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The brockton versus the journey pipe.

Many of you found our last metal pipe comparison article helpful, so to keep the same energy, we’re continuing the saga. Here we are again, laying our pipes on the table and stacking them up side by side with the Journey Pipe. This American-made pipe has a gold version that resembles the look of the Brockton Mk2. Nonetheless, we believe you’ll find that the pipes have little else in common. Discover the differences between the two and how they are upgrading the metal smoking pipe game.

High-Quality Metal Smoking Pipes

Unfortunately, metal smoking pipes tend to have iffy reputations. People often question what they’re made of and if they’re even safe to smoke. However, both Parkdale Brass and the Journey pipe craft pipes that are made from non-toxic materials. Not to mention, the make of these smoking accessories ensures that they are safe to use and that heat will not cause them to leach out harmful chemicals. After all, using a pipe is about taking time to slow down and relax, not give yourself an anxiety attack.

The Journey Pipe

The Journey Pipe changed hands a few times before finally being managed by Head Choice Inc. Its design has been replicated by many, and you can find plenty of copycats online. Also, the Journey Pipe has three main models, J2, J3, and J4, with each one improving on the last. The J4 metal pipes feature:

• A modular pipe body
• Magnetic lid
• A silicone grip
• Screenless technology

These pipes are crafted from zinc alloy and are non-toxic, as well as heat resistant. Also, the newer models feature increased bowl sizes.

The Brockton

Designed by Shawn Santiago in Toronto, Ontario, the Brockton originated in 2019 . The Brockton Mk1 used pure brass, whereas the Brockton Mk2 uses chrome-plated brass for a timeless shine. This modern brass pipe features:

• A bowl that lights from the bottom
• Changeable screens

The Brockton uses medical-grade chrome-plated brass that is also non-toxic and heat resistant. Most customers will tell you that the size of the bowl surprised them and was bigger than they had thought it would be.

The Verdict

While both of these pipes have magnetic lids, that’s about as similar as they get. The Journey Pipe has its initials stamped inside the lid, whereas the Brockton Mk2 displays it on the top of the lid. Also, the Brockton comes in a timeless brass colour, while the Journey pipe comes in red, silver, black and gold. The weight of these pipes varies significantly, as the metal used for each is different. Furthermore, the Brockton Mk2 allows smokers to change screens, and the Journey Pipe forgoes screens completely. Not to mention, the smoking experience is different, considering the Journey Pipe lights from the top, and the Brockton lights from the bottom, crisping the flower instead of burning it.

Time to Enjoy

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The Journey Pipe - Three Piece Clog Proof Pipes

The Journey Pipe is an amazing revolutionary smoking device designed with Filter-Gap Technology - it eliminates clogging, the use of screens while delivering cool smooth smoke. Journey doesn't break and stays cool to the touch. The innovative sealed in magnets on the lid and body prevents air leaks and spills. The snap-action lid swivels left or right to smoke, distinguish herbs and acts as storage unit for easy traveling. 

Cleaning your Journey takes less than 30 seconds. Simply pop Journey open, give it a quick wipe with a damp tissue paper, or for thorough cleaning use hot water and dish soap and snap it back together. The three-piece build makes it incredibly easy to clean.  

Design and Material

All three pipes come in a very sleek design. With a nice, flat, mouthpiece, the Journey Pipes make inhaling very comfortable and natural. The teardrop shape of the pipe is very ergonomic and it fits naturally in your hand. All three models have the same basic shape. 

The J2 and J3 pipes are made entirely from solid Zinc alloy and plated to brilliant finish. This metal finish makes it smooth and sleek while also making it easy to slide in and out of your pocket. The metal is heat resistant and easy to clean.  

The J4 pipe is manufactured from a stainless-steel interior and adds a layer of silicone on the exterior that the J2 and J3 do not include. This high-temperature silicone is an ideal material for the J4 because it’s healthy, protects your fingers by keeping the exterior cool, and it’s extremely comfortable to hold. Journey Pipes uses only premium high-temperature silicone, FDA approved for mouth contact. The silicone is not only a functional addition, but a stylish one as well.  

Due to the high-quality metals used in all pipes, these pipes will not break and will last you a very long time. The silicone addition to the Journey4 is a matter of preference, some like the additional grip, and some prefer the metal, which is easier to slide in and out of one’s pocket. Regardless of your preference, you’re sure to enjoy all three models of the pipe.  

Method of Consumption

The J2 and J3 can be used with tobacco, herb, or other dry products. One of the best parts about the J4 is that it can be used with concentrates.  

Carefully heat your J4 with a torch then drop your favorite extracts onto the raised center bowl, and you can vape your concentrates! The silicone prevents the pipe from getting too hot to the touch. It’s truly an all-in-one pipe.  

Cleaning:  

The Journey Pipes are commonly referred to as some of the easiest pipes to clean. Cleaning these pipes takes less than 30 seconds.  

The J2 and J3 are easily cleaned with olive oil or warm water and soap. Because the pipe has three pieces you can pop apart, you can easily wipe the inside of the bowl without having to use pipe cleaners or cotton swabs. Olive oil is a great medium for removing gunk. It slides right off!  

The J4 is just as easy to clean, use warm water and soap to clean the three separate parts of the pipe, and it’s good as new!  

Filter-Gap Technology  

One of the coolest features that both the Journey Pipes come with is the Filter Gap Technology. This patent-pending technology means no more screens and no more smoking unhealthy tars that clog your pipe. The vertical gap at the base of the bowl makes the filter impossible to clog (if you clean it every few bowls). The 200-micron filter is so efficient that it only lets the cleanest smoke and vapor through, every time. The J2, J3, and J4 are equipped with Filter-Gap Technology, the most advanced screen-less system yet.  

Snap-Action Lid  

As if these pipes didn’t already have enough cool features, the Journey Pipes come with highly magnetized snap-action lids for fast and convenient access. Just slide your lid to the left or right, pack your bowl, and light it up. If you want to extinguish your herb, just cover it up with the swivel lid. This snap-action lid also doubles as a cover to store your product while traveling. Pre-pack a bowl, cover it up with the lid, and you are good to go. This snap-action lid is held together by a high-powered magnet, which makes it super easy to use and travel with. You can throw the pipe in your pocket without fear of the herb falling out.  

Journey Pipe - J2

The Journey Pipe J2, like the rest of the pipes, has a three-piece build that makes it easy to clean and use. The J2’s bowl is slightly smaller than the J3 and J4, making it a great option for those who don’t smoke as much or want a smaller pipe to travel with. Weighing just 5 ounces and 4 inches in length, this is one of the most lightweight metal pipes on the market. The J2 is available in matte silver and black for $39.99.  

Journey Pipe - J3

The Journey Pipe J3  consists of a clever three-piece design that sticks together with a high-powered magnet. The Journey3 weighs roughly 4.5 oz. and is 3.9” in length, 0.8” in width, and 1.1” in height. This Zinc alloy pipe comes in three colors: Black, Twilight Silver & Rose Gold. For just $49.99 you can pick up your Journey3 pipe at WickiePipes. 

Journey Pipe - J4

The Journey Pipe J4 consists of an ingenious three-piece design that sticks together with a high-powered magnet. The J4 weighs roughly 1.75 oz. and is 4.2” in length, 1.2” in width, and 0.9” in height. This pipe comes in 2 colors: Black and Red. For just $39.99 you can pick up your Journey4 pipe at WickiePipes.

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The Journey Pipe J3 Portable Smoking System

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Journey Pipe Version 3

The J3 Journey Pipe is an advanced smoking pipe that features screenless technology that eliminates clogging. The Journey Pipe is composed of zinc alloy. This indestructible pipe won’t break, stays cool to the touch, is non-toxic, and delivers smooth and less harsh smoke. This 3rd model in The Journey Pipe lineup features a larger bowl and sleeker profile than previous designs.

Other than being a durable metal pipe, the Journey pipe has a lot still going for it. The magnetic lid stays on tight and allows you to pre-pack a bowl for seshing later while on a walk or adventure. The added length and larger bowl make this version ideal for a daily use all metal pipe.

• Length: 4in
• All Zinc body
• Magnetic swivel bowl cover
• Airflow bowl design reduces drag and build-up
• Increased bowl size

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Your input is very much appreciated. Share it with your friends so they can enjoy it too!

This was my first pipe - but not my favorite pipe

This being my first pipe, I really want to like it. However, after paying 50 for this, I much prefer my $14 dollar dugout. This gives me a much weaker hit, and it's fast coming in. After trying it a few times, and realizing that I was an inexperienced smoker, I put this down because I just didn't like the experience of using it. After about a year, I picked this up again and it just isn't as enjoyable as my dugout or anything else I've used. This just isn't for me, but it is well made and I'll use it a bit more - it was too expensive to let it sit idle.

Hits like a dream.. but the black color peels

The pipe legit it’s gorgeous. Love the feel the it in my hands. It hits so amazing and smooth for no carb it’s great. It’s truly never clogs or gets anything in my mouth. The only flaw is the color is peeling or rubbing off when I clean it. ( I used olive oil as instructed) but the flip side is the customer service team is always amazing and wonderful. They helped me out right away.

Journey pipe J3

I love it, easy to use

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The Journey Pipe - 3 Piece Metal Hand Pipe With Built In Screen - Black

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Journey Pipe J2

$ 50.00

Description

• Reviews (0)

Discover the Journey Pipe J2 , a standout innovation in the Journey series. This pipe isn’t just another accessory; it’s a testament to advanced design and functionality, crafted for those who appreciate the finer things in life.

The Unique Edge of the Journey Pipe J2

A glimpse into the product’s evolution.

The Journey Pipe J2 represents a significant evolution from previous models, integrating user feedback and technological advancements to set a new benchmark in smoking accessories.

Enhancing Your Smoking Experience

The Journey Pipe J2 is more than just a tool; it’s a lifestyle choice. It symbolizes a commitment to quality and enjoyment, making each smoking session a seamless and sophisticated experience.

Complementary Accessories from 710 Pipes

• Cleaning Supplies : Essential for keeping your J2 in top condition. 
• Grinders : Get the perfect consistency for a smooth smoke.
• Various Accessories : Check out our selection of various accessories to compliment your new piece!

Frequently Asked Questions

• How does the Journey Pipe J2 stand out from its predecessors? The J2 features an enhanced design for better handling, improved durability, and a more efficient screen system.
• Can the Journey Pipe J2 be used with different types of blends? Yes, its versatile design is suitable for a variety of blends.

Ready to Elevate Your Sessions?

Experience the ultimate in smoking sophistication with the Journey Pipe J2 . Transform your sessions with this remarkable piece. Add to Cart Now for a seamless purchase, or visit your local 710 Pipes store to see why the J2 is the talk of the town. Your journey to elevated smoking pleasure starts here!

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Journey Pipe 2

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The Journey Pipe 2 is an innovative smoking device made from a high grade metal alloy. Stop fussing around with metal pipes that have easy to lose lids and can get easily clogged up. The Journey Pipe 2 features a strong swivel magnetic lid making it easy to load and take on-the-go. The screenless design of the pipe prevents any unwanted materials from getting through.

The Journey Pipe 2 does not get hot to hold during sessions and provides smooth, cool hits every time due to the aerodynamic design of the chamber. Completely taking the magnetic lid off allows you to easily clean the inside chamber. The Journey Pipe 2 case is included and comes with space to store a lighter or other valuables.

• High Grade Alloy Metal
• Strong Magnetic Lid
• Screenless Design
• Cooling Chamber
• Easy Cleaning
• Case Included
• Available in Several Colors

SMOKEA® proudly offers free shipping on orders of $20 or greater to the contiguous 48 states. Orders with free shipping can expect delivery times of 3 to 16 business days. Orders that pay for faster shipping have an average shipping time of only 2-3 business days!

Click here to view our full Shipping Policy.

We hope that you will be delighted with your items however, if you would like to return your items for any reason at all, you may do so within 30 days of receiving your order. Items returned must be in a new and unused condition and are the responsibility of the customer until they are received by SMOKEA.

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Your input is very much appreciated. Share it with your friends so they can enjoy it too!

Very professional. Bought a couple of these. One of the pipes came out of the box missing one of the magnets. They sent me a brand new pipe. These are super easy to clean plus their screenless.

This is by far the best pipe that I have ever used. /The screenless technology is great. It simple to use and clean. love it!

journey 2 pipe

best pipe i have ever used. simple, functional, elegant

Easy to use and easy to clean

Was not for me.

I prefer my pipes to not have air leaks and I could tell this was not airtight. The return process was easy because I hadn’t used it yet, and their customer service was great.

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The ORIGINAL and AUTHENTIC Journey4 "Sport" - The world's most unique smoking pipe...plus, it's the easiest pipe to clean!

Invented by the same person who invented the Journey3 metal pipe, this is the ORIGINAL and AUTHENTIC version of this pipe. There are imitators out there selling something called the J4. Don't be fooled! We have sold over 75,000 units to date...

Why pay more for a cheap look-alike made with inferior materials? - And we offer FREE SHIPPING!

- Stainless Steel Core

- FDA-approved Silicone Coating

- Beautiful, Shatterproof Construction

- Screenless, Patented Filter

- Magnetic Assembly - Comes Apart With a Twist

- Easy to Hold

- Three Easy-To-Clean Pieces

- Smoke or Light Vape

- FREE SHIPPING!

These products contain no Nicotine, Liquid, or Tobacco, and are sold for their collectible value.  By clicking the "ADD TO CART" button, you are confirming that you are at least 21 years or older!

" I totally love, love, love, the Journey 4 Sport. It is the best pipe I have ever used & I have tried just about all of them.  It's lightweight, portable and so easy to clean!" -- Debbie

AUTHENTIC Journey4™ "Sport" (Soft Black) with Air-Tight Pouch

Regular price $ 44.99 $ 34.95 Sale

          MAKES A GREAT  GIFT!

AUTHENTIC Journey4™ "Sport" (Dark Red) with Air-Tight Pouch

            makes a great   gift.

AUTHENTIC Journey4™ "Sport" (Cerulean Blue) with Air-Tight Pouch

          makes a great gift.

SPECIAL! Journey4 Three-Pack - Save $15.00!

Regular price $ 104.85 $ 89.95 Sale

Buy one of each color: Soft Black, Dark Red,  and   Cerulean Blue.

Makes a great   gift, presenting the revolutionary.

The amazing Keo Disc, taking smoking to the next level -- FOR THOSE WHO WANT MORE.

- Continuous pleasure: Disc has a huge bowl, smoked in 15 sections.

   Just rotate one click to reveal fresh material.

- Stainless Steel Core

-  Beautiful, Shatterproof Construction

- Magnetic Assembly

- Easy to Clean

- Pocket case included

AUTHENTIC KEO Disc - Black Silicone & Stainless Steel Circular Pipe

Regular price $ 29.99 $ 19.95 Sale

                   ON SALE TODAY!

     makes a great  gift.

AUTHENTIC KEO Disc - White Silicone & Stainless Steel Circular Pipe

                  on sale today,        makes a great  gift, free shipping.

Free First Class within the 50 United States. Shipping for international orders will be based upon the weight and destination of the order. Prices are in US Dollars. Item will be professionally packed and shipped in plain packaging.

ATTENTION NON-USA BUYERS

YOU MAY BE SUBJECT TO CUSTOMS DUTIES BY YOUR HOME COUNTRY ON ITEMS SHIPPED TO YOU.  THE SELLER HAS NO CONTROL NOR RESPONSIBILITY REGARDING WHETHER OR NOT SUCH DUTIES MAY BE IMPOSED.  PLEASE CONSIDER THIS NOTICE IF AND WHEN YOU DECIDE TO PURCHASE ANY OF OUR ITEMS.  CAVEAT EMPTOR!

BEWARE OF KNOCKOFFS AND UNSAVORY SELLERS!

There are a number of  unauthentic Journey pipes out there being sold by unsavory sellers, and while we believe that "Imitation is the Sincerest form of Flattery," none of these pipes are made by us, and therefore may be  inferior to the materials and workmanship that we employ.   SO BEWARE of the imitators!

If you have any questions, please  CONTACT US  before purchase.

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Journey Pipe | J4

The Journey Pipe J4  delivers a premium smoking experience for any journey you venture on. This model features a larger bowl size for bigger hits and longer trips! The exterior is also outfitted with a silicone sheath, for upgraded grip and ease of use in colder temperatures.

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Trump promotes Lee Greenwood's 'God Bless The USA Bible': What to know about the book and its long journey

• Former president Donald Trump encourages supporters to buy Lee Greenwood's "God Bless The USA Bible," a project inspired by Nashville country musician's hit song.
• Resurgent version of Greenwood's Bible project a modified version from original concept, a change that likely followed 2021 shake-up in publishers.

After years with few updates about Lee Greenwood’s controversial Bible, the project is again resurgent with a recent promotion by former President Donald Trump.

“All Americans need to have a Bible in their home and I have many. It’s my favorite book,” Trump said in a video posted to social media Tuesday, encouraging supporters to purchase the “God Bless The USA Bible.” “Religion is so important and so missing, but it’s going to come back.”

Greenwood — the Nashville area country musician whose hit song “God Bless the USA” inspired the Bible with a similar namesake — has long been allies with Trump and other prominent Republicans, many of whom are featured in promotional material for the “God Bless The USA Bible.” But that reputational clout in conservative circles hasn’t necessarily translated to business success in the past, largely due to a major change in the book’s publishing plan.

Here's what to know about the Bible project’s journey so far and why it’s significant it’s back in the conservative limelight.

An unordinary Bible, a fiery debate

The “God Bless The USA Bible” received heightened attention since the outset due to its overt political features.

The text includes the U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights, Declaration of Independence, Pledge of Allegiance, and the lyrics to the chorus to Greenwood’s “God Bless The USA.” Critics saw it as a symbol of Christian nationalism, a right-wing movement that believes the U.S. was founded as a Christian nation.

A petition emerged in 2021 calling Greenwood’s Bible “a toxic mix that will exacerbate the challenges to American evangelicalism.” From there, a broader conversation ensued about the standards by which publishers print Bibles.

Gatekeeping in Bible publishing

Greenwood’s early business partner on the project, a Hermitage-based marketing firm called Elite Source Pro, initially reached a manufacturing agreement with the Nashville-based HarperCollins Christian Publishing to print the “God Bless The USA Bible.”  

As part of that agreement, HarperCollins would publish the book but not sell or endorse it. But then HarperCollins reversed course , a major setback for Greenwood’s Bible.

The reversal by HarperCollins followed a decision by Zondervan — a publishing group under HarperCollins Christian Publishing and an official North American licensor for Bibles printed in the New International Version translation — to pass on the project. HarperCollins said the decision was unrelated to the petition or other public denunciations against Greenwood’s Bible.

The full backstory: Lee Greenwood's 'God Bless the USA Bible' finds new printer after HarperCollins Christian passes

A new translation and mystery publisher

The resurgent “God Bless The USA Bible” featured in Trump’s recent ad is an altered version of the original concept, a modification that likely followed the publishing shake-up.

Greenwood’s Bible is now printed in the King James Version, a different translation from the original pitch to HarperCollins.

Perhaps the biggest mystery is the new publisher. That manufacturer is producing a limited quantity of copies, leading to a delayed four-to-six weeks for a copy to ship.  

It’s also unclear which business partners are still involved in the project. Hugh Kirkman, who led Elite Service Pro, the firm that originally partnered with Greenwood for the project, responded to a request for comment by referring media inquiries to Greenwood’s publicist.

The publicist said Elite Source Pro is not a partner on the project and the Bible has always been printed in the King James Version.

"Several years ago, the Bible was going to be printed with the NIV translation, but something happened with the then licensor and the then potential publisher. As a result, this God Bless The USA Bible has always been printed with the King James Version translation," publicist Jeremy Westby said in a statement.

Westby did not have the name of the new licensee who is manufacturing the Bible.

Trump’s plug for the “God Bless The USA Bible” recycled language the former president is using to appeal to a conservative Christian base.

“Our founding fathers did a tremendous thing when they built America on Judeo-Christian values,” Trump said in his video on social media. “Now that foundation is under attack perhaps as never before.”

'Bring back our religion’: Trump vows to support Christians during Nashville speech

Liam Adams covers religion for The Tennessean. Reach him at [email protected] or on social media @liamsadams.

Taemin embarks on new journey with Big Planet Made Entertainment

Big Planet Made Entertainment announced on April 1st that SHINee member and solo artist Taemin has officially joined the agency through a recent exclusive contract. "We have recently signed an exclusive contract with Taemin. We will fully support his wide-ranging musical activities and do our best to ensure he can soar even higher in a broader spectrum. We ask for your continued support and love for Taemin's new start," the agency stated.

Along with this announcement, a new artist logo and profile image for Taemin were released at 8 AM KST on the same day. The stylish logo artwork and Taemin's captivating visuals have heightened anticipation for his future activities with Big Planet Made Entertainment.

Taemin is SHINee's main dancer and a leading male solo performer representing K-POP across generations. Since his debut at the age of 14 in 2008, he has been actively involved in global activities as a member of SHINee for 16 years. Beginning in 2014, as a solo artist, he has consistently released albums with a unique color, solidifying his position in the music industry.

His domestic solo albums featuring tracks such as ' Danger ', ' Press Your Number ', ' MOVE ', ' Day and Night ', ' WANT ', ' Criminal ', ' IDEA:理想 ', ' Advice ', and ' Guilty ' have proven Taemin's unique abilities and identity, receiving hot topics and critical acclaim from global music fans with every performance.

Embarking on a new challenge with Big Planet Made Entertainment, Taemin is set to once again serve as a trendsetter in K-POP.

Other artists and personalities associated with Big Planet Made Entertainment include singers Huh Gak , VIVIZ (Eunha, SinB, Umji), Ha Sung Woon , Lee Mu Jin , B.I , and Ren , performance directors Kasper and Kany , and entertainer Lee Soo Geun .

Taemin's official website is scheduled to open at 3 PM KST on April 1st.

MOMSTA X's I.M unveils teaser for new title track 'LURE'

NCT DREAM's album 'DREAM( )SCAPE' sweeps weekly album charts

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They seem to have been doing pretty well with Viviz so GG Taemin :)

Yay.. Hope they promote him like he deserves.. World Tour.. come on!!

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🚂 Purdue's 44-year journey back to the Final Four

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Daniel Wilco | NCAA.com | March 31, 2024

The lowest seeds to make the men's final four, elite eight and sweet 16.

Only seven teams with double-digit seeds have made the March Madness Final Four since the men's tournament field expanded to 64 teams in 1985, including the 2023-24 season when No. 11 seed NC State completed a stunning coup on the South regional crown.

Here's the TL/DR version of some March Madness men's seed history:

• 8 is the lowest seed to win a national championship (Villanova in 1985)
• 11 is the lowest seed to make the Final Four (LSU 1986; George Mason 2006; VCU 2011; Loyola Chicago 2018; UCLA 2021; NC State 2024).
• 15 is the lowest seed to make the men's Elite Eight (Saint Peter's 2022)
• 15 is the lowest seed to make the men's Sweet 16 (Princeton 2023; Saint Peter's 2022; Oral Roberts 2021; Florida Golf Coast 2013)

Along with those six No. 11 seeds to make the Final Four, Syracuse in 2016 reached the Final Four as a No. 10 seed — so seven double-digit seeds have advanced to the national semifinals.

The highest seed to ever make the championship is a No. 8, which has happened four times. The first came in the first NCAA tournament under the modern format, when No. 8 Villanova beat powerhouse No. 1 Georgetown for the 1985 championship. It also happened in 2011 (Butler), 2014 (Kentucky) and 2022 (North Carolina). Villanova is the only one from that group to win the title.

That 2014 final also gave us the highest total seed value for a championship game as No. 7 UConn took down No. 8 Kentucky for the title.

• NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Committee names game officials for 2024 men’s Final Four

• History-making storylines we could see at the 2024 Men’s Final Four

• What defines UConn, Purdue, Alabama and NC State's path to the 2024 Men's Final Four

March Madness

• 🗓️ 2024 March Madness schedule, dates
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• ❓ How the field of 68 is picked
• 📓 College basketball dictionary: 51 terms defined

Greatest buzzer beaters in March Madness history

Relive Laettner's historic performance against Kentucky

The deepest game-winning buzzer beaters in March Madness history

College basketball's NET rankings, explained

What March Madness looked like the year you were born

Di men's basketball news.

• Never-before-seen college basketball fairytales set to converge at the Final Four
• Purdue heads to the Final Four, starting a celebration 44 years in the making
• 2024 March Madness: Men's NCAA tournament schedule, dates
• Latest bracket, schedule and scores for 2024 NCAA men's tournament
• The lowest seeds to make the men's Final Four, Elite Eight and Sweet 16
• 2024 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship Final Four Tips Off Saturday, April 6, on TBS, TNT and truTV
• How many brackets correctly pick every Final Four team each year, since 2014

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Ronna McDaniel, TV News and the Trump Problem

The former republican national committee chairwoman was hired by nbc and then let go after an outcry..

This transcript was created using speech recognition software. While it has been reviewed by human transcribers, it may contain errors. Please review the episode audio before quoting from this transcript and email [email protected] with any questions.

From “The New York Times,” I’m Michael Barbaro. This is “The Daily.”

[MUSIC PLAYING]

Today, the saga of Ronna McDaniel and NBC and what it reveals about the state of television news headed into the 2024 presidential race. Jim Rutenberg, a “Times” writer at large, is our guest.

It’s Monday, April 1.

Jim, NBC News just went through a very public, a very searing drama over the past week, that we wanted you to make sense of in your unique capacity as a longtime media and political reporter at “The Times.” This is your sweet spot. You were, I believe, born to dissect this story for us.

Oh, brother.

Well, on the one hand, this is a very small moment for a major network like NBC. They hire, as a contributor, not an anchor, not a correspondent, as a contributor, Ronna McDaniel, the former RNC chairwoman. It blows up in a mini scandal at the network.

But to me, it represents a much larger issue that’s been there since that moment Donald J. Trump took his shiny gold escalator down to announce his presidential run in 2015. This struggle by the news media to figure out, especially on television, how do we capture him, cover him for all of his lies, all the challenges he poses to Democratic norms, yet not alienate some 74, 75 million American voters who still follow him, still believe in him, and still want to hear his reality reflected in the news that they’re listening to?

Right. Which is about as gnarly a conundrum as anyone has ever dealt with in the news media.

Well, it’s proven so far unsolvable.

Well, let’s use the story of what actually happened with Ronna McDaniel and NBC to illustrate your point. And I think that means describing precisely what happened in this situation.

The story starts out so simply. It’s such a basic thing that television networks do. As elections get underway, they want people who will reflect the two parties.

They want talking heads. They want insiders. They want them on their payroll so they can rely on them whenever they need them. And they want them to be high level so they can speak with great knowledge about the two major candidates.

Right. And rather than needing to beg these people to come on their show at 6 o’clock, when they might be busy and it’s not their full-time job, they go off and they basically put them on retainer for a bunch of money.

Yeah. And in this case, here’s this perfect scenario because quite recently, Ronna McDaniel, the chairwoman of the Republican National Committee through the Trump era, most of it, is now out on the market. She’s actually recently been forced out of the party. And all the networks are interested because here’s the consummate insider from Trump world ready to get snatched up under contract for the next election and can really represent this movement that they’ve been trying to capture.

So NBC’S key news executives move pretty aggressively, pretty swiftly, and they sign her up for a $300,000 a year contributor’s contract.

Nice money if you can get it.

Not at millions of dollars that they pay their anchors, but a very nice contract. I’ll take it. You’ll take it. In the eyes of NBC execs she was perfect because she can be on “Meet the Press” as a panelist. She can help as they figure out some of their coverage. They have 24 hours a day to fill and here’s an official from the RNC. You can almost imagine the question that would be asked to her. It’s 10:00 PM on election night. Ronna, what are the Trump people thinking right now? They’re looking at the same numbers you are.

That was good, but that’s exactly it. And we all know it, right? This is television in our current era.

So last Friday, NBC makes what should be a routine announcement, but one they’re very proud of, that they’ve hired Ronna McDaniel. And in a statement, they say it couldn’t be a more important moment to have a voice like Ronna’s on the team. So all’s good, right? Except for there’s a fly in the ointment.

Because it turns out that Ronna McDaniel has been slated to appear on “Meet the Press,” not as a paid NBC contributor, but as a former recently ousted RNC chair with the “Meet The Press” host, Kristen Welker, who’s preparing to have a real tough interview with Ronna McDaniel. Because of course, Ronna McDaniel was chair of the party and at Trump’s side as he tried to refuse his election loss. So this was supposed to be a showdown interview.

From NBC News in Washington, the longest-running show in television history. This is “Meet The Press” with Kristen Welker.

And here, all of a sudden, Kristin Welker is thrown for a loop.

In full disclosure to our viewers, this interview was scheduled weeks before it was announced that McDaniel would become a paid NBC News contributor.

Because now, she’s actually interviewing a member of the family who’s on the same payroll.

Right. Suddenly, she’s interviewing a colleague.

This will be a news interview, and I was not involved in her hiring.

So what happens during the interview?

So Welker is prepared for a tough interview, and that’s exactly what she does.

Can you say, as you sit here today, did Joe Biden win the election fair and square?

He won. He’s the legitimate president.

Did he win fair and square?

Fair and square, he won. It’s certified. It’s done.

She presses her on the key question that a lot of Republicans get asked these days — do you accept Joe Biden was the winner of the election?

But, I do think, Kristen —

Ronna, why has it taken you until now to say that? Why has it taken you until now to be able to say that?

I’m going to push back a little.

McDaniel gets defensive at times.

Because I do think it’s fair to say there were problems in 2020. And to say that does not mean he’s not the legitimate president.

But, Ronna, when you say that, it suggests that there was something wrong with the election. And you know that the election was the most heavily scrutinized. Chris Krebs —

It’s a really combative interview.

I want to turn now to your actions in the aftermath of the 2020 election.

And Welker actually really does go deeply into McDaniel’s record in those weeks before January 6.

On November 17, you and Donald Trump were recorded pushing two Republican Michigan election officials not to certify the results of the election. And on the call —

For instance, she presses McDaniel on McDaniel’s role in an attempt to convince a couple county commissioner level canvassers in Michigan to not certify Biden’s victory.

Our call that night was to say, are you OK? Vote your conscience. Not pushing them to do anything.

McDaniel says, look, I was just telling them to vote their conscience. They should do whatever they think is right.

But you said, do not sign it. If you can go home tonight, do not sign it. How can people read that as anything other than a pressure campaign?

And Welker’s not going to just let her off the hook. Welker presses her on Trump’s own comments about January 6 and Trump’s efforts recently to gloss over some of the violence, and to say that those who have been arrested, he’ll free them.

Do you support that?

I want to be very clear. The violence that happened on January 6 is unacceptable.

And this is a frankly fascinating moment because you can hear McDaniel starting to, if not quite reverse some of her positions, though in some cases she does that, at least really soften her language. It’s almost as if she’s switching uniforms from the RNC one to an NBC one or almost like breaking from a role she was playing.

Ronna, why not speak out earlier? Why just speak out about that now?

When you’re the RNC chair, you kind of take one for the whole team, right? Now, I get to be a little bit more myself.

She says, hey, you know what? Sometimes as RNC chair, you just have to take it for the team sometimes.

Right. What she’s really saying is I did things as chairwoman of the Republican National committee that now that I no longer have that job, I can candidly say, I wished I hadn’t done, which is very honest. But it’s also another way of saying I’m two faced, or I was playing a part.

Ronna McDaniel, thank you very much for being here this morning.

Then something extraordinary happens. And I have to say, I’ve never seen a moment like this in decades of watching television news and covering television news.

Welcome back. The panel is here. Chuck Todd, NBC News chief political analyst.

Welker brings her regular panel on, including Chuck Todd, now the senior NBC political analyst.

Chuck, let’s dive right in. What were your takeaways?

And he launches right into what he calls —

Look, let me deal with the elephant in the room.

The elephant being this hiring of McDaniel.

I think our bosses owe you an apology for putting you in this situation.

And he proceeds, on NBC’S air, to lace into management for, as he describes it, putting Welker in this crazy awkward position.

Because I don’t know what to believe. She is now a paid contributor by NBC News. I have no idea whether any answer she gave to you was because she didn’t want to mess up her contract.

And Todd is very hung up on this idea that when she was speaking for the party, she would say one thing. And now that she’s on the payroll at NBC, she’s saying another thing.

She has credibility issues that she still has to deal with. Is she speaking for herself, or is she speaking on behalf of who’s paying her?

Todd is basically saying, how are we supposed to know which one to believe.

What can we believe?

It is important for this network and for always to have a wide aperture. Having ideological diversity on this panel is something I prided myself on.

And what he’s effectively saying is that his bosses should have never hired her in this capacity.

I understand the motivation, but this execution, I think, was poor.

Someone said to me last night we live in complicated times. Thank you guys for being here. I really appreciate it.

Now, let’s just note here, this isn’t just any player at NBC. Chuck Todd is obviously a major news name at the network. And him doing this appears to just open the floodgates across the entire NBC News brand, especially on its sister cable network, MSNBC.

And where I said I’d never seen anything like what I saw on “Meet the Press” that morning, I’d never seen anything like this either. Because now, the entire MSNBC lineup is in open rebellion. I mean, from the minute that the sun comes up. There is Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski.

We weren’t asked our opinion of the hiring. But if we were, we would have strongly objected to it.

They’re on fire over this.

believe NBC News should seek out conservative Republican voices, but it should be conservative Republicans, not a person who used her position of power to be an anti-democracy election denier.

But it rolls out across the entire schedule.

Because Ronna McDaniel has been a major peddler of the big lie.

The fact that Ms. McDaniel is on the payroll at NBC News, to me that is inexplicable. I mean, you wouldn’t hire a mobster to work at a DA’s office.

Rachel Maddow devotes an entire half hour.

It’s not about just being associated with Donald Trump and his time in the Republican Party. It’s not even about lying or not lying. It’s about our system of government.

Thumbing their noses at our bosses and basically accusing them of abetting a traitorous figure in American history. I mean, just extraordinary stuff. It’s television history.

And let’s face it, we journalists, our bosses, we can be seen as crybabies, and we’re paid complaining. Yeah, that’s what we’re paid to do. But in this case, the NBC executives cannot ignore this, because in the outcry, there’s a very clear point that they’re all making. Ronna McDaniel is not just a voice from the other side. She was a fundamental part of Trump’s efforts to deny his election loss.

This is not inviting the other side. This is someone who’s on the wrong side —

Of history.

Of history, of these moments that we’ve covered and are still covering.

And I think it’s fair to say that at this point, everyone understands that Ronna McDaniel’s time at NBC News is going to be very short lived. Yeah, basically, after all this, the executives at NBC have to face facts it’s over. And on Tuesday night, they release a statement to the staff saying as much.

They don’t cite the questions about red lines or what Ronna McDaniel represented or didn’t represent. They just say we need to have a unified newsroom. We want cohesion. This isn’t working.

I think in the end, she was a paid contributor for four days.

Yeah, one of the shortest tenures in television news history. And look, in one respect, by their standards, this is kind of a pretty small contract, a few hundred thousand dollars they may have to pay out. But it was way more costly because they hired her. They brought her on board because they wanted to appeal to these tens of millions of Americans who still love Donald J. Trump.

And what happens now is that this entire thing is blown up in their face, and those very same people now see a network that, in their view, in the view of Republicans across the country, this network will not accept any Republicans. So it becomes more about that. And Fox News, NBC’S longtime rival, goes wall to wall with this.

Now, NBC News just caved to the breathless demands from their far left, frankly, emotionally unhinged host.

I mean, I had it on my desk all day. And every minute I looked at that screen, it was pounding on these liberals at NBC News driving this Republican out.

It’s the shortest tenure in TV history, I think. But why? Well, because she supports Donald Trump, period.

So in a way, this leaves NBC worse off with that Trump Republican audience they had wanted to court than maybe even they were before. It’s like a boomerang with a grenade on it.

Yeah, it completely explodes in their face. And that’s why to me, the whole episode is so representative of this eight-year conundrum for the news media, especially on television. They still haven’t been able to crack the code for how to handle the Trump movement, the Trump candidacy, and what it has wrought on the American political system and American journalism.

We’ll be right back.

Jim, put into context this painful episode of NBC into that larger conundrum you just diagnosed that the media has faced when it comes to Trump.

Well, Michael, it’s been there from the very beginning, from the very beginning of his political rise. The media was on this kind of seesaw. They go back and forth over how to cover him. Sometimes they want to cover him quite aggressively because he’s such a challenging candidate. He was bursting so many norms.

But at other times, there was this instinct to understand his appeal, for the same reason. He’s such an unusual candidate. So there was a great desire to really understand his voters. And frankly, to speak to his voters, because they’re part of the audience. And we all lived it, right?

But just let me take you back anyway because everything’s fresh again with perspective. And so if you go back, let’s look at when he first ran. The networks, if you recall, saw him as almost like a novelty candidate.

He was going to spice up what was expected to be a boring campaign between the usual suspects. And he was a ratings magnet. And the networks, they just couldn’t get enough of it. And they allowed him, at times, to really shatter their own norms.

Welcome back to “Meet the Press,” sir.

Good morning, Chuck.

Good morning. Let me start —

He was able to just call into the studio and riff with the likes of George Stephanopoulos and Chuck Todd.

What does it have to do with Hillary?

She can’t talk about me because nobody respects women more than Donald Trump.

And CNN gave him a lot of unmitigated airtime, if you recall during the campaign. They would run the press conferences.

It’s the largest winery on the East Coast. I own it 100 percent.

And let him promote his Trump steaks and his Trump wine.

Trump steaks. Where are the steaks? Do we have steaks?

I mean, it got that crazy. But again, the ratings were huge. And then he wins. And because they had previously given him all that airtime, they’ve, in retrospect, sort of given him a political gift, and more than that now have a journalistic imperative to really address him in a different way, to cover him as they would have covered any other candidate, which, let’s face it, they weren’t doing initially. So there’s this extra motivation to make up for lost ground and maybe for some journalistic omissions.

Right. Kind of correct for the lack of a rigorous journalistic filter in the campaign.

Exactly. And the big thing that this will be remembered for is we’re going to call a lie a lie.

I don’t want to sugarcoat this because facts matter, and the fact is President Trump lies.

Trump lies. We’re going to say it’s a lie.

And I think we can’t just mince around it because they are lies. And so we need to call them what they are.

We’re no longer going to use euphemisms or looser language we’re. Going to call it for what it is.

Trump lies in tweets. He spreads false information at rallies. He lies when he doesn’t need to. He lies when the truth is more than enough for him.

CNN was running chyrons. They would fact check Trump and call lies lies on the screen while Trump is talking. They were challenging Trump to his face —

One of the statements that you made in the tail end of the campaign in the midterms that —

Here we go.

That — well, if you don’t mind, Mr. President, that this caravan was an invasion.

— in these crazy press conferences —

They’re are hundreds of miles away, though. They’re hundreds and hundreds of miles away. That’s not an invasion.

Honestly, I think you should let me run the country. You run CNN. And if you did it well, your ratings —

Well, let me ask — if I may ask one other question. Mr. President, if I may ask another question. Are you worried —

That’s enough. That’s enough.

And Trump is giving it right back.

I tell you what, CNN should be ashamed of itself having you working for them. You are a rude, terrible person. You shouldn’t be working for CNN.

Very combative.

So this was this incredibly fraught moment for the American press. You’ve got tens of millions of Trump supporters seeing what’s really basic fact checking. These look like attacks to Trump supporters. Trump, in turn, is calling the press, the reporters are enemies of the people. So it’s a terrible dynamic.

And when January 6 happens, it’s so obviously out of control. And what the traditional press that follows, traditional journalistic rules has to do is make it clear that the claims that Trump is making about a stolen election are just so abjectly false that they don’t warrant a single minute of real consideration once the reporting has been done to show how false they are. And I think that American journalism really emerged from that feeling strongly about its own values and its own place in society.

But then there’s still tens of millions of Trump voters, and they don’t feel so good about the coverage. And they don’t agree that January 6 was an insurrection. And so we enter yet another period, where the press is going to have to now maybe rethink some things.

In what way?

Well, there’s a kind of quiet period after January 6. Trump is off of social media. The smoke is literally dissipating from the air in Washington. And news executives are kind of standing there on the proverbial battlefield, taking a new look at their situation.

And they’re seeing that in this clearer light, they’ve got some new problems, perhaps none more important for their entire business models than that their ratings are quickly crashing. And part of that diminishment is that a huge part of the country, that Trump-loving part of the audience, is really now severed from him from their coverage.

They see the press as actually, in some cases, being complicit in stealing an election. And so these news executives, again, especially on television, which is so ratings dependent, they’ve got a problem. So after presumably learning all these lessons about journalism and how to confront power, there’s a first subtle and then much less subtle rethinking.

Maybe we need to pull back from that approach. And maybe we need to take some new lessons and switch it up a little bit and reverse some of what we did. And one of the best examples of this is none other than CNN.

It had come under new management, was being led by a guy named Chris Licht, a veteran of cable news, but also Stephen Colbert’s late night show in his last job. And his new job under this new management is we’re going to recalibrate a little bit. So Chris Licht proceeds to try to bring the network back to the center.

And how does he do that?

Well, we see some key personalities who represented the Trump combat era start losing air time and some of them lose their jobs. There’s talk of, we want more Republicans on the air. There was a famous magazine article about Chris Licht’s balancing act here.

And Chris Licht says to a reporter, Tim Alberta of the “Atlantic” magazine, look, a lot in the media, including at his own network, quote unquote, “put on a jersey, took a side.” They took a side. And he says, I think we understand that jersey cannot go back on him. Because he says in the end of the day, by the way, it didn’t even work. We didn’t change anyone’s mind.

He’s saying that confrontational approach that defined the four years Trump was in office, that was a reaction to the feeling that TV news had failed to properly treat Trump with sufficient skepticism, that that actually was a failure both of journalism and of the TV news business. Is that what he’s saying?

Yeah. On the business side, it’s easier call, right? You want a bigger audience, and you’re not getting the bigger audience. But he’s making a journalistic argument as well that if the job is to convey the truth and take it to the people, and they take that into account as they make their own voting decisions and formulate their own opinions about American politics, if tens of millions of people who do believe that election was stolen are completely tuning you out because now they see you as a political combatant, you’re not achieving your ultimate goal as a journalist.

And what does Licht’s “don’t put a jersey back on” approach look like on CNN for its viewers?

Well, It didn’t look good. People might remember this, but the most glaring example —

Please welcome, the front runner for the Republican nomination for president, Donald Trump.

— was when he held a town hall meeting featuring Donald J. Trump, now candidate Trump, before an audience packed with Trump’s fans.

You look at what happened during that election. Unless you’re a very stupid person, you see what happens. A lot of the people —

Trump let loose a string of falsehoods.

Most people understand what happened. It was a rigged election.

The audience is pro-Trump audience, was cheering him on.

Are you ready? Are you ready? Can I talk?

Yeah, what’s your answer?

Can I? Do you mind?

I would like for you to answer the question.

OK. It’s very simple to answer.

That’s why I asked it.

It’s very simple. You’re a nasty person, I’ll tell you that.

And during, the CNN anchor hosting this, Kaitlan Collins, on CNN’s own air, it was a disaster.

It felt like a callback to the unlearned lessons of 2016.

Yeah. And in this case, CNN’s staff was up in arms.

Big shakeup in the cable news industry as CNN makes another change at the top.

Chris Licht is officially out at CNN after a chaotic run as chairman and CEO.

And Chris Licht didn’t survive it.

The chief executive’s departure comes as he faced criticism in recent weeks after the network hosted a town hall with Donald Trump and the network’s ratings started to drop.

But I want to say that the CNN leadership still, even after that, as they brought new leadership in, said, this is still the path we’re going to go on. Maybe that didn’t work out, but we’re still here. This is still what we have to do.

Right. And this idea is very much in the water of TV news, that this is the right overall direction.

Yeah. This is, by no means, isolated to CNN. This is throughout the traditional news business. These conversations are happening everywhere. But CNN was living it at that point.

And this, of course, is how we get to NBC deciding to hire Ronna McDaniel.

Right. Because they’re picking up — right where that conversation leaves off, they’re having the same conversation. But for NBC, you could argue this tension between journalistic values and audience. It’s even more pressing. Because even though MSNBC is a niche cable network, NBC News is part of an old-fashioned broadcast network. It’s on television stations throughout the country.

And in fact, those networks, they still have 6:30 newscasts. And believe it or not, millions of people still watch those every night. Maybe not as many as they used to, but there’s still some six or seven million people tuning in to nightly news. That’s important.

Right. We should say that kind of number is sometimes double or triple that of the cable news prime time shows that get all the attention.

On their best nights. So this is big business still. And that business is based on broad — it’s called broadcast for a reason. That’s based on broad audiences. So NBC had a business imperative, and they argue they had a journalistic imperative.

So given all of that, Jim, I think the big messy question here is, when it comes to NBC, did they make a tactical error around hiring the wrong Republican which blew up? Or did they make an even larger error in thinking that the way you handle Trump and his supporters is to work this hard to reach them, when they might not even be reachable?

The best way to answer that question is to tell you what they’re saying right now, NBC management. What the management saying is, yes, this was a tactical error. This was clearly the wrong Republican. We get it.

But they’re saying, we are going to — and they said this in their statement, announcing that they were severing ties with McDaniel. They said, we’re going to redouble our efforts to represent a broad spectrum of the American votership. And that’s what they meant was that we’re going to still try to reach these Trump voters with people who can relate to them and they can relate to.

But the question is, how do you even do that when so many of his supporters believe a lie? How is NBC, how is CNN, how are any of these TV networks, if they have decided that this is their mission, how are they supposed to speak to people who believe something fundamentally untrue as a core part of their political identity?

That’s the catch-22. How do you get that Trump movement person who’s also an insider, when the litmus test to be an insider in the Trump movement is to believe in the denialism or at least say you do? So that’s a real journalistic problem. And the thing that we haven’t really touched here is, what are these networks doing day in and day out?

They’re not producing reported pieces, which I think it’s a little easier. You just report the news. You go out into the world. You talk to people, and then you present it to the world as a nuanced portrait of the country. This thing is true. This thing is false. Again, in many cases, pretty straightforward. But their bread and butter is talking heads. It’s live. It’s not edited. It’s not that much reported.

So their whole business model especially, again, on cable, which has 24 hours to fill, is talking heads. And if you want the perspective from the Trump movement, journalistically, especially when it comes to denialism, but when it comes to some other major subjects in American life, you’re walking into a place where they’re going to say things that aren’t true, that don’t pass your journalistic standards, the most basic standards of journalism.

Right. So you’re saying if TV sticks with this model, the kind of low cost, lots of talk approach to news, then they are going to have to solve the riddle of who to bring on, who represents Trump’s America if they want that audience. And now they’ve got this red line that they’ve established, that that person can’t be someone who denies the 2020 election reality. But like you just said, that’s the litmus test for being in Trump’s orbit.

So this doesn’t really look like a conundrum. This looks like a bit of a crisis for TV news because it may end up meaning that they can’t hire that person that they need for this model, which means that perhaps a network like NBC does need to wave goodbye to a big segment of these viewers and these eyeballs who support Trump.

I mean, on the one hand, they are not ready to do that, and they would never concede that that’s something they’re ready to do. The problem is barring some kind of change in their news model, there’s no solution to this.

But why bar changes to their news model, I guess, is the question. Because over the years, it’s gotten more and more expensive to produce news, the news that I’m talking about, like recorded packages and what we refer to as reporting. Just go out and report the news.

Don’t gab about it. Just what’s going on, what’s true, what’s false. That’s actually very expensive in television. And they don’t have the kind of money they used to have. So the talking heads is their way to do programming at a level where they can afford it.

They do some packages. “60 Minutes” still does incredible work. NBC does packages, but the lion’s share of what they do is what we’re talking about. And that’s not going to change because the economics aren’t there.

So then a final option, of course, to borrow something Chris Licht said, is that a network like NBC perhaps doesn’t put a jersey on, but accepts the reality that a lot of the world sees them wearing a jersey.

Yeah. I mean, nobody wants to be seen as wearing a jersey in our business. No one wants to be wearing a jersey on our business. But maybe what they really have to accept is that we’re just sticking to the true facts, and that may look like we’re wearing a jersey, but we’re not. And that may, at times, look like it’s lining up more with the Democrats, but we’re not.

If Trump is lying about a stolen election, that’s not siding against him. That’s siding for the truth, and that’s what we’re doing. Easier said than done. And I don’t think any of these concepts are new.

I think there have been attempts to do that, but it’s the world they’re in. And it’s the only option they really have. We’re going to tell you the truth, even if it means that we’re going to lose a big part of the country.

Well, Jim, thank you very much.

Thank you, Michael.

Here’s what else you need to know today.

[PROTESTERS CHANTING]

Over the weekend, thousands of protesters took to the streets of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem in some of the largest domestic demonstrations against the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu since Israel invaded Gaza in the fall.

[NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

Some of the protesters called on Netanyahu to reach a cease fire deal that would free the hostages taken by Hamas on October 7. Others called for early elections that would remove Netanyahu from office.

During a news conference on Sunday, Netanyahu rejected calls for early elections, saying they would paralyze his government at a crucial moment in the war.

Today’s episode was produced by Rob Szypko, Rikki Novetsky, and Alex Stern, with help from Stella Tan.

It was edited by Brendan Klinkenberg with help from Rachel Quester and Paige Cowett. Contains original music by Marion Lozano, Dan Powell, and Rowan Niemisto and was engineered by Chris Wood. Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk of Wonderly.

That’s it for “The Daily.” I’m Michael Barbaro. See you tomorrow.

• April 2, 2024   •   29:32 Kids Are Missing School at an Alarming Rate
• April 1, 2024   •   36:14 Ronna McDaniel, TV News and the Trump Problem
• March 29, 2024   •   48:42 Hamas Took Her, and Still Has Her Husband
• March 28, 2024   •   33:40 The Newest Tech Start-Up Billionaire? Donald Trump.
• March 27, 2024   •   28:06 Democrats’ Plan to Save the Republican House Speaker
• March 26, 2024   •   29:13 The United States vs. the iPhone
• March 25, 2024   •   25:59 A Terrorist Attack in Russia
• March 24, 2024   •   21:39 The Sunday Read: ‘My Goldendoodle Spent a Week at Some Luxury Dog ‘Hotels.’ I Tagged Along.’
• March 22, 2024   •   35:30 Chuck Schumer on His Campaign to Oust Israel’s Leader
• March 21, 2024   •   27:18 The Caitlin Clark Phenomenon
• March 20, 2024   •   25:58 The Bombshell Case That Will Transform the Housing Market
• March 19, 2024   •   27:29 Trump’s Plan to Take Away Biden’s Biggest Advantage

Hosted by Michael Barbaro

Featuring Jim Rutenberg

Produced by Rob Szypko ,  Rikki Novetsky and Alex Stern

With Stella Tan

Edited by Brendan Klinkenberg ,  Rachel Quester and Paige Cowett

Original music by Marion Lozano ,  Dan Powell and Rowan Niemisto

Engineered by Chris Wood

Listen and follow The Daily Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music

Ronna McDaniel’s time at NBC was short. The former Republican National Committee chairwoman was hired as an on-air political commentator but released just days later after an on-air revolt by the network’s leading stars.

Jim Rutenberg, a writer at large for The Times, discusses the saga and what it might reveal about the state of television news heading into the 2024 presidential race.

On today’s episode

Jim Rutenberg , a writer at large for The New York Times.

Background reading

Ms. McDaniel’s appointment had been immediately criticized by reporters at the network and by viewers on social media.

The former Republican Party leader tried to downplay her role in efforts to overturn the 2020 election. A review of the record shows she was involved in some key episodes .

There are a lot of ways to listen to The Daily. Here’s how.

We aim to make transcripts available the next workday after an episode’s publication. You can find them at the top of the page.

The Daily is made by Rachel Quester, Lynsea Garrison, Clare Toeniskoetter, Paige Cowett, Michael Simon Johnson, Brad Fisher, Chris Wood, Jessica Cheung, Stella Tan, Alexandra Leigh Young, Lisa Chow, Eric Krupke, Marc Georges, Luke Vander Ploeg, M.J. Davis Lin, Dan Powell, Sydney Harper, Mike Benoist, Liz O. Baylen, Asthaa Chaturvedi, Rachelle Bonja, Diana Nguyen, Marion Lozano, Corey Schreppel, Rob Szypko, Elisheba Ittoop, Mooj Zadie, Patricia Willens, Rowan Niemisto, Jody Becker, Rikki Novetsky, John Ketchum, Nina Feldman, Will Reid, Carlos Prieto, Ben Calhoun, Susan Lee, Lexie Diao, Mary Wilson, Alex Stern, Dan Farrell, Sophia Lanman, Shannon Lin, Diane Wong, Devon Taylor, Alyssa Moxley, Summer Thomad, Olivia Natt, Daniel Ramirez and Brendan Klinkenberg.

Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk of Wonderly. Special thanks to Sam Dolnick, Paula Szuchman, Lisa Tobin, Larissa Anderson, Julia Simon, Sofia Milan, Mahima Chablani, Elizabeth Davis-Moorer, Jeffrey Miranda, Renan Borelli, Maddy Masiello, Isabella Anderson and Nina Lassam.

Jim Rutenberg is a writer at large for The Times and The New York Times Magazine and writes most often about media and politics. More about Jim Rutenberg

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Washington Commanders Sign QB Jeff Driskel; Backup Competition?

Jeff Driskel continues his NFL journey by signing with the Washington Commanders.

• Author: Jeremy Brener

In this story:

The Washington Commanders are adding another arm to their quarterback room.

The team announced on Monday that it is signing Jeff Driskel to the roster, likely as a third-string quarterback under Marcus Mariota and whomever they take in the NFL Draft.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Jeff Driskell (12) throws a pass in the fourth quarter of the NFL Week

Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY

Driskel, who turns 31 later this month, is the true embodiment of a journeyman in the NFL. The Commanders are Driskel's eighth team in his nine-year career, and he's been able to learn many different systems.

Driskel has a direct connection with assistant quarterbacks coach David Blough. The two were teammates back in 2019 with the Detroit Lions and reunited in the quarterback room for the Arizona Cardinals last summer. Both Blough and Driskel were cut by the Cardinals before the 53-man rosters were revealed.

Driskel spent most of last season on the Cardinals practice squad, but the Cleveland Browns signed him in late December as insurance for the team's injuries in the quarterback room. The Browns elected to start him for the team's Week 18 contest after they already qualified for a Wild Card spot in the AFC playoffs.

There's a chance Driskel could have a similar role with the Commanders this season either as a third quarterback on the 53-man roster or the first guy on the practice squad that can be called up or signed if there are injuries.

Latest Commanders News

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JuJu Watkins has powered USC into Elite Eight. Meet the 'Yoda' who's helped her dominate.

PORTLAND, Ore. — On their way to the gym Friday for practice, the USC Trojans , the No. 1 seed in the Portland 3 Regional , the Pac-12 tournament champs, the team playing for its first Final Four since 1986, issued a command to the best freshman in the country. 

Get in the back, rookie. 

"Man, I’m sick of this seniority stuff," JuJu Watkins deadpanned to reporters later. "We couldn’t put Kenzie in the back, her knees are bad." 

Watkins rolled her eyes dramatically, as the veterans next to her, McKenzie Forbes and Rayah Marshall, cackled in response. 

It was some good, old-fashioned ribbing between Forbes, the Trojans’ most veteran player, and Watkins, their best. 

FOLLOW THE MADNESS: NCAA basketball bracket, scores, schedules, teams and more.

Those old knees come with something else, though: Wisdom. Experience. And for Forbes, the sixth-year, 23-year-old graduate guard who has learned you can’t take one second for granted, joy. 

"To me your college basketball years are the best of your life," Forbes told USA TODAY Sports. "The resources, the camaraderie. The gap year was the first year in my life I didn’t have teammates. It was so weird! I didn’t like it. It’s a really unique bond − only the people in the locker room know what you go through every day, know the inside jokes. I’m truly just having a lot of fun." 

That much is evident. On Saturday in USC’s 74-70 Sweet 16 win over Baylor , Forbes’ stat line looked like this: 14 points, two assists, one huge block, numerous play call suggestions to both the staff and her teammates, too many grins to count. 

There's no one having a better time this month. And there’s no one in college hoops who’s had a journey quite like Forbes, who grew up outside of Sacramento in Folsom, California. To recap: she started her college career at Cal-Berkeley, playing for Lindsay Gottlieb in 2018-19. After her freshman year, a season in which Forbes earned All-Pac-12 honorable mention freshman honors and the Bears went to the NCAA Tournament, Gottlieb left for the NBA. Forbes decided to transfer. She felt Harvard, where her older brother Mason already played, was the best option. Harvard was happy to have her, but because she’d missed the Harvard-specific transfer deadline, she’d have to wait a year to apply. 

"Everyone thought I was psycho, and rightfully so," Forbes said. "They kept telling me, ‘You don’t even know if you’re going to get in!’"

Oh, also, she’d need to enroll at a junior college to stay eligible, and get her associate’s degree in just one year. So Forbes signed up for six classes a semester and pulled straight-As while rehabbing injuries and training. She took up coaching, too, helping run a middle school AAU team, an experience that continues to pay dividends (more on that in a second). 

Then COVID hit. Harvard canceled the 2020-21 season, forcing Forbes out of the gym again. Worse, she spent the season watching former AAU teammates like former Stanford All-American Haley Jones compete in the NCAA bubble tournament and win a national title. 

"It was heartbreaking," Forbes admitted. "I wasn’t able to work out like I wanted to, I’m watching all my friends play in the COVID NCAA Tournament. I got a taste of the tournament (at Cal) and then I took two years off. Coaching definitely helped me. I love the game in a different way now, I see it in a different way. It was good for my IQ, and it helped keep me sane." 

Finally, in 2021-22, she was back, starting in 23 games for Harvard, averaging 14.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.1 steals per game, earning second team All-Ivy League honors. She was similarly steady the next year, and earned the title of team captain. 

By spring 2023, she had an Ivy degree in sociology and at least one year of eligibility left. And Gottlieb, herself an Ivy graduate, was back in the college game, having taken over at USC in May 2021. It felt like a natural fit. 

USC had arguably the best offseason in women’s hoops, adding three Ivy League transfers (Forbes, plus guard Kayla Padilla from Penn and forward Kaitlyn Davis from Columbia) and Watkins, a generational talent who has the prettiest pull-up in all of college hoops. 

Gottlieb has praised Forbes’ basketball IQ multiple times this season . Forbes’ ability to see the floor — as both a point guard and former youth coach — helps Gottlieb navigate which plays should be called and when. Forbes will talk to Watkins, asking if she wants the ball here or there. Watkins will tell Forbes she likes this play, but not in that direction. Forbes will encourage Watkins when she thinks Watkins can take over, and tell her to reel it in when Watkins needs to take a deep breath. Watkins might take almost 23 shots per game, but it’s because Forbes knows she needs to.  

Saturday after she scored 30, Watkins called Forbes “Yoda” for all Forbes has taught the first-year star.

"I think we have a special relationship, that rookie-vet type vibe," Watkins said. "She’s always encouraging me and really speaking to me in times I need it during the game. She’s just a great leader. And I’m glad to have that type of leadership my first year." 

Forbes isn't afraid of the big moment either, giving the Trojans two excellent options when the shot clock is winding down and they need a bucket. She’s savvy enough to create for others, or herself. 

A few examples: Late in the third, with USC trailing 50-49, Forbes’ hockey assist to Watkins set up Marshall for a transition layup. On the next possession, as USC desperately tried to keep Baylor at bay, Forbes scored on a floater in the lane and drew the foul. Minutes later, Forbes pulled up for a transition 3, nailed it and then blew a kiss to the Trojans fans going wild behind USC’s bench.

"I’m having the best time of my life," Forbes said after the game. "This is by far the most fun season of basketball I’ve ever had, and I think it has everything to do with my teammates and the staff." 

She smiled, and the grin spread across her face again. 

"And, obviously, winning is really fun, too." 

Your guide for what to see, shop and journey for in April

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Tyler, the Creator teams up with Louis Vuitton and Pharrell Williams

Louis Vuitton has teamed again with rapper, producer and Hawthorne native Tyler, the Creator — this time on a spring men’s capsule collection, the first capsule collaboration from men’s creative director Pharrell Williams. This whimsical range of goods includes a chess box, golf bag, sneakers, clothing, hats and other accessories along with classic Louis Vuitton monogram pieces with a twist. (Especially look for the tiny details and touches that add a bit of fun to many of the pieces.) To celebrate the collection drop last month, Tylor, the Creator was on hand for a party at the Louis Vuitton Men’s store on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. Guests included Donald Glover, Barry Keoghan, Steven Yeun and Jaden Smith. The only dedicated Louis Vuitton space for this collection, the Beverly Hills Men’s store is decked out with a 15-foot white Airedale Terrier, a mid-air propeller plane and a Louis Vuitton trunk turned into a soapbox derby car, along with colorful flowers and faux greenery. 420 N. Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, the full collection is available at louisvuitton.com .

Maison Margiela celebrates the Tabi at South Coast Plaza

French brand Maison Margiela is celebrating its split-toe Tabi shoe during an AI-powered pop-up display in the Jewel Court of South Coast Plaza through April 15. The exhibition will take you from the footwear’s start in 1988 through more current takes from the brand’s creative director, John Galliano. (According to the brand, the Tabi was inspired by the split-toed socks worn by workmen in Japan since the 17th century.) Also on display are 20 pairs of the shoe style, including the original spring and summer 1989 flesh-colored suede boot, along with other Tabi pieces such as opera gloves and a T-shirt from summer 1991 with red footprints. As part of the exhibition, there are two digital stations, in partnership with generative AI firm Hypno, that give visitors a chance to take selfies and create their own digital versions of Maison Margiela’s definitive footwear style. And if your feet can’t have enough, the Maison Margiela store at the shopping center has an expanded selection of the Tabi available for purchase. 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, maisonmargiela.com , southcoastplaza.com

Willy Chavarria brings his spring collection to Maxfield

New York designer Willy Chavarria is all about his Golden State ties. “I’m rooted in California,” he told Image last year. “If I get too far from the sun of that state, I begin to struggle. I’m like a vegetable growing from soil. I’ll never be without it.” Now, you’re in luck. Wares from the California native and 2023 CFDA American Menswear Designer of the Year’s namesake label have arrived at West Hollywood boutique Maxfield. In the mix, you’ll find his New Life spring and summer collection along with an exclusive Buffalo tee that features the Maxfield logo with the designer’s logo. Also, through April 15, you can check out the festive window display at the front of the store featuring Chavarria’s designs on mannequins and the big red flowers (a nod to his spring and summer 2024 runway). 8825 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, willychavarria.com , maxfieldla.com

Henrik Vibskov pop-up arrives at CultureEdit

Danish designer, artist and musician Henrik Vibskov’s first Los Angeles pop-up has landed at Tom of Finland legacy store CultureEdit in Hollywood. A boxing-themed display promoting Vibskov’s spring and summer collection, the Unboxing Waltz Tutorial, features a bright orange faux boxing ring at center, with racks and tables of clothes, shoes, fragrances, accessories and more. The pop-up is through April 14. 6757 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, henrikvibskovboutique.com , cultureedit.com

Mate the Label comes to Platform

Los Angeles-based brand Mate the Label is having a seasonal residency at Platform in Culver City through May 31. A women-founded brand, Mate is known for its commitment to non-toxic dyes and the use of organic fabrics for its wares. The label sells women’s activewear, jumpsuits, jackets, bras and underwear, loungewear and sleepwear as well as sweatshirts, sweatpants and tees for men and children. 8840 Washington Blvd., Suite 108, Culver City, matethelabel.com

‘Made on Market Street’ opens in Beverly Hills

L.A. is continuing its fascination with beloved artist and former Angeleno Jean-Michel Basquiat. After the run of the exhibition “Jean-Michel Basquiat: King Pleasure,” which closed in January, comes another, “Made on Market Street.” Open at Gagosian in Beverly Hills, “Made on Market Street” is said to be the first exhibition of Basquiat’s work created while the artist was living in Los Angeles between 1982 and 1984. (This was back when he dated Madonna.) The exhibition, which was curated by Fred Hoffman with Larry Gagosian, features about 30 works from Basquiat that have rarely been on loan, and it also reunites groups of his work that haven’t been displayed together since their inception. (The Gagosian gallery presented three L.A. exhibitions with Basquiat during his lifetime.) The show is open through June 1. 456 N. Camden Drive, Beverly Hills, gagosian.com

Palm Angels opens new store at South Coast Plaza

Italian brand Palm Angels has expanded its reach in the U.S. by opening a new store at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa. (There are Palm Angels stores in Las Vegas, Miami and New York.) The new SoCal store features the spring and summer collection as well as an exclusive capsule collection in a blend of white ceramic, bleached cedar wood and glossy finishes. Don’t forget to look for the palm-themed wallpaper in the dressing rooms. Also, as part of its spring and summer collection, Palm Angels is selling T-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, socks and sweatpants for kids (ranges from $65 to $365) featuring the artwork of Keith Haring. 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, palmangels.com

MSCHF’s new exhibition at Perrotin

If you were on Instagram or TikTok last year, you likely came across MSCHF’s Big Red Boots, which were worn by celebrities, influencers and everyday people. Now you can experience them and more (in real life) during the Brooklyn art collective’s solo exhibition, “Art2,” at Perrotin’s new L.A. gallery space starting April 6. MSCHF (short for “miscellaneous mischief” and pronounced “mischief”) had its first solo exhibition at Perrotin in New York in 2022. Its follow-up West Coast show offers a showcase themed around a second act, with new works including a sophomore iteration of its Drop #59, Museum of Forgeries, which involved Andy Warhol’s “Fairies” (this time, its all about Pablo Picasso’s “Le Poisson,” with the carved wooden sculpture now a school of fish — and yes, there’s a catch); “Public Universal Car, which keys into a 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser and Drop #84 Key4All; and “Bootleg,” a humorous take on the Big Red Boots fitted with partial hairy legs. “Art2” is on view through June 1. 5036 W. Pico Blvd., perrotin.com

‘Ed Ruscha / Now Then’ comes to LACMA

Since the late 1950s, artist Ed Ruscha has explored the ins and outs of Los Angeles in his work after moving here from Oklahoma City to study commercial art. Seven decades later, “Ed Ruscha / Now Then,” which is billed as “his first comprehensive, cross-media retrospective in 20 years,” examines the artist‘s methods as well as some of the familiar subjects he painted. In the mix at Los Angeles County Museum of Art are his early works that he created as he traveled through Europe along with his Venice Biennale installations, “Chocolate Room” (1970) and “Course of Empire” (2005). Also, you can check out Ruscha’s photos of Los Angeles that date back to 1965. The exhibition is open through Oct. 6. 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, lacma.org

Jil Sander opens Beverly Hills boutique

Milan-based Jil Sander recently opened a new store — its fourth in North America — in Beverly Hills on South Santa Monica Boulevard featuring ready-to-wear, accessories, handbags and shoes in the brand’s minimalist luxe aesthetic. In the sartorial mix, you’ll find the complete women’s and men’s collections along with signature pieces such as the versatile Cannolo bag, which comes in multiple sizes and is handcrafted in Italy. 9970 S. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills, jilsander.com

Charles Jeffrey Loverboy at Dover Street Market Paris

Japanese designer Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garçons and Dover Street Market invited Scottish designer Charles Jeffrey of Charles Jeffrey Loverboy to create pieces for the new Dover Street Market store opening in Paris this month. (Jeffrey also made pieces for the renewal opening for Trading Museum Comme des Garçons last year.) The assignment was to revisit the Loverboy archive for suits and tailored jackets and reimagine them. Therefore, you’ll discover suits with appliqué dot patches and frayed edges as well as dog-tag necklaces and sophisticated wire broaches on mini Scottish kilt pins. This collection will be available to buy in-store at Dover Street Market Paris (look for the “Rei Kawakubo Curates” display featuring hand-picked designers and items from Kawakubo) and Trading Museum Comme des Garçons in Tokyo. If you’re not off to France or Japan anytime soon, you can shop Loverboy’s festive spring and summer collection at charlesjeffreyloverboy.com .

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