I'm still Ben Rhodes.

Ben, it's great to be back, man.

I hope you had a nice holiday.

Hope everyone had a nice holiday.

Also happy election day.

Yeah, I mean, we were locked down here in LA, as you know.

It was a very quarantine holiday, but it was a holiday nonetheless.

Yes, somehow in Los Angeles, everything has gotten worse despite us not having bad weather,

but I don't know.

Hopefully, like, fingers crossed, praying for everybody.

It's weird that it's election day.

It's nice to know that democracy is happening in Georgia even though, you know, as we speak,

Republicans in DC are rejecting the concept of, you know, looking at you, Josh Holley,

you insufferable blow-dried Ted Cruz wannabe.

But Ben, I wanted to kick off the show with some personal news for you and for listeners,

which is that I read my first John Lakeret novel over Christmas.

Yes.

And now I'm addicted and I'm nearly done with my second.

Yes.

We'll not let you down.

And the best thing about it is discovering a show with like 12 seasons.

There's an infinite number of John Lakeret books because he was incredibly prolific.

...