Talkline | Dec. 23, 2025

Dave & TJ discuss their favorite Christmas movies, break down "Christmas Vacation," and get your input on best Christmas movies. Hollywood Reporter Kristyn Burt weighs in. Bridge Lambert, President of the WV Retailers Association, talks about the holiday shopping season. Steven Allen Adams, of Ogden Newspapers, and Brad McElhinny drop by to talk news and politics.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:12):
Good morning, Welcome in. It's Metro News talk Line for
the Encoba Insurance Studios. Happy fest of us. We're underway.

Speaker 2 (00:22):
You are surrounded.

Speaker 3 (00:28):
Radio turned off from the studios of w v r
C Media and the Metro News Radio and Television network,
the Voice of West Virginia comes the most powerful show
in West Virginia. This it's Metro News talk Line with
Dave Wilson and TJ. Meadows act.

Speaker 4 (00:49):
So it's where can.

Speaker 3 (00:50):
We hold from Charles stand by to David TJ.

Speaker 5 (00:53):
You're on.

Speaker 3 (00:58):
Metro News talk Line is pre by Incoba Insurance, encircling
you with coverage to protect what you care about most.
Visit incova dot com to learn more.

Speaker 1 (01:11):
Hey, good morning, Welcome inside the in Cove Insurance Studios.
Dave Wilson in Morgantown, TJ. Meadows is in Charleston. Gangs
all here, Jake Link on the video stream, and Ethan
Collins is our audio producer. Thank you for being part
of the program as well on one of our great
radio affiliates across the state of West Virginia and on
the Metro News TV app Second Hour. Stephen Alan Adams

(01:35):
of Algod Newspapers will stop by we'll talk about a
little of this and a little of that with Stephen
as we wrap up twenty five and take a look
ahead toward twenty twenty six. Brat McIlhenny will join us.
Christin Burt on loan from Metro News Hotline will give
us the lowdown on the movies that are available. They

(01:56):
will talk Christmas movies, not like movies that are released Onstmas,
but Christmas movies with Kristin as well. Who knows it's
that kind of a show. Please say good morning the TJ.
Meadows in Charleston. Morning, TJ.

Speaker 4 (02:08):
Meadows, Good morning, Dave Wilson. Wilson, I think you ought
to go out and get yourself something real nice. You
got that one?

Speaker 1 (02:17):
That one. As a matter of fact, I have a
list here and of in alphabetical order, starting with Jenna.
If you'd like to go out and.

Speaker 4 (02:26):
It's Christmas Vacation. Yes, Cousin Eddie telling Clark, you know,
get yourself something real nice.

Speaker 1 (02:32):
Christmas Vacation. The three movies that have run pretty well
on a continuous loop at our house this year. My
favorite Christmas Vacation. I'll watch it anytime. It's only only
there's a rule though, I will not watch it outside
of the Christmas season because that ruins it for me.
So it will pop on like in July. Am I no,
it's it's Christmas movie, okay.

Speaker 5 (02:54):
Uh?

Speaker 1 (02:54):
And then my wife is her favorites are Home Alone,
one and two and anytime they're on the on. Yeah,
that's pretty elf. Elf has made a few appearances.

Speaker 4 (03:03):
This Elf is good. I like Vince Vaughan for Christmases.
That Vince Vaughn is just great. You know. Most of
that stuff has ad libbed. I think it's just him improving.
But the part where he uh he gets to go
to the mother in law's church and they pull him
up on stage to be Joseph because Joseph and Mary
got Simon Ellen. Boys, He's like, this child is a

(03:27):
blessing to the both of us.

Speaker 1 (03:29):
It's four Christmases. I'll give you another. Vince von Fred Klaus.

Speaker 4 (03:33):
Underrated, you know what, have never seen it, really, I'll
put it on the list. Have never seen that one.
Don't know why should have, but have never seen that.

Speaker 1 (03:42):
It's on under I think a little underrated. It's against
Vince Vaughan being Vince Vaughan.

Speaker 4 (03:47):
I'm trying to watch it tonight. I'll let you know
tomorrow whether or not I think you're right.

Speaker 1 (03:49):
All right, we'll talk movies coming up, Christen Burt second
part of the hour. Also, I've got a UFO story.
Texter was getting on me a couple of weeks ago
about UFO's I've got a UFO story. We'll share later
on as the program unfolds. Uh TJ. Let's see you
have very famously said you await you wait for Christmas
Eve to do your shopping?

Speaker 4 (04:11):
Is that I used to and and nowadays I just
do most of it online, But yeah, I used to
go out late, and I don't do a whole lot, admittedly,
but with my wife's listening, she's like, stop lying. She
she does most of it, and she and I we
typically give each other a vacation or something, so it's
not like I do a lot of shopping.

Speaker 1 (04:28):
A vacation from each other or you go on vacation.

Speaker 4 (04:31):
We go away without the kids, which is what we
did last week.

Speaker 1 (04:35):
So you know, honey, I got the best Christmas present
ever for you this year, A week away from me.

Speaker 4 (04:40):
Congress, she'd probably say, why couldn't you spring for two?

Speaker 1 (04:46):
Well, there are many of you I'm sure headed out
to Uh. Well, if you're going to get anything, you
got to go physically get it now if you're doing
your last minute Christmas shopping. Bridge At Lambert is the
president of the West Junior Retailor's Association, and she joined
us on Metro News talk line this morning. Bridget, good morning,
How are you?

Speaker 6 (05:05):
Good morning? I'm great, Thanks for having me so.

Speaker 1 (05:08):
How I know we won't get a full picture until later,
probably on end of January, but how has the holiday
shopping season been for retailers in West Virginia this year?

Speaker 6 (05:17):
It's been a very strong season and today is a
significant day for retailers who expect to see very heavy
fit traffic in the stores with the last minute shoppers.

Speaker 4 (05:30):
What's the stock look like, Bridget? For those of us
that do like to wait last minute, and I probably
will go out at some point tomorrow, I mean, what
does what does it look like? Is there's still ample
supply out there?

Speaker 6 (05:40):
There is retailers are well stocked for this holiday season,
and I will say kind of an anomaly we've seen
more for the traffic in stores this year. People are
returning to the bricks and mortar stores and shopping, which
is great for our local communities.

Speaker 1 (05:56):
Talking to Bridget Lambert, presidents of the Western Retailers Association JET,
how much of a lasting impact did the COVID pandemic
have on the habits of shoppers, especially this time of year.

Speaker 6 (06:09):
Well, for the last four or five years, we saw
a lot of shopping shift to online or direct to
the door delivery from your local retailers. You could order
and it would be there within hours. This year, we're
seeing consumers return into the retail stores and shop, and
our retailers meet our customers where they are, and so

(06:30):
we expect to have good merchandise on the shelves. We're
well stopped and go out and have some fun and
enjoy some shopping with your family and friends.

Speaker 4 (06:40):
Let's focus on the smaller local businesses, not so much
on the big boxes for a second, but on those
local retailers. Give me an idea what percentage of their
annual business does this holiday make up.

Speaker 6 (06:54):
A lot? It is a make or break, you know.
We see this holiday season is where retailers traditionally go
from the red to the black on their books. It
is extremely important specifically to our main street merchants. So
last one was a super sund copping. Oh do we

(07:17):
lose traffic? Is our local? We saw a lot of
foot traffic with our local merchants this past we have
shop blues.

Speaker 1 (07:31):
Tell you what we've We've got a bad connection, Hey, bridge,
hang on one second, Ethan checked that. I'm gonna put
you back on whole Bridget real quick because we've got
a shaky connection there. Ethan. Uh, if you will breaking
is it the third wall or the fourth wall? When
you do this anyway, I'm breaking a rule, Ethan. Check
the phone connection with the Bridget. See if we got
a solid line there, real quick.

Speaker 4 (07:52):
It's probably one of the big boxes trying to shut
her down. That's what's going on. Oh, conspiracy, I like it.

Speaker 1 (07:59):
You know what everybody else is spinning conspiracy theories on
binocasts and shows this time of year.

Speaker 4 (08:05):
You're going to talk about UFOs today.

Speaker 1 (08:06):
Hey, that ain't conspiracy, man, that's you know, that's fact.

Speaker 4 (08:10):
Well, you know I will say that thing over Jersey.
I've still never gotten a good explanation about that.

Speaker 1 (08:15):
The drums right, yeah, yeah, you know what we didn't.
We never did get an explanation.

Speaker 4 (08:19):
Of what it just like vanished one day. People weren't
talking about it, and I'm like, are they still flying?
Are they? I guess they're not. People aren't talking about it.

Speaker 1 (08:27):
Hmm. Interesting, Uh all right. I think we're trying to reconnect.
We're going to try to reconnect with Bridget there. You
think that's interesting. Curious people are going back to the
back to the brick and mortar stores. I'm curious the
reasoning why, because admittedly it's it's really easy TJ. You
just and that's what I did this year for the
one person I had to buy for. I ordered it,

(08:49):
it shipped to my house. Yeah, it saves me the trouble.

Speaker 4 (08:52):
I think maybe it depends on what you're buying. I
also think that you want to be able to touch it.

Speaker 7 (08:59):
Uh.

Speaker 4 (08:59):
Like, if you're picking out jewelry, right, you probably want
to well, yeah, let me see that one picking you
know what I mean? Yes, And I get that there's
a local jewelry store in Tays Valley that I always
go to that I frequent. You get that and the
people know you, and I think there's something to that.
I also think a lot of people that have only
shopped online because of their age, right, and the advent

(09:21):
of online they're now saying you know that that's kind
of cool. Yeah, I'll try a store. Da da da
da da, And I think it just comes full circle.

Speaker 1 (09:27):
Gen z Ers, I'll tell you what. All right, we
got Bridget back.

Speaker 6 (09:29):
Bridgets you there, I am and thank you for mentioning
jewelry stores, because our jewelry stores in the state are
doing very well this holiday season. I was in the
store in South truston the other day and they were
just packed.

Speaker 1 (09:45):
Well, we were speculating there while we were reconnecting Bridget
why why are shoppers going back to the brick and
mortar stores? Do you suppose.

Speaker 6 (09:55):
I just think there's a drawl of people wanting to
go back to normal. They want to fill like we've
passed the COVID pandemic and they're just back in the stores.
They're looking at merchandise. To your point, they're touching merchandise.
They want to seeve up, they're prive. And I do
think there is some validity to the younger generation starting

(10:16):
to say, oh, yeah, that's kind of cool, and they
go out with their friends too, and they have those
yearly traditions. I think we don't want to lose the
yearly traditions of going out with our friends and family
and just having a nice holiday season.

Speaker 4 (10:30):
You were talking about we kind of got cut off,
but I think you said this was a make or
break holiday for local retailers. I'll let you re expand
on that a bit.

Speaker 6 (10:39):
Yes, the small business Saturday is the least a big
day for retailers this holiday season. Last Saturday was called
Super Saturday because it was the last Saturday to shop
before the holiday, and so our local retailers do rely
on the traffic in the door and we've seen that
return this year. You get a lot of personal service

(11:01):
from your local retailers. You probably have a relationship with
them already, and we think it's wonderful for people to
shop local.

Speaker 1 (11:09):
Bridget Lambert is joining us here. I mentioned his talk
line this morning Western your Retailers Association president uh Bridget.
For the entire year, how have retailers fared? Because we've
we've had a lot of uncertainty, if you will, in
the economy this year.

Speaker 6 (11:26):
Yeah, ironically, you're correct, and so consumer confidence seem to
be down with poles if you are listening or watching
poles that hit the news media. However, that's not actually
showing up as a register. The National Retail Federation is
projecting sales and grace this holiday season up four point

(11:47):
two percent over twenty twenty three, and this year is
going to finish as a strong retail year overall.

Speaker 4 (11:54):
Any gift that has risen to the top that people
are clamoring for that you're like, what in the world
I didn't think that would be popular. What's that thing
that you weren't expecting that came out of nowhere that
everybody wants.

Speaker 6 (12:07):
I really don't know what everybody wants. It's a lot
of things. Electronics remain very popular. There are certain games.
I think TJ and I've talked about Legos being at
the top of the boy list. Barbies are still topping
the list. It's just an onmal holiday season with people shopping, baking,
advantage of new things, Joe iPhones, any accessories for those.

(12:30):
Those type of things are always a big draw. TV
sets are at a record low at this moment, so
a lot of those are flying off the shelves.

Speaker 1 (12:41):
Bridget Lambert joining US West Virginia Retailers Association. Any advice
for last minute shoppers headed out today.

Speaker 6 (12:46):
Bridget, make a list, give to your budget, be kind
to each other and enjoy the consumer deals that are
available to you in your retail.

Speaker 1 (12:56):
Stores, Bridget, Before I let you go, it's the one
Christmas gift, the one that sticks out from when you
were a kid, from when you were an adult. What's
the one that you think of every year?

Speaker 6 (13:09):
I actually got a Barbie camper and I thought that
was really cool when I was a little girl.

Speaker 4 (13:16):
Do you still have it?

Speaker 6 (13:19):
Yep, a Barbie camper, and I hadn't seen one forever.
And I was shopping at a thrift store this summer
and looked on a table and there was the exact
Barbie camper I have from childhood.

Speaker 1 (13:32):
Cool Bridge at Lambert, Western Wes Virginia Retailer Association President
Bridget Lambert. Hey, Bridget, thanks for hopping on this morning.
Give us an the update. Merry Christmas, Happy new You
appreciate it.

Speaker 6 (13:43):
Merry Christmas. Thank you, Hill, and have a great holiday
season you as well.

Speaker 1 (13:47):
We'll get some of your thoughts. Kind of a laid
back show today. Three or four Talk. Three or four
is the text line eight hundred and seven sixty five
eight two five five eight hundred seven six five talk.
That's the phone number you can text us three or
four talk three of for This is talk line from
the Cove Insurance Studios PAD to care for Here at

(14:08):
the cab we are here.

Speaker 2 (14:13):
From all of us here at the Health Plan. We
want to make your season bright. Whether you're wrapping gifts
are planning next year's goals, We're here for you. Happy
holidays and merry Christmas. From our family to yours.

Speaker 7 (14:29):
Here.

Speaker 8 (14:32):
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opportunities while keeping our communities healthy. Employing nearly fifty four
thousand people, West Virginia hospitals rank among our state's largest
and most dependable employers. They provide more than one billion
dollars in community benefits and generate nearly seventeen billion dollars
in total economic impact each year. Hospitals are investing wear accounts,

(14:53):
advancing health, ensuring access to care, and powering West Virginia's
economic future.

Speaker 9 (14:58):
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Slash ender Chronology.

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Metronews talkline is presented by Encova Insurance and circling you
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Speaker 1 (15:55):
Eight hundred and seven sixty five talks. The phone number
three oh four Talk three oh four is the text line.
If you are traveling today or tomorrow, Be patient, be careful.
I think today is the busiest day. Today and Friday
are the two busiest travel days for people travel. Hundred

(16:15):
what do we say that earlier this week? Hundred twenty
two million people traveling? Just be careful there, be patient,
have a plan B, C, and maybe a plan D
just in case.

Speaker 4 (16:26):
Here's one wherever you're headed. If you're on the turnpike,
go to the far right lane. It's open. No one
ever gets in it. Seriously, I look for it, man,
because I can.

Speaker 1 (16:37):
You can.

Speaker 4 (16:38):
Maybe I shouldn't complain because it lets me get by
the mess But.

Speaker 1 (16:43):
Look for the far right lane. That right lane. It works.

Speaker 4 (16:47):
I'm talking about it's easy, easy pay or cash. No
one ever wants to get in it.

Speaker 1 (16:51):
I know everybody heads toward the middle.

Speaker 4 (16:54):
And you don't have to slow to a creep. It's
five miles an hour through the easy pay line.

Speaker 1 (17:00):
Just saying three or four talk three or four. By
the way, congratulations University High School's Marcos Kaniska. He was
named the Hally Award winner that honors the top linebacker
in the state of West Virginia, as awarded by the
West Virginia Sports Writers Association. You can see a write
up over at the website this morning wv metronews dot com.
All Right, text messages three or four talk three or four.

(17:24):
Texter says, office Christmas Party. That's a good one too.
The great thing about those office type Christmas movies is
you start identifying people you work with as characters in
the movie. Oh yeah, that's Dave Allen right there, the
guy passed out on the table, that's Dave Allen right there. No, no,

(17:44):
well not I'll stop right there. But yes, office Christmas Party,
that's a good one. That's a good one.

Speaker 4 (17:52):
The show The Office, their Christmas party was fabulous.

Speaker 1 (17:57):
You guys gotta talk about sixty minutes segments on the
prison of El Savador getting pulled from American airwaves look
like looks like executives at CBS are running interference with
the Trump administration. Thought CBS was the liberal mainstream media. Hmmm, strange.
We talked about it yesterday for a little bit. I
still think it's odd. Edit aired in Canada. The piece
aired in Canada evidently, and there's videos circulating on the

(18:21):
Internet of the original piece. Now people want to see
the edited piece and compare them once it airs here.

Speaker 4 (18:28):
I don't know.

Speaker 1 (18:29):
Odd.

Speaker 4 (18:31):
So is that a way of back dooring the piece
into the internet. If you're air youing it in Canada,
you know it can be captured, you backdoor it into
the internet in the US via YouTube or whatever. So
it's like, oh, we didn't but we did. Yeah, that
deepens the plot, I mean, because let's think about this first.

(18:53):
Now You've got me going, Okay, if you're CBS and
you didn't want to do this because you were afraid
of political retribution in your business dealings, why would you
let it air in Canada.

Speaker 1 (19:11):
It's odd. It's all very odd. What's going on there.

Speaker 4 (19:16):
I think that's a way of doing it, but not
doing it. Sorry, mister President. Those Canucks, just like they
won't do tariffs. They took our material and they broadcast
it without our permission. The Canadians are the ones to blame.

Speaker 1 (19:30):
Wouldn't have this problem if they were a fifty first state.
Are you gonna talk about the Georgia election from twenty twenty,
They count three hundred and ten thousand votes, didn't have
required signatures to verify crickets. Hopy needs to come on
and apologize, says the Texter. I've only seen the headlines
of that story. I haven't looked deeply into it yet.

Speaker 4 (19:47):
I haven't either.

Speaker 1 (19:50):
Three or four talk three four. They have ridiculous charges
and share charges on things that you order online now,
Plus there's so many issues getting things anymore. It's better
to go back in and check on the quality. Got
it done, and if you have a problem, you go
back to the locally owned store instead of having to
pay to ship everything back and all the hassles, says

(20:10):
the texture. That's fair. That's fair. It is that goes
back to what you were talking about if you've got
a problem and you know the person at the local shop,
you go, hey, hey, the class pll in this necklace broke,
instead of having to ship it back and talk to
somebody who doesn't know you and thinks you're running a scam.
Yeah before talk three or four, Oh, drones over in

(20:30):
New Jersey. My theory do that. My theory is that
it was a test for the Ukrainian drone operation over Russia.
The timing lines up says the.

Speaker 4 (20:39):
Texter Russia is a lot like New Jersey. I mean,
I feel equally. That's passionate about both. So I could
go with that.

Speaker 1 (20:53):
Three or four talk three four.

Speaker 4 (20:54):
We'll tell you about the first time I was in Jersey.

Speaker 1 (20:56):
I'll do tell quickly.

Speaker 4 (20:58):
It was a young man right out of college, first
corporate job, went up there for a performance audit. I
didn't know you couldn't pump your own gas in New Jersey.
I get out, you're ready to pump my gas, and
the guys say, good in your car. You know, I
found out that you can't pump your own gas. How
do you even know how to do this? I'm like, really,
it's pumping gas.

Speaker 1 (21:19):
Pumping gas for pathball since a six years old.

Speaker 4 (21:22):
Not in Jersey, you're not. Oh my gosh, maybe they
changed that. But back in the early two thousands.

Speaker 1 (21:27):
Uh huh, three or four talk three or four is
the text line eight hundred and seven sixty five eight
two five five. That is the phone number. We'll talk movies.
What to look for if you're looking to go to
the movies over the Christmas holiday. Kristen Burt's going to
join us, coming up, second half of the hour. This
is Taklano. Metron is for forty years the voice of
West Virginia. It's ten thirty. Let's get a news update.

(21:49):
Check in with the Metro News radio network. Find out
what's happening across the great state of West Virginia.

Speaker 11 (21:55):
Western Virginia Metro News. I'm Jeff Jenkins. They State Fire
Marshal's office is on the scene of a triple fatal
fire in Huntington. It happened at a house in a
three hundred block of West eighth Street and just before
six this morning. No information has been released so far
about the victims. Authority said that house was supposed to
have been abandoned. Charleston, YCA domestic violence victims advocate Julie

(22:18):
Britton says what happened in a Sissonville residence early Saturday
morning was tragic.

Speaker 12 (22:23):
It absolutely shouldn't have happened.

Speaker 6 (22:24):
She should have had all of this attention from the
court system while she was still alive.

Speaker 12 (22:30):
Now.

Speaker 11 (22:30):
Joanna Phillips had gotten a domestic violence protective order from
the courts against her husband, forty six year old Jason Phillips,
but he violated it. He remains in the South Central
Regional Jail without bail, charge with murder. The National Weather
Service says what we see out there now is what
we're going to get basically for the next few days,
mild with rain at times. The rain won't be heavy
and it won't rain all the time. It doesn't look

(22:51):
like the weather will be a big hurdle today to
keep people from picking up the last minute gift items.
West Virginia Retailers Association President Bridget Lambert says when a
bou is put on this shop season, it will include
strong online and in person sales.

Speaker 6 (23:03):
Online shopping and direct to the door deliveries is still
a very brisk business and has grown this season as well.
But yes, customers have returned to the stores in person
shopping this year at a higher rate than may seem
For about the last four.

Speaker 11 (23:18):
Or five years, you're listening to the Metro News for
forty years, the voice of West Virginia.

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Speaker 11 (24:21):
Christmas light shows in West Virginia hoping for strong crowds
through Christmas Light the Night at Goimart Ballpark and Charleston
has been drawing good crowds. Charleston resident Ursula Perry was
there with her family last night and spoke with Metro News.

Speaker 7 (24:32):
It's a tradition at this point just to come on
out and see the lights and you know, let our daughter,
you know, have all kinds of fun for Christmas, and
it's right in our backyard.

Speaker 11 (24:44):
Light the Night includes two and a half million lights.
From the Metro News anchor desk, I'm Jeff Jenkins.

Speaker 1 (25:13):
Coming up second hour of Metro News talk Line, Steven
Allen Adams. I'll get newspapers going on to drop fine,
we'll talk a little bit of this and that's a
little year in review look ahead to twenty six. Brad
McElhoney will join us as well. Governor Morrisey held a
news conference yesterday recapping year one of his administration. And

(25:35):
giving a little preview of year two. We'll dice that
up with Steven and Brad coming up second hour of
the program three o four Talk three h four is
the text line. Many of you have started to weigh
in on a number of things, including Christmas gifts and
Christmas movies. I said Christmas Vacation. I know that sounds cliche,
but it is. It's Christmas vacation for me. If it's on,

(25:58):
I'll watch it. My Wife's Home Alone one and two,
which come in a double feature. By the way, what's
your did you? Are you a Christmas vacation kind of guy?
Christmas Story?

Speaker 4 (26:07):
I like them all. I love the Christmas Story. My
wife hates it. I love it?

Speaker 1 (26:11):
Whoa what?

Speaker 12 (26:12):
Back?

Speaker 4 (26:12):
Back up?

Speaker 5 (26:13):
She what?

Speaker 4 (26:14):
She does not like the Red Rider be Begun story
at all?

Speaker 16 (26:17):
Why no?

Speaker 4 (26:18):
She she finds it asinine communist. I like it, but
I like them. I love Wonderful Life, White Christmas. I
love both Home alones. My kids and I watch those
we like elf. I mean, dude, honestly, I've got the
YouTube TV account set up to record every Christmas movie

(26:40):
that comes on, so we just like, turn it on
on a loop and just let it go.

Speaker 1 (26:44):
This time of year, there's some you know, you know
what makes this of those movies work, even with the
glaring plot holes that many of the Christmas movies have
and we won't get into those unless you want to.
There there's a little bit. There's something in those movies,
whether it's the ones you mentioned Home Alone, whether it's
a Wonderful Life, Christmas vacation, Christmas story that reminds you

(27:05):
mainly of your child. And that's with the nostalgia, and
I think that's what makes these movies click and work. Right,
there's a character, there's a situation, there's a you know,
maybe you wanted a red Rider, or there was that
gift you wanted so badly when you were a kid.
It's that nostalgia factor in it clicks and that's the
hook on those movies. It reminds you of being a
I think it reminds you of being a kid, and

(27:25):
that's why it works. That's why it works with multiple generations,
despite the glaring plot holes in some of these films. Yeah,
I'm with you.

Speaker 4 (27:32):
I think it's a connection to the past. So if
you were growing up in those movies were on right,
you feel a sense of comfort having them on now.
It's almost like nostalgia, back to the good old days.
I read your piece on Christmas on the Hill. I
thought it was great. It reminded me, quite frankly, a
lot of my own Christmas Eve. We would go next
door to Mama and Papa as they lived next door.
Everybody would come, their aunts, uncles, you know, cousins were there,

(27:55):
large family gathering on Christmas Eve night and it was
just it felt right. It just felt right. And uh,
you know, I try to chase that feeling now, trying
to recreate it with my kids and trying to do
the same thing, and you know, you just want it.

Speaker 1 (28:12):
And that's what all right, boy, we're getting deep here.
I did not know we were gonna get this deep.
That's what Clark Griswold is doing in that entire movie.
He's chasing, Yeah, when he's up there in the attic
and he's watching the old thirty five millimeter reels, right,
he's chasing that. He wants to try to recreate that
throughout this entire film, and everything goes wrong, But that's
the beauty of it, right, That's the beauty of the

(28:34):
film as everything goes wrong, but it ends up At
the end of it, he says, I did it. You
know he did it. He recreated the Christmas of his past.
I didn't think we're going to do a deep breakdown
of Christmas vacation today, but here we are.

Speaker 4 (28:48):
I mean, you know, a little full Dave, lot of sap,
A little full.

Speaker 1 (28:55):
Three or four talk three or four is the text line.
We're all going to talk to movies. Kristen Birt's going
to join us Hollywood report what's coming out that you
may want to go check out on Christmas Day. I
know a lot of people do the Christmas Day movies still,
that is a family tradition.

Speaker 4 (29:09):
Yeah, I think we've done it. I can't remember if
that was New Year's or if it was Christmas when
we went out, but that's actually when I saw the
We Are Marshall movie. It was on one of those holidays.
I can't remember if it was. Yeah, I might have
been New Year's Eve. I can't recall, but a lot
of people that do that. I was talking to a
gentleman here in the building. He volunteers to work because

(29:32):
his family is elsewhere and he doesn't get home and stuff,
and he says he'll come to a shift, and then
that's what he does. He always goes and has a
little popcorn, watches a movie.

Speaker 1 (29:42):
Whatever works, buddy, whatever works for you. All right, let's
get some text and we've got text about gifts. We've
got text about shopping. We've got text about movies. Three
or four talk three or four texter says, I ordered
an alarm clock with USB ports for charging a phone.
I got a battery powered alarm clock with of course
no USB port sorts. I like to touch what I buy,
says the Texter. David TJ. I love supporting small businesses

(30:05):
in Morgantown. If I may mention a wonderful store that
sits on the outside of downtown Morgantown's Appalachian Gallery, lots
of items handmade from vendors right here in our state.
The jewelry is one of a kind. Just saying it'd
be a great memorable stop for a last minute shopper. TJ.
Favorite gift as a kid, Procter and Gambles Annual Report.

Speaker 4 (30:26):
That's right, that's right.

Speaker 1 (30:30):
You get that in your stocking. Huh, Christmas morning.

Speaker 4 (30:33):
Get the annual report. Take a look count my money.

Speaker 1 (30:36):
David TJ. What a smart move by sixty minutes to
get everyone, it seems talking about their segment.

Speaker 4 (30:43):
It makes as much sense as anything I've heard based
on what you just told me about the Canadian thing.
I don't know how I missed that.

Speaker 1 (30:49):
I mean, any publicity is good publicity, right, isn't that
the rule of marketing?

Speaker 4 (30:54):
I mean I think so so. Yeah, CBS, Hey, good
on you.

Speaker 1 (30:57):
Here we are.

Speaker 4 (30:58):
We've been sucked in, Dave, we have been sucked in.

Speaker 1 (31:03):
We've spent what parts of two days talking about something
that has not even aired yet. We don't even know.
Although now I want to go.

Speaker 5 (31:10):
I did.

Speaker 1 (31:10):
I have to track down the YouTube. There's gotta be
on YouTube somewhere on the internet. Yeah, Texter says, coolest
Christmas gift a double O seven briefcase with all kinds
of gadgets, including two throwing knives with instructions on proper
use to make them stick. That you love when kids
toys used to have come with at least some level
of danger.

Speaker 4 (31:32):
Yeah, long BB gun was a problem. Give Junior some
throwing that throwing stars the wood.

Speaker 1 (31:39):
Did everybody have a wood burn the wood burning kit
as a kid?

Speaker 4 (31:42):
Oh yeah, yeah, I had one of those. I remember that.

Speaker 1 (31:47):
Chemistry. People used to get chemistry sets. There was like
real chemicals. Yeah, three or four, talk three or four
back to the drones. As of twenty twenty three, in
New Jersey is the only state in the US where
it is still all this is gas pumping where it's
still illegal for drivers to pump their own gas, following
Oregon's decision to lift its self service ban. Says the texture,

(32:07):
what is there a reason behind that?

Speaker 4 (32:10):
I was told by some coworkers in New Jersey, and
again they lived there.

Speaker 1 (32:14):
I didn't.

Speaker 4 (32:15):
I was told it was a jobs thing, but I
don't know that to be accurate. But that's why when
I told them the story the next day, when I
went to the oh yeah, it's it's so their jobs
aren't displaced.

Speaker 1 (32:27):
Texter says a little known Christmas movie that can be
found on Disney Plus called Small One. It's short, animated.
The kids will love it and adults will too, probably
one of my favorites. Says the text. Okay, uh, emmitt
Otters jug Band. Emmitt Otters jug Band Christmas says the text,
all right, put that one on the list. That Bad

(32:52):
Sense is a great Christmas movie. I can see Dave
liking it, but would be too launchy for TJ's delicate sensibilities, says.
The text.

Speaker 4 (33:02):
Is that Billy Bob. Yeah, that's Billy Bob Thornton. And
there's two.

Speaker 1 (33:05):
There was a sequel to that one too, and yeah
it's funny. It's pretty funny.

Speaker 4 (33:09):
I haven't seen it.

Speaker 1 (33:10):
All right, we'll get to some more of your text.
What are your favorite Christmas movies, best Christmas gifts? All
the above. We'll take it's festivus well, air grievances. There
may be a feats of strength before the end of
the show's over as well. Who knows. Coming up? Christen Burt,
Hollywood reporter, is going to join us on loan from
Metro News Hotline. We'll talk about movies coming out this
Christmas holiday season. Second hour, we'll talk about Governor Morrissey's

(33:33):
news conference yesterday and some odds and ends as we
start to wind down twenty twenty five. This is talk
Line on Metro News from the Encode Insurance Studios.

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Speaker 1 (36:02):
Or four talk three or four is the text line.
Eight hundred and seven sixty five eight two five five.
Got a recap Last night Mountaineers rolled Mississippi Valley State
in the final non conference game of the basketball season.
You can see a recap of that over at our
website right now at wv metronews dot com. Many of
you are weighing in on Christmas movies, will continue to

(36:25):
take your suggestions and recommendations for best Christmas movies. Someone
who knows a thing or two about well, all movies,
including Christmas movies, is Kristin Burts. She's a Hollywood reporter
on loan from Metro News Hotline. She joins us on
mech News talk line this morning. Kristin, good morning, Merry Christmas.

Speaker 21 (36:42):
Good morning, and Merry Christmas to you. Happy to be here.

Speaker 1 (36:45):
So we stumbled into this topic and folks have been
weighing in their favorite Christmas movies. What are your favorites?

Speaker 21 (36:53):
I definitely Elf, because I know a lot of people
love Elf. I think Bill Ferrell this is one of
his best movies roles. But if I'm going to go
with the classic, it is the original Miracle on thirty
fourth Street with Natalie Wood, which is so old school,
I don't even know if people watch it as much
as they used to, Well they should.

Speaker 4 (37:11):
They should watch it and then watch the newer one
that was what like nineties. I think they remade that
the second time out?

Speaker 1 (37:17):
Is that right?

Speaker 21 (37:18):
They did with Mara Wilson, which is also a really
now that looks like a classic too because it was
so long ago.

Speaker 4 (37:24):
Yeah, yeah, is it.

Speaker 1 (37:25):
True kristin elf Will Ferrell was worried that may actually
ruin his career, wasn't.

Speaker 21 (37:30):
He Yeah, he believed that this was like he took
the role because you know, it was so quirky and whimsical.
But at the same time he thought, is this actually
going to be the one role that I'm going to regret?
And look at it now, I mean it's a go
to for everyone to watch every holiday season. I think
it really kind of put that sort of nostalgic like
early two thousands New York City on the map too,

(37:53):
of just what the city used to look like at
that time.

Speaker 4 (37:56):
I have always heard, but I've never had someone with
your expertise in front of me to be able to
ask the question. Is the reason that a Wonderful Life
is so popular is because it was cheap to put
on and there were no royalties, so it got played
over and over. Is that an old wives tale or
is that true?

Speaker 21 (38:15):
You know, that's a really good question. I mean, I
think it has become a classic, But you know, when
it came to Christmas program now we look and it's
crazy because you have Netflix and Hallmark and Lifetime. Everyone's
in on the game. But at the time they weren't,
so it was it was cheap holiday programming that people
weren't necessarily always running to their televisions because we were

(38:35):
with family. Now, I think we're a little bit more
dialed into the digital age and we're in front of
a screen a lot more. So it makes a lot
of sense.

Speaker 1 (38:45):
Kristin Burt is joining us Hollywood Reporter. We're talking movies,
talking Christmas movies. As far as what's coming to the theaters.
A lot of folks still like to go to the
movies on Christmas Day. What can we expect this year, Kristin.

Speaker 21 (38:58):
Well, already out right now is Avatar, Fire and Ash
and it's a pretty well at the box office eighty
eight million. But I think that they're hoping to see
a lot more people in the theaters over the holiday break.
And so if you are excited about this is the
third movie out of five that's going to be coming
for Avatar, I think that's going to be like your

(39:18):
big spectacular movie, But there are a lot of other
smaller movies if you're looking for something that is just
maybe a little bit more, you know, And I don't
want to call it a rom com because I saw
it myself, a song sung blue with you Jackman and
Kate Hudson, and it's about a cover band for Neil Diamonds.
But I'm going to tell you there's a twist. So

(39:38):
you think it's a rom com and all of a
sudden it takes a left turn and it's a drama.
So I would say maybe a drama edy, but it's
really good if you're looking for something maybe a little
bit quieter than Avatar with all of these special effects.

Speaker 4 (39:52):
So you mentioned a Neil diamond Is there a Sweet
Caroline reference in there? Is the song played at all?

Speaker 21 (39:57):
Do you recalling?

Speaker 2 (40:00):
Now?

Speaker 4 (40:00):
Our fans will go see that because we have a
little saying about the University of Pittsburgh here Kristin that
we like to sing instead of Yeah, I'll just leave
it at that, but that would be fun to go
see as a West Virginia So just say it.

Speaker 21 (40:10):
Yeah, it is really fun. I'm just going to warn you, like,
all of a sudden, you're like, this is such a
lovely rom com and I didn't know what the twist was,
and I was like, oh my gosh, this just turned
into a drama. It's very serious, but it is based
off of a true life story. If anyone has seen
the documentary of the same name about Diamond and Thunder
and their cover band for Neil Diamond, there's a documentaryment

(40:32):
I believe it's on YouTube. It's called Song Some Blue.
You can watch that before you go see the movie.

Speaker 1 (40:38):
Still a big time for movies to come out. I mean,
this was always a you know, get movies out for
the Christmas season. Does that rule still hold true in
today's streaming world?

Speaker 4 (40:48):
It does.

Speaker 21 (40:49):
I mean I don't think as many people make it
an annual tradition the way that they used to, unfortunately,
but I do think we will see people go to,
you know, enjoy little popcorn soda, some time with friends.
Because you have Wicked for Good still playing. You've got
Zutopia too, still playing. There's a lot of good family
friendly movies, and I think this is a good time

(41:09):
to grab the kids and go sit in the theater.
But of course, we all know that streaming has taken
some of that box office away from moviegoing experience, and
I think a lot of people will be staying home
and watching what's out there on streaming as well.

Speaker 4 (41:23):
I'm looking through the list here talk to me about
the Housemaid. What do you know about that?

Speaker 22 (41:27):
Oh?

Speaker 21 (41:27):
Yeah, Housemaid is a thriller. And this is hopefully for
Sidney Sweeney because Hollywood has made Sydney Sweeney into this
really big deal and so far she hasn't delivered at
the box office. But I think this is the one
that can actually make her the hit that Hollywood hopes
she is. It is about she takes a job with
a couple. She takes a job as a maid with

(41:48):
a very wealthy couple, and it is a little bit
of a thriller. It's a little unhinged. If you're looking
for something that's kind of a black comedy thriller, that's
going to be the one for you. Amanda Seyfred also
plays a role as one half of the wealthy couple
and it's an absolute delight. So I'm excited about this
one to see how it does at the box office.

Speaker 1 (42:08):
One movie that's maybe not on most people's radar they
should go see this season.

Speaker 8 (42:14):
Ooh.

Speaker 21 (42:16):
I was going to say Song Song Blue because I
really enjoyed that because I felt like it was very unexpected.
But if you're looking for something that you don't necessarily
have to go to the theaters, for they kind of
got glossed over. It's the roof man with Channing Tatum,
and I believe that is on Peacock now it kind
of got glossed over, but it's a man who lives
in McDonald's, and I think people are going to find

(42:36):
a very quirky role for Channing Tatum.

Speaker 4 (42:40):
How about just curious and stop me if this is
too personal. Holiday traditions, Christmas traditions, you remember when you
were growing up, fond memories any of those.

Speaker 21 (42:49):
Oh yeah, my parents had a very large Christmas Eve
party and we would invite both sides of our family.
My mom's one of six, so it was a huge party.
And each year my dad would hire some form of entertainment.
Sometimes it was a magician, sometimes a comedian. We did
fireworks in our backyard one year. And you know, I'm
here on the West coast. My family's now all spread

(43:11):
out between the Midwest, the southeast, the New England, and
I miss those times with all of my cousins because
it really was a special gathering of everyone.

Speaker 1 (43:21):
She's Kristin Birt, Hollywood reporter. You can hear her most
of the time overall Metro News Hotline with Dave Weekly.
We're barring her for today. Kristin, thanks for the insights today,
Mary Christmas, Happy New Year all.

Speaker 21 (43:31):
Above, Merry Christmas and happy New Year to all of you.

Speaker 1 (43:34):
We'll get to your text three or four talk three
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Speaker 1 (46:28):
Couple of texts, pardon me, couple of text here before
we take a break for the top of the hour
and three or four talk three oh four. Texter says
my Christmas movie favorite that no one seems to mention
Mickey's Christmas Carol. It's an old cartoon that I seldom
see on TV anymore, but I love it, says the Texter.

(46:49):
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is not even the second best
in that terrible series.

Speaker 4 (46:54):
Wow, tough audience.

Speaker 1 (46:57):
Texter says, I actually like the Waltons Christmas episode Best
Christmas Movie Ever nineteen seventy nine, Panasonic Stereo system with
Thruster speakers as a gift O Best Christmas Morning Ever.
As I put on Ted Nugent Cat Scratch Fever album,
I instantly saw the regret in my father's face. Merry Christmas.
This is talk Line on Metro News, the voice of

(47:18):
West Virginia.

Speaker 3 (47:26):
Metro News talk Line is presented by Encova Insurance, encircling
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Speaker 1 (47:36):
Metro News talk Line already in progress. Second hour from
the Encoba Insurance Studios. Gangs all here for Christmas. Eveve
Jake linkl the video stream. Ethan Collins is our producer
TJ and Charleston David Morgantown phone number is eight hundred
seven sixty five Talk eight hundred seven sixty five eight
two five five. You could text the show three O

(47:56):
four talk three oh four. We stumbled upon Christmas movies today,
folks swaying in with their favorite and least favorite. Got
a couple of those happy to hear your opinions as well.
Christmas Gifts, Best Christmas gifts. You can give us least

(48:17):
favorite Christmas gifts as well. We've all got that package
of Fruit of the looms in the stocking. At one point,
should I tell I'll tell this story. I'll tell this
quick story. I don't know if mom and Dad are
listening this morning, that doesn't matter. My Grandma Joe TJ
would rap gifts and every once in a while would

(48:38):
mislabel them, forget which gift was what. So one year
at Grandma Joe's house, we're opening gifts. Dad opens gifts
and do you know what he got for Christmas that year?

Speaker 4 (48:50):
Lay it on us.

Speaker 1 (48:52):
Brown panty set. Dad's like, uh, I don't know if
it's gonna fit. Yep, got mislabeled that year at Grandma
and Joe's. He almost sat on a knitting needle one
year at her house too, that was in the couch. Couch, Yeah,
that's what he said. Yeah, but yeah, So I don't

(49:13):
know where that ranks might have been among his favorite gifts.
I don't know, might have been his least favorite. I'm
not sure, but I do remember him opening that up
at Grandma Joe's house many years ago.

Speaker 4 (49:24):
So someone turned me on to this website. You can
order a box, and the box is the gag, right,
so it's like a detailed, just crazy, stupid thing that
makes no sense, and then you put the real gift
inside it, but it's just artwork up on the box.
So we had a party last night to a little

(49:45):
Secret Santa, Dirty Santa, whatever. You call that thing. A
white elephant. You know, everybody's got a different name for it. Exchange.
So I got one and on the front of it
you see a guy and he's on the toilet. You
just see his legs. He's got his pants pulled down.
It's a treadmill that you use while you're on the toilet.
Sitting is what it describes. While you're sitting there, you

(50:08):
could be moving your legs and getting some exercise. You
should have seen the look when that got opened up
on the face of my brother's girlfriend. I mean, she's newer,
doesn't understand the rules, and it's just like what you

(50:28):
don't know what to say. But yeah, you could go
like they're on Amazon. They're all all the different sites
and you can and they have some of that are
really very questionable. I'll just put it that way. This
was one of the more tame boxes. That you could order,
but I thought, oh, that's fine, and then she didn't
want the box afterwards, so I kept it. I'll probably
to use it again, maybe well done, maybe Christmas Day

(50:49):
or the day after well done.

Speaker 1 (50:50):
Speaking of a questionable content, Please welcome to the program
from All the Newspaper's columnist and Capitol reporter Steven Alan Adams. Steven,
good morning, Mary, Thanks for joining us, Buddy.

Speaker 24 (51:01):
Well thanks for having me. If I can throw in
my favorite Christmas movie that we just watch, well two
one is Scrooged with Bill Murray, uh late eighties on
one of my favorite good a good rendition of the
Christmas story, probably not for children. And then my wife
and I on Christmas Eve we always watch Love Actually,

(51:24):
which obviously Christmas is the background the entire movie. It's
as much as a Christmas movie as Diehard is. Or
whereas I told somebody, I blew somebody's mind yesterday and
told me, you know, Star Trek Generations is a Christmas movie.
Technically I won't get into I won't bore anybody with
the particulars of that, but I guess if a Christmas
tree shows up, it's a Christmas movie.

Speaker 4 (51:45):
That rom com people do. There's a huge debate about
whether or not Love actually is a Christmas movie. I
would say it is the other one rom com that
people talk about. You ever seen The Holiday? Yeah, yeah, yeah,
people debate whether or not that's a Christmas movie. I'm like,
the entire thing is set around Christmas, from Christmas to
New Year's of course it's a Christmas movie. Yeah, Fair,

(52:06):
I agree? Fair?

Speaker 1 (52:08):
You two want to talk about rom coms? Oh Mercy
Steven Allen Adams joined us metchro New's talk climb. We're
gonna talk to Brad mcwhoney bottom of the hour. Hear
about the governor's news conference yesterday. But you're just your
quick takeaway from Governor Morrissey, kind of wrapping up twenty
twenty five.

Speaker 24 (52:26):
Sure, you know, the first year of a governor's administration,
a lot of it is spent trying to find where
delight switches are, learning how the processes the government works,
learning about your agencies what they do, trying to figure
out what they should be doing, what they shouldn't be doing,
and also kind of doing the transition from the previous administration.

(52:49):
You know, the Justice administration did things vastly different than
the Morrissey administration certainly has done in the last year.
And we've also seen those two sides butt heads, you know,
when the governor has occasionally, Governor Morrissey that is, has
occasionally sort of alluded to some issues that they have
found that sort of link back to the prior administration,

(53:09):
but they don't want to throw the prior administration under
the bus. But then former governor now US Enator Jim
Justice gets mad and it raises a big stink. You
saw a law at this year. So when a governor
comes in for that first year, a lot of it
is trying to deal with what the previous governor did
and trying to put your own stamp on things. So

(53:29):
I mean, as far as the first year goes, I mean,
Morrissey naturally focused on several different issues that he thought
were kind of home run winners that may not have
shown any type of movement yet, but he believes are
the foundational laying of the foundation of some things that

(53:49):
are going to come, you know, his economic development process
and programs and legislation, especially HB twenty fourteen, the Data
Center and Mike or Grid Bill. I mean, these things
have yet they've even been fully implemented in that case. So,
I mean, the rules are still being developed, but once
everything's together, they believe they've got some companies involved that

(54:10):
want to take advantage of some of those programs and
will come in. So it's one of those things where
while nothing he did in his own words was particularly
sexy this year, he really believes that the foundation has
been laid for some real benefits for the state of
West Virginia.

Speaker 1 (54:27):
Now we shall see it.

Speaker 24 (54:29):
It's our job to kind of hold them accountable and
see if those things come to pass. But he went
through a number of those issues and initiatives, and naturally
he's going to call that a win. It's kind of
in the eye beholder if it is or isn't. But
he believes the foundation has been set.

Speaker 4 (54:47):
So honeymoon year is over. Okay, we're getting ready to
go into the next session. Twenty twenty five session was
characterized largely as doing very little for economic development. I
think the governor plays a role in that, or share
a claiming that. Meanwhile, you've got the house coming out
very early for twenty six to saying hey, here's what
we're gonna do, putting together you know, a pretty robust agenda.

(55:11):
Does it come down to who's going to get the
credit here? Because I think politically this governor needs some
economic development wins, because fair or unfair, there's this characterization
that a lot of time on social issues, still a
lot of ag kind of focused stuff, which is what
he did before. Give me some tangible economic development wins
that put jobs, put money into the state, fair groundwork,

(55:34):
hadn't got there yet, hadn't landed a data center yet.
But I feel like politically, Steve, he really needs a
couple of those big wins in twenty twenty six to
really rebut that characterization again, fair or unfair.

Speaker 24 (55:45):
Yeah, No, I think that's right. And I think one
of the things he's trying to do is I think
he is trying to be a little friendlier, particularly behind
the scenes with lawmakers. I know that there and lawby
a and interest groups, and that I think groups of
that nature coming into this next session. I had been
told by multiple sources that the governor had a meeting

(56:07):
with a bunch of lobbyists and when asked about the
House's economic development plan that House Speaker Roger Henshaw laid
out here during the most recent interims, he supported he
said he didn't really have any issues with that. We'll
see if there's any actual kind of behind us. He
needs pushed back on some of that. I think the
program that they recommended that's supposed to be mirrored after

(56:30):
Jobs Ohio. Where do you want to take economic development
decisions and kind of take that out of the political hands,
say the Economic Development Authority, and put them in a
more independent role.

Speaker 4 (56:45):
We'll see.

Speaker 24 (56:45):
Maybe that might not be something the more the administration wants.
And that's I think in response to some criticisms lawmakers
have had about really the pace of economic development in
the state of West Virginia. But at least what I've
been told, the governor's sort of on board with that,
and I think he's trying to make friends behind the scenes.
And if he's smart, I mean, he puts his stamp

(57:07):
on that. I mean, it might be what the House
Republican Caucus presents, but it's Morrissey signature and it's going
to make or break that unless they can break a
veto down the road. So he's better off just siding
with them on that and throwing his hands up and say, hey,
look we did it together. I think you'll see some
of that this session, because I think it's obviously going

(57:29):
to be important going into these twenty twenty six elections,
particularly the GOP midterms.

Speaker 1 (57:34):
Steven Allen Adams joining us here Metro new his talk
line speaking of the twenty six elections. Last week, Montague
County Republican Executive Committee approved a resolution urging the state
GOP to reopen the primary elections to allow independent, unaffiliated
voters to participate in the Republican primary. Right now, it

(57:54):
is closed. Mond County Dale Sparks joined us, the executive
director there on Friday. They're the first. I don't know
if they're the last, but he says there are other
county executive committees who feel the same way. I don't
know what Republicans will do when they get together in
early January, Steve, but there's still this murmuring, there's still
this push to go rescind that decision that was made

(58:17):
a couple of years ago.

Speaker 24 (58:19):
Yeah, And in fact, at the West Virginia Republican Party
summer meeting up in Morgantown, there was at least rumors
that there were going to be motions brought there to
put before the Executive Committee to reverse course on that
now that didn't happen. They decided to focus on their
election for a new chairman in the case Delgat Josh Holstein,

(58:41):
Republican admon County. But I think the Montagelia County Republican
Executive Committee statement I think is kind of kind of
the flare gun and such a big county as that,
and a county where it's not going to be long
before Republicans take the majority in that county. As far
as voter registration totals go, I think the Republicans are

(59:04):
going to be dealing with those after Winter Meeting on
January tenth. I'm not sure where they're holding that at,
but it's coming. Do they have the votes to a
reverse course on that, I don't know. Here's the thing.
You can look at voter registration numbers for each month.
Republican voter registration keeps going up. Democratic voter registration keeps
going down. But the problem is also independent unaffiliated what's

(59:28):
called no party on voter registration rules that keeps going up.
To Republican candidates are going to have a heck of
an education problem, especially new candidates, because they've got to
do two things. They got to tell voters who they are,
and they also got to remind voters that if you
want to vote for me and you're not a Republican,
you've got to be a registered Republican by the April
twelfth deadline. Otherwise you're going to have to either vote

(59:50):
in the Democratic primary or you're going to have to
get a non partisan ballot. So the Republicans are going
to have to ask them ask themselves that that January
tenth meeting, do we think that having this closed will
hurt us or or or or not hurt us? And
they'll have a vote on it, So we'll see what

(01:00:11):
direction they take on that, But I think they'll be
like I think mister Sparks said, I think there'll be
other counties that really kind of push for us too,
especially in southern West Virginia where that voter registration so
many Democrats have jumped into the unaffiliated category because, as
they'll tell you, if they if their parents knew that
they had switched to a republic and they'd roll over
in their graves. But they are leaning conservative, So we'll

(01:00:34):
see what happens.

Speaker 4 (01:00:36):
Think about this in terms of a poll for a second,
and let me run this by you. So you've got
you can pull registered voters, or you can pull likely voters.
Most people want to pull likely voters. Yeah, let's think
about independence in that kind of a category. They're independence registered, right,
but there are also independents that are registered that aren't
likely to vote those that are likely. I would surmise

(01:01:01):
that as an independent, they may be willing if the
Republicans don't reverse course here, to temporarily switch and be
a spoiler and or send a message in certain areas
and say, you know what, I'll go for the dem
this time. I think that's one of the realities that

(01:01:22):
Republicans need to wrestle with because to your point, yes,
Republican roles are growing, but not to the point where
it surmasses Democrats and independence put together. And those likely
independents that want to vote that are just worn out
by the two party system. Stephen, I think they're likely
enough to want to be that spoiler and go change

(01:01:42):
temporarily and then switch back. Maybe I'm being too naive
in that, but I think they're vested. I think they
might be willing to do that.

Speaker 12 (01:01:50):
Well.

Speaker 24 (01:01:50):
I think it's a possibility. It's not that hard to
change your voter registration. You can do it at go
vote wv dot com through the West Virginia Secretary of
State's website, and that goes down to your local county
clerks and they mail you a new voter registration card.
Now you've got to do it by April twelfth, otherwise
it's going to be too late to switch or make
any changes to your voter registration in time for the
May primary and the early election period, early voting period.

(01:02:13):
But you're gonna that's what you're gonna have to do.
So I suspect that some will do that, but I
do think that you know, again, you know, it feels
early right now, but the time will fly, and how
many people will do that before April twelfth, we'll see.
I mean, I'll be interesting to see what the voter
registration numbers look like, you know, right after that, And

(01:02:36):
the Secretary of State's office does a good job of
putting out those numbers right after that, so we will
see and see what those changes are. But here's the thing.
You're right, some are going to get this disenfranchised. They'll
go ahead and vote for the in the Democratic primary.
And keep in mind, I do think at least in
more of your urban areas. You'll see a few Democrats

(01:02:57):
probably do okay, particularly the House of Delegates side, not
enough to break the super majority by any means, but
probably enough, you know, to get one or two extra members,
so there's not just nine on the House side. And
I tell you what that Oliverio, Mike Oliverio, John Williams race.
That's going to be really really interesting seeing how tight
it was between Oliverio and Barbara Fushower just two years ago.

Speaker 1 (01:03:20):
Yeah, that's up for Yeah, thirteenth district, that's basically Morgantown
and Fairmont in that strip of I seventy nine too.
Oh we're gonna get pinched by the clock here. But
just two things quickly. I was going over the numbers
with Dale Sparks on Friday. What's important I think for
GOP members to keep in mind the majority. I think
it's a majority of independent voters. Lee at the very least,

(01:03:43):
they lean conservative. Most identify as moderate to right or conservative.
Very few identify as liberal. Most of the ones most
the people who identify a liberal, they are Democrats. So
that's one keep that in mind if you're going to
close off your primary. Andy, here's my question. I think
you're right on with your thinking. But if you're going

(01:04:05):
to register as a Republican just to spoil the election,
not necessarily spoiled, but say, hey, I want to get
this type of candidate in in the primary, Right, that's
what you're doing, Then why not just stay Republican? The
why unregister after the fact.

Speaker 4 (01:04:18):
Because I have to give up being an independent voter
and that's very important to a guy like me. And
I'll be honest with you, I don't want to get
into names. There are certain Republicans that believe certain things
and they're the reason I don't want to be a Republican.
I mean, the party has changed that much and they
needed us years ago to be able to take control.

(01:04:40):
Now they think they don't. Well, let's test that. It's
one of the reasons I was so passionate about the
rank choice voting. And I know you hate that, and
you know I tease about it and Josh about it,
but I have a real problem when you have a
plurality outcome and a guy that got thirty percent of
the vote goes on to be the party nominee that

(01:05:01):
I had then have to vote for in a general,
I just, yeah, break the system. Break the system. That's
where I'm at, as simple as that.

Speaker 1 (01:05:08):
At my rebuttal that Steven has always Lincoln got vote
elected on a plurality, So you know, sometimes it works.

Speaker 24 (01:05:15):
Out in ords some public enemy fight the power.

Speaker 1 (01:05:19):
Yeah baby, Hey Steven, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, buddy.
We'll talk to you again session right around the corner man.

Speaker 24 (01:05:25):
Thanks, gentlemen, We'll see you soon.

Speaker 1 (01:05:26):
Steven Allen Adams, all Good Newspapers columnist and capital reporter,
got a break back in a moment talk line from
the en Cove Insurance Studios.

Speaker 18 (01:05:33):
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Speaker 25 (01:06:37):
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To learn more, visit us at wvfarm dot org.

Speaker 1 (01:07:18):
Lots of texts this morning on your favorites and least favorites.
Christmas movies also Christmas gifts. Texter says we had a
set of jarts or yard darts. They were banned in
nineteen eighty seven. They were weighted darts large enough to
kill a horse and had a one and a half
inch heavy metal tip. You threw them and tried to

(01:07:39):
get them inside what was essentially a hula hoop laying
in the grass. Yes, we threw them at each other.
My cousin killed a groundhog with one of the darts.

Speaker 4 (01:07:49):
Sounds like somebody gave up a bunch of javelins and
a few hula hoops and said here you go, which.

Speaker 1 (01:07:54):
I think is awesome. Uh, Dave and TJ A Christmas Story.
Christmas is a perfect sequel to a Christmas Story. Ralphie
is married with the two children. Most of the roles
are played by the same actors as the original. I
have not seen I have seen that, but not seen it,
you know what I mean? Can I be honest?

Speaker 4 (01:08:12):
I turned it on and I lost interest about fifteen
minutes in, and I just went and did something else
I've never Maybe I'll give it another shot.

Speaker 1 (01:08:17):
I don't know a newer Christmas movie. The man who
invented Christmas, says the Texter also Avatar. No fire all ash,
I'm out. We watch a Muppet Christmas Carol. We still
watch it now, mind that my kids have grown. Best
part is we sing along and we know all the lines.
My new favorite is mister beans Man versus Baby.

Speaker 4 (01:08:39):
Best Cartoon Christmas Movie Alvin and the Chipmunks, and he
gets the gold Echo Harmonica.

Speaker 1 (01:08:44):
Solid Solid Choice. Brad mclheaday will join us. Coming up next.
More of your text three h four Talk three oh four.
You can also give us a call eight hundred and
seven sixty five Talk eight hundred seven sixty five eight
two five five. That is the phone number. TJ and Charleston,
David Morgantown. This is talk line from the Encove Insurance
Studios on Metro News for forty years, the voice of

(01:09:05):
West Virginia. It is eleven thirty. Let's get a news
update from the Metro News radio network. Find out what's
happening across the great state of West Virginia.

Speaker 11 (01:09:16):
West Virginia Metro newsigned Jeff Jenkins. An early morning fire
and Huntington has claimed three lives. The blaze was reported
at a little before six this morning in what was
thought to have been in an abandoned house on West
eighth Street. Three people were found inside. The State Fire
Marshter's office is investigating. Meadowbrook, mar and Bridgeport are bouncing
back for the last few days of the Christmas shopping
season after shoppers had to be evacuated because of a

(01:09:38):
natural gas league back on Friday. Property manager Robert Urkart
says on VOB did a great job.

Speaker 16 (01:09:43):
Between Bridgeport Fire, Bridgeport Police and Hope Gas, we were
able to identify and repair everything the same night so
that our stores could open up bright and early at
nine am on Saturday morning.

Speaker 11 (01:10:00):
Expecs to be busy today. The Christmas lights are popular
across the state.

Speaker 26 (01:10:03):
Families across the area are spending their final days before
the holiday preparing meals while also finding time to be together.
Charleston resident Ursula Perry and her family attended Light the
Night in Charleston on Monday. She said they have come
every year since twenty twenty three when the festival first opened.

Speaker 7 (01:10:19):
It's a tradition at this point just to come on
out and see the lights and you know, let our
daughter you know, we have all kinds of fun for Christmas.

Speaker 26 (01:10:29):
It's right in our backyard, Perry said. Prior to coming
to the festival, they spent all day shopping for last
minute things for the holiday. I'm Morgan Pemberton, WV metronews
dot com.

Speaker 11 (01:10:39):
And you're listening to Metro News for forty years The
Voice of West Virginia.

Speaker 3 (01:10:43):
Now showing on Metro News Television. Your Friends at Hope
Gas present episode five of State of Minds. Hoppy Coachable
visits with CEO of Hope Gas, Morgan O'Brien.

Speaker 19 (01:10:54):
We are part of West Virginia and we were not
going away.

Speaker 24 (01:10:57):
And it's not just about taking from US Virginia.

Speaker 18 (01:11:00):
It's about giving back.

Speaker 3 (01:11:01):
State of Mind's Episode five now available on Metro News TV,
presented by Hope Gas with support from Greer Industries, only
on the Metro News Television app.

Speaker 27 (01:11:13):
Metallurgical coal builds the world and the met Coal Producers
Association is the network that makes it possible. The MCPA
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(01:11:35):
Joined today, visit metcoal dot com. Met Coal makes it possible,
MCPA makes it personal.

Speaker 11 (01:11:43):
Federal investigators say it appears a coal miner's death in
West Virginia last Thursday happened when the miner was pinned
against the mind wall by a moving supply tractor. Mshis says,
sixty three year old Robert White was a mind foreman
at the Lower War Eagle Mine in Wyoming County. He
had forty one years years of mining experience. West Virginia
has had three mining deaths since early November. All remain

(01:12:07):
under investigation. From the Metro News anchor desk, I'm Jeff Jenkins.

Speaker 1 (01:12:31):
Three or four? Talk three or four is the text line,
eight hundred and seven to sixty five. Talk all right,
favorite Christmas movies? You should give a shout out to
a Christmas movie that was made in West Virginia. Feast
of the Seven Fishes, filmed in Fairmont by a West
Virginia born producer. It's both touching and interesting, says the Texter.

(01:12:53):
This text says. The copyright on It's a Wonderful Life
lapsed in the eighties. It was in the public domain
for nearly a decade, which is one it was on
multiple channels seemingly every hour on the hour. When NBC
acquired the assets of what used to be Republic Pictures,
the company pursued the rights and unraveled all the legalities
to restore them. That's why you now only see it

(01:13:14):
on NBC Universal channels, says the Texter.

Speaker 4 (01:13:20):
There you go. Every time a bell brings an angel
gets its wings.

Speaker 1 (01:13:24):
This textor says Dave. My daughter Katie said, tell Dave Wilson,
I'm ready for his airing of grievances. But is he
ready for my feats of strength? Says the Texter. Is
that a challenge? That sounds like a challenge.

Speaker 4 (01:13:39):
I mean, I wouldn't say somebody was throwing down, but
I think somebody was throwing out.

Speaker 1 (01:13:42):
All right, I'm game.

Speaker 12 (01:13:44):
I'm game.

Speaker 1 (01:13:45):
We'll do with the line.

Speaker 4 (01:13:47):
What's the exact line I've had about all enough of
you people, and now you're gonna hear about it. Something
like that.

Speaker 1 (01:13:52):
We will begin with the airing of grievances. And I've
got a lot of problems with you people.

Speaker 4 (01:13:56):
Now you're gonna hear about them.

Speaker 1 (01:13:58):
Frank's very good, Frankenstanza. Metro New state Wide correspondent Brad
McElhinney joins us on Metro News talk line this morning.

Speaker 5 (01:14:06):
Good morning, Brad, oh hi, good morning and happy Christmas. Tool.

Speaker 1 (01:14:11):
Do you have any grievances to air? Feats of strength?
Favorite Christmas movies? Anything to add to this kind of
eclectic conversation.

Speaker 4 (01:14:18):
Today.

Speaker 5 (01:14:19):
Oh gosh, Well, I was just thinking that the sometimes
the people sarcastically say must have been a slow news day,
and sometimes everybody that is true. So if I were you,
I would hold the airings of a grievances and the
feats of strength in abeyance and maybe dedicate two hours

(01:14:40):
two feets of strength on a day coming up, on
a day upcoming.

Speaker 4 (01:14:45):
You know, I think there's something to be said for that, Brad.
I haven't had to talk about the deficit. I have
haven't had to talk about things that are very heavy.
And my blood pressure it seems much lower this morning.
I'm happy, I'm having a good time. You know, something
to that.

Speaker 1 (01:15:00):
That's great?

Speaker 5 (01:15:00):
Yeah, two hours, two hour feats of strength on Friday
coming up.

Speaker 1 (01:15:04):
Well, let's see if we can fix your blood pressure
here TJ. Governor Morrissey held a news conference yesterday, and Brad,
what did you take away? He talked about some of
the accomplishments of his first year in office as governor,
some of the foundational work he says has been done
to put West Virginia in a spot for economic development
moving forward. What were your takeaways from his news conference?

Speaker 5 (01:15:26):
Well, speaking of slow news days, I was glad he
did it. It was a kind of news conference that
I don't think I've really seen before. It was sort
of a state of the State, and that's of course
coming up January fourteenth, but also a year in review,
so both ghosts of Christmas past and Christmas present. The

(01:15:49):
governor did emphasize as part of that year interview and
his look forward economic thoughts. And you know, I think
we all came away from the most recent legislation obsession
underwhelmed about any emphasis on economic activity. The one thing
that stood out was the bill that was characterized as

(01:16:12):
encouraging data center development in West Virginia. The governor said
though yesterday, that his administration has laid the groundwork for
future success, and mostly he talked about sort of abstract
concepts to be honestly, cutting red tape, reform permitting, supporting

(01:16:35):
broadband expansion, and rural healthcare. But what he has indicated
is he believes those efforts are going to pay off
in the future. The first year of his administration, you know,
frankly didn't have a big, splashy economic development announcement, not
like New Core or Procter and Gamble. I mean, I
think that the Morris the tenure in office over the

(01:16:59):
four years as a matter of sort of legacy building
or or or you know, a sort of point of emphasis,
a flashpoint it could use. It could stand to have
that kind of big splashy economic development announcement that it
just hasn't happened yet, give it time any.

Speaker 4 (01:17:19):
Look into the future yesterday, because I kind of juxtapose
yesterday if he did look forward to what Roger Hanshaw did.
And with the House Agenda, you have very specific goals
talking about creating a I think they called it West
Virginia Team or Team West Virginia, similar to Jobs Ohio.

(01:17:42):
These are all things that I feel like there can
be checklists. Okay, you got to do this, this and this,
this program will do ABC D E F. To your point,
coming out of last year and with the Morrisca administration
not having time yet to have some of those big wins,
I kind of feel like, you know, Okay, those items
are out there, but those belong to the House. What
are you going to do governor? That's different from what
the House already proposed? And I'm not I'm not hearing

(01:18:04):
that yet. Maybe I missed it.

Speaker 5 (01:18:06):
Uh No, I mean, I think you're right it yesterday's
so here's what I would say. The House Majority Caucus,
led by Speaker Handshaw, came out united together and had
a full checklist like Santa Claus of potential economic development bills.
It was only a few days later that and I'm

(01:18:27):
not even talking about this one. The governor had his
own economic development focused press conference, and now this has
been sort of the second one with that emphasis, you know,
as part of the looking back aspect of what he said,
he touted the Universal, Universal Professional and Occupational Licensing Act,

(01:18:49):
the one Stop Permitting Portal, the Certified Microgrids and Data
Center legislation, and again emphasized the broadband efforts, the Royal
health care efforts, water and sewer, all of those things
that he thinks are going to lay the basis for
future success. This administration has not wanted to put a

(01:19:10):
bunch of taxpayer dollars, whether they are in the form
of loans or whatever, or outside companies that say that
they're going to invest in West Virginia. What they've emphasized
instead is an even playing field. One thing that I
think is going to be interesting to watch and kind
of debate in West Virginia is well, how does that work?

(01:19:33):
Do you need to give businesses something beyond just the
basics because West Virginia unfortunately has you know, challenges. Many
of them are geographic. The state is mountainous, it's it's
even though it's in the eastern seaboard, it can be
difficult to reach for trucks to drive through. Much of

(01:19:56):
it is rural. Unfortunately. You know, the schools are under performing,
and so does West Virginia need to do more than
the sort of basics that that this governor is describing.
Does it need to you know, really go after things
and give them the best deal possible?

Speaker 1 (01:20:15):
Yes, I would say, is the answer to the question
you just pose there, Brad. But let me pose you
two this question. What we've seen the big splash announcements before, right,
China's going to invest eight hundred billion dollars and kind
of Peter's out, We're going to get this huge whatever,
and then that kind of Peter's out. Does I guess

(01:20:36):
it's the honeymoon year TJ? Did these things need to
be done foundationally? Did these kind of background things need
to be done first to get to the big splash
announcement that's my question number one, and if we give
them the benefit of doubt, okay, well you better produce
in year two, three, and four. But my second thought
with all this is, guys, do we need a big

(01:20:56):
splash announcement? But does also do voters need people of
West Virginia need something they can actually put their arms around,
whether that is addressing childcare, addressing uh, the issues with
the public schools. We've talked about the school aid formula,
We've talked about the underfunding, understaffing, and student enrollment dropping.
Is it as much about being able to put your

(01:21:19):
arms around something rather than just cut of these abstract
ideas that may needed to have been done. But you
really that's not something you can I mean, you can't
physically hold it, but you get what I'm saying. That's
not something tangible. And the voters I think need that.
I think the people of West Virginia need something like that.
To come out of this session, thought, you know, one

(01:21:40):
of you.

Speaker 5 (01:21:42):
You know, here's here's an intellectual exercise. I liked what
the speaker did to get out in front of things
and to say we need to have this economic agenda.
And I was struck by the sheer number and breadth
of the bills. But aside from a couple of them
pay raises for public employees and the initiative that is

(01:22:06):
much like one from Ohio, I don't actually remember any
of the other specific proposals, and so you know, I
think when we get to the to the legislature legislative session,
we're going to mix these all around like one big soup.
But I don't know that the public is necessarily gonna
be wild or blown away by any of these individual proposals.

Speaker 4 (01:22:29):
So, Dave, to your question, we didn't need new corp
Or we didn't need all these things to land New Core.
We got new Core.

Speaker 1 (01:22:35):
Fair point.

Speaker 4 (01:22:39):
Personally, I think what is missing. I've said this before.
Where's the scorecard? How many people are you calling on?
How many projects do you have in the pipeline? Give
me some reason if I'm a shareholder in the state
of West Virginia, give me my quarterly meeting, tell me
what's going on. You know, where's the update on this, this,
and this? What do you have in the pipeline versus

(01:22:59):
what are you closed? We may not like the game
of economic development, and if the mors the administration doesn't
want to play it, I get it, but the problem
is everybody else is playing it. You can't win if
you don't get in the game. And yes, some states
have more resources, but that's life. You have to learn
to compete. I feel like that is I feel like

(01:23:19):
that is missing because I have people call me economic developers.
Hey man, we didn't even go after this, and so
get we have to get in the game the business community,
right or wrong, anyone from the administration can come on
and defend this. They feel like we're not in the
game period, and we have to be in the game.
And I think that's what is lacking. Effort is one thing,

(01:23:40):
and I'll give justice this. I agree. Effort is one thing.
It should count for something, but don't confuse that with results.
And this administration honeymoon's over. They need a win. I mean,
they need a new data They need something, and if
they don't get it this year, then we're two years
in and we're no better another two Brad, you get

(01:24:01):
the final word.

Speaker 1 (01:24:02):
Before we have to take the break as they say, no.

Speaker 5 (01:24:05):
I mean, the one economic bill that stood out in
last year's session was this data center bill, and there
seem to be no data centers so far to show
of it. I mean they take time to develop. One
thing the governor did say yesterday, though, is he said,
don't say what Brad just said. He didn't say it
that way, but he said that it will pay off.

(01:24:27):
It will pay off, he believes in the coming year.

Speaker 1 (01:24:29):
What's your favorite Christmas movie, Brad?

Speaker 5 (01:24:32):
I'm an It's a wonderful life guy, the Classics.

Speaker 7 (01:24:36):
I like it.

Speaker 5 (01:24:37):
Yeah, Last Knowing the Moon.

Speaker 1 (01:24:39):
Will you watch that? Have you watched that already this
Christmas season? I have not yet watched it.

Speaker 5 (01:24:46):
My daughter, who was aged nineteen, gave it a try,
and she was less than impressed by the fact that
it was black and white and it did not hold
her attention.

Speaker 1 (01:24:57):
You know what bothers me from that movie?

Speaker 19 (01:24:58):
Guys?

Speaker 16 (01:24:59):
What?

Speaker 1 (01:25:00):
Why don't we have more gymnasiums that have a pool
underneath the gym floor? Why is that the only place
that I've ever seen that? And that was in nineteen whatever.
Why don't we have that in twenty twenty five.

Speaker 4 (01:25:14):
Four?

Speaker 5 (01:25:15):
That opens?

Speaker 1 (01:25:15):
Yes, that's still there. I thought I saw a picture
on social media that gymnasium is still there, still has
the pool under the gym floor.

Speaker 4 (01:25:22):
Brad, would you indulge me? Very quickly, would you give
me your best Merry Christmas, mister.

Speaker 5 (01:25:27):
Potter, Murray Christmas, mister Potter.

Speaker 4 (01:25:33):
Thank you, sir.

Speaker 1 (01:25:34):
Metro News Statewide correspondent Brad Macwhenny Brad, Merry Christmas. Thanks
coming on, buddy. Thanks Guys, you get the rest of
the show and one hundred and seven and sixty five
talks the phone number three or four Talk three or
four is the text line. Christmas movies, Christmas gifts are
your grievances. Whatever, it's anything, goes to the rest of
the show. It's loving forty six back in a moment.

Speaker 12 (01:25:57):
To care you.

Speaker 5 (01:26:00):
Yeah, we are here.

Speaker 2 (01:26:04):
From all of us here at the Health Plan. We
want to make your season bright. Whether you're wrapping gifts
or planning next year's goals, We're here for you. Happy
holidays and Merry Christmas from our family.

Speaker 1 (01:26:17):
To yours.

Speaker 12 (01:26:20):
Here.

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Speaker 3 (01:27:33):
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Speaker 1 (01:27:44):
Producer Ethan has weighed in on the Christmas movie question Muppets,
Christmas Carol or for Christmases. He says, the holiday is
also one of my favorites, but that's more of a
holiday's movie, not a Christmas movie. Uh three or four
talk three or four is the text line eight hundred

(01:28:05):
seven six five eight two five five is the phone
number texting mid show there to a one to the
personal text line there uh three or four talk three
oh four Dave Northern outpost here Christmas Memories, waiting for
the Sears and Roebuck Christmas catalog in the mail so
we could make our wish list. Most of the time

(01:28:27):
Mom and Dad got the message, and then the catalog
was retired to the outhouse behind the barn while me
and brother played with the box. The toy came in.
Remember that's remember the wi It was a wish book.
I think Pennies put one out, Seers put one out
when we were kids.

Speaker 4 (01:28:43):
Came without fail, very thick. You know what do you want?

Speaker 1 (01:28:47):
There?

Speaker 4 (01:28:47):
All the time?

Speaker 1 (01:28:48):
Three or four talk three four?

Speaker 7 (01:28:50):
Uh?

Speaker 1 (01:28:50):
Movie Scrooge with George Scott as a Scrooge?

Speaker 9 (01:28:56):
Yes?

Speaker 1 (01:28:57):
Is that a classic? Is that considered a classic?

Speaker 4 (01:29:00):
I think so?

Speaker 1 (01:29:01):
Favorite Christmas movie? I'm up at Christmas Carol. My family
and I watch it every Christmas Eve. One of my
favorite Christmas movies is Hook Says the Texter. That does
take place around Christmas time, doesn't it. I forgot about that.
It's definitely winter in London at the time. I mean,
it's Christmas. I'm not going to rain on anybody's parade,

(01:29:23):
So I didn't just come across the It's a Christmas
commercial was scrolling through my feed. One of my favorites,
Santa on the Little Norelko. It's always a good Yeah,
that's always a good one. Let's go to Brett in Charleston.
Hey Brett, what's on your mind?

Speaker 22 (01:29:39):
Well, I just want to talk a little bit about
this Hope Scholarship Fund and the fact that if the
public schools had been doing a better job of teaching
our kids so Hope, there would be no need for
the Hope Scholarship Fund. I'm all about the Hope Scholarship
because they've got such terrible sum terrible teacher in the

(01:30:00):
system that they cannot get rid of, et cetera.

Speaker 1 (01:30:04):
Brett airing his grievances today on FESTIVS. How about Jerry
and Poka? Hey Jerry, what's on your mind?

Speaker 16 (01:30:11):
Oh?

Speaker 12 (01:30:12):
They keep talking about economic development, and one of the
big things is this data centers and stuff. It seems
like when they talk about economic development as a whole,
it's always about what can the state do for these
people to get them here? And that ends up being

(01:30:33):
a negative thing on tax revenue and stuff. The data
centers is another big issue because Appalachian Pires says they
need a huge increase in order to be able to
provide power for something that isn't even here yet. And
this all comes back to one thing, in my opinion,

(01:30:53):
and I think most people will agree with me. You're
putting the burder the burden of a trial them on
the back of the tax payer to fund everything that's
going on. How do you tell these less income to
the state to do things for the infrastructure and other things.
So I don't see it as being that great deal

(01:31:15):
unless there's something in it for the state and the residents.

Speaker 1 (01:31:19):
Jerry appreciate the phone call. Let's go to Charleston. Oh,
Mercy Brook in Charleston, Go ahead, Brook.

Speaker 28 (01:31:28):
Hello, are we talking favorite Christmas movies?

Speaker 4 (01:31:30):
We are.

Speaker 28 (01:31:33):
Christmas Vacation number one always.

Speaker 1 (01:31:35):
Well, of course, of course, can you do any line?

Speaker 26 (01:31:41):
Are you serious?

Speaker 12 (01:31:41):
Clark?

Speaker 28 (01:31:45):
My boys even asked for soffier sleds last Christmas because
they wanted to be like Clark and play ride down
the hill in their softer sleds. So we are all
about it.

Speaker 4 (01:31:54):
I can give me the don't put any of that
stuff on my sled, Clerk.

Speaker 1 (01:32:01):
I don't need to clark met well, it's plastic, see
and if it gets crushed right here.

Speaker 28 (01:32:08):
All right, the government plastic.

Speaker 1 (01:32:11):
Sorry, my part just ain't gonna look right. All right,
all right, thanks to call see you tomorrow, Brook.

Speaker 4 (01:32:19):
Not was that your sister?

Speaker 1 (01:32:22):
Yep?

Speaker 4 (01:32:22):
Sure was That was Dave's sister.

Speaker 1 (01:32:26):
Older, younger sister. Oh, Mercy, that's where the show's ended up.
My sister's calling in unsolicited. By the way, that was unsolicited.

Speaker 4 (01:32:36):
What she should call more often talk politics with us. Hey, hey, Brooke, Brooke,
call call the main radio line here in Charleston. They'll
connect us and you can tell me all about what
really gets Dave going. So I have that in my repertoire.
Got to take our final break backs to wrap it
up right after this.

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Speaker 1 (01:33:32):
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Speaker 19 (01:33:33):
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Speaker 20 (01:33:40):
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Speaker 1 (01:33:42):
Bringing the holiday hype here?

Speaker 4 (01:33:44):
Enjoy scratch off?

Speaker 1 (01:33:45):
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Speaker 11 (01:33:46):
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Speaker 1 (01:33:47):
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Speaker 19 (01:33:49):
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Speaker 1 (01:33:54):
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Speaker 1 (01:34:36):
That's it all out of time. We'll talk to you
tomorrow on Christmas Eve. On Metro News, the voice of
West Virginia,