Matt Bai

a sort of tabloid press scrum like that before, because suddenly it wasn't just the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times and the Washington Post on the campaign trail.

It was at that time of what was TMZ, right?

It was People Magazine and it was the brand new Current Affair and all these kinds of things.

And so he withdraws from the race after a week and he gives a speech that I think, particularly given the moment we're at now, is the most important forgotten speech in American political history.

And I've come back very often in my writing over the years since I did that book to this phrase of the leaders, I tremble for my country when I think we may get the leaders we deserve, because I do think in a sense, as a country, that's what's happened.

We have created a political process

that rewards shamelessness and dishonesty and exhibitionism and entertainment.

And lo and behold, we have gotten a president, now twice, who is shameless and exhibitionist and attention-seeking and an entertainer at heart.

And those two things are not coincidental.

No, that's one of the best questions you can.

I mean, I've heard it's an excellent that's an excellent question.

Very well put.

Yes.

Not all scandal coverage, not all tabloids coverage is worthless.

Right.

It's not something we just don't care about anything you do in private.

But, you know, I do not agree with with those who would say, you know, well.

If a president's going to have an affair, you know, we should know about it.

You have to be accountable for that, right?

There are a lot of journalists, most journalists who covered Gary Hart, if they're still around today, will tell you, you know, he kind of got what he deserved.