's been
talked about as someone she obviously headed up the investigations
and even the prosecutions and indictments of Donald Trump. Is
he on the wish list for you know, cash Battel
(06:32):
and the rest. I mean, he's Patel has made no
I think bones about the fact that he has a
list of people who's going to go after.
Speaker 5 (06:42):
You know, Jack Smith was actually was brought up in
this in this rally today and I'm actually looking at
the transfer because I want to make sure I get
this part right. I mean Trump really went at I mean,
if we revoked the clearances, he called called Jack Smith's deranged.
He included him in assendance with Alvin Bragg, Letitia James,
(07:06):
people who really try to hold Trump accountable when he
was when he was running. So so don't worry. He
did bring him up. He was mentioned in this very
event today.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
It's just odd. I mean, in the same speech that
you're making these sweeping statements about sort of this past
policy of weaponizing the Justice Department and how your administration
isn't going to have any of that and they won't
be prosecuting anyone for political affiliations, and that you then
just open up a can of I'm going after you
(07:42):
when you mentioned Jack Smith, and again that is I
think part of the dissonance, you know, the disconnect sometimes
between the rhetoric of Donald Trump and the actions of
his administration. But fascinating, you know, yeah.
Speaker 5 (07:56):
It certainly muddles the water a lot of times, and
just I think can craft confuses a lot of people
who closely follow him. For sure.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
In my last minute with you, let me ask you,
did you are you guys rebuilding in the Palisades? Zorine
lost her house in the was it the Palisades or Malibu?
I thought it was, yeah, yeah, we are.
Speaker 5 (08:14):
You know, it is the most tedious process ever we
are still trying to figure out to removal. We're still
trying to figure out do we keep our foundation or not.
And everyone said it's going to be a long process,
and you don't realize how painstakingly long every little thing
is until you're in it. It's it's it's the pain
for sure.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
Now let me ask you the tough questions. This is
why they pay me. So did insurance cover you to
the point that you can get out hold and rebuild
or is it going to be uh is there going
to be some you know, some bleeding associated with it?
Speaker 5 (08:46):
So we got a portion of we have California Fair Plan.
We've got a portion of the advance in the mail already.
That was very exciting. But you don't get the full
amount until later, is what is what I'm told. You
don't get the whole thing right afar And I think
a lot of things you actually to.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
Mind are canting.
Speaker 5 (09:03):
You know, we get a bill for like when you
get debre removal, you know, you you you build it
to the you hold on those procepts. You send it
to uh, the the insurance agency or you know, if
you go with the county then they'll handle that.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
So you have to deficit finance essentially everything and then
you'll be reimbursed, is the hope.
Speaker 5 (09:22):
Not everything. I mean, so we did get an advance
and so you that is that is enough for us
at least to start the rebuilding process right now. So
I gotta say, I said, I handed to California Fairplant.
I was surprised that it's been about two months since
that fire happened and we got our advance checks. And
(09:44):
I really hope that's the same for a lot of
other folks who who have insurance, who are really trying
to rebuild right now.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
I mean, it's a huge, huge project, but I love
that you're rebuilding and then it's already underway. Great stuff.
Thanks all, come.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
Over when when we when we were there for the
open house for sure.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
Zarinshaw, ABC News corresponder for Washington, thanks so much. Appreciate
that it's the co Belt show when we come back.
I'm curious for starters. Debra's going to this big event tonight.
It's a it's the eddies. You know, if you don't
know what the eddies are, stay stay with us. When
we come back, we'll tell you what the eddies are.
And if you look up the eddies. You're going to
(10:23):
find several answers as to what the eddies are. It's
not so we'll tell you what the eddies are and
we will explore her evening's plan when we come back.
It's the co Belt Show. Mark Thompsons sitting in for
John on KFI AM six forty Live everywhere on the
iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 6 (10:40):
You're listening to John Cobelt on demand from KFI AM
six forty.
Speaker 2 (10:46):
Mark Thompson's sitting in this rainy afternoon. We've talked about
the LA County Supervisors overhauling essentially three hundred million dollars
in these annual taxpayer dollars that are going to homeless
service agencies now being reams. We talked about Tokyo and
the Dodgers fever that has gripped that city. Spoke about
(11:07):
Washington and the Justice Department getting a visit from Donald
Trump today lashing out at political enemies in a partisan
speech in front of the DOJ audience. But what we
haven't talked about is that tonight the eddies are going
down the Eddie Awards. Now, if you look up the
(11:27):
Eddie Awards, Deborah Mark is an attendee this evening with
her husband. Is he a nominee for an eddie?
Speaker 4 (11:33):
He is not.
Speaker 3 (11:34):
But the editor that he's been working with on and
off for twenty seven years is getting an award tonight.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
Lif Wow. So these are awards for cinema editors, correct?
And who is the Lifetime Achievement Award of winner.
Speaker 3 (11:52):
Her name is Mazie hoy H and she is getting
an award.
Speaker 4 (11:57):
She's amazing. She's been in the business for me any many, many,
many many years.
Speaker 3 (12:01):
And she is a very nice person as well. She
does listen to KFI.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
Wow.
Speaker 4 (12:07):
Matter of fact, I don't.
Speaker 3 (12:08):
Think she's listening now because I think she's over at
the at the ceremony. Sure it's a she's ramping up,
probably getting all glammed.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
I love that.
Speaker 4 (12:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
I'm wondering what things she has edited that I might
need her league.
Speaker 4 (12:24):
Wow, Oh you're looking it up.
Speaker 2 (12:27):
Now, Eric's this is strong, okay, Eric? Yeah? The Medea franchise,
Oh yeah, wow that part of now here's why if
I can just die well, well, Eric scares up the
rest of her credits. Let me just say one of
the things that's key. Editing is so important, of course,
but in a comedy, particularly an editor. A good editor
(12:50):
can make a moment so much funnier.
Speaker 3 (12:52):
Absolutely, you know, until I was married to my husband,
I mean in college, I remember I.
Speaker 4 (12:58):
Had to edit a documentary and I hate it.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
I did not like editing because it's hard work, sure,
and I mean seriously hard work. But I have new
found respect because I see what my husband does, I
see what Maze does, and absolutely I think editors don't
get enough. I don't want to say credit, but you know,
it's the talent, it's the director, it's the producer that
(13:22):
we always talk about and hear about. But editors can
definitely make or break a movie. So now when I
watch movies or TV shows, I always say.
Speaker 4 (13:29):
To my husband, that was a bad edit. That was
a bad edit. Why didn't they hold on to that
shot longer and then you edit it? I mean I
do that all the time.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
It is true that if you linger on a shot,
it can be making a funny moment funnier, absolutely, But
if you linger on a shot too long, it can
make a you know, it can take the edge off
app So what other films has she been involved with. Eric,
She's been involved with a couple of Dolly Parton things.
Speaker 4 (13:56):
And I actually worked on them and did voice work.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
Did you now? I see you get the end? The
single Mom's Club.
Speaker 4 (14:03):
Good, joy Luck Club?
Speaker 2 (14:07):
Wow, wow, time bomb. You could stop after a Major
League and Joy Luck Club and you can kind of
you know, plant the flag that's strong there.
Speaker 3 (14:17):
My husband and Mazie are working on two movies right
now as we speak.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
Now, when he edits, does he edit at home in
like a home edit bay?
Speaker 3 (14:25):
He does, but he also goes he also goes to
a facility and does it.
Speaker 4 (14:29):
So it just depends.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
You've been married for a while. You remember the time
when he had to always go to the facility before
the technology had gotten to the point that he could
actually have a home edit bay.
Speaker 5 (14:37):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (14:38):
Yeah, yeah? Did you like that more when he was
leaving the house and going to do it? What are
you saying, does he set up in the main house
or do you have like a little.
Speaker 4 (14:51):
You have an office and he can do it there.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
That's really great. So what are you wearing to the
eddies tonight?
Speaker 4 (14:57):
Okay, So here's the thing.
Speaker 3 (14:59):
The eddies were so post to happen right around the
time I want to say, maybe a week after the wildfires,
so obviously they were postponed and it was supposed to
be pretty fancy. Well tonight it's casual, which I'm glad
because it's raining in half of it's.
Speaker 4 (15:14):
Going to be outside.
Speaker 2 (15:15):
What a break. I think that is a huge break.
I know, I just hate having to dress up in
that formal stuff. Oh my god.
Speaker 4 (15:23):
Sometimes it's fun, but definitely not in the rain.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
It's somewhat gender specific. I think women more enjoy it
more than men. I don't know.
Speaker 3 (15:30):
It is fun, but then when you know your hair
and it's raining or your hair is frizzy like mine, yeah,
the weather. So I'm happy that. I mean, look, you
see what I'm wearing. I'm just changing. I'm just going
to change my coat for tonight, a warmer, a little
more flashy coat.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
But yeah, but you always look kind of camera ready,
to be honest, I mean you look red carpet ready
a lot of the time. So it's true.
Speaker 4 (15:52):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
So, I mean, anybody who's seen Deborah on Instagram and
all the rest, you know that that's indeed the case.
Speaker 3 (15:58):
So I love all that stuff. I'm not gonna lie.
I'm definitely a clothing whore.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
Yeah, it's good, it's well, I am excited. To see
your look for tonight. Congratulations to your husband's partner. Thank you,
professional partner. And that's a really exciting thing. And I
must tell you I had no idea. It makes sense,
it makes total sense that there would be the Eddy Awards,
but I just really never knew that they'd existed.
Speaker 4 (16:22):
Right, Yeah, that's what I mean. I don't think editors
get enough credit.
Speaker 2 (16:26):
Yeah, so all right, enjoy, I want a full report.
Speaker 4 (16:30):
I will give you a full report.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
Well kind of. By the way, how many you must
have asked him? How long is the ceremony? Well, honey,
how long is it?
Speaker 3 (16:38):
By the way, she's one of the first speakers and
gets her award because it's it's quite a few hours,
and like I said, a lot of it is outside.
Speaker 4 (16:48):
And my husband actually he just had back surgery.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
Oh my god.
Speaker 4 (16:52):
Yeah, lower back.
Speaker 2 (16:53):
L four L five every one. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (16:55):
Yes, so we're not going to be there that long.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
I see.
Speaker 3 (16:57):
So you want to be there to support her and
we'll see his life as he can handle it.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
Oh, poor guy. All right, I have the same surgery.
It's surely it's brutal. Yeah, but I mean you get
back to it, yeah, I mean, you get back to life.
It's true. That's Debora Mark and her glamorous night at
the Eddye Awards. When we come back. There are tariffs
and threats of tariffs both have an effect on the
California economy. We'll get into that when we continue. Mark
(17:22):
Thompson sitting in for John Cobelt on KFI AM six
forty or Live everywhere on the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 6 (17:29):
You're listening to John cobelts on demand from KFI AM
six forty.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
Well, the on again, off again tariffs that are both
threatened and actually imposed have an effect on California. I mean,
we had some experience with this the first go round.
Remember our first marriage with the Donald Trump was in
twenty nineteen. For example, the it was almost like an
(17:55):
interruption in the supply chain. There was Chinese cargo in
twenty nineteen. I'm seeing here at the Port of Long
Beach lost about twenty percent of that import and there
was an increase of imports from Southeast Asia like Vietnam, Indonesia,
Thailand to make that up. So there are always workarounds
(18:17):
when it comes to a tariff. Right, there are countries
when we a tariff, they are goods and there is
a matching depletion of that export on their end, they
find other countries to export too. And similarly, when we have,
(18:38):
as we do, the a tariff that's going into farming countries,
really in large measure, these soy farmers, soybean farmers will
be really hard hit and they have a terrific market
in China, but China is now going elsewhere for that
because of the Chinese tariffs. So anyway, these are the
retaliatory tariffs to China tariffs our goods, and so as
(19:03):
a result, you end up with this back and forth.
And as I say, this isn't our first go round,
and tariffs generally have this escalating pinch on the economy
now in California. And by the way, just to round
that out, what they did with the farmers and as
you may remember, again this was of Trump the first time,
(19:25):
when he was president the first time and there were tariffs,
then he took care of those farmers that were being
hit by those retaliatory tariffs. So a lot of the
tariff money oddly didn't go into the US treasury. It
went to checks sent to those farmers who were hard
hit and other industries that were a hard hit because
(19:47):
of the Chinese retaliatory tariffs. So this time there may
be that same kind of plan to take care of
those industries and many of those states, particularly his constituencies,
that helped let him to take care of them. So guys,
don't worry, I got you. A lot of this tariff
money is going to be taking care of you. The
problem with that, of course, is that undercuts the whole
(20:09):
expressed reason for the tariffs, which is supposedly to raise money,
I mean raise money for it, tax cut likely, and
so that's on down the way. But in any case,
what does it mean to California? So apparently there are
all kinds of ways in which the shoe pinches here.
I was reading this piece in the La Times that
was suggesting that, for example, there is a hardware store
(20:35):
called Annawalt. It's in Malibu, and they have lumber, and
they sell a lot of lumber. But as you know,
there is now a tariff associated with it, and the
majority of the lumber that the store sells in Malibu
comes from where anybody. Canada, and nearly all of the
(20:56):
steel products are made in anybody China. So those countries,
along with Mexico, they're part of these sweeping tariffs that
are both imposed by President Trump and he's threatening further tariffs.
So the reps for the hardware company that Ann Walt
(21:19):
in Malibu, they're saying the tariffs are one hundred percent
going to impact us. They've warned customers to expect high costs.
They'll have to be passed on. We're going to see
major increases, he said, fifteen to twenty five percent across
the board in this industry, and all kinds of businesses
around California. Farmers, automakers, homebuilders, tech companies, apparel retailers are
(21:46):
all going to be affected. But here is the odd part,
and this is why the markets are just all over
the place. The on again, off again tariff craziness makes
it impossible to really plan. And a lot of these
business people are saying, tell us what it's going to be.
Is it going to be a fifty percent terriffs, a
twenty five percent tariff? What countries involved? Because we have
(22:08):
to plan for the next quarter. So many business people
are saying, we don't know what to do. And the
twenty five percent tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico
that started, there was a ten percent limit on Canadian
energy and Chinese imports. Tariffs on them went up to
(22:31):
twenty percent. Then an exemption was granted. Remember US automakers
got the exemption. So once again this creates. Are there
going to be more exemptions? Is the tariff going to
be rolled back? Farmers in California and across the US.
Is noted here China imposed retaliatory duties up to fifteen percent.
(22:57):
This is what I was talking about. American agricultural products
including chicken, corn, beef, pork, wheat, and soybeans all hit
by that retaliatory duty of fifteen percent that imposed by China.
So businesses may have to change their operations. It's noted
across California there could be some real effect. This is
(23:19):
going to feel a little bit it suggested the way
it did during the supply chained interruptions of COVID. So
farmers it's incredibly tough for them. There's a heavy reliance
on trade with China and Mexico. Those are big, big customers.
Just a state of bluntly, and we are a global
(23:40):
agricultural powerhouse. China. I mean, China's our biggest probably our
biggest customer California. We are truly the engine when it
comes to global agriculture. But now there's going to be
a lot of this that is tariffed, and some of
it may never get exported at all. California farmers grow
(24:04):
the largest share of the nation's food. Also, more than
a third of the country's vegetables, more than three quarters
of its fruits and nuts are grown here in California,
and the state's fertile ground is a major supplier of
produce to countries around the world. That's what I was saying.
Farmers also rely heavily on fertilizer from anybody Canada, So
(24:24):
now that fertilizer costs you more, farmers in California are
going to be hurt, particularly badly almonds, soybeans, huge exports
of the US. Now I didn't even mention wine country.
These two one hundred percent tariffs that are going to
be imposed on champagne and spirits from the European Union.
(24:47):
This was just announced yesterday morning, and he's imposing these
tariffs as retaliation because he feels the plan by the
EU to put a fifty percent tariff on American made whiskey,
which should not stand. So as long as they are
going to do that. The imports when it comes to
(25:11):
champagne and wine from overseas two hundred percent. So how
will this affect wine growers in California. It's unclear. They're
all over the place. So as you look at tariffs
and ripple effects, it'll affect California in two ways. One
(25:32):
in terms of prices they will likely go up, the
other in terms of availability. I mean, you just are
going to find something akin to but maybe perhaps night
as bad as what we saw during the COVID crisis,
with something that quacks a little like the supply chain interruptions,
but not knowing for all of these businesses, the on again,
(25:56):
off again chaotic nature of it, that is the toughest
part for California, your businesses. It's the co Belt Show.
Mark Thompson sitting in for John on KFI AM six
forty live everywhere on the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 6 (26:08):
You're listening to John Cobelt on demand from KFI AM.
Speaker 2 (26:12):
Sixty KFI AM six forty live everywhere on the iHeartRadio app.
Eric getting me used to the new rhythm. Yeah, got
a whole rhythm of like when you join, when you're
going to break all that stuff Ray and de remark
all here as well, and glad you could join us
a as a You know, it's a wet day punctuated
(26:33):
by like periods of downforce. I guess it's going to
clear up a bit tomorrow. Did anybody see that red
moon last night? No?
Speaker 4 (26:39):
Did you?
Speaker 2 (26:39):
Yes? I went out and I caught just the end
of it. It was pretty cool. It really was about
eleven twenty five. I looked out over the Thompson Estate
and I saw a little red orb and that was
the moon. Yeah, it was pretty cool. I heard someone
told me it's good that gonna happening in for forty years?
(27:01):
Is that the thing?
Speaker 4 (27:02):
You got to see it?
Speaker 2 (27:03):
Now?
Speaker 4 (27:03):
I did?
Speaker 2 (27:04):
I feel quite I feel quite lucky. It's it's weird
because it's not like a big moon. You just see
a little It might have been bigger earlier, but you're
just kind of a little almost just a little disk
in the sky. Like it wasn't a big moon over
the city that then was red colored. It was higher
in the sky and smaller, but it was. It was
(27:25):
pretty cool. Yeah, gotta say so. Anyway, clouds moved in,
rain moved in, and that's what we're dealing with. Now
I think it's didn't you say it's going to taper
off tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (27:34):
Yes, it's going to be sunny and warmer tomorrow. Then
we might get some more.
Speaker 4 (27:38):
Rain on Monday.
Speaker 2 (27:40):
Well, the rain has its problems, but we do we
need it. We need we really do need it. So look,
I don't have good news about how much healthcare is
going to cost in California, and it looks like we
may have to float some kind of loan essentially to
(28:00):
cover the three billion dollar cost to overrun that the
state is going to have. We and this is something
that has been a political nationally, actually gets this political loser.
The state, as you know, is the first in the
nation to offer health care to all income eligible immigrants.
(28:22):
This just was the announcement one year ago and their
costs associated with that. So you've got nine point five
billion dollars in California state sponsored health care for undocumented immigrants,
and that's three billion above the budget that was estimated
from last summer and expected to get more expensive. So
(28:43):
Gavin Newsom and Democrats in the state legislature under a
lot of pressure to reduce this coverage to bring down costs.
I mean, we don't have the money, simply put So,
the idea somehow that you can extend this the way
it is extend in California, this healthcare coverage, it just
doesn't pencil out. Now, you had JB. Pritzker in Illinois
(29:08):
who was doing a similar thing. He proposed a three
hundred and thirty million dollar budget cut last month because
he is trying to scale back their healthcare coverage for
undocumented adult immigrants in Illinois. Now, there was a state
audit in Illinois. They said that the services for certain
(29:29):
age groups there were almost three hundred percent higher than
the cost estimates. So this is what happens. I mean,
you commit to this and then the costs well exceed
any kind of estimate. So this kind of financial pressure
that they face in Illinois is the same kind of
financial pressure we have in California, and there just has
(29:50):
to be a reduction in coverage. So nine point five
billion dollars is the price tag of California's program. It's
already effected to grow higher than the three billion dollars
above the budget estimate that it has already exceeded from
last summer. We should not bear these costs, period, but
(30:12):
especially in a budget crisis, said the Assembly member from
San Diego, Carl Demyo. California's expansion of healthcare coverage for
all residents, regardless of immigration status, has done what It's
made us a target. So President Trump other conservatives pushing
(30:34):
this agenda in Washington, the nationalist agenda, which you know
includes deportations and a much tougher scrutiny of people's legal
status in this country. So this dovetails with it. Right,
can look at California. That these people who are here
illegally are a drain on the system is the claim
(30:55):
from Washington, and you're seeing it echoed on the X platform,
you know, Elon Musk's as X. I think we have
a tweet here. It's Democrats are pushing hard to maximize
payments to illegals e g. Free luxury hotels in New
York and free medical care for illegals in California, as
(31:16):
that is their current and future voter base. Now, I
don't I think you can criticize the the plan to
cover all of these illegals in the way it's certainly
hasn't penciled out, So the way it's been done thus
far is unsustainable. It just you just can't pay it.
You know, you're a state in trouble and you can't
(31:37):
afford it. But I think the notion that the Democrats
are trying to bring in these illegals because their future,
it's their future voter base, I'm sorry, I just don't
buy that. I think that's a you don't need to
make that up. I've just told you it's a bad
idea to have. The current coverage has configured. It's just
too extensive and it's too expensive. Why do you have
(32:00):
to throw in that. Oh, and it's their future voter base,
that's why they want them here. I think these people
who are here illegally are an engine of a part
of the California economy. They pay into a lot of
these services. They never get anything out because of the
I mean, I shouldn't say anything because I just told
you about the healthcare they're getting out. But they pay
(32:22):
into Social Security, for example, they don't get that out.
They pay federal taxes, they don't get anything on those particularly,
I mean, aside from I suppose the you know, the
general lifestyle increase, if you want to think of it
that way, that that all of us enjoy in the nation.
So my point is simply, you don't have to throw
in the future voter based part. You have to figure
(32:46):
cuts to this program. You cannot manage the state of
California this way. And so I do think they're going
to have to have a, you know, a come to
Jesus moment in Sacramento, and they're going to have to
make some decisions. So how they are going to reduce
funding to medicaid, I don't know, but they're going to
(33:10):
have to do it. They're going to be compelled to
do it. As I say, forget about the politics. I'm
just talking about the accounting in California. You cannot maintain
it at current levels, and so they won't. Now, Ray
has just told me that when we come back, Laura
Engel will join us. She is from News Nation and
(33:34):
she'll join us to tell us about what's going on
in New York. And that's the Diddy trial. Did he
showed up? He didn't look good. Apparently he's got a
new look, and it's not exactly a hot look, is
what I'm hearing. So we'll talk to Laura Engel next.
(33:54):
As we continue, it's the John Coblt Joe Mark Thompson
sitting in on KFI AM six forty live everywhere on
the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 1 (34:01):
Hey, you've been listening to the John Cobalt Show podcast.
You can always hear the show live on KFI AM
six forty from one to four pm every Monday through Friday,
and of course, anytime on demand on the iHeartRadio app.
The John Kobylt Show News
Host
John Kobylt
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