April 21, 2025 • 33 mins
The John Kobylt Show Hour 1 (04/21) - Fox 11 anchor Elex Michaelson fills in for John. TMZ's Harvey Levin comes on the show to talk about the Menendez Brothers resentencing hearing. Raymond Arroyo comes on the show to talk about Pope Francis is dying. NBC4 reporter Conan Nolan comes on the show to talk about Pope Francis dying and Mayor Karen Bass's State of the City address.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Can'f I am six forty. You're listening to the John
Cobelt podcast on the iHeartRadio apps.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
I have Alex Michaelson. But welcome to the John Coblt Show.
I am so honored to be filling in for the
first time for John. You usually see me anchoring on
Fox eleven weeknights at five, six, and ten pm. I
also host the statewide political show The Issue Is And
this is the first time that I have ever hosted
(00:27):
a radio show.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
And Deborah Mark.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
I know, usually people start off on like a weekend
in the middle of the country, somewhere at some strange hour,
and to be starting out on one of the biggest
radio shows in the country, filling in for one of
the most iconic broadcasters of all time opposite you is humbling,
exciting and a little scary.
Speaker 4 (00:49):
Well you do have just a little bit of experience
that I'm just kidding. Well, yeah, you're on TV in LA,
so there's the exception.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Yeah, well this is welcome. What's your advice for me
for today?
Speaker 4 (01:03):
You know what, just be yourself. I think Shannon said that,
just be yourself. That's I mean. People like to hear
real people, and you know, what to do. I mean,
you're on TV. I don't think you really need a
whole lot of help. I mean radio is obviously people
aren't seeing you, so it's just about your voice and
(01:25):
what you're saying, and I think that just just be yourself.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
It's it. It's going to be a lot of fun.
We've got a lot of big stuff to talk about today.
Part of what I'm excited about is the opportunity to
bring so many of my friends and favorite people into
the discussion. So we've got an absolutely packed show with
some incredible guests today. Among them, we've got Harvey Levin
from TMZ, Raymond Arroyo talk about the Pope. Conan Nolan
(01:50):
is going to be calling in as well to talk
about politics. Catherine Barger, the La County Supervisor, is going
to be with us. Jovon Buja of the Athletic is
going to be talking about the Lakers. My pal Marlteez
is going to be chiving in talking about being a
new mom, my friend Bill Mlusion from Fox News talking
about immigration, Melanie Mason of Politico talking about Mayor Bass
(02:11):
and the state of the city, and later on, my
man Tim Conway, Junior Ding Dong with you is going
to be with us as well, so we're going to
have an opportunity to interact with all of them throughout
the day. We've got a couple really big stories that
we're following today. Obviously, the death of Pope Francis, one
of the most iconic popes of our lifetime, who really
(02:32):
changed the concept of the papacy and made so many
changes to the way that the Catholic Church operates. We're
going to be delving into what that means and also
what happens now. So many people saw the movie Conclave
and have a sense of that, I don't think that's
exactly what's going to be happening behind the scenes. We're
(02:55):
going to get into that as well. The other big
breaking news of this hour is Mayor Karen just delivering
the state of the City address in downtown and most
importantly talking about what she's gonna do with her budget.
She's got a billion dollar shortfall and so she has
to close that and she's announcing specifics on how exactly
(03:16):
that's going to go and what that means for you
and me. So we're going to talk about that in
detail as well. But let's kick things off with one
of my favorite people, Harvey Levin, who is the man
behind TMZ also the host of TMZ Live, which I've
been so lucky to fill in a lot on lately
and get to go back and forth with him. So
(03:37):
I wanted to start off with him and bring him
into the conversation. Harvey, thanks so much for joining.
Speaker 5 (03:45):
Hey, Alex, I gotta tell you radio is the best medium.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Yes, better than GV Yes.
Speaker 5 (03:51):
And you're gonna love it. And you're a you're already
doing great, but radio absolutely my favorite medium.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
I mean, the only negative is we don't get to
see your attractive face, but that's okay.
Speaker 3 (04:02):
Well, just imagine.
Speaker 5 (04:03):
How much more it is, so much more fun because
there's no pretense with all the filters and just the
fact that you're on TV. So what it's like, it's
what you say and how you say it that matters.
And that's why radio to me, captures it better than
any other medium.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
It is, it is the best. I'm so excited. So
let's kick things off though. As part of the breaking
news of this hour is this state of the city.
And I know you're probably not in the weeds of
all the La City budget stuff, but You've got such
a smart take on LA politics at a larger level.
How would you describe the state of the City of
Los Angeles right now?
Speaker 5 (04:45):
Well, I define it by how we handle a crisis,
and I just think we felt way shorter than the
billion dollars shortfall that we're dealing with the budget on
right now that you know, I think our response to
this calamity with the fires in Pacific Palistates and Altadena,
(05:08):
it was just anemic, and you know it continues. I mean,
there are so many people and I'm sure you know
them who are really just suffering right now, trying to
deal with insurance companies, trying to figure out where to live,
you know, the fact that they were just wiped out.
And I am just not feeling that leadership anywhere, even
(05:33):
during the calamity. But you know, the cult just because
the fire is out doesn't mean the crisis is over,
and it's not. And I'm just so disappointed just generally
in the way everything's been handled and just looking at
people who are just frustrated because it takes a mental
toll as much as anything else. And I know so
(05:54):
many people right now who are really suffering, who aren't
getting the help and yeah, I mean, I don't know
how to make up the billion dollars shortfall, but I
do think that leadership just generally hasn't been there.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
Do you think that Mayor Bass can turn things around?
I mean, because this speech today is a lot about
rebirth and starting over again and you know the idea
of grit and we're going to get through this together.
Can she turned the corner? Can people get behind her?
And if so, what would your advice to her be?
Speaker 5 (06:26):
Yeah? I mean, listen, we are an etcher sketch society
where you know, things can be you know, go horribly wrong,
and then somebody does something that's different and out of
the box, and all of a sudden you erase the
bad because we have very short term memories in this country.
And so sure, but I don't think that people are
(06:49):
going to say, oh my god, look at line item
thirty two in the budget, look what she did. I
think it's got to be bigger and bolder. And I
think that starts and ends with Pacific Palisades and Alta
Dina right now, because that is the catastrophe that we
haven't dealt with, and until that's dealt with, in a
really bold effective way I don't see it.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
And on top of that, you've also got homelessness, which
still hasn't really been dealt with that people are reminded
of each and every day. So let's also talk about
another big thing that you're all over, which is the
Menendez brother's case.
Speaker 5 (07:24):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
First off, you know you're mister celebrity obviously a TMZ.
Why do you think that the Menendez brothers, who aren't
even really celebrities, they're only famous for killing their parents,
have gotten so much more attention than real celebrities.
Speaker 5 (07:40):
Well, they are celebrities, yeah, I mean if you look
at what a celebrity is in you know, in our society,
a celebrity can be infamous just the way they can
be you know, a great singer or a great actor,
they are celebrities. I mean OJ Simpson, for better or worse,
(08:02):
was a celebrity more because of the murders, yeah, than
anything else. I mean, you know, if OJ Simpson, you know,
in twenty fifteen, hadn't done what he did, you know
he'd be this Heisman Trophy winner, you know, who was
also an actor, but never would have gotten the connection
(08:23):
that he got because of what happened. So, yeah, the
Menendez brothers are celebrities. They were young, rich, spoiled kids
who did something absolutely horrific that got played out first
like it was a mafia hit and then it turned
out to be them and has all the elements of
a real life soap opera. And yes, they are celebrities.
(08:45):
So I'm not like, I don't look at them as outliers.
They're right in the sweet spot of celebrity. I know
that sounds crazy, but they are.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
Well, you've agreed to stay with us, and when we
come back, we're going to talk about your take on
what happens to the Menendez brothers as somebody who's been
talking to them behind bars. Plus, I know you've got
something to say about Tulci Gabbard and RFK, which we're
going to make some news on. I have a feeling
you're about to go off, so you don't want to
(09:15):
miss what Harvey does when he's back with us.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
In just a few moments.
Speaker 6 (09:20):
You're listening to John Cobelt on demand from KFI AM
six forty.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
We continue our conversation now with Harvey Levin, the founder
of TMZ. Harvey is on TMZ on Fox eleven every
day at seven o'clock, TMZ Live at four pm. He
also was the host of this great documentary called The
Menendez Brothers The Prison Interview where Harvey and his co
host on the Two Angry Men podcast, Mark Garrigos, who
(09:46):
happens to be the Menendez brother's attorney, had this prison
interview with the Menendez brothers and Harvey really saw for
his perspective how the brothers had changed dramatically in their
thirty five years behind bars. But Harvey, can you update
people in terms of where we're at, because we saw
all this back and forth legality wise and hearing wise.
(10:09):
But you say it's all about Governor Newsom right now?
Speaker 5 (10:13):
Yeah, I mean I think it is. So. Look, there
is a re sentencing hearing right now Eric Lyleman, and
is a serving life without the possibility of parole. The
resentencing would be to take away without the possibility of parole.
If that were to happen, then the both Eric and
Lyle would be eligible to go before the parole board
(10:35):
and they would decide have they been rehabilitated and do
they pose a risk? Their findings would then go to
the governor, and the governor would make a decision. But
the reality is the governor has already done that. The
Governor's already asked the Parole Board to do this, so
to me, and you know, I actually talked to Gerrikus
about this. He agrees that just resentencing them is irrelevant.
(10:57):
The only reason this hearing is relevant and is Garrigos
is also going to ask the judge to change the
conviction from murder to manslaughter. If the judge were to
do that, they would instantly go free without a parole hearing.
But the resentencing itself, to me, is kind of irrelevant.
(11:19):
What is interesting the judge put it off because there
was a skirmish in court late last week where the
DA Nathan Hawkman, said that he was in possession of
the Parole Board's risk assessment findings. Now I am told
Geregos did not even have a copy of that. Hawkman
(11:41):
didn't say what was in the report, but kind of
symbolically waived it, and they ultimately said they want time
for Geigos to get a copy and read it. So
I don't know what it says, but I think that
parole boards got to decide if they get out, would
they pose a danger. I don't really see that, but
(12:03):
that report's going to be really important.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
And you've talked with them, I know you feel like
they've changed. But it's an interesting moment for Governor Newsom,
who you know, may or may not be running for
president already. How about may Yeah, maybe running for president already.
And this issue is is really fifty to fifty So
a lot of politicians don't like to weigh in on
fifty to fifty.
Speaker 5 (12:26):
Issues, I know, and Newsome, you know, calculates things. So
this to me is a really bold move that he's
doing this, because I think he's going to piss off
half the people whichever way he goes. And the fact
that he decided to short circuit everything and not just
wait for the court to decide, but to take the
reins himself really surprised me for the very reason you said.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
And you think he eventually is going to let him out, well, I.
Speaker 5 (12:55):
Think it depends on what the proleboard says. Yeah. Look,
I've talked to Eric in Lyle a couple of times,
and they are different people from the people I covered
way back during that murder trial. They are just different people.
And you know what impressed me was they had no
(13:15):
hope of getting out when they did a lot of
things like I don't know, hospice programs, suicide prevention programs,
rehabilitating other inmates, starting a green space program. They did
a lot of things that they where they weren't going
to get any credit because they weren't never going to
get out. This just this new thing is just a
(13:37):
year and a half old. So I got to say
they impressed me.
Speaker 7 (13:42):
They did.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
We're talking with Harvey Levin, the founder of TMZ. This
is Alex Michaelson filling in for John Cobalt. And when
I filled in with you on TMZ Live, there's always
one or two topics that you just want to sound
off on, and sometimes I just say, let Harvey go.
So apparently until that topic. Today is the Director of
(14:03):
National Intelligence, Telsea Gabbard, releasing ten thousand pages about Robert F.
Kennedy's assassination, the father's assassination for the first time Trump administration,
saying promises made, promises kept.
Speaker 3 (14:17):
What say you, Harvey Levon?
Speaker 5 (14:19):
So Chelsey Gabbert came out yesterday and said there is
information in these ten thousand pages that suggests that there
might have been a conspiracy to kill Robert Kennedy, and
she pointed to a woman who supposedly ran out of
(14:42):
the Ambassador Hotel on June fourth, actually it was early
in the morning for June fifth, nineteen sixty eight, screaming
we got him, we shot him, we shot him. And
she pointed to that as something that was really important
(15:02):
and material to all of this. Here's the deal. I
was at the Ambassador that night, and there was somebody
else there. Her name is Valerie Shulti, and Valerie Shulty
was actually a classmate of mine at UCSB, and Valerie
was that girl. It was back in the day. What
(15:26):
they said was a girl in the polka dot dress
ran out of the Ambassador screaming we shot him. It
was Valerie. Valerie worked for Robert Kennedy. She did not
scream we shot him. She screamed they shot him. Somebody
heard it wrong, and it was cleared up very shortly
(15:49):
after the assassination that this is what happened. I knew her,
she was a classmate, and she was she loved Robert Kennedy.
So that was is just a mistake that was easily
If you google it, you'll see, oh.
Speaker 7 (16:04):
It was a mistake.
Speaker 5 (16:07):
It is to me kind of endemic of when you
have a little information and a lot of power, that
can be a really dangerous thing. But to kind of
float this thing like, oh my gosh, this is evidence
of the conspiracy. It wasn't.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
Wow, well proof that Harvey Levin is a bit like
Forrest Gump and in every single historical moment last that's amazing.
Speaker 3 (16:35):
It just means I'm old, oh yeah, no more than that, Harvey.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
It means so much that you would call in on
my first time doing a radio show and to do
it with you is awesome.
Speaker 3 (16:46):
And thank you Harvey for your insight. Really appreciate it.
Speaker 5 (16:48):
Congratulations. I hope we don't lose you to radio because
it's intoxicating.
Speaker 2 (16:54):
Whoever's going to pay the most, I think that's what
we're going to go there, you go, all right, Thank you, Harvey.
Speaker 6 (17:01):
You're listening to John Cobelts on demand from KFI AM
six forty.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
I'm Alex Michaelson filling in for John from Fox eleven
Los Angeles. Usually can hear me weeknights at five, six
and ten o'clock on Fox eleven. Speaking of Fox, we
want to bring in a Fox News contributor, right now
Raymond or Royo to talk about the death of Pope Francis.
He's somebody who specializes in covering the Vatican. He's a
proud Catholic who talks eloquently about these issues. He's also
(17:31):
host of a podcast called a Royal Grande for iHeartMedia. Raymond,
thank you so much for being with us. We appreciate it.
Speaker 7 (17:39):
Oh, Alex, my honor, thank you for.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
A Can you describe, I guess, as concisely as you can,
what you'd see as Pope Francis's legacy.
Speaker 7 (17:50):
Legacy, you know, it's a complex one, Alex, and I've
covered you know, this is my third conclave. I'm going
into it. I knew the previous Pope Benedict in John
Paulstek personally, I mean, had dinners with him and conversed
with them regularly, and you know, it was a close relationship.
Pope Francis. I wasn't as close, but certainly covered all
of his major events almost thirteen years of his vapacy.
(18:13):
It's complex in this way, Alex. On the surface, he
was a beautiful symbol of humility moving, you know, a
pope moving out to people who perhaps were overlooked or
ignored in the past, and that would include immigrants, LGBT,
two members of that community, people who felt estranged from
(18:35):
the church, who were in broken marriages and hadn't reconciled yet.
He reached out in a very tangible way to those
groups in a lovingly fatherly embrace, and that was beautiful
to witness and watch no matter where. He went, right
up into the very end. When you saw him yesterday,
literally hours before he died, gick getting on the popemobile,
(18:58):
waving at people, blessing them, touching babies, spending the time,
you know, connecting with his flock. So that is one
face of his legacy and probably the popular vision of
Pope Francis. On the other hand, the internal vision I
think for a lot of Catholics they saw of Pope
Francis once total group of young people. Alexis is a
(19:21):
kind of key into his papacy. He said, go into
the world and make a mess, and when you look
back on his papacy, that may have been a key
to understanding it. He would take issues of controversy, of
female ordination or in some cases you know, climate change
and climate activists and bring them into the church, but
(19:41):
sort of open up issues that have been settled and
throw them onto the floor in the middle of the
room and say, okay, let's have a big tussle about this. Everybody,
come on in, let's let's have a conversation about this.
He liked that mess and that tumult, and that was
sort of his way of governing and feeling his way
through these issues. But along the way it produced a
lot of confusion in the church, I think, acrimony, and
(20:04):
some of his decisions were not widely embraced because they
were departures from traditional Catholic teaching and certainly from his predecessors.
And that would be things like the liturgy. You know,
he didn't like the old Latin liturgy that Benedict brought back.
He didn't like the formal smells and bells. And the
fact is you go groups of young people now who
(20:25):
are coming to the church because they want that tradition,
they want that solidity and the history that that's founded upon.
And so there's that tension in Pope Benedict's prop bendic
in Pope Francis's legacy, between someone who reached out to
the peripheries and somebody who at times knocked over the
blocks and upset a lot of people inside.
Speaker 2 (20:48):
The church, I mean, And a big part of it
I think is also going to be defined by what
comes next, Like, for example, President Biden's legacy is to
really kind of shot because President Trump came in and
basically evaporated it right away. In terms of what is
most likely to come next in terms of the conclave,
and obviously we don't know yet and that's all done
(21:09):
behind closed doors and all the rest of it. But
is the most likely thing to see a pope in
this Francis Mold or is it to go back to
more like a Benedict.
Speaker 7 (21:21):
Well, you know my inclination. The word on the street
is Pope Francis appointed eighty percent of the cardinals in
this college of cardinals, among those whatever one hundred and
thirty eight men who go going into the Systin Chapel,
eighty percent of the more appointed by Pope Francis. So
I think some kind of you know, drive by commentators
(21:41):
are going to say, oh, well it's already baked and
you're going to get another Francis. I would say, hold
the phone. For this reason, one these cardinals don't know
each other. Alex Unlike Benedict and John Paul, who brought
the cardinals regularly together, so they had a synods that
were only cardinals where they could talk, eat together, get
to know each other, have conversations about what was happening
(22:02):
in the church. Francis has not done any of that.
In fact, his synod, when he called groups together, it
was laid people with a hand selected group of cardinals,
so it was only a small group. So this college
has really not regularly met. The second part is, unlike
John Paul and Benedict, who chose men, vetted men and
chose them based on the ideological and doctrinal vision that
(22:27):
they had, so they reflected the pope's vision, Francis really
didn't do that. Many of his pics are just kind
of again, it's a mess, it's off the cuff, it's freelance.
He would meete a guy for Morocco. This is a
true story. Fifty four year old missionary for Morocco. He
likes the guy who impresses him. A few days later
(22:48):
he makes him a cardinal. The guy is a smaller
diocese than one parish in New York City. It's like
a thousand people in the diocese but he's a cardinal,
he'll be voting in this conflict. But it turns out
this guy as wach war on Islam and has been
up against with his backup against the wall in Morocco.
So that man is probably not ideologically where Pope Francis was.
(23:11):
So I think there are a lot of wild cards here.
The two principal ones are these men were not vetted,
they're not alike in any way, And two, they don't
know each other, meaning and you said it earlier, Alex,
that was the real key to this is the predecessor
really determines who his successor is. I would argue Barack
Obama created Donald Trump. Right. If it weren't for Barack Obama,
(23:33):
you wouldn't have had Donald Trump he was his.
Speaker 3 (23:36):
And you wouldn't have had Barack Obama without George W. Bush.
Speaker 7 (23:40):
Right, They all follow each other.
Speaker 2 (23:43):
So, but in the in terms of the in terms
of the American presidencies, it's almost always the opposite of
the predecessor is what happens next, And it very interesting
to see if that's what happens in terms of the
papacy as.
Speaker 7 (23:55):
Well, And it might happen, it might not. But my
guess is it will. But you have to take an
honest appraisal of what the last hope really did. And
I think it's hard when look, when someone dies, the
first thing you want to do is to honor their memory.
And that's what we're doing this week. But next week,
I think they'll be Once PO Francis is very I
think there'll be an honest conversation about what he did,
(24:18):
what he didn't do. The sex abuse. His sex abuse
record is very, very checkered, because I guess a nice
way to put it, I won't get into it now,
but it's not pretty. And I've covered this stuff so
intensely and closely. I've talked to the victims, and I've
kind of seen the judicial procedures that were cast aside
Alex that's just not it was really poorly handled. Whether
(24:44):
he knew of some of these or not, but many
of these people with his friends. So that's another conversation.
But the cardinals will have these kinds of conversations and
that will determine whoever the man is to succeed PO friends.
Speaker 2 (24:56):
And we will follow you along that entire journey on
Fire News on your podcast or Royal Grande and your
social media all over the place at Raymond Arroyo. Thank
you so much for calling in on a really busy
day for you really valuable, valuable perspective.
Speaker 7 (25:14):
I love your work. I see it whenever I'm in
Los Angeles and we even carried your Kamala Harrison, So
I'm a huge fan of you.
Speaker 2 (25:23):
Thank you very much. It's first time talking with you
and that means a lot. And up next, somebody I've
talked to a lot who taught me most of what
I know. Conan Nolan of NBC is going to be
a joining us.
Speaker 6 (25:35):
You're listening to John Cobelt on demand from KFI Am
six forty.
Speaker 2 (25:40):
Alex Michaelson filling in for John Cobalt on the John
Cobelt Show. So when they said to me that I
could invite on whoever I wanted, I wanted to invite
on this next guest because I wouldn't be me without him.
Conan Nolan, who is the political reporter at KNBC Channel four,
host of news conference at nine am on NBC four,
(26:03):
is one of my main mentors in my career. I
spent two years interning with him. Because we work at
competing stations, we never get to be on together. So
I thought it'd be fun to use this loophole as
a way to be on with him. Conan Nolan, Welcome
to the show, Alex.
Speaker 8 (26:19):
How are you? And let me set the record straight.
This is what you're doing now was in your DNA.
I was privileged to have you as the intern. I
didn't teach you anything, if anything, you'd taught me. But anyhow,
thanks for having me.
Speaker 3 (26:30):
Well what did I teach you? No, go let's get let's.
Speaker 7 (26:35):
Work, that's for sure.
Speaker 8 (26:36):
I mean, you're not somebody that you don't teat your
own horn. But the listener should know there's never been
somebody who works harder at this business than you. And
I have forty years of experience, so I know that.
But anyhow, checks.
Speaker 3 (26:50):
And the mail. Thank you.
Speaker 2 (26:53):
Let's talk though about you know, Conan is a proud Catholic.
I know you've covered popes in the past. You've covered
Poe that the Vatican in the past. Your thoughts on
the on the passing of Pope Francis.
Speaker 8 (27:05):
Well, you know, I hate to put it through uh
through the prism of my own family, but I have
a niece who worked at the Vatican. She was an
English language editor for the Vatican News Service. A family
member used to be. I'm senior at the Vatican. He
was a chief latinust if they love of Francis, they
they thought he was terrific. He was kind, he was compassionate. Uh,
(27:26):
he understood the complexities of the faith. And I have
a very conservative brother who is has his own sort
of uh faith based uh uh effort within the church,
who thought he was too conservative, and I don't. I
don't think they thought well of him. So the faith
(27:50):
is the Catholic Church is very divided over over Pope Francis,
particularly for example, over his comments about LGBTQ. Pope didn't
change the church's approach to homosexuality, but at the same
time he condemned any kind of discrimination against them. He
said they're children of God. Famously once said that when
(28:14):
when asked I believe about about same sex marriage, he says,
who am I to judge? Right? Well, and that really that.
Speaker 2 (28:20):
Always seemed like an odd thing to say, because isn't
that kind of the job.
Speaker 7 (28:28):
What it is?
Speaker 2 (28:28):
That's like going to Chief Justice John Robertson saying who
am I to judge? Like, isn't that part of the
whole gig.
Speaker 8 (28:35):
Right, you're the vicar of Christ, You're supposed to speak
for Jesus and so yeah, and and here's the other
element to that is that there's a school thought that
says that the pope can liberalize the uh, the liturgy,
you'll become a move the church to the left, but
you're not going to pick up members that way. You will,
(28:56):
you'll get support, say from the political left of the
United States, but the people and I think Raya Royal
sort of mentioned this in your previous interview, that the
people who are lining up to join the church, younger people,
they're interested in the structure. They're more conservative than they
are liberal. In fact, the New York Post has an
article today about Maga Catholics and so yeah, that's part
(29:19):
of the reason why there are plenty of Catholics in
the United States didn't welcome the pope's device, but are
looking forward to new leadership.
Speaker 2 (29:30):
And it's really interesting when we see gen Z in
this country. Politically, a lot of them are lining up
towards Republicans, which has not always been the case. So
there is some interesting things happening with younger people who
come from a different perspective But let's talk about local
politics for a moment, though, because that's really your area
of expertise. Mayor Karen Bass with her State of the
(29:52):
City sort of arguing that the state the city is back,
how would you describe the state of the city right now?
Speaker 8 (30:01):
Well, it was and it was a it was coincidental,
but not a good good moment for her to get
the state of the city speech when somebody is hacking
down trees on Grand Avenue downtown in a in a
in an element of vandalism the likes of which we
didn't even think of. Who's going to walk around with
a with a chainsaw to cutting down trees? And and
(30:23):
I think that's sort of emblematic of the way most
people uh see the current state of the city. And
I have to tell you, Alex, the the trip to
Africa will be will haunt her forever. And I'm of
the opinion that whereas the fact that she was out
of town wasn't the problem, people understand it's a global city.
(30:44):
She'd been out again, there's a.
Speaker 2 (30:46):
Lot of people that didn't like that she was out
of town and the fact that she was in Africa,
but go.
Speaker 8 (30:49):
Ahead, right, But more importantly, it's it's the fact that
she was in Africa and she was there not for
the city but for Joe Biden. And it also made
the message that she was whether this is this is
fair or not. She sent the message that she was
pining for her old job, which she's had a lot
(31:11):
of time on just because to Africa, and that's the
relationship she had with the president of Ghana, and that
she was less interested in the job she had, which
is perhaps why again it's just the perception. Staff didn't
want to talk her out of the trip because they
knew she wanted to go so bad. So there's somebody
on her staff had to know that the nshal Weather Service,
(31:33):
which Fox eleven NBC four were predicting high winds, dangerously
high winds, and they didn't tell her or they didn't say,
you know, this is a bad time to go, because
they thought she really wanted to go. That I think
is the worst part of all this, that her head,
the perception was her head's not in the game, that
(31:54):
she really didn't she doesn't want.
Speaker 7 (31:56):
To be the mayor.
Speaker 8 (31:58):
She'd rather be dot in Congress.
Speaker 2 (32:01):
And it either either didn't tell her or they did
tell her and she lied about that, and neither one
is good because the scenario that there's a real communication
problem within the office that she wouldn't be told that
is quite a stunning thing if you think about it,
and it's going to be something that she's going to
have to work towards, you know, as she tries for reelection,
(32:24):
real quick, thirty seconds to wrap things up Conan.
Speaker 8 (32:27):
Right, And by the way, she hasn't fired anybody other
than the fire chief, and so if there was somebody
who knew what the whether services would say and didn't
tell her, that person should be dismissed. So I'm just again,
this is going to foddle her all the way to
the real act. Will she be reelected, Will she run? Yeah,
(32:50):
she's she's a Democrat, very good chance of the Democratic city.
But I think Rick Caruso is lining up to run
for a second time at a try.
Speaker 3 (32:59):
You think he's going to run for mayor, not for governor.
Speaker 8 (33:02):
Based on its last week new leadership at city Hall.
I think he is taking a look at his chances
in and I think he's going to run again for man.
Speaker 2 (33:14):
Yeah, well, it's certainly an easier path for him to
run for mayor. Than it would be potentially to run
for governor. But we'll talk more about that race a
little bit later on with Melanie Mason from Politico. But
in the meantime, Conan Nolan, I love you, Thank you
for everything you are the man. I love you too.
Speaker 8 (33:33):
Keep up the great work and talk to you s.
Speaker 3 (33:34):
Thank you so much. How cool is that? Conan?
Speaker 2 (33:37):
All right, Debora Mark and the KFI twenty four hour Newsroom.
Up next in our Top of our hour, we're going
to be talking with Katherin Barger, the La County Supervisor.
But now to Debor Mark.
Speaker 1 (33:46):
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'f I am six forty. You're listening to the John
Cobelt podcast on the iHeartRadio apps.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
I have Alex Michaelson. But welcome to the John Coblt Show.
I am so honored to be filling in for the
first time for John. You usually see me anchoring on
Fox eleven weeknights at five, six, and ten pm. I
also host the statewide political show The Issue Is And
this is the first time that I have ever hosted
(00:27):
a radio show.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
And Deborah Mark.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
I know, usually people start off on like a weekend
in the middle of the country, somewhere at some strange hour,
and to be starting out on one of the biggest
radio shows in the country, filling in for one of
the most iconic broadcasters of all time opposite you is humbling,
exciting and a little scary.
Speaker 4 (00:49):
Well you do have just a little bit of experience
that I'm just kidding. Well, yeah, you're on TV in LA,
so there's the exception.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Yeah, well this is welcome. What's your advice for me
for today?
Speaker 4 (01:03):
You know what, just be yourself. I think Shannon said that,
just be yourself. That's I mean. People like to hear
real people, and you know, what to do. I mean,
you're on TV. I don't think you really need a
whole lot of help. I mean radio is obviously people
aren't seeing you, so it's just about your voice and
(01:25):
what you're saying, and I think that just just be yourself.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
It's it. It's going to be a lot of fun.
We've got a lot of big stuff to talk about today.
Part of what I'm excited about is the opportunity to
bring so many of my friends and favorite people into
the discussion. So we've got an absolutely packed show with
some incredible guests today. Among them, we've got Harvey Levin
from TMZ, Raymond Arroyo talk about the Pope. Conan Nolan
(01:50):
is going to be calling in as well to talk
about politics. Catherine Barger, the La County Supervisor, is going
to be with us. Jovon Buja of the Athletic is
going to be talking about the Lakers. My pal Marlteez
is going to be chiving in talking about being a
new mom, my friend Bill Mlusion from Fox News talking
about immigration, Melanie Mason of Politico talking about Mayor Bass
(02:11):
and the state of the city, and later on, my
man Tim Conway, Junior Ding Dong with you is going
to be with us as well, so we're going to
have an opportunity to interact with all of them throughout
the day. We've got a couple really big stories that
we're following today. Obviously, the death of Pope Francis, one
of the most iconic popes of our lifetime, who really
(02:32):
changed the concept of the papacy and made so many
changes to the way that the Catholic Church operates. We're
going to be delving into what that means and also
what happens now. So many people saw the movie Conclave
and have a sense of that, I don't think that's
exactly what's going to be happening behind the scenes. We're
(02:55):
going to get into that as well. The other big
breaking news of this hour is Mayor Karen just delivering
the state of the City address in downtown and most
importantly talking about what she's gonna do with her budget.
She's got a billion dollar shortfall and so she has
to close that and she's announcing specifics on how exactly
(03:16):
that's going to go and what that means for you
and me. So we're going to talk about that in
detail as well. But let's kick things off with one
of my favorite people, Harvey Levin, who is the man
behind TMZ also the host of TMZ Live, which I've
been so lucky to fill in a lot on lately
and get to go back and forth with him. So
(03:37):
I wanted to start off with him and bring him
into the conversation. Harvey, thanks so much for joining.
Speaker 5 (03:45):
Hey, Alex, I gotta tell you radio is the best medium.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Yes, better than GV Yes.
Speaker 5 (03:51):
And you're gonna love it. And you're a you're already
doing great, but radio absolutely my favorite medium.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
I mean, the only negative is we don't get to
see your attractive face, but that's okay.
Speaker 3 (04:02):
Well, just imagine.
Speaker 5 (04:03):
How much more it is, so much more fun because
there's no pretense with all the filters and just the
fact that you're on TV. So what it's like, it's
what you say and how you say it that matters.
And that's why radio to me, captures it better than
any other medium.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
It is, it is the best. I'm so excited. So
let's kick things off though. As part of the breaking
news of this hour is this state of the city.
And I know you're probably not in the weeds of
all the La City budget stuff, but You've got such
a smart take on LA politics at a larger level.
How would you describe the state of the City of
Los Angeles right now?
Speaker 5 (04:45):
Well, I define it by how we handle a crisis,
and I just think we felt way shorter than the
billion dollars shortfall that we're dealing with the budget on
right now that you know, I think our response to
this calamity with the fires in Pacific Palistates and Altadena,
(05:08):
it was just anemic, and you know it continues. I mean,
there are so many people and I'm sure you know
them who are really just suffering right now, trying to
deal with insurance companies, trying to figure out where to live,
you know, the fact that they were just wiped out.
And I am just not feeling that leadership anywhere, even
(05:33):
during the calamity. But you know, the cult just because
the fire is out doesn't mean the crisis is over,
and it's not. And I'm just so disappointed just generally
in the way everything's been handled and just looking at
people who are just frustrated because it takes a mental
toll as much as anything else. And I know so
(05:54):
many people right now who are really suffering, who aren't
getting the help and yeah, I mean, I don't know
how to make up the billion dollars shortfall, but I
do think that leadership just generally hasn't been there.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
Do you think that Mayor Bass can turn things around?
I mean, because this speech today is a lot about
rebirth and starting over again and you know the idea
of grit and we're going to get through this together.
Can she turned the corner? Can people get behind her?
And if so, what would your advice to her be?
Speaker 5 (06:26):
Yeah? I mean, listen, we are an etcher sketch society
where you know, things can be you know, go horribly wrong,
and then somebody does something that's different and out of
the box, and all of a sudden you erase the
bad because we have very short term memories in this country.
And so sure, but I don't think that people are
(06:49):
going to say, oh my god, look at line item
thirty two in the budget, look what she did. I
think it's got to be bigger and bolder. And I
think that starts and ends with Pacific Palisades and Alta
Dina right now, because that is the catastrophe that we
haven't dealt with, and until that's dealt with, in a
really bold effective way I don't see it.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
And on top of that, you've also got homelessness, which
still hasn't really been dealt with that people are reminded
of each and every day. So let's also talk about
another big thing that you're all over, which is the
Menendez brother's case.
Speaker 5 (07:24):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
First off, you know you're mister celebrity obviously a TMZ.
Why do you think that the Menendez brothers, who aren't
even really celebrities, they're only famous for killing their parents,
have gotten so much more attention than real celebrities.
Speaker 5 (07:40):
Well, they are celebrities, yeah, I mean if you look
at what a celebrity is in you know, in our society,
a celebrity can be infamous just the way they can
be you know, a great singer or a great actor,
they are celebrities. I mean OJ Simpson, for better or worse,
(08:02):
was a celebrity more because of the murders, yeah, than
anything else. I mean, you know, if OJ Simpson, you know,
in twenty fifteen, hadn't done what he did, you know
he'd be this Heisman Trophy winner, you know, who was
also an actor, but never would have gotten the connection
(08:23):
that he got because of what happened. So, yeah, the
Menendez brothers are celebrities. They were young, rich, spoiled kids
who did something absolutely horrific that got played out first
like it was a mafia hit and then it turned
out to be them and has all the elements of
a real life soap opera. And yes, they are celebrities.
(08:45):
So I'm not like, I don't look at them as outliers.
They're right in the sweet spot of celebrity. I know
that sounds crazy, but they are.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
Well, you've agreed to stay with us, and when we
come back, we're going to talk about your take on
what happens to the Menendez brothers as somebody who's been
talking to them behind bars. Plus, I know you've got
something to say about Tulci Gabbard and RFK, which we're
going to make some news on. I have a feeling
you're about to go off, so you don't want to
(09:15):
miss what Harvey does when he's back with us.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
In just a few moments.
Speaker 6 (09:20):
You're listening to John Cobelt on demand from KFI AM
six forty.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
We continue our conversation now with Harvey Levin, the founder
of TMZ. Harvey is on TMZ on Fox eleven every
day at seven o'clock, TMZ Live at four pm. He
also was the host of this great documentary called The
Menendez Brothers The Prison Interview where Harvey and his co
host on the Two Angry Men podcast, Mark Garrigos, who
(09:46):
happens to be the Menendez brother's attorney, had this prison
interview with the Menendez brothers and Harvey really saw for
his perspective how the brothers had changed dramatically in their
thirty five years behind bars. But Harvey, can you update
people in terms of where we're at, because we saw
all this back and forth legality wise and hearing wise.
(10:09):
But you say it's all about Governor Newsom right now?
Speaker 5 (10:13):
Yeah, I mean I think it is. So. Look, there
is a re sentencing hearing right now Eric Lyleman, and
is a serving life without the possibility of parole. The
resentencing would be to take away without the possibility of parole.
If that were to happen, then the both Eric and
Lyle would be eligible to go before the parole board
(10:35):
and they would decide have they been rehabilitated and do
they pose a risk? Their findings would then go to
the governor, and the governor would make a decision. But
the reality is the governor has already done that. The
Governor's already asked the Parole Board to do this, so
to me, and you know, I actually talked to Gerrikus
about this. He agrees that just resentencing them is irrelevant.
(10:57):
The only reason this hearing is relevant and is Garrigos
is also going to ask the judge to change the
conviction from murder to manslaughter. If the judge were to
do that, they would instantly go free without a parole hearing.
But the resentencing itself, to me, is kind of irrelevant.
(11:19):
What is interesting the judge put it off because there
was a skirmish in court late last week where the
DA Nathan Hawkman, said that he was in possession of
the Parole Board's risk assessment findings. Now I am told
Geregos did not even have a copy of that. Hawkman
(11:41):
didn't say what was in the report, but kind of
symbolically waived it, and they ultimately said they want time
for Geigos to get a copy and read it. So
I don't know what it says, but I think that
parole boards got to decide if they get out, would
they pose a danger. I don't really see that, but
(12:03):
that report's going to be really important.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
And you've talked with them, I know you feel like
they've changed. But it's an interesting moment for Governor Newsom,
who you know, may or may not be running for
president already. How about may Yeah, maybe running for president already.
And this issue is is really fifty to fifty So
a lot of politicians don't like to weigh in on
fifty to fifty.
Speaker 5 (12:26):
Issues, I know, and Newsome, you know, calculates things. So
this to me is a really bold move that he's
doing this, because I think he's going to piss off
half the people whichever way he goes. And the fact
that he decided to short circuit everything and not just
wait for the court to decide, but to take the
reins himself really surprised me for the very reason you said.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
And you think he eventually is going to let him out, well, I.
Speaker 5 (12:55):
Think it depends on what the proleboard says. Yeah. Look,
I've talked to Eric in Lyle a couple of times,
and they are different people from the people I covered
way back during that murder trial. They are just different people.
And you know what impressed me was they had no
(13:15):
hope of getting out when they did a lot of
things like I don't know, hospice programs, suicide prevention programs,
rehabilitating other inmates, starting a green space program. They did
a lot of things that they where they weren't going
to get any credit because they weren't never going to
get out. This just this new thing is just a
(13:37):
year and a half old. So I got to say
they impressed me.
Speaker 7 (13:42):
They did.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
We're talking with Harvey Levin, the founder of TMZ. This
is Alex Michaelson filling in for John Cobalt. And when
I filled in with you on TMZ Live, there's always
one or two topics that you just want to sound
off on, and sometimes I just say, let Harvey go.
So apparently until that topic. Today is the Director of
(14:03):
National Intelligence, Telsea Gabbard, releasing ten thousand pages about Robert F.
Kennedy's assassination, the father's assassination for the first time Trump administration,
saying promises made, promises kept.
Speaker 3 (14:17):
What say you, Harvey Levon?
Speaker 5 (14:19):
So Chelsey Gabbert came out yesterday and said there is
information in these ten thousand pages that suggests that there
might have been a conspiracy to kill Robert Kennedy, and
she pointed to a woman who supposedly ran out of
(14:42):
the Ambassador Hotel on June fourth, actually it was early
in the morning for June fifth, nineteen sixty eight, screaming
we got him, we shot him, we shot him. And
she pointed to that as something that was really important
(15:02):
and material to all of this. Here's the deal. I
was at the Ambassador that night, and there was somebody
else there. Her name is Valerie Shulti, and Valerie Shulty
was actually a classmate of mine at UCSB, and Valerie
was that girl. It was back in the day. What
(15:26):
they said was a girl in the polka dot dress
ran out of the Ambassador screaming we shot him. It
was Valerie. Valerie worked for Robert Kennedy. She did not
scream we shot him. She screamed they shot him. Somebody
heard it wrong, and it was cleared up very shortly
(15:49):
after the assassination that this is what happened. I knew her,
she was a classmate, and she was she loved Robert Kennedy.
So that was is just a mistake that was easily
If you google it, you'll see, oh.
Speaker 7 (16:04):
It was a mistake.
Speaker 5 (16:07):
It is to me kind of endemic of when you
have a little information and a lot of power, that
can be a really dangerous thing. But to kind of
float this thing like, oh my gosh, this is evidence
of the conspiracy. It wasn't.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
Wow, well proof that Harvey Levin is a bit like
Forrest Gump and in every single historical moment last that's amazing.
Speaker 3 (16:35):
It just means I'm old, oh yeah, no more than that, Harvey.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
It means so much that you would call in on
my first time doing a radio show and to do
it with you is awesome.
Speaker 3 (16:46):
And thank you Harvey for your insight. Really appreciate it.
Speaker 5 (16:48):
Congratulations. I hope we don't lose you to radio because
it's intoxicating.
Speaker 2 (16:54):
Whoever's going to pay the most, I think that's what
we're going to go there, you go, all right, Thank you, Harvey.
Speaker 6 (17:01):
You're listening to John Cobelts on demand from KFI AM
six forty.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
I'm Alex Michaelson filling in for John from Fox eleven
Los Angeles. Usually can hear me weeknights at five, six
and ten o'clock on Fox eleven. Speaking of Fox, we
want to bring in a Fox News contributor, right now
Raymond or Royo to talk about the death of Pope Francis.
He's somebody who specializes in covering the Vatican. He's a
proud Catholic who talks eloquently about these issues. He's also
(17:31):
host of a podcast called a Royal Grande for iHeartMedia. Raymond,
thank you so much for being with us. We appreciate it.
Speaker 7 (17:39):
Oh, Alex, my honor, thank you for.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
A Can you describe, I guess, as concisely as you can,
what you'd see as Pope Francis's legacy.
Speaker 7 (17:50):
Legacy, you know, it's a complex one, Alex, and I've
covered you know, this is my third conclave. I'm going
into it. I knew the previous Pope Benedict in John
Paulstek personally, I mean, had dinners with him and conversed
with them regularly, and you know, it was a close relationship.
Pope Francis. I wasn't as close, but certainly covered all
of his major events almost thirteen years of his vapacy.
(18:13):
It's complex in this way, Alex. On the surface, he
was a beautiful symbol of humility moving, you know, a
pope moving out to people who perhaps were overlooked or
ignored in the past, and that would include immigrants, LGBT,
two members of that community, people who felt estranged from
(18:35):
the church, who were in broken marriages and hadn't reconciled yet.
He reached out in a very tangible way to those
groups in a lovingly fatherly embrace, and that was beautiful
to witness and watch no matter where. He went, right
up into the very end. When you saw him yesterday,
literally hours before he died, gick getting on the popemobile,
(18:58):
waving at people, blessing them, touching babies, spending the time,
you know, connecting with his flock. So that is one
face of his legacy and probably the popular vision of
Pope Francis. On the other hand, the internal vision I
think for a lot of Catholics they saw of Pope
Francis once total group of young people. Alexis is a
(19:21):
kind of key into his papacy. He said, go into
the world and make a mess, and when you look
back on his papacy, that may have been a key
to understanding it. He would take issues of controversy, of
female ordination or in some cases you know, climate change
and climate activists and bring them into the church, but
(19:41):
sort of open up issues that have been settled and
throw them onto the floor in the middle of the
room and say, okay, let's have a big tussle about this. Everybody,
come on in, let's let's have a conversation about this.
He liked that mess and that tumult, and that was
sort of his way of governing and feeling his way
through these issues. But along the way it produced a
lot of confusion in the church, I think, acrimony, and
(20:04):
some of his decisions were not widely embraced because they
were departures from traditional Catholic teaching and certainly from his predecessors.
And that would be things like the liturgy. You know,
he didn't like the old Latin liturgy that Benedict brought back.
He didn't like the formal smells and bells. And the
fact is you go groups of young people now who
(20:25):
are coming to the church because they want that tradition,
they want that solidity and the history that that's founded upon.
And so there's that tension in Pope Benedict's prop bendic
in Pope Francis's legacy, between someone who reached out to
the peripheries and somebody who at times knocked over the
blocks and upset a lot of people inside.
Speaker 2 (20:48):
The church, I mean, And a big part of it
I think is also going to be defined by what
comes next, Like, for example, President Biden's legacy is to
really kind of shot because President Trump came in and
basically evaporated it right away. In terms of what is
most likely to come next in terms of the conclave,
and obviously we don't know yet and that's all done
(21:09):
behind closed doors and all the rest of it. But
is the most likely thing to see a pope in
this Francis Mold or is it to go back to
more like a Benedict.
Speaker 7 (21:21):
Well, you know my inclination. The word on the street
is Pope Francis appointed eighty percent of the cardinals in
this college of cardinals, among those whatever one hundred and
thirty eight men who go going into the Systin Chapel,
eighty percent of the more appointed by Pope Francis. So
I think some kind of you know, drive by commentators
(21:41):
are going to say, oh, well it's already baked and
you're going to get another Francis. I would say, hold
the phone. For this reason, one these cardinals don't know
each other. Alex Unlike Benedict and John Paul, who brought
the cardinals regularly together, so they had a synods that
were only cardinals where they could talk, eat together, get
to know each other, have conversations about what was happening
(22:02):
in the church. Francis has not done any of that.
In fact, his synod, when he called groups together, it
was laid people with a hand selected group of cardinals,
so it was only a small group. So this college
has really not regularly met. The second part is, unlike
John Paul and Benedict, who chose men, vetted men and
chose them based on the ideological and doctrinal vision that
(22:27):
they had, so they reflected the pope's vision, Francis really
didn't do that. Many of his pics are just kind
of again, it's a mess, it's off the cuff, it's freelance.
He would meete a guy for Morocco. This is a
true story. Fifty four year old missionary for Morocco. He
likes the guy who impresses him. A few days later
(22:48):
he makes him a cardinal. The guy is a smaller
diocese than one parish in New York City. It's like
a thousand people in the diocese but he's a cardinal,
he'll be voting in this conflict. But it turns out
this guy as wach war on Islam and has been
up against with his backup against the wall in Morocco.
So that man is probably not ideologically where Pope Francis was.
(23:11):
So I think there are a lot of wild cards here.
The two principal ones are these men were not vetted,
they're not alike in any way, And two, they don't
know each other, meaning and you said it earlier, Alex,
that was the real key to this is the predecessor
really determines who his successor is. I would argue Barack
Obama created Donald Trump. Right. If it weren't for Barack Obama,
(23:33):
you wouldn't have had Donald Trump he was his.
Speaker 3 (23:36):
And you wouldn't have had Barack Obama without George W. Bush.
Speaker 7 (23:40):
Right, They all follow each other.
Speaker 2 (23:43):
So, but in the in terms of the in terms
of the American presidencies, it's almost always the opposite of
the predecessor is what happens next, And it very interesting
to see if that's what happens in terms of the
papacy as.
Speaker 7 (23:55):
Well, And it might happen, it might not. But my
guess is it will. But you have to take an
honest appraisal of what the last hope really did. And
I think it's hard when look, when someone dies, the
first thing you want to do is to honor their memory.
And that's what we're doing this week. But next week,
I think they'll be Once PO Francis is very I
think there'll be an honest conversation about what he did,
(24:18):
what he didn't do. The sex abuse. His sex abuse
record is very, very checkered, because I guess a nice
way to put it, I won't get into it now,
but it's not pretty. And I've covered this stuff so
intensely and closely. I've talked to the victims, and I've
kind of seen the judicial procedures that were cast aside
Alex that's just not it was really poorly handled. Whether
(24:44):
he knew of some of these or not, but many
of these people with his friends. So that's another conversation.
But the cardinals will have these kinds of conversations and
that will determine whoever the man is to succeed PO friends.
Speaker 2 (24:56):
And we will follow you along that entire journey on
Fire News on your podcast or Royal Grande and your
social media all over the place at Raymond Arroyo. Thank
you so much for calling in on a really busy
day for you really valuable, valuable perspective.
Speaker 7 (25:14):
I love your work. I see it whenever I'm in
Los Angeles and we even carried your Kamala Harrison, So
I'm a huge fan of you.
Speaker 2 (25:23):
Thank you very much. It's first time talking with you
and that means a lot. And up next, somebody I've
talked to a lot who taught me most of what
I know. Conan Nolan of NBC is going to be
a joining us.
Speaker 6 (25:35):
You're listening to John Cobelt on demand from KFI Am
six forty.
Speaker 2 (25:40):
Alex Michaelson filling in for John Cobalt on the John
Cobelt Show. So when they said to me that I
could invite on whoever I wanted, I wanted to invite
on this next guest because I wouldn't be me without him.
Conan Nolan, who is the political reporter at KNBC Channel four,
host of news conference at nine am on NBC four,
(26:03):
is one of my main mentors in my career. I
spent two years interning with him. Because we work at
competing stations, we never get to be on together. So
I thought it'd be fun to use this loophole as
a way to be on with him. Conan Nolan, Welcome
to the show, Alex.
Speaker 8 (26:19):
How are you? And let me set the record straight.
This is what you're doing now was in your DNA.
I was privileged to have you as the intern. I
didn't teach you anything, if anything, you'd taught me. But anyhow,
thanks for having me.
Speaker 3 (26:30):
Well what did I teach you? No, go let's get let's.
Speaker 7 (26:35):
Work, that's for sure.
Speaker 8 (26:36):
I mean, you're not somebody that you don't teat your
own horn. But the listener should know there's never been
somebody who works harder at this business than you. And
I have forty years of experience, so I know that.
But anyhow, checks.
Speaker 3 (26:50):
And the mail. Thank you.
Speaker 2 (26:53):
Let's talk though about you know, Conan is a proud Catholic.
I know you've covered popes in the past. You've covered
Poe that the Vatican in the past. Your thoughts on
the on the passing of Pope Francis.
Speaker 8 (27:05):
Well, you know, I hate to put it through uh
through the prism of my own family, but I have
a niece who worked at the Vatican. She was an
English language editor for the Vatican News Service. A family
member used to be. I'm senior at the Vatican. He
was a chief latinust if they love of Francis, they
they thought he was terrific. He was kind, he was compassionate. Uh,
(27:26):
he understood the complexities of the faith. And I have
a very conservative brother who is has his own sort
of uh faith based uh uh effort within the church,
who thought he was too conservative, and I don't. I
don't think they thought well of him. So the faith
(27:50):
is the Catholic Church is very divided over over Pope Francis,
particularly for example, over his comments about LGBTQ. Pope didn't
change the church's approach to homosexuality, but at the same
time he condemned any kind of discrimination against them. He
said they're children of God. Famously once said that when
(28:14):
when asked I believe about about same sex marriage, he says,
who am I to judge? Right? Well, and that really that.
Speaker 2 (28:20):
Always seemed like an odd thing to say, because isn't
that kind of the job.
Speaker 7 (28:28):
What it is?
Speaker 2 (28:28):
That's like going to Chief Justice John Robertson saying who
am I to judge? Like, isn't that part of the
whole gig.
Speaker 8 (28:35):
Right, you're the vicar of Christ, You're supposed to speak
for Jesus and so yeah, and and here's the other
element to that is that there's a school thought that
says that the pope can liberalize the uh, the liturgy,
you'll become a move the church to the left, but
you're not going to pick up members that way. You will,
(28:56):
you'll get support, say from the political left of the
United States, but the people and I think Raya Royal
sort of mentioned this in your previous interview, that the
people who are lining up to join the church, younger people,
they're interested in the structure. They're more conservative than they
are liberal. In fact, the New York Post has an
article today about Maga Catholics and so yeah, that's part
(29:19):
of the reason why there are plenty of Catholics in
the United States didn't welcome the pope's device, but are
looking forward to new leadership.
Speaker 2 (29:30):
And it's really interesting when we see gen Z in
this country. Politically, a lot of them are lining up
towards Republicans, which has not always been the case. So
there is some interesting things happening with younger people who
come from a different perspective But let's talk about local
politics for a moment, though, because that's really your area
of expertise. Mayor Karen Bass with her State of the
(29:52):
City sort of arguing that the state the city is back,
how would you describe the state of the city right now?
Speaker 8 (30:01):
Well, it was and it was a it was coincidental,
but not a good good moment for her to get
the state of the city speech when somebody is hacking
down trees on Grand Avenue downtown in a in a
in an element of vandalism the likes of which we
didn't even think of. Who's going to walk around with
a with a chainsaw to cutting down trees? And and
(30:23):
I think that's sort of emblematic of the way most
people uh see the current state of the city. And
I have to tell you, Alex, the the trip to
Africa will be will haunt her forever. And I'm of
the opinion that whereas the fact that she was out
of town wasn't the problem, people understand it's a global city.
(30:44):
She'd been out again, there's a.
Speaker 2 (30:46):
Lot of people that didn't like that she was out
of town and the fact that she was in Africa,
but go.
Speaker 8 (30:49):
Ahead, right, But more importantly, it's it's the fact that
she was in Africa and she was there not for
the city but for Joe Biden. And it also made
the message that she was whether this is this is
fair or not. She sent the message that she was
pining for her old job, which she's had a lot
(31:11):
of time on just because to Africa, and that's the
relationship she had with the president of Ghana, and that
she was less interested in the job she had, which
is perhaps why again it's just the perception. Staff didn't
want to talk her out of the trip because they
knew she wanted to go so bad. So there's somebody
on her staff had to know that the nshal Weather Service,
(31:33):
which Fox eleven NBC four were predicting high winds, dangerously
high winds, and they didn't tell her or they didn't say,
you know, this is a bad time to go, because
they thought she really wanted to go. That I think
is the worst part of all this, that her head,
the perception was her head's not in the game, that
(31:54):
she really didn't she doesn't want.
Speaker 7 (31:56):
To be the mayor.
Speaker 8 (31:58):
She'd rather be dot in Congress.
Speaker 2 (32:01):
And it either either didn't tell her or they did
tell her and she lied about that, and neither one
is good because the scenario that there's a real communication
problem within the office that she wouldn't be told that
is quite a stunning thing if you think about it,
and it's going to be something that she's going to
have to work towards, you know, as she tries for reelection,
(32:24):
real quick, thirty seconds to wrap things up Conan.
Speaker 8 (32:27):
Right, And by the way, she hasn't fired anybody other
than the fire chief, and so if there was somebody
who knew what the whether services would say and didn't
tell her, that person should be dismissed. So I'm just again,
this is going to foddle her all the way to
the real act. Will she be reelected, Will she run? Yeah,
(32:50):
she's she's a Democrat, very good chance of the Democratic city.
But I think Rick Caruso is lining up to run
for a second time at a try.
Speaker 3 (32:59):
You think he's going to run for mayor, not for governor.
Speaker 8 (33:02):
Based on its last week new leadership at city Hall.
I think he is taking a look at his chances
in and I think he's going to run again for man.
Speaker 2 (33:14):
Yeah, well, it's certainly an easier path for him to
run for mayor. Than it would be potentially to run
for governor. But we'll talk more about that race a
little bit later on with Melanie Mason from Politico. But
in the meantime, Conan Nolan, I love you, Thank you
for everything you are the man. I love you too.
Speaker 8 (33:33):
Keep up the great work and talk to you s.
Speaker 3 (33:34):
Thank you so much. How cool is that? Conan?
Speaker 2 (33:37):
All right, Debora Mark and the KFI twenty four hour Newsroom.
Up next in our Top of our hour, we're going
to be talking with Katherin Barger, the La County Supervisor.
But now to Debor Mark.
Speaker 1 (33:46):
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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