Steve Schmidt has been reminded what it's like to be a Republican. The former GOP operative, who spent most of his time as an MSNBC analyst bashing the Republican Party, recently quit his own “bulls***” podcast after the show’s co-host grilled him on supporting a third party candidate.
On Sunday, co-host Adam Levine posted the suddenly-final episode of Words Matter. Before the show abruptly ends with Schmidt storming out of the studio, Schmidt was “told that listeners were castigating him for joining an effort that could defeat the 2020 Democratic nominee and help re-elect President Trump,” according to the Daily Beast.
Levine (a former producer for Chris Matthews on MSNBC) ripped into third party candidate Howard Schultz, the former CEO of Starbucks, for attacking a 70 percent tax rate as “ridiculous.” Schmidt is now working for a 501C4 to support Schultz.
This tense exchange between the two co-hosts followed:
ADAM LEVINE: Will Derek Jeter or another athlete hit another home run because their going to be taxed — what’s the economic behavior that he thinks is anti-growth? Other than his own pocket?
STEVE SCHMIDT: Adam, this is bullshit!
[Loud noises.]
SCHMIDT: I’m not doing this.
LEVINE: Steve, you gotta answer the questions.
SCHMIDT: I’m not. I’m not. I’m not.
LEVINE: You gotta, Steve.
[Interview ends]
Levine snidely mocked his co-host: “Unfortunately, the interview ended there. We started Words Matter because we wanted to create a place where truth, facts and objective reality were still practiced in public discourse. Steve chose a different path. He’s moving on and so are we.”
The networks have raged against Schultz for daring to threaten the Democrats winning in 2020. CBS on January 29 hyped a heckler who called the businessman an “a**hole.” The same network was fine with Schultz exploring a bid as a Democrat. Liberal late night host Stephen Colbert lashed out at Schutlz as a “beige envelope.”
A partial transcript is below. Click "expand" to read more.
Words Matter podcast
Posted online 2/10/19ADAM LEVINE (Co-host and producer of Words matter): Steve, you said you he wants to have an adult conversation. Last week, he called a 70 percent tax on incomes over $10 million “ridiculous,” from a United States Congresswoman who happened to be elected to something. Now, I know you are a guy of words, Steve. And “ridiculous” means deserving or inviting derision or mockery, absurd. Synonyms: comical, hilarious. We could go on. Farcical. Is that what — does he really mean that at tax on incomes over ten million dollars at 70 percent, which is widely popular is ridiculous. Is that an adult conversation?
STEVE SCHMIDT (Co-host of Words Matter): Yeah, I think he thinks it’s ridiculous and it’s confiscatory and it’s anti-growth. That would be his point.
LEVINE: Will Derek Jeter or another athlete hit another home run because their going to be taxed — what’s the economic behavior that he thinks is anti-growth? Other than his own pocket?
SCHMIDT: Adam, this is bullshit.
[Slams down headphone.]
SCHMIDT: I’m not doing this.
LEVINE: Steve, you gotta answer the questions.
SCHMIDT: I’m not. I’m not. I’m not.
LEVINE: You gotta, Steve.
[Interview ends]
LEVINE: Unfortunately, the interview ended there. We started Words Matter because we wanted to create a place where truth, facts and objective reality were still practiced in public discourse. Steve chose a different path. He’s moving on and so are we.
