Andy Borowitz on 'Profiles in Ignorance: How America's Politicians Got Dumb and Dumber'

Larry Wilmore: Black on the Air

The Ringer

Society & Culture

4.8 • 3.6K Ratings

🗓️ 18 September 2022

⏱️ 78 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Larry is joined by writer and comedian Andy Borowitz to discuss his new book, 'Profiles in Ignorance: How America's Politicians Got Dumb and Dumber,' which examines how television has negatively shaped the political climate and its participants since its proliferation in the 1950s and '60s. Andy starts the conversation with some anecdotes from his time working on 'The Facts of Life' and 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' and then pivots into the three-part structure of the book (4:02). In the opening "Ridicule" section, Andy details the history of anti-intellectualism in the modern conservative movement and how it contrasts with the "egg head" candidates often sought by the left (19:41). Next, they talk about the "Acceptance" phase, which breaks down how raw charisma and the cultural zeitgeist propelled Ronald Reagan, Sarah Palin, Bill Clinton, and Donald Trump to mass popularity and positions of power (40:03). After the break they get to the "Celebration" chapters, which examines how Trumpist firebrands like Ron DeSantis became the face of the current GOP (51:21). Larry and Andy end the pod by pondering whether it's the politicians making the voters stupid or if the stupidity is already within the voters themselves (1:09:52). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Andy Borowitz Producer: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Joanna, do you ever wish you could definitively prove that you had the right opinions about movies?
0:05.7	Uh, yeah, Neil, because I do have the right opinions about movies and television, right, Dave?
0:09.7	No, because I'm more right about those things, and I demand trial by content.
0:14.2	Oh, boy. What is trial by content?
0:16.6	Each week, we'll take on a huge question.
0:18.5	Each of us will bring a choice and combine with listeners, submissions, and year votes, we will come to a decision.
0:23.2	It's trial by content! Every Tuesday on Spotify, theRinger.com, wherever you're listening right now, don't let Neil win.
0:28.5	Don't let Dave win.
0:36.5	All right, welcome back.
0:37.5	Everybody, a special guest this week.
0:39.5	A very, very, very funny guy.
0:42.5	He's been funny for a long time too, but also not just funny, just very insightful.
0:48.5	If you've read any of his columns in the New Yorker or some of his books, and he always hits the target.
0:54.5	And I've had the pleasure of knowing him for a while now, but this latest book guys, it's hilarious and scary.
1:02.0	It's one of those funny, scary things at the same time.
1:04.5	I guess it's true.
1:05.5	It's true.
1:06.5	It's profiles and ignorance.
1:08.5	How America's politicians got dumb and dumb or Andy Burwoods.
1:11.5	Welcome to Black in the air, my friend. It's so nice to see you.
1:14.5	Mary, it is so cool to be with you and it's an honor.
1:17.5	And, you know, I'm known you for a long time, but this is the longest conversation you and I have ever had.
	...

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