Ed Helms

We all have associations with the 60s. We have associations with the 70s and the 80s and so on. And so we bring those associations to these stories that happen in these time periods. But also, like, they're meaningful, like the things that are happening culturally are are really affecting even what we think of as a snafu, right? Yes, yes. It helps us.

We all have associations with the 60s. We have associations with the 70s and the 80s and so on. And so we bring those associations to these stories that happen in these time periods. But also, like, they're meaningful, like the things that are happening culturally are are really affecting even what we think of as a snafu, right? Yes, yes. It helps us.

So it's hard to pick, but there are a few that jump to mind. One I love because it has a little bit of a Hollywood razzmatazz. There was a CIA operation called Project Azorian. And basically, a Soviet sub sank in the Pacific Ocean. The Soviets didn't know where it was, but we did. We knew exactly where it was. And not only that, we wanted it. for serious intel, right?

So it's hard to pick, but there are a few that jump to mind. One I love because it has a little bit of a Hollywood razzmatazz. There was a CIA operation called Project Azorian. And basically, a Soviet sub sank in the Pacific Ocean. The Soviets didn't know where it was, but we did. We knew exactly where it was. And not only that, we wanted it. for serious intel, right?

It would have lots of technology in it. It's a nuclear sub. It would have all this Soviet technology that we were trying to decipher and code breaking manuals and all kinds of stuff. So we wanted this sub, but it's like two miles deep in the middle of the North Pacific. You can't just like go and get that without causing a huge hubbub.

It would have lots of technology in it. It's a nuclear sub. It would have all this Soviet technology that we were trying to decipher and code breaking manuals and all kinds of stuff. So we wanted this sub, but it's like two miles deep in the middle of the North Pacific. You can't just like go and get that without causing a huge hubbub.

So the CIA approaches Howard Hughes, the reclusive billionaire, Hollywood producer and weird businessman who's like literally living in a penthouse of a Las Vegas casino at this point. And they say, hey, Howard, will you pretend like you're – going to get into deep sea mineral mining and that you're going to build this ship for your mining operations.

So the CIA approaches Howard Hughes, the reclusive billionaire, Hollywood producer and weird businessman who's like literally living in a penthouse of a Las Vegas casino at this point. And they say, hey, Howard, will you pretend like you're – going to get into deep sea mineral mining and that you're going to build this ship for your mining operations.

But actually, it's our plan to build a ship to lower a claw down into the ocean to grab this nuclear sub. But the cover story is that you are doing deep sea mining. And Howard Hughes, of course, who's insane, is like, yeah, sure, that sounds awesome. I love to lie about deep sea mining. Yeah. Exactly. So they do this. They build this crazy ship with a giant claw, just like the arcade claw games.

But actually, it's our plan to build a ship to lower a claw down into the ocean to grab this nuclear sub. But the cover story is that you are doing deep sea mining. And Howard Hughes, of course, who's insane, is like, yeah, sure, that sounds awesome. I love to lie about deep sea mining. Yeah. Exactly. So they do this. They build this crazy ship with a giant claw, just like the arcade claw games.

And they head out into the middle of the Pacific. They lower the claw. It's two miles deep. And they get the sub. But, of course, it takes forever. It takes like two days just to winch it back up. And then once they get to the top – It breaks – it's just a wild, hilarious, and insane story. And I just – I love how much hubris is baked into it. But then also, like, it's weirdly successful.

And they head out into the middle of the Pacific. They lower the claw. It's two miles deep. And they get the sub. But, of course, it takes forever. It takes like two days just to winch it back up. And then once they get to the top – It breaks – it's just a wild, hilarious, and insane story. And I just – I love how much hubris is baked into it. But then also, like, it's weirdly successful.

It's a funny thing to include as a snafu because a lot of people, a lot of CIA people – We're saying, I know that we didn't get all the intel we wanted, but we still pulled off this insane thing. So it's still like we want to call it a success. But at the end of the day, it hardly justified the hundreds of millions of dollars it cost to do what they did.

It's a funny thing to include as a snafu because a lot of people, a lot of CIA people – We're saying, I know that we didn't get all the intel we wanted, but we still pulled off this insane thing. So it's still like we want to call it a success. But at the end of the day, it hardly justified the hundreds of millions of dollars it cost to do what they did.

So I think it rests firmly in the snafu category. But it's just an awesome and wild, wild story. What's one of your favorites from the book?

So I think it rests firmly in the snafu category. But it's just an awesome and wild, wild story. What's one of your favorites from the book?

And he's what, 22, I think.

And he's what, 22, I think.

Well, Jimmy was buds with the Allman Brothers, which is a great detail. Jimmy's from, what, Americus, Georgia, and the Allman Brothers are from Macon, Georgia. It's just, it's Georgia. We all love peanuts. I'm from Atlanta. It's like we just, we all stick together. Georgia folks, you know, we have each other's back. How about one more from you, Ed?

Well, Jimmy was buds with the Allman Brothers, which is a great detail. Jimmy's from, what, Americus, Georgia, and the Allman Brothers are from Macon, Georgia. It's just, it's Georgia. We all love peanuts. I'm from Atlanta. It's like we just, we all stick together. Georgia folks, you know, we have each other's back. How about one more from you, Ed?