Brett Cooper
Appearances
20/20
True Crime Vault: From Classroom to Captive
Kind of funny, kind of a cut up, pretty outgoing guy.
20/20
True Crime Vault: From Classroom to Captive
He and Jill, his wife, they were high school sweethearts and married the year they graduated high school.
20/20
True Crime Vault: From Classroom to Captive
Apparently he told a lot of tales about his fictional background. He's a CIA operative, he's an FBI agent, he's a millionaire.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I looked around at the people who I considered mentors who were older than me in the industry, and I did not like the lives that they were leading.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Their own personal lives. I mean, it was like a good friend of mine was on probably one of the most famous TV shows of the last 20 years. It was a lead role. Had to live out of state for months at a time. Husband stayed home and raised the kids, barely saw them. Kids went off to boarding school. She was not engaged.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
You know, friends of mine who were in their 30s who I would be on TV shows with, they would, you know, we'd work together, they'd go on and they'd, you know, be a series regular on a Netflix show and they'd be 30-something living in a townhome with four other adults because they couldn't afford their own home.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
People who didn't see their kids. And the thing is, even at a young age, I did not like the fact that every part of my being was just... a tool for you to use. Like, you have an audition at 2 p.m. today, you have to be there at this time, turn your entire life upside down. If you book it, you're flying to Vancouver tomorrow for four months.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And it was hard as a kid, too, because you were, I loved it so much, but you would have friends book a job and it would be one of your best friends and they'd literally move to Vancouver for however many months or years because they were shooting a show. or I had to go to Arizona or Texas, wherever people were, because so few things actually film in LA these days, and go abroad.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And I thought about what I really wanted in life, and I wanted to be a mom. I wanted to get married. I wanted to have a family. And I really wanted, and this probably is, you know, now in knowing what you know about my family and talking about this, where I had a lack of control, I don't think I was the right person
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
It was an accident. I don't think you really got along with my brothers very well. And it was just like, I don't want this child.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
to just hand that over, where it's like, you tell me where to be at any point, like it could just be for an audition in Santa Monica at 5 p.m. that's really annoying to get to, or it's I'm moving abroad for however many months. I'm gonna be away from my whole community, family, whatever it is, but also you tell me, you know, dye your hair. You're not skinny enough. You're not fat enough.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
We need to, you know, you're just a shell for somebody, which is a really beautiful part of acting. And it's one of the reasons why I fell in love with it. But it got to a point where it, when it, when I started thinking about it instead of a hobby and an escape, and I thought about it as a career, I was like, I don't, I don't think this works for me. And I didn't like the fact
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I didn't have control over the projects that I did, because I was in no position. I was a working actor, but I was in no position to pick and choose my projects, obviously. I just did, I went where the work was. I didn't like that I hated the characters in almost every script I was sent. They were bad people. The stories that I was being put in to tell,
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I would go and audition for these roles and be like, what is like, what is society getting from these stories? They're so awful. Like all these characters, they're bad people. I'm putting like filth into the world. So that was really hard. I felt just like such a values disconnect. I just felt trapped. And so then I thought, okay, maybe I'll go work in production. I could change things.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I could go be a producer. I could go tell stories. Then I worked at, it was kind of like my dream job, honestly, at the time. worked at this production company that I massively respected the work that they were doing. It was very story first and character first. It was like big budget independent films. Like they weren't going through any huge studios.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And was working for them in 2020 because I had already kind of been thinking through all of this while I was in college that, I emancipated myself at 15. We've already gone through that. I was making my own money, paying for my life. Now it had become a job. I had a couple of years to think about that. I was working at this production company in 2020. George Floyd happened.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
My job changed from receiving scripts and passing them on to the production team on the basis of it being really good characters and good people that would leave an audience change and a story that was worth telling because the whole idea of this production company and what I was supposed to seek out was that at the end of the film, you were better in some way.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
It's not hitting you over the head with the Bible. It's not like, this is a feel good, whatever. It was just at the end of it, something's been sparked in you. And there's good people in it who are complex, who are broken, who you see heal.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Yeah. And it changed from that to we have way too many white stories. I need you to find me a Native American story right now. We don't have any trans stories. We're going to be attacked. Go find it. So it became identity first. I was like, oh, God. So I can't even... I'm an entry-level person. I can't even change it from here. So I felt very lost there, and so I did...
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I don't even remember. But it was probably something that was very straightforward. She doesn't mince words. She's not somebody who is... I guess, soft or like brings anything in.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Finished up my time at UCLA. Again, I'm very, you know, find the good in everything. Find, you know, the lesson that you're going to learn in this experience. What good thing can you take from it? The good thing that COVID gave me was that it removed me from all those environments. It took acting away. It took production. The whole industry basically shut down. UCLA shut down.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
My social life, sorority, everything went away. And I just dove into it. studying what I believed in and trying to build something for myself. So I did a business program at UC Berkeley's grad school for business, Haas School of Business, which is where you as an undergrad could go and basically get a a condensed MBA.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And so I did that, which I would have never had the time to do, but I was able to do it because it was remote. I did what every English major who's confused about her future would do, and I studied for the LSAT. I took the LSAT. I was like, I'll go to law school. And at that time, I was super engaged in politics. I was like, I'll go be a 2A lawyer. I'll go into constitutional law.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I'd been shooting for years with my brother. I felt like the world was under attack. I had no idea what was happening. My mom was a prepper. I'd become a prepper, and I was like, I'll go into 2A law. And then I was like, what the hell am I doing? Like, I shouldn't be a lawyer. I hate, like, I don't want to go read contracts for the rest of my life.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And I had talked with some constitutional liars, and they were like, there's too many liars right now because there's too many grad schools because there's a financial incentive for universities to create grad programs because the government gives subsidized, limitless loans for grad school. So that's why... grad programs for lesbian dance theory, that's a joke we all make, exists. Interesting.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Because you don't have to have the financial incentive to be able to make money after or have a job afterwards. You have limitless loans. So every university and their mother created a law school. And you can see in times of recession, lawyers spike. Because people can't get jobs, they just go back to grad school, they get a student loan. It's happening right now.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Yeah, it's just like this happened and she had always been, in her mind, she was like, I think she was more pro-life but kind of understood the pro-choice argument in terms of like government overreach and, you know, it is a woman's body. And then what was actually an issue that she had to decide and what was put in front of her and
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And so I had talked to some lawyers and a mentor of mine who worked at the Foundation for Economic Education. I kind of missed a chapter, but I'll go back. But I was writing for the Foundation of Economic Education. She knew that I was going to go to law school. Her name's Hannah Cox. People have probably seen her on Twitter. And she gave me an assignment.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And she said, I told her about this conversation that I'd had with these constitutional lawyers who were like, I don't think this isn't what it's cracked up to be. And I think that your skills are better used elsewhere. If you want to do advocacy, you can do everything that we're doing except signing the briefs.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Do you need to go put your life and career on hold when you're already engaged with, you know, in that year when everything shut down, when I had no friends, that I found community at PragerU. And I was like, I'm an actor. I can do things on camera. I can help produce things. You want me to make social media videos for you? I have nothing to lose at this point.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I'll go be an outward, you know, conservative. So I started making videos that way and made videos for Young Americans for Liberty and got hired there and was obviously an English major.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Mm-hmm. I reached out. They brought me into their office and had a whole tour. Yeah. Their head of PR now, her name is Sabrina, she was running PragerForce, which was their student program, which is still, I think, an incredible program.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
She knew that I was in LA and I had joined Prager Force to just try to like meet people and they would do monthly like Zoom calls for like all the lonely, you know, teenage conservatives around the country. And she was like, oh, you're in LA. You should come into the office. And I really like all of this.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I give a ton of credit to her because she brought me in and she said, I think that you could have a real voice. Like, could we, what can we offer you? Would you like to do videos for us? Can we give you resources? Like here, we can all, you know, love to be friends with you. Like she gave me a community.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And she really helped put me in the right direction and said, I think you could do something here. I had never even thought of it. I was like, commentary? Like, what do you mean? And so everything spiraled from there and started working at, you know, doing videos for Young Americans for Liberty and got a job there and got a fellowship.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I was a Hazlitt Fellow at the Foundation for Economic Education and was writing for them because I had a writing background through school. I'd gone to, you know, the TPUSA events, just became engaged purely out of a utilitarian you know, standpoint of I just, I needed community. I felt so lonely. I never thought like, I'm gonna go be a right-wing influencer.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
This is gonna be like, I'm going to go do commentary. I just wanted people. And I thought I had, you know, a unique skillset that it was kind of missing on the young, right? Like there were no younger voices. Will Witt at PragerU was the only one. And so she started making videos here and there and grew an Instagram page from zero to like 7,000.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
But yeah, I was still thinking I'll go to law school and I'll just go do constitutional law. Like that's how I'll make a difference. And Hannah Cox at FEE said, she gave me a writing assignment. She said, I want you to go tell me why there are so many lawyers. Like, okay. And then tell me the economic ramifications of that and how the government has screwed with the free market in that regard.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Great assignment. And I did that and I was like, holy shit, I can't go to law school.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Mm-mm. Well, not my friends, but I've heard from girls who were in my sorority at the same time who knew me, who like three years later were like, you probably don't remember me, but we were in Capitals. We were in the same pledge class. We were like, you know, pledge class after me. And I wish I had known you at school because it was so alienating. I mean, we couldn't find each other.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I think that completely, she had to reanalyze the issue from like a much more personal perspective. And I think she basically said to my dad, she was like, if you want this so badly, you go make the appointment. And he couldn't bring himself to do it. It was like, he couldn't even, it was just like such a, like a threat basically. Like, I don't want that.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Yeah, I don't really have. So I have a couple of friends from UCLA, but they weren't from my time there.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Yeah, but that's how it all kind of started. So I withdrew from law school the day of my orientation. I was like, it's not for me. It was after that writing assignment, after all those conversations, I was like, I'm not going to do this. I was living in Idaho with my mom. Because I had, she, after the divorce, and when COVID happened, she was like, this is the sign I need to get out.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
You know, you don't need me anymore. I had applied for law school at UCLA, at Pepperdine, Loyola Marymount. And then she had said that she wanted to go to Idaho. So I was like, I'll apply for University of Idaho. Why not? And they had a dual JD-MBA program, which I was really interested in. So rather than three years, it would be four years so I'd get an MBA and a JD.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
So I got into that and she bought this farm sight unseen in Idaho and said, I'm getting the hell out of California. I don't want to be, you know, carded for a vaccine. I don't want to wear a mask. So I left, my brother left. We, it was my brother Reed. He was doing really well at the time. And we all moved to Idaho and Reed and I got a little duplex.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And I quit Trader Joe's in LA and I came to Idaho and I was writing for fee and doing all these like conservative nonprofit stuff. I was working as a waitress at a steakhouse in Boise. Just such a fun job. People like crap on serving. I had a hell of a time serving. I loved that. And yeah, so I withdrew, I had this whole plan ahead of me.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I was like, I'll go to University of Idaho because I didn't want to be in California either. And my whole family's here now. And I withdrew and my mom looked at me and she said, you have to figure out what you're gonna do with your life. Like you can't just, are you just gonna live in Idaho and be, you know, a waitress? Like you need to come up with a plan.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And so I got a permanent role at Young Americans for Liberty being their marketing strategist. And I did social media for them. I did copywriting for their development team, which in the nonprofit sphere is sending out emails for development as fundraising. So brand campaigns for them. and I had like a big girl salary to the time I thought was like, I'm making a lot of money.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
It's like more than my, you know, minimum wage, Trader Joe's. And although Trader Joe's actually pays very well, we're a great company. Um, if you need a job, it's the best place to work. Oh, hands down.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Oh yeah. If everything goes to hell, we'll both be back there. I'll be in the box, stocking the milk again. That was my favorite job. And, um, Yeah, and so I kept doing that and then randomly got a DM from Daily Wire who said we were looking to start a show with the young person. We love your social media and what you're doing. And so I took some meetings with them.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
You have to, he just wanted her to go do it. She was like, I'm not. And that was, it was all like.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
They sent me some videos to react to just to like hear me on camera. And I told you this at dinner last night, but I haven't shared this publicly. My brother's most recent, well now it's Second most recent psychotic break happened the week that I was offered the job with Daily Wire. It's like December of 21.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I was really weighing a lot of things and I was petrified to take this job because as I've kind of, you know, set the scene for you, my mom and I were super intertwined. There was a lot of weight to carry. I felt like we were, things were good for the first time. Like she was happy. She bought this farm that she's always, she'd always wanted to have a farm forever.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
My dad never wanted her, first husband never wanted her to have a farm. And I was happy, you know, I was living with Reed. Reed was doing great. He was even talking about going back to school. And it just felt like things were humming. And I had a job where I felt like I was making a difference. And I thought, I'll just meet a nice guy in Idaho. And I'll live near my mom. And I'll buy a farm soon.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And I had horses at her property. And it was all normal. And I was like, I can't believe this. And she had a pretty hard conversation with it where she basically grabbed me by the neck. Because I was petrified to even take the call with Daily Wire. and send in a tape because I was like, I was just like, I was so out of the game.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I hadn't auditioned in so long because I hadn't been acting in a couple of years. And I felt like that was behind me. And it's such a testament, I think, to like risk-taking and betting on yourself is habitual. I don't think that's something that is ingrained in most people. It's certainly not in me. It's like a practice that I like every couple of years, I just did it a couple of months ago.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Yeah, but it also didn't surprise me because I knew my dad. My dad and I never had a great relationship. It was just kind of like, okay, yeah, I guess.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
You have to take a leap and shake something up and challenge yourself. If something isn't right, you just, you have to do it. And I was definitely at a stall in my life. I didn't, I just, you know, I was a waitress. I was withdrawing from law school. I was working this marketing job, but you know, it was remote. So I was working his way, whatever it was, but I was comfortable.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And with acting, the beautiful thing about it is that you get told no 90% of the time. From a really young age, I had learned how to get rejected. I didn't care. I was like, you know, 12 years old, I would go in and you bare your soul to somebody and you're performing, you're singing, whatever it is. And they go, okay, thank you.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And you walk out the door and you, 90% of the time, you never hear anything from them. So if you're somebody who likes like gratification and that kind of thing, to be an actor that's not some kind of celebrity, it's really hard. Like it does, that just doesn't work that way because most of the time they don't give a shit about you. Like they, you don't hear anything from anybody.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
They don't say, it was really great. We're going a different direction. You maybe hear that 1% of the time. You just go in and you, so that was like such a crucial part of my growing up and I hadn't done that in two years. So this felt like a huge risk. I was, you know, having to like sort of audition for this and send in a tape. They, because obviously they're gonna have a show with you.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
They want to see what are this girl's values beyond, you know, social media? What can she do in a longer format? Because I basically only done TikToks and that kind of thing. And I got up to the deadline and I was not going to send in a video. And I went over to house and I was like bitching and moaning about it and saying, I don't know what I'm going to do. I just want to stay here.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I'm going to be in Idaho. And she grabbed me by the neck and she said, I don't care. My mom rarely swears. She basically said, I don't give a fuck. If you decide not to take this job or do whatever, but if you stand in front of me and say, you're not even going to try. then I'm incredibly disappointed in you. And hearing her saying she was, I was like, okay.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Because that's like, she is the person I want to please her the most. We've been through everything together. I respect her so much. I was like, if she's saying that, and she was like, then you're not the person that I know that I raised you to be.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Who took every risk, who put yourself out there constantly, that went on stage and was an animal, that tried everything, that would go in, that has, you know, for the last, you know, it was eight years at that point, 10 years really.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Yeah, I was 18, so it was 10 years, a decade of auditioning and being on stage and, you know, being, you know, rejected and getting up and trying again, even if you never got a role and you're going to stand in front of me and say you're not even going to try. And I was like, you were right. So I went home, I recorded it, and I got the job.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And then I had to decide whether, and then she was like, if you don't want to take it, you don't want to take it. That's a once in a lifetime, like, they weren't going to come back and ask me in a year, like, you still want to do a show? They would have found somebody else, like, on social media to do a show with.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And the part that I had talked to you about last night is that I was trying to decide whether I wanted to uproot my life and do this and leave and start this whole new thing. And I could tell in my brother's eyes that something was not happening, like, not right. He was on his meds. He wasn't taking drugs. Boise is a very clean city. Idaho's very buttoned up.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
We lived in a very, like in the outskirts. He had no access to anything. And he just started to crack. The drugs just weren't working anymore. And you can always tell when he's kind of, when you hear, when he's hearing the voices.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Because when you're having a conversation with him, if you've had a conversation with anybody that has schizophrenia, they're talking to you, but they're also talking with the voices that they hear and they're telling them how to respond to them. So our conversations really slowed down. He started to get more unstable.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And it was like two days before I had to make my decision about whether I was going to leave and do this, take this job. And he asked me to come downstairs and I walked down to his apartment, which was under my house or our house. I had a little apartment upstairs. He had one downstairs. And he looked at me and he gave me this purple crystal, but I still have.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
He put it in my hand and he said, you need to go to Nashville. It's your destiny. I was like, what do you mean? And he was like, you have to promise me that you're going to go. You have to go. I was like, for this job, he was like, you must move. You must be there. And he was like, they're telling me that you have to go.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And in my mind, I was like, okay, your voices have told you like some crazy things. Like we have spent the last 10 years. Like, I don't even know. I don't want to know if I want to trust these voices. And he was like, I'm telling you, this is your destiny. You must go. I was like, okay, well, whatever. And I woke up the next morning and he was gone.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And he had a full psychotic break and the police found him. It was in December out on a bench in the cold. completely in a full psychotic state. And that was the last sort of coherent conversation we had was him telling me to go. I take that stuff seriously.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
But I knew that I probably should go and I knew that it was a great opportunity and it was risky, it was scary, I was going to be alone. But I also knew that I was going to be working with a lot of people in this world that I respected. I mean, I'd been listening to Matt Walsh and Michael and Candice and Ben.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Yeah, in the last couple of years. You knew it was a big deal. Yeah, huge deal.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And I knew more than anything that what I would get from it, even if things didn't work out, even if a show didn't take off, even if we never developed a show, if it never got greenlit, whatever it was, that I had the opportunity to work with people who were better than me at what I was doing, who were principled, who were great at what they did.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And even not in like this weird industry, but who just seemed like good people. And I got there and those individuals like, I'll always say this, but you know, you hear Matt Walsh online, that's who he is in real life. Like Michael Knowles, he walks the walk. Like I had to, it was like crazy. You know, Jordan Peterson, I'm doing my show. And he was like, I want to meet the internet girl.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And he's like walking in and wants me. But I get to have these. It's like, you do the TikToks, right? The YouTubes.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Yeah, exactly. And so in my mind, like I knew that it was a huge deal. But I was petrified. And again, I was comfortable. And I said, okay, screw it. I'm going to go do it.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Yeah. And so you walk in and there's... I mean, Ben, at like 15 years old, when I was... We had that conversation about abortion when I learned that my dad wanted to abort me. Like when I was looking up, you know, information, it was his debates that came up.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
It was like, you know, him at college campuses. You know. I loved listening to Michael. Michael made me think about God in a way that I hadn't in a really long time. I just kind of shut off from that, especially living in L.A. That's the most secular place you can be, especially in Hollywood. So these were people that meant something to me. And, you know, still do.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Became very good friends and mentors and will always be grateful for that. And
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
No, Jordan wasn't there yet, and it took me a while to meet them because, you know, I was in development for the show. So, like, I was brought on to do the show, but I was, like, social media content creator, and then we took a few months to do the show. So when the show launched, that's when I really got to know them. Because then they were like, oh, you're legit. They gave you a show.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Terrifying. Are you kidding me? She's like, so I had met her, I'd gone to Mass. And she was, you know, George is Catholic. And she had not converted at that time. But I knew, like, she sort of knew who I was. And she filmed in a different part of the studio than I did. So I didn't really cross paths with her. And her husband, George, was like, it's so funny if you know him, but he loves YouTube.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
So he would watch my show and be like, Hannah, this is the girl at 30 Wire. And she was like, I haven't even met her. Like, who is this? And then I accidentally parked next to her at mass one Sunday. And this is like the Michael Knowles effect of like, I need to go to mass, I need to get my life together, whatever it was. And I was like, oh my God, Candace is here.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And then I saw George look over at me and apparently he was like, that's the girl at Daily Wire. And that was like the first time she had ever like seen me in person. And then she was in the office like a couple of weeks later and officially met me. But she's one of those people, we were talking about this downstairs, that she is this like firecracker of personality.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And you like see her on screen and you're like, oh my God, like I don't even know what to expect about this person. And she is one of the warmest individuals. She's incredibly charismatic. She's incredibly loyal. And I would, you know, hear things around the office of like, oh, Candace, oh, look, Candace is walking in. And it was like, everybody like revered her and kind of feared her.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And she just comes up and gives you like a huge hug. So yeah, that was really special. And Matt, you know, I think the first time he ever like really officially met me was when his team was like, you got to go on her show to promote something that he was doing or help her promote her show. And we just had a ton of fun and.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
That was a fish out of water for sure. Imposter syndrome. But also, you know, you were very overconfident. So there was some imposter syndrome, but it was like, yeah, I can do this. I can talk to a camera. I have opinions and I don't waver in what I believe and I have fun telling stories and that's what I got to do every day.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
It's what I still get to do is like what I loved about acting, what I loved about working at that production company and searching for stories at the end of the day was telling stories with interesting characters and with interesting meaning that leave people changed. That leave you thinking about something in a different light that make you feel something. And I got to do that every single day.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And it was a really nice marrying of all the things that I loved. So I wasn't acting and there's always a part of me that's like, you know, I love that. I love being on stage. I'm doing my tour in the next couple of months, which I'm so excited about because I love being on, like I love feeding off of an audience. And this is like the whole, I love entertaining.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I love telling stories in that medium. So I was able to kind of like mesh together all the things that I cared about. And it was not the career that I ever expected for myself. But I think it's really beautiful because you, if you follow the things, like if you find the, if you find the core of why you love what you love, because it's usually a lot deeper than what you think.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
It's not the superficial, like I like this job because of X, Y, Z, but it's like, why does that fill your cup? Is it the people? Is it the things that you accomplish? Is it the feeling that you're making a difference? Whatever it might be. Is it the storytelling aspect? Is it the solving of a problem? Whatever it may be.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And if you can't do what you dreamed of as a kid or spent 10 years of your life in LA like I did, thinking like, yeah, I'll just go be an actor forever and work in this industry. I'm totally content and fulfilled now with what I'm doing because the meat of why I loved all of that, I get to do every day.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And I get to do it now, especially being independent, I get to do it and I'm in the driver's seat. I get to decide... you know, who I work with. And I can, you know, honestly tell my audience that if I'm sitting down with somebody, if I'm collaborating with somebody, if I'm partnering with somebody, it's because I want to. It's because I trust them.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
So it was a funny story because there were two different sides of it, but I had had the idea for a very similar show that I pitched to PragerU actually. And it was like a quippy, funny, I still have the pilot actually, and it's me in my LA apartment. I've got my leg up on the chair because that was my whole thing at the beginning of Comet Section. Like I always had my leg up.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And I was going through news stories from a more like right-wing common sense perspective. And I even read some comments and I had all the funny memes and edits in there. And I edited it myself in iMovie. And my purpose of that was, it was, you know, trifold, I think.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Because one, I didn't feel like there was enough content on this side of the aisle that was short form that would reach my generation. because we have the attention span of a pea. And that was why I added in all the edits and the memes and the sound effects, which is a lot of YouTubers doing that at the time.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I was a big fan of this girl named Emma Chamberlain who had blown up on YouTube over the past 10 years or so. And she always had really funny edits and sound effects and they would keep me just captivated in these videos. And I also felt like there wasn't anybody that was like me speaking to young people. Like I said, Will Witt was the only one.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I had a lot of people that I would find on YouTube and, you know, I would listen to Dennis sometimes and he would pop up on my YouTube feed or Michael and, you know, Ben and Kat would watch Candice's. I was like consuming her stuff during BLM, all of her live streams and her rants and all that. But there wasn't anybody that was, there wasn't anybody who was young or just like an average girl.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Like the young women that I saw were like the Trump admin interns and they're like pencil skirts or like the Fox News women. Or they were like the, you know, the hunters in Montana. And I wasn't either of those. I was like, I'm just kind of a, I don't know, I'm not, I'm just sort of in the middle.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I'm just, don't want to really be preached at, but there's a lot of stuff going on in the world that doesn't make sense and that's chaotic and I'm losing friends and I feel alienated and lonely. And if I feel this way, then I know other people do. So maybe I could do something about it.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
So that was my side of it. And so I had this pilot pitched. And so when Daily Wire approached me, I was like, actually, I had this idea for a show. And they have, obviously, a very strict pitch policy, as anybody does in entertainment. They were like, actually, we can't. If you pitched it somewhere else, we can't accept your pitch. You're not even hired yet.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And so we were just sitting in this Zoom meeting. They were like, this is our idea. It'll be a short form. a show, we want really funny edits and memes, and you'll read comments. I was like, this is perfect. This is like the meeting of the minds.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And it was so cool, and I think people assume, and I've said this before, that it was like the suits there that were going, we need to reach the young people. It was like the entire show was created by people that were around my age. They were all newly graduated. I think the oldest was like 24.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
So it was created by, out of necessity for the content that we wanted to consume, made by us, for people our age. And so we had, they got the green light to hire me, even though I don't think the suits knew, you know, why I was being hired, but they were like, okay, you know, try it out.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And somehow got it greenlit, even though the execs were like, we don't really, we don't understand the show, but if you think it's gonna, just try. So we had no money, tiny budget, You know, I was in the back of a studio that was shared by two other people, had like a little tiny corner. We had no paid ads, nothing, no marketing machine. They were just like, see if anybody watches.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And it was just really, really, it was perfect because the people that we were working with, we just had like, that's how you kind of know that something's hopefully going to work and that you've created something great when it's like, we've all felt this need for something that's very similar. We all came together and had already been thinking about this. It was like, this has got to be magic.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And they brought the comment section, like the name, they had already had the name and they had tried the concept with another young woman who'd worked there previously. And what they brought to it was having it be driven by comments of like, that's a unique, you know, kind of value add of, don't just talk about your values and opinions, but like what are normal people on the internet saying?
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I was like, that's a great addition. So they contributed that part and we developed it for three months. and then launched it in the end of February or March in 2022. And in the back corner of that tiny studio with no money, no paid ads, nobody really paying attention, we hit a million in four months.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Yeah. It was a rocket ship. We were the fastest growing show and on the right, we were one of the top three fastest growing YouTube channels on all of YouTube.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Again, no money, no anything. I mean, we had money, we had support, you know, they gave us like $10,000, $20,000 to buy the cameras and build, you know, a set and get like the headphones, the mic and all that stuff. But it was a lot of it was organic of people just sharing it. Wow.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
We, um, Ben always had significantly more. I helped paste.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Yeah. I mean, I was just like shocked as anybody. I was like, I don't even know how. I was like, this is wild. Um, No, and I'm so, and I like, I think about, you know, my brother saying that and all of these things that have now happened since then. And I'm, I'm really, really grateful for the shot that they gave me.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And, and I had great people, you know, that core team who launched the show with me, that was like dream team. And we were, it was so much synergy. And it made me like doing that show every day, we did 10 episodes a week, sometimes more, but two episodes a day. It made me so much better in basically every aspect of my life.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I get comfortable being Brent on camera, not being behind a roll, kind of like we talked about very early on. I became incredibly articulate in my beliefs. I became unwavering. I think I became less of a people pleaser in my work because I had to go on camera every day and share what I thought. And I was getting death threats and being called a transphobe and a racist and whatever. You're a POS.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Not really, actually. Because I felt so strongly about what I believed and I felt like what I was doing was important. Because I would meet people in person, I think that was really, really helpful, who were my age or around my age who said, like, thank you for saying what I'm too afraid to say. Or what I felt, and I felt crazy for thinking this. And you make me feel like I'm not as alone.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Especially young women who came up to me and said that. Because it was all born out of out of purpose of me feeling that exact same way.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Pretty soon after, yeah. It was very weird. But thankfully, because I'd been in acting, my mom was very proactive in conversations like that, because she was like, at any moment, any of these auditions, you know, I was auditioning for things like Wolverine or Disney, whatever, these things that, you know, if I had actually booked any of those, my life would have blown up in an instant.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
We watched that happen on a regular basis, people that I knew was in acting classes with. So we had lengthy conversations about fame and influence growing up because my mom was like, you could walk away from acting in a moment, I wouldn't care. Because I would believe that what you learned was important and you had a great time doing it. You have no pressure to do this.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
But if this is what you are going to be doing and you're auditioning for these huge things that could literally change your entire world, you need to know what fame is. And you need to have such a secure sense of self and understand that the reason why you have that and why you would have the money and the power and the influence is because of those people.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
So you better not act like a piece of shit, basically. And you can't compromise that. And it was like, that was from a young age. Because again, you never know. You could have booked something and then suddenly you're on some show every week and everybody knows who you are. So it was very proactive. And when I left to move to Nashville, she had the same conversation with me again.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
She was like, I don't know if they're ever gonna make a show with you. I don't know if you're gonna become some well-known person. Don't forget everything that we've talked about over the last 10 years, because it's still applicable. And I didn't.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Yeah, and it happened really fast. So I think I was prepared. But I remember the first time I was actually recognized in public, I was in my pajamas at Costco. I was like, maybe I shouldn't wear my pajamas out in public anymore. Maybe that's not the best thing to do. Yeah.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Well, they brought us into a meeting and one of them asked, like, turned to somebody on my team and was like, so how much money did we put behind this? Like, how many paid ads? And he was like, none. Nothing. And they were just like, okay. Okay. Like, I guess let's just keep going. Yeah. But I just tried to like stay in my lane and keep going. I was undeterred. I was like, this is a rocket ship.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Let's just keep growing.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I was ready for something different.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Yeah. I mean, um, I, um, you know, we've covered a lot of different things and there've been different moments in my life where I had to make kind of like a, a decision that was like, you know, that leap of faith and that risk. And I hadn't taken one in a while. And I felt very complacent. And I was good at what I was doing. And I was doing it every single day. And we were making a difference.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And I was in a very good rhythm. But I had gotten complacent.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
you you you you Thank you.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Maybe one day I've talked about having him on the show and trying to break through a lot of different things. I have a lot more empathy for him as I've gotten older and I understand him more. Because I think that I saw him for his faults in my parents' marriage, which they both had their faults, but Outside of that marriage, I think I saw a broken man who was just not the right relationship.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I don't know. Thank you. ,. That's it. Thank you very much.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
He'd had a really hard family life growing up.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I think you have a lot of it, I have a lot of it, I have a lot of it, I have a lot of it, I have a lot of it, I have a lot of it, I have a lot of it, I have a lot of it, I have a lot of it, I have a lot of it, I have a lot of it, I have a lot of it, I have a lot of it, I have a lot of it, I have a lot of it, I have a lot of it, I have a lot of it, I have a lot of it, I have a lot of it, I have a lot of it, I have a lot of it, I have a lot of it, I have a lot of it, I have a lot of it, I have a lot of it, I have a lot of it, I have a lot of it, I have a lot of it, I have a lot of it, I
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Yeah, probably. He watches everything.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Yeah, for sure. Like, I had done a... I think he watched the video I did with Raelynn where we talked about this and we sang together because she has a song about her mom almost aborting her. So I believe he watched that, but...
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
,,,, It'll be about prioritizing what is important at that moment and building something where I can give to my family in the way that I want to give.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Every month or so. I definitely still have some boundaries up, for sure.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And I think he does as well. But I think in... One of the greatest parts of growing up is seeing your parents as humans. With their own childhood, their own baggage. Learning so much about... Like, I knew what my mom had gone through as a mother of...
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Yeah. Candace does. And they keep it all in house, which is wonderful. And, you know, she and George run everything together, which was really the, I loved watching that. And I looked at Alex and I was like, I want that. I don't want to, I don't want to offload this to anybody else anymore. Like, I trust you. I don't trust a lot of people. I trust you and let's do this together.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And he, through helping me build this, gives me the, he's giving me and our family the freedom to be able to go, you know, have a farm, have a bunch of kids by, you know, this is not what he, it's like sort of in line with some of the work that he does, but he's taken on a huge bulk of it, which I'm so grateful for. But yeah, for sure her. And then the other one is Liz Wheeler. She's incredible.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And she is a mom. She has two kids. She's at The Blaze. She has a podcast. And her husband works, and she is the most dedicated mother. And when she's doing her show for an hour and a half during the day, her husband is with their kids. And then for the rest of the day, they're never out of her sight. And they go wherever she goes.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
If you hire Liz for a speaking engagement, if you had her on your show, she would have her kids there. And if she can't have them there, she says no. And if it means missing out on something, she says no. And we had a long conversation about this actually last year where she was like, you have to put yourself in a situation where you have the freedom to do that.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And if that's the kind of mother that you want to be, if you feel called to this vocation to do this work, you have to be able to set those boundaries because otherwise you're going to be pushed around, you're going to be told what to do. And she set just an incredible example. And I don't know if she talks about that often. She talked about it in a speech.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Losing a husband, one of my brothers died at 17 years old, going through a really, really bitter divorce and being in a very unhappy marriage, when my other brother now has schizophrenia. I mean, she's just been hit after hit. Her joke was like, Genghis Khan and former life, what happened? But seeing that, but then understanding things from her family and her past, you see this
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
She was given an award recently and I went and saw her talking. So she talked about that, but I don't know if she's talked about it very publicly, but she's been a wonderful resource and inspiration in that regard. They don't have staff, you know, they, you know, have family that comes and helps and that's their support, which, you know, my mom, a saint.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I was leaving Idaho, she's like selling this dream farm and she's coming here to be in Nebraska. She was like, I want to be here. And you know, Alex's family is here and we're going to be this village because she didn't have that. And that was really, really hard on her.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And she didn't have that kind of... When her husband was dying of brain cancer, she had nobody nearby to care for my three brothers when she had to go to the Mayo Clinic for three days at a time or anything like that. And she was like, I'm going to give you the support that I never had. We're going to do this. I'm going to be down the street from you.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And if you're busy and you're doing a show and there's this opportunity that you don't want to give up, I never want you to feel like you have to say no, like you will have to because you'll be prioritizing things, but I'm gonna be there, I'm gonna support you. And that was, you know, Liz has done it with her family and so she's like, she's really, really wonderful.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
She deserves a lot more cred than.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Yeah, she's great. She's super consistent too. She is like a firecracker.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Yeah, and a very good mother. So yeah, it's a weird industry. And it's a unique situation, but it's also not because every family is thinking about this. I think this is a thing that women think about all the time when they get to this point in life and how you are going to balance it and what you're going to prioritize.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And I think that society has like become very skewed where for so many years, like starting when my mom was having kids, I mean, she was absolutely crapped on for choosing to not work. I was like, this is so embarrassing. You're giving up your entire career. How could you do this? Like, you're just a mom. You're just a mom. And then we just went so far in that one direction.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And then now on the right, I see like, if you go on like right wing Twitter and I get called like, you know, Allie Beth Stuckey, Liz Wheeler and I, Candice, we get called like undercover feminists because we actually have a job and we work. And it's like, guys, I sit in front of a freaking camera and I like talk about the things that I care about like a couple times a week.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And then I go outside and I like birth cows and take care of chickens and cook dinner and, you know, write about things that I care about. I want to write a book this year. I'm like, I'm going to go do that. But it's like, it's really not that big of a deal.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
So now I feel like the pendulum has shifted in this other direction where there's so many women and Ali Beth and I talked about this very recently, where it's like there's normal women who are balancing it all. And then this like economy, especially, It's rare for a family to be able to live off of one income. I don't think it's comfortable for a lot of people.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
So now we have these people on the right that are, you know, sitting on their high horses saying, that's so embarrassing. You're a terrible husband if your wife has a job. You're a terrible woman if you don't give it up or whatever it is, if you have a side hustle. It's like for the entirety of history, women have worked and contributed to their families.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
That's, you know, I quoted, you know, Proverbs 31 in that episode where I did where, you know, she contributes to her community and she's engaged and she works in the fields to, you know, bring food. It was like when we, you know, when we were an agricultural society, women were engaged in the family businesses. You read, you know, Jane Austen stories, they worked in the dress shops.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Like it was, it was always a very specific class where the women didn't work. And then we had like the 1950s where there was that period of like the housewife. But even that was like, A very middle class, upper class idea. And I feel like now on the right, we've glamorized that to the point where so many people have now looked at women and been like, well, you're an embarrassment.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
If you work, that's feminism running through your veins. I'm like, actually, I think it's just.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
full human being that as a kid, you don't, you can't comprehend. And I think I got to start seeing that at a younger age because of her honesty and her transparency. And even her honesty about my dad of things that he wouldn't bring up, but of her comfort in being able to say, X, Y, Z happened. It's not really my story to tell, but you know, this happened with your grandfather and your dad.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Yeah, I have a great team. Many of whom I've worked with for a while or worked with at the beginning of starting all of this. And I think keeping it small is key for me right now. Keep a lot of it in-house. I've had tons of... requests and offers to outsource to XYZ.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And I'll never say that there isn't a time where I would consider like, okay, maybe I could work with this person or build something with this person or do a collaboration. But right now I'm at such a, like we're just building this as this tiny little team and it's working and it's humming and I'm learning so much.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And I trust every single person that I interact with on a daily basis that they have, you know, that they are a person of integrity, that I trust them, that they have my best interests, at heart that we have a shared vision for what I want to accomplish with every video that I put out in the world.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I wanna make sure that every single thing that I do matters and that I'm not just doing something for views or for clicks or because it'll be a means to some end, but that it's like I'm sharing something that is important and they get that. And so we're, you know, and they push me in the ways that I should be pushed, question things that need to be questioned.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Like we have hard conversations of like, okay, you want to do this, but why? Like the why is like, we keep hammering back to there should be a reason for every single move that I make or video that I put out. And so right now it's just, it's people that I, It's funny you say, how do you know who to trust? It's a very tiny group.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Yeah. And I think it takes spending more time learning about the opportunities and the options and not jumping into anything too quickly. And I also think building something that I'm proud of that can stand on two legs where, you know, there's a lot of freedom in not needing somebody else.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And I feel like I'm in a very, very, very fortunate and lucky position where right now I can say no to things because I'm very honored, I'm grateful, but I can do it on my own. And I don't want to expand this bubble and invite people in to now start telling me who to be, where to go, how to do what I do, who I don't know intimately.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Because it's a very, and we've talked about this too off camera, but it's a weird situation when it's a brand, but it's you. If you hand the reins off to somebody else and you lose control, and it's like, I don't like what you're doing to my brand, but that's me as a person. And if I don't have control over that, like at the end of the day, I have to live with myself and look in the mirror.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And so I want to make sure that, you know, again, it's like the business of self here and the business of personality or whatever it is. So you just have to constantly thinking about that.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And he went through that and being able to like see that, you know, 17, 18 years old was like, Oh God. Okay. So this was not the right marriage. This was a hard childhood. And this is somebody who has really been lost. I don't think he's ever found like true fulfillment. And I look at him and I'm just like, I'm trying to give you a hug basically. And it's really helped our relationship.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Which also, you know, it's important for the audience. It's important for what you're building, but also as a human being. Like, again, when I go to sleep tonight, when I look at my husband, I have to feel like I'm being consistent. I have to know that I'm having integrity with myself, with an audience, and feel really good about that because it's so public.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I don't know. I'm excited. What is the cookie company? We talked about that earlier.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
But... No, I'm not sure. And that's kind of the exciting thing. I think that you have to be nimble and flexible and, you know, my life is going to change. I'm going to get older. I'm going to be, you know, hopefully be a mom and... have other things happening in my life. And I think you have to be adept and nimble and I'm gonna let that be the driving force.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And then everything, you know, we'll have to work around that and still build something that I'm proud of. And I don't like, I really, it's such a, I wanna build something big that's meaningful, but I don't have an image in mind of what that is. I just want to be able to continue sharing goodness and entertaining people. Like, I genuinely... I love telling stories. I love making people laugh.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I love making them feel like I'm an entertainer at heart, which is so weird to say in this whole world. But it's like, I do love making people feel something. I love sitting in the audience and watching something that moves me to tears. I love watching a great film. I love reading a book that I can't put down because it's completely changed the way that I've thought about the world.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And I love being able to do that. And so I don't know the, you know, the avenues that that'll take me down. But I think if I keep that as the forefront, I'm sure I'll have a great time.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Well, you're paving a path of your own and you're asking about people that I look up to. I mean, you are like, I hope all of your viewers know, and I think they, you guys do, but it's, you are the real deal. And like who you are sitting across from me, being on camera, doing your interviews, that is who you are. And you are like a steadfast example of integrity and consistency.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And the other thing too, that I never expected was marrying Alex and bringing somebody into my life who didn't carry the baggage and the weight of growing up in this environment.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
that I think, especially in this weird political world, doesn't exist. That's also like in every industry, in Hollywood and entertainment. There's so many people when it comes to this world of having influence and it's pretty great. It's very special.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
and didn't experience the heartbreaks and didn't experience feeling let down, didn't experience growing up in the shadow of schizophrenia and death and divorce and was able to look at my dad as just a human and who was able to find him so endearing and funny and kind.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And then being able to see him through my husband's lens of like picking up the phone every time he calls and being like, hi, I just talked to Mike. And that's made me so much better.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
She was a stay-at-home mom.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
He worked in finance, like, and not finance in any kind of, like, like really cool or, you know, very, well, like he was a, like a banker at a local bank in Chattanooga doing, like, nonprofit stuff. And I don't think that's ever what he wanted to do. He was good at it.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
But I think that he, there was, he would have been a great professor. He's super academic, very esoteric. So I think that's probably also, you know, there's such a lesson in, I think I learned a lot from watching him. There's such a lesson in that of, you don't have to like love everything about what you do.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
But if you don't find a sort of fulfillment and passion in some sort of your life to fill that void and to fill that cup, you're always going to be searching and you're always going to feel lost and you're always going to, you know, substitute it with other things and other vices. And so I think there's often people kind of like joke about the cliche of like, do what you love.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
But it's like, if you don't have some kind of like, if you don't feel like what you're doing is important or like it speaks to some part of you and you can't identify that, then you have to find it in some other part of your life. And if you don't have both, I think that's what I watched with him where there was like, it wasn't in his career, wasn't in his personal life.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
He wasn't happy in his marriage life. Our family was a mess.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Everything. I basically did everything. Because I was homeschooled, so I had the time to do so many things. So I was obviously into theater. And I was a dancer, so I did ballet. I was a competitive gymnast. Did community theater singing lessons. It was super weird and outdoorsy. I was like the homeschool kid that was sitting under the tree.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
like looking at leaves and like digging holes with my hands and where we lived on like five acres, 10 acres in Chattanooga. Had to save the Earth Club in like second grade. And because I was homeschooled, there was like nobody in it. It was just me and like one other friend. My whole family sails very randomly. Like my dad grew up in North Carolina, so he would sail.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And then when we lived on the West Coast, North Carolina, my brothers learned how to sail. And so I would go on the Tennessee River and our like tiny little like boat club thing where they would have tiny little, you know, like kids sailboats and Optis is what they're called. So I would sail. I rock climbed. Chattanooga is a huge rock climbing town.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
So we went from Washington to Chattanooga. And then when I started acting, we bounced around.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And so I was like, I just fell in love with it. And my mom was very against it. But I also think she saw kind of an out, like a way to escape her life in a way. My brother had just died. And I saw an emotional outlet. that gave me the ability to be creative and escape my life and what was going on and the intensity of that and gave me a creative outlet. And I just kept wanting to do more.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I was like, I would go on like, I wasn't allowed to have a computer, but I would go on her like desktop and be like, Annie, like auditions nearby. And I'd be like, there's one happening like an hour away. I want to go do this musical. And so we would go audition. My mom would drive me like an hour plus to rehearsals and to shows. And then I was like, I think I want to be on Broadway.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And so I wrote a letter to a manager in New York and was like, I want to be Jane Banks and Mary Poppins. And I'll like, I will fly up to meet you and do an audition. And then you'll help me get this role. I was just super motivated. And I think she saw kind of an escape.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
But she also, after my brother David died, her perspective as a parent changed where she was like, if I had known that David only had 17 years. Yeah. But would I have said yes to? And obviously not give in to your child's every whims, but if there was something he loved more than anything, what would I have done?
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Yeah. I was never super close to my oldest brother, Chase. Because when I was born, he was already going off to boarding school. He knew he wanted to be in the military. So he went to the Marine Military Academy in Texas. Because the Marines don't have a college, but they have a high school. So he did that and then basically spent the next...
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
four years working to get into a service academy and got into all of them and chose the Air Force Academy. So he was, and he spent every summer, you know, at the summer programs at the Naval Academy at Air Force at West Point, got his pilot's license at like 15 years old. So he was super incredibly motivated, knew what he wanted to do with his life.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
So he was kind of out of the house by the time that I was born. So I didn't get to know him as well as a kid. I think I was probably around 15 years old when we really started getting close, when all the stuff, again, we can talk about later, that happened with my older brother, my other brother, we really got close then.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
But Reed and David are the twins, and so I grew up with them and was super close.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Yeah. And David died at, because we were all living together. So like when I think about my childhood, you know, David died when I was five years old. So I don't have a ton of memories, unfortunately, but it was just like me and Reed and my mom. That's a surviving twin.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I unfortunately didn't know anything different. Like it was icy cold. I never saw any affection. There was a lot of disdain for each other. We lived in a big house that was like very long. It would be like on opposite ends of it basically. And to their credit, I think that they tried. And they tried for me and especially after David died and my brother Reed really started struggling.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I think that the damage after that was irreparable after losing a child. But they did try in their own ways. But it was like, I'm so grateful that I'm here and I wouldn't change it for the world. But it was, it's like, I look at that as like, that was probably a marriage that never should have happened just because they're so, so different.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Like, and it's not like a different, like complimentary way. Like, it's just like, you are just, and there's a lot of affection there and you spend 20 plus years with someone because they were married for a long time and they got through the divorce and they're, they're friendly now.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Fifteen. 15. That's when I had emancipated myself as well.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I'm age five. He's 17. He dies on a, they went to a school in Chattanooga. They were on the rowing team. They were both super athletic, very artistic. I mean, they were like the most well-rounded guys. They're both brilliant, incredibly artistically talented. Like I can't even, I have my own creative talents, like I can't draw for crap.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
It's awesome. I'm having a ton of fun.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And they were both, I mean, brilliant, but also brilliant at math. Like my brother Reed had a perfect SAT score. I mean, just so well-rounded, incredibly athletic. They were on the rowing team. just good guys. And out of nowhere, David had a cardiac arrest and fell off the rowing machine right in front of Reed. So they were 17 years old, identical twins.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
They never had that like separation that like psychologically twins have to go through. And if you're not a twin, like I don't even think I can understand what that feels like, but I've talked to enough twins now and I've talked to Reed, you know, 17. I think this is the, we're going into the 18th year since David has died. So he's now been gone longer than he was here.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And I've spent enough time talking with Reed throughout that period of like, they had never, they were still one person. They had done everything together and he watched his brother die in front of him. There were no defibrillators in the gym. There was nothing anybody could do. He was basically dead on site. And it was Valentine's day in 2007. Um,
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And yeah, it was, I mean, that changes a family forever. And it's, there were so many different, it's like a, grief is such a patchwork, like a quilt in my opinion, because everybody's perspective and journey is different. My mom's journey was completely different than my dad's. You know, this is not my dad's biological son. He never adopted my brothers. They had a lot of, it was very tense.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Like the week before David died, they had a huge, my dad and David had a huge blowout. David even went to my mom that week and was like, why are you still in this marriage? Like this doesn't work. I think she had a ton of regret over that. And he, so my dad's journey was completely different. I think he's, but just because he wasn't their biological father, I mean, he had spent 14 years with them.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
It was very different than my mother's. Reed's journey as an identical twin was completely different, something that none of us could ever understand. My older brother, Chase, had a completely different journey that I don't even think I really know much about. He's very... He's military. He's like closed case done. And he was far away at the time he was in college.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Then mine was completely different than anybody else's because I didn't know him. It did. Like I have these memories of things we would do together and we would wake up on Saturdays and he would make me waffles and we'd go like ride in the car together and that kind of thing. But you, my grief was like, growing up and everybody has all of these memories with this person and you don't.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Yeah, so it was Valentine's Day. I got a phone call from the school. And again, that's like, my mom is so, I truly think it's one of the best things she's ever done in terms of raising us. She was so honest. There was no hiding anything. which I think in the world of helicopter parenting and trying to protect your kids and kind of putting them in this glass box, like that's become very abnormal.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And people would look at our life and be like, why would you not shield them from this? But I'm very glad that she didn't. But it was just like, looked at me and went, David's collapsed. We need to go to the, like put down your Valentines that you remember we were like having a Valentine's day party and we have to go.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
But I remember getting in the car and I had like the Valentine that I had made David. And I was just like five years old and holding it. I haven't talked about this in so long. I watched all of it. I got to the school. This was being put in the ambulance.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
That's what my husband said last night as we were leaving dinner with you guys. He was like, this is the podcast. Talk about that stuff. And I was like, I know. Cool.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
We went to the hospital and I had like a nurse take me out as they were, you know, talking about what was going on and they had no idea what happened. I was wearing lime green clogs and I remember because it was, we were there until very late. I was walking through the halls of the hospital. I could hear my like Hannah Anderson clogs like clomp through the hospital hallways.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
It's like funny the things you remember. They were in like a very dark purpley room. And I have no idea what happened. They think it's some kind of like Like epigenetics, if something, you know, environmental happened. Genuinely no idea at the time. Nothing came of the autopsy. We all immediately, especially Reed, you know, we came to Nashville and went to Vanderbilt.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
They have one of the best pediatric cardiology programs in the country. Probably the best. I mean, hundreds of tests to figure out, you know, was there any risk for Reed? And there was nothing. Nothing. And David always drank Red Bulls in the morning. He would drink like two Red Bulls a day. He would drink one on the way to school.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And my mom would always kind of like, David, you probably shouldn't drink that. And he would be like, Mom, everybody's drinking them. But she just said there was like a gut feeling of, I don't think this is good for you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
No, not at all. I love talking about this stuff.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I know. And I loved therapy. People rag on therapy a lot, especially on the right. And I sort of do when I think people overuse it. It was incredible for me.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Um... Yes and no. I think I was surprised about the things that have challenged me. Because I knew going into it that there was a lot that I didn't know that other people had managed and that I didn't have a hand on. And that was one thing that I never really loved was that I didn't completely have a hold and a sense of everything that was going on in terms of my career and brand.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I had a lot of shit going on.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
We had to work through it. But I think that's the thing that... Not to go completely off topic, but there was a time in my life when I needed it, when there was so much going on that I couldn't comprehend and I didn't have the tools to navigate through. And so that's why I sought out help. And I went through a few different therapists trying to find somebody, and I found somebody who was...
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
yes, very empathetic and would listen, but was solutions focused of like, this is how you navigate this. This is what you need to say to this person. How do we better your communication so you can get what you need in this very, very chaotic family structure that you're living in? Like it was very, it was giving me the tools I needed so I didn't need to go forever.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Thank you. , , , , , ,, P P P P P P P P P P實, ac , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , a P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P And both her first husband and David popped up.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I got through that period, and I got to a point where I was like, I don't need to go trauma dump every Thursday afternoon. So I haven't been back. And I've wondered if there was like- You don't go today? Mm-mm.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Yeah. Last year, I thought I might need to.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Yeah. And we're like, there's a 17-year-old young man here who wants to speak to you. I mean, it was like, I was actually just thinking about this meeting the other day. I was Googling, trying to see if I could find him. I need to ask my mom the name because I would love to go just do this. But yeah, she was able to speak to Don, her first husband, hear from him.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
She had a miscarriage between the boys, I think, and I'm pretty sure that one of the medium things, that baby came in, said something.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Yeah. If you find a good person, again, somebody that's not an enabler, which I think is hard to find. You look up like therapists in Nashville and the first person that pops up is like the person who is in Matt Walsh's What is a Woman? And you're like, oh, fuck. You're not who I want to talk to.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I saw that. I believe in all that stuff.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
which also is another part of this that can be very special. Again, it's all like, it's something that's really hard to hear and it's hard to implement, but it is about perspective at the end of the day. If you can think of it as, I will let this drive me. I will be a better person in spite of this. I will live for both you and me and I will make you proud.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And I will know that you're always around me. Like, that's pretty cool.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Absolutely. I think I'm so selfish, but I'm like, he doesn't go day without being with me. Yeah. He's got a bunch of people to bounce around with, but I'm like, no, here.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I know. Exactly. I need to send him over to my other brother, though. You need to go help him.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
But if you find, again, a good person that is focused on providing you tools so that you can make your life better, because they can't change your life for you.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
But if they help you break down The things that are in your way, the things that are out of your control that give you a set of tools so you can move forward, that's an incredible, whether that's a therapist or a life coach or just a mentor in your personal life, in your church, everybody should have something like that.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Yes, yeah. Wasn't she on some reality shows?
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Yeah. You know, have you seen the, um, telepathy tapes?
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I'll have to ask the team downstairs about it, but there's a, I'll butcher the explanation, but it is, it's a podcast that's been blowing up and it focuses on nonverbal people with autism.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And just telepathy and all of that, and not just being able to communicate, but like being in separate rooms. Yeah. And like this person will have like a ball or something and you'll have this person in the other room and it's like, so what are they looking at? And it's like a purple ball. That sounds crazy, man. It's just all like.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
The brain is like, there's so much we don't know. And I think that cannot be fully explained and probably never will be explained. And that's probably, you know, faith.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
No, California is fine. No, I've spent 10 years of my life there. It's like I think of my childhood in Chattanooga, and that is where the most formative things in my entire life happened. You know, it's where I lost my brother. I mean, it's just like that's rooted there in so many ways. But my adolescence was spent in L.A.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And my mom was born there and they had lived in California prior to me being born. They lived in Northern California. So in a lot of ways for her, it was just, you know, going back home. Yeah, I started.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Well, I loved what I was doing because I didn't ever think of acting as a job. I didn't think of it as a job until I was like 15 and started, you know, just going into college and had to start thinking of it as like a career and a job. And then I was like, oh, I don't know. It was just fun.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Again, it was like, you go through something so intense as a small child and you have nowhere to put that emotion and to have something that allowed me to walk around in somebody else's shoes and to kind of safely express things I didn't feel comfortable expressing in our home. After my brother died, I would hide in cabinets.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I would go in the kitchen cupboard and shut the door. There was a cabinet in our house in North Chattanooga where I would do it. There was a cabinet on Sigma Mountain where I would do it. I was just shut down. And acting gave me the...
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I just wanted to be alone. It was safer. You felt safer. It was like I could be somewhere that was like my own space. There's like... I mean, I still do that sometimes.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Not in a cupboard. But there was a day I was working on the show and I just felt so like... Like last week, I felt so overwhelmed. And it was like every noise in the house was just like... too much and I went and I literally sat in my dark closet, closed the door, didn't turn the light on and just finished writing the show. And I was like, I just have to be. You just kind of like turn stuff off.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And I think I felt that at a very young age of there was so much noise, emotional noise. There was my brother, there was my mom and dad grieving individually and fighting and a lot of change and I felt like I didn't have something of my own. And it being a small confined space just felt like that pressure of like, this is safe.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And acting gave me the ability to, I guess, be big, to express things in a way that I wasn't able to express. My mom would always say, like, I would go on stage and become like an animal. Like, I would just, like, light up. I loved being able to not be Brett and be somebody else and experience their experiences. That's why I love doing things on stage. And, you know, I love theater.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Theater's my first love, I would say. And I ended up going to L.A. and... The reason why I went to LA is because if you're under 18 and you want to be on Broadway, there are height limits. You can't be taller than five feet most of the time, and I was super tall. I grew like a string bean.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
So the manager that I had written a letter to at eight years old saying I wanted to be on Broadway was like, you can go home to Chattanooga and you can just keep doing regional theater and maybe audition for a show here and there, or you can go to LA if you want to keep acting. Because you are 5'2", you're 11 years old, and you're not going to be hired for anything.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
No, it's called Cooper Confidential.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
You've got seven years to kill, basically. And the reason for that is when you're at the very back of the house on stage, they want you to look significantly smaller than the adults on stage. There can be no confusion about whether you are an adult or whether you are a child on stage. So it makes sense. But that was heartbreaking for me because all I wanted to do is be on Broadway.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Oh, yes. I was like, that's what I want to do. We would go see Broadway shows. It would come through Atlanta. We would drive up and see them. I was like, that is what I want to do.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I would act out things in our front yard. I was constantly writing stories. And the funny thing is I, we went and saw theater. We didn't have television in our house. We had ATV and I was allowed, we were talking about this last night. I was allowed to watch the Andy Griffith show and I Love Lucy. And that was all. So it wasn't like I was watching movies and TV shows.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I do a weekly advice video. Do you remember like Dear Abby in the newspaper? Yes. I was obsessed with Dear Abby. And so I have people send in questions because a lot of the times when I get emails from people, it's like, I'm having trouble figuring out something in a relationship or with college, or I know that you've dealt with this with your brother or your parents.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Like I want to be on Disney channel or whatever it was. But I just, I read constantly. I love stories. At the end of the day, what drives me more than anything in like this career still today in acting is is a love of story, is understanding why people do the things that they do, how stories change us.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I've been personally positively impacted by stories, whether they be through literature or on stage or on film, of seeing yourself in a character or being able to put yourself in their shoes and that being an incredibly transformative experience. For me, politics is storytelling, because it's all about human nature.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I think that's why I am interested in it, because it's reality TV, it's a Shakespeare tragedy, depending on the day. Those can kind of be interchanged a bit, but it is about story, and I love every day getting on my show and being able to tell a story.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
and bring people in and weave that together and take them along on this journey and have a beginning, middle and end and hopefully leave them changed at the end and like have them think about something in a different light or feel something through me telling this story. And that's why I loved acting. So I didn't, you know, 11 years old, I didn't care if it was on stage or on film.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I was like, I just want to tell stories. I just want to act.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Yes. I don't think I could have said that at 10 years old.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I was just like, I love to act.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I think a lot of things clicked for me around 13 years old, 13, 14. It's when... stuff really took off with my parents. Divorce got messy. It's when my brother Reed had his first psychotic break. It was when I think I just became a lot more self-aware as all of those things were happening. And I think that's when I kind of realized like, oh, this is why I love it. Because I'm not me.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And that was also why starting to do things on camera for like this whatever industry I've ended up in, of this cultural commentary, whatever it is. It was so weird for me because I was just being Brett. Being Brett was very hard. It was the reason why I never sang in public. My first professional job actually was singing.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
First time I was ever paid was to be in the Atlanta Symphony Opera's production of La Boheme. I'm a classically trained singer. I've been doing it the longest out of any of these things, just because I was in choir when I was younger. And to this day, I am petrified of singing in public because it's me.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I can sing in a musical, and I can be a character, and I'm on this ride of whatever character I'm playing. I'm getting through the entire show, beginning, middle, and end. I'm not Brett. I'm this person. But if you ask me to get up on stage, and just sing you a song, it is like I have stripped down.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And I might be better at it now that I've gotten so comfortable of like, I'm sitting here, I'm just being Brett, streamed to millions of people. I have however many billions of views over the last three years, so I've gotten more comfortable with it. But I spent over 10 years avoiding just being Brett and being a character because it helped me. I think that helped me understand me more.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Could you help me through this? So it's like these long, long questions that I've never really had the avenue to answer before because I can't just email people back all day long, even though I would love to. So- We open up the question portal every week and people send in their questions and then I answer them in just like a casual. we just kind of work through them together, basically.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Yeah, for sure. I mean, I would have never cried in front of you five, six years ago. I remember the first time that I ever cried in front of somebody. I was sitting in the Burbank Public Library, sitting outside in the grass having a picnic with one of my good friends at the time in LA. And something had happened with my brother.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And that was the first time I ever cried in front of somebody that was not my mom. Like even like showing any kind of emotion in that regard. Terrified of letting people in. Could not, like, I felt like I'd been burned enough by my dad. I couldn't let him in. I don't think he wanted to let me in either. I was just like... I was really having a hard time processing things.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Things that could go wrong. What could go wrong? I think my brother is... I don't think my brother did them well. But I look at my brother who has basically tried every single drug in the book and didn't do anything that was intentional or for healing. And so I think I've, my impression has been tainted by that.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
But we even were like talking last night of like, maybe that would be good for him to go do something that is intentional and tailored for healing.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I know. What I did do though was, have you ever heard of EMDR? And that was kind of the, and that's not even close to psychedelics, but that was probably the most transformative thing I ever did in therapy. I don't think I, and that was like, I wouldn't be able to be here having this conversation with you without that. Of like tapping into things that I had never even considered processing
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
or thinking about the way that they impacted me and my childhood. And there were so many things that I had forgotten that in doing that therapy, and I did multiple different kinds. I did the rapid eye movement, which is harder for me. What ended up really working are the eggs that they like put in your hands that are little vibrating things and you hold them and they go .
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And that was super, I mean, it was like, I locked in immediately. And it was like floodgates, floodgates of everything I watched and saw and Even things were relatively recent that I was, you know, it was going on with my brother and his schizophrenia of stuff that I just didn't consider, didn't talk about. It was like so normal to me at that point.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
So we do that, and then we have ad-free episodes, and then like a monthly subscriber-only newsletter that's much more personal stuff.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
You'd go with my brother.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I said no, I could go with my brother.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Probably good with... I don't think I'm somebody that's super anxious, but there is a... that is ingrained in me. I think when you... I mean, even yesterday on Alex's and my drive to dinner, I was just like, I don't even know what set it off, but... I'm such a... My entire childhood between David's death and my parents' divorce and my dad is somebody that...
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
desperately wanted to please and could never really please. And there was so much going on that I was constantly a peacemaker. And it's ironic that I do what I do, but rocking the boat in my personal life is incredibly difficult. I can stand up to people in business. I've done really hard things when it comes to career and business. I've taken a lot of risks. I put myself out there.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
But when it comes to my personal life, there are little minute things of where I feel like I'm going to let somebody down and disappoint them. I allow myself to be a doormat because I'm so terrified of the repercussions of not being too loud. And again, I think that goes back to acting of like it gave me the opportunity to be big, to be 100% me.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Even though I was like playing another character, I went from being in this house where I felt like I had to be in this like I'd put myself in this cupboard, make myself small because everybody else was dealing with much bigger things. I remember thinking that as a kid like I'm – Whatever I'm going through, it's not as important. I was aware enough of that.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And I just desperately wanted to keep the peace. I was like, if I can fix this situation, if I can just keep people together and happy, and we can just walk on eggshells, we can get through this, and maybe they won't fight, maybe he won't drink, maybe Reed won't do X, Y, Z. And I think I still carry that.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And it's so ironic because I get online and I, especially three years ago when I was first starting, shared things were very controversial. I think now it's more culturally acceptable to talk about what we talk about and what I do on the show. But three years ago, it's like ironic that I have so, I carry so much weight and anxiety in my personal life.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Oh, gosh. Unfortunately, I think it's the latter. Because I think that was actually my first episode that I did on the new show was sort of about that. I think that we are being very sore winners, unfortunately. I think the right is so used to losing. And we talk about a victim mentality all the time of, you know, the left victimizes themselves.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Like I, and this is why Alex, I'm so like, he's the greatest man. of I could not, like, let him be angry at me. Not even be angry, but just to, like, oh, Brett, why do you... Like, I was petrified. I couldn't, like... I don't even know how to describe it. I didn't even want to take one misstep.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And I think another person would have seen that and kind of rolled with it and been like, great, she's going to do whatever I want. And he looked at that and he was like, that is inhibited. That's like a problem that you can't even, that you burst into tears and are hysterically crying at the thought of disappointing me over you burned chicken for dinner. And I was just like...
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Because I was this person that I respected and loved so much already early on in our relationship. And I was like, you're just another person I can't let down. I can't let you down. He was like, it's a chicken.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
It's like, if you can't even, and that's probably the thing that my mom and looking at our relationship has had like the most gratitude for Alex for helping me with is standing up for myself in family, in work I don't think I would have done anything I did in the last 12 months without him.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I don't think I would be as confident in my family and navigating the relationships and anything in my personal life without having that person who looked at me and went, that's really not normal. Like what happened to you to make you think that this is so, but I still like I've gotten a lot better, but I still will just be like be set off.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I had another like chicken incident the other day where I opened a package of chicken and it was mislabeled. And I was like, had this recipe that I was making for dinner. And I thought it was one kind of chicken and I opened it up and it wasn't. And I was just like, oh no, it's all going to be ruined. And I like threw the package of chicken and I was like, oh my God, it's whatever.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And he came home from the gym and he was like, what the hell have I like walked into? And I was like, you're going to make me disappointed. And then it was like five minutes later, I was like, oh, I'm doing it again, aren't I? The lights just flickered. And you hear that, and you're like... But I'm in, like, the most loving, supportive relationship with the most, like... He's so even-tempered.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
That's one of the things that I love most about him. He's, like, unflappable. He has, like, had the most normal, healthy family. They're incredible. I love my in-laws. Then he met this girl who was, like... Who's been through all of this stuff, and he's, you know...
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
absolutely undeterred and is so steady and never looked at it as like you're broken you're whatever it's just like this is like your life will be better if you anyway so that's probably what i would it's interesting help me with that because you're overconfident you know what i mean maybe not overconfident you're very confident the brett cooper that we all know is very confident incredibly there's like nothing i can't do in my mind then behind the scenes you're very self-conscious yeah
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
But we've been in a culture, it's like the perfect culture for nonprofits where it's like, the left's getting us, donate now, whatever. Like, we've just been in that mindset that I think now that we've won in such a massive way and we've won culturally, I think everybody was just like, we don't even know how to function. So... I have a lot of hope.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
which I feel like to an extent is like a healthy balance because I, not the way that it manifests in like my very personal life where I still am having to, that's such like a weird lefty, like psychological term, but like I'm learning those things, but I'm having to let go of that because I'm not in a,
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
or an environment where that's gonna hurt me anymore or I'm gonna feel any repercussions for that. I don't need to keep a boat steady anymore and I still like will have moments where I feel that. So that part of it isn't healthy and I know that, but I do think there's something to be said for
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
When I go to work, when I turn on the camera, when I'm talking about the things that I care about, that I know are good for people that I believe in, that I believe in truth, that my voice doesn't waver, that I have lofty goals for myself, that I think about my brother, I'm going to live for both of us. I want to do all these things. I'm never going to say no to an opportunity.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I'm going to take a huge risk. And then, but I also go home and I know that I'm like, I'm not really the shit. I'm not the most important person in the world. I don't think that I am. I'm not in it for fame or power or money, whatever it is. I genuinely love what I do. I love telling stories.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
So I think there's an aspect of it that's, I think probably has helped me a little bit, but the self-conscious aspect of it certainly doesn't.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
So weird to talk about yourself as like a brand, but... sort of how it ends up being. And so it's been really nice to dive into that, but of course there's a learning curve with that, but it's been very freeing.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And it's powerful. I'm not the only person who comes on here and breaks down and cries. You have something in this room.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I'm really excited about almost everything that Trump is doing and his cabinet is doing. I love the people involved. I love RFK Jr. I'm a massive fan of Tulsi. I know her, as you know her, in our personal lives. I just think that she is one of the most magnificent people. He's surrounded himself with excellent individuals. Feels very different than 2016.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I don't know how. It shocks me.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
It's very, it's genuinely thinking back and now looking at kids that I meet that were, you know, this age and looking at young people and knowing that at 12, 13 years old, I was tangibly thinking I'm going to break a cycle. That's weird. So, I mean, it's powerful, but it's like, I was thinking that already.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
No. It shouldn't be weird. That should be, I wish that for any young person that's, you know, I didn't have the worst childhood in the world. I had something that was very abnormal and it was very hard. But I know that there are a lot of kids that have gone through far worse things and very different things. And we've all had our own different walks of life.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And I think that there are some of us that see, again, that see that as fuel and that are given the gift of being able to be like chronically self-aware or just aware of your situations to have that like, bold moment, but I was articulating that in my mind and to other people. I remember talking to my, like, Sunday school teacher at a young age and being like, I will not replicate what I've seen.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Because there was so much unhappiness and so much... My parents were both brilliant individuals, and that marriage held them back in... a magnitude of ways. And there was so much unhappiness already. And then adding in my brother's death, adding in, you know, schizophrenic diagnosis, adding in my father's major depressive disorder, adding in suicide attempts into our family.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I was like, I'm not, I'm going to do everything I can because I knew there's more to life than that.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Those years, shit went down, basically. Yeah, my dad. There was a lot leading up to that of threats of it. And my mom had dealt with that. That was something she didn't share. I think she was right too. I don't think it's my right to even share that here and talk about his family. That was very personal. And they worked, she fought those battles in private. It was a heavy weight to carry.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
So in terms of the administration, I feel really, really... strongly in a positive way, but in terms of, like, this weird industry of, like, right-wing commentators and whatever, like, you go on X, I'm like, can you, like, can everybody just, like, chill?
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And then, yeah, around, I don't know, I was 12, 13. It was, there wasn't any hiding it. It was in front of us and not, you know, physically, but it was, we were involved. I was driving around Chattanooga with my brother Reed at 3 a.m. looking for him, standing on the Chattanooga walking bridge, wondering if he had jumped because we had no idea where he went. We knew he was somewhere.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
So there's incredible unhappiness.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Mm-hmm. That was the only time that I think a step was taken and that I was, that my brother and I were involved. It brought into the kind of the circle of it.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
He gave us postcards as he walked out the door.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
He couldn't really understand it, and then he put the pieces together, and they were very ominous. And I, uh, you know how I was telling you at dinner last night that I had a Nancy Drew fixation and I would go, I busted my brother's high school party and that kind of thing. And I, anyway, we were given these, um, I guess I went back into Nancy Drew mode.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
We're given these postcards and, um, I was like, something's not right. My mom was super confused. Reed and I were watching some movie on the couch. He walked out of his office, gave us a postcard, gave my mom a postcard, and left. Didn't say a word. Again, I was just like, something's not right.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
So I think when you get out of, like, there's a lot of X that does feel like the real world, but I'm also like, moms in Minnesota aren't, like, caring about this stuff. Like, random people just, like, trying to get through life and hoping that gas prices are going to go down, like, they're not seeing our infighting, so...
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I started looking around the house, and I found a manila envelope with a suicide note on his bedside table. Whatever all of his information, will, testament. And I brought that into my mom and we called the police.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I'm so grateful he didn't do it.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I ignored him. I was so angry. I don't think he wanted to see us anyway. He went straight to my mom. And then looking back, I don't know. I ignored him because I was so hurt. I just went into my room. I don't even know how to handle that at 12, 13 years old. I don't know if what I did was right, but I really shut him out after the fact.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And we already had, even at that young age, we were like, because I'm so much like my mom. And I've often wondered if he saw that and kind of resented it because they had so many problems and he wanted me to be something that she wasn't and that I wasn't. There was already a lot of anger there and a lot of hurt. I'd been let down a lot. He wasn't super involved.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And that was when I started asking questions. I think I was probably 13. I need to get my dates right. Because that kind of led into that whole period of all the curtains were pulled back. And that's when I learned about his family and everything he had gone through. And suddenly it all made sense.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And even with understanding that and going through the process of learning it over those years after the fact, it was like, it was just really hurtful. But I often wonder, again, what's the best way to, as a kid, what do you do? Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
So I think it's a double-edged sword of I feel a lot of hope in terms of where politics are going, and I hope that the right can get their act together and stop pointing fingers and
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I think people in this world are, I think just normal voters are, I think it's just been, it's probably one of the reasons why he won was people are just like, I can't do this anymore. Like, I don't care what you're going to say about me. Like, I just want my life to be better.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
So I think that that part, again with normal people, I think that there has been some unity.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Thank you. Thank you. We'll be right back.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Oh, I'm so excited about this.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
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Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I can't wait. I'm so bummed because I wanted to bring you a gift because I know that you give people your gummy bears, so I gave you your gift last night. So for anybody watching, I gave Sean some of our chicken eggs and one of our duck eggs.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Then my mom was like, I don't want to take you to LA. This sounds awful. I begged, I begged, I begged, begged. And so we would try it here and there. We would do like three months at the beginning of the year, which is called pilot season when all the shows are getting greenlit.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And then we'd go home for the summer and then I'd come back in what's called episodic season when all the shows then are working, they're running and you have guest stars and recurring roles and that kind of thing, and would audition for those. And, you know, it's funny, all the hate comments that I get from people, they'll usually go back to acting.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
They're like, oh, you're a failed, like, D-list actor. It's like, yeah, I didn't become, you know, Zendaya or whatever. But I worked consistently. Like, I was able to cover an apartment. I put money away to be able to buy a car at 16 and helping myself through college. And, you know, paid for my acting classes. Like my parents didn't just give me my
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
money to just like go spend at a young age was put into an account. There's, you know, Coogan accounts where the state takes 15% that I received when I became 18. And we put all of that back into acting. So acting classes, improv classes, dance classes. She never wanted me to feel like it was a job or like I was benefiting it, you know, from it.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Cause like what 10 year old should be making tens of thousands of dollars for kind of TV shows. That's a mind fuck.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And that was for a myriad of reasons. It was... Family was the root of it because my parents' divorce was incredibly hostile and went on for a long time. And it got to the point that I was being used as a pawn. I was 15 years old and there was like... If you give me custody, I'll give you your money back or whatever it is.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And, you know, my dad was like, you need to come back to Tennessee and live with me. And it was just like I became used in that way and didn't like the feeling. And I don't think my mom liked it. That wasn't how she wanted to end that marriage. And again, I think my dad felt really out of control. And I just wanted to remove myself from the equation. I was like, you don't get to use me in this.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Oh, that one's special. Well, we did have like a special omelet for that or something.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
So that was a big part of it, because I was working. I was working as an actor. I was about to graduate, about to graduate high school. I had a full-time job at Trader Joe's, because I always worked outside of acting to make sure I had fun money, because I didn't use any of my acting money. That was all just in other accounts.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
So if I wanted to go hang out with a friend or buy a dress or whatever, I had to babysit and go work at Trader Joe's, whatever it was. I could cover living in an apartment with a roommate.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I had a good friend of the family from Atlanta at a summer camp that I had gone to, and she was a couple years older, and she was moving out to L.A. right around the time that I had emancipated myself. So she moved into the apartment that my mom and I had shared. So I emancipated myself. Another big part was my brother's psychosis was really hard. He was... He'd gotten pretty violent.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And... My mom was kind of torn in a million different directions of... the divorce was happening in Tennessee. I was in LA, my brother was in LA, because he had been bounced around and struggled and went to India for three years to find himself and, again, did every drug in the book and came back just completely different and really did not get along with my dad. They had a huge falling out.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
He came out to LA and just continued to struggle, so he was homeless at the time. I had some concerns with like, that sounds bad saying it out loud, but like CPS. Oh, I didn't want, like it was not a good environment. And I was in therapy at the time and they were just like, this isn't normal.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Like the person that lives in the bedroom next to you having, you know, hearing voices and having a psychotic break and knives pulled and chasing through streets and, you know, he... When somebody is going through psychosis, they are not the person that you know. And they don't see you as your sister or as their sister or their mother. They treat you differently.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I desperately want to have cookie company.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And they would think of you as a girlfriend, an enemy, or whatever, whatever was happening. Can't control it. And I just felt like I had all of this autonomy. I had so much control in one part of my life. I was like, I have a career, I guess, because I've been acting and I make money, but I'm about to go to college. I was about to turn, it was the summer before I turned 16.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I had graduated high school, had this like, worked the, you know, 6 a.m. shift at Trader Joe's every day, worked six to two. And I'm basically like this adult, and yet, you know, I couldn't go work on set without my mom. When you're under 18, for good reason, your parents have to be within eyesight and earshot.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And at the time I was working on that TV show, Heathers, and they had planned a second season that was going to be shooting internationally. And that was in the middle of all of this.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And I was like, how am I going to get, how am I going to be able to work and do this when there's a war happening in Tennessee that my mom has to handle when there is a different kind of battle here with her other child that she has to manage? And I was just bounced in between it.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I love food. I mean, it's like the, yeah.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And I think that there's part of me that hears me saying that and is like, that's so selfish to be like, I'm just going to remove myself from it. But I had the means to do that. And I think it made it easier on everyone, too, if there was a weight lifted off of my mom because there was just so much legality of, again, if anything ever happened with my brother and I.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And if I got wrapped into this custody thing, when I was like on the cusp of adulthood and was making strides, again, I was about to start college. And so it was not contested. I didn't go to court and bring my family in and be like, I hate all of you, I'm leaving. It was just like, I even had a conversation with my dad.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
It was a hard conversation, but I had a conversation with both of them and they were both very in support of it. And I was like, I can't be in the middle of this battle. I've done it for too long. And I'm not leaving you. I'm not saying I don't want to be around you. I'm not saying I don't want to be in this family, but clearly you have crap that you need to work through.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I don't want to even say it's crap. It was heavy, heavy things in their lives. And I just need to be let go. And it was a very, you know, It's not something I suggest. I wouldn't go around and say, if you're having a hard time, just go emancipate yourself. It was a very unique situation. It's a very heavy thing.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
My oldest brother, that's when we got really close, had to be brought into it as an advocate. And if everything failed and fell apart and I couldn't make money anymore, I was going to go live with him. Or he was like, I'll come out to California and I'll take care of you. But I just was literally like two coasts, these battles.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And both of my parents, I think, acknowledged when they were confronted with it. That it was like, we are putting you in the center of things that you, you know, your future at this age when so much is about to open up for you shouldn't be dictated by what's going on here. And it really, in a lot of ways, it didn't change how we navigated our family.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Like I was still super close to my mom when their divorce was finalized. She moved back to California. She bought a home. moved back in. My brother would come in and out, depending on when he was in a hospital, when he was homeless. I saw my brother constantly. He was homeless in Pasadena for years, and I would go out and find him.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I was telling you last night, he loves fine cheeses, and so I would go and take him to Whole Foods, and with his shopping cart of things, and would buy him the things that he wanted. I would go literally find him in the park, wherever he was. It was a nuanced thing. I didn't say, screw you. I don't want to be in this family anymore. I'm never going to speak to you.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Thank you. I'm happy to be here.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Yeah, well, we moved around a lot, but I call Chattanooga, I split my hometown, depending on how I'm feeling about it, between LA and Chattanooga. But I was born on an island in Washington State called Orcas Island off the coast of, it's in the San Juans, so out past Bellingham. And my family just randomly moved there. My brothers had gone to summer camp there for many years.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
It was, I need to be legally released from the liabilities of being in this mess, of being taken from you and put into a system at 15 years old because of things that are going on that I don't want to say I could have handled, but that I felt, I mean, I had been going through it for a while and I could have, you know, I was able to remove myself from the situation in many ways.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
But through CPS and stuff with my brother and, you know, I don't want the liability of your divorce and this being messy and a judge dictating where I go and what I do when this is your war and I'm paying for my own life. Man. And I'm graduating high school at 15 years old and you're about to tell me
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
that everything, that Natalie, you know, my life could be because of my brother or because of a divorce. So it just, it protected, you know, it removed the protections of being a minor that for me ended up, I think we're more of a danger in that. Not a danger, but that we're, it was gonna make things very difficult. So it was a, I think it was a very important thing.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
But again, I don't recommend it. It's very severe.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Yeah. I mean, for that summer when I emancipated myself, he was homeless. He was refusing to take meds. My mom had kicked him out before that. And I emancipated myself and she went home to deal with the divorce and to divide their assets and help my dad sell the house because he had to move out. Her going back there, I think, helped make it less contentious.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
It was really hard when they were apart. So she had to go handle that and kind of close that chapter. And so it was just me and Reed. And some days it was funny and go sit with him and his dudes in their shopping cart. There's a... It's the main street in Pasadena, California. There's a place called Earth Cafe for anybody who lives in LA. And then across the street, there's a church.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And then there's like a shopping strip mall. There's an alley. And that's where he slept with a couple of other guys all with their shopping carts. And so yeah, I would go bring him like a little gift bag. Like here's some water. Like I'm not, I haven't given up on you. And sometimes it was,
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
funny and just like I was with him and some days he would be you know passed out in front of the target me not knowing whether it was an overdose whether it was heat stroke because it was you know August in Southern California uh getting calls from people in his homeless community that had little flip phones saying and I one of my my community college was in Pasadena so I just so happened to
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
That was not really intentional, but I went to Pasadena City College for a lot of my community college classes, that and Santa Monica College. But I would get calls when I was leaving school from his best homeless friend, Jason, being like, Reed really needs you. And I would have to go find him. And there was one time when he was high on something. I'm pretty sure it was meth.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And I think that's one of those places where you're either seeking something or you're hiding from something basically. And I think my family was, my parents' marriage was never really strong. My dad was very unhappy and they just needed to like escape. So they went to like the tiniest island possible. It was like idyllic. in hopes that that would fix things.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
and was sitting on top of the rubble of a recently demolished house saying that he was Jesus when nobody could get him down. And so when you talk about grief, again, in like talking to people and saying, you know, what advice do you have? Grief isn't just about death. I grieved my brother, David. I grieved the life that I didn't have with him I grieved his actual existence.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And I grieved my brother Reed because he's nowhere near the person that I grew up with. I don't know if he ever will be. Like I was sitting with him last week at visitation hours at his psych hospital. I see it in his eyes and he has this like, he has a twinkle that he's always had. And he's very He's very smirky. He's always been very mischievous. Everybody loves him.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Like even just like sitting in the little like cafeteria and watching nurses and people walk by and they're all like, oh, you're Reed's sister. Like we love Reed. But he's, there's a lot of him that's gone. He doesn't speak anymore. Sometime in the last three years, he stopped speaking.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
So when he's out of the hospital and he has his phone, we will communicate through text or he'll write something in his notes app and show me. In the hospital, he doesn't have his phone, especially in an involuntary hold. So he has a little notepad. And so we sat for an hour talking and writing things back and forth. But I've had to, I think, let go of the hope that he'll be who I knew as a kid.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I don't think that's fully gone. There's always part of me that's like, what if? If he did psychedelics, if he woke up one day and said, I'm going to make, I'm going to change my diet and change my lifestyle. And this is the thing that's so infuriating is our medical system basically sets people like my brother up to fail. And it's this endless cycle where
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Without his meds, he's a danger to society. But with the meds, they're debilitating. And he's so unhappy. And they pump him, you know, through. It's so dehumanizing. He's like pinned down and injected. And they cause, you know, paralysis and tremors and, you know, whatever it may be. Some of them are really scary, had cardiac effects with, you know, our history was so scary.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And so that's how we kind of ended up there. So they were there for 10 years. My brothers are 12 and 14 years older than me. So I was born at the tail end of that stint. And I think then they kind of outgrew it. And my brothers were, the education system wasn't great on the island. And my mom had tried to homeschool them because she had homeschooled.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And nobody ever talks about diet or lifestyle or other options. He was in an involuntary hold in Idaho for almost three years. I didn't see him for three years. He stopped speaking somewhere in there, which I don't blame him. These places, they're not like pretty rehab places. There aren't places like that. There isn't a place where he can go like live safely in like a nice assisted living rehab.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
If there is, somebody should let me know. They're like really shitty halfway houses or psych facilities where you can't leave, where you have no rights. That's why I don't blame him for shutting down. But You're put on these meds because you can't function without them. And you're given the crappiest food. And I was so angry just like last month that I'm his guardian, by the way.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
That was another thing we dealt with last year of we had to fight for so many years, my mom did, to get information about him. I mean, he would be arrested, taken to hospitals. We have no idea where he is. He would be switched from doctor to doctor to doctor, literally like trying to chase him down to get information. Not in like a, we need you back, but of like, how can we help you?
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
We don't even know where you are. Um, and so we finally were approved guardianship and Reed knows, and I think he was, um, happy that it was me. Um, but he trusts me a lot, which I'm really grateful for. But, um, though he was released from this involuntary hold and he was put into, he had a halfway house and seemed to be doing better. But I was talking with my mom, and it was in Idaho.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
It was in Boise. He only got to Tennessee recently. It was a whole other situation. He kind of accidentally got here. I had to think maybe it was a God thing, because my mom and I had been talking. I was like, it'd be really great if he could get close to you. He just went missing one day and showed up in Tennessee. So it worked out. But the point being, he was there for three years.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
He stopped speaking. and there were no changes to his diet. He was fed the worst food, his hospital food. I was in visiting hours last week and we were given like crappy cartons of milk and like Teddy Grahams.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And all these studies are coming out about, you know, the effects of carbs and sugar on the brain of the, and this has been happening for years of, you know, keto diets being instrumental in keeping schizophrenia at bay. And we have people that have,
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
She ended up homeschooling me, but I think every kid is different and homeschooling just wasn't really working.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
literally removed the voices from their brains have been able to now they live totally normal lives, are in relationships, are getting married by living a very, very strict lifestyle and diet. And no doctor has encouraged that. And it's such a missed opportunity. It's like he was there for three years and he came out worse.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And now we're back to square one and it's this awful cycle of again, of course he's getting worse. Like you go into these places, I've been visiting him for years at various different hospitals. It's awful. It's prison. It's maximum security. Of like, in order to go back and visit him, I go through like mazes of hallways and doors and keys and whatever.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And I have to, I can't even bring him like socks. Like you're not allowed to bring anything in because they could harm themselves. Like he's, it's, Like, again, I look at him, I'm like, no wonder you stopped speaking. But what other option is there? And we've brought him home. He's lived with me. He's lived with my mom. He's lived on the farm. He's tried everything.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
They're very different people. Incredibly different people. They were friends in, my mom had a previous marriage. So my brothers and I have different dads and he died of brain cancer when they were very, very young. So I think.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And it's just a constant cycle of meds, off meds, jail, hospital, out, meds, off meds. And I don't know if that'll I have no idea if that'll change. But you kind of have to find peace with the fact that maybe that's just, again, going back to, like, this is the reality. And I'm... It's not what I hope for him. It's not what I hope for our family. But I've, you know, found peace in that.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And I want him to know that I'm never not going to be there. Like, even if it's three years... If you end up in Tennessee in your first week in an involuntary hold, I'll be there. And I think he feels a lot of shame. Because we went through hell together. And I've seen a lot of things that I think he never wanted me to see. He's done things to me that I think he's incredibly embarrassed of.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
and we don't really talk about it, but I've tried to let him know as many times as possible without getting into it, that it's like, I know it's not you. I'm still gonna show up. And it's even harder for my mom, but with, you know, I don't want to put words in her mouth, but I think that it would be very easy for her to let go, easier.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And just to say you, you know, you're not trying to make any changes in your life. You are taking advantage of us. You don't want to use the time when you were on meds and you're doing better to try to change something in your lifestyle to do anything. You would refuse therapy. Like you would only go to therapy if I went with him. So we did that for a while together, but I had to go with him. Um,
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And I think that, you know, my oldest brother has always advocated more of like, let him go. If he wants to do a shit ton of drugs, if he wants to go be crazy and not accept help, let him go be crazy. You can't control that. And I think my mom is like, I'm not a parent and I don't know what that feels like, but she already lost one. So she's tried to let go.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
She's done it a ton of times of like, get out of the house. Like, if you're going to act this way, go be homeless because you can't do this under my roof, which she should have done. And I give her so much credit for her. Ten years later, she shows up. He's in a halfway house and he needs a new set of clothes and a new, you know, bedroom because he has a little room in his halfway house.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Like three and five maybe.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I don't know. I think there's a It's not a beauty, but there's kind of an advantage to this going on for my whole life, basically. To where I don't see this as some catastrophe every time something happens. Which seems like a really fucked up thing to say. But it's like, at this point, it's like, okay, that's life. I'll handle it. I don't have to say it's normal. Because it's not.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Yeah. It was really, it was, so we have my oldest brother, Chase, and then two twins. So my mom had tiny children and a terminally ill husband flying back and forth between Mayo Clinic. It was awful. Damn. Um, and I think his brain cancer made their marriage very hard as well. Cause everything obviously just flips. Um, And so he passed away, and my mom is chronically efficient, I would say.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
My family's not normal. My relationship with my brother is far from what I would hope or want. But I think I learned really, really early on that life is messy. And I think it's hard learning that as a kid, but I also, I wouldn't be me without it. I think I went through hit after hit after hit, and they were all very different.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And then just saying, okay, I'm gonna pick up the pieces, I'm gonna keep going. What can I learn from each of these things?
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Feels really good. I think I did earlier on in being with Alex, there was so much I had to share. In the back of my mind, I was always kind of like, it's going to scare you off. But it didn't. I shared a lot of it in therapy. Again, that therapist in LA, I credit her so much. I wasn't able to verbalize any of it. So much of it hadn't happened at that point, but I was not able to even
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
break down what I felt because it felt just so commonplace for me. So it's been in different periods. I don't make a habit of carrying around open wounds and baggage. I don't think that that's the healthiest thing, but I think it, you can't go through life suppressing. And I think that both Reed and my dad suppressed a ton.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And so I think that while I might not offload in this capacity, especially not in a public capacity frequently, this is probably the only time I've ever done it publicly, I'm not afraid of it in the slightest because I would rather it be out there. I would rather be vocalizing it and processing it. And even if I'm not speaking to someone about it, I'm never not thinking about this stuff.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
It's all very like, you know, in my face, especially with my brother. It was never something that I was able to hide from it. Like in the moment I was able to process it. And I think about it constantly. I think about what life will be like in five years. I think about when my parents pass away and if Reid is still here, what is that going to look like?
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I think about our family and how if, you know, if things haven't changed, how will I care for you? What do you need? I think about my dad and I think about repairing that and moving forward from that. I think about trying to, you know, protect my mom and make her life easier because she spent so much of her life fighting and rebuilding and things being crushed.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And so these are all things that I consider and by default then I process everything. Because I've seen what happens when you run from the things that have hurt you or the things that you can't control in your life. I think my brother, I think a lot of his situation, I never want to call it like a problem or, but you know, when David died, he was 17 years old. He went to an all boys school.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
It's not really in the environment that you are vulnerable and you process grief, especially when it's so public. He refused therapy. He'll tell my mom, I cried once, I don't care anymore. I'm over it. And then you get, you know, 10 years down the line and we're sitting together and he is, has now struggled with drugs and addiction and alcohol and is hearing voices.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And he finally says, like, I think about him every single day. They were talking last night, but he kind of looks like Jesus in a lot of ways. He keeps his hair super long and stringy. He's super skinny. He's really tall. He's like 6'4". He has a huge beard. And I would always be like, please read, please shave it. It's so ugly. It's like scraggly. You'd call it his flavor saver.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And she was like, well, my sons need a father, and I don't want to be alone. And she had known my dad in college, and they were good friends. And he's a wonderful guy. He's very sweet. But they're very different people.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I was like, oh, it's so disgusting. And there was one point where we were having this conversation. My sweater's getting all over my hands. Um, And he was like, I look in the mirror and I see him. He walks through life with this person that he is permanently intertwined with and who is not here anymore, who he sees every single time he looks in the mirror.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And so I think that, you know, again, I've watched what happens when you don't process things. When you don't put in the work initially to go through the motions and feel, you know, the depths of what pain you need to feel and how you're going to learn from it and repair and rebuild.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I've seen my dad run from his family and his past and replicate mistakes that his father made and refuse to speak about it. And I think that there's a lot, like my mom did that a lot too. Because she had to. Because she had other kids and she had a husband that was struggling, that was suicidal. And so she just kept going. And I watched all of that. I was like, I'm not going to be that.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Like a champ. His – his mother-in-law, or my mother-in-law, who I adore, I think she was more concerned than he was. She was like, oh, this girl's kind of like – she's got a lot of stuff. Love you, Des. I know you're going to listen to this. She's going to be, like, crying the entire – she cries more than I do. She's saying something. But, no, he's – it's – It's truly, like, remarkable.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
He is completely unfazed and unflappable, and not that he doesn't care. He feels very, very deeply.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And they dated for a short amount of time and it was always long distance because he was in North Carolina and she was in California, which is where she and her first husband and the boys lived. And so they didn't spend a ton of time together. I think it was very like rose-colored glasses. And it just wasn't from the get-go. I don't think it was right. They're very different people.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And I think rather than looking at me and seeing something that was, you know, ooh, you're, you know, damaged goods, you have all these problems, it was like, I won't put words in his mouth, but in the way that I feel, it's like he stepped in and was like, I can create a bubble around you that's safe. And I've never had somebody who is as stable, who, like, can take hits and redirect.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I mean, I can, but I think I'm, you know, been through a ton. I'm, you know, emotional.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I think it's the purest form. My mom was very stable. I mean, a constant. But she's your mom. She's going to be there. I found stability in external factors like school. I threw myself into academics. I had my high school transcript put on my wall because I was so proud of it because I could control that. And that was stable. But I say that it's pure because he doesn't have to be here.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
He didn't have to choose me. And he did. And he's unwavering. And I have some incredible friends who have seen me through a lot of these seasons, who have been very stable, who have been very gracious and have, you know, I've introduced them to things that are definitely out of their element through my family and have stuck with me.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
But it's very different when you fall in love and marry somebody.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Oh, it's incredible. I've never felt safer. I've never felt more feminine. I'm a very capable person. I've navigated a lot, built a career independently as a kid. I... I've lived alone. I've traveled. Like, I've done a lot. And I met him, and I was like, I don't have to carry everything. I don't have to put all the pieces together by myself.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
He walked in for his second interview, and I think his first one was over the phone, and I was the first person that he saw at Daily Wire, and apparently I was scowling at him. And he walked in, and he was like, oof, I don't know who that, I didn't have a show yet, I didn't have anything.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And he was like, that girl is like, we're gonna be enemies, in his very Alex voice, which you now know of, like, very sarcastic and funny. And in my mind, I was like, who is this person? It's just like something clicked. I was like, that's somebody. And then at the time I didn't have it on, I was like in a cubicle and then they put his cubicle directly in the row behind me.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And this man has the like most explosive boisterous laugh. And there's like a pause when he's like telling a joke and then it just, it like, I mean, you can hear it. If he was downstairs right now, you have all the soundproofing, you could hear echoing through the halls. And it is like the most captivating moment endearing thing that I would just hear him. He would be right behind me.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I think they would have been much happier with different, you know, my mom's very headstrong. very dominant personality, super very, very similar. And I think that she needed somebody who could stand up to her and combat that. It's like when I met Alex,
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And I would just find myself turning around like, who is this person? And he kind of reminds me of my brother in a little way. Like he has this like twinkle in his eye and he's really spunky and he's really, really smart. And he's interested in a million different things. And again, I could just like, no matter where he was in this huge office, I could hear, I was like, that's Alex.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And he's laughing. So then I was trying to look him up because I'm a girl. I was like, I'm stuck. This guy, who is this? And I wasn't told like, don't shit where you eat. Don't like whatever. But something about it, I was like, who is this? And I could only find him on LinkedIn. And I didn't have like a, I think I'd like forgot my password. I couldn't log in.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
So I could only see like part of his profile. I like scrolled all the way down and I saw Chattanooga, Tennessee and my brother's high school. And he went to high school with him. And it was like, and then I would see him going and getting water. He drinks more water than any person I've ever met in my entire life, which I were very different because I like dehydrate myself on a daily basis.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And so I would go like position myself by the water cooler. And there was one day where he was walking through and he was getting water. So I don't remember what comment I made, but I sparked up a conversation. I was like, I desperately have to like, how do I bring up Chattanooga? And somehow it came up and I was like, oh, you're from Chattanooga.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Like I wasn't going to say, I was like stalking on LinkedIn. And then I think I ended up like talking with him in the break room for like two hours that day. I don't even know what I was supposed to be doing. I don't know what he was supposed to be doing. But I was just like, I think that's my person. He felt the same way. And he like.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
It was just like, there's something. And he's always said he felt really similar and wavered back and forth because he was always like, I'm never going to date somebody that I work with. That's crazy. And he had a conversation with his mom and she was like, don't do it. What if you break up with her? What if it's awful? Like she started the show.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And he was like, if I ask her and she says, yes, we're not breaking up. Like, that's it. Like, I think that's, I think she's it. and asked me out in the parking lot. I was like shitting my pants. I was like, oh my God. And then yeah, I went on one date and it was, they like shut down the restaurant. We went to Lachlan Table and Eats Nashville.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
who was my husband, it was like I had finally met somebody who was like a sparring partner of mine, who wouldn't like put me in my place, because that sounds bad, but who was willing to like push back and go, no, you are in the wrong here. And here's how you could be better. And I could do this.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And I mean, it was like, they had been closed for like an hour. I had no idea. He's great. Yeah, it was just, I was like instantaneous. And I went home for Christmas that year and I went into my brother's yearbooks that have been in my mom's desk for 15 years. And his picture was right there. And I would sit in her office because I wanted to see my brothers and all of their friends.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I would flip through, like while she was working, I'd flip through the yearbooks. They're called the Facebooks. I would see all the pictures of the boys. I would find my brothers. I had no idea that he was in there.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I knew his little sister. We'd had play dates. And he's a few years older than me. And we always lived like five miles away from each other and had no idea. I was really good friends with his other younger, his younger brother's best friend. And our moms had mutual really good friends and never crossed paths.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Mm-mm. He knew of David, I think. David has a memorial statue at Macaulay and I think David died the year he was an incoming freshman, but it rocked the school, obviously, in a big way. And we had that statue put in. It's this big flame. It's like the eternal flame that's still there at the school. So he knew that, but he didn't know them personally. They were three years older than him.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I was in Budapest filming Pendragon for Daily Wire, and we had been out there. He planned on coming with me, and he was training for a triathlon, and he tore his ACL and his MCL. and had to get surgery like the week that I was leaving. And so he couldn't get on a plane. He had all this recovery. He was like locked up and all this stuff.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Like I was so used to being able to do that with other people and to have somebody who was not going to be a pushover basically, and would be willing to debate things with me and discuss really like heavy and interesting subjects and wasn't intimidated by me in the slightest. And I don't think that was my dad. He needed somebody a lot softer, I think.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
So in his mind, he had just bought a rig and he was like, how the hell am I gonna propose? I can't even like bend my knee. What am I gonna do? I can barely walk. And so unfortunately, but also fortunately, I was in Budapest alone for like eight weeks, I think. And I think that was a really good test in a lot of ways because we were an ocean apart, an entire time zone apart.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And it kind of reminded me, I was like, oh yeah, I can survive alone. Like I'm not with a person, but I want him. And that was a good reminder because I was like, I don't need you at every moment of every day, even though we spend so much time together, but I want you here. I want you in every aspect of my life, which was, I already knew that I wanted to marry him, but that was just kind of a nice,
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I don't know, confirmation. Uh, and then he flew out and he spent like two months in Budapest and then went home for, he had a client that needed to be, he needed to be in person. Um, yeah, he flew out and proposed like the second day that he got there and he proposed at Fisherman's Bastion in Budapest, which is like the right outside of the Buddha castle. Um, I had an inkling, but I had no idea.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I was sweating profusely. He was so nervous. He made me walk from my apartment all the way across Budapest over this huge walking bridge because he thought it would be so romantic to walk at sunset. And we had to hike all the way up to the fashion. And I was like, and then we got up there and I was like, oh, what's happening?
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Because I sat on his Apple Watch, something popped up and the photographer was like, I'm, I'm at the spot. I was like, oh God. So I started having like heart palpitations because I was sweating. I was like hiking up these like stairs. I was like, I don't get any repose too. I'm dripping in sweat. I had to like take off my jacket.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And he was like trying to get me to like go where the sunset was where he had like picked out the spot. I was like, I have to get water. And then there were so many people there. And apparently he had gone the night before and it was empty.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And he had like walked around with all the, he had talked to like the concierge at the nicest hotels Budapest and was like, if you're going to propose, where do you propose Budapest? And while I was on set the day before, he had like scoped out all these locations. And apparently at sunset the night before, nobody was there. Everybody was there that night. Everybody.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And I am like, again, it goes back to the thing of like, I'm on camera 24-7, but not 24-7, but I don't like attention in my like normal life. And so I was like, oh my God, does he not know me well enough to know that I don't want to be proposed to in front of whatever. So I get my water and I'm like stressing. Oh my God, it's happening.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
We come around this corner, we're walking down these stairs and there's a violinist. Oh my God. There's a show. What's going on? I don't not want the romantic gestures. And it wasn't for me. It was just this violinist was just there, like, busking. And there was, like, I don't know if this sounds so bad or racist or whatever, but there were, like, four Asian tour groups that were there that night.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And they all had selfie sticks, and they were all there. And I was, like, so overwhelmed. I looked over at him, and he was, like, also so stressed. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
And my mom needed somebody who was probably more dominant. And so I think it was just always very out of whack. Like we talk about, you know, masculine and feminine traits and finding that in a marriage and a relationship. I think they were always off balance. So it was not great from the start, I don't think.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
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Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
We, um... I was living in L.A. I was a child actor. Everybody there was super pro-choice. I think I had been on some set, and everybody was, like, wearing their Bernie pins or whatever, or pro-choice, and I just, like, very innocently asked my mom. I was like, what? Like, could we just, like, talk through this issue? She was super... I think that's why my brothers and I ended up
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
the way that we did. Like, my oldest brother and I are very, very principled in our values and very comfortable, like, speaking about them openly because it was, like, the dinner table and just, like, even being in the car with our mom was, like, debate was accepted.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
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Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
The hard conversations were not to be shied away from, whether it was things that were going on in our family or things going on in the world. It was, like, no, let's break these down together. She's a very, like, introspective... She's not academic, but she's incredibly intellectual. And... So that was just a normal thing. So I was like, let's talk about abortion. I just don't understand.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
, , , , , ,, P. P. P. P. P. P.實, ac , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 100 sol a It was nice to have like a place to go and study and activities to go do. And I was like, I might as well, I'm already paid. And they sent out, the house manager mom person sent out a letter talking about the election, telling us all that she hoped we voted correctly. And we voted for women's rights.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
What are these two sides of the coin? I just didn't understand the issue. And so we started talking about that. It was just over the course of a few months. And I think that she had kind of weighed whether to bring that up. But that was what really changed her mind permanently about abortion was when my dad came to her. I was like, I don't want a child. Their marriage was already not great.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
and that we didn't forget that said there was a man in office that was gonna take all of that away from us and that she, you know, being older than us knew all of this and was wiser and that she hoped that we showed up and voted correctly. I was like, I can't fricking deal with this. I mean, it's just like, so then I, that was at the end of 2020, like going into the fall semester.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
So I basically just disconnected from everything, which honestly was like the greatest gift I could have been given. Because I think it wasn't a bad thing, but I'd gotten really engaged in UCLA life over that year and a half. Because I had gone to community college and then I transferred into UCLA as a junior.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Man, had joined the sorority, had gone to the football games, had gone to the parties, had met people, was going to live on campus, all of that. And COVID just pulled me out of it and recalibrated me in a lot of ways. where I had to become very intentional about my values and my principles and the people that I was surrounding myself with.
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
I became super lonely because the world was shut down and my family was one of the only ones that was like, yeah, sure, let's go to Yosemite. My brother's going to fly across the country and come vacation with us. I'm going to go outside and not wear a mask. I was still working at Trader Joe's. So I was with people 24-7. I didn't get sick. I was fine. I was like, what's happening?
Shawn Ryan Show
#186 Brett Cooper - The Real Reason She Left The Daily Wire
Like, the world moves on. I was able to focus on where I wanted my career to go because it was at that point where I was looking at the, you know, the Hollywood industry. And I'd already kind of at that moment thought that maybe acting wasn't for me. I thought I didn't love it. But I hated the The way that the industry operates.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
What happens when a leader is corrupted by a desire for power and fame? When the mission gets lost and they are willing to compromise everything for a buck, for a vote, for popularity, you name it. They might ride that high momentarily, but history and also current events have shown us that they will always inevitably fail.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
Calculated rebrands to try to reverse engineer authenticity and trust with voters. But I mean, come on. The gig is up. Whether it is Newsom on his new podcast, or Gretchen Whitmer's recent flirtation with Trump, Hillary Clinton's innocent grandma act and how she just has hot sauce in her purse, or Kamala being brat all last summer, it is all fake.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
I mean, that literally might be the smartest thing that has ever come out of the view. Because she's absolutely correct. As ridiculous as this woman is, she's correct. Voters can sniff this out.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
And to be honest, I think that his voter base would have respected him a hell of a lot more if he did have on Charlie Kirk and Steve Bannon and then pushed back and fought rather than sitting there going, oh, yeah, I did that. Yeah, let's not be friends. Let me just smile. Let me like slick my hair back a little more. We'll have a great time. No!
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
Obviously your net favorability is going to drop 10 points because that is ridiculous. That is a betrayal. It's not just right-wingers that want somebody real. Obviously, the left is craving that too. And Newsom's failed podcast, or it's, you know, failing as of now, is just the most recent example of this calculated pandering because it's been going on for years.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
I mean, just last year, we watched Kamala's team desperately try to re-rant her to appeal to moderate Americans. They were like, oh no, no, she never wanted to fund medical transitions for migrants. No, she was never the border czar. Let's like wipe that off the White House website. She never did that. She never wanted to defund the police. She never put people in jail on marijuana charges.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
That never happened. I know that she was a failed vice president, but actually she is incredibly moderate. They literally spent months doing that. But obviously, the internet lives forever, and thankfully now politicians' words live forever, they are constantly being recorded, and we knew immediately that all of that was BS.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
And most importantly, that strategy meant that Kamala Harris was not having integrity with herself. And that only hurt her with her own base because she compromised on all the things that they knew she once supported.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
And instead of leaning into that, no matter how ridiculous all of those things are and her terrible track record, which to be honest probably would have just helped her with that voter base, she instead backtracked and then just decided to brand herself as brat for the entire summer, thinking that that would win with Gen Z. I'm sorry.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
Viral moments might help you with Gen Z. We might make videos about them and we might talk about them on TikTok. But obviously, like I said, back in July, back in August, that virality does not translate into votes. And it didn't. It didn't work.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
Now another great example, and one that is actually a lot more recent, is that post-2024 election, post this catastrophe, Michigan governor and radically left-wing Democrat Gretchen Whitmer tried a similar strategy. This literally only happened a couple of weeks ago, and if you have followed followed her career, you know that her track record is simply insane.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
She issued in some of the worst lockdowns in the country, she calls women people with a period, and after all of that, just a couple of weeks ago, she decided that now was the time to try and cozy on up to Trump, much to the disdain of her voters and her colleagues. Now in a recent address, again just back in February, she lauded her relationship with Trump and the importance of
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
They are trying to emotionally manipulate their voters, but we are not falling for it, and neither are the modern Democrats. And on the show today to talk about how all of this happens from an insider's perspective is ex-RFK running mate and ex-California liberal, Nicole Shanahan.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
bipartisanship, which of course is ironic considering that she spent years calling Trump deranged and calling our towns, our voters, racist. Now unsurprisingly, the right is not too excited about working with her, nobody is ready to extend the olive branch to Gretchen Whitmer, and her peers are similarly disgusted.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
The Michigan Attorney General did not mince words when she slammed Whitmer for not calling Trump out because he is, quote, a wannabe petty dictator who thinks and fashions himself to be a king. That was her response to Whitmer's recent address.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
I mean, guys, there's so many other examples I could go on and on, like Pete Buttigieg and his documentary from a couple of years ago trying to paint him as some really sweet individual. innocent, moderate, centrist, which just pissed off all the socialists because they know that that is not true.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
One article about the documentary reads, The almost comical absence of a program or ideology in a documentary about a man running for president has far more to do with Buttigieg himself than it does with the quality of the filmmaking, and albeit accidentally, Mayor Pete does tell us something very real about the way that centrist liberalism increasingly seeks to cloak
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
It's pro-corporate vision with the politics of personality. That really is what this entire episode is about, the politics of personality. Now, another example is that in 2016, they tried to repaint Hillary Clinton as this docile, sweet grandma. She was in her grandma era while simultaneously having her use pop culture to pander to young black Americans, and again,
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
It never worked, even with her own base. And after running through all of these examples, I asked Nicole, you know, after all of this time, all of these years, going back to 2016, maybe even earlier, why? Why are the Democrats still trying to do this? We know that it doesn't work. And unsurprisingly, she said that it goes back to money. Take a listen.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
Now, before we dive into this story, if you want to enjoy ad-free episodes delivered right to your device, and if you want an exclusive newsletter and a weekly advice video from me called Dear Brett, which is inspired by all of your questions, make sure to check out Cooper Confidential. The link is right here and also in the description below.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
So based on Nicole's experience and her insight, it goes back to money, but it also goes back to the quote unquote pyramid scheme of political consultants who are similarly out of touch with normal Americans. This is what she had to say about that.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
Now, in all of these examples we've talked about, from Pete Buttigieg in the Mayor Pete documentary to Hillary Clinton to, you know, Gavin Newsom on his podcast right now, these attempts do not work because they're not about principles. They're about emotional manipulation. And it is insulting to everyone in every party because we know that it's not real.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
We know that you are trying to play us for our money and our support and our votes. It is why Trump and JD Vance dominated last year because somehow we as normal Americans can relate to both of them in different ways. Like Donald Trump is one of the most powerful businessmen in the entire world. He is more wealthy than any of us could ever imagine.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
And yet Americans can genuinely see themselves in him. He doesn't talk. down to us. He doesn't play with us. Like, love him or hate him, he's always going to be completely unapologetically himself, and we love that. And on the polar opposite end of the spectrum, JD Vance built himself up from nothing. He is the embodiment of the American dream. We are inspired by him as Americans.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
We respect his honesty. We feel respected. There is a massive difference between these two men and between the modern Democrats, and that is why they won. So the point is, the point of this entire episode about emotional manipulation, about the politics of personality, is that authenticity will always win.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
I feel like I could sum up every episode I've done of The Rhett Cooper Show over the last couple of months to that point. Authenticity will always win. I mean, think about the people who have made very public transformations in politics in the public eye with grace and authenticity like Nicole. That is why I wanted to talk to her today, who, you know, she left the Democrat party.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
Now, a couple of weeks ago, I had my good friend Allie Beth Stuckey on the show, and I think this is the perfect time to bring her back up because Allie Beth literally wrote the book on toxic empathy.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
She ran for office as an independent and ended up voting for Trump all in the span of like 18 months. She was tarred and feathered. People were throwing death threats at her. The entire board of her foundation walked when she became an independent. And she faced all of it with honesty and grace and transparency. And people felt that.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
Toxic empathy meaning the way that people demand compassion and demand empathy and inclusion over truth, often at the expense of the hardest truths that we all need to hear, the reality checks that our society needs to face. And that toxic empathy is the Democrat playbook. They pull on your heartstrings with your messaging.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
Now in my mind, and I think in the mind of the American populace, Tulsi and Nicole are both different because their transformations were real. I mean, it really is as simple as that. They were not out of political necessity or for financial gain. Like, Tulsi did not want to be put on the no fly list because it was going to make her money.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
No, she got put on the no fly list because she didn't compromise her values. Voters saw that. We saw the genuine nature, the authenticity in everything they were doing. They took us on their journeys. And we care about them because of that. We trust them because of that. I mean, literally, it is as simple as the fact that they were authentic and the Democrats have not been.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
Now, of course, it would not be honest of me to just slam the Democrat Party as a whole, even though I do think that they obviously have some big problems. But on the left, I do have to give some credit to AOC. And listen, I know, I know you're going to be freaking out, but just bear with me. Hear me out. You guys might have seen this circulating on social media this week.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
It was going super viral, but... There was a recent poll about AOC this month that found that she is the leader in the Democrat Party that best represents the party and its values, that best represents the values of American Democrat voters. Here's the headline from The Hill. Macasio-Cortez leads poll of Democrats on which leader best reflects party's core values.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
And this went viral because conservatives were making fun of her. Everyone was howling and laughing and saying, oh my God, we're going to run this country forever if she is the leader of this party. But guys, I wouldn't blow her off so quickly. I mean, AOC is different than a lot of these other Democrats.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
She does not play the pandering games like the Newsoms or the Whitmers or the Kamala Harris's and Hillary Clinton's of the world. Like, she has never hidden the fact that she is a radical socialist. She has never tried to hide that. She has never walked it back. She has never wavered in the slightest. It is why I can't stand her, but also why I kind of have to respect her a little bit.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
And of course she has all of the strategists and all the consultants because every politician does, but they seem to get her and they get her people and the people who love her. And she's young. She doesn't trade stocks and try to get rich off of corporation like her peers. She even rips into them constantly for doing so. This was a headline from just last month.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
AOC rips into her colleagues for insider trading. It says Republicans are far more honest about it. Like, she's willing to come over to the other side and work with Matt Gaetz to stop insider trading while still saying, I disagree with you on everything, I hate you, but I am principled and I do want to get this through. Like, yeah, that is worth respecting.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
And so, yes, we might find her ideas to be insane and terrible and awful for the country, but she is honest with Americans about herself. She is honest with her voters. And that is why so many people love her. And that is why, as ridiculous as she is, she can't be laughed off. She cannot be written off because I think that she and people like her threat.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
They even tell you that you are a racist, that you're a bigot, that you are out here killing people if you don't support them, if you don't vote for them. And they parade around all of these manufactured politicians in front of you to communicate all of these insane messages. It is all driven by emotion.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
And so, Democrats, the point is that your rebrands are a bust. They are failing because you are trying to manufacture authenticity and pander to voters who see right through you. It's not just the conservatives who are mocking you and saying this is not working. It is your own people who are calling you out more than us.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
This is why you lost power, this is why you are actively, consistently losing your own party. Conservatives laugh at you, your base is betrayed by you, and it helps none of the people that you were actually elected to represent, which at the end of the day is the most important part of your job.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
And that is exactly what is happening right now with the modern Democrat Party. Now, it's not news to anyone that the Democrat Party is a mess after the 2024 election. I mean, they are like a floppy fish out of water. They have no idea what's going on. Nobody's working together. There is no unified message, and we are watching all of that unfold.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
The most important part of your job is not starting podcasts, it's not getting media hits, it's not getting more money from lobbyists, it's representing the people who put you in office. And you seem to forget that. So all in all, if they want any chance at power in the next couple of years, in the next four years, they must make a change.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
And if Nicole had to give them one piece of advice, she said it would be this.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
And to be honest, guys, you know, those of us who are not Democrats, who are not politicians, I still think this is incredibly important for all of us to hear because being a leader is not about power or fame or money. It is about people and about integrity, especially in politics. And when you go against that, when you compromise that, people will know. They will sniff it out.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
Your employees will walk away. Voters will abandon you. The media will laugh at you constantly. That is what we've been seeing. You will be pushed out. You will be replaced by somebody better, which is literally what we are seeing every single day. in every industry.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
And another emotional tactic that they commonly use are these extremely calculated rebrands to make these political figures seem more likable or palatable in the public eye. And this year, after their major embarrassing loss in politics and in culture, they're pulling out all of the stops, starting with Gavin Newsom's new podcast entitled This Is Gavin Newsom.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
So buckle up guys, because unless the strategists and the elite donors catch on, I think we are in for a lot more of these pandering attempts. And keep your eyes on AOC, genuinely, because we might laugh at the absurdity of her and her ideas, but there is an authenticity and a commitment to principles that is worth respecting and acknowledging.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
And so just know, if they catch on, winning won't always be easy for us.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
And yes, that is what his theme song sounds like. And really, before we dive into how this is all just so awful, we do have to ask why. Like, after everything we have seen over the last five years, after everything that we saw in the LA Fires just a couple of months ago, why? I mean, Gavin Newsom is literally the last person we want to hear from.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
Why listen to him when you have hundreds of hours of Peterson Academy content that you could be learning from instead? And if you don't know, Peterson Academy is Jordan Peterson's online university that is open for enrollment right now.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
And so if you are somebody who loves lifelong learning like me, if you are a homeschool family looking to enrich your curriculum, if you just want to learn from the brightest professors in the world, or if you have ever benefited from Dr. Peterson's lectures or his podcast, then this platform is for you.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
Every month, Peterson Academy releases four new in-depth eight hour university level courses taught by world renowned experts, and they're produced to keep you fully engaged. This is not your average college course. This is something totally different.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
They cover an amazing range of topics from philosophy to statistics, to history, to psychology, science, business complete with optional testing to further your understanding. So if you're somebody who always enjoyed doing tests like me, then they have that for you. Plus guys, They are continuously rolling out new educational features as they continue to grow.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
There is also a built-in social community where you can connect and learn alongside like-minded people from around the world. So if you are ready to take this next step, if you're ready to challenge your intellect and expand your horizons and take control of your education, it is time to go to petersonacademy.com slash brett.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
It is $599 per year or only $59 a month to access all of their eight hour courses with four new courses being added a month, plus the community with a seven day money back guarantee. And guys, for the best part, in my opinion, for that price for $59 a month, you do not have to take out some $60,000 student loan to further your education.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
Again, that is petersonacademy.com slash brett to join Peterson Academy today. And guys, right now, pay attention because I think you guys will fit into this deal. Right now, they are offering a 20% discount to anyone under the age of 25, any students, any teachers, and all military active and veterans.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
So if you've been on the fence about taking the sleep for your education, now is the perfect opportunity. Again, that is petersonacademy.com Now, unless you've been living under a rock, unless you've been spending so much time watching Peterson Academy courses that you have not had time to be on X, I am sure that you have seen clips from Gavin Newsom's new podcast.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
And of course, Gavin Newsom is the governor of California and a potential 2028 Democrat hopeful. and he launched a podcast at the beginning of this year, actually not even the beginning of this year, it was at the beginning of this month, beginning of March.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
And I totally expected this podcast to just be a liberal mess of an echo chamber, but it was actually something a lot more calculated, something that we all sniffed out immediately after his first episode.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
This is his way, and his strategist's way, because this is not just something that he pulled out of his ass, it is his strategist's way to fix his image, especially after his disastrous handling of the LA fires, among a million other things that he has screwed up in California since 2019. And the way that Gavin Newsom is doing this, the way that he's fixing his image,
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
is by talking to people on the right and trying to appear more centrist. Now, his first couple of guests were Charlie Kirk, Michael Savage, and Steve Bannon. And the entire time that he had these men on his podcast, he was compromising his alleged values. He was walking back his opinions and taking the heat for his mistakes.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
He was trying to look like this casual, chill, charismatic guy that's, oh, so humble. Yeah, I know I screwed up. Oh, hey, man, just trying to be a bro trying to engage in the bro political podcast space. I mean, Charlie Kirk, for example, who, by the way, did not let him go very long without a fact check.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
I think for them, it is pretty heartbreaking and disastrous, but for me, you know, I've been able to laugh at it. I think we've all been able to laugh at it over the last couple of months. I mean, they
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
He was quick to bring up Newsom's track record with COVID and school closures, and Newsom just took it. And then he continued on and didn't just continue on with the conversation. He went on to compliment Charlie incessantly. Just listen.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
Also, by the way, what they're talking about here is that Charlie Kirk's 13-year-old son is a massive Charlie Kirk fan. That's why he wanted to have him on the podcast first. His own son is turning against him. Anyway, that's just wanted you to know that. It's extra funny. There's hope for the kids after all.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
completely lost touch with their voter base, they have lost the trust of their voter base, the party is now run by these geriatric elites who are trying to hold onto power, and then the party itself, like the grassroots messaging, is driven by left-wing young people who are radical and who hate most of the people who are actually in power. So it is just a complete mess.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
I mean, they just kept going. It's like, you are making a dent. You are making it. I love your TikToks, man. This is, I mean, what genuinely, what is going on? I mean, he just kept complimenting Charlie. In fact, somebody watched that podcast episode and was studying the whole thing. And they reported that he praised or agreed with Kirk nearly 125 times, including saying that he quote unquote,
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
appreciates Kirk or his ideas a whopping 52 times. I mean, this is a far cry from the man that we have all come to know who has called us racist traitors for the last six years. But here's the thing, he did not stop there. Next, in this same podcast episode with Turley, he seemingly pretends that he is a moderate on the issue of trans women in women's sports. Take a listen.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
We can call out the unfairness of this issue. And guys, just that simple comment, we're going to talk about it later, it turned people upside down. But I just want to focus on the fact that this is completely hypocritical based on everything that we have seen from Gavin Newsom. I mean, California...
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
has some of the most pro-trans laws in the entire country, and Newsom, as governor, has upheld them and strengthened them since coming into office in 2019. So, like, what is this? Is he actually more moderate than he's ever told us and we assume, or is he strategically using this podcast and using conservatives to make himself more palatable to centrist Americans?
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
Now, Nicole Shanahan thinks that it's the latter. She believes that he is spending more time on his rebrand than on his actual state, and I couldn't agree more. Take a listen.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
Now, obviously, the next question we have to ask is, is this actually working? And the hilarious thing is, guys, this schtick is not working on anyone. People on the right obviously sniffed this out. They know that it is a political game.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
Charlie Kirk actually, after he went on the podcast, he immediately turned around, did a hit with Fox News, wrote an op-ed for Fox News, and said, yeah, this is a dangerous game. We can all see through it. In fact, he wrote, Newsom got a bit irritated when I suggested that he was slick. Precisely because it's so accurate.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
His show is a charm offensive calculated play, a rebrand for a man who knows the Democratic Party took a beating in 2024 and needs a new face. He hopes by looking moderate on the perfect cocktail of issues, he can get both liberals to back him in a primary and then moderates and Republicans to back him in a general election. It might work.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
And the smart thing to do, what I would advise, is, you know, to take a step back, to take a pause, to look inward, to do some self-analysis, you know, look at their failed policies, and maybe redirect. But of course, that strategy would just make too much sense. That would be too genuine. And of course, the Democrats cannot do that.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
One thing I learned in my podcast experience is that the governor isn't a joke. He has a shark's instincts and is hoping that voters will have a goldfish's memory.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
But of course, as you all have seen on social media, those clips, those sound bites, they aren't working anymore. And even worse, people on the left are watching Newsom and they believe that this is an utter betrayal.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
Now the same report that I referenced earlier that was tracking the compliments of Charlie in that first episode, it is from California's Capital Weekly publication and they actually ran a survey on the whole podcast and they found that the initial response is probably not what the governor would want. The negative impact on Newsom's popularity with voters is clearly visible in this survey.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
Newsom's favorability in our last survey done the first week of February of this year, so literally just a month prior, had his total favorability at 52% with 48% unfavorable. for a net favorability, favorable minus unfavorable, of plus 4. Notably, his very unfavorable was at 25% in this survey.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
So now, post-podcast, his favorability has dropped to 47%, with his very favorable dropping to 18% from 25%, and his net favorable going to negative 6 for a 10-point drop in negative favorability.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
Among self-identified liberals, 37% of these said that the snippets of the Newsome podcast harmed their perception of the governor, and among these voters, the governor's very favorable number has dropped from 46 to 30%. Now, additionally, the podcast only made 13% of voters have an improved perception of the governor.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
with 26% saying that it harmed their perception and 58% saying it made no difference. Because we all know that he is a bag of crap, to be honest. We know that he has slick hair and shiny teeth. We all see through it. One in five voters said that these snippets made them want to watch or listen to future Newsom podcasts. This was a 10-point swing in the wrong direction.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
Moderates and people on the right are not buying this, and more importantly, his own base is betrayed. And nothing has been funnier than the meltdowns. Except maybe the meltdowns from the vegans whenever I do a Good Ranchers ad, which I'm about to do right now.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
And guys, it is time to spring into action and put American farms first, because nothing beats American quality, and that is why I love Good Ranchers. Good Ranchers puts family values first, just like you do. Their meat is born, raised, and harvested right here in the USA from local family farms so you know exactly where your food is coming from.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
It is free from hidden additives, no antibiotics ever, no added hormones, no seed oils in their amazing chicken nuggets, just simple trustworthy ingredients so you can feel good about eating and feeding your family. And of course, where they really make life easier is because it is delivered straight to your door.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
Instead, they have put David Hogg in charge of the DNC and Gavin Newsom started a podcast. Apparently, those are their two big strategies to take back power in 2028. And this podcast, Gavin Newsom's podcast, we've all been talking about it. It is actually indicative of a far broader trend that I want to talk about today that we've seen really with the Democrats for the last decade. Decade.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
No last minute grocery runs, long lines, or wondering if you're getting the best quality. With GoodRanchers.com, everything you need to create delicious meals is just a click away. And right now, if you go to GoodRanchers.com slash Brett, you will find my personal curated box with all of Alex's and my favorite Good Ranchers products.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
These are the things that we eat on a daily basis that are the staples of our home, and I hope that you love them as much as we do. Now, in addition to checking that out, Good Ranchers is currently running their Spring Into Action promotion so that you and your family can support local ranchers and easily get American quality delivered right to your door.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
All you have to do is subscribe to any of their boxes, but preferably the Brett Cooper box, and you will get free bacon or ground beef or seed oil-free chicken nuggets or salmon in every single order for a year. You'll get to pick whichever one you want. That is free meat for an entire year, plus you will get $40 off when you use my code BRETT at checkout.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
And seriously guys, this is the best offer Good Ranchers has ever given and you won't find it anywhere else. So to spring into action and help American Family Farms with every purchase, just visit goodranchers.com today, goodranchers.com slash brett if you want to check out my box, and use my code brett to claim your free meat and $40 off.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
Now back to all the non-vegan meltdowns, what is actually funny about all of these responses is that many of them, like Jane Fonda, famous actress, famous activist, I feel like I know her more as an activist than an actress these days, She seems less worried about Newsom becoming squishy on the issues that they care about and more about the fact that he has the gall to even speak to conservatives.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
Jane, that is literally why you lost. I mean, we could just do an entire episode just on this. It is the lack of self-awareness. It is the refusal to listen to your own voters.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
It is the refusal to listen to the people who are winning, who took a different strategy than you, who focused on different policies, who actually took policies that you guys used to promote, but you went so crazy that you left them. I mean, it is a total failure. cognitive dissonance.
The Brett Cooper Show
Democrats Are Rebranding, And It’s Insufferable | Episode 17
This, in fact, is why you lost maybe, if you listen to Steve Bannon's show, maybe if you listen to anybody on the right, you would start to understand that. But of course, that's not the only reason the Democrats lost. They also lost because of a terrible case of bad inauthenticity and a lack of connection to their voter base, which, to her credit, Sunny Hostin on The View did point out.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
The point here that I am trying to make about all these PR strategies, about all the strategies, is that something happened with Amelia Perez. Something that many believe is a bit suspicious and possibly conspiratorial.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
All of these tweets blew up big time. It was a huge, huge ordeal, especially because of social media. This was not, you know, 2005 or only a few people saw it. This did not make shock waves. No, this was literally everywhere, which is another huge thing that has changed in this award show campaigning, which Daniel also touched on.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
And as Daniel touched on, this lobbying and the campaigning for award shows is no longer just for Hollywood and just for the Academy, the voting body of the Oscars. It is for everyone. And so when someone fails or makes a misstep of insane proportions in their eyes, we all know. We all see it. We are all engaged. Sometimes it is social media users themselves who expose it. Everybody is involved.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
It's not just about Hollywood. And so Obviously, this took place, it spiraled out of control, and neither Netflix nor Carla's team could control it. Now, to be fair, Carla's PR person is the same person that represented Will Smith after the slap incident, which I think was just a terrible hire in the first place. We saw how that turned out for him.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
So I think you can kind of guess how things are going. for poor Carlos Sofia Gascon right now. But that is besides the point. I want to get back to the impact that this had on Amelia Perez, because as Daniel said, the one thing, the one possible thing that could destroy this perfect, woke, inclusive film did.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
I feel like that is what Amelia Perez is. But of course, there is a real story here. And so Amelia Perez is about a Mexican drug cartel leader who fakes his own death to undergo gender-affirming surgery. And then she, now she, re-emerges onto the scene and tries to live this new life and is like re-welcomed by society and her family and her community as a woman.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
And this is why this story is so interesting, because it is literally forcing Hollywood to reconcile how they have put identity politics and inclusion politics on a pedestal. And now they have to decide how far they are willing to go to protect this. Like, what side are they choosing? Are they willing to defend a trans woman of color in her time of need when she is being canceled?
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
Or are they going to pick the side of the people that feel offended by her bigoted racist tweets? Well, apparently not. Apparently they are not choosing the side of the trans woman of color who is being canceled. Apparently hating Islam and criticizing George Floyd was the step too far. And the entire narrative around the film flipped.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
It went from trans joy and inclusion and this being the most progressive, amazing, groundbreaking film of all time and the first trans actress nominated for the Best Leading Actress at the Oscars to utter chaos, panic, and regret.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
In fact, Selena Gomez, who is one of the other stars of Amelia Perez, put it well when she said that quote, And so I guess really what I'm trying to say is that they decided that queer and trans joy just wasn't the end all be all after all. From here, Carla Sofia Gascon was iced out.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
Carla is still nominated for Best Actress, that is still a revolutionary, you know, first time that has happened, first trans person to be nominated, but it is unlikely at this point that Gascon will actually attend the Oscars that are happening on Sunday night.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
Netflix, who produced and distributed the film, has even said that they have halted all communication with Gascon, they will no longer be paying for travel or lodging or inclusion at any of these events.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
The production team, Netflix, the Oscars campaign has removed Gascon from all four-year consideration materials, which, guys, if you live in Los Angeles or if you're involved in the film industry at all, during this time of year, everything that you see in LA are huge posters of all of these films.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
And Amelia Perez, with 13 nominations, I am sure, was everywhere, featuring, in huge fashion, Carlos Sofia Gascon. Well, Gascon has now been removed from all of that, which I'm sure was very expensive. And the cast has, of course, distanced themselves as well, like you saw with Selena.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
Zoe Saldana, who was another star of the film, said, quote, I do not support any negative rhetoric of racism or bigotry towards any group of people. That is what I want to stand for. Quote, I am allowing myself to still experience that joy because we did come together as a team, but we are also individuals who are responsible for everything we say and everything we do.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
Now, in addition to the fellow actresses, the director also chimed in, and this is really where it gets interesting. I want you to think about this director and think, about what he's saying in this quote because the context is just extra special. So the director does this interview with Deadline and he says, yes, very unfortunately it is taking up all the space.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
The scandal is taking up all the space. And that makes me very sad. It is very hard for me to think back to the work that I did with Carla Sofia, the trust we shared, the exceptional atmosphere that we had on the set that was indeed based on trust.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
And when you have that kind of relationship and suddenly you read something that that person has said, things that are absolutely hateful and worthy of being hated, of course that relationship is affected. It is as if you fall into a hole because what Carla Sophia said is inexcusable. And then Deadline responded and said, have you spoken to her?
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
And he responded and said, no, I have not spoken to her and I don't want to. So again, everybody is icing out Gascon. She is in a self-destructive approach that I can't interfere in and I really don't understand why she's continuing. Why is she harming herself? Why? I don't understand it. And what I don't understand about this, too, is why she's harming people who are very close to her.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
I am thinking in this thing of how hurting others—by the way, he's French, so this is probably translated, so if it seems grammatically weird, that is why— I'm thinking in this thing of how hurting others, of how she is hurting the crew and all of these people who worked so incredibly hard on this film. I am thinking of myself. I am thinking of Zoe and Selena.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
And yes, all of this is happening through song because it is a musical. Here is a clip just to give you a taste.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
I just don't understand why she is continuing to harm us. I'm not getting in touch with her right now because she needs space to reflect and take accountability for her actions. Now, whether or not you agree with Gascon's tweets, whether or not you feel like they were too far, This response is just ridiculous. These were things that Gascon posted, you know, three years ago at this point.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
Guys, there has been a scandal unfolding in Hollywood that I've wanted to talk about for the last couple of months, but I'm kind of glad that I waited until just now because this involves Hollywood's awards season. This involves the Oscars, which are happening on Sunday night. You guys will be watching this on Thursday. So I have let all of this played out.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
Gascon is not doing anything to this film at all. Somebody dug up these tweets, they posted them. This is not Carlos Sofia Gascon actively going after this film and the trust they shared and the actresses and the crew. This is just something that happened and that Gascon is also having to deal with. It is not just you that is dealing with the reckoning.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
I mean, Gascon is literally getting cancelled right now. So this is just a very emotional and victim-focused response. But this, again, I told you, remember the director. This is where the twist comes in. This is when I genuinely got so interested in this story because there are so many layers of covering up and doing virtue signaling and apologizing. I mean, this film, it is like another level.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
So again, I told you to remember this director because this director, as you just heard, is acting so holier than thou. Oh my goodness. What is Sophia doing to us? What's Carla doing to us? All of these things. What he is doing is actually hoping that people forget about his own controversy that he was dealing with. just two weeks ago.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
This emotional response is just him covering up the fact that he said this while promoting his Mexican film. Obviously this director, Jacques, he is French. He is speaking in French. I do not speak French, but I translated this as many people did online. And what Jacques was saying here is that the Spanish language is for poor people.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
The quote specifically is, Spanish is a language of modest countries, developing countries, and of the poor and migrants. So that's not really a good look when you just produced an entire film about the country of Mexico and about the Mexican people. He also admitted around that same time that he really didn't feel the need to research Mexico before embarking on this film.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
Now again, there are so many different languages here, I have people writing about this in Spanish, he's speaking about it in French, but basically that is what he said, he felt no need to go to Mexico to research any of it because he knew everything he needed to know.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
And there are a lot of things that are mind-boggling to me about this story, but this might take the cake, because how do you not even research what you are making a film about? Like, that is the bare minimum of your job as a director. Like, research is everywhere. Research is a good thing. That is why I love Qualia, because all of their products are well researched.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
I see, I see, I see. Man to woman or woman to men.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
Now, Qualia is one of my favorite brands in the health space, and their science team is tackling some of the most challenging aspects of health and wellness that we all face. human longevity, and optimizing mental health. Their supplements and formulas are raising the bar on what is possible for our health through advanced nutrition. And this is fully on display with Qualia NAD+.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
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The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
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The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
This all got so bad that he literally had to apologize two weeks before all of the Carlos Sofia Gascon stuff came out, way before all of that took place. But guys, that is not all. That is not the end of why people are angry at him. They are also angry at him because he chose to make this movie about Mexico and, you know, Mexican cartels and Mexican people
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
He's asking the question of, is it man to woman, woman to man, penis to vagina? That is a real thing. This was in a movie, a serious movie, guys, that has shaken up the Hollywood landscape. And not because it is so bad. No, no, no, no, no. It is quite the contrary. It is because everybody loves it so much because this is just a brave, beautiful, trans musical.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
in Paris with three non-Mexican actresses, which apparently is news to Selena Gomez because, you know, she's talking about how these are her people. They're really not her people. And the media is calling her out for that. And they're calling out this director for not hiring any Mexicans.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
So the point here and why I am painting this broad stroke and giving you all of this context is because way before All of the Carlos stuff started way before all the trans stuff started. There was already an uproar from Latinos about this film who were angry about how they were represented or not represented in this film.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
Conveniently, this is also the other thing that is just so sinister to me and also ties into the whole PR strategy and how they protect these films and fight for them for these award shows. But Netflix and the films team allegedly tried to hide the fact that there really wasn't any great Mexican representation in the film.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
and they kept the film out of Latin American countries, literally delaying it until the film had secured nominations to avoid backlash on social media. And obviously this is kind of a conspiracy, like it has not been confirmed by Netflix or by the distributor.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
We don't have any messages explaining the reasoning, but we can look at the dates and we can see that the film originally premiered in May of 2024, that it then came out in the States, I believe in October or November of 2024, and that it only came out in Latin America in January of 2025, after it had secured all of the nominations. And you know what?
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
They were probably right to do this because, as I said, Jacques had to apologize because there was a lot of backlash. Listen to some of these headlines. Take it from a Mexican, Amelia Perez is trash. Why Mexicans find Amelia Perez so disrespectful. Why is Amelia Perez hated in Mexico? but Oscar nominated in the U.S.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
And guys, one of these articles, one of these Amelia Perez hit pieces was actually written by a former colleague of mine, John Carlos Sopo, who is a Latino media strategist and a culture writer. He wrote a great piece about this in IndieWire last week. His headline reads, And this is his opinion piece. This was released on February 3rd. Now, he wrote,
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
Analogies are imperfect, but to understand why Latinos are appalled by Amelia Perez, imagine this. The Academy louds a Klan rehabilitation musical set in the deep South, but shot in Paris. It's non-American cast speaks in British and Aussie accents, and the few black actors are largely relegated to extras.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
He went on and said, Latinos, especially those from working class communities along the border, And remember, Amelia Perez, the trans star of this film, is a cartel drug leader. Undergoes gender-affirming surgery and then comes out and is, like, beloved by their family and by their community.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
Everything is fine because now she knows herself and she is, you know, she has found her true identity, whatever it is. Giancarlo goes on and says, Their victims number in the hundreds of thousands with no end in sight. And it is infuriating to see a ward's body celebrate a film that repackages suffering as a kitschy telenova with garish musical numbers. Penis to a vagina.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
Obviously it's very garish. Equally frustrating is Hollywood's obliviousness to regional class divides, which may explain why the few Hispanics who defend Amelia Perez either live nowhere near the border, have financial ties to the project, or can afford to protect themselves from cartel. carnage. So this goes way deeper than just representation.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
It's not just that the Mexican community is upset that this was not filmed in Mexico, that the director thinks that their language is the lowest of the lows, and that he didn't even feel the need to research Mexico in the slightest, or that they didn't hire any Mexican artists. It's the fact that he is glamorizing something that terrorizes their country.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
That they literally have to flee and protect themselves from every single day. Not just in Mexico, but also on the border in America. And honestly, this is the most out-of-touch Hollywood thing I have ever heard. Like, it is so perfect. Like, of course, they would make a movie musical about the Mexican drug cartels and glamorize it because, oh, it's all okay because she's trans!
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
So then everything's fine and all the people that she, he killed is totally fine because we love them now because they found their true selves. I mean, you literally cannot make this up. Comedy writers could not create something that is so beautifully insane and beautifully ironic. Now, Giancarlo's article is great because he touches on that.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
He really goes deep on that aspect of representation and why people are upset. But his article really shines when he gets to the crux of the issue. And this is why I and so many others are interested in this story.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
Because it's not just about celebrities and wokeness and Hollywood doing crazy things and all of us being able to laugh at it, you know, laughing at the crazy people in the Capitol, you know, Hunger Games style. The reason why we're all interested in it is because this is the reckoning of everything the left in Hollywood has propped up for the last decade.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
Or as Daniel put it, a major realignment that is about to happen.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
This film was literally pushed into the limelight because of inclusivity. Criticisms from the Mexican people, from just normal people who listen to penis to vagina and went, oh my God, this film was terrible. Why is it being nominated? All of that was shunned and ignored because of inclusivity. Because it is a story about a trans woman of color.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
If they had just gotten one more measly nomination, they would be in the category of the most nominated Oscar films, of which there are three, which is La La Land, Titanic, and All About Evil. All three of them have 14 nominations. Nobody has ever cracked 15. Amelia Perez, you should have done it. Beautiful trans, penis to vagina musical. You could have beat them all, but no, they came close.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
And this representation and political relevance was all that mattered. And these were the exact things that tore it down. And so I think the lesson here, for Hollywood, is that these projects that you guys prop up, that are driven by identity politics, they are not infallible. And they should not be.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
When you guys look at your Oscar requirements, you know, your diversity requirements, oh, I have a trans person, I have a person of color, whatever, that is not the end-all be-all for good film Audiences are screaming from the rooftops and telling you, this is not what we want. We want genuine, organic, authentic stories. This is what we want from Hollywood. You haven't listened.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
And I think it finally took an Amelia Perez type film to burn it all down, to show you how ridiculous this is to hold a mirror up and say, you really nominated a film with a song called penis to vagina, 13 times at the Academy Awards. And it was destroyed because this infallible trans actress made racist, bigoted tweets. I mean, genuinely guys, it is too perfect.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
And again, in many ways, I feel like this needed to happen. Like Hollywood desperately needs to have that good, long, hard look in the mirror and realize that this is the result of 10 years of ridiculousness of prioritizing politics over genuinely good art. And that is why Amelia Perez was created. I mean, Amelia Perez in my eyes is like the baby of the last 10 years.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
It is completely devoid of authenticity. It is devoid of any of the real representation that they have said that they've been advocating for.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
And on top of that, the other thing that I think this film brought up is just to remind us all that these people, the people who brought us Amelia Perez and put Amelia Perez up on this pedestal, they are the people that have been telling us what to think and how to think for the last decade plus, forever at this point. I mean, think about Meryl Streep.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
We all think that Meryl Streep is the greatest actor of all time. We think that because Harvey Weinstein told us that. Think about the politics in this country, the cultural tones. So many people were misled because of Hollywood, because of actresses.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
Think about the episode that I did just a couple of weeks ago where Hollywood stars were dictating our perception of the world until it all came crashing down, until we pulled back the curtain and realized, oh my gosh, you're nothing like us. You don't understand us in the slightest. Why would I listen to you? And the same thing is now happening with the art that these people create.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
And so again, I will go to the grave arguing that this is something that desperately needed to happen. And guys, the other thing that is truly interesting, the last thing I will leave you with is that the voting had already happened for the Oscars by the time that all this came out, or I think voting was already happening.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
And a lot of people were trying to lobby that Carla Sofia Gascon should be removed from the Oscars, that she should have her nomination rescinded, but that did not happen. And so there is a chance that Carla Sofia Gascon could still win Best Leading Actress in a Film as the first trans actress to be nominated and win.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
And I think that that would just further cement how ridiculous this entire thing is. And so personally, I kind of hope it happens because it would just make the story that much better. Okay, that's a wrap. That was a lot of talking. Alex, have my steak. We're not rolling anymore, right? No. This is exactly what I need after talking for an hour. It's just good ranchers.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
A close second with 13 Oscar nominations. It also received 65 nominations across the board with all the other awards like the SAG Awards, the BAFTAs, the Golden Globes. And guys, why do you think that is? Is this such a mystery? Like why did this queer, trans, Mexican cartel musical become the most nominated film and actually the most nominated non-English film in Oscar history.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
It's well done, just how I like it.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
Why did that happen? Well, because it's about a trans woman of color and it's a musical. I mean, this film is basically infallible until, my friends, until it was not. until it all blew up and imploded because of its creator, sending shockwaves throughout Hollywood and forging an identity politics reckoning, which is why we have to talk about.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
But we also have to ask, was this destruction organic or was it part of a PR smear campaign from competing films. I want to kind of break that down for you because this was something that I had no idea about. I was actually talking to my PR guy on the phone. I was like, oh my God, I want to talk about Amelia Perez. This is so crazy.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
And he was like, Brett, you realize that might've come from a competing Oscar lobbying PR firm. I was like, hold, hold on, hold on. There are PR firms that are specifically designed to campaign for films to win the Oscar season. Yes, that is a whole thing. So obviously, I think we need to break that down first. So you might think that films just get nominated, we all tune into the Oscars.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
We all, nobody's tuning into the Oscars anymore. Maybe this year to see if Emilia Perez wins. And you know, people vote, the Academy votes, and the best film wins. But it really is not that simple. What I learned is that there is an entire industry within Hollywood and then within PR that is built around award season for these huge nominated films every single year.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
Now to help me break this down and offer some more insight for all of us, I called up my friend Daniel D'Addario, who is Variety's chief entertainment correspondent, and he even has a new novel coming out this year called The Talent that actually follows a group of actresses through this campaign for award season. And this is what he had to say about this lobbying.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
I have waited until this moment so I can hopefully bring you as up-to-date information as humanly possible, but we need to talk about The film to rule them all of 2025. The film that has literally shaken up the entire Hollywood filmmaking landscape. And no, I am not talking about It Ends With Us. That is shaking up the Me Too and legal landscape and the celebrity landscape.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
However, guys, this kind of campaigning was not always the case. It used to be that the films would come out, the voting body would vote on them, everybody would show up, yay, the best film won, they would go home. But something changed in the 90s.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
Some person burst out on the scene and completely disrupted how award shows went, and that person was none other than Harvey Weinstein, as Daniel breaks down.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
But the thing is, it's not just positive press that Harvey Weinstein was pushing. It wasn't just making sure that these stars, these actors and actresses were in front of the voting bodies 24-7, you know, the for your consideration, that's what he started. There is another strategy that Harvey created, the offense.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
The PR smear campaigns literally designed to take down other films in order to bolster their own.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
Now, as Daniel said, all of this really started in the nineties with Harvey, but it has not stopped in the slightest. This has only grown since Harvey. One article from 2023 said, inside the blood sport of Oscar campaigns, war rooms, oppo dumps, eight figure budgets, how the quest for award season glory got so cutthroat.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
And in this they write, Oscar campaigns are often run by professional strategists, essentially a specialized breed of publicist. One thing that always shocks me is how many jobs there are in the world. Like, it is genuinely crazy that there is a type of PR within PR under Hollywood specifically about award season.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
I mean, seriously, if you're trying to figure out what you want to do with your life, there is something for everyone. So go find what you're interested in. If you are interested in campaigning for films, there is something for you. They go on and they say, their job begins as early as a year before the award. Sometimes before a film is even shot.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
But this, this other film is shaking up something completely different. Before we dive into this story though, if you want ad-free content, a weekly advice video, we just posted our first one called Dear Brett. If you want all of that and more, plus an exclusive newsletter, please check out my subscriber platform called Cooper Confidential. We will link it below in the description.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
They advise on which festival a film should premiere at, shape a campaign platform, and hope that the film gains enough momentum to propel it into award season. Sometimes several strategists work on a single film, and the war room of an Oscars campaign can grow to be as many as 10 or 20 people. I mean, they are pulling out all the stops.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
They are not relying on hope and a prayer, even though prayer is good, especially when you're praying with Hallow. Now, I've told you guys about my favorite prayer app, Hallow, and they are bringing us an incredible prayer challenge to help us all have an amazing Lent. If you don't know about Lent, it is the 40-day season preparing for Good Friday and Easter where Christians pray and fast.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
Hallow's Lent Pray 40 Challenge is going to be absolutely amazing this year. It's called The Way, where you can follow the way that Jesus provides us the answers, the hope, and the healing that we are all searching for. Hallow just announced the voices that are leading this challenge and let's just say it's pretty exciting. You can challenge yourself and fast with Mark Wahlberg.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
You can pray and reflect with Jonathan Rumi and Sister Miriam James. You can hear my favorite Father Mike Schmidt's Sunday sermons and hear incredible stories of faith throughout the challenge. Last year, over a million people around the world prayed every single day on Hallow during Lent and this year's Lent is going to be even bigger and you should be a part of it.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
So sign up now at hallow.com slash cooper. to get three months free, which means that your trial will last all of Lent. You can try it out for free all of Lent. And when you join, check out the other 10,000 guided prayers and meditations that will help you all grow closer to God and find peace. So download the app today and join the Lent Pray 40 waitlist today.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
Now this article goes on and they later touch the negative narratives. Again, these are the things that Harvey pioneered. Negative narratives are usually attributed to the diabolical workings of rival strategists. The stories about abusive directors, overblown budgets, whether the real people behind biopics should really be celebrated.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
Quote, they try to change someone else's narrative by adding dirt to the layer. Citing the old rumor that Matt Damon and Ben Affleck didn't really write Good Will Hunting. A more recent example that strategists still talk about is when Green Book was up for Best Picture in 2019.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
The week the nomination ballots went out, a story resurfaced about the director of the movie, Peter Farley, and a joke he used to play 20 years earlier that involved exposing himself. Farley apologized the same day. The film still won, but many believe another Best Picture campaign planted the story.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
So this just changes my entire perspective about a word show, about Hollywood, and the fact that maybe a lot of the things that come out about these actors, about these directors, that it isn't really genuine or organic. And maybe it's actually planted by these insane PR teams and these media strategists whose entire job is to make sure that their film wins against all odds.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
Now, what's also really interesting is that these smear campaigns are often not visible to the naked eye. I mean, think about that last line. Publicists might leak things like that. They might sneakily send tips about people in these other films to reporters.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
All right, so the movie in question, you guys might already know this. The movie in question is Amelia Perez. This is the queer trans Mexican musical. That has taken Hollywood by storm in 2024, 2025. My crew off camera is literally shaking their heads in disbelief. You heard that correctly. A queer trans Mexican cartel musical.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
They might even write entire negative articles about something or someone to make it seem like this smear and this negative press is organic and grassroots, which is a term called astroturfing in PR. Now, to call in another relevant story to make this kind of sing for you guys, This astroturfing is exactly what Blake Lively is accusing Justin Baldoni of. Now, I highly doubt that.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
As you guys definitely know, I actually think that her fall from grace was completely organic after years and years of people not calling her out on her bad behavior and people covering up her bad behavior. But of course, only time will tell. That will happen in the courts. But here's a headline about that.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
Blake Lively's It Ends With Us Allegations, Astroturfing, and When Fans Feel Manipulated by PR. The point here that I am trying to make about all these PR strategies, about all the strategies, is that something happened with Amelia Perez. This queer Mexican trans movie musical. Something that many believe is a bit suspicious and possibly conspiratorial because this film
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
that again, was perfectly infallible in the eyes of Hollywood, perfectly positioned for a win at the Oscars, dominating the awards season, was suddenly blown up after a freelance journalist exposed the lead actor, Carla Sophia Gascon. for racist and bigoted tweets. And as we all know by now, after so many years of this, that is how the fall from grace really starts.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
Now, everything with Amelia Perez is going swimmingly until this moment, until freelance journalist named Sarah Hagee uncovered. And again, I'm doing this in air quotes because we don't know whether this was organic or whether this was planted by somebody, but she did uncover and she posted
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
a series of old tweets from Gascon and put them on X. Now, Sarah Hage posted and said, it is so insane that Carlos Sofia Gascon still has these tweets up straight up have never seen tweets this racist from somebody actively campaigning to win an Academy Award, there are more than a dozen.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
Now, one thing that really stood out to me about this post from Sarah was that she's not really just saying it's appalling that these tweets were ever posted in the first place, she's saying it's appalling that they are still up while she is campaigning for the Academy Awards, which feels like a totally different conversation, but what she is focusing on is the PR strategy saying, hey, this is the smoking gun, and Sarah was gonna be the one to expose her, and guys,
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
These tweets. Listen, I am not too sensitive. I, you know, can be politically incorrect, but I will say these tweets are a doozy. And it turns out that the biggest advocate for protecting Europe and the West from the immigration crisis coming from the Middle East is actually the lead of this queer trans Mexican movie musical, Carla Sofia Gascon.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
And fair warning, no punches were pulled, and these tweets that I am showing you are actually the most mild of all the ones that she posted. In one, Carla says... New attack in France, beheadings in Nice by one of these retarded followers of Allah. How many times will we have to expel these madmen from Europe until we realize that their religion is incompatible with Western values?
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
We do not learn. Another one about the same issue reads, sorry, is it just my impression or are there more and more Muslims in Spain? Every time I go pick up my daughter from school, there are more and more women with their hair covered and their skirts down to their heels. Maybe next year, instead of English, we'll have to teach Arabic and Alam.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
Another one, how many more times will history have to expel the Moors from Spain? We have not yet realized what this threat of civilization means, which constantly attacks the freedom and coherence of the individual. It is not about racism. It is about Islam.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
And guys, there are about a dozen more of these tweets just about the Islamic expansion in Europe, which, to be fair, is a big issue and a concern for millions. I feel like I see tweets about this all the time on X. And obviously, Gascon feels this personally. and passionately, considering all of these tweets.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
It is like they were playing charades or what's that game where you like pull out random things and you have to like, it's like an improv game. When I used to do improv, I used to do things with Second City in LA and you would have to pull random, you know, characters or scenes and landscapes and situations. You had to make something work. You had to like make a scene out of nonsense.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
And again, the posts that I chose to read you were the mild ones, so you can go read the other ones yourself. Now, in addition to that conversation, she also joined in on American discourse after the death of George Floyd, and Gascon posted, let me get this straight.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Hollywood Turned on the Trans Mexican Cartel Movie | Episode 9
A guy tries to pass off a counterfeit bill after consuming methamphetamine, an idiot policeman arrives and goes too far in arresting him, killing him and ruining the lives of his family and his colleagues, and turning the guy with the bill into a martyr hero. And then in another post following that one, Variety translated this one, Gascon says, Needless to say,
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
So just a couple of weeks ago, I was, you know, scrolling on X as I do thinking about the world and realized, you know, I haven't seen many protests lately. They've kind of calmed down. There hasn't been much ridiculousness. Like there wasn't a huge protest after the inauguration. I was in DC.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
This is a loss as a quote from somebody in the community. Like again, this is just so absurd. It exposes everything, how much of a fraud so many of these activists actually are. And guys, what is even better is that the government had actually wanted to build a highway in this region since 2012.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
But according to the New York Post, it had always been stalled, it had always been halted and put on hold because of environmental reasons. Listen to this. The state government of Para initially hatched the idea for the thoroughfare in 2012, but it was repeatedly put on hold after concerns were raised over its environmental impact. I mean, again, you literally can't make this up.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
This was an idea that was rejected for over a decade because of environmental concerns. But the moment that an environmental climate change summit is coming to the area, oh yeah, sure. Let's bulldoze the Amazon, all of our concerns about the environment. Who cares?
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
Because the billionaires are coming to talk about how much better they are and all the things that we need to do as individuals to save the climate. They're all going to fly in on their private jets while they lecture all of us about paper straws and driving EV vehicles while they bulldoze an entire part of the Amazon to get to their stupid conference.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
Now, simultaneously in California, there is also a hugely underreported story that, again, is just another perfect example of this, and that is how the California government, along with a myriad of different multi-million dollar climate change environmentalist nonprofits, are pushing ranchers and dairy farmers out of the Point Reyes National Seashore because they are hurting the environment.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
And these are dairy farmers and ranchers that have been here for generations that the government allowed to stay here in this national reserve to help maintain the environment and the local economy. But now, after over a hundred years, they are being pushed out to save the environment. This article reads, dead set on saving Point Reyes, environmentalists want to kill its best stewards.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
And the article reads, most of the dairy farms and the cattle ranches on Point Reyes National Seashore will soon disappear. Though the ranchers have been leasing the land from the National Park Service for decades, and they had an agreement saying that they could be there, environmental groups sued the agency in 2016, alleging that agricultural pollution was disrupting local ecosystems.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
Actually, we are dominating men in most spaces, which is kind of a huge problem. in my eyes, but things are going well. So why are we out in the streets marching? I don't have an answer for you. And the thing is, I don't think these women actually know why either.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
Earlier this year, 12 of the 14 working ranchers accepted a buyout worth an estimated $30 million from the environmental groups to end years of draining litigation. And I know that $30 million seems like a huge number, but split that up over 12 families who have mounting legal fees, who have hundreds and hundreds of acres on the coast in California that they will not be able to buy again.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
They now need to relocate, move their entire businesses that they probably will not be able to start over again because they have been sued into oblivion by these environmentalist groups. And this right here is why they're being pushed out. Listen to this. Some environmentalists from these groups argue that removing farming and ranching will restore point raised to a more natural state.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
Among their concerns are water quality issues created by manure, lack of biodiversity, invasive species overpopulation, land deterioration, and habitat destruction. They argue that livestock agriculture is fundamentally incompatible with ecological conservation. That is crazy. Like, genuinely, these are
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
family regenerative farms, and you are saying they are incompatible with ecological conservation. Now, of course, you and I, I am sure both know that that is utterly ridiculous and utterly unscientific, and it is actually the complete opposite, as this writer and this dairy farmer from the area wrote.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
He said, but the removal of responsible farmers from Point Reyes doesn't restore nature, it neglects it. For more than 30 years, Strauss Family Creamery, which I founded and its network of supplying organic family farms, have shown that responsible farming restores ecosystems.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
Organic and regenerative farming practices can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, put carbon back into the soil, and foster healthy soils that help landscapes adapt to drought, flooding, and severe storms. On my Strauss Dairy Farm Near Point raise, I have worked to implement a carbon-neutral farming model.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
We are working toward on-farm carbon neutrality by reducing methane emissions from animals by more than 90% while maximizing soil carbon sequestration, through regenerative practices like compost application and intensive rotational grazing. Farming responsibly can provide measurable, scalable climate solutions while feeding local communities high quality, nutritious food.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
I mean, at the Women's March in Paris last week, they were topless, per usual, they're always topless in Paris, and they were protesting fascism. in America by going topless. Isn't that lovely? Doesn't that just make you wanna end fascism in America? Focus on your own damn country. Why on earth do you have an American flag painted on your bare chest with a swastika? literally makes no sense.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
Again, this shouldn't be a controversial issue. This is common sense. This is something that we should all be able to get behind. This is helping not only local communities, but California's environment, which obviously we know it desperately needs the help. But of course, the real environmentalist, the California government, they don't want to hear any of that logic. They don't believe any of it.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
They just want them gone. But ironically, as all of these family farms are having to get up and move after taking that buyout, the California government has now realized that actually the cows can stay because they need something to graze that land. But the family farmers, no, they have to leave after generations and generations of being stewards of that land.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
So they have to get out, but they'll find some kind of contracted cow lease system to be able to graze the land. Because according to the nonprofits, we have to save the earth and apparently save the native Thule elk population on Point Reyes that these lobbyists have been very concerned about.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
One article wrote, environmentalists scored a major victory on Wednesday when the National Park Service agreed to revise its land management plan at Point Reyes National Seashore to better serve the area's native Thule elk species. That's really what it's all about. When you get to the crux of the issue, it's all about the damn elk.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
And the article goes on and says, advocates for the elk have locked horns in battle with the National Park Service for years over the effects of cattle ranching at the pristine coastal site in Marin County. I mean, that is genuinely laughable. It is absurd. Like, no wonder people have turned their backs on environmentalism, as Benji says.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
And the reason why I wanted to tell you about both of those stories is because both of these examples show a pattern. Radical climate folks prioritizing grand gestures or forcing their way over practical proven fixes. Again, how many times can I say this? It will never work. Their strategies are just not effective because people are done.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
They're tired of being elbowed by these big environmentalists. They are tired of being guilt tripped and emotionally manipulated by hypocritical attention seekers. And no wonder aggressive protesting and radical activism has the opposite effect these days. YouGov has a recent poll on this. The majority of the public believe that protests rarely, if ever, make a difference.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
I feel like I would have noticed or heard, you know, the protests about Elon Musk have been embarrassingly small and have just been fodder for mockery on social media. Like it's actually been a bit peaceful. Maybe we would even say it's been a bit boring. And of course,
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
But it's not just about making a difference, it's about making a positive impact. Here you go. The vast majority of Britons, 78%, say that this kind of protesting hinders rather than helps a cause, including 61% who believe it hinders a lot.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
And even among those who say that they have taken part in protests, 6 in 10 of these protesters, 60%, say that such protesting hinders a cause, with a third saying that it helps. So even the people that are actually protesting are admitting that it's not doing anything productive. That is ridiculous. So why are our lives being disrupted on a daily basis when it doesn't even matter? Well,
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
it's because they want the attention, because that's really what it's all about. I mean, it's shocking that gluing yourself to the road and disrupting traffic or setting people's cars on fire does not make them sympathetic to your cause. In all honesty, it probably just makes them root more for the damn oil rig, so congratulations, that is what you've created. And the thing that is so unfortunate
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
is that as all of this division has been fueled, those of us who genuinely love and care about the environment, that love being outdoors, that grew up camping and hiking, that love spending time in the mountains, who have farms like me, those of us who really care are left somewhere in the middle with nowhere to turn, which is why Benji has created this new organization, Nature is Nonpartisan, which actually coincidentally is launching today on March 20th.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
And what does that have to do with International Women's Day? Like that is a question I keep asking is like, how does this even make sense? Now in LA, they were of course screaming about Trump.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
So now, after going through all of this, all of the ridiculous, ineffective protesting, the hypocrisy that we've seen, where do we go from here? Because if the goal in terms of the environment is to actually preserve nature and stop natural disasters like these crazy California forest fires, then we have to focus on solutions. Obviously, that should not be controversial.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
And it's insane that that has to even be said. But based on what we've been seeing for the last decade, it's obvious that that has not been a priority.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
It was all about Trump and Doge and Trump taking away their abortion rights, which if you know anything about Trump, if you followed his campaign at all, if you know anything about his wife Melania and his agenda, it is truly absurd. It is actually devoid of reality because Donald Trump is actually quite pro-choice. And yet here are some of the signs that they were waving in the streets.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
And now, with Trump back in office, who is just on fire for change, basically, he's just ready to get things done, who is taking meetings with nonpartisan environmentalists, I do think that there is a lot of hope. And the time is right now. There is not a better time to redirect this issue.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
Because the environment, like so many important issues of our time, should not be an issue that is dominated only by one side. And we should not let these hypocritical, insane attention whores control something that impacts all of us every single day.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
And as Benji says, this should not even be a political issue. This should be a nonpartisan point of American pride. And in 2025, I think we can get back to that. And the first thing we have to do is taking back the power from those insane protesters.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
Like ladies, it is 2025. I do not want to see my body, my choice anymore. Like I am genuinely just done. I'm tired of it. He's not even touched abortion. We're two months into this presidency. Nothing has happened. You live in Los Angeles. You can still go get an abortion, probably up to nine months. Like why are you in the streets protesting that?
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
Now, as you saw in the crowd, abortion was not the only thing that they were protesting and screaming about. There were also a myriad of other issues, which, as you saw in Paris, was happening around the world. This was not just women's issues. On International Women's Day, they were protesting everything.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
And in Cleveland, Ohio, at their Women's March, I saw this sign that I thought really summed up the entire... theme of International Women's Day 2025. Just take a look at this. They were just angry at everything. This is the sign that this woman was holding in a video I saw. Where to even begin? No words. And they have a pride flag. They have the Save Act crossed out.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
They have another swastika, but they are crossing out. Oh, and yes, you can see on the side, They have a Ukraine flag. So now we are supporting Ukraine through International Women's Day marches. I mean, like genuinely, what does any of this do? It's not cohesive at all. You have no message. You guys can't even get your heads together to figure out what you're actually angry about.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
They don't know what they're angry about. It's not really women's issues anymore because we're all doing great. We have equality. We've achieved all the things you guys have been screaming about for the last, you know, two decades. They're just angry. Like, could you please get out of the streets and leave us all alone and find a way to channel that anger? Like, please go to the gym.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
If you really need to blow off steam, maybe you could even row across the Pacific Ocean, which actually veterans are doing. I mean, imagine this, five veterans crossing the entire Pacific Ocean in a rowboat. And yes, you heard that right, in a rowboat.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
Courser Racing is a nonprofit that puts veterans in high stakes, extreme maritime challenges, like literally rowing across the entire Pacific Ocean to help them transition for military service. Leaving the military is tough, and many veterans struggle to find a sense of purpose, structure, and team after service.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
And of course, because this is the way the world works, the moment I thought that, I started seeing protests literally everywhere, unfortunately, which made me think about how effective these protests actually are. Like, what have they accomplished over the last five to ten years when they have been dominating our social and political landscape?
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
Courser Racing gives them exactly that, a new mission, a strong team, and hands-on business experience to build their future. And this year, two Courser Racing veterans are taking on the Pacific Ocean. They're launching June 7th with the goal of finishing the row by July 17th.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
That's 40 days to row thousands of miles of treacherous open water powered only by grit, endurance, and sheer determination. But again, this isn't just about rowing. It is about rebuilding purpose, forging resilience, and proving that veterans don't need handouts. They need opportunities.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
Corsair Racing provides those opportunities through teamwork, leadership, and real-world challenges that push them to their limits. And every veteran who joins Corsair Racing walks away with new skills, new networks, and the confidence to take on their next chapter. The ocean is just the setting.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
The real mission is empowering veterans to keep leading in their careers, their families, and communities. And so if you want to make a difference for those who served our country, Corsair Racing is a nonprofit worth supporting. You can help by donating, sponsoring a row, or even just spreading the word.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
Follow them on social media at courser.racing and go to their website courserracing.org if you are interested in participating, sponsoring an expedition, or simply donating. When veterans leave the military, they don't lose their drive, their discipline, or their leadership. Again, that is courserracing.org.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
Now, while women across the globe were angrily marching instead of working out or getting on a rowing machine like they should be doing, simultaneously, Tesla protests started popping up because, of course, everybody is not just angry at Donald Trump anymore, they're also directing their anger at Elon Musk.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
And these people who have now decided that Elon Musk is public enemy number two have started burning Teslas across the country. And not only just burning individual Teslas, but they have started breaking into Tesla dealerships and showrooms across the country, even throwing rocks at innocent people that are just driving around in their individual Teslas, all because
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
They hate the fact that Elon Musk has taken away their endless checkbook that has been driving our country into literal bankruptcy. I mean, the scenes have just been ridiculous over the last couple of weeks. This guy literally bought a Tesla just so that he could destroy it. Take a watch.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
Wow, just stunning and brave. This little group of four people supporting Elon by buying a Tesla only to spray paint it just hideous, awful colors, put a sign up, and then go to town with a sledgehammer. Again, the protests, they make no sense. Nothing you are doing is effective. Again, you are actually supporting him by buying the damn car.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
Now, another example, and one that was far larger than just one man with a sledgehammer, was that in New York City, protesters broke into and took over the Manhattan Tesla showroom. Just watch.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
And unsurprisingly, they have actually done more harm than good, turning people away from the causes that they are trying to promote. And in my eyes, the best or worst example of this is how these radical activists, these radical protesters, have utterly destroyed environmentalism as a universal American cause. And that is what we need to talk about today.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
Wow, Frankie, you are just, you are so brave. You are so stunning and brave. Thank you, Frankie, for getting arrested so that you could stop Elon Musk from saving our country from bankruptcy. Because that's really what you're trying to do.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
Now, one thing that I want to point out that was just so ironic is that CNN was obviously covering this protest, and in their article immediately after, they said that the protests were mostly peaceful. 2020, anyone? Do you remember the cities literally on fire, stores being looted? Oh, it's mostly peaceful. Fire behind you, fire, fire, fire. They literally did it again.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
Five years later, they're like, I wonder if people forgot that we did that. Let's just try one more time. No, you are breaking into stores. You are setting cars on fire. That is not mostly peaceful, CNN. But I digress. We can move on from that. Now, the most hilarious part of these Tesla protests, in my opinion, is that the people burning Teslas, breaking into Tesla stores,
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
are also climate activists. Planet Overprofit posted this and they said, breaking. Hundreds of New Yorkers have swarmed and shut down the Tesla dealer in Manhattan. Six have been arrested after occupying the showroom. Protests are erupting across America to reject Musk's billionaire regime. This is how we beat fascism. Mass direct action.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
Okay, Planet Overprofit, I want to just talk to you for a second because do you realize the irony of the fact that these are the electric cars that you demanded be mandated across the country? The only real reason that EVs are so widespread, that we have so much innovation and progress in this country in regards to EVs are because of Elon Musk.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
And this is the man and the company that you have now decided to turn on. I mean, do you not realize and see that the first person at any environmental crisis in our country, in the world, is not our government, which is sloppy and slow and lazy, but is actually Elon Musk. He does more to push forward clean energy, to push forward innovation, to be there when disaster strikes than anyone else.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
You look ridiculous. Almost as ridiculous as these Just Stop Oil protesters, some of my favorites, I've kind of missed them, can't lie, who wanted to get in on the fun last week. What's so funny is that I was planning out this episode and in the back of my mind, I was like, man, if only I had a Just Stop Oil protest out of this.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
I mean, you guys know Just Stop Oil, they're the people that threw soup on the Mona Lisa. They super glue themselves to the concrete and blocks. They are the most insane of the insane. And they always have some like piece of poetry that they think is very prolific as they're doing it. They're like throwing soup on the Mona Lisa being like, We just need clean energy. We are the warriors.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
And they're like throwing soup at, you know, famous works of art. They are absurd. Anyway, I was literally thinking that in my brain being like, I wish that I had that to include because that would just be perfect. And then God provided. And this really is just so rich because this organization, as you well know by now, is called Just Stop Oil.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
We also need to spend a few minutes obviously making fun of these insane protests that are now popping up. And then we need to figure out how to push real solutions through on issues like the environment. Now, before I start making fun of all these protesters, make sure that you are following all of our podcast pages, and please leave a review if you are enjoying the show.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
And this organization is pouring liquid latex, which is made out of oil onto a robot made by the world's leading electric car company. The company that does not use gasoline. I mean, it is truly ironic. It's about as ironic as these planet over profit folks burning Teslas will simultaneously say that they are so worried about carbon emissions. I mean, make it make sense. It is so ridiculous.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
Like, no wonder environmentalism has become such a fringe issue when these are the world's leading proponents, when these and Greta Thunbergs are the ones that we see leading the charge. No wonder normal people around the world are like, yeah, no, I'm out. Like, bring in the oil. Like, I can't deal with you people. If you're the one who's at the front of this cause, I want no part of it.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
And that issue right there is what I want to focus on for the rest of the video. And so I called up my friend Benji Backer, who is the founder of ACC National, which is the largest conservative environmental group, and the founder of the new group Nature is Nonpartisan, to give his take.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
Now, such a key thing that Benji said was that these protests, these environmental orgs, they care more about pushing their brands forward than their issue forward. And that's why it has never worked. These protesters, whether they be the topless French women, whether they are people in the streets smashing Tesla windows, They want to be seen and they want to feel important.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
At the end of the day, that's really all they care about. And their obvious focus on that only hurts the causes that they allegedly care so much about.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
I mean, watching somebody torch an electric car in the middle of a city while simultaneously screaming out of the other side of their mouth about climate change honestly makes me care less about the environment because I don't want to be associated with people who are as crazy as that. And I'm not alone there.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
And if you want an exclusive newsletter and weekly Dear Brett advice videos that are curated by you guys, make sure to check out my subscriber-only platform, Cooper Confidential. The URL is right here. You can also click the link in the description below.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
So clearly, radical left-wing climate protests do not unite us around the issue of environmentalism. They fuel division, they turn people off, and they also expose a hypocritical obsession with attention over real solutions. Because again, I don't know how many times I can say this, but what do these protests actually accomplish? I mean, my Beam Dream Sleep Powder does more than they ever will.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
And that effectiveness is why I'm so excited to share it with you today. Beam is a company that is proudly founded in America, and it's run by people who share our values. They value hard work, integrity, and actually delivering results. Beam Dream Sleep Powder is a science-backed, healthy nighttime blend packed with ingredients shown to improve sleep,
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
so that you can wake up refreshed and ready to tackle the day. Dream is made with a powerful blend of all-natural ingredients like reishi, magnesium, L-theanine, apigenin, and melatonin. It is all designed to help you fall asleep, stay asleep, and wake up feeling amazing. And unlike other sleep aids, there is no next-day grogginess, just great, restful sleep.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
Plus, Dream tastes incredible, and it has become a part of my nightly routine. Like, imagine drinking hot cocoa every night before bed. That is literally what it's like. But the added benefit is that my focus and my energy skyrocketed and I finally felt like I could tackle life head on instead of waking up just trying to get through the morning. And I'm not the only one.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
BM has already improved over 17.5 million nights of sleep, helping people across the country wake up and feel their best. And again, what is even better is that Beam is an American company, built here and run here. And supporting brands like this is important to me because it's about more than just the product. It's about backing hardworking people and companies who are doing things the right way.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
So if you are ready to try out Beam and start getting the best sleep of your life, here is the deal. Beam is giving my listeners the ultimate discount of 40% off. Try their best-selling Dream Powder and get up to 40% off for a limited time. Just go to shopbeam.com slash brett and use code brett at checkout to get that discount. Again, that is shopbeam.com slash brett.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
Now, in case you missed it, which if you live on X in social media like I do, I don't know how you would, but last week was International Women's Day, which obviously means that women around the world felt the need to go out into the streets and march and protest. And really, I have no idea why. We have equality. Things are actually going great for women right now.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
Use code brett at checkout for up to 40% off. You'll be supporting an American company, investing in yourself and your health, and you'll be getting the best sleep of your life. Now why all of this is so harmful on a broad scale is because while all of us are rightfully focused on these insane protests and activists, we are missing the real issues.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
We are missing major opportunities to make tangible change for our world. And we also miss the fact that a lot of these people in government who run these big organizations who are in our faces about these issues are actually just full of crap. And a recent example of this which is truly just insane is that this week it came out that Brazil
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
is cutting through tens of thousands of acres of the Amazon rainforest to build a new highway. But not just any highway for any normal purpose. I want you to guess what this highway is literally being built for. It is being built to transport people to the COP 30 climate change summit.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can b00bs Save The Planet? | Episode 15
They are literally bulldozing acres upon acres of the Amazon so that they can fly people in and drive them in to talk about how we need to save the planet. I mean, you literally, you cannot make this stuff up. It is beyond parody. There's an article about this massive stretch of Amazon rainforest destroyed for upcoming COP 30 climate summits four lane highway.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
And I think that this is probably the trend with Gen Z that I just hate the most because it's not just that Gen Z has retreated inward or failed to fly out of the nest in the first place. They are turning away from human connection on a whole for something that is far more superficial and a lot more selfish. Welcome back to another episode of The Brett Cooper Show.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
But then when we go and see that coworker in person, that friend in person, whether it is at work or after work, grabbing a drink, hanging out where we're not drinking, you know, we're going over to each other's houses, whatever we're doing, after all of that communication all day long, we have nothing left to say. We have become accustomed to social media and texting
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
And of course, if you want ad free episodes, if you want a weekly Dear Brent advice video, if you want an exclusive newsletter from me, check out Cooper Confidential. We will link it in the description below. That is my subscriber only platform for unfiltered access. Hope you guys love it. Now, it's ironic that I just did a pitch to my Cooper Confidential platform because one of the things
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
Teams, Slack, all of that, becoming our dominant form of socialization. No wonder companies across the world have had to adapt and prepare for Gen Z. Like this is a wildly different breed of employees with very specific quirks and needs. Something that is so integral for our health, especially for young people, is socializing. is having meaningful relationships in your life.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
And I think that Gen Z historically has kind of ignored that and brushed that aside and said, maybe it's too hard. But oh my God, guys, based on what we're seeing, it's very important because this is impacting every single aspect of our lives. I mean, we are struggling in relationships. I mean, so much of Gen Z is just opting out of dating in the first place. They're not even trying.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
Here's an article from February of 2024. Gen Z's romance gap, why nearly half of young men aren't dating. Now that same Kiddie Bingo report that I cited at the very beginning of this episode also touched on that, finding that 63% of Gen Z believe that their peers are not interested in dating. And this is not even a men versus women debate.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
Like, I know that a lot of people say, men are opting out of dating, women are too. They're just saying, this is too hard, this is too complicated, I don't know how to do this. Everybody is just tapping out. So, what happens next? Well, in walks men and women
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
getting into AI relationships with chatbots because it's easier, because it's familiar and it's online, it's customizable and it is completely inhuman, which is the most Gen Z thing I have ever heard because we are not used to in-person human interaction. And I think that this is probably the trend with Gen Z that I just hate the most and makes me the most sad because it's not just that Gen Z has
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
retreated inward or failed to fly out of the nest in the first place. But with these AI relationships, they are turning away from human connection on a whole for something that is far more superficial and a lot more selfish. I mean, one of the major reasons why young people say that they like these chatbots, why they fall in love with AI, It's because the AI chatbots do what they want.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
They never say no. They never push back. They can make their perfect, hottest girlfriend, boyfriend, wife, lover, whatever, who never talks back. They can get the rich guy. They can get the girl that talks to them the way they want to be talked to. And they never have to deal with the fact that it's not real. And they love that.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
In one of these articles talking about this phenomenon, one woman said, men in real life might cheat on you. And when you share your feelings with them, they might not care and just tell you what they think instead. But in Dan's case, that's her AI lover, he will always tell you what you want to hear. Just insane. Insane. Another one said, Dan is like an ideal partner. He doesn't have any flaws.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
She says that she has personalized Dan to be a successful CEO with a gentle personality who respects women and is happy to talk to her whenever she wants. And it is so classic, in my opinion, that the loneliest and most isolated generation would not be interested in the give and take of a real life relationship.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
You know, the flirting, the awkwardness, the weird dating stage, the sacrifices, learning somebody's quirks and communication styles, because Gen Z probably doesn't even know that about themselves. I mean, I have said this about a million times at this point, I've screeched it for the last couple of years, but Gen Z does not understand how to date.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
that I love so much about that platform is that it gives you guys the opportunity to connect with each other and you can comment back and forth on the newsletter and when you're submitting your questions for the Ask Me Anything. And so it's ironic that I pitched that and now we need to immediately dive into loneliness.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
We don't understand the art of dating because we were never taught that. I mean, we flirted on Snapchat. We slid into DMs. We sent memes back and forth. We downloaded Tinder and Hinge before ever getting asked out in person or asking out somebody in person.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
And so of course it makes sense that when all else fails, we would turn back to something digital that is familiar because the world is complicated. It's hard. You don't often get what you want. Humans are not perfect. Social interactions might be weird.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
And for an entire generation that isn't used to that, that isn't used to that complexity or that nuance, it's going to be strange, it's going to be foreign, and they want something that is comfortable and controllable that makes them the center. And I think at this point of the episode I need to take a huge deep breath because you know how much I care about this.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
It frustrates me to no end because I know that we haven't gotten to the root of the issue and it breaks my heart that this is what Gen Z is doing and that we haven't been able to fix it yet and I get so impassioned about it. And I read all your comments and I see your DMs struggling with this and wanting to make things better for you and your friends and I know that this is such a real issue.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
And I know that going through all of this is probably a lot, maybe you feel seen or called out, hopefully not, but it is not all doom and gloom. Because there is a lot that we can do with this information, which is how I felt when I got my blood work from Merrick Health.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
Merrick Health is the premier health optimization platform, empowering you to maximize your health thanks to personalized expert guidance that you will have in your back pocket. Merrick Health offers cutting edge diagnostic labs, concierge health coaching and expert clinical oversight.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
They support clients in achieving their health and fitness goals by leveraging data driven lifestyle and nutrition recommendations, along with supplement and prescription treatment options. And I'm sure many of you know this by now, but I started my journey with Merrick Health long before they ever sponsored any of my work.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
After a few health scares in our circle, in our community, my brother and I made the commitment that we were going to do yearly blood tests and yearly blood work to truly start staying on top of our health outside of the traditional medical model. We found Merrick and they just exceeded my expectations and completely changed the way that I view and care for my body.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
And I know it will do the same for you. Working with Merrick Health is an investment worth making for you and your family. And today you can get 10% off your order. Just head to merrickhealth.com and use my code Cooper at checkout. Again, that is Merrick, M-A-R-R-E-K health.com with code Cooper at checkout for 10% off one of their packages.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
But again, like I said, I really do believe that that is at the root of Gen Z's issues. Just a couple of weeks ago in January, a new study from Kitty Bingo found that 72%, 72% of Gen Z experience regular loneliness, which is a huge, huge leap from previous generations. And guys, these numbers have been consistent for years. This was happening well before 2020.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
So stop guessing and start optimizing your health today with Merrick Health. And truly guys, the best thing that you could do for your health is empower yourself with information, which is what I am trying to do today with this episode. Because the good thing is, and I have always said this, and that is that Gen Z knows that they have issues.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
We know that we are flawed, we know that we are a very odd generation, again, with these quirks and these weird things that nobody else has gone through. I mean, at this point, I would say that we are probably the most self-aware generation to ever exist, possibly to a fault. Again, we have talked about Gen Z self-diagnosing themselves, all of that stuff, that might be a problem.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
But this also might save Gen Z, and I think that they want to be saved, as Alex pointed out.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
So again, they know that this is a problem. They're trying to heal and rebel, as Alex said. So what are they tangibly doing about it? Well, they are trying organized socialization. And I say organized because Gen Z, I think, has looked down on, you know, book clubs and joining pickleball leagues and that kind of thing. It's like, no, I shouldn't have to do that.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
I shouldn't have to go join a group to make friends as a young adult. But in 2025 with Gen Z, you do kind of have to. You have to move past the cringe because where else are you going to meet people when your entire life has been online?
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
Business Insider covered this this past summer, and they wrote, While some young people are willing away their hours at home, many Gen Zers have had enough of their own company. In every part of their lives, the internet native loneliness generation is making an effort to step outside of their comfort zones and create their own. Third space is separate from work and home.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
Gen Z is driving a book club attendance, fueling a surge in running clubs, flooding gyms and workout classes, and shilling out for social clubs, all in the name of making friends. Given the pandemic stole some of their prime years for socializing, Gen Z is going out with a vengeance and flipping the script on the loneliness crisis, which is what I love to hear.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
And I think the most important line in that entire article is when they said that Gen Z is stepping outside of their comfort zone. Because this is completely outside of Gen Z's nature. We didn't grow up around run clubs or supper clubs or bowling leagues or anything like that. This is all totally new for all of us, as Alex covered.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
And so because of all of that, it has been, and it would still be very easy for Gen Z to turn their nose up at this and say, no, I don't want to do that. That's weird. I don't want to join a club. That's odd. That's foreign. I've never had to do that. I shouldn't have to do that. but instead they are leaning in.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
And I am genuinely so impressed with the steps that many people in Gen Z are taking and the way that they are organizing to make their lives better. And all of this has been reported over the last year or so. For example, Eventbrite released a study last summer and they said that they have seen a notable rise in speed dating and singles events driven
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
And I think for Gen Z and millennials and a lot of us, we kind of think of our lives like before COVID and after COVID and everything changed after COVID. But for Gen Z... This has been happening. Like, for example, in 2019, there was a Statista study that showed that 79% of Gen Z regularly struggled with loneliness. So this is not simply a result of COVID or a result of lockdown.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
by young singles who are experiencing online dating fatigue and seeking face-to-face interactions that is so positive, where they can bond over shared interests. We have seen over 1.5 million searches for dating and singles events on our platform, signaling a strong desire for in-person connections.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
Many also want to share interests such as cooking, popular with 46% of Gen Z and 41% of millennials, and niche hobbies like thrifting clothes and collecting. And they are going to Eventbrite to try to find places where they can meet people in person to engage in these hobbies, which is so exciting. freaking positive.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
Plus about a third, 33%, think that they will meet someone special at activities like dance classes or painting workshops. And guys, I freaking love this. And if you've been watching me for any extended period of time, you probably know why I feel so vindicated about this, because this is basically what I have been screaming from the rooftops for the last year.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
Because again, I get all these comments, I get emails, I get DMs from you guys saying, how do I meet somebody? How do I put myself out there? I don't even know where to start. Where do I go? How did you meet Alex? You know, like literally, I don't even know where to start.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
And I genuinely had to take a step back and think about how I would respond to those questions because obviously I'm never gonna pretend that I'm an expert in anything or that I know the ways of the world. I'm like, I'm 23 years old. I'm basically in this with you guys. But the thing that I came up with and the thing that really rang true for me is that you do need to get out into the world.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
You need to go find things that you enjoy doing that is offline, that is not on YouTube or social media or Discord channels or anything like that. You need to get yourself outside into the habit of socializing regularly, doing something that you enjoy.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
Find a hobby that forces you to be around people, whether it's running or pickleball or a pottery class or, again, dance classes, whatever it may be. Flag freaking football! football, whatever it is, because that way you will feel comfortable socializing. That's the first step to being able to meet anyone, whether it is romantic or not.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
Because again, going back to this idea, Gen Z doesn't know how to flirt. We don't know how to ask people out. We don't know how to respond to being asked out. Women do not know how to single to men that they are interested. They just sit there like, oh my God, I don't want to look at... Like we literally know nothing.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
And so in order to get over that hump and to be more comfortable, you just have to get out there and be around people. And you might as well be around people doing something that you enjoy and then hopefully you meet friends who share that hobby, maybe even fall in love with somebody who shares that hobby.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
And so I love that Gen Z and millennials have been doing that and that they've been doing it in such a way that even Eventbrite is noticing. But even though that is happening, even though people are signing up for events and meeting in person, we do have to admit that Gen Z is still very online. And so they are actually using that to their advantage.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
They're leveraging their social media expertise, their comfort on social media to meet people in person. For example, Bumble BFF usage is increasing. If you guys don't know what that is, obviously Bumble is that dating app where women have to make the first move. They had that awful rebrand last year, which was just terrible. But one of their
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
other offerings is Bumble BFF, where you can meet friends. It's like swiping on Tinder or Bumble, but for platonic relationships. And ever since the pandemic, young adults using Bumble BFF has absolutely skyrocketed. And one article about this said that Bumble's tool for finding new platonic friends, Bumble BFF, continues to flourish.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
The average time spent on BFF grew 44% among women, 83% among men in just three months in early 2021. The company reports that 90% of women who use BFF found at least one match last year. Now, I wanted to read you this specific stat because I want to give a shout out to men because the fact that time spent on Bubble BFF increased 83% for you guys is incredible.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
So when we talk about Gen Z struggling, when we talk about Gen Z mental health or Gen Z self-confidence, we honestly cannot address any of that. We can't even start to think about solutions for any of that without addressing this issue that, again, in my opinion, is the root cause of all of this.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
That means you are taking actionable steps. That means that you know that there's a problem and you're trying to address it. You're trying to find friends. That is so positive. It's so amazing. And I know that there are so many guys out there who are like, I don't know how to make friends. It's awkward. Again, it's cringe. You just have to get past it. And obviously, men are doing that.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
Now, in addition to Bubble BFF, people are also leveraging Facebook groups. So actually, Mark Zuckerberg, you are popular with Gen Z. We are using you. But people are finding friends in like, you know, the Nashville Young Professionals Group or Pottery Lovers of Nashville, whatever it may be. And people are literally posting friendship applications on Facebook.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
And they're saying things like, hey, I just moved to a place I have nobody to hang out with. I like doing X, Y, and Z. Would anybody come to a concert with me? Would anybody do this with me? I've been in those groups. I think I'm probably still in a bunch of them because I never update my Facebook page. And so I get notifications every once in a while.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
Like there are literally girls who are saying, I want to go on a vacation. I want to go to Seaside in Florida. I have nobody to go with. People are taking actionable steps. And obviously you can see, I am very excited about all of this because it is positive. These are huge steps for Gen Z. I love that Gen Z is so self-aware.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
I love that we are actively trying to solve this problem because we have realized that it's a problem and that is the first step to fixing anything. But what will actually change things in our society, what will change things for Gen Z's mental health, our well-being, is if those relationships blossom offline.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
If we don't just take the first step, but we actively nurture those relationships, if we better our socialization skills and they continue in the real world. And so that also means that we do have to spend more time offline, more time in the real world, nurturing all of that, as Alex said.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
Today, I'm excited to talk about one of my favorite subjects. This is a subject that obviously means a lot to me. We need to talk a little more because I talk about it all the time, but we need to talk a little more about Gen Z. I know we always say the Gen Z is a very, you know, unique generation.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
And so maybe these new friendships, maybe these new relationships and connections will start digitally because that's how Gen Z works. That's how the world works in 2025. But that alone doesn't cure loneliness. That doesn't offer the fulfillment that an in-person relationship or friendship can. And so I think the next step for all of this is to just keep going and see what happens.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
You know, if you are Gen Z, continue putting yourself out there, continue stepping outside of your comfort zone and pushing yourself. I know that it's awkward. I know that it's weird. It is so hard making friends as an adult. Like I am in that boat with you. It is so weird and it's hard to meet people. You just have to keep going.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
If you are somebody in an older generation, you should be finding ways to help support the Gen Zers and the Gen Alphas in your life as they come into this world, you know, like weird, ugly ducklings that have no idea what's going on, learning these new languages. We have to keep this going. And obviously only time will tell
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
if change is actually made and from your perspective I would also love to hear from you guys about how I could help facilitate some of that change or how I could make this aspect of your life better one of the things that I'm really working on this year we're trying to put together a tour I want to include in-person events with you guys like when I did my show in New York I was on my reddit page you guys know I lurk on my reddit page but I saw a couple people posting saying hey could we meet up in person could we get together and maybe meet as like fans of bread and people with common values I want to see that continuing and if I can help
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
Because if you're just addressing anxiety, if you're just addressing self-confidence, that is going to be a band-aid solution. Now to help me flesh out this episode and go deeper on this subject, I called my friend Alex Kazemi. He is a novelist.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
put that together or make that better for you, I would love to do that. Like I've literally seen people fall in love and get married out of my comment section, which is mind blowing. So if you have any ideas, if you have any requests, please let me know because this will majorly change our society.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
This is something that has to happen because I genuinely believe, as I said at the top of this episode, that this is the root cause of Gen Z's issues. That if we could address the loneliness, if we could address the antisocial nature of our generation, I think that everything else would start to turn around. So let's try to fix it.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
He's the author of the book New Millennium Boys, which is a novel that gets to the heart of this specific issue following three boys in high school throughout the 2000s. And I asked him to break down the psychological effects of this growing loneliness and this growing isolation that Gen Z has been experiencing. Take a listen to what he had to say.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
because you're you're not in that space of being constantly distracted and that constant distraction is not making anyone anyone happy and a lot of the time especially with young boys is they're trying to numb something now i'm getting ahead of myself here but there is something that alex said that i want to touch on before we move on from this response of his but he really said something astute about this loneliness and this isolation making young people feel like they are the center of the world and so i want you guys to take that
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
and think about Gen Z's activism. Think about their superficial understanding of issues based on only their experiences, based on only things that they see on social media, plus add that to lonely Gen Z desperately wanting to be a part of something, wanting to be a part of anything. All of this activism, all of this community engagement, it starts to make sense. And so in my opinion,
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
Gen Z going so far left is less of a political phenomenon and more like a social one, because again, if we're talking about the root of the problem, it all goes back to this. But again, I kind of jumped the gun on that. We're going to talk about that a little later on, but I didn't want you to forget what he said.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
And of course, before we can talk about the aftermath and the results of this loneliness, we have to understand how we got here. Now, I brought this up with Alex as well, and I wanted him to break down just how these societal structures have evolved over the past few decades. This is what he said.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
We have all these struggles and problems, but if we're being honest, what generation does not have struggles and problems and unique quirks? That's why we have generations. That's why we are divided in that way. Every generation goes through different things in history. But what I will say is the Gen Z's struggles are
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
So obviously, we all understand that. We experience it. I have my phone right next to me. We are on our devices 24-7. We have social media and digital technology in our faces 24-7. It is involved in our social life. It is involved in our education, our work. We literally cannot escape it.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
And I know that I said earlier that COVID is not completely to blame for this, but it certainly is part of the problem. Because for my generation, a lot of us were starting college or still in high school or in the middle of college when all the lockdowns happened. These are prime developmental years for young people that were just completely stripped away from us.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
We were sent home, we were living in tiny dorm rooms, just on our computers 24 seven, completely isolated, not being allowed to even see our friends, not even being allowed to go to a class and see anybody. And I know that there are experts out there who have pooh-poohed this and said, that has no impact, this is not going to harm people whatsoever. Look at the numbers!
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
We now have the evidence that this seriously harmed young people of all ages, Gen Alpha and Gen Z. That depression rates skyrocketed in 2020 because of this isolation. So, it certainly heightened what was already going on. Now, in addition to that, online school has taken off, remote work has taken off.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
Think about a generation that was raised online, that went to college or high school in the middle of lockdowns, was not allowed to socialize with anyone, and is now being shot out into the workforce trying to get a job in marketing at a company that has 100% remote work. Obviously, they're gonna be lonely. Obviously, they are going to struggle with social skills.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
And then, of course, on top of all of that, which is already terrible, we have modern social media, which is just a completely different beast than AOL Messenger or MySpace or texting on your Blackberry. And with that comes influencers.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
It comes closer access to celebrities, which actually we just talked about a couple of weeks ago, which obviously induces feelings of isolation, a lack of confidence, FOMO. And all of this has been extremely well studied at this point. And Alex brought all of this up.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
a little bit different because Gen Z's growth coincided with the growth of technology and social media in our lives. And our parents and our educators, to be honest, just didn't know how to deal with that. They didn't really know the impact that that would have on our lives, our adolescents and how we were being raised. And it obviously has caused Gen Z a slew of problems.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
And I know that we rag on social media all the time, but we do that for a reason. Because social media has truly given Gen Z a warped sense of reality. From what a normal life is supposed to look like to what is happening in the world politically. It has completely distorted everything.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
And that is why so many parents now, especially parents of Gen Alpha, are keeping their kids off of social media. And it has been wild to watch the response of this because, again, this should be common sense.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
Based on everything we've seen with Gen Z, with millennials, with everything that has been studied, it should be common sense that parents should be cognizant about their children's access to digital technology and social media. And yet parents will post online saying, oh, yeah, my kids don't have access to phones. They don't watch TV. They are not allowed on TikTok.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
And people are screaming in the comments section that you're a terrible mother. I would hate to be your child. This is abuse. You're so strict. Your kids are going to resent you. Gen Z, look at yourself. Like, look at what happened. Obviously, parents are going to take these steps. Like, again, this is just common sense. There is not a single positive outcome to kids being on social media.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
There's not even a net neutral outcome. Every single thing that has been studied has been a negative. And so again, obviously, parents are going to be more careful. I mean, governments are now even starting to pay attention, like Australia, who just three months ago banned social media for people under the age of 16. And obviously this is a very nuanced subject.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
This caused a media explosion with people arguing about government overreach and protecting kids, which I was able to break down thanks to my friends over at Ground News. Ground News cuts the noise with an unbiased perspective and shows both sides of every story, prioritizing honesty over everything.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
Their unique technology even allows users to compare how different sides of corporate media are reporting on a story, all the way down to independent journalists just like me. Making sure that you see all sides and truly stay informed.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
And from my perspective as a creator, they make sure that I stay on top of the stories that I'm covering for you guys so that I can bring you the latest and most honest updates. Like with this story about social media, I was able to quickly get all of the details on Australia's social media ban for kids under 16 and understand the different sides of the issue and how the media was covering it.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
But it doesn't stop there. Their Blind Spot feed brings you the stories that have gotten little to no coverage on one side of the political aisle, making sure that you always stay informed instead of letting big tech or their algorithms decide what you see and what you hear.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
So if you are ready to truly break free from media bias and stay informed with transparent news consumption, now is the time to join Ground News. And when you go to groundnews.com slash Brett or scan the QR code on the screen, you can get the same premium plan that I use, but for nearly half the price.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
Again, that is groundnews.com slash Brett if you want to get unbiased news and hold the media accountable for only $5 a month. I mean, really guys, with ground news, they keep me from spiraling, which is important because the more time that we spend online spiraling, the lonelier we get. And we are seeing this reflected in our society every single day.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
One of the primary ones being our mental health. That is something that we talk about in regards to Gen Z constantly. We are so mentally ill. We are depressed. We are anxious. All of these things. We are gender confused. And we can talk about these diagnoses all day long in Gen Z, self-diagnosing and how that is represented in our society and yada, yada, yada.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
And I think that this is the point in the episode where I could really talk about Gen Z political activism and tie that into this loneliness epidemic because there has been a major, major jump between the generations in regards to this political activism.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
United Way actually conducted a survey about this last year and they found that nearly one-third of Gen Zers, 32%, are regularly engaged in activism or social justice work compared to 24% of Millennials and even less in Gen X and Baby Boomers, demonstrating a significant Gen Z commitment to societal change.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
They go on and they say, "...this engagement deepens among college students," which is, you know, the shock of the century. where the percentage escalates to nearly 40%. In the realm of public demonstrations, over half of Gen Zers have participated in rallies or protests to support specific causes or social issues with a slight increase to 56 observed among those in college or in higher ed.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
So obviously, Gen Z deeply cares about this activism, and obviously they care about the issues, they care about their social causes. I mean, I've participated in rallies and protests, but again, if you go deeper, if you go to the root of the issue, I think this goes back to Gen Z wanting to be a part of something.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
Global data from the research firm Edelman also found that 70% of Gen Z is involved in some form of activism. And funnily enough, BBC was writing about all of these numbers and was writing about this trend with Gen Z, And they included a quote from none other than David Hogg, who is the newly elected DNC vice chair. There has been a lot of noise about him on social media recently.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
He is a well-known gun control activist. And he said, quote, I am not powered by hope. I am powered by the fact that I have no other choice. Which is probably the most chronically online Gen Z line I have ever heard.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
And again, it goes back to this idea that Gen Z sees themselves as the center of the universe, with their problems being the most important, the most significant, that nobody else understands because they are so special. And it's probably just because they're not out in the real world touching grass and socializing and understand that they aren't the center of the universe. But I digress.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
Again, we can get into that at a later date. Now, another huge result of this loneliness and this isolation has been Gen Z not using substances, which is something that I've talked about a lot in a more positive light. But now that I've kind of had some time away from that, I've been thinking about this a lot. I think we have to ask the question, is this actually a positive for Gen Z?
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
Like, is this a net positive coming from something that is very holistic and wholesome and good? Or is it just another symptom of the problem? Because some see these as major positives for Gen Z. You know, they're not drinking, they're not doing drugs, they're not sleeping around, they're not partying. And of course, I'm sure for some of those people, it is because of moral and health reasons.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
Probably those of you watching this video, you've made those decisions for those reasons. But for others, and I would argue the majority of people opting out of these substances, it is because of this loneliness, as an article in 2023 covered. The headline reads, Gen Z teens lonelier, more apt to use therapy, less likely to do drugs.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
But I think to get to the root of the problem, to actually understand Gen Z and what is driving us and driving so many of these problems that make us so unique, we have to go beyond that and we have to talk about Gen Z loneliness because I think that that is what is actually behind all of this.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
And all of these articles that have been written about these changes, whether they be sleeping around or partying or drugs or alcohol, whatever it may be, they do cite the health concerns, they cite the changing culture around drinking, but as time has gone on, because people have watched this kind of transpire for the last five years or so, a different story has prevailed, as covered by Time Magazine just last month.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
They wrote, "...another contributing factor has to do with the changing socialization patterns of younger generations. Alcohol tends to be a social drug, even for young people. So part of the decline in underage drinking could be related to less in-person socialization.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
On average, the amount of time people spent with friends in person decreased from 30 hours a month in 2003 to 10 hours a month in 2020, according to the U.S. Surgeon General's Advisory on the Epidemic of Loneliness. That decline was especially marked for people aged 15 to 24."
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
And so again, we have to ask, are these teenagers, are these younger adults, are they making these decisions because, you know, they've learned about the dangerous effects of alcohol, because they actually don't want to participate in underage drinking, or is it because the parties aren't happening?
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
Because they're not being invited out, because they aren't socializing in person, and as a result, they're not drinking and engaging in that party culture. Now, this decline in in-person socialization that we just read about in Time magazine is
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
stretches far beyond the personal lives of Gen Z. It is now impacting the workplace, where Gen Z allegedly cannot engage in small talk or even socialize with their coworkers. Fox Atlanta wrote about this just a month ago in January of 2025, and they said, Gen Z admits struggling with office small talk, according to a new study.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
And they wrote, about 74% of adults say that they struggle to make light conversation in shared spaces, like break rooms or elevators. Nearly 50% prefer using WhatsApp, Teams, or email to communicate even when seated nearby because it's more convenient. About 40% of Gen Z workers say that remote and flexible work has made in-person small talk feel unfamiliar.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
Comparing it to learning a new language. That is why Gen Z is different. Because we are literally having to adapt to an in-person world that we were not raised in. And again, I don't want to blame our parents for that because they had no idea what was going on. They genuinely had not experienced this before. They did not know how this would grow or how it would impact us.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
But it's now causing these young adults to be a fish out of water in the real world. Now the article goes on and they say, additionally, 28% of employees avoid common areas altogether to skip awkward interactions. That is is insane. It's impacting every single aspect of our lives.
The Brett Cooper Show
How We End The Gen Z Mental Health Crisis | Episode 7
And it reminds me of something else that Alex said in our interview, where he said that, you know, people talk all day long. They're texting constantly. They're sending memes back and forth. We're sending TikToks to each other. We communicate more than we ever have before.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
So last week, I basically did my longest ever video in the history of Fred Cooper videos and did a recap on Trump's first month in office. And a huge portion of that video was talking about his executive orders. I think he has signed more executive orders in this first month than any president in history. And as you guys saw, I am a huge fan of basically all of them.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
So what I'm trying to communicate here and what Chloe is saying is that these studies are correct in a way, that post-surgery care is necessary, and it's appalling that these young people, especially, are just thrown out into the world with no support when they're dealing with regrets and confusion, but that care, that real care, needs to exist from the get-go.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
And it needs to be care that is not wholly focused on affirmation, that doesn't just shove them in line for surgery that, again, we now know does not work.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
When you hear people like Chloe speak, when you look at these reports, like how is this entire issue controversial? It makes no sense. I mean, this used to be a psychiatric issue that would be addressed as a psychiatric issue. Now there is just no nuance or even thought of prevention. It is just affirmation of an issue that is usually far deeper.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
And the thing is, changing people's minds on this is not an impossible feat. It is happening in countries around the world, just not here in America. Now, in this episode, I'm going to be joined by my good friend, Chloe Cole, and we're going to talk about why America is so ridiculously behind on this issue.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
But of course, are those issues ever addressed? Are they talked about in the scope of transgenderism, especially with young people transitioning, especially with young women going through puberty? No, of course not. We're all just supposed to sit back and affirm because that is the virtuous, that is the morally correct thing to do. And if we don't, we are killing these people. It is insane.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
Now the thing is guys, as I said at the beginning of this episode, in other countries, this is not such a crazy idea anymore. Having nuance, focusing on prevention, they have caught up to the science. They're listening to the science. They are seeing the facts and they have realized how insane This ideology has become.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
I mean, the United Kingdom and France both put restrictions on transitioning children back in 2022. The UK has now updated their restrictions as of 2024. I would not be surprised if they updated them again after this Oxford Journal study. Between 2020 and 2023, Finland, Norway, and Sweden all also put restrictions on transitioning children.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
Which is hysterical, in my opinion, because those three countries, all of these countries, are countries that the left often louds and celebrates for... their social welfare systems and their free healthcare and their inclusivity and their safety and their acceptance. And these are the exact countries that are saying, okay, yeah, guys, we kind of took it too far. We need to scale it back.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
Meanwhile, America, that is supposed to be the beacon of common sense and reality, is still being insane. And so obviously, I wanted to ask Chloe her thoughts from personal experience about why she thinks that is.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
We're also going to break down the recent bombshell studies that should horrify Americans and jolt our government into action if they weren't so cucked by their own freaking flawed ideology. I also want to remind you guys that this is the last week to buy my exclusive launch merch. This is the merch collection that we created just for the launch, this launch period of the Red Cooper Show.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
And I'm so glad that Chloe did not mince words in that statement. That she was so straight with everyone and it could not be more true and it could not be more disappointing. She is right. Follow the money. follow the politics, those are the two reasons why this issue still exists and is so pervasive in America.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
And the response to all of these studies, or actually lack thereof, is proof of all of that. This is willful avoidance that we are seeing in the states, and it is doing irreversible damage to an entire generation of children.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
And of course, in light of Detransitioner Awareness Day, which again was just yesterday, we have to talk about the children who were experimented upon, and then who, like Chloe, were completely left in the dust and left behind because that is truly what happens. on a regular basis in this country.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
And if you guys didn't know, while we're talking about all these other studies about post-surgery, all of that, there are no concrete studies on detransitioners, especially not detransitioning children like Chloe Cole. And in my personal opinion, this is partially because of that willful avoidance that we were just talking about.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
but also because much of detransitioning happens without medical interventions. Like, doctors aren't even seeing these patients, so they aren't counting. They are not being studied. They aren't offered support or guidance in the first place, like Chloe laid out, like all of these studies laid out. They don't usually get their surgeries reversed, and in many cases that is impossible.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
They just kind of stop taking their hormones and they try to go back to living a more normal life and they socially detransition. And doctors just aren't involved. They rarely see this take place and the numbers are not available, which is such a travesty because Chloe said that this is happening every single day. And so doctors just aren't involved.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
Doctors rarely see this play out and the numbers are not available, which is such a travesty. Now, another thing that Chloe told me, which truly shocked me, is that not only do we not keep records of this and not only do people often not go to the doctor for detransitioning, but there is also no standard of care if somebody comes into detransition.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
They don't even know what to do if you come in and you say, I'm not happy. This is what she said.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
But what is so vitally important to remember is that just because doctors don't see them or won't see them does not mean that these individuals like Chloe do not exist.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
These individuals like Chloe, this entire community, especially of young people, they deserve attention and they deserve real care, not affirming care. but genuine holistic care. They deserve to have their concerns and their regrets and their hopes heard at the bare minimum.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
And it's insane that when she went into the doctor and said, I'm not really happy with this, I'm confused, I'm regretting, they literally didn't even know what to tell her. They couldn't direct her to anything, just that, oh yeah, that's kind of normal. That's insane that they just turn people away and say, yep, sorry, that's normal. It is insane that that does not happen in the first place.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
We have had an amazing first month. I'm so grateful for all of your support. I'm so grateful that you guys are so excited about the merch. So we're going to be closing those sales and I'm so excited to get you all your hoodies and your hats and your T-shirts.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
But based on everything that Chloe has been saying, it makes sense because again, it's politics and money. And these transitioners like her do not help either cause. They don't make the industry more money, they don't push the ideology forward, and that is why it is so important that stories like hers are heard.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
Like, I just want you all to realize that there is more attention and care and focus over whether we wear our retainers after we get our braces off than how you are doing in life after you chemically and surgically try to change your entire gender. That should not be the case. That is certifiably insane. And it begs the question of why. And so I know that I'm really hammering this issue hard.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
I know that this is probably not the most pleasant episode and it's more of a doom and gloom thing. But like I said, there is a lot of hope. It's just not in the US. Barely anything is happening in the US other than Trump's executive orders, which again, I'm not sure if this current Congress will be able to pass.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
Another good thing is that there are currently 27 states who have imposed restrictions or full bans on transitioning minors, but there does need to be something on a federal level. This is a federal issue, but obviously that is still an uphill battle. So what needs to change in order to make that happen? Obviously, I think Americans are on our side.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
70% of Americans think that men should be competing in women's sports. That would obviously make you think that the majority of Americans think that this is a ridiculous issue, a dangerous issue that has been pushed way too far. But our government is not listening. Now, Chloe referenced all of the studies that we covered in this episode.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
She also covered one that we did not, which is the prolific Hillary Cass report out of the UK. And she said that we need one that is just as much of a bombshell right here in the US. We cannot really base this and change people's minds off of a study that only has 1500 participants.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
Now, in addition to those executive orders, obviously being a very relevant and pressing issue, this week also had Detransitioner Awareness Day. It was actually just yesterday.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
Even though that still was a shocking and damning survey, we do need something like Hilary Cass and like this Oxford Journal study. A bombshell study that is all encompassing, that includes detransitioners in their story, one that is simply too big for people to ignore.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
And Chloe really believes that in addition to all of the advocacy work, all of the stories that she and so many others are telling, that that will be the way to change the culture in a massive way. And I simply could not agree more. I think that she made an absolutely fantastic point.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
But for now, for those of us who do not have the power to start a study that covers hundreds of thousands of participants and covers detransitioners and figures out a way to study detransitioners, for those of us normal people who just care about this issue, the most important thing that we can do is to continue sharing the stories of people like Chloe. to continue spreading this message.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
And another thing that I want you guys to think about and to consider that is possibly more important than anything else I have said in this entire episode is that you need to keep pouring into and supporting the people in your lives that are struggling. Because real care, not affirmative social justice care, it begins at home. in our communities with the people that we touch on a daily basis.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
It is the kind of care that is truly loving, that is truly empathetic, that is preventative and actually addresses the root causes of all of these issues. And above all else, that is what those of us as individuals who feel very small in this huge monster of an issue, that is what we can focus on and that is the change that we can make in the world.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
And Chloe, who is a detransitioner and who you will hear from in just a couple of minutes, among a few others, traveled to DC for an entire week of meetings and events to share their stories and advocate for the protection of children and for the support that their community
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
so desperately needs that they're not getting from our government, from society, and most importantly and horrifyingly, not from the medical community. And this is obviously especially important because of the legislation that Trump and the Republican Congress want to pass, but also because of what is happening around the world. And that is why this week is why I wanted to talk about this today.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
But within this slew of executive orders with wide-ranging topics, there were four that addressed transgenderism. And I want to talk about those specifically today. Well, not just them in general, but about one issue in particular.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
I mean, guys, what I want you to know is that countries that are far more progressive than us, that were actually at the forefront of this issue many years ago, pushing this entire ideology, are now scaling back. and realizing that it has been taken too far. That these awful experimental procedures and surgeries are actually not that great and not doing what they were promised.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
And this is on full display in the UK. And guys, it is just so gratifying to see the scientists and the academics and the experts finally hold themselves accountable after so many years and acknowledge their own biases through these studies, through their reports, which is something that you would see regularly if you were a student at Peterson Academy.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
And if you are not up to date on the best new academic platform out there, Peterson Academy is Jordan Peterson's new online university that is open for enrollment right now.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
And so if you are somebody like me who loves lifelong learning and wants to learn from the brightest professors in the entire world, or if you're somebody who has just ever benefited from Dr. Peterson's lectures and his incredible guests on his podcast, then this platform is for you. Every month, Peterson Academy releases four new in-depth,
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
eight-hour university-level courses that are taught by world-renowned experts and professors, and they are produced specifically to keep you fully engaged. This is not your normal boring college lecture. This is something totally different.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
They cover an amazing range of topics from philosophy to history to psychology to science to business to mathematics, complete with optional testing to further and deepen your understanding. Plus, they are continually rolling out new educational features as they continue growing the platform.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
There is also a built-in social community, which I think is so important, so that you can connect with and learn alongside like-minded people from around the world. So guys, if you are ready to challenge your intellect, to expand your horizons and take control of your continuing education, it is time to go to petersonacademy.com slash Brett.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
And guys, you do not have to be at a certain point in your life or a certain age to benefit from Peterson Academy. I think that this will be an incredible resource for homeschool families. This is something that I would have just been obsessed with as a teenager. It'll be great for college students who like me felt like they weren't really getting what they wanted.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
And those executive orders, you know, he did one that established that the United States only has two genders, which, you know, it's a shock that even has to be established. He's also doing what he can to ban men from competing in women's sports. He is now keeping transgender members out of the military. And lastly, he cut federal funding for the chemical and surgical mutilation of children.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
We're paying for, for adults who feel like they're missing out on learning. There really is something for everyone. And it is only $599 per year or $59 a month to access all 31 eight hour courses with four new courses a month, plus the community with a seven day money back guarantee. But I highly doubt you will need it. I have been on Peterson Academy. I've been taking the classes.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
They are truly top tier, high caliber. You guys will love them. And guys, best part, in my opinion, is that for that price, for $599 a year, you do not have to go out and take out some $60,000 student loan to further your education. Again, that is petersonacademy.com slash brett to get started and join Peterson Academy today.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
Now the latest bombshell example of this accountability, of this self-awareness, of finally being honest about these procedures came out just a couple of weeks ago through the Oxford Journal. They released their findings after studying over 107,000 patients with gender dysphoria and found that yes, unequivocally,
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
Those who underwent sex change surgeries who went through with the entire medical procedures of transitioning faced higher risks of depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and substance abuse after undergoing those procedures. And this was released just on February 25th, 2025.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
And more specifically, this study found that males with gender transition surgery were 120% more likely to have depression. and 388% likelier to have anxiety than males who had gender dysphoria without surgical intervention. Gender dysphoric females were 56% likelier to have depression and 48% likelier to have anxiety if they had undergone gender transition surgery.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
So obviously it is still an increase, but those numbers for men who underwent these surgeries, that is shocking. And obviously, as you saw, there was an increase for women, but that dramatic increase for men, that is horrifying.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
And for anybody who has been paying attention over the last couple of years, who has been following and advocating for this issue, those numbers probably don't shock us at all. I mean, I saw this report come out and I was like, of course the numbers increased. Obviously, that is common sense. Because these surgeries and these procedures, they are a band-aid situation.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
They will never address the root problem. And so of course there are going to be higher risks of depression and anxiety. And it's not just common sense that should tell us this. There are other studies like this. I mean, last year, a Finnish study found that patients who proceeded to gender-affirming treatments did not have a reduction in mental crises or suicidal ideation.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
That came out February 16th of 2024. They also found that usually Wow, there were underlying mental health issues that needed to be addressed in addition to gender dysphoria that might have caused gender dysphoria.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
In 2019, this is another crazy example, a Swedish study was done, this is a study that is now very well referenced in the LGBTQ community, and they found a decrease in mental health treatment after medically transitioning.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
But guys, less than a year after that report came out, that study, that key study that was now referenced everywhere that was used to push this issue forward, shoved in our faces, was officially corrected.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
It was reanalyzed, and the American Journal of Psychiatry came in and clarified that, quote, the results of the reanalysis demonstrated no advantage of surgery in relation to subsequent mood or anxiety disorder-related healthcare visits or prescriptions or hospitalizations following suicide attempts. I mean, that... It's crazy. Again, nine months later.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
And that is what I want to focus on today. And obviously there was outrage over every single one of these four executive orders, and it feels unlikely as Congress stands right now that any of these will be passed as bills, even though I would love them to. considering that every single Democrat in Congress voted against passing a bill that would keep men out of women's sports just last week.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
Then, in 2024, an American study was finally released, because all of this was done overseas, that also confirmed all of this. But their sample size was only of 1,500 patients, so obviously it did not get the attention or the credibility that it probably deserved. So basically, we, on the common sense side of this issue, and all of the researchers have been saying this for years.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
We have been sounding the alarms. People like Chloe Cole, like Riley Gaines have been sounding the alarms. But this new study from the Oxford Journal, with its magnitude, with its scope, with its size, and its damning outcomes, is pretty hard to refute.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
And my good friend Chloe, who you guys probably know is a teen detransitioner who started puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones at age 13, who then underwent a double mastectomy at age 15, agreed with all of this, and she came on the show to share the validation that a study like this brings to her and her entire community.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
And I wanted Chloe to come on and I wanted you guys to hear her story and continue hearing her story because it tells you why these studies, why all of these reports are so vital. Because parents are literally told that their gender dysphoric children will die if their parents do not help them transition.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
Many parents are threatened into agreeing to these experimental procedures purely based on fear and lies from psychiatrists, from doctors, and most importantly, from the media. This is what happened to Chloe Cole and her parents, and it is what famously happened to Elon Musk. This is why he cares so deeply about this issue. Just take a listen.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
It was a complete lie. They literally said, you must agree to this because your son will commit suicide if you don't. I mean, imagine putting that in front of a parent. Obviously, parents are going to go along with it. They're not going to think that it's a lie because why would doctors tell them a lie? Why would they use fear to push an experimental procedure on this innocent child.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
So I want you guys to know that because when you hear the media freaking out that Trump is killing trans children, that he's doing all of this legislation that will kill trans people, that gender affirming care is actually keeping trans people alive, I want you all to know that all of that is based on a lie. That is what these reports are telling us.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
So when you see headlines like this from the ACLU, Doctors agree gender-affirming care is life-saving care. This is from USA Today. Gender-affirming care is life-saving, research says. Why is it so controversial? Well, it's controversial because the science isn't really on your side. You might have a couple of doctors that are on board, but it is objectively scientifically controversial.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
And I want you to hear that again, every single Democrat. And that issue specifically, as we discussed last week, is not even controversial. Studies have shown that 70% of Americans on a baseline believe that men, biological men, should not compete against women.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
Like, the jury has been out. We are now getting to an objective solution. I have my opinions on it, but there is now becoming more of a consensus. It objectively has been controversial because you guys have been telling lies.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
So gender affirming care saves lives is really an emotional fallacy that makes us easy, that makes parents and children easy to control and manipulate without having all of the facts. And so again, I have empathy for these parents.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
It makes sense that so many parents would hear this from doctors, from the media, from specialists and be terrified for their kids and go, oh my gosh, I will do anything that it takes to keep my child from dying. I mean, who wouldn't do anything? to protect their child. But this is anything but protection. I mean, protecting your kids is being proactive.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
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The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
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The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
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The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
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The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
And if you wanna see the Good Ranchers products that Alex and I love that we eat on a weekly basis, you can go to goodranchers.com slash Brett to check out my exclusive box that I curated just for me and just for you guys. You can try my handpicked selections that will make your life easier and healthier, and you'll be directly supporting American ranches from across the country.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
Again, go to goodranchers.com slash Brett to shop my box today. And like I said earlier, right now Good Ranchers is running their Spring Into Action promotion, which means that you can support local ranchers in America and easily get American quality delivered right to your door. So subscribe to any of their boxes, but obviously, preferably the Brett Cooper box,
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
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The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
This is an incredible promotion. To spring into action and to help keep your family healthy while supporting American farms, Visit GoodRanchers.com today and don't forget to use my code BRETT to claim your free meat and $25 off. This is truly the first step to keeping your family healthy and happy.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
And these people that are in Congress that are supposed to represent us, that are supposed to represent that 70%, overwhelmingly, every single one of them voted no. So I think that just kind of gives you an overview of where our government stands right now.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
Now, even though all of these studies that I've referenced at the beginning of this episode are incredibly important, especially that recent one from the Oxford Journal, just because of how huge the sample size is, and it should be eye opening for people around the world, they are still, in my opinion, missing a huge piece of the puzzle. Because at the end of the day,
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
If you read these reports, if you read these surveys and then you get to their conclusion, their conclusions are still flawed. Like the way that they interpret this issue, the way that they interpret the data and propose a solution is still dictated by their emotional ideology. And this idea that we have to affirm, we have to affirm.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
For example, in that 2024 curious study that was done in the States with a very small sample size. Their conclusion found that patients who have undergone gender-affirming surgery are associated with significantly elevated risk of suicide, highlighting the necessity for comprehensive post-procedure psychiatric support. Here we go, another one.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
In the Oxford Journal, this most recent one, they concluded that gender-affirming surgery, while beneficial in affirming gender identity, they're still propelling this lie that it's very good for affirming, that's very good for affirming, is associated with increased risk of mental health issues, underscoring the need for ongoing gender-sensitive mental health support for transgender individuals,
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
post surgery. This is where the science and the protocol is still inherently flawed. I mean, we have all of these studies saying the same thing, that these risks are increased, that the surgeries do not actually do anything, but make the situations worse.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
And their response is not to address these experimental irreversible procedures that are obviously not working, but to say that they need more support after going through these surgeries that just clearly do not work, which in a way is still true. And we're going to get to that, but that is not the real pressing issue at hand, as Chloe said.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
And so what needs to change in order to push any of these bills through to make these into law so that they can't just be undone by another president four years from now? Well, in my opinion, people need to be hit in the face with the facts about these procedures and the lasting effects that they have on people, specifically on developing minds, specifically on American children.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Growing Regret Among Trans Teens | Episode 13
But this, of course, also doesn't have to be exclusive because in her mind, in Chloe's mind, there should be a more holistic approach from when the patient comes in with gender dysphoria, with confusion over their bodies and their gender, and even after medical treatments, if they end up going through with it like she did at 15 years old, because in her experience after her surgery, when she started experiencing regrets and confusion about what she had just done to her body, she received nothing.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
It makes sense that people would feel sensitive to somebody rejecting or dismissing the values that we believe make our country great, that we have spent years fighting for, and that are also back in action in 2025. I mean, the golden age of America, and so to hear somebody rejecting that or being anti-American right now feels like such a betrayal.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
Cap has universal characteristics that people all over the world can relate to. And that last line, if I had to guess, was what he was trying to convey, or maybe he's hoping that people now believe that that was what he was trying to convey, but based on Chris Evans and based on the comics, it seems like that is probably the direction he was trying to take.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
Whether that is, you know, racists or bigots or war criminals or uneducated, whatever it may be, it has been coming from them. But now, things are starting to change in a more positive light, or so I hope. If you want to check out our new merch collection, we have those links below.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
And to take this apology and clarification even further, just to give Anthony Mackie some credit, he even tried to shut down rumors that the character of Thaddeus Ross, who becomes Red Hulk, who is being played by Harrison Ford in this new film, was designed in this new film to represent Donald Trump, to be this, you know, tyrannical antagonist.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
They had even at one point, because they've done many iterations of this new Brave New World film, they had even had a previous rewrite where there was like a Jan 6 thing in it, But then they took it out and they rewrote it because I think they knew the culture was changing. So it seems like they are proactively trying to be more culturally where we are right now and be less politically divisive.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
And it seems like that is what Anthony Mackie is trying to do, at least in the aftermath of that viral clip. But I did get ahead of myself. This is what he said. He said, I hope that as a country, we are tired of all the political jousting. Let's just go to the movies and chill the F out. We could have made this mother F for yellow and it would have been a problem. And you know what?
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
Listen, to be fair, he is correct. I think we would all like to chill the F out and just go to the movies. But, you know, Hollywood kind of has to be the one to do it. So that's actually the part of the quote that read me the wrong way. It's like, yes, yes, we've been wanting that. We want the political jousting to end. We want to just be able to go to movies.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
You guys need to take the steps to make that happen. You need to stop criticizing us at every turn. You need to stop making antagonist characters out of political leaders based on narratives that you've created in your head based on mainstream media.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
to that point and who knows based on these rewrites based on the things he's saying we might be getting to that point and of course this could be a pr cleanup job for marvel and his team but at least he didn't lean into that original sentiment more which i think has helped us all greatly so that is one side of this viral story that i wanted to discuss but the other side of it was that in going through all of this and reading all the comments and going back and looking at the comics and going back and looking at what chris evans said back in 2011 my prevailing thought
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
was do we really need to react angrily to everything we see online? Like is a clip from an actor talking about ridiculous actor things like the thing that we all need to spend hours getting angry about?
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
And I know it's funny to hear that for me because I did a reaction show for three years, but that is why I always try to extract substance and be more balanced because people just explode online over nothing, over something that could easily be broken down and discussed if you just spent five minutes Googling something and reading a couple articles.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
Seriously, if you had taken five minutes and you had seen the Chris Evans quote and you had seen the comics, I feel like people could have easily noticed that this was basically like a nothing burger. And of course, you are welcome to be angry at the sentiment that the Captain America comics that Chris Evans and now Anthony Mackie have expressed. That's totally fine.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
You can believe that it's wrong and believe, you know, America should be represented in a different light or that what they're saying is inherently wrong. theoretically wrong, but I don't think all of this needs to be pinned on Anthony Mackie. I don't think that he is the one that is single-handedly destroying the MCU and destroying Captain America.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
And if you want ad-free episodes, weekly advice videos, and an exclusive newsletter, make sure to check out my subscriber-only platform, Cooper Confidential. It is at cooperconfidential.supercast.com. We will also have that link in the description below.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
Like, if you go back further, this started a long time ago. And that context is important, because in my mind, if you are just looking at that video alone, no other context, not looking deeper into the story, that story ends with it just being an actor saying stupid crap. But of course, if you do wanna go deeper, it does beg a bigger question of what does America represent?
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
Can we even be defined by that name, that word alone? We live in a country that has evolved massively over the last 150 years. We are constantly growing and evolving and changing, sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worst. Feels like it's been for the worst over the last 10 years. But now for a large portion of the country, we feel hopeful.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
We feel like we are getting back on track and we should be excited and exhilarated about all of that. So with that feeling in mind and thinking in the context of what Anthony Mackie said, I want to play you this video from a friend of mine. This is Alma. He immigrated to America. He went viral on TikTok a couple of years ago, actually talking about what he found so beautiful about America.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
And he kind of brought this sentiment back in a very gracious and balanced response to this anti-American sentiment. And there's a chance I will not be able to play you the entire clip thanks to YouTube copyright laws. So go find Alma's TikTok if you want to watch the entire thing because it really is beautiful.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
Now, obviously, it is not just Hollywood and journalists' fault for the ways that we have been represented and the images that have been portrayed of modern America, because, of course, our politicians have also helped further those narratives on the world stage.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
My point in playing that, other than just wanting to uplift Alma, because I think he has a great account and just has great takes, is that I think he hit the nail on the head with what Chris Evans and what the original comics were trying to convey. That yes, it is flawed, but we need these ideals to drive us to fight to keep America as great as it can be, to fight to preserve these values.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
and Anthony Mackie just kind of missed the mark. But based on his other comments, it seems like he sort of gets it, but that he was so lost in actor land and wanting to talk about playing with swords and his childhood experiences that he didn't finish the thought. So all of that being said, and in keeping with what Alma just said,
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
it makes sense that people would feel sensitive to somebody rejecting or dismissing the values that we believe make our country great, that we have spent years fighting for, and that are also back in action in 2025. I mean, the golden age of America.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
And so to hear somebody rejecting that or being anti-American right now feels like such a betrayal, even though obviously there are people in our country who hate what's going on. But for a lot of people, I think it's like, how could you not love the energy? right now, and I understand that.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
But of course, we also have to say that after everything we've seen come out of Hollywood over the last 10 to 20 years, like, an anti-American sentiment is nothing new. That's probably one of the other reasons why this didn't completely throw me off, because I'm like, okay, an actor not loving America, not wanting to represent America, great, that's like a normal Wednesday in our lives.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
But I do think, kind of as I mentioned earlier, that Hollywood showing a love of country is making its way back.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
Whether that's them cutting out the Jan 6 stuff because they realized that wouldn't play and would actually just make people angry, or whether it's films like Top Gun Maverick or Twisters being absolutely massive successes at the box office, speaking not just to their quality, but also to the Americana ideals and values that they represented.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
Like, I think that that is why those films resonated so much with Americans across the country. Like, of course, they were great films. They were fun films. But you left those films feeling an overwhelming sense of pride to be an American.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
I mean, the nostalgia in both of those films, the independence, the glorification of normal, great, beautiful middle America, of rodeo culture, of our armed servicemen and women. That is what I remember from both of those films. oh my God, I can't believe that Hollywood did that, that they're producing that for us. And audiences showed up in droves.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
And amidst all of the chaos and the division and the hatred and the vitriol, it really felt like we had lost sight of what America is supposed to be, what we fought for almost 250 years ago. And so with real, genuine joy and class and strength back in charge, there seems to be a sense of relief and genuine patriotism that so many people have not felt for so many years.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
I mean, talk about giving a mandate to Trump on how to lead the country. We gave a mandate to Hollywood with those two films of showing what we will show up for and what we're wanting. We don't need you to make a Donald Trump film to make a conservative Christian film.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
No, we just want you to sometimes make a movie that doesn't crap on all of our values, that makes us feel good about the country that we live in. It's really not that difficult of an ask. And so hopefully... With the changing culture, with everything that we've seen with the election, with these last couple of films, hopefully they are starting to listen.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
And hopefully Anthony Mackie was just being dumb. And that Captain America and Brave New World is in line with those films that speak to those ideals that Captain America is supposed to represent. That should represent America. Of integrity and independence and trustworthiness and goodness. Hopefully we see that. Because even I can admit that we are far from perfect a lot of the time.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
That we have so many things that need to be fixed. but we should still love our country's foundation. And that doesn't mean that we can't try to be better and live up to those values every single day, hopefully with the help of superheroes and characters like that.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
And I know we like to talk down on Hollywood and say that they're not important, that they're irrelevant, that we don't need them, but stories are important. characters like Captain America that drive us to be better, that represent goodness, that teach kids how to be a good leader, how to fight for what's right. Those are important.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
Those are important aspects of our culture and of our society that should hopefully in an ideal world make us all want to be better and push our world forward. And so hopefully that's what happens in Captain America Brave New World. But of course, we'll see.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
And I think, in my opinion, that is why so many people lost their minds and got so angry with what the actor Anthony Mackie had to say about the term America. Now, if you guys have not followed this story, Anthony Mackie is an actor. He is playing the new Captain
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
America he is most well known for his career in the MCU I think he is one of the longest running actors in the MCU but there is a new Captain America movie coming out in 2025 it is called Captain America Brave New World and he has been doing a huge press tour for that and a couple of weeks ago he was doing an interview and somebody asked him about Captain America and its connections to America the country and this is what he had to say just listen
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
Welcome back to another episode of The Red Cooper Show. Now, as you guys know, I was at the inauguration a couple of weeks ago, not at the inauguration, because obviously it was moved inside. And unlike the Paul brothers and Conor McGregor, I was not invited into the Capitol, even though that would have been a crazy group to be around. But the inauguration happened. It was historical.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
That does not sound great. So basically what we got from that is that the beloved Captain America represents a lot of things, a lot of objectively good values, but America, the term, is not one of them. Got it. You know, I guess that we do not represent integrity and trustworthiness and always doing the right thing and honesty. Not America, in Anthony Mackie's mind.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
People on X and on TikTok, they lost their damn minds. There were clips of this going viral. I mean, mega, mega viral. And it immediately sparked a debate between the left and the right because the right was angry because it felt like he was crapping on America and he was saying that we do not have good values and that he didn't want Captain America to be linked in with our great country.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
And people on the left were immediately pushing back and going, no, it's like an awful country. We just elected Trump. Why would he want it to represent Captain America? We all just started freaking fighting. per usual. One headline reads, Captain America fans defend Anthony Mackie from Trump supporters. He is right.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
I also just think it's hysterical that anybody who defends America as a country and our founding beliefs is automatically labeled a Trump supporter. Like these accounts that were commenting these things, they did not have like MAGA in their bio. It was tons of different people. But of course the mainstream media is like, Trump supporters! They love the country.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
You must be, oh God, it's like so old at this point. Like, please find a new narrative. And I had a similar response, like many people online being like, ugh, I mean, that's unfortunate. Here's another movie going down the drain, I guess. This is unfortunate. But then I looked into it more. I read the comments, as I do.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
I mean, it basically seemed like people cared more about the political wins than they did about actually going deeper and understanding the context of the video and of the issue that they were discussing. And for those of us who do want to push through the noise and actually go deeper, we need Peterson Academy because that is exactly what they strive to do.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
And if you didn't know, Peterson Academy is Dr. Jordan Peterson's new online university that is open for enrollment right now.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
And so if you are somebody who loves lifelong learning, that does wanna go deeper and push beyond the headlines, if you are somebody who has ever benefited from any of Jordan's lectures, from any of the incredible guests that he's had on his podcast, Peterson Academy is 100% for you.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
And every month, Peterson Academy is releasing four new eight-hour university-level courses taught by world-renowned experts, and they're produced to keep you engaged. So this is not your normal college class. They cover an incredible range of topics from politics to psychology to statistics to storytelling and Shakespeare all the way to nutrition.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
They truly want to provide a well-rounded education, and they even have optional testing to further your understanding of the subjects that you're studying. there's also a built-in social component of Peterson Academy so that you can connect and learn alongside like-minded people around the world.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
And on top of all of that, they are continuously releasing new features to make this the best platform that it can be. So if you are ready to take control of your education, to broaden your horizons, to explore new subjects, it is time for you to go to petersonacademy.com slash brett.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
There was so much joy throughout D.C. It was just crazy to see. And I feel like we have been experiencing that joy for the last couple of And I really love talking about the joy because our joy is actually authentic. Our joy is genuine and based on something that is real unlike Kamala Harris's joy that she faked for basically her entire campaign.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
Peterson Academy is $599 a year or $59 a month to access all 31 eight hour courses, plus those four new courses that are coming every single month, plus the social community and a seven day money back guarantee. And to me, the best part is for that price, you are not having to take out a $60,000 student loan to continue your education.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
So again, that is petersonacademy.com slash brett to join Peterson Academy today. They will help you go deeper. They will give you the tools that you need to critically think about the world around you, especially in situations like this when it goes crazy on social media. And I noticed that some of the people who were pushing back weren't necessarily wrong.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
And these were not the finger waggers and the pointers and the people who were making it a right versus left thing. They were just talking about Captain America in general in the history. And to their point, Anthony Mackie might not be entirely wrong either, because this is not really a new take on Captain America.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
It's not that Captain America rejects America entirely, but it is that he is bigger than just one country, which is exactly what Chris Evans said back in 2011. So this is not the first time that an actor playing Captain America has expressed this sentiment. In 2011, Chris Evans said, was created in America during wartime when there was a common enemy, even though it is Captain America.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
I've said before in interviews, it feels more like he should just be called Captain Good. You know, he was created at a time where there was this undeniable evil, and this guy was kind of created to fight that evil. I think that everyone could agree that Nazis were bad, and he, Cap, just so happens to wear the red, white, and blue.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
So again, he's saying, you know, not a patriotic movie, not a America movie, but it's a movie about aspirational ideals and objective good. And this person is supposed to embody these ideals that could be relatable to any individual, should be aspirational to somebody, no matter what country you live in. No matter what your background is, you should be able to see the good in this superhero.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
And as even more people pointed out, if you go back even further in history of Captain America, this is what is actually said in the Captain America comics. This is the comic right here, but I'll read it to you. He says, listen to me, all of you out there. You were told by this man, your hero, that America is the greatest country in the world.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
He told you that Americans were the greatest people, that America could be refined like silver, could have the impurities hammered out of it and shine more brightly. He went on about how precious America was and how you needed to make sure it remained great. And he told you that anything was justified to preserve that pearl of the great price that is America. that America is nothing.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
Without its ideals, its commitment to the freedom of all men, America is a piece of trash. A nation is nothing. A flag is a piece of cloth. I fought Adolf Hitler not because America was great, but because it was fragile. I knew that liberty could be easily snuffed out here as in Nazi Germany, as people were no different than them.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
But I really think that there is something so special about the beginnings of this new Trump presidency, the new Trump admin, and the now golden age of America. And I've been trying to put my finger on what is so exciting and exhilarating and joyful about it and obviously
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
When I returned, I saw that you nearly did turn America into nothing. I mean, this is deep for a comic. This is a lot more nuanced than Anthony Mackie was in his little quip.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
It's a lot deeper than what Chris Evans was trying to communicate, but you can kind of connect the dots on what they were basing their responses on based on the history of this character and what he said in the comics and what he has done in all these other movies. I especially love this last paragraph where it talks about America being fragile.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
I mean, that's something that we have discussed consistently over the last couple of years. The driving force with getting someone like Trump back in office so that he could steer us onto the right track because we are so fragile. Because we have seen our country be almost destroyed and we could not let that happen. We are not immune to tyranny.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
We are not immune to terrible ideas and victimhood and bad ideology and communism. We have gotten so close to having that here, which is why we have to fight for the ideals that this country was founded on. And while I agree with that second paragraph, I do kind of disagree with the first paragraph where he says that America can't be great, that it cannot be good.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
fixed and have the blemishes removed. I do believe that we can get to that point. I think that we are certainly on our way right now.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
This is a discussion about what it means to have ideals and beliefs and values that drive the foundation of a country and what happens when those ideals get forgotten and trampled out and what it means to fight to get that back and to have a love of country and a love of ideals, but maybe not love where we are right now.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
And I think it's ideologically wrong for people to get angry at somebody saying that America isn't perfect or that they don't love America right now, because we've done that. Like obviously people on the left are going to be unhappy with what is happening in Trump's America. They're going to be angry and afraid. I've tried to address that and quell some of those fears.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
But it's dishonest to say that we haven't done that. I've certainly done that over the last four years. Like, this country's doomed. Authoritarianism. Biden, he's running it into the ground.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
And while there's a difference between criticizing the current state of America and what's going on and criticizing its ideals, I really don't think Anthony Mackie was concerning himself with clarifying anything or having any nuance. Like, I'm sorry, but he's an actor. doing a press tour. I don't really think he's thought about this very deeply. And so it might not be all Anthony Mackie's fault.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
Like, I genuinely do not even know if he knew what he was trying to say, especially when you hear what he said after the end of that quote at the end of this clip.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
Seeing the policies that we voted for come to fruition is very exciting and feels very redeeming, but it also feels bigger than that. And in my opinion, kind of what I've landed on as I've been thinking about this is that it's the fact that we are taking back our country and we are now deciding how it is defined on the world stage.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
How did that connect with what America represents? Like, we went from a very weird quip about Captain America not really representing America and him being bigger than that into an actor's monologue about what it means to be an actor. Like, is he talking about ideals and dreams and how it relates to America?
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
Or did he just completely get off track and he's just talking about what it meant as an actor... to do this movie and play a superhero because it felt like he was tapping in to his inner child. Like that just doesn't make sense. I was a child actor. I've been around a lot of actors. I love actors. I have a fondness for actors. That was dumb actor speak. That was, he was asked a question.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
He tried to answer it. He got off track and he just started going into his little emotional brain, talking about his hopes and dreams and what made him want to be an actor, which is like totally fine. But it just makes me think again, that he literally didn't know what he was talking about. He was probably given some PR points about Captain America. He was told what Chris Evans said.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
He's probably read the comics at this point, especially because he's been in the MCU for so long. He's probably trying to express what had been said before. But he screwed it up. He offered no clarity, no substance, and then he turned it into this odd musing on what it means to be an actor and tapping into your inner child.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
And also, it's not the first time on this press tour that he has gotten off track and contradicted himself. For instance, at another point in one of these big interviews, he was asked about what it means to be a black man, you know, playing Captain America, because obviously they're going to ask that stupid freaking question. And he completely spoke out of both sides of his mouth.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
He said, I feel like it is just as important for black kids to see a black Captain America as it is for white kids. Growing up, one of my favorite superheroes was Green. It wasn't about race or anything. It was just about him being a good guy trying to do the right thing.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
It's very important for kids of all races to be able to watch something and have someone to look up to no matter what they look like and see that that package comes with a good human being as opposed to what they've been perceived as by everyone else. So he sums it up by saying that race doesn't matter.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
You know, he could be green and love him, but also it's very important for little black kids to see him play this role and that everybody needs to see representation. Like I genuinely think that he's just making all of this up as he goes. I think that he is just rambling and trying to find his way. And as somebody who does get interviewed and has to do press, sometimes that happens.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
Like sometimes I will sit down for an interview. Somebody will ask me a question And it takes me a good five minutes to get there. Like I do the Donald Trump weave of like, I want to figure out how I'm going to get there. But he's doing this on a world stage and people are only clipping out small moments.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
We are being proactive rather than just reactionary because for the last decade, 20 years or so, Hollywood and journalists have been the ones who have decided and directed how we are represented on the world stage. They've been telling a bulk of the country who we are and what we represent.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
And to be fair, even though we kind of talked his way around the issue, he is right that color shouldn't matter. Like color should not matter unless you are evaluating your stakes, which is why I buy from Good Ranchers because they have the highest quality cuts of meat. And all of their products are from the U.S.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
And I know that you might say, Brett, come on, I can go to the grocery store and everything says product of the U.S.A. Mmm. Actually, 85% of grass-fed beef that you see in the grocery store is not actually from the United States, and that is because the country of origin law was actually repealed.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
So now a meat product does not need to be born, raised, or even harvested in the United States to get that label. It only needs to be packaged in the United States in order to say that it is a product of the United States. But with good ranchers, when they say that their meat is 100% American, they actually mean it.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
All of their products are born, raised, harvested, and packaged by local ranchers that keep our communities fed and moving. And on top of that, these American products are free from hidden additives. No antibiotics ever, no added hormones, no seed oils, just simple ingredients that you can feel good about feeding yourself and your family.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
They really make everything more simple, down to the fact that they deliver their products directly to your door. So with goodranchers.com, everything that you need to create a delicious meal and feed your family is just a click away. And as an extra little treat for you guys, if you go to goodranchers.com slash Brett, you'll be able to see the special box that I had curated just for you guys.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
These are all the products that Alex and I literally eat throughout the week, from the pork chops to the brats to the steaks. These are the products that keep our household moving.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
And if all of that is not enough to convince you, Good Ranchers is still running their New Year New Meat promotion, which means that you can subscribe to any box, hopefully the Brett Cooper box, because it's my favorite and it's really good, but subscribe to any box and you can get a year's worth of free meat.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
You get to choose from free ground beef, free chicken breast, or free salmon in every single order for an entire year. Plus, you will get $25 off when you use my code BRETT at checkout. So visit goodranchers.com, use code BRETT at checkout to claim your free meat for an entire year and $25 off. Again, goodranchers.com, $25 off and free meat for an entire year.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
That is simple ingredients all the time, transparent packaging, no clarifying statements needed, unlike the clarifying statement that Anthony Mackie had to make. And, you know, to his credit, he did make a follow-up statement in an attempt to clarify things.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Marvel Fans Are Outraged at the New Captain America | Episode 5
I mean, who knows whether this was, you know, a PR cleanup job or actually coming from the heart, but he posted this on his story soon after that original video went viral last week. And he said, let me be clear about this. I'm a proud American and taking on the shield of a hero like Cap is the honor of a lifetime. I have the utmost respect for those who serve and have served our country.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
So guys, it feels like 10 years since the second Trump term began, and I do not mean that in a bad way at all. It is actually completely the opposite. He has done so much in the last 40 days that it has been nearly impossible to keep track unless you are literally glued to X, unless you are glued to C-SPAN, which Unfortunately, most of us have lives, so I know we're not doing that.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
passing his citizenship exam and you're saying he could be deported. Trump doesn't care about your grandfather or your dad who came in 30 years ago and is now an American citizen. That is not who is being deported. We are deporting people who are literally currently here illegally. Like, you do not even understand the situation.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
There are also parents that are doing the classic lib thing where they're like, my child... My child came to me in the middle of the night and knocked on my door and was like, mommy, they're going to they're going to pick up kids from my class and they're going to deport them all. And I just don't even know what to tell her. We are deporting the drug cartels out of the streets.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
That should be something that we are all excited about. I mean, it's just been horrible. Like there was literally a story two weeks ago now that came out through the New York Post and they were talking about this young girl in Texas, this 11 year old who had killed herself. And the media painted it to be about deportations, about immigration.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
They said she had been bullied over her immigration status. She was a legal immigrant. She was an American citizen. And apparently she had possibly overheard comments on the bus talking about immigration. And they said, oh, this is the reason why now Trump is killing children. OK, it just came out three days later that she was being sexually abused.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
My merch is also linked below, so lots of goodies for you in the description. Alright, so obviously we cannot talk about Trump's first official month in office without talking about executive orders, because executive orders have really been the theme of the last 40 days.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
that it wasn't actually about immigration at all. But the media took that tiny little sliver of a story and ran with it and utilized this girl's death, this 11 year old girl's death to push a narrative that Trump was now a child murderer because he was deporting children. Again, guys, these are not legal law abiding citizens that are getting deported.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
No matter what you see on TikTok right now, what they are dealing with, they are violent criminals, as Chrissy Noem pointed out right here.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
Are we going to cry about that on TikTok? Are we going to have video sobbing Selena Gomez of these people leaving our country? No, this is objectively a good thing. Objectively, we should not want these people to be in our country. And you know what? To make this issue even more simple for people who cannot understand this, these people are all criminals point blank because guess what?
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
They came here illegally, as Caroline Levitt put it in a press conference.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
And for any children who are watching this unfold on social media or on the news or are being fed lies from TikTok or their teachers or their friends, parents, do not make a video crying on TikTok. No, realize that this is an excellent opportunity to not instill fear in your children, but to teach a very simple,
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
basic lesson about law and order, about things that are legal and not illegal, about what happens to people when objectively they break the law. That is something that you must teach your children at some point. This is the real world. This is reality.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
It is not a bad thing to teach them that and it does not need to be scary, especially when what you are parroting on social media, what your kids are allegedly seeing is not actually happening. So that right there kind of covers the issue of immigration. Again, I think that it is the most emotional part of Trump's first month. It is the thing that most people have hated about his first month.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
And as you guys probably know, if you were watching the inauguration like I was, maybe some of you guys were also there, Trump signed a ton on the day of his inauguration at his inaugural parade, which ended up being moved inside, so it was kind of like an inaugural rally, but just take a look at this clip in case you missed it.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
Everything else is kind of all under the wayside. I think it hasn't gotten as much media attention. Like, Trump did four executive orders dealing with the transgender community and it barely got an uproar, which genuinely, like, shocked me.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
Like on day one, he did an executive order establishing two genders, which I don't even know why we had to do that, but it is hysterical and epic that he did on day one. He said that there was man, there was woman. He even slipped in there that life begins at conception, that gender begins at conception, that you cannot distort this or change it, that there is no third gender.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
He kept it very, very simple. He also did an executive order barring transgender individuals from serving in the military. Which again, should not be controversial in the slightest. Maybe people are finally realizing that. Maybe that is why there was not a media uproar because they've realized this is absurd. Like if you are bipolar, you cannot serve in the military.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
If you have a major depressive disorder, you cannot serve. If you have anxiety or OCD, you cannot serve. So why do you think somebody with gender dysphoria should be able to serve? Why? Because it's the virtuous thing to do because we have to support this? No, it literally does not make sense. You cannot serve if you have to take any kind of medication, whether it be
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
for a physical health condition or a mental health condition, so why should somebody who has to take regular hormones in order to stay the gender that they are pretending that they are? So why should these individuals be allowed to serve next to men and women who had to fit through such strict parameters in order to even enlist? Again, it makes no sense.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
Now, the third thing that he did was an executive order barring gender-affirming care for kids under the age of 19. I think this is the one that got the most media attention. This one was called Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
And I think some people were confused, but this does not end gender affirming care for children just point blank, but it bars federal funding for any of these surgeries. It bars federal funding and grants for research and experiments for med schools and hospitals.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
And it also requires the secretary of the HHS, which is now Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to try to stop this on a whole and to end this in our country. So it hasn't been ended right now, but he's basically saying the federal government will not be involved in this mutilation. Now, the fourth executive order about transgenderism was keeping men out of women's sports.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
And this was the one that I think most people were celebrating. It was an incredible sight to behold, like out of all of the executive orders, even going back to day one on January 20th when he was sitting on that stage surrounded by cheers when he was repealing those 78 Biden executive orders. This was still the best sight. Just watch Trump signing this executive order.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
And the best part was they were asking all of these young girls to stand back because obviously he's Trump. People have tried to kill him. Secret Service was like, everybody needs to stand back. Nobody can get close to him.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
And Trump looked around at this room of like 100 plus young women, you know, ranging from ages five, maybe even younger, to women like Riley Gaines, to women who had competed, you know, in sports 20 years ago. All these women were surrounding him. And he said, they're not going to hurt me. And he said, Secret Service, you don't have to be worried about them.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
He invited all of them to crowd around the table. And now you have this incredible image. It is just so, so perfect. But yeah, this is him signing the order. And it's just awesome. I literally am like tearing up thinking about it. Like this is such an amazing day. That is a picture for the Smithsonian. That video is a picture.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
There are about four different screen grabs in that that could hang in a museum. It was truly remarkable. And guys, that day, that exact same day, the president of the NCAA made a statement saying that they would be working to align their policies with this new executive order.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
and saying that this actually did, even though people were saying that this was transphobic, they were actually thanking him, saying that this offered so much needed clarity on the issue. That executive order was signed on Wednesday afternoon, the statement from the NCAA was made on Wednesday afternoon, and by Thursday afternoon, the transgender policy at the NCAA had been updated.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
NCAA announces transgender student athlete participation policy change, and NBC wrote about it that same day and said, by Thursday afternoon, the association announced an update to its transgender student athlete policy. NCAA women's sports will be restricted to students assigned female at birth.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
This national standard brings much needed clarity as we modernize college sports for today's student athletes. And there were people that were still, of course, losing their minds over this on social media. Again, nothing compared to the outrage over immigration and the deportations. But I mean, still, it was an issue that people care a lot about. But I mean, like, come on.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
Like, according to recent Gallup polls from the last couple of years, this is something that 70% of Americans want. Trump is representing the people by doing this, and I think it's so great that when you look at the social media landscape, yeah, there were a few angry tweets here and there.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
Yes, you had NBC writing a little heated, passive-aggressive article about it, but they really couldn't say much because, again, this is what the voters overwhelmingly wanted. Now, you guys all know that I am a big advocate for our Second Amendment rights, and I believe in being prepared and being responsible when it comes to firearms. But let's be honest.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
Shooting can be loud and sometimes uncomfortable, and that is why I want to tell you about my friends over at Silencer Shop. Yes, silencers are totally legal before you ask, and Silencer Shop makes getting one easier than ever. They offer the largest selection of topper and suppressors that make your shooting experience quieter, safer, and way more enjoyable.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
I also just love that he did this in front of tens of thousands of fans, because to hear the crowd roaring when he started signing his signature, when they were going through every single one of those executive orders that he signed on stage, it was just such an indication of how excited people were, of how ready we were for change.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
So whether you are hitting the range or out hunting, a suppressor can make a world of difference for your experience. And don't worry about the paperwork. That was the thing that I was most intimidated by. They've got you covered. Silencer Shop simplifies the entire process, making it hassle-free so that you can get your suppressor from the comfort of your own home.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
I don't have to leave this chair to get my own suppressor. Plus approvals are coming back faster than ever, so there is no better time to get started. But guys, here's the best part. This is why I love working with this group. Silencer Shop isn't just about selling suppressors to consumers. They are fighting the good fight for our Second Amendment rights.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
In these unpredictable times, it is crucial to support companies that actually stand up for the Second Amendment, which is what they're doing. Silencer Shop is actively lobbying. They are battling in courtrooms. They are pushing back against anti-gun legislation nationwide.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
So if you want to not only enhance your shooting experience, but also support a company that is fighting for our rights, head on over to Silencer Shop to get started today. And trust me, Silencer Shop is the easiest and best way to get your suppressor.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
Now, in addition to these very serious issues that are very personal to the American people, like men and women's sports and like the economy and immigration, Trump obviously had to have some Trump moments. And he also passed some incredibly funny executive orders. For example, my personal favorite one was the ending of the forced procurement and use of paper straws. Just watch.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
Guys, I just want you to watch the man on the right-hand side throughout this entire clip. He is just having the time of his life. Like, this is joy. They said the combo would bring joy. This is bringing joy.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
We just have to wait. It gets better at the end.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
It's so good. If nothing else, this man provides me comedy every single day. I saw a tweet earlier and somebody was saying, damn it, this man is a neo-Nazi fascist, but damn it, he's so freaking funny. Yes, like you can't look away. You can't not love him slightly, even if you don't like his policies because he's a character. That's what Bridget was saying at the top of this episode.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
Like he gets the pomp and circumstance. He is an entertainer at the end of the day. He knows how to entertain us. He knows how to keep people's attention and by golly, He has mine. Now, in addition to the paper straw executive order, another funny one that he did was restoring American names to American greatness, which was basically eliminating a lot of the wokeness from American names.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
Literally, people had been waiting outside the arena for 24 hours, standing in the freezing cold in Washington, D.C., to get inside, waited all day long while the inauguration things were happening inside the Capitol,
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
Like if Biden had added equity or something like that to a federal agency or anything that was, you know, overseen by the federal government. Mount McKinley is a great example of that. That was Mount Denali in Alaska, but he restored it to the original name of Mount McKinley. So that goes under that executive order.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
He also signed an executive order to create a commission to throw America the biggest 250th birthday celebration for 4th of July. He was like, we're going to have the biggest, best birthday party of all time. So he signed an executive order about that specifically. He also, and this might be my favorite one, he also signed an executive order making English
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
the official language of the United States, which if you know Trump, he has been talking about this for years. Watch this clip from a debate many years ago now.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
Jeb Bush just doesn't even know what to say about that. He's got no response whatsoever. But listen, Trump's right. And years later, he finally made it. He finally signed that executive order. So hopefully, guys, that gives you a little recap on all of these executive orders.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
And those last couple were obviously very funny and kind of silly, but Trump really took what the American voters asked of him, and he ran through it. I mean, he just ran through walls for us in that first 40 days. He said, I don't care what the media says about me. I don't care what you journalists are saying.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
I don't care what all of you government employees and you labor unions, I don't care if you sue me. This is the mandate that the American people gave me and I am going to enact it. whether it be the economy or immigration or men and women's sports and transgenderism in general, or having two genders only, he was going to make it happen. And that is what he did with all of those executive orders.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
So now we obviously have to ask, what happens next with all of these executive orders? Because if you're thinking critically about the situation, you're thinking, well, the next admin will just unwind it, which in my interview with Bridget, she said that that was her main concern. That's the only thing that she doesn't like about what he did in his first 40 days was her thinking ahead four years
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
just to see this man in person and to watch these executive orders be signed the energy was unreal he stayed on stage for a while and did what you would normally be doing in the oval office but brought his fans brought his photos into it it was just like an incredible way to start this second term and even though he did this on stage at the capitol one arena in dc i believe that's what it's called
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
five years, whenever the next Democrat is in office, thinking, oh, that next president could do what Trump did on his first day and just reverse all of these.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
Now, thankfully, Bridget and I are not alone in this feeling, and people in government are hearing those concerns. Specifically, Mike Johnson is hearing the concerns, and he made an announcement while on the stage at CPAC saying that he is going to try his hardest to make sure that does not happen by getting as many of these executive orders passed as law so they can be codified as U.S. statutes.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
And I love that he says that as if it's so simple, because it's not. That is going to be nearly impossible on a lot of those executive orders, but the fact that they're going to go in there and they're going to try, especially in the next two years while we have the majority, that needs to be priority number one for Congress, in my opinion, is to get as many of these done, because again,
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
then these last 40 days are all kind of for nothing. Yeah, we're enjoying it. Yeah, we get tons of viral videos and clips and we get to laugh with Trump as he's signing in things about paper straws.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
Because if these are not passed into law, if we do not permanently reduce these regulations, get rid of government bloat, we are going to find ourselves in the exact same situation in four years, in eight years, in 12 years. So we need to handle it now.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
Now, the next thing that I want to cover in this first official month of Trump videos is obviously some of my personal favorite viral moments, because Of course, it is Trump. There have been some incredible hysterical moments, some of which you have already seen through those executive order signings.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
But my personal favorites from the last month, these ones that I've been, you know, kind of bookmarking on X and saving for this episode, they have actually been Trump's interactions with people from other countries, specifically those where English is obviously not their first language.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
First in this lineup is an interaction that he had on February 4th, I believe, and it was an interaction with a reporter during his press conference with Netanyahu. Just take a listen.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
So we can obviously hear. And she's like, what are you going to do for the people of Afghanistan? He's like, you know, good luck. Good luck. Hope it works out for you. Go in peace. Beautiful language. I cannot hear you. But guys, that was not the only time this happened. Ten days later, during a presser with the prime minister of India, Trump had the same exact issue.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
It's so great. Like, this is what we all deal with when we call our phone companies. This is what we all deal with when we call any kind of customer service, and Trump is just like us. You know, it's like celebrities, politicians, they're just like us. He's like, I can't understand a fricking word that you are saying.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
Lastly, the third in this installment is when the president of France, President Macron, came to visit just last week. And Trump was overwhelmed by the beauty of the French language, even though he once again could not understand a damn thing.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
this wasn't unlike what happened in 2016. Because in 2016, in Trump's first term, he also signed a bunch of executive orders and all the libs freaked out. The media freaked out. They're like, oh my God, he's abusing his power. He's a fascist. This is so awful. Interestingly, this time around, they're kind of quieter. Maybe they're used to it.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
The other part of this interaction that I just adore is the power move of Macron is trying to speak and Trump reaches over, grabs his hand, like, shut up, I'm speaking. Like, no, no, no, I've heard enough. Beautiful, beautiful language, can't understand a word. And he just grabs his hand and he's like, no, no, let's sit down now. I mean, it is such a power play.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
Everything he does from his handshakes to this, it is so intentional. But guys, all three of those videos, I just want you to think, What executive order ties in to those videos? That is why this is so funny to me.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
Because remember, just a couple of days ago, just like two days before I'm sitting here filming this video, Trump signed that order making English the official language of the United States. This was signed on March 1st, and obviously this does not impact accents in this life.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
He's not saying that you can't be here if you do not speak English perfectly, but it's so funny to think of him going through all three of those interactions, sitting through all those press conferences, being like, I can't I can't understand a damn word anybody's saying. I'm going to fix this right here and right now. I want to hear English. And so he made an executive order just about that.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
It's just so great. Now, the second to last thing that we need to cover, and I know I've kind of taken you on this like wild ride of the last 40 days, but if we want to touch on the funniest moments, the most important moments of the first month of the second Trump admin, we cannot ignore what happened just last week in the Oval Office with JD Vance.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
Donald Trump and President Zelensky from Ukraine. And I'm sure that you guys have seen most of the viral clips by now. If you spend any time on social media, you may have even seen some of the memes that came out, just like this one, which is my personal favorite.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
The caption says me right before I play my last Uno card on family game night.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
have just been so many incredible memes that have been making me laugh for the last you know 72 hours but that moment and that meeting was so much more important than just some viral clips and if you didn't watch the entire 45 minute recorded conversation then I just want to take a moment to set the scene for you because the media is painting this in a certain light obviously and we're seeing all the funny memes but again this is so much bigger so this afternoon this event this meeting with Zelensky actually started out perfectly they were on great terms Trump
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
welcomed him to DC and to the White House. Trump actually complimented Zelensky on not wearing the same army green costume that he's wearing for three years, but obviously changing up his wardrobe. It's so friendly. I mean, it's a bit of trolling. He's like, look, he's not wearing the same shirt, but it's like friendly. They're laughing, they're smiling, they're taking pictures together.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
Everything seems normal. And from there, when they actually sat down in the Oval Office to have this meeting with Zelensky and Trump and J.D. Vance, It started out peacefully, like Trump continued to crack jokes and kind of do like nudge nudge. He was smiling. He was laughing. He was talking about peace. He was trying to have a productive conversation about peace in Ukraine with Russia.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
But even though that was the case, there are a lot of things that are different this time around. It's almost 10 years later. This is a new Trump. And I brought my friend, Bridget Fatesi, who is the host of Dumpster Fire, onto the show to talk about this. And this was one of the first things she brought out, how different this is and how it's so much better. Take a listen.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
He was even complimenting Zelensky for things that he had done over the last three years. But Zelensky could not let this continue to be a peaceful conversation, and he would not stop trying to make the entire conversation about Putin.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
Like literally every 30 seconds, well Putin did this, well Putin did this, and obviously he's fighting Putin right now, but that was not what Trump wanted to talk about. And he also would not let up talking about America pledging a security guarantee and a lot more money for Ukraine.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
And it just became evident after like 10 or 15 minutes, somewhere in that range, that the two sides were just speaking completely different languages. Not even literally, but figuratively. They wanted very different things. Trump and J.D. Vance were here to talk about peace and productivity and how to move forward from this. And Zelensky was like, no, I need you to fight with me and fight for me.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
So I personally have felt like I've kind of been in a washing machine for the last 40 days, just being bounced around, catching bits and pieces of the news and trying to follow along because literally guys, this man is moving a mile a minute. And so I think it is time for a recap. You guys have been asking for it. You've been saying, Brett, why haven't you talked about Trump?
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
I want to wipe this man off the face of the earth. I hate Putin. I hate Putin. Literally just saying that. And so by then he started getting kind of riled up and he started interrupting Trump consistently until Trump finally had enough and started to call him out for this, you know, Putin derangement syndrome and a lack of interest in obvious peace and productivity and diplomacy.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
And that is when J.D. Vance jumped in and that is when fireworks really started. And it wasn't an ambush of any And that is how the media is trying to paint this. So if you've been on NBC, if you've been reading, you know, AP News, if you've been reading CNN, they will have said, this was so awful. Poor Zelensky. Why would they do this to him? It was an ambush. It was not that at all.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
It was supposed to be peaceful and productive. And Zelensky himself took the first step to make this interaction more hostile. And Trump was just not going to deal with it. And I mean, Trump, of course, could have just rolled over like Biden did. And like many other world leaders have gone, okay, whatever. Whatever you want, I'll sign another check. But Trump is Trump. He's not going to do that.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
And so it just kept getting more and more angry, more and more hostile. And the last five minutes were where it really became entertaining. And somewhere in the last five minutes, I'm sure, is what you've seen on social media. But I want to show you my two favorite clips. This might be my favorite one.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
That, that moment right there, that is when it started to spiral. Have you even said thank you once? But in the minute prior to that, obviously Trump is getting enraged. He is raising his voice. He's saying things that I think a lot of us have wanted to say for the last couple of years. Like you need all of us. And J.D. Vance is like, yeah, you need all of us.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
And you're being kind of an ungrateful brat. in the Oval Office, in front of two people that are trying to help you, and I am not going to stand for it. And so from there, from JD Vance calling him disrespectful, it only got better, and I seriously have never felt better. As I was watching this clip, I've never felt better about having these two men in charge leading us on a global stage.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
Like, the fathers are back in charge, the adults are in the room. Take a listen to this last clip.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
You can see Trump flip in this clip. It's like with every interaction, it just gets more and more intense. And I think the final kicker was Zelensky saying, we've done it all alone. And Trump was like, the hell you have? Absolutely not. We have been banged. Yes, you've been fighting, but you haven't done it alone.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
And it's offensive for you to sit here in front of the president of the United States, in front of the vice president, in front of
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
an army of press filming you and say that you've had to fight it all along when you literally haven't the United States all of Europe everybody has been contributing and America and Donald Trump is fed up he is done and I also love in this clip I love that it showed us that Trump and JD Vance are a united front that's why I wanted to start the clip there where he goes uh he was not speaking loudly because Trump didn't leave JD Vance out there to just fend for himself he also didn't have to do
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
all of the talking he has a partner now a sparring partner somebody who can be his backup or even just be on the front lines with him like with pence he was nowhere to be seen like i don't even know if i heard the man talk once during the first presidency and kamala during the biden years was off you know drunkenly giving speeches doing whatever the hell she was doing posing for covers of vogue but jd vance and trump are totally different they are a team they're showing us that they're a team and they're also showing us how much trump clearly respects shady dance
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
The fact that he is sitting there right next to Trump, that he lets him speak, that he goes to bat for him when he feels like J.D. Vance is being disrespected. And I think that this also points to another change in Trump's demeanor from the last few years, like another difference between 2016 Trump and 2025 Trump, or a change in his psyche, as Bridget put it.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
We were talking about the figures working alongside Trump, and she said, you know what? I think something has changed in his psyche by the way that he interacts with these figures. Just take a listen.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
Now to kind of round out this more recent story for you guys, of course, like I've mentioned before, the media obviously called Trump and J.D. Vance mean and rude and hurtful and like they were fascists for going after poor little Zelensky, that this was an ambush, but obviously you guys have now gotten the entire story. You have probably watched the clips.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
If you have the time, go watch that entire 45-minute interview. It is fascinating. It is crazy. And obviously you will see that that ambush did not happen.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
But guys, what was even crazier than our American media's response was watching what was happening in Europe because almost instantaneously, everyone in Europe, all the European leaders just fell into line and started tweeting as they should in support of Ukraine, in support of Zelensky and against America after this awful ambush. Just listen to these tweets.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
And listen, I completely agree with her. It's like another one of those platitudes like, what is made for you won't miss you, Trump. Like, you were made to be president again. It just wasn't in 2020. You had to take a few years off. You had to learn. You had to reflect and come back stronger in 2024. Kick it all off in 2025. And she is absolutely right.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
Your dignity honors the bravery of the Ukrainian people. Be strong, be brave, be fearless. You are never alone, dear President Zelensky. We will continue working with you for a just and lasting peace. Here's another one. Your dignity... honors the bravery of the Ukrainian people. Be strong, be brave, be fearless. Oh, that kind of sounds like what we just read. You are never alone, dear president.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
We will continue working with you for a just and lasting peace. Your dignity honors the bravery. It goes on and on and on. This was tweeted four times, possibly even more. And those four that I just showed you that I screenshotted, those are from the two presidents of the European Union, the president of the European Parliament, and the EVP of the European Commission.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
Now, better yet, even better than the European Commission and the European Union, you need to look at these tweets from the leaders of all of the European countries. Like, guys, I don't even know if you'll be able to see all of these because there's so many. Dear Zelensky, dear Ukrainian friends, you are not alone. Ukraine is not alone.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
Germany, along with our European allies, stands united against Ukraine. We stand with Ukraine on the side of the world. Canada stands with Ukraine. Iceland stands with Ukraine. I mean, guys, there are so many of these, all of these countries, from Poland to Germany to the Czech Republic to Slovenia to Latvia to Luxembourg to Spain. Sweden, Portugal, Netherlands, Iceland.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
They all made similar tweets. Again, I can't even fit these into one screenshot. I mean, it's just laughable. Like I'm laughing thinking about virtue signaling and like tweeting infographics has made its way to geopolitics. We are on the brink of World War III and this is what world leaders are doing. Oh, I'm so sorry. You got ambushed by Donald Trump.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
And guys, what made this even better, and I feel like I keep saying, like, this is even funnier, this is even funnier, but truly, so you're seeing all of these posts. Zelensky went in and retweeted every single one of them and said, thank you for your support. Oh, thank you for your support. Literally, every single one. Go to his Twitter. Go to his, sorry, I have to call it an ex now.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
Go to his ex, scroll through his profile, you will see every single one. It is truly crazy. Like, guys, if you all support Zelensky in Ukraine that much, which is fine, that's totally your prerogative to support him, then you can give Zelensky the security guarantee that he so desperately says he needs in order to sign this peace deal. And guess what, guys? You can afford to.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
This article just came out a couple of days ago. Europe can afford to defend itself without the U.S., but needs more coordination, study says. You can do it. You don't need our help, so stop getting angry at us for putting our foot down and start... Writing those checks, keep on writing those checks. You've already given a lot of money.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
The European countries, when you look at GDP, they've actually given more money than the United States, not in terms of actual cash, but in terms of, you know, proportion to their economy and their population. So keep going if it's that important to you. But you know what? It seems like they don't want to do that.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
It seems like they're also tired, but they don't want to be the ones to put down their foot and say no, like we just watched Donald Trump do. In fact, people on social media from around the world have been making posts literally lamenting about the U.S. not doing enough for them now. Like, look at this one.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
He so desperately needed that time, in my opinion, to watch and to learn and to get angry about the things that Biden was doing and to prepare. I mean, guys, he was so much more prepared going into the second term, as Bridget said.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
From LinkedIn, this guy says, I have the outmost respect for President Zelensky for remaining true to his principles in this situation, not to sell out his country and resources for a bad deal without any security guarantees and not give into the pressure from the American administration requires more courage than you can imagine. This is where it gets good.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
The make a deal or we're out front shown yesterday at the White House makes it clear, the clearest that it ever could, that Europe needs to ensure its own security, economy, and unity. Yes! Literally yes! Were you thinking that you didn't have to do that? Were you expecting that the United States was just gonna come in and protect you and be the world's police forever? That's unsustainable.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
We don't wanna do that. We don't wanna fund it. We have our own problems at home that we need to address before we can go in and fix your economy and your security and to make you unified. That is not our responsibility. Like I read this LinkedIn post and I just think of the SpongeBob meme that's like the world's tiniest violin. Yes, yes, actually.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
You have to think about your country's own security. We're not gonna do that for you. But anyway, all jokes aside and back to the point, even though these European countries are still wanting to pledge support and possibly money for Ukraine, maybe they will end up doing the security guarantee, Trump is obviously putting his foot down for Americans.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
And his post that he put out following the meeting, it literally sounded like a father putting a temper tantrum-y child into timeout, which I personally loved. This is what he put on Truth Social. He said, Much was learned that could never be understood without conversation under such fire and pressure.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
It is amazing what comes out through emotion, and I have determined that President Zelensky is not ready for peace, capital P, if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations. I don't want advantage. I want peace. He disrespected the United States of America and its cherished Oval Office. He can come back. when he is ready for peace. Mic drop.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
Daddy's home. I tweeted this. I was like, this literally sounds like I am six years old. And my mom was like, you can go to your room and you can come back when you've changed your attitude. I mean, honestly, I shouldn't even say that's what she said when I was six years old. She was doing that to me when I was 17 years old. That is what parents do. That is what Trump is doing in this moment.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
And of course the media took issue with this. Like they take issue with everything he does, but that's to be expected. You know, 10 years in, we understand that that's gonna happen. And unlike Biden, Trump will actually face these critics. Trump will actually face the press head on And it does seem like this time around, he kind of enjoys it more. Like, he knows what to expect.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
He's going into it intentionally. He's kind of trolling them, and he knows how to handle them, as Bridget mentioned in our interview.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
Now, speaking of these interactions with the press, another thing to note about his first 40 days in office, the first full month in office, is that in this first month, he took a whopping 1009 questions from the press. I mean, guys, in this first month alone, he has almost taken as many questions as Biden did allegedly in his entire term.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
Allegedly, Biden took anywhere from 1,800 and possibly hitting 2,000 questions over the last four years. And if Trump keeps this speed up, he will surpass that next month. By the end of March, he will have taken more questions than Biden took after four years. But I mean, who's surprised? He was like at the beach for half that time. So obviously he was not answering questions.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
I mean, Biden gave fewer interviews with the press than his predecessors. He did fewer press conferences than his predecessors. I actually think that he holds the record for the least amount of press conferences in a president's history. He gave fewer informal Q and A's, whether that was when he was at the White House or when he was getting off of Air Force One, you name it. And so in comparison,
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
It just makes Trump shine even more. I mean, Trump is truly giving us the most transparent administration in history. He is inviting press into the Oval Office frequently. Caroline Levitt, the new press secretary, is the youngest press secretary in history. She's absolutely crushing it. And they are even doing these breakdowns on social media.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
To keep you guys informed, I highly recommend following the White House account because these videos are phenomenal. Take a listen.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
And this is only half the video. She goes on for another 30 seconds, literally doing a breakdown of what I just did over the last hour, basically, in one minute to keep you guys informed of the number one things that they're doing. And they're not just doing this every month. I think that she is literally doing it every single week, giving you the MAGA Minute updates to keep voters informed.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
Now, obviously, if you guys know anything about me, if you took anything from this episode, I'm sure that you know by now that obviously I think all this is great. I'm living my best life under the second Trump administration. I'm having so much fun. I think all of this is just fantastic. I love the tenacity. I love getting straight to business.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
I love following the mandate that the American voters gave him. I think truly it is all incredible and I love that he is not pulling punches on any issues, whether that be transgenderism or the economy or dealings with Ukraine, he is putting his foot down.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
Now, I am in Gen Z and I'm having a great time, I love it, but apparently some of our generation is not as happy and I'm saying argh because I know I have a ton of Gen Z viewers and I want you guys to know that since coming into office, since 40 days ago, Trump's approval rating has reportedly dropped 40 points to the negative.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
with Gen Z. Newsweek wrote about this, Donald Trump's Gen Z popularity plunges. That is a huge number, like unprecedented. And so the question that I want to leave you guys with today to be thinking about, because I do want to do an episode about this, and that question is, why do you think that is? Why do you think his approval rating has dropped 40 points with Gen Z?
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
Now, I obviously have my opinion. I have some theories. I want to do an entire episode about this, but like, do any of you guys have buyer's remorse? Are any of you guys not happy with what I'm happy about? Are any of you guys upset about these executive orders? Like, what in your mind changed as Gen Zers from November when we were all, you know, fired up for MAGA to now?
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
Like, did Gen Z actually think that Trump was just about vibes and papers and driving trash trucks and frying fries at McDonald's? And that now that he's deporting people and firing everybody out of the federal government, you guys don't like it so much? I don't know. I just want to know. I want to figure it out. We're going to do an entire episode about it.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
Give me your responses and I'll make sure to include them. But all of that aside, the opinions from the rest of our generation, again, I'm having a great time. I feel really hopeful. I feel really fired up. And of course, there are things that I disagree with. Of course, there are things that maybe I want to see differently.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
There are things that I'm still really excited about that he hasn't done yet, which is totally normal. And so I'm so happy that I got to do this recap for you guys and fill you in. I want to do this more frequently because I miss talking about him. He is one of my favorite figures in culture. Donald Trump is who made me interested in politics from the beginning.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
And not to get ahead of myself, but a great example of this preparedness is that right off the bat, people, and I mean, you know, people being the labor unions and the labor boards, immediately started suing Trump for firing all of these federal employees. He was like, I am clearing house.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
He is a fascinating character, a fascinating man. And I love the fact that he is leading our country once again.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
I'm getting rid of a bunch of these lazy people that are doing nothing but spending taxpayer dollars, immediately started firing them. He got sued literally on day one. But just last week, a federal judge came in and said, Actually, guys, this is legal. I can't stop him from doing this. You can be angry all you want.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
You can file lawsuits in little district courts and get angry at him and just keep suing him. But I can't stop him. Just read this headline. Trump can continue mass firings despite disruption and chaos. U.S. judge rules.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
And of course, they had to add in that disruption and chaos into the headline just to really let everybody know what they think about all of this, of getting rid of government bloat. But truly, I think that that's just a great example of this preparedness because his lawyers knew going into this what would stand and what wouldn't. They were not flying by the seat of their pants.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
They had months to prepare. And one of the ways that Trump prepared that was just so interesting to me that I started noticing back in the fall was that Trump had his own transition team. Many of you guys might know that. Some of you guys might not. But his team started working as early as March of 2025.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
And then they officially convened and started working in August of 2024, which again is still months ahead of when a president-elect would start working. This man was like, yeah, I'm gonna win. This is gonna be great. Even if I don't win, I'm going to be prepared in the off chance that I am.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
I saw some comments that they were like, Brett, Trump has done something like 75 executive orders. You haven't talked about one, which cracked me up because I literally think you could do an entire episode about each individual executive order, but obviously we don't have the time for that. I'm doing these longer shows now, so I'm going to try.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
Now, the other thing that he did that was completely different is that he did not just accept the transition team from the US government. He picked his own people and he brought his own funding. Here are a couple headlines about that. Trump is breaking from past presidents on the Presidential Transition Act. What is it?
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
Another headline reads, Trump has still not signed critical transition agreements allowing access to agencies. I wonder why he didn't want to give access to government agencies as his team was prepping. Now, one of the things that he did was he refused to sign the General Services Agreement that he did sign in 2016, another big shift from his first term.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
And this traditional path would have offered him $7.2 million to pay this transition team, to get everybody ready and to get things in order, to get these executive orders ready for day one. But that $7.2 million, obviously because it's the US government, comes with a lot of strings attached that Trump did not want to touch. So he did not sign it. He didn't accept the money.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
And instead, he brought in the money privately. When we donated money, when I was buying my MAGA hats and giving donations to Trump throughout the campaign, some of that money was going towards funding this private transition team. And that is how he kept the government out of his business, and how he was able to prepare for so many months leading up to winning on November 5th.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
If you are anything like me, then I am sure you think that this transition into power has just been incredible to watch, it's been incredible to see him prepare for so many months, to prepare for January 20th, and I think he wants us to revel in all of this, and that is one thing that has not changed since 2016. Like, that is still the same Trump, as Bridget said later on in our interview.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
I'm going to attempt to mush all of this into one episode. I want to get into that, get into all the incredible things he's done, and obviously we also need to talk about my favorite funny Trumpisms from the last 40 days. infamous meeting in the Oval Office. So this will not be all encompassing in the slightest, which means that we will have many more episodes about Trump in the future.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
I mean, I just completely agree. The man has not stopped. He has not slowed down in the slightest. I mean, on Inauguration Day, I think that he signed 20 executive orders, which was more than any president in recent history, possibly even more than any president in history. And he has just been signing tens upon tens more. many of which are aiming at slashing government regulations.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
Like he is using these executive orders to slash government, to hopefully make our lives better, to make our lives more affordable, to make it easier to run a small business or to start a family. He is getting rid of government bloat that impacts all of our daily lives. On day one, For example, one of his executive orders was to freeze all pending federal government regulations.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
So any regulation that was in the process of reaching us, he said, no, no, we're not going to do this. You're not going to slide this in on my watch. We're freezing everything and I want to see exactly what you're doing and my team will review. He also brought something back from his first term, which was a favorite policy of mine.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
It is the one in two out rule, which means that if you want to introduce one new regulation for government or American people or small businesses, you need to eliminate two. So we started with that. But then just a couple of days later, he added on that. He said, no, no, no, no, no. This is not 2016 Trump. This is 2025 Trump.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
He took it further with a 10 to 1 process that if you want to introduce one, you have to get rid of 10. That is insane. That is unprecedented. Hopefully will work out in our He also put agencies like the FTC and the SEC under White House oversight. And these are agencies that are usually completely independent, meaning that they can just regulate to high heaven. They can do whatever they want.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
And Trump said, no, no, no, no, no. You are going to be held accountable now. I'm going to see what you're doing. You were coming under me now. So that was a huge thing. And I mean, just yesterday, he did another executive order aimed at slashing regulations. This one was about the timber agency.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
and this executive order would terminate all regulations and processes that delay the production of timber, lumber, paper, bioenergy, and other wood products.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
He said, and I quote, the United States has an abundance of timber resources that are more than adequate to meet our domestic timber production needs, but heavy-handed federal policies have prevented full utilization of these resources and made us reliant on foreign producers, which of course is not just in the timber industry. We're dealing with that everywhere.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
So this is just one example of what he's doing to hopefully, again, make things more affordable, bring things back onto American soil, which will only benefit us and our economy. These are all incredibly, incredibly positive things that he's And you would think that an executive order like this is something that everyone could get behind because it's going to make all of our lives better.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
But thanks to my friends at Ground News, I quickly realized that was not the case at all. Now, if you guys didn't know, Ground News cuts through the noise with an unbiased perspective and shows you both sides of every story of every executive order, prioritizing honesty over everything.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
Their unique technology allows users to compare how different sides of corporate media are reporting on a story, making sure that you see all sides and truly stay informed about what's going on in the world.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
And from my perspective as a creator who does this kind of show, they make sure that I stay on top of the stories that I'm covering for you guys so that I can bring you the latest and most honest updates.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
I mean, like with this story, I wanted all the latest information about Trump's executive orders, especially the more recent ones that, you know, haven't had enough time in the news cycle, like this directive about timber production. and I knew that Ground News would have the clearest and most well-rounded breakdown of what Trump was actually doing. But it doesn't stop there.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
Ground News also has a blind spot feed that brings you the stories that have gotten little to no coverage on one side of the political aisle or another, making sure that you always stay informed instead of letting big tech or their algorithms decide what you see.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
And why wouldn't we? Because the man is going to be president for the next four years, God willing, which means we're going to have a ton of great content, lots of things to talk about. And also, guys, on top of all of that and that very important recap, we also need to talk about Gen Z and Gen Z's response to all of this, because spoiler alert, it actually isn't positive at all.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
So if you are ready to truly break free from media bias and stay informed with honest, transparent news consumption, now is the time to join Ground News. And when you go to groundnews.com slash brett or scan the QR code on the screen,
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
you can get the same premium plan that i use but for nearly half the price that is groundnews.com if you want unbiased news and to hold the media accountable for only five dollars a month you can stay on top of the insanity that's happening the good insanity that's happening literally every single day now in addition to slashing regulations and trying to make government smaller which i think we can all get behind another huge thing that trump has been attacking
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
is the immigration crisis. This is something that he ran on. This was like priority two behind the economy in his campaign. We as voters gave him a mandate to fix this problem because it has been so insane. And so on day one, he declared a national emergency at the border. And as of last week, Trump announced that in his first full month being in office,
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
We now have the lowest border crossings in history. This is his post from Truth Social. He said the month of February, my first full month in office, had the lowest number of illegal immigrants trying to enter our country in history by far. In history. Which is insane. There were only 8,326 apprehensions of illegals by Border Patrol at the U.S.-Mexico border, all of whom
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
We're quickly ejected from our nation or, when necessary, prosecuted for crimes against the United States of America. This means that very few people came. The invasion of our country is over. In comparison, and this is truly insane, under Joe Biden there were 300,000 illegals crossing in one month and virtually all of them were released into our country.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
Thanks to Trump administration policies, the border is closed to all illegal immigrants. Anyone who tries to illegally enter the USA will face significant criminal penalties and immediate deportation. And guys, if you've been following the news, even in the slightest, I'm sure that you have seen that these deportations have people riled up.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
This is like the most emotional issue of our time right now. It's like people aren't even thinking about the LGBTQ community or transgenderism or anything that made them angry over the last four years. This is now issue number one that everybody is crying about because again, on day one, he declared a national emergency.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
which meant that troops were deployed, the National Guard was deployed to help with deportations, literally started on day one. Tom Homan got moving. He and Kristi Noem were literally suited up in police ice vests, going through the cities, plucking criminals off the streets.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
There were these insane videos of violent, violent criminals who were being shoved into cars, and they were like, I'll be back. I deserve to be here. And Tom Homan was like, yeah, F you. Now, sorry, you are going home and they blasted them all over the news. Now, speaking of those violent criminals, that brings me to another thing that Trump did.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
He declared the cartels are now foreign terrorist organizations. I don't know why we didn't have that before, but that brought in the government's authority to deport people involved in those kinds of operations. He also did a mass deportation executive order. So really he is clearing house in the United States. And again, like I said, it sparked meltdowns all over social media and in the news.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
And it's kind of concerning. And I want to understand why. Before we dive into today's episode, though, if you're interested in joining my subscriber-only platform, Cooper Confidential, I have the link right here and in the description below. That is for ad-free episodes and exclusive subscriber-only newsletter and weekly Dear Brett advice videos.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
And I expected that, like I was a bit worried about this. Not that I didn't think that it was a good thing, because obviously, objectively, you know, clearing house in the United States, especially after 300,000 people coming over in one month under Joe Biden, like, this is a very good thing. But I expected the media meltdown. I was nervous for it. I was like, people are going to turn on him.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
They're not going to like this. Because I think most of us knew that this was not going to be pretty. However, some seem to be surprised, as Bridget pointed out.
The Brett Cooper Show
The 5 Biggest Highlights of Trump 2.0 | Episode 11
in the last month, but it has been crazy. Like people have been posting videos of their family members, like their dad who came to this country 30 years ago and they film a video of him going through his citizen exam and his citizenship ceremony. And they're like, he could be deported. Are you dumb? Like literally, are you dumb? You just posted a video of him waving his cute little flag
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
Have you ever wanted to play a video game where the protagonist is a black Japanese samurai who has gay love affairs with non-binary characters? Well, if you have, then Assassin's Creed Shadows might just be the game for you. So one of the most anticipated games of the year just came out and gamers of the world simply are not happy. Apparently, Assassin's Creed Shadows is just not good.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
I don't really think that was your goal, but you missed an entire opportunity to celebrate a culture and instead you avoided it and kind of mocked it altogether.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
And of course, I'm literally getting out of breath at this point, but it does not help that on top of all of that, they left in all of the gay storylines that they promised last year, which just makes the entire situation and storyline weirder. And this was Keita's take after playing through all of that.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
And no, my friends, it is not just Keita pointing this out. It's not just one player here or there that is sniffing out these storylines. Publications like Pink News are blasting these wins for the queer gaming community far and wide. This was an article that came out just last week. They said, you can have hot gay samurai flings in Assassin's Creed Shadows. Thank you. Thank you so much, Ubisoft.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
That is just excellent. That is what we all want out of Assassin's Creed. Just clunky, half-baked, gay, and disliked. That is what you have created. I hate to say it, but again, this is what happens when you chase brownie points and not quality.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
So I was actually like in them. I was like the perfect demographic for this game. I don't even play video games. I was like, oh my God, this would be so sick. I'm like in the Shogun mindset. And then I watched the trailer and I was like, what the actual heck is going on?
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
Now, of course, if we are going to have this conversation about Assassin's Creed, we obviously have to, you know, take a step back, take a bird's eye view and take a look at the entire gaming industry, because this is not just happening with Assassin's Creed. This is far from being an isolated incident. And in general, the gaming industry has changed dramatically over the last decade or two.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
I think one thing that really stands out about all of that is how commercialized it has gotten. I mean, it went from being this more artistic niche independent industry into a $200 billion industry in 2025.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
And amidst all of that, you have these high quality developers and independent companies that are getting bought up and the world just became far more corporate and they chose to focus on mass appeal. aka leaning into culture wars and trying to be as woke as possible. And a perfect example of how this all transpired is Ubisoft.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
I mean, in 2022, they released their annual sustainability report where they promised to embed DEI in every single one of their creative processes. So if you've been playing Ubisoft games over the last couple of years going, what has changed? My friends, I am about to show you. And yes, before you ask, this was put into place by their
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
Chief Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Social Impact Officer at Ubisoft. And her name is Rashi Sika, who was hired in 2020. Interesting timing for the development of Assassin's Creed Shadows. Here she is, this is Rashi. And according to this article that was published around the time she was hired, her role
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
would be to implement more diverse and inclusive strategies and initiatives across all aspects of operations and business. And let me tell you, my friends, by 2022, she had certainly done that. By the time that sustainability report came out, she had implemented and publicized all of these strategies, which in turn impacted all gamers, especially the lovers of Assassin's Creed.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
Now, in this report, she wrote, We will create gaming experiences that push representation forward by embedding diversity and inclusion across all of our processes, increasing representation in our teams, and offering access to resources that help build teams to build more authentic, inclusive, and accessible gaming experiences. Isn't that wonderful? Isn't that exactly what you want?
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
Now, the game was said to follow two protagonists, a black Japanese samurai, Yasuke, and a female shinobi or a Japanese spy named Naoe. And like I said, the trailer came out last May, and even last May in 2024, it made an insane splash because people were obviously confused about a black samurai leading a video game that is set in feudal Japan.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
And I'm reading this and I'm like, wow, that must be why you picked a black samurai. And I am sure that Yasuke is this woman's crowning joy. So guys, if you want to know why Shadows has a black samurai, why it has gay love stories and non-binary characters and a strong female lead that kind of comes out of nowhere when Yasuke was supposed to be the protagonist, now you have your answer.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
And all of this is just so funny to me because in our interview, Keita was talking about how the entire gaming industry has just become overrun by women in the LGBTQ community. And I laughed when he said that, but holy crap, as I dove in, as I did my research for this episode, let me tell you, he was not wrong.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
i mean guys in electronic arts's 2023 report where they basically survey the entire gaming industry they cited a 30 increase in women in leadership roles across the entire gaming industry between the years of 2020 and 2023 like i love you women i am one of you i support you but i'm really not sure you are helping the gaming industry now in addition to just women they also took a look at the underrepresented talent category in general which they increased
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
by 46%, which is just insane. That is a huge number. EA also launched their diversity in gaming fund, where they invested $10 million into underrepresented developers, and they are actively tracking the percentage of games with non male, non straight protagonists. I mean, guys, this is literally like the Oscars diversity quotas all over again.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
Where, I don't know if you guys know this, but if you want to be nominated for an Academy Award, for an Oscar, your film has to check certain boxes. They are literally surveying the industry. Sorry, too many white guys. Oh, you didn't have a female or a gay person as a lead. Oh, you can't. That is literally what they are doing now to the gaming industry. And all of this isn't just internal.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
It is also being driven by a huge cohort of consultants that these companies are bringing in, most notably, or notoriously, whichever way you look at it, a Canadian company called Sweet Baby Inc. And guys, they do not hide what their goal is. In fact, when you Google Sweet Baby Inc, this is literally how Google AI describes them.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
Sweet Baby Inc is a narrative development and consulting firm that works with video game companies to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion within game narratives and studios, but has faced criticism for allegedly pushing a woke agenda. Yeah, that is literally really what they are doing. They are pushing DEI 24 seven. That is the basis of their company.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
I wouldn't say that that is alleged, but Google AI goes on and here's their more detailed breakdown what they do. Sweet Baby Inc specializes in narrative development and consulting offering services like cultural consultation, sensitivity, inclusivity, readings, readings, and risk and opportunity assessments.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
Their core services include working on projects ranging from script writing to narrative design and story reviews with a focus on ensuring authenticity, you didn't do that well in Assassin's Creed, and emotional resonance in stories. Well, I think the emotional resonance that people are having right now is anger and confusion. So I think you should reevaluate what you are doing, Sweet Baby Inc.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
And this anger and confusion is widespread because Sweet Baby's impact is everywhere. One article wrote, according to the firm's website, it is an inclusion-focused narrative and consultation company building a team and a process in hopes of building a kinder, more sustainable industry at every scale. And then they say, what is particularly notable, however, is Sweet Baby Inc. 's client list.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
However, at the time, Ubisoft confirmed that Yasuke was a real historical figure, so they weren't just pulling this out of their ass, although though, when you actually look at his history, the time that this man spent in Japan as a samurai and his actual history is very, very murky. There is a book written about him, but again, we just don't really know a lot about him.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
It includes some of the biggest names in the industry, such as Valve, which runs the largest distribution service of video games, and Xbox, one of the three main console manufacturers. Other companies that work with Sweet Baby Inc. include 2K, Electronic Arts, wow, shocker, shocking me, Rocksteady, Santa Monica Studio, Square Inks, Ubisoft, Warner Brothers Games, and Wizards of the Coast.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
And as you have now seen repeated over and over, They are 100% message first, games second. They literally admit it themselves. And it is exactly the problem that Keita and other gamers have been pointing to.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
And I mean, Kada talks about this all the time. He is so chill about it at this point. He's like a classic streamer, just like hanging out. I'm riled up. This is literally like insane. And people have gotten so fed up that there is literally a Steam community that was created called Sweet Baby Inc.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
Detected that has over 200,000 members that literally just talk about Sweet Baby's impact on games and they can like detect which game Sweet Baby has touched. And I am sure that they are not the only consultation company that is working in this capacity. There have been so many other recent games that have been impacted by these initiatives.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
And ones that Keita pointed out were, you know, The Last of Us 2, Suicide Squad, Kill the Justice League. And with Last of Us 2, they basically 100% focused on LGBTQ empowerment. They were praised by outlets like Pink News. They were supported in GLAAD reports. Suicide Flawed, uh, Flawed. Suicide Squad was a massive flop for Warner Brothers, tainted by woke tropes and race swapping and more.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
Is there any hope for the gaming industry? And I feel like this is a question that we are asking a lot now because we're kind of having a cultural shift. It's like a cultural reckoning. Everything is coming to a head. We're seeing who is going to sink and who's going to swim. We're looking at the gaming industry today. Right now, in looking at the gaming landscape, I see no clear redirection.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
I mean, they are still leaning in and Sweet Baby Inc. 's client list is still going strong. And even if they did start to take note of how players are responding like Keita and try to change course, Keita pointed out that it would take a few years for us to even see this happening
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
But of course, we always have to find the positive. You know, my mom, when I was growing up, she would always say like, but the good thing is, didn't matter how terrible life got, she would always find the good thing in every situation. So today I'm telling you, the good thing is, the KEDA actually did point to change that is actively happening.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
So because of all of this, last year people were very quick to call out Ubisoft for political pandering, for just trying to dig up and search for a black character in order to basically check off a diversity box for this game, which is ridiculous because they would basically be checking off every single box in the book if they had just focused on creating actual Japanese characters.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
Like veteran writers, veteran developers who are jumping ship from these huge commercialized companies to build their own studios outside of the systems to try to get games back to what they were in their heyday. For example, speaking of Suicide Squad, the co-founders of Rocksteady, Sefton Hill and Jamie Walker, literally left their own company before that game was released.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
And apparently it was because of the way that Warner Brothers was pushing them around and wanted the game to be developed and released. And considering that the game was a $200 million loss for Warner Brothers, I would say that they made the right decision.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
And in a recent article from this year, their goal is cited as forming a new studio aiming for 100 industry veterans making quote, cutting edge games. Now, another example of this is the creator of the Resident Evil franchise, who again left his own company after Microsoft bought it in 2020. But his departure wasn't just about Microsoft.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
His independent company, which is called Tango Gameworks, had been bought up by another company years prior, which then Microsoft acquired. Even then, when it was just this parent company, when Microsoft was not involved yet, it made his work increasingly difficult. In a recent interview, he said that he had only been the CEO at Tango for six months before ZeniMax bought it.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
And although it seemed like he was a representative of the company from the outside looking in, Mikami likened his position at Tango as one more akin to that of a rank and file employee rather than a higher up. Quote, I had blank producer attached to my name, but I wasn't even an executive or anything of the sort.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
And although he still managed to create several great games at Tango Gameworks, this made it harder for him to work on the more unique, smaller scale passion projects that he had in mind. Since he went out on his own in 2023, he has been able to work on just that. Without the oversight, without the corporatism.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
And you know, just looking around the world right now, it seems like there's a lot of that. No creators fed up with oversight, fed up with misaligned goals or values, whether it be in gaming or in Hollywood or legacy media or conservative media, and therefore branching out on their own so that they can have full control over their work and the messages that they are putting out into the world.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
And I mean, why would developers not want that? They are at the heart of what they do. Storytellers and artists, their games are a part of them. Why would they want corporate gods telling them how to do that? And regardless of the industry, this whole departure, this transition is 100% a good thing.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
Because if there is one thing that we are learning from this year that we are basically talking about on this show every single day is that authenticity is king right now. Authenticity is paramount. Creators and artists and builders crave it and audiences are starving for it. We are all starving for it literally in every single creative industry.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
We want to consume content and art and films and support businesses that feel real and genuine, that are not lecturing us and don't feel like they're bought and corporate and paid for. And gamers are no different, obviously. So today, I am cheering all of those developers on.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
Anybody who is working on independent games, who have left these big companies, I am cheering you on and I hope that these new companies start winning.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
And for all the gamers out there, I hope that you guys get to immerse yourself in epic stories with quality gameplay and great dialogue driven by characters that mean something more than just being an intersectionality box that developers need to check. And I promise you, we will all be better because of that.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
And of course, it didn't help that amidst all of this anger and chaos over the Black Samurai, the developers were simultaneously hinting at something else, which actually at the time, back in May, the anti-woke warriors didn't really sniff out yet, considering that the coverage was completely left-wing. And I know this thanks to Ground News.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
And my partners over at Ground News cut through the noise with an unbiased perspective and show both sides of every story in the news, prioritizing honesty over everything. Their unique technology even allows users to compare how different sides of the corporate media are reporting on a story, making sure that you see all sides and truly stay informed.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
And from my perspective as a creator, they make sure that I stay on top of the stories that I'm covering for you guys so that I can bring you the latest and most honest updates and ensure that I am actually sharing all sides of the story.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
And in addition to that, Ground News' innovative technology with their Blind Spot feed brings you the stories that have gotten little to no coverage on one side of the political aisle, making sure that you always stay informed regardless of your own biases, instead of letting big tech or their algorithms decide what you see, which honestly happens more than you would think.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
So if you are ready to truly break free from media bias and control and stay informed with transparent news consumption, now is the time to join Ground News. And when you go to groundnews.com slash brett or scan the QR code that you see on screen, you can get the same premium plan that I use on a daily basis, but for nearly half the price.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
And it kind of ties into what we were talking about in regards to Snow White just at the beginning of the week, because it seems like there are two huge issues here. Number one, the quality is supposedly just lackluster with a half-baked story and half-baked characters. And two, the DEI initiatives that Ubisoft shoved into this game are very much on display.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
That is groundnews.com slash brett if you want to get unbiased news and hold the media accountable for only $5 a month. Now, I promise we will get into the queer gaming a little bit later, but back to the point. At the time when all of this was happening, I did an episode about this on my old channel, basically talking through
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
Yasuke the Black Samurai, his history, what the uproar was about, all the comments, all of that good stuff that you guys know I used to do. And in that video, I featured a video by a gamer who kind of accidentally went viral after posting about the trailer and his response and the controversy. And since then, I have been following him.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
I've watched him explode onto the scene and just grow on YouTube and on X. And I am so excited to have him on the show today to give his insight as a gamer into this entire controversy and what it actually means for the industry. And in case you guys did not see that old episode, this is his video, and it will provide some extra context for what is all going on.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
I mean, seriously, I couldn't have said it better myself. And this video, I mean, it amassed 9.2 million impressions after he posted it, which makes sense because all of this was common sense. He wasn't saying anything revolutionary. He was simply saying what we all were thinking when we watched the trailer. And it was just so amazing hearing that.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
from somebody who has been playing the game for years and is obviously so invested in this franchise. And because of all of these feelings, Ubisoft absolutely got destroyed on social media.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
Fans were so confused by what they were doing, and it dulled a lot of excitement that people had had about this game because, as Keita says later in that video, people had wanted an Assassin's Creed based in Japan for years. They had been begging for this.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
And so to then see that trailer and it just be a black guy, obviously for social justice warrior reasons, it was like a slap in the face to so many people who had wanted this for so long. And Keita, the gamer that you just saw in that video, had some incredibly important context to add. Because guess when? Assassin's Creed Shadows went into development. Take a listen.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
So all of that means that there are two issues here, and people that are simply just criticizing the quality of the game are getting lumped in with the anti-woke culture war fighters, it's this whole mess of people being upset. But this does beg a broader question of where is the gaming industry actually going, and is it too far gone for most gamers?
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
So there you have it. This game went into development in 2020. Here is the prime example of what BLM did. They saved the world. Thank you, Patrice Cullors, or whatever the heck your name is. I'm trying to, you know, eliminate you from my brain.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
But guys, amidst George Floyd and the race riots and, you know, white people crying in the streets because they hated the color of their skin, all of us being told that black Americans were the most oppressed individuals in the entire world, this game was created.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
So, of course, at that time in history, Ubisoft was going to be clamoring for some kind of way to capture the moment and show that they were an ally. But, you know, video games, they take a long time to create. And five years later, the culture has radically changed. The moment is long gone. BLM has lost its power and Ubisoft is now suffering the consequences.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
But this whole situation is about so much more than just the grifting. Because when I asked Keita, who is now my new resident Assassin's Creed expert, about the game and how he's feeling after playing it for the last week, the first thing he said was not the DEI or I can't believe I'm playing as a black samurai. It was actually about the quality of the game itself. This is what he said.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
I mean, at every turn, he and other gamers on X, on YouTube, in their publications, they have had critiques about the gameplay, the dialogue, the music being completely out of touch. I mean, who wants to listen to cyberpunk music when you are playing a game in feudal Japan?
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
Now, before we dive into this story, I want to remind you all that I am going on tour this spring. It is my first tour ever. I am so excited to come to cities near you and hopefully meet some of your beautiful faces. The links to buy tickets in all of the different cities are in the description below. I hope you guys can make it out. I am just super excited. I think it'll be a ton of fun.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
I mean, that entire situation just sounds like finding tofu at a steakhouse, which would never happen to me because I eat at home thanks to Good Ranchers. And as you all know, Good Ranchers puts American values first, just like we do. Their meat is born, raised, and harvested right here in the U.S. from local family farms, so you know exactly where your meat is coming from.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
All of their products are free from hidden additives, no antibiotics ever, no added hormones, no seed oils, and there are amazing chicken nuggets, which we eat on a weekly basis. Just simple, trustworthy ingredients that you can feel good about feeding to your family. And to make it even better, these products are delivered straight to your door.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
So you are supporting local ranchers and American farmers without the hassle of going to the grocery store. And at goodranchers.com, everything that you need to create delicious meals is just a click away. And at goodranchers.com, you can also check out my exclusive Brett Cooper box.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
You can try out my handpicked selections that Alex and I eat on a weekly basis and directly support American ranchers while doing so. Just go to goodranchers.com slash brett to check it out.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
And right now, Good Ranchers is running their Spring Into Action deal, where if you subscribe to any of their boxes, but obviously, preferably the Brett Cooper box, you will get free bacon or ground beef or seed oil-free nuggets or salmon in every order for a year. And you'll get to pick which one you want. Plus, you will get $40 off when you use my code BRETT at checkout.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
That is high quality, clean protein in every order delivered to your door for free for an entire year. Again guys, visit GoodRanchers.com today and don't forget to use my code Brett to claim your free meat and $40 off. Now one of the interesting things about this story is that allegedly,
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
Ubisoft knew that the game had problems, which is allegedly why they delayed the release from November of 2024 to now March of 2025. I mean, these are the types of articles that were being written about them in November. This headline reads, Ubisoft boss says it knows players think it has an inconsistency in quality, so it delayed Assassin's Creed Shadows to flip that script.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
Well, apparently that did nothing because people have still been disappointed, so I do not think you flipped the script at all. Now, echoing everything that Keita said in our interview when we were chatting about this new game, another gamer named LegacyKillaHD made a 30 minute video about how this game was a complete mess from start to finish.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
He tweeted this about his video saying, I did not enjoy Assassin's Creed Shadows.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
combat and exploration it felt restrictive and unbalanced story mostly boring the duo protagonist never clicked for me as one is far more enjoyable to play but is hamstrung by baffling design i mean guys the comments underneath his video were just rich everyone was calling them ub slop they were saying that they were non-binary binary for this game it was just pretty hysterical like nobody is enjoying this in the slightest they're all playing this game to figure out what's going on they're playing this game
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
because they love Assassin's Creed, but they know that this is not the quality that they should be getting. In another review, this one from Dual Shockers, the hits just kept coming. These writers said, Assassin's Creed Shadows is a bloated collection of uninspired quests that quickly turn into a repetitive, boring grind. While the art and history teams deserve recognition for their efforts,
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
And also, of course, if you want ad-free episodes of The Brett Cooper Show and a weekly Dear Brett video and a subscriber-only newsletter, you can check out my platform at cooperconfidential.com. which is linked here. And of course, don't forget to follow our podcast page and to rate the show if you're enjoying it.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
it is unfortunately wasted on a narrative that goes nowhere, is poorly explained, and has no satisfying resolutions. I mean, people are not pulling punches in the slightest. So we have to ask, like, how did all of this happen?
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
How did Assassin's Creed go from being a beloved and revered game, one that Keita has literally been playing since 2007 when he was 11 years old, to the laughing stock of the gaming world, which right now it kind of is. Now in Keita's mind, and in a lot of gamers' minds right now,
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
This is because they fell into a very common yet very dangerous trap, putting messaging over quality and virtue signaling over creativity.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
I mean, Kata absolutely hit the nail on the head. I think that we are all just exhausted by years of being lectured at. And the funny thing is, I'm pretty sure that Ubisoft felt the heat, which could be, in my mind, just speculating, and in Kata's mind, could be another reason why they delayed the game like five months. They obviously had to see the response online after they debuted the trailer.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
They noticed the culture changing, especially after the election, and they went back and they tried to steer the game in a completely different direction. Because why? On God's green earth, after making such a big deal over this, you know, important historical black samurai, would Yasuke not actually be a relevant part of the entire game?
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
Why would he only have 15 minutes of game time and then just disappear? for the majority of the game. And yes, people have noticed. From writers at Forbes that said, Assassin's Creed Shadows has a Yasuke problem, calling him a puzzle piece that just doesn't quite fit, to actual players online saying things like, it's decent, but it has some issues.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
Yasuke is essentially an afterthought, pointless being him when he isn't an assassin. The more you play it, the more you wonder why. There is no point to his character in the game. Another person said, I am really convinced that Yasuke is an actual token, because at best, he really doesn't add much to the story.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
All right, so just a couple of weeks ago, the new Assassin's Creed game called Shadows came out. It hit the market, obviously, to an uproar of criticism, but also publicity. And basically, if you guys have not heard about this game, it is the new Assassin's Creed game, and it is set in feudal Japan. And when the trailer of this came out last year, I had just finished watching Shogun.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
He's really just there, and if Naoe was the sole protagonist, nothing in the story would really change. Many have this sentiment. So why even bother making him an MC? Boom. That is what happens when you are message first, story last. It doesn't work. He seems like a token.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
He seems like an afterthought because the only thought that Ubisoft has was, I know we told people we would have a Japanese Assassin's Creed, but also BLM, it's 2020. We need to have a black guy.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
And he might've become even more of an afterthought, even more of a token if they did actually go back and cut down his storyline, which ironically, if they did that, would have just made him seem like more of an intersectionality box to check.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
And of course, again, if they had really wanted to be authentically diverse, they could have leaned into Japan, leaned into historical Japanese history, and tried to make that a real, genuine, integral part of the story. But apparently when they tried to do that, that even fell flat.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
But you know, guys, I am not even surprised at this point because last year, the game developers literally said the quiet part out loud. Take a look at this headline. Assassin's Creed Shadows dev says, it's not a documentary and Ubisoft is not trying to show Japan from a very clinical or an overriding stereotypical view.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
And then this one, Assassin's Creed Shadows Japanese setting has been quote, very, very tricky because Ubisoft wants to be respectful and avoid telling a culture about their own culture. Okay, well, Ubisoft in your efforts to be so sensitive to not tell a culture about their own culture, to not make a documentary, you just turn to stereotypes.
The Brett Cooper Show
The Non-Binary Samurai Game No One Wanted | Episode 19
You turn to stereotypes and historical characters that honestly kind of exist in a weird gray area of like, we don't actually know if they were a samurai. It doesn't really sound like they were. So instead you just made a mockery of an entire region and point in history.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
So people have a lot of questions. What really happened with Snow White? And is there somebody that we can blame? Now, I have obviously had a lot of time to think about this. I think we all have. And I finally have an answer for you. So after a long wait, Disney's new Snow White finally came out last week, and to put it mildly, my friends, this has been a colossal mess.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
Like, for example, with these types of films, Disney usually hosts a myriad of different events with Q&As and the presses involved, and at all of the events that they did host, the press was not allowed to ask questions.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
And then when it came time for the actual premiere, instead of holding it in Los Angeles or London, they decided to do something which actually kind of sounds cool and they went to the Spanish castle that actually inspired the Snow White castle from the beginning and they held the premiere there. But that was their primary premiere.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
It's in a remote location, barely anyone was invited, press was not there, it was just a bunch of people listening to Rachel Zegler sing, and that was basically it. In LA, they had a tiny premiere, but they didn't even have a red carpet for Rachel Zegler to walk, and normal media outlets were not invited.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
They only invited a select few reporters and photographers who were allowed to come to the event. under the assumption that this film is cursed, probably, that people don't want to see it. They are trying to keep the lid on things. They don't want Rachel to talk. Maybe they don't want Gal Gadot to talk.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
They're just trying to keep this contained, which is crazy because they spent over $250 million. Like I feel like we are back in the Biden presidency where there were no press conferences and the press was not allowed to speak to him and he only gave approved quotes to some reporters. Like that is what this promotion feels like. Weird, weird.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
Now, in addition to that, people also noticed that at the few events that they did hold, Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot were rarely together. And if they were there, they weren't really communicating, they were taking a picture, and then they were just going their separate ways. People were going, you know, what could have happened on this set to make this so uncomfortable?
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
Okay, so I know that we all want to talk about this Snow White, but I know that there is also another Snow White that I think you guys want me to talk about.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
And then the lightbulb moment happened. It is their starkly contrasting views on the Israel-Palestine conflict that they have been extremely vocal about for the last year and a half. Now, Gal Gadot is obviously, she is from Israel, she is staunchly pro-Israel, and Rachel is is incredibly pro-Palestine. It's Hollywood, baby.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
And so obviously, in 2025, this is a recipe for disaster, and obviously the cloud of geopolitical conflicts is not what you want overshadowing the premiere of a Disney princess movie, but we will get into that a little bit later. What you really need to know, and the scene that I was trying to set there, is that Disney kind of knew that this was not going well.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
They were, you know, bracing themselves for this not to work, And listen, they were correct, because it flopped. The film cost hundreds of millions of dollars to make, even more to promote, and it only brought in $43 million domestically in its first weekend.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
And as a comparison, The Little Mermaid, which also had its fair share of woke controversies leading up to it, it opened to $95 million domestically. And as another example, in 2019, the live action Aladdin brought in $91 million.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
And so while this was not the worst premiere Disney has ever had, like many people on X are saying, it certainly wasn't good, especially with how much time and money went into making it and then subsequently trying to desperately fix it.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
But what was even more comical, in my opinion, and what was even more damning than the financial implications, was the reviews that are absolutely taking over the internet. And these are from audiences and critics alike. I mean, guys, no amount of Disney PR or box office wins can save them from this massacre. I mean, just look, currently on Rotten Tomatoes,
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
Just basing that off of the DMs, the comments, the emails that I receive on a daily basis, and I am sorry that that has not been addressed sooner, but I just want to say, from me, you know, before we get into this episode, I think I need to address the elephant in the room, but unfortunately, the only thing I can really say is that that is not my story to tell. Those are not my updates to give.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
And you might think, you might look at that 74% and go, okay, well Brett, that's not that bad. But then you click onto that little number and there is a different story that is told. That 74% is only from verified Rotten Tomato audience members. The full score and the score from top critics is even worse. Take a look at this. From top critics, 29%. From all audience members, 19%.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
It goes from 74% to 19%. It is literally everyone, including the top critics. I mean, just listen to these reviews. These are all from critics. This lady says, it is too cheesy, too over the top, and too visually flat while brimming over with hyperactive theater kid energy that is better suited for a Disney Princess cruise ship show.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
This man, William, says, There is nothing wrong with Disney's live-action remake of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. It couldn't be fixed by making it 26 minutes shorter, 88 years ago, and in hand-drawn animation. Another man says, A Disney film production with a Disney Channel script. Another guy says, In short, hi-ho, don't go.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
But guys, it gets even worse than the individual critic reviews because even the legacy media, I mean, these are the people who should be salivating. They should be waiting with bated breath to defend this production and defend Rachel Zegler. They struggled to do so. This one is from The Observer at The Guardian, and they wrote, Snow White review, toe-curlingly terrible live-action remake.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
Huffington Post, again, this is a publication that should be just, like, banging down the door waiting to give them a positive review. They said, Snow White is a strange, hot mess. This one is from Vanity Fair. Disney's Snow White movie is good enough for TV, because that's where it's playing, right? Right? BBC said Disney's Snow White has a major identity crisis.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
I mean, guys, every single one of these reviews is just absolutely brutal. And what you also need to know is that these are not politically driven reviews. I mean, most of them are from the camp that should be supporting Disney, that should be behind this new progressive take on Snow White, and yet they can't because the film is apparently just that bad.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
I mean, from the CGI dwarves, to the strange storyline that seems more about a political uprising than a princess falling in love with a prince, to Gal Gadot's less than appealing acting, which, yes, like that reviewer said, seems like it is better suited for a Disney Channel show. Just take a watch.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
Are you? Are you? I mean, literally, if I'm watching, like, Disney Channel, I'm watching Jesse. And, like, the elevator doors open. What have you done? Slime. Like, that is what this caliber of acting feels suited for. But again, you know, I'm trying to find the bright spots here. I want to bring nuance. I want to give you both sides. And to be fair... Some publications did try to find the good.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
For example, you know, Hollywood Reporter, they were complimenting Gal Gadot and Rachel Zegler's intensity and Rachel's voice, which by the way, I love. I actually think that she has a fantastic voice. I loved her in West Side Story. So I was, you know, it was unfortunate to see all of this transpire. Like I genuinely do think that Rachel Zegler has talent.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
but you do have to wonder if she was the right kind of talented for this role. And maybe it was a combination of that plus the music that they wrote and the storyline. Maybe it was just the entire whole damn thing. And I asked Link his thoughts about that specifically.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
And in the film industry, when you are an actor, when you sign one of these contracts in the entertainment industry, I think a lot of people on the outside think that, you know, if you are somebody who has a lot of publicity around you and your name is attached to a project, that means that you have a ton of control or a ton of intel, but usually that is not the case.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
And Link is completely spot on. Like I think all of us envisioned Snow White like the original, like the real Snow White, not some Gen Z girl boss doing power ballads and belting songs about relieving her people from oppression. Like that's not even what the story is about. But again,
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
She is talented, she has a good voice, but even the people who tried to point that out and print that in their magazines had to acknowledge that on a whole, the film just wasn't good. And they couldn't get through a review without saying that. Weird, weird. So now the question is, you know, what we have to figure out is, you know, was it the politics?
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
Was it the controversies that overtook this film for the last three years? Or was it the terrible filmmaking? And no one seems to have a clear answer. You know, if you go on X, you'll see conservatives and they are hell bent at pointing the finger at Rachel Zegler saying, you did this, you were the wrong choice, you tanked this film, you should take responsibility.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
It's all your comments about Trump and feminism and disdain for the prince and disdain for Trump supporters, everything that she was posting on social media for the last year. And then of course, people on the left also think that it's flopping for political reasons, but not for the reasons conservatives think.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
They think that it's flopping because people are retaliating against Rachel Zegler talking about Palestine. And then of course you have the normal Americans who are not on blue sky or on X, the normal people around the world who showed up regardless of all of this, regardless of all the controversies and who could not have been more bored or disappointed.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
And I think that that, that demographic speaks volumes. Edmund Smirk on Axe, he tweeted sort of about this and he said, I wouldn't say that those film critics are usually right, but the fact that they aren't bending over backwards to defend this film, that is saying something.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
Because in the society that has become very normal to all of us in this weird upside down world, that is what we have come to expect. And in addition to all of that, I also think that there are a lot of people in the world who do not spend their days thinking about politics or the culture war or feminism and what that means in a Disney princess movie.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
I think that they're probably just tired of the BS. They're tired of the remakes and audiences have been trying to tell companies like Disney this. And also they hate the fact that they get attacked on a daily basis by companies like Disney, as Link pointed out.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
Unless you are, you know, Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively with all of their films, apparently, or Margot Robbie in Barbie, and you are also an executive producer. As an actor, you don't get to dictate anything. You don't get to dictate if a film actually happens. You don't get to dictate when it is shot, how it is shot, if you can ever speak about it to the public.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
So, yes, no wonder that demographic did not show up. I don't know if you guys saw all of these posts on social media. There are now articles written about them, but people were taking screenshots of the seating charts at their local theaters, and it was like the opening weekend for Snow White, the 7 o'clock showing, the 4 p.m.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
showing on a Saturday when families would be taking their kids, and literally it was like one seat had sold. Maybe two seats over on one side. And theaters across the country. Like, people were simply not showing up. And I mean, at this point, like, who was surprised?
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
Now, as I've been sitting back for the last couple of weeks watching the premieres happen, watching all the reviews come out, I've been thinking to myself, like, is there something that could actually save this film? Could it bounce back?
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
You know, parents who are not online, who are not reading the Rotten Tomato reviews, who just want to bring their kids, maybe some retroactive Disney PR, but I don't think so. The hole that has been dug is just getting deeper and deeper and deeper. I mean, guys, this film has a 1.6 rating on IMDb and the controversies just won't stop. Again, it literally, this film, is cursed.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
That is the only explanation in my mind. And I mean, now people have moved on from the original controversies and the original scandals and the terrible reviews, and now the focus is wholly on Gal Gadot and Rachel Zegler and Palestine and Israel.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
And again, that doesn't seem like the thing that you want dominating the news cycle about a Disney princess film, but you know, hey, you know, Rachel, I'm gonna give it to you. Because in all of those interviews back in 2022, you were saying, this is not about true love. This is about her being a leader and her coming into her own and her father helping her save a kingdom.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
Well, Rachel, here you go. You are dealing with real issues. Geopolitics is dominating your film. Maybe that's what you wanted all along. But the point being, now, again, all the other controversies, they're kind of forgetting them. Now articles are coming out about how all of this transpired, how all of the conflict, the political conflicts were handled on set over the last year and a half. What a
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
Apparently, Disney literally had to hire a social media guru to help or manage Rachel after she posted F Trump and said that she hopes that Trump supporters never know peace. This was a variety headline. After Rachel Zegler posted F Donald Trump on Instagram, Disney paid a social media guru to work with a Snow White star to vet any posts before the film's March 21st release.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
And obviously, after that original post of I hope that none of us know peace, She made a response and she said, you know, that was out of line. I'm so sorry. I was being emotional. I think the guru put that together. Now, in addition to that, they also had to hire extra security for Gal Gadot over the last year and a half because she was receiving death threats for speaking out in favor of Israel.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
And a producer literally had to fly from LA to New York to tell Rachel to her face that that she needed to tone down the pro-Palestine comments, and she said back to him, no, I'm not doing that, I'm not deleting anything. And so that was kind of just a moot point. And so now, after all of this is coming out, fans are in a political uproar, yet again, it just keeps following this damn film.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
You are simply just there to show up and say your lines and look the way they want you to look. That is our job, and that was my job on this production. So again,
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
They are now calling everything that has transpired over the last week a smear campaign against Rachel for being bold enough to speak about her political values and to stand up for Palestine, and they're saying that it's hypocritical, that Rachel was punished or disciplined for her comments, and Gal was supported.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
And I think it's fair that fans were concerned about that, but I also think that they are overlooking a key difference with the actions of these two women. Now, Rachel was adding things like free Palestine into promotional posts about Snow White. I mean, read this tweet as an example. This is again from Variety.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
After Rachel Zegler hit the stage at Disney's D23 fan event to introduce the first official trailer of Snow White, she thanked supporters effusively in an ex-post. One minute later, she added an afterthought in the same thread. Again, this is a promotional post about Snow White. She added, quote, And always remember, free Palestine.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
Many inside the studio expressed shock that the Snow White star would commingle the promotion of its 270 million tentpole with any kind of political statement. And then they say a Disney executive raised the studio's concerns with Ziegler's team while the film's producer, Mark Platt, flew to New York to speak directly to her.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
And so what I'm saying here is that this was not Rachel simply making comments in her own time, which she is totally free to do. She's allowed to have her own political opinion. She's allowed to disagree with Gal Gadot or whoever. But the fact of the matter is she was involving politics into promotions. That is a major difference. And producers have a right to be concerned.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
They have a right to handle that. They are paying her millions upon millions of dollars to represent them and this film to act like Snow White. It is literally her job to embody that. And she wasn't. Now, simultaneously,
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
That's really all I can say, which honestly kind of seems like maybe this path that I'm taking right now is the path that Rachel Zegler should have taken instead of just running her mouth for the last three years, which we are going to get into now that I have sort of addressed what you guys want me to address.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
Gal Gadot was making comments about Israel and her Israeli heritage during the promotional period of the film, over the last year and a half, since October 7th, but she never made those comments at events for Snow White. She never added those comments to posts about the film.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
I saw fans screenshotting something that Rachel had said versus a I Stand With Israel post that Gal Gadot had made, and they were like, oh! look at the hypocrisy." Okay, well one was a promotional post, the other one was a post that she did on her own time. Because she is an Israeli woman, she served in the IDF, she obviously is going to have an opinion about all of this.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
But it wasn't directly connected to the film. Now had she acted differently, had she included these comments into promotion for the film like Rachel had, I think that that would be a more blatant example of hypocrisy that we could get into, but there is that nuance here. That is a major difference. And to be fair,
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
Rachel's comments about politics, whether they be about Palestine or about Trump and Trump supporters, were almost always inflammatory and hateful. I mean, she was swearing constantly. She was flipping people off in her stories. I hope you never know peace. I mean, she attacked half the country and involved Snow White in all of it. So again, I'm not surprised that it caused an issue.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
I'm not surprised that Disney was concerned. But obviously a lot of people online are not looking at that nuance. They're still very angry and now they are actually, for the first time in years, rallying around behind her. And this has gotten so big that the son of that producer, Mark Platt, who flew to New York to handle the situation, responded to a comment about the entire situation. So,
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
A person left a comment on one of his Instagram posts and said, Your dad flew to New York City to reprimand a young actress. Any words on this? Because that's creepy as hell and uncalled for. People have the right to free speech. No, shame on your father. And then Jonah Platt, who is Mark Platt's son, he responded and he said, You really want to do this? Yeah.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
My dad, the producer of an enormous piece of Disney IP with hundreds of millions of dollars on the line, had to leave his family to fly across the country to reprimand his 20 year old employee for dragging her personal politics into the middle of promoting a movie for which she signed a multi-million dollar contract to get paid and do publicity for. And that's a very important fact.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
When you are paid to do a movie, you are also paid after the fact to do the publicity, again, to play the part of the role that you were hired to play. This is called adult responsibility and accountability. and her actions clearly hurt the film's box office. Free speech does not mean that you are allowed to say whatever you want in your private employment without repercussions.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
Now, I am guessing that most of us have followed this entire Snow White controversy, but also This has been going on since 2022, since September of 2022. That is when this all first exploded. So it's been a while.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
Tens of thousands of people worked on that film and she hijacked the conversation for her own immature desires at the risk of all of the colleagues and crew and the blue collar workers who depend on that movie to be successful. Narcissism is not something to be coddled or encouraged. I mean, the man pulled no punches. That last line specifically, that is a mic drop moment.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
I think that we could just like blast that everywhere for a bunch of different people in the world that narcissism is not something to be coddled or encouraged. Again, I think like half the country needs to hear that.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
But guys, like regardless of what you believe politically or about this film or about Israel and Palestine, which, you know, somehow is now involved in Snow White, regardless of what you believe, he is correct. They are paying her millions upon millions of dollars to represent a brand.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
to represent a film, to represent a beloved character, and she failed at that at literally every turn, from shaming the original production, from saying that it scared her, to involving her personal politics in direct promotional posts, to using heated explicit language to attack half the country that might've wanted to come see this film, and unfortunately for Disney, that was not something, no matter how many gurus they hired, no matter how many producers flew, however many places to handle it, that was not something that they could outrun, and Link summed it up well.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
So the point being, This entire film, it was just a perfect storm. I mean, the controversies involving the stars, the progressive decisions that they made involving the story, all of that set it on a bad path three years ago. And you would think that because it was three years ago, maybe people would forget or move on.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
Like as I was putting together this episode and trying to, you know, cover all the things that have happened recently, I was like, oh my God, I kind of like forgotten everything that took place. So I think we need to do a brief recap. So just to sum everything up. Rachel Zegler, her comments first exploded on the scene about Snow White back at the Disney D23 Expo in September of 2022.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
But I mean, the final nail in the coffin was that it was just an objectively bad film that should have never been made, that audiences didn't want in the first place, especially not with the progressive modern take. No one wanted that. No one enjoyed it. I mean, even the lib film critics who are literally paid to support all of that, even they couldn't get behind it.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
And so, of course, per usual, I think that there are a lot of lessons here and they are things that I talk about repeatedly on the show, in my content. But when you compromise things, when you compromise artistic integrity to appease people or to capture a political moment, a social justice moment, people can tell. We know and we are sick of it. So stop compromising. Thank you.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
And this is where the clips went viral of her saying, Snow White doesn't need a man. She's not going to fall for the prince. You know, this is about her own journey, her internal journey. Maybe she'll even run for president. If you guys have forgotten those clips, this is what I'm referring to.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
God forbid. God forbid a woman dream about true love. We're all just sitting around here. Oh, maybe I could be president one day. I hate men. I just want to be president. That screams Disney princess. Oh my God, I'm literally getting enraged once again. I feel like I'm back in 2022. All right, anyway, we'll continue.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
I mean, it's been a colossal mess since the very beginning, basically, but this release, this premiere has been absolutely horrifying. Like, I literally found myself feeling bad for them at times, which is, that just shows you how terrible this has been.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
Yeah, the entire film's about a love story. Yeah, I mean, it's about a love story because that's what the point of the film is, and I'm sorry that chivalry and a man pursuing you is now deemed as stalking, which now it's kind of making sense why men are opting out of the dating scene, because this is what they are hearing from women on social media.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
to unpack here. Like, she is crapping on the original production. I was scared of it. Oh, it was so weird. It was a stalker. Like, I feel like if you are taking on the most iconic Disney role ever, genuinely, like this was the most prolific Disney film, I feel like you should kind of have some sort of reverence for the original production, for what it meant.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
That maybe there were timeless values and virtues in that film that still translate today, that many people in the world still subscribe to and long for. Like, I don't know, that might be crazy, but it seemed like this was a bad PR move from the get-go. So again, that happened in September of 2022. In addition to that, there was already an uproar about her being cast as Snow White because
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
she is not Caucasian. She is a Latina. She is half Colombian. And so people were like, why, why were you cast in the first place? We just had a black little mermaid. Now we're having a Latina Snow White and she is literally called Snow White. This doesn't make sense. So that was happening. And then this was just the icing on the cake. And obviously there are political undertones in her statement.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
She's kind of talking about feminism and masculinity and men, but people seemed most disappointed about the fact that, again, Rachel didn't even seem like she cared or liked the source material. I mean, that is just far from a graceful Disney princess-like promotion. It's far from what you would think Disney wanted. I mean, in what world was any of this approved?
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
Like, were these producers and creators, were they high? Were they just dehydrated and needed some Taylor Duke's Wellness Electrolytes? Guys, if you are feeling drained and sluggish, then you are probably like me and you probably are not drinking enough water, specifically good water with electrolytes, which is why I drink Taylor Duke's Wellness Electrolytes.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
It is financially crumbling, financially failing, the reviews are genuinely, genuinely horrible, and new controversies surrounding the production, surrounding the actresses in the film are literally popping up every single day. They cannot outrun the curse that is on this film. And so, of course, we have to ask, like, with all of these things going on over the last three years, is there one reason
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
Now, after watching me basically dehydrate myself for the last three years, my husband took matters into his own hands and he started buying me copious amounts of different electrolyte powders to try to make sure that the water I do drink actually packs a punch and benefits me. And guys, seriously, nothing compares to Taylor Dukes.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
The Taylor Dukes Wellness Electrolytes taste the best and they actually work without the chemicals, the sugar, and the other junk in most sports drinks. I am talking a clean, functional hydration, no natural flavors, no refined sugar, no artificial anything and preservatives. just real ingredients you can pronounce that fuel your body the way that it was meant to be fueled.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
All of these products are formulated by a functional medicine nurse practitioner and these electrolytes have the ideal balance of magnesium, sodium, and potassium, minerals that most of us are seriously lacking and I know that I certainly am. And whether you are sweating it out at the gym or just want to stay hydrated for everyday life like me, you can drink these electrolytes daily.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
They are made for men, women, and kids, so this is something that you can buy and you know the whole family can enjoy and benefit from. And trust me, you will feel the difference. So go grab yours at shop.taylordukeswellness.com and save 10% with code BRETT. And then come back and thank me later.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
Now, I brought my friend Link Loren onto the show today to talk about all of this because what originally made Link go viral on TikTok was the first video he ever made about Snow White. It was the first video I ever saw with him in it. It's the first one that I included in my show. So I wanted to bring him back on. And yes, he is still just as passionate about this story.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
TLDR, the girls and the gays, we all want a man. We all dream about true love. So Disney, that is not outdated. Now, from there, it just seemed like controversy after controversy kept erupting. The next one was within the Little People community, and I kind of feel weird saying the Little People community, but I know that that is how they prefer to be referenced as.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
Also, they go by LP, but obviously they had some skin in the game because this is Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. These are roles that they could have played and were excited about playing. but not everybody was on the same page.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
Now, Peter Dinklage, who was one of the most famous Little People probably in the entire world, especially after his long tenure on Game of Thrones, he came out and he said, I don't even want Snow White to be told ever again at all because of the ramifications for the Little People community.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
In a 2022 interview, he said, literally no offense to anything, but I was sort of taken aback about the fact that they are redoing this film. They were very proud to cast a Latino actress as Snow White, but you're still telling the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. Take a step back and look at what you're doing here. It makes no sense to me.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
You're progressive in one way, but you're still making that fucking backward story about seven dwarves living in a cave together. Have I done nothing to advance the cause from my soapbox? I guess I'm not loud enough. So the important thing to know about Peter Dinklage here is that he is very opposed to little people playing roles that are written for little people.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
why this actually flopped. You know, was it because of politics and wokeness? Was this another woke flop or was it simply just a terrible film that nobody wanted from the beginning? Don't worry, we are going to get into all of that today, plus some of the things that you might have missed during this whole scandal. And yes, There will be a long awaited update.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
He just wants them to be hired to play a role regardless of height or size. So he is opposed to the seven dwarves and the caricatures and the stereotypes that go along with the seven dwarves. And obviously he is probably the most famous little person in existence. So Disney, oh boy, like the day that this interview came out, Disney said, okay, okay, we are, we're listening.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
We are learning Peter Dinklage. And they had decided that they were not going to call them the seven dwarves because that might be offensive. Instead, they were going to do Snow White and the seven magical creatures that would not be played by little people to not offend Peter Dinklage, but instead will be created by CGI.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
However, that also did not go over well because the LP community apparently does not agree with Peter Dinklage and they actually were very excited about the opportunity of playing one of the seven dwarves. They were angry at Disney and it all just exploded. However, Disney, they stuck with the course. They kept moving forward with the seven magical creatures and the CGI.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
And ironically, by creating these CGI, silly cartoonish dwarf-like characters, they actually fed into the exact stereotypes that Dinklage was criticizing as backwards and harmful. He was saying, don't do this story because you put us in a box. And by not actually hiring LP actors, they just fed into that and made them look silly and ridiculous.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
And even the mainstream media caught onto this irony, which is when you know that it's really bad. New York Magazine, their vertical vulture wrote, the horrifying dwarves in Snow White are a cautionary tale. And they basically argued the exact same thing that I just laid out for you guys. So basically no one was happy. Like Disney could not make a right move when it came to producing this film.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
Weird, weird. Now amidst all of that, and you know that was going on from the end of 2022 into the summer of 2023, amidst all of that, the son of one of the original 1937 Snow White creators and directors decided to speak out.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
And he had some choice words for Disney and this production, telling the Telegraph that his father and Walt Disney would be rolling in their graves because of what Disney was doing. And in covering this, they wrote, as details surrounding the 2024 Snow White remake emerge, Hale Hand told the Telegraph that he stands in strong opposition to the new movie.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
Quote, I mean, it is a whole different concept, which is true. They completely changed the story. Weird. Weird. And I just totally disagree with it, and I know my dad and Walt would also very much disagree with it, the 91-year-old said. There is no respect for what Disney did and what my dad did. I think Walt and he would be turning in their graves, he said.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
Elhan said that he would prefer if Disney's original animated films remained untouched, as we all would, calling the remake a, quote, disgrace for trying to do something new with something that was such a great success earlier. And I love that this is a 91-year-old saying, this is a 91-year-old saying,
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
But first, if you want to stay up to date on every single one of our episodes, make sure to ring that notification bell. And if you are somebody that does not want to hear my impeccable ad transitions, make sure to check out Cooper Confidential, where you will find ad free episodes and a subscriber only personal newsletter from me. Again, that is all at Cooper Confidential.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
should be at his retirement home relaxing, playing bingo, not thinking about his father, who is a certified Disney legend, not thinking about his father's legacy and the woke things that Disney is doing. I mean, I completely agree. I think most of us agreed with what he was saying. And I mean, how was any of this ever controversial? Like, this is common sense. And unfortunately for Disney,
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
it seemed like most people who were observing this scandal, this controversy, agreed. So after all of that, after almost a year of all of this exploding, Disney announced in October of 2023 that they were going to delay the release of Snow White. So they were not going to release it in March of 2024, they were going to wait until this year, March of 2025, to release it. Probably
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
to let the controversy just settle down a bit. And then later, like a couple months later, we learned that they were investing even more money to go back and reshoot parts of the film. But you know what? I don't know if that actually helped, because as Link says, that is never a good sign, nor is it ever a good solution.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
Now I know that that was a lot, but also I feel like we needed to recap all of that and I tried to make it as condensed as humanly possible. So all of that happened, you know, we're moving on, now we're in 2024. And for about a year, it seemed like maybe things could have taken a turn for the better. Like I was actually walking around going, You know, this is pretty great.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
Like we, with all of our power, with our audience ammunition, we got them to stall this. We got them to go back and reshoot things. They are listening to us. They are actually listening and learning in the good way. Maybe this is huge. This is a win for audiences. But then there was a downturn because again, as I keep thinking to myself, I think that this film was just cursed after all.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
And what they should have done was just taken a lesson from the original film and fallen into a deep, deep sleep, hopefully on their Helix mattress. Now you guys know I take my sleep seriously. Like there is very little that I love more than being in bed, napping, being horizontal is what I always say is my favorite thing. And the key to that is my Helix Dusk Luxe mattress.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
This mattress is so good that Alex and I actually got additional ones for our guest rooms because everyone deserves the perfect night's sleep in our house. And what I love about Helix as a company is that they make it super easy to find the right mattress for you because The Dusk Luxe might work for me, but it might not work for you.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
Their innovative sleep quiz matches you to the perfect fit based on your preferences. Whether you are a side sleeper like me, a back sleeper like Alex, whether you want a firm mattress or a soft mattress, they have got you covered. We ended up with the Dusk Luxe because it gives us the perfect balance of support and comfort, and we literally have never slept better.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
The link is right here and in the description below. And guys, we officially announced my first tour. It is in North America. We're hitting a bunch of cities around the country. We have all of the links in a community post and in the description below. I hope you guys can make it. It'll be super fun to see all of your fun faces.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
And the best part is Helix delivers the mattress right to your door in a box. You just unbox it, let it expand, and you are good to go. Plus, they offer a 100-night sleep trial so you can make sure that you love it before fully committing, but I don't think that's ever going to be an issue. So if you are ready to upgrade your sleep, head to helixsleep.com slash Brett for 25% off site-wide.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
That is an insane deal. This is an offer you should not refuse. Your back and your naps being horizontal will thank you. Again, that is helixsleep.com slash Brett for 25% off. So because they did not go into a deep, long sleep and put all of this to rest, things just kept transpiring, and that now leads us to 2025. We are almost caught up.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
Now, to really put this into perspective, Disney spent over $250 million producing this film, and that's just on production. That's not on later promotional costs and flying Rachel and Gal Gadot everywhere and the billboards and everything and all the advertisements, all the trailers. That is just... producing the product itself.
The Brett Cooper Show
Snow White. What Happened? | Episode 18
And in comparison, The Live Action with Lily James, that film only cost $90 million to make. So this is a ginormous budget, and they are, for some reason, not really promoting it. Like, we're seeing trailers and advertisements, but there's no big premieres or events.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
Now we often talk about the motivating factors that lure women into sex work. You know, the empowerment, the attention, the millions of dollars that they're promised if they just make an OnlyFans account. But I do think that we are missing part of the story, especially for a certain generation of women.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
It's being my own boss. I'm actually just like an OnlyFans entrepreneur. Everything that Sami said in that first clip. But how long does that allure actually last? Like, how long does the high of attention mask the fact that you are selling your body? That you are selling the most intimate and private parts of yourself, and in some cases physical sex, to people that you do not know?
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
That you don't care about? That don't care about you? Like, how long does it take until all of that wears off and you become disgusted by the people who are literally buying you? Like, genuinely. How long does it take until you think, maybe all of this should have been saved for somebody who loves me and is willing to commit to me, who wants more than just a quick orgasm?
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
Because that's all they want. I mean, in thinking about all of this, my mind obviously went to Lily Phillips. She is the young woman from England who went viral a couple of months ago for sleeping with 100 men in 24 hours. There was a whole documentary that was made about that entire extravaganza and just, like,
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
Like, this woman, the picture that I'm trying to paint, my friends, is that this woman was incredibly famous in the 90s, was a bombshell sex icon, but is desperately trying to hold onto her fame. And that is gonna be something that is very important to remember. And the most recent iteration of this is the fact that she has been exploring a new online venture, which would be OnlyFans.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
Physically, seeing the line of men outside of that apartment door who were all lining up together, waiting to get laid by the same woman, it was disgusting. And even more gross and disappointing than that was the lack of healthy protection and support around her. Nobody was checking for STDs. I mean, her damn mother is her manager setting all of this up.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
And deep down, Lily Phillips, and I think a lot of these women, know that that's not right.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
Did someone say that to you?
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
It makes you feel bad because you're not hurting them, but you know that you're being used. They saw an ad online and they showed up to sleep with you for five minutes to be part of this game. That disassociating, that numbed feeling is because you are being used as a sex toy. You are putting your body out there to be exploited.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
And obviously, in watching the documentary, you see exactly when the allure wears off for her. Because at the end of The Hundred Men, she is not the same girl she was when she started. But I do wonder if these women, like Lily Phillips, like Denise, like all of these people, if they know why they even feel that glimmer of power from the get-go, like before it all falls apart.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
And sure, like the money and the attention and the clicks helps, but I believe that they feel that power because they know that they have something over men, that they are dominating men. Whether this is something that is intentional or is just in their subconscious, these women must know that their empowerment comes at the expense of the men who view their content.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
And I hope the men who watch porn understand that as well. You are being used. Only fans, porn, sex work. It is people taking advantage of a vice for their own gain. And usually in our modern society with who is consuming porn, it is usually women taking advantage of men. And yes, we can point fingers all day long.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
We will just end up with like the Spider-Man meme of everybody pointing at each other saying, you know, men wouldn't watch porn if women wouldn't make it like Lily Phillips is in the wrong because she had all of these men come to the apartment and sleep with her. You know, women wouldn't have to do this work if men would just not watch porn. I mean, it just goes in circles.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
None of it is productive in the slightest. We will never get anywhere because, I mean, both of those things are sort of true. I don't know which one is more true, but everybody is complicit. At the end of the day, it is up to each individual to take responsibility and have some damn self-awareness when it comes to their actions. And there obviously have been conversations about banning porn.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
I mean, just last week, there was a story that was trending about how Canada could win the tariff war against Donald Trump if they would just ban Pornhub, which is a Canadian company. This is a headline from the New York Post. Canada has nuclear weapon in trade war, ban Pornhub in the U.S. Which, by the way, that really isn't a real thing.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
But the way this all came about, the way that she ended up on OnlyFans is anything but normal. The fact that I'm saying that is just crazy because in my mind, anybody being on OnlyFans is abnormal, but this one in particular is pretty crazy.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
Obviously, they could do that, but that was just a rumor started by one person online, and then they created a petition asking Canada to do that to get back at Donald Trump. I wouldn't hate it if it was real, obviously, but just letting you know that that wasn't actually, like, a substantial thing.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
But I mean, already Pornhub doesn't exist in many states because they refuse to implement age verification laws. But who knows if that would ever happen on a broader scale, on a federal level, like that might not even rectify the situation. And it still doesn't actually address all of us and all of our vices.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
And so in a world where all of your vices are just readily available in front of you, whether that is alcohol, whether that is drugs or gambling or porn, You cannot sit around and go, well, I can just do it because it's in front of me. I'll just wait until daddy government comes and takes it away from me. No, you cannot wait for that in order to get better or stop. It is up to you.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
It's up to you to recognize the cycle of exploitation that you are in and remove yourself. It is up to these women to know that they are getting momentary power through the exploitation of their bodies and the physical and mental degradation of men. It is also up to men to know that by consuming this content, you are numbing yourself to pleasure. You are frying your dopamine receptors.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
This is well studied. You are potentially harming a future romantic relationship that could change your life. And you are also financially contributing to an industry that exploits and even traffics women and children. That is the reality of the porn industry.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
And so when you see people like Sami Sheen and like Denise Richards, these glitzy women who are saying, oh, it's all about authenticity and empowerment, that is a lie. That is a lie that they have been told and that they tell themselves to make them feel better about their actions. Deep down, Sami Sheen knows that there was an option in between the candy shop and OnlyFans.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
Deep down, Denise Richards knows that she really just wanted attention. Deep down, as a father, Charlie Sheen probably knows that what his daughter is doing is disgraceful and wrong. I mean, there is an incredible amount of self-awareness and restraint that is desperately needed in our society. And parents, have a responsibility to pass that message on to their children.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
I mean, this perfectly embodies the lies, the faux empowerment that OnlyFans and modern sex work promises, and the exploitation of the men who consume this content.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
And obviously, people like Charlie and Denise have not been doing that. And so now, it is up to us to change that, to change course. It is up to us to have the uncomfortable conversations with our peers. It is up to us to engage in even more uncomfortable self-reflection. Because at the end of the day, exploitation is exploitation.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
A vice is still a vice no matter how much you try to lie to yourself. Take it from me. Raising sustainable, healthy meat is hard. You have to keep them alive for over a year, bring them food on heavy, expensive machinery, go out in the dead of winter and crack through frozen troughs and try not to get head-butted and killed in the process. And that's before you get to butchering.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
But GoodRanchers.com makes it easy. American meat raised on local family farms delivered straight to your door, no tractor required. What could be easier?
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
And of course, I need to remind you that if you are somebody who does not want to hear my incredible ad transitions, if you want a subscriber-only newsletter and a weekly advice video that is curated by your questions, please check out my subscriber-only platform, Cooper Confidential. The link is right here and also in the description below. Now, I promise to you.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
An abnormal story and an abnormal story you guys are going to get. So all of this started with Denise Richards and Charlie Sheen's eldest daughter, Sammy, who decided to make an OnlyFans in 2022 very shortly, like just days after her 18th birthday. And in her words, this was because she wanted to move out and get her own apartment and working at her local candy shop just wasn't paying the bills.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
A certain generation of women that might have lost their allure a long time ago and is trying to get back some of that feeling. And I also think we're missing a conversation on who these types of sex workers are actually exploiting. We talk about how they're exploited, but we need to talk about the other side of that issue.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
I mean, imagine being her parents and listening to your daughter say, oh yeah, you know, selling my bare ass online. I'm so excited that I get to do the things that I've always wanted to do. In what world has a little girl dreamed about doing that? Well, I mean, her mother is Denise Richards, but all of that aside, this should be appalling. And I listened to this clip.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
I saw it, you know, last month and I was like, there wasn't another option. Like she's kind of joking and she's laughing at herself saying, you know, I went to the next best thing, but seriously, there wasn't something else like a normal job doing anything. You are a nepo baby. You could go be an actress. You could go direct films that your parents fund.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
There are so many other things you could do to start a business where you make your own hours that is not selling your body online on OnlyFans. Like, in what world? Is it candy store or OnlyFans? That is insane. But guys, the craziest part of this story isn't that she joined OnlyFans because the candy store wasn't cutting it. It is that 10 days later, that same year in June of 2022, her mother
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
But Denise also joined OnlyFans. Now, allegedly, she did this because Sammy was facing so much backlash for joining OnlyFans, which I really don't think was actually happening because people were paying her a lot of money. But Denise said that this was happening and that she wanted to join to show solidarity and to support her daughter.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
Now, take a listen to the rest of this clip that we were just watching.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
And with all of the news about Denise Richards, her daughter, Sammy Sheen, their new reality show, I think we have to discuss this right now because the Richards-Sheen family might just be the most dysfunctional, out-of-touch, OnlyFans family in the world. And yes, I said OnlyFans family.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
Why is the conversation about the fact that at 18 years old she's having to face negative comments instead of why at 18 years old is she selling her body online? Like the priorities are just completely out of whack. This is like Hollywood at its finest of these people live in a completely different world than most normal Americans.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
Oh, my daughter's posting pictures of her bare ass and everybody's mad at her. Maybe you should take her out of that environment rather than putting yourself in it. I mean, you saw in the interview, she's like, damn, mom, wish you had waited. It was like 10 days after. The entire thing is so weird.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
But even though Sammy was obviously uncomfortable, because what daughter wouldn't be uncomfortable, Denise was undeterred. And in another interview, she said, quote, I'm a grown-ass woman, and I've had a lot of stuff over the years said about me, the good, the bad, you know, publicly. Even now as a grown-up, it hurts still.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
But eventually, her tune changed with the actress joining OnlyFans as well, and she said, So that is why I wanted to join OnlyFans, because I was like, who cares? So we're kind of hearing two different stories here. Like number one, she's already a sex symbol. So who cares? She's just gonna do it anyway.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
But also she didn't think it was fair that her daughter was getting all of this backlash and attention. So she just, she had to join to make sure she was supporting Her newly 18-year-old daughter. I'm sorry, this sounds like jealousy more than anything else. I think that is why Sammy was so uncomfortable, which we saw in that clip. Like, oh, mom, it's kind of weird.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
Again, what daughter wouldn't feel that way? This feels like a mother, a very weird Hollywood mom that is just trying to tap into the fame that she used to have at the beginning of her career that her daughter now has. This is a woman that was once known for her sex appeal and her beauty. She is now being overshadowed by her 18-year-old daughter and she just had... to step in.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
This is so creepy on a million different levels. And I know what you guys are probably thinking, like, Brett, where did you even find all this information? Yes, I can even research this story on Ground News. And based on what Ground News showed me, this story deserves a lot more coverage than it has received.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
Now, if you don't know, Ground News is a company that cuts through the noise with an unbiased perspective and shows both sides of every story, prioritizing honesty over everything, which is so refreshing in this media landscape.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
Their unique technology even allows users to compare how different sides of the corporate media are reporting on a story, making sure that you see all sides and truly stay informed. And from my perspective as a creator, they make sure that I stay on top of the stories that I'm covering so that I can bring you guys the latest and most honest updates like today,
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
The fact that no one is talking about this OnlyFans story. There were only four articles on this story, and obviously there needs to be a lot more.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
And speaking of that, Ground News also has their innovative Blindspot feed, which brings you the stories that have gotten little to no coverage, making sure that you always stay informed instead of letting big tech or their algorithms decide what you see, which happens more than you would expect.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
Now, if you are my age and you didn't grow up around Denise Richards, if you don't know who she is, Denise Richards is an actress, and she has a new reality TV show that has been getting a ton of press called Denise Richards and Her Wild Things, and it's on Bravo TV. It has been all over my TikTok For You page for the last... few weeks. Denise Richards was hugely famous in the 90s.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
So if you are ready to truly break free from media bias and stay informed with transparent news consumption, now is the time to join Ground News. And when you go to groundnews.com slash brett, or you can scan the QR code on the screen, you can get the same premium plan that I use, but for nearly half the price.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
That is groundnews.com slash brett if you want to get unbiased news and hold the media accountable for only $5 a month. We will be reading the same content. You will be prepared for every episode of The Brett Cooper Show. Now, Other than the fact that her name is kind of perfect for a porn star, Sammy Sheen, there is no reason that this 20-year-old should be on the site.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
I mean, she claims that it gives her this incredible freedom. I think that she's made $3 million. At this point, it's empowerment. But as I have talked about at length in my career online, that empowerment is a lie. It could not be farther from the truth. OnlyFans still to this day is presented as this feminist form of sex work. It is safe sex work, but it is still exploitation.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
You are still selling your body online. The platform does not actually protect its creators from trafficking and exploitation. We have talked about that at length. And they still own part of your content.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
Even if you walk away from this industry, even if you delete everything, try to end your account, they still own these incredibly intimate things, this intimate content that you have created and put on their site. But they dupe Everyone, I mean, they even duped her father, Charlie Sheen.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
Now, at first, Charlie Sheen was against this very insane move, as any good father would be, and he blamed it on the fact that she was living with her mother. In an interview, he said, I do not condone this, this was back in 2022, but since I am unable to prevent it, I urged her to keep it classy, creative, and not sacrifice her integrity. She is 18 years old now and living with her mother.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
This did not occur under my roof. So he's saying this did not come from me. I do not condone this. I'm not pushing it. This is because I am not involved in her life, which I mean could be fodder for an entire episode about the importance of fathers. But Denise immediately clapped back and she said, Sammy is 18 and this decision was not based on whose house she lives in.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
All I can do as a parent is guide her and trust her judgment with but she makes her own choices. Okay, I'm sorry. Clearly, neither of you parents are guiding her as she thought her only options were working at the local candy shop or selling her ass online. That is not very good parenting.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
Now, the other thing that my team pointed out as we've been doing this episode is that in listening to her talk, she, I don't know if there's a lot going on upstairs. So maybe we should be fair. Maybe those were her two only options, but I highly, highly believe that that is not
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
And what is so crazy to me, even though literally every part of the story is crazy, is that Charlie and Denise, they're still trying to play the part of responsible parents. For example, in that same sit-down interview that we had been watching clips from where they were talking about OnlyFans, they talked about something that Denise will not let her daughters do.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
And that involves her movie, The Wild Things, that this new reality TV show is based off of. It is an incredibly sexual movie. It has a super famous sex scene that involves Denise Richards. And that is a movie and a scene that they will not let their daughters watch because it is just too inappropriate. Take a listen to this clip.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
She used to be married to actor Charlie Sheen and they have three daughters together. Denise was not just some regular actress. She was a bombshell sex icon of the 90s. If you've watched all the James Bond films, you've probably seen her. She was a Bond girl. She's very well known for the film Starship Trooper.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
I mean, she's literally sitting there like rolling her eyes like, yeah, as if I would let my children watch something that is so inappropriate. Of course not. Literally, she's an actress. She is playing the role of a responsible, concerned parent. But meanwhile, everything that she is doing as a mother is just completely hypocritical. She's saying, sure, Sammy, you can go sell your body online.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
I could sell my body online as an OnlyFans creator doing sex scenes in the 90s. I can be fully nude on screen. But no, I only want you to watch the PG version because it's just so informative. I'm sorry. You are not convincing anyone that you are some good, balanced, moral parent. I mean, you would be better just sitting down and being silent like my guns thanks to Silencer Shop.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
Now, I'm sure that you all know that I am a big advocate for our Second Amendment rights. I love my guns. I believe in being prepared and being responsible when it comes to owning firearms. But let's be honest, shooting can be loud and sometimes uncomfortable, and that is why I want to tell you about my friends over at Silencer Shop.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
Yes, before you ask, silencers are totally legal, and Silencer Shop makes getting one easier than ever. They offer the largest selection of top brand suppressors that make your shooting experience quieter, safer, and way more fun. And whether you're hitting the range or out hunting, a suppressor can make a world of difference in your shooting experience. And don't worry about the paperwork.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
Silencer Shop has got you covered. They simplify the entire process, making it hassle-free so that you can get your suppressor from the comfort of your own home. Approvals are coming back faster than ever right now, so there is no better time to get started. But here's the best part. Silencer Shop is not just about selling suppressors.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
They are actually out there fighting the good fight for our gun rights. And in these unpredictable times, I believe that it is crucial to support the companies that are standing up for our rights, specifically our Second Amendment right. And that is exactly what Silencer Shop does. They are actively lobbying, battling in courtrooms, and pushing back against anti-gun legislation nationwide.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
And so if you not only want to enhance your shooting experience, but also support a company that is fighting for you and your rights, head on over to Silencer Shop to get started today. And trust me, they give you the easiest and best way to get your suppressor. Upgrade your guns today with Silencer Shop.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
But unfortunately, guys, unlike my guns, Denise Richards is not silent in her hypocrisy, and neither is Charlie Sheen. Because this man, who was once not condoning his daughter's actions, this is so inappropriate, this did not happen under my roof, he changed his tune after learning how much money his daughter was raking in by showing her ass online. Which just, again...
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
is so ridiculous to me, because it was inappropriate, apparently, for her to put that online for free, you were so concerned, but the moment that she told you she had raked in three million dollars, suddenly, it was okay. I mean, like, what good father says that?
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
She was in Love Actually and she was in the film Wild Things, which is what her new TV show is named after. And this new Bravo TV show is not her first stint on reality TV. She also did Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. She also did Denise Richards' It's Complicated, which was just an entire two-season reality TV show about her going through her divorce with Charlie Sheen.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
Like, oh good, men around the world are leering at my daughter and jerking off to her and she's making so much money, now I condone this decision, now this is a great idea. I mean, it's just truly insane. Now I condone this decision, now it's empowerment. And speaking of empowerment, Denise similarly parroted the same talking points that they all do. It's authenticity and it's empowerment.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
In another interview about this insane situation, she said, Once I learned that this platform is actually really empowering for the creators to be their true authentic self, I decided to join it too. That's not what the platform is about. They can lie to you all the time. It is a porn app. It is for sex work. What are you talking? I'm going to be authentic with putting my ass online.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
Give me a freaking break. So again, the point that I'm making by giving you all of this backstory, showing you all of these videos, is that I don't think this was really about protecting her daughter from backlash. It was about bolstering her own image.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
She saw that Sammy was making a ton of money, that she was getting a ton of followers, that she was getting a ton of attention, and she wanted that too, which I think is the case for a lot of these older actresses, who later turned to sex work. And yes, this is a well-established trend with actresses who we might call washed up.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
These are people who once held our attention, who we once admired and craved, maybe even sexualized, and they have now been pushed to the sidelines. And Denise is only one of them. Other examples are Jamie Lynn Sigler from The Sopranos, Jamie Foxxworth, who was a child actress in the 90s, actor and drummer Jack Nance. This is a male example, you know, he was facing a
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
Failing career, he was an alcoholic and he turned to porn for a quick buck, which changed his career forever. Now, the most recent example of this is Boy Meets World actress Maitlyn Ward. Maitlyn actually just made the news last week saying that she is now treated so much better as a porn actress than she ever was as a TV actress, as just a normal girl in Hollywood.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
This headline reads, Boy Meets World alum Maitlyn Ward feels like people treat me with more respect thanks to her pornography career. This is just so absurd. Like suddenly after years of no work, your career was dried up. You've got no attention. People watch shows about her. They're talking about her. They want her to write a book. Like, I don't know personally, if I would call that respect.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Selling Your a$$ Online Is Not A Good Idea | Episode 16
I think that that is you doing something shocking and people are looking, which again, if we go back to the point is probably what she wanted. That is what they all wanted. And the way that they rationalize this career move, this decision is through the lie of empowerment and authenticity, which is exactly what Denise Richards is peddling. This is bodily autonomy. It's taking control of my career.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
We need to talk about the conservatives on Grindr.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
like college lovers that was a weird way to say that but like they fell in love with in college got married they had a very very public divorce she wrote an entire op-ed about their divorce and like apparently the famous line is that she was like crying or something and she was like i'm your wife i'm not your employee and he said if you were my employee i would fire you and i got a divorce
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
The best thing is like texting you and it'll be, you know, an ungodly hour of the night or like ungodly, you know, hour of the morning. And you're up editing the video that you shot the night before. You literally do everything yourself.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
So that's one part of it. And then Grimes, which like Grimes, they got married. I think they got married or they were engaged or something. There was some more commitment there.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Yes. Or at least like going into it seemed so at the get go. But throughout Ashley's pregnancy, Grimes has been tweeting Elon. They've gone through this whole custody battle. She's had to deal with the same thing, has had to publicly tweet at Elon saying, Elon, let me see my son. This is, like, not appropriate. You're not responding to any calls. Her mother got involved.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Grimes' mother was tweeting. Yes, on Twitter. Like, you think Diane is crazy? Grimes' mother was like, I'm in it.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Like, two months before Ashley gave birth.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
non and so that's why the response was to ashley's post and i understand that it was very nuanced i'm not gonna like comment on something and be like like this is like you know you're getting into whatever and a child is a blessing regardless and i hope that the child is healthy well nothing but for the best but for that child yes and i hope that everything is resolved for her sake and for the child's sake i hope that everything is great i hope that they get the privacy that the child deserves and that her other coach actually has another child with um i think her ex-husband
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
So for both of those children, all I want is the best. I think that's what most people online want. But it was this weird thing where it was like, some people, it was very clear that they were just saying, hey, I'm glad you're okay. I had no idea that you were going through this. I hope you had a healthy pregnancy. You know, hope you're doing well. Hope the baby's okay. Congratulations.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
But then there were other people who were basically just like crawling up Elon's ass.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Because they didn't want to like, they won't criticize him. And I think that you can... You should be able to pull out somebody's accomplishments and say, obviously, we both drive Teslas. It's like you are an amazing innovator. You have changed the course of mankind seriously. You are now intimately involved in our political system in a great way.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
In my opinion, Doge is like the best thing that Trump is doing. And has, I mean, it's like the libertarian's dream. It's like it's brought everybody together, truly. And that is incredible, but you should be able to separate that and be like, okay, those things are great, but also we can criticize him for being like, this is not traditional. It's not healthy.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
It's amazing. It's incredible.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
la fires who's going in there and giving all of la free wi-fi yeah he's a humanitarian on so many levels and is i think in my opinion is using science the way it should be used i'm not a big fan like the neural link stuff freaks me out but in terms of using the things that he has created that are moving humankind and technology forward and that he's the first person there he always beats the government he is incredibly incredibly generous with what he offers
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
for free like that's incredible and so i think it's fine it's good to say that but you also because of that you don't need to like excuse his behavior as a father or say that it's like fine or those like the you know patriarchy bros or whatever you want to call them on x who are like this is what a real man does this like doesn't commit to a woman and so to see i'm like
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
They're like, it's Genghis Khan. Was Genghis Khan a good person?
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Is this the new theory? Is Elon gay?
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
What is that process been like diving into something that you like? This wasn't a career for you before this. You were working in marketing.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
That's a mirror. That's going to be my headline.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
But I also, there's probably more. Considering that, based on the New York Post article, that he wanted his name taken off the birth certificate.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
So I think there are other ones.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Yeah, and money does not equate to a stable family. Money does not replace a father.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
You're not okay.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Did you know that up to 80% of women experience hormone imbalance symptoms at some point in their lives, including reproductive cycle disruptions, metabolism changes, bloating and weight gain, mood swings, acne, and hair damage. Hormone imbalance is one of the most urgent women's health crises of our time.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Millions are affected with conditions like PCOS on the rise, disrupting daily life for many women, especially among Gen Z and millennials. But not all women realize that the gut microbiome plays a foundational role in hormone regulation and its downstream effects.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Taking a high quality clinically supported probiotic is a simple, effective, and affordable option for women seeking to help stabilize hormone imbalance.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Yeah. Completely different. And you've had to teach yourself all of this.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
And that is why I am so excited to be partnered with Daily Nori because Daily Nori is reshaping the conversation around the gut microbiome and this connection to hormone health with the unveiling of its first of its kind daily hormone balanced probiotic. Each capsule contains a blend of seven probiotic strains to support hormone regulation through improved estrogen metabolism.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
So women, if you are ready to take control of your hormone health, then go to dailynori.com and use code BRETT25 for 25% off your first order. I've been taking their supplements for a few months now. I love them. I especially love their stress supplement in addition to this one. You guys are going to love it. Again, dailynori.com. That is D-A-I-L-Y-N-O-U-R-I.com.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
BRETT25 at checkout for 25% off your first order.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
but no i think that you're absolutely correct and it's unfortunate that all of it is playing out publicly i say speak out of two sides of my mouth and i always do this because it's like this probably should be public but since it is i'm going to fully enjoy it i'm going to enjoy every single second of it every single comment i feel like wendy williams which i also want to talk about wendy williams i feel like was kind of before my time so people who don't know she was this like daytime host
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Was like famous for like pop culture, but also like family drama.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
It was like crazy tea. I was watching like Candace is all over my TikTok.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Yes. And her show, she always had the craziest things on it. And she all like her favorite line was like, allegedly, there are things on. Because she would say insane stuff that was like not confirmed at all. You don't want to get sued. I know. There are like 10 minute compilations of her on YouTube. Allegedly, allegedly, allegedly.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
So that's Wendy Williams. She was put under conservatorship and is locked in. In a, it's not a rehab place. It's like a brain.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Yes. In New York City. She has not left for over 30 days. Has not seen the sun. She had this business manager, I think. And I don't remember if it was her former one or there was a new person, but somebody was making purchases from her account on her behalf.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Yes. And she also, some context that my good friend Candace phoned over to me is that because she knows everything about all of the celebrity gossip.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
somehow was that wendy had gone through a divorce it was apparently like very traumatic and she had kind of her life had evolved into drugs and alcoholism and she was doing a lot of reckless spending so apparently she was spending a lot and then there was some other spending that was not accounted for right and wells fargo with the help of this new business manager that she had been assigned to said this isn't normal and they including wells fargo allegedly put her in this conservatorship because of the way that she was spending her own money
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
But they have the power. They have the power. That's why so many conservatives have been freaked out for so long, rightfully so, like Bank of America, you know, canceling accounts.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Oh my gosh, yes. Remember the truckers in Canada, they like shut down the accounts.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
So that's why it doesn't make sense.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
And how do they get put in the conservatorship? The other thing is that allegedly her son, her son is apparently involved in this. Yeah. And she's now called out her son for spending a bunch of money.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
And that ticking off part of the Wells Fargo stuff.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Yeah. But that was like proved that was before 30 days ago because she said that she hadn't been outside for 30 days. But then the other thing is that I don't know if it was her PR person or like a family member or whatever, but they leaked the story that she was in like a comatose state. that she was, like, mentally not there and that she, like, Alzheimer's or something, was basically dying.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
And all of these, like, very unflattering photos of her.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Yes. And so everybody was like, oh, my gosh, Wendy, now it makes sense what's going on. But then she popped up last week doing an interview through her bougie prison. She was on the phone with this guy, which, by the way, I would kill to do an interview like this. I just think it would be hysterical. She's standing up at the window, slapping on the window, being like, I'm in here –
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
crying and everything yes and but then the best part of that interview they're like talking about the conservatorship that she wants to get out all of this stuff and then he asks her like random questions about celebrities because she hasn't been able to like comment on celebrities in so long and he asks her about JLo and she just basically for like 30 seconds just goes so hard on JLo for all of her awful marriages
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
I know. It's great. So she's back. I listened to that and I was like, oh, she's all there. She's like crazy as usual.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Yes. In so many of those conservatorships, it seems like...
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
they go in one way and exit another britney spears britney had issues beforehand never really came back from the shaved head no but part of the conservatorship there's a difference between um a guardianship and a conservatorship i would know this unfortunately due to my family the fact that i'm involved in a guardianship not mine i am somebody's but with a guardianship you can't
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
You can't force somebody to take meds. You can't force them to do any kind of medical treatment. You are just there to be a support system. You can have access to their medical records. If they are an adult, you're there to basically provide the safe boundaries that they need.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Yeah, if they need things, doctors call you, whatever. You can advise and you can, like, push. And if you need to, like, push the state to make things happen, you can. But you don't have full authority over this individual's life. With a conservatorship, they can make Wendy take drugs.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Yes. They're like, you cannot leave this facility. We will medicate you like this. With Britney Spears, that's why there's this huge conspiracy, which feels real to me, that she was medicated to the point of, like, no return. The anti-psychotics, like, they... will ruin your body.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
And then there's this whole argument of, like, should she have been, like, there's a lot of people, especially on the right, who are very against Britney getting out of her conservatorship. And they were like, so many things happen after the fact. But it was like, was that because she got out?
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
I love it. And I'm so proud of you. I do think, since you brought up the black and gay community, we need to talk. We need to talk about the conservatives on Grindr.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
It's just crazy. I don't think many people know the effects of antipsychotics. I mean, it is like the most intense drugs, and why would they? But it's like the most intense drug that you can take. I've watched my brother. I was tweeting about this recently because a lot of people were talking about SSRIs. You know, RFK Jr. wants to...
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
expose SSRIs once they do exercise on them which I think is very very healthy and antipsychotics are like a step up obviously from that huge leap up it's a very difficult thing to watch when somebody relies on those meds but you know how disastrous they can be like my brother has had like full body paralysis from these meds he has lost the ability to like speak and write and whatever because of the side effects I mean it's like in every single one and not even just that but you add on all those layers of all the side effects and what the drugs can do
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
And it's very rare that you only take antipsychotics. Usually it is a cocktail of other things.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
This is an insane thing that Amir tells me about. And I was like, we finally need to sit down and talk about it. So we go to like, you know.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
And. There are no lifestyle changes. That was something I was talking with Alex about.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Yeah, and that should be the medical industry's responsibility to encourage that. And I think that's the main point of what RFK is doing in regards to SSRIs is like this should not be step one. There should be other conversations that happen prior to that about your lifestyle, about the things that you're doing.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Yeah. I mean, you see videos of women after they give birth in hospitals and, like, the food that they're given, which is disgusting. And I think about the food. You know, my brother – I don't know if I – I think I talked about this recently on Alive. Somebody had asked me about Reed. That's my brother. Mm-hmm.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
and i was talking about him because he had been in the hospital for three years straight and part of it was like on the tail end of covid and he so we couldn't see him and we didn't have access to him but like thinking about the foods that he ate and like there were no lifestyle changes he was in a hospital for three years with these incredibly incredibly high-powered
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Conferences, whatever. Amir's favorite thing to do is to, don't you like a burner Grindr account or something?
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
drugs with awful side effects and no lifestyle changes and now that he's out it's like the hospital food does not look nutritious no well it's not it's like i look at it like he spent three years and nothing changed it was like that was prime opportunity in a confined and i hate saying that but a confined controlled environment of like this would be a great opportunity to encourage change almost force it in a way because you're there you might as well
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Yeah. And it's just a missed opportunity for sure. Okay. Talking about insane families though. I need to go back to Elon Musk for a second. Do you know about his dad?
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
His mother is very cool. May Musk.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Fantastic. Like very supportive of him. Beautiful. Seems very supportive of all the baby mamas. Like Siobhan, who's the most recent, actually not most recent because of Ashley, but like second to last. Yes. Like she posts pictures of the kids and Mae's like, oh, so sweet, whatever. Like my angels, whatever.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
The dad. So he and Mae get a divorce, marries another woman who has a daughter named Jana. I believe that's how you pronounce it.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
he gets in a relationship with his former stepdaughter they have two children together elon musk yes who has children with who elon musk's father has two children with his stepdaughter and he's a south far from the tree he's a south african politician it makes sense when you put it all together like this man was never did they get married and stuff i actually don't know should i look it up like is this like a whole like this sounds nasty
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
It's like Woody Allen.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
At these conservative events.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Well, they are leaving each other. They're keeping it in the family.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Yeah, he was 45. And oh, oh, my gosh. Wait, no, this is even crazier. He was 45. He married 25 year old Heidi, raised her daughter, Jana, from the age of four.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
It's dramatic.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Raised it. And then in 2014, reconnected years later.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
And sparked a romantic relationship after he helped her, quote, get over a breakup.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Yeah, Errol Musk raised Jana Besidenhout from the age of four.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
It's like, don't, so now my, I mean, I think I already had this opinion. Look, Elon Musk, it's like, if you're getting asked out by him, if he's saying I want to, like, apparently he, like, slides into girls' DMs and is like, want to have a kid? Like, want to help me want to revobulate? You know that you're not getting the king of the nuclear family, not an engaged father.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Scale back even more, the evidence is all there.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
It is about the individual... And the insane choices they make across the board, we should be able to say, this is insane behavior. This is unhealthy. This is inappropriate. Don't do that around kids.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Well, I feel like you also end up in a unique position, and you can talk about this, of like, you know, you are a gay conservative and there are a lot of conservatives who do not, you know, respect you and your lifestyle choices, whatever you're doing. Yeah. Even though you are minding your own business, doing you, doing your husband.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Which is why you're so great because you don't care. And the other thing that's wonderful about you and your content is that regardless of the hate that you get, you always approach things and you've been a great influence on me. And I think you're always somebody who I like go back to and I like tap into that because you are kind of lodged in the middle of all of this stuff.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Is that you approach everything with genuine empathy and looking to understand rather than change minds.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Which just feeds into this whole, you know, hypocritical – I don't know why I said it that way. But the hypocritical nature of so many people in this movement, which I feel like is just on –
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
No, those are coming back. I mean, we, I'm... That's like a whole... There was this couple that went viral, like, two months ago. And it's this gay man and a lesbian woman. And they were like, yeah, we're getting married. And they are, they said they're soulmates. But they're also attracted to each other.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Now, you all know that I am a big advocate for our Second Amendment rights, and I believe in being prepared and being responsible when it comes to firearms. But let's be honest, shooting can be loud. It can be sometimes uncomfortable. And that is why I want to tell you about my friends over at Silencer Shop.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
full display right now yeah and it's like people are free to do whatever they want in their life and more power to you you have the freedom as a consenting adult to do whatever you want with your life but it's ridiculous to espout one thing online and then not only to espout it but to shame people for something and then you're doing it on the down low that's the biggest frustration from i've always said that trans women yeah trans women have more balls than conservative men yeah
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
And yes, guys, silencers are totally legal and Silencer Shop makes getting one easier than ever. They offer the largest selection of top brand suppressors that make your shooting experience quieter, safer, and way more enjoyable. Whether you are hitting the range or out hunting, a suppressor can make a world of difference. And don't worry about the paperwork. I know that there's a lot of it.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
They have got you covered. Silencer Shop simplifies the entire process, making it hassle-free so that you can get your suppressor from the comfort of your own home. to leave this chair to get my silencer. Plus, approvals are coming back faster than ever, so there's no better time to get started. But the best part is Silencer Shop isn't just about selling suppressors.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
They are fighting the good fight for our gun rights. In these unpredictable times, it is crucial to support companies that stand up for the Second Amendment, and that is what Silencer Shop is doing. They are actively lobbying, battling in courtrooms, and pushing back against anti-gun legislation nationwide.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
So if you want to enhance your shooting experience and support a company that is fighting for your rights, head on over to Silencer Shop to get started today. And trust me, they are the easiest and best way to get your suppressor. So upgrade your guns today with Silencer Shop. Do you think the victimization and the need for attention especially
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
a club almost people put on these identities like it's a costume yeah literally well they like a lot of literally and it's like you you immediately join you immediately get to be a minority you immediately special yeah it's special i'm part of a club i'm just but i do wonder if that comes from a place of i just did a whole episode about like gen z loneliness and millennials and gen z's are especially gen z
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
are historically isolated, historically lonely. And every generation has been lonely. But it's like with COVID, with the insurgence of technology, and the fact that we were literally raised online, it's just very different. And all of our social norms are completely disrupted by this technological revolution.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Except I have a friend, old friend of mine from LA who went so far as to get top surgery, left bottom, microdose testosterone to physically be. I know, and it's just like heartbreaking.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Yes. And with it being the immediate solution rather than going back to the SSRIs of like it's the band-aid solution. But it is a band-aid solution you can't come back from. It's not like.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Because up until just a couple of years ago, this was in the DDSM as a psychological condition, as something that you would work through. Obviously, because if you are – like 20 years ago, if somebody came into a therapist's office and said, I want to cut off my body parts, I want to cut off my ding-a-long and my boobs and whatever, that would be like, oh my gosh, let's handle this.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
And let's figure out what is the root cause here. And let's help you because that's not healthy nor – Is that, you know, you can't have a fulfilled, good, healthy life if you're walking through hating yourself and wanting to cut off your body parts.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
They might be gay, but they're also kids going through puberty.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
That's why the amount of kids who transition, the majority of them are girls.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Well, I'm sure it's, like, they're bad in different ways. But, again, nobody likes it. But for girls, I think that there is this, like, your body's changing. Some, like, develop sooner than you. Like, I remember being this, like, weird ugly duckling. And I matured faster. But I...
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
was like a green bean and I had this awful like bowl cut with bangs and I looked so ugly and was so weird but I was like tall and suddenly I was like developing and everything was so weird and I was like I just want to cover up and this is so awful and it's so uncomfortable and I was like sort of getting attention from guys but also not and there were girls of my age that were like voluptuous and like engaging their sexuality and everything is confusing especially with the growth of social media and you see these 15 year olds that are made up to the nines look grown
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
And not even just like pageant queens of, you know, whatever when you kind of do that as a caricature, literally look grown, are getting boob jobs before they're 18. All of this stuff, it's completely destroyed childhood because at 15 you were still a child. Puberty is supposed to be awkward. It is supposed to be uncomfortable. It is an awful time.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
And we have taken these kids who are obviously uncomfortable in their bodies.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
And it's like, oh, you're trans.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Rather than holding their hands through it and going, you're going through what every other human being on earth has gone through. You're not special.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
And they also want to be part of the community.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
In the club.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Yeah, the celebrities who are like, oh, all my daughter, you know, I have two trans daughters and all their friends are.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Is that Celine? Oh, no. Charlize Theron. Is that one?
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
No, actually. Well, that is actually a great example. Okay, so Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, their daughter, Shiloh, dressed up, major tomboy, dressed up as a boy for years. Every transition, everybody always wondered. She reminded me of myself. She had this bowl cut she would wear, big baggy cargo pants, whatever.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Randomly, a year and a half ago maybe, she showed up at a premiere with Angelina in a full dress looking absolutely stunning.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
And they let her grow up. They let her grow up. They let her grow through it, dress how you want.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
take that what was happening put that in today's time frame maybe would have been trans yeah or like put on puberty blockers but instead just let the child be like just yeah explore through life and boom the person that i was thinking of i don't remember i know who you are thinking of with like where all of their kids are trans but the one that i was thinking of is the redheaded woman from sex in the city and she has i think like two trans kids and then she was up speaking after trump was elected she was like oh
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
I don't like these threads. You're attacking them. Whatever. Like holding onto this microphone, crying. She was like, they're all like, yes. Dwayne Wade used to be Alex's favorite basketball player. And now he's like burning all of his Dwayne Wade jerseys. There's this family on YouTube. I think that they might be in the UK. And it's this dad.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Yeah. Dad and the little tiny boy.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
And you've watched it over like four years.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
And make yourself the center of it. That's the way. I mean, all of it is weird. Like putting your kids on like whatever. But the dad is like.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Yes. And loves the attention. And, you know, all of the like thunderous applause.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
You're such an amazing dad. And you're so, you're like, I wish my father had been like you. And you're so inclusive. Whatever. And it's like you are.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Okay, with all of this stuff going on in the world, and you talk about it on your channel all the time, but what are your hopes for young people right now with all of this freaking insanity?
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Amir, thanks for coming on the show.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
How do you get the confidence to block out a lot of that and block out that pressure and the noise from people that want to box you in?
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
I also think something that you've done that I think a lot of people can learn from and I hope they learn.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
see in you kind of touches on what you just said but keeping your head down and focusing on the things that are important to you and your goals that inherently allows you to block out a lot of the noise if you're focused on your work and what you care about in the world and making yourself a better person and breaking through stereotypes being the person that breaks the patterns in your family which is always been my number one goal like I always thought about like I'm not going to be you know just another like notch in the belt I'm not going to do what my family's done it makes it very easy not to care
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Yeah, it's the saying one thing and doing another. Did you see the whole Patriarchy Hannah scandal on X? No. Okay, so this is like not the same thing, but sort of is. So there's this woman and she went by Patriarchy Hannah on X and she was a non-account, a non. And she was like super trad, had this husband Tony. It was crazy.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Well, that's why your content is so great, because it's not just about politics and about cultural issues. I was actually asked that. I was doing something with the New York Times yesterday, and she was really honing in on, she was like, I just feel like you're political, but you're not political. I was like, because I don't care about the political wins.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
You talk about making people better and inspiring them. I was like, well, that's really what it's about.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
That's why people respond to you. And we're going to keep growing.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Oh, yes. It's funny that we're ending it. We should have started with this. So I was alone and sad at UCLA and had no friends because I had just told them I wasn't voting for Bernie or Biden. And in the primaries, I was like, I'm actually going the other direction. And I had gotten in contact with PragerU in Los Angeles.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
And my mom had found you on Instagram and was like this. You need to be friends with Amir Odub. This is like the greatest guy. She loved all of your slides.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
And you flew out to L.A. for the premiere of Will Witt's environmental documentary, for being you.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
and the reason i went was to meet you insane yeah i had a little like orange sun dress i was like i'm gonna go meet amir and we have that picture that is so crazy yes and yeah we became friends ever since i remember like dming you and being like i really like your work and then yeah we stayed in touch and then daily wire moved me out to nashville and i knew that you were living in franklin at the time but i wasn't exactly sure and so i gave you we went to north italia and like
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
That means so much coming from you. And I would say the same to you on an even bigger level because you've literally done it by yourself from day one, which is just so impressive. You're going to keep growing.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
But I was going to say, I think that one thing that is a unique value to what we do is that, at least in my perspective, I feel like I make myself better every single time I get behind the camera and talk about a new story.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
crazy so like I was going through her account and I was like how do people believe that this is real first of all because she would always post about how her husband was this contractor and they had bought an abandoned town somewhere in the middle of the country and they named it Tony Town because her husband's name is Tony so they would joke about Tony Town and Tony had this like tiny little Twitter account but this woman Patriarch Hannah was allegedly 37 years old with 14 kids
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Because it's like, I'm not going to sit here and be so hypocritical and tell people, oh, I think this is how you should live your life if I'm not evaluating that on a daily basis. It's like the stories that both of us cover and the research we do, it makes me smarter. It makes me more interested about the world. It's my favorite thing about this. It's so much fun.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
I feel like I'm a much better person than I was three years ago.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
It's very different than my last interview, we were just saying. But that's what I kind of wanted. I wanted to shoot the shit with you. How is your YouTube channel going? You're crushing it.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Yeah. I'm just... Because you know if you turn on the camera and you are... not being a hundred percent you, or if you're lying about something, I mean, you feel like, you feel like, I know.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
That's one of the reasons why it was so important to me to, you know, make this big career switch because it was like, if I'm talking to people constantly about swinging for the fences and taking big risks in their lives and fighting for what you believe in, And, you know, betting on yourself. And I'm sitting here and I'm telling young people, like, take that risk. Do the thing that scares you.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
It's like I was looking around me. I was like, oh, my God, I have to like it's my turn now. It's cool that the that you guys hold us accountable in an awesome way.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Everybody go follow Amir and subscribe to his channel. Maybe we can get you to 600. Oh my gosh.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
This is great. We can just start a daytime show. We're going to replace Wendy Williams.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
I need to self-promote.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Alex told me I don't promote myself enough.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
I know. BrettCooperShop.com if you want our awesome hats and our awesome hoodie.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
There you go. This is the second Brett Cooper merch promo you've been required to be in.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Well, you can keep it.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
How do you guys like the merch?
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
That she had adopted. Homeschooled all of them. Being a good submitting.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Just wait. Just wait. Like submitting to her husband Tony. Living in Tony Town. Where they had like moved their whole family. She also said that she had been sex trafficked as a child. Had like survived lupus. I think all of this stuff. So that's why they had adopted these 14 kids. She would post about this all the time. She would be in Twitter spaces at like 3 a.m.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
And there were a few people who called out like. This is kind of odd.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Like you have 14 kids and you have time to be on a Twitter space at like 3 a.m. It's a bit odd. Yeah. Somebody has time. But he's not spending time with any of his kids. This lady is, like, pretending like she's being some, like, homeschool mom. So all of this is happening. Meanwhile, she's shaming other women for not being as trad as her.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
My favorite story is that you got a cease and desist from Beyonce.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
And not just, this was not an account that would just post things like, this is what I believe, you know, traditional marriage is. Because there are those accounts. I follow some of those. And it's like, you know, they're frolicking in the fields in their sundresses, sourdough, whatever. The trad aesthetic. That's fine. This woman would literally be in people's replies and quote tweeting them.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
kind of like pearl-esque but on the other side of the aisle of like literally attacking women and shaming them and saying like you're not christian enough you're not biblical enough you're like i'm just your husband must be disgusted with all of this stuff and it created this whole like veil of shame but she had also created this entire community she had a discord
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
women would dm her and they would like become friends and because she had said that she had been sex trafficked all of this stuff they would like they would open up to her all of the stuff she never shared a real photo of herself and she always she would give people her phone number but she would never get on facetime and some people would be like guys again like i was saying like this kind of weird like why like this doesn't add up and everybody else in the trad community would be like
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Oh, you, like, you're, you know, jealous of her because she has it all together. Anyway, finally came crashing down this guy named Ryan Duff, or Duffy, I believe, on X. Did a whole expose on Valentine's Day exposing her. She has no kids. She's not married to Tony.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
She lives with her parents. The photos that she posted of their home was various different pictures from different Zillow listings. The one photo that she did show somebody was from another woman's Facebook page. She lives with her parents and apparently has done...
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
different forms of like porn and so she and she was like collecting like memberships from people and like giving all of this advice and so the entire like trad community on right-wing twitter which just feels so dystopian of me to be like even saying that this niche community on right-wing twitter broke apart like all hell broke loose because they were like how could how could somebody be saying one thing and doing the other that's actually insane yes
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
It's everywhere. It's on the left as well. The left is hypocritical in nature.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
And I think in attacking the left and calling out the left, we probably have ignored some of that on our own side.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
And so I think there's kind of a reckoning with that, which is the same thing with the Ashley St. Clair thing.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Elon pregnancy which is a whole can of worms and a lot of different topics but people were very quick to like pull up her old tweets where she was saying I want to just have like a husband and two kids and live on a farm and like talking about single motherhood and all this stuff and shaming people for like you know having babies in broken homes and this that and the third and it's like unfortunate and I feel for her because I think she's probably locked in some like insane deal with him and she's dealing with like postpartum hormones and I'm sure that she felt like stuck so she did what she had to do but it's also like sort of
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Didn't you know what you were – She wanted this.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
And I love the fact that you, for people who don't know me or story, you blew up on YouTube first, right? Like back in 2020 for your video, like I'm a black gay man. This is why I don't fear the police.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
That she – with Greg Price.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
She tweeted at Greg Price saying, like, I need Elon's info so I can have his baby or something like that.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
He's gone from all the students life and so unfortunate and the other thing is like if you read the second New York Post article which first of all everybody was saying like Don't go ahead.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
That's why a lot of people were shaming her at the get-go from that first post. And I was – I didn't feel that way at all. I was like, hey, if, you know, people are hounding her and she wants to get it out there, I'm sure there's a lot of pressure, especially with this guy who's, like, so wealthy and so powerful and is apparently, like, not returning any calls or doing whatever.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Like, what's going on? When it took a turn for me was when her PR person made a statement from his personal account. Did you see that?
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Like, in the same, like, Canva –
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
layout made a post from his personal account this is ghetto it's fitting an african-american family this is this is it just like it got so weird and then immediately the new york post thing came out and then there was a second new york post one where she's like she feels jilted for him not responding i'm like i think just make the post and just shut it down and walk away walk away
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
I thought that you made a viral YouTube video too.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
that's the like also with like apologies like don't apologize for anything like put out what you believe say what you want say with your chest and then just like walk away no apologies put out what you want say with your chest or like just don't say anything at all like beyonce shouldn't say she doesn't say anything we need to talk about beyonce how many country beyonce tours your country don't start
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Are you going to wear the like Daisy Duke shorts or are you going to wear pants?
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
How many did you go to last year?
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Okay for people who don't know you're obsessed Beyonce. Could you give me your brief thesis for why you love Beyonce?
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
like it's just been a whole life thing and like she has different songs that just mean so many different things and i can listen to some songs to break down crying like you've seen i just start crying listening to it's incredible i think at some point you should have a full compilation of like baby amir and then like you in the pit at all for concerts like just working doing backflips and then sobbing yeah i do do that too you do it's like a spectrum of there's like lots of tears and breakdowns and dancing
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
And that's it.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Yeah, you have your lemonade tattoo.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
My favorite story is that you got a cease and desist from Beyonce.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
But I feel like when you got that letter, it was like, does she know who I am?
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
When did she call you out at the concert last summer?
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
I love it. It's like the best part of the Amir lore.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
I know. You haven't brought Jamal out today. I thought you would with the Elon thing.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
I know. Well, going back to the Elon thing and the fatherlessness, the other thing that stuck out about the Ashley Sinclair was that while she was pregnant, and this makes me feel for her, but also I'm like, if you were, because I think they were actually in a relationship. I don't think this was an IVF.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Based on the, like, one of five New York Post articles that, you know, came out that I read, they, like, met through Babylon Bee the night they met. He, like, slid into her DMs. They were talking. Look at that face.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
He's old. No offense to anybody who's in their 50s, but, like, sliding into a... Exactly. Somebody, yeah, 25-year-old. DM's 24 at the time, I think.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Yes. But, I mean, have you seen... What is his name? Is my husband here? Alex? Bill Belichick. Is that his name? Belichick. That is the former coach of the Patriots. Boom. God, I know sports. Sports. That's like the famous like Tom Brady era coach. Have you seen, he's like 70 years old. Have you seen his girlfriend?
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Yes. It's like a former, I think like NFL cheerleader or something like that.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
I know. So again, it's like, it's weird thinking about, but also people go for it. This is like a tale as old as time.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
So do it. Go after your bag, whatever. Just know what you're getting into. And this is not a man that is going to prioritize a nuclear family. He's never said that is something he prioritized. He wants to sow his seeds, sow the crops.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
I'm pulling up a picture. Don't worry.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
Yes, sir. Man, she bad. I know. She's like, I got that chick done.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
No, he's trying to repopulate Mars.
The Brett Cooper Show
Elon Musk Baby Drama & Fake Trad Wife Accounts Exposed | Episode 8
And you've seen – like, there was a whole – his first divorce, which, by the way, he married a woman, Justine Winter. She still goes by Musk. So Justine Musk. They have five kids together. One, I believe, passed away at, like, two weeks old, which I think really fractured their relationship, which is a really tragic story. But they were –
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
Imagine going online to share an announcement about your dream business, a women's only gym in London, and also being brave enough to address the elephant in the room that we all have to address because it is 2025. Going online and stating that this women's only gym will be for biological women and biological women only, while also acknowledging that at one point in time,
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
The trans activist who literally won the lawsuit is appealing because indirect discrimination is not enough. They want it to be direct discrimination against themselves and they want a lot more money from Saul.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
But of course it will never be enough. Well, an indirect discrimination is not enough. $6,000 isn't enough. They need $500,000. Whatever the number is, it will never be enough and it will never stop until we refuse to apologize and refuse to fold, which unfortunately wasn't the case at a San Francisco spa.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
Crowdfunding, trying to get investors, building the site, creating the business plan, branding. She literally turned herself into a fitness influencer. so that she could crowdfund and raise the money and make the money so that she could build this dream business of hers.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
Now, while all of this was happening with Natalie, while Saul was appealing her decision in Australia, a nude Russian day spa in San Francisco was fighting their own battle. Now earlier this month, at the spa, they hosted their cultural and religious women's night. For biological women only. Obviously because it is a nude spa. And it is a women's night.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
Women do not want to see genitals in their nude spa. Well, trans activists, as they do, they caught wind of this and they crashed the event, literally holding an entire stakeout, a whole protest, because they were not invited into the nude spa on that one evening. Just watch.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
Oh yeah, it has just as much hate as backwards Alabama because a day spa is not letting you go in the nude in front of a bunch of women. Yeah, that's just so discriminatory. Just what bigotry. Truly. It's hate and prejudice because women don't want to see you walk around with your penis out, Mr. Ma'am. It's really...
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
Now this whole situation got so big and so out of control that the spa finally conceded. Which again, you should never do, you should never concede, you should never apologize, but they did.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
And they did say that no, men would not be allowed in the women's night, but that they would create an inclusive night where you could go regardless of your sex, regardless of your gender identity, you could go and be nude with a bunch of other nude people regardless of what you have going on here and there. But guess what? That still wasn't good enough.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
I mean, you can literally predict it at this point because they're demanding that all spaces, all the time, bow to them. They don't want just one night. They want all the nights.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
And just last month, she announced that finally her gym, The Girl Spot, had secured a location and was closer than ever to opening. On LinkedIn last month, she shared this. She said, The Girl Spot women's only gym has landed in Southwest London. Here is my journey to raising a hundred grand. Every single investor said no or left me out to dry.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
I mean, I don't even think you know what you're saying. You can barely get through a sentence. You're trying to come up with why it's discriminatory in your brain because obviously it does not make sense. We have women's only spaces. We have men's only spaces. We have had them since the dawn of time. We are now giving you your own space and you are still saying that is not enough.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
And if after all of that, you still don't bend the knee, then they start to threaten you. I mean, it really makes me want to include you in my private spaces when you're wishing death upon me. You know, it really just, it doesn't make sense.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
Now, this all speaks to something that Sal brought up repeatedly in our interview, which is the importance of never apologizing, never bending a knee and never trying to reason with these people. Not even doing what Natalie did, where she says, I'm not transphobic, I'm not trying, don't even do that because it will never work.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
And she is absolutely 100% correct. I mean, it's like when you get canceled, you can't bend the knee, you can't apologize to the left-wing mob. You should not apologize for saying something that you genuinely believe in because that only gives them ammunition. That's saying, yes, I did do something wrong. And again, I don't know how many times I can say this, it will never be enough.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
Now, the last bit of the story that just makes it even more insane that you need to see is that there was one more protester featured in this news video that I did not show you. Just take a watch.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
Oh yeah, DEI is definitely supporting all Americans. That is the goal of affirmative action, is to help all Americans. This person, this Dakota Rose Austin, is apparently very in fear, is very scared of what the world and this spa is doing to them. But think about the women who would be in fear if they were forced to be naked in this spa next to a high-risk registered sex offender.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
And yes, that is exactly who Dakota Rose Austin is. Here's the article from Redux, exclusive trans activist demanding access to female only nude sauna is high risk registered sex offender. I mean, like you genuinely, You genuinely cannot make this stuff up. It is beyond parody at this point. And again, these are not isolated fights.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
Men are barging into women's spaces, whether they be gyms or apps or spas or sauna spaces, literally built for safety and protection. And then they lash out when they're told no. And the thing that I keep thinking of is that all of these stories clearly show us why Title IX was created in the first place.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
I went to endless networking events, sent daily cold emails, and got countless rejections. Trying to raise money from investors is not for the faint hearted. So I took matters into my own hands and then she lists how she was able to raise over 60,000 pounds.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
This is a law based on the principle that we all, regardless of sex, deserve single sex spaces, that we all deserve protections on the basis of our biological sex, that both men and women will benefit from these single sex spaces and that we need them.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
And across the country, but really across the globe, this principle that pushed Title IX into existence is being uprooted and destroyed out of fear and emotional manipulation from power hungry activists. I mean, last year, as we all saw, it even reached Biden, who literally tried to rewrite and undo Title IX on the basis that it was out of date and exclusionary.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
That is how big this fight really is. Women having private spaces, that is not a luxury that we are demanding. These are actual shields. I mean, think about that, a high risk registered sex offender in San Francisco. Think about Natalie's assault that she faced in a gym, Saul's abuse history and why she wanted to create her app in the first place.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
These are not abstract fears that we are just coming up with out of nowhere to exclude people from being in our spaces. These are real, tangible issues that we are trying to protect ourselves against. And giving in to these insane emotional demands only means more trauma and less safety for women.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
And of course, the entire thing is so hypocritical because these trans activists are always screaming and saying that they need protections, they need to be safe, they're dying, the world is killing them, we need to save them all, but it is always at the expense of others. Their safety always means that we infringe on the right of somebody else, and nine times out of 10, That falls on women.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
And then she goes on and says, I then decided to become my own investor and invest 50,000 pounds from my job as a full-time social media influencer. So why am I opening a women's only gym? And this is important. 71% of women are being harassed in the gym on a regular basis.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
So in closing, all of these stories clearly show us that this battle for our privacy, for our safety, is far from over because obviously it is still raging around the world. But I also do have a lot of hope.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
I'm inspired by the women who every day stand up and refuse to be bullied into compliance because of things that they genuinely believe, who face relentless attacks, who face death threats on a daily basis because of their desire to protect the women around them. And I'm even more grateful that these activists and these protesters' motives are being exposed at every turn.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
That it really isn't about safety for them, it really isn't about inclusion, it's about power, it's about attention, and it's about control more than anything else. That's it. And in my opinion, once you actually know what is driving someone, it's a lot easier to fight back. It's a lot easier to not be manipulated and to be able to stand strong in your beliefs.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
And on top of all of that, I'm so happy that we have a president, again, who recognizes biology, recognizes biological sex, who understands the importance of single sex spaces is willing to fight for us on every level. I hope at some point in the near future, our country wakes up and puts so much pressure on our Congress that they finally have to make real legislative change.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
And at some point, these stories have to become loud enough that they just can't ignore us anymore. And this shouldn't even be a political issue or a left or right issue. This should be a unifying issue. I mean, think about all those women marching in the street on International Women's Day last week, and they had all of these different causes.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
They were screaming about different things, and they completely ignored this one issue that impacts all of us. Regardless of our politics, regardless of our values, of our beliefs, this impacts us directly on a daily basis. So wake up, world. If there's one thing you're going to fight about, it might as well be this.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
A recent survey by Run Repeat found that 70% of women have experienced some form of unwanted attention while working out in mixed gender gyms. 79% of women said that they would transfer to an all women's gym to avoid sexual harassment. These are alarming statistics and there's more. So today we are one step closer to tackling the issue that women's face in mixed gyms.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
Watch this space, the girl's spot will shift the narrative. So from all angles, this is an incredible story. This is a woman who had a dream and within the last four years has built that into a real business, who found a way to raise the money, who saw a real issue that she had experienced in her life as a woman that she saw plaguing her community and wanted to solve the issue.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
you had been wrong about the trans inclusion issue and that you had changed your mind and that this gym would be tailored to women and women only. And immediately upon posting this video and making this announcement, you are shattered by a flood of death threats and attacks aimed directly at destroying you and destroying your business because you were brave enough to draw a line in the sand.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
And obviously we should commend that at every level. It is incredible watching people build the things that they dreamed of. And at this point, after her LinkedIn announcement, everything was great. Her online community of millions and millions of fans was thrilled. People could not be more excited for this gym to open.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
People who lived all around the world were cheering her on because this was so important and so exciting. Until she made that video last week on March 9th that changed everything. And that was a video where she told the world that because this gym was specifically designed to protect women and keep them safe and would be tailored to their needs, men and trans women would not be included.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
Just take a listen.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
And of course, for those of us who live in reality, if you're watching this video, it makes complete sense. There will be self-defense classes for women. Classes about women's hormones, about healing from PCOS, training your cycle, things that only pertain, like she said, to biological women. But of course, to a lot of people in the world, that just can't stand, and the world lost its damn mind.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
I'm sorry if women just want a place where they can talk about their endocrine and hormone-disrupting products, but today, actually, I'm going to talk about that with all of you as I talk about Amalo Tallo.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
Now, I personally use tallow from Amalo Tallow because it is packed with naturally occurring essential nutrients and mimics my skin's barrier, thanks to the natural fatty acids that occur in beef tallow. This means that tallow not only keeps me moisturized, but actually works to heal my skin while not clogging my pores like other thick, artificially created products do.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
This is literally what our ancestors used on their skin for generations, and it is the perfect non-toxic switch to avoid endocrine-disrupting chemicals in modern skincare. Amalo is a small family-owned business that produces their tallow right here in the States. They use only the highest quality grass-fed, grass-finished tallow and pure organic ingredients in every single one of their products.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
They genuinely care about your skin and the quality of every ingredient because what you put on your body matters. So if you are ready to make the switch and try them out, go to amalo.com slash cooper and use code cooper15 for 15% off your order. Again, that is amalo.com slash cooper. Use code cooper15 at checkout.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
Now, while anyone can talk about endocrine disrupting products and talk about beef tallow, there are some things that only biological women can experience and some things that we just want to talk about privately with other women. But apparently, that is not okay in 2025. And so trans activists online exploded when they saw Natalie's video.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
Like, guys, I don't know if I have ever seen a response like this before, ever. I mean, maybe we could compare it to JK Rowling. But this was unprecedented. Over 45 million people viewed her video on X. It went viral on TikTok where she has over a million followers. It just became a war zone. I mean, as you can see in these comments, people were calling her vile names.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
That is what happened to Natalie Barnett this week. And unfortunately, her story is one that we are now very well acquainted with. Radical trans activism is still hell-bent on forcing men into women's private spaces, whether that be gyms or social networking apps or spas or even into Title IX.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
They were wishing death upon her, demanding refunds, saying that she had lied about the premise of this gym, even though from the beginning she said that it was women's only gym. And while supporters like JK Rowling were coming out of the woodwork to support her and rally behind her, the brutal attacks quickly drowned them out.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
I mean, again, over 45 million people watching this video and tearing into her. And so the next day on March 10th, she made another video. She made a response basically begging people to stop, saying that she was not transphobic like people were claiming, but that she will in fact be standing firm in her decision. Just take a listen.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
And I think that last line that you guys just heard is so important. This is not just a gym. This is not just another place where people can go and work out. I mean, there's plenty of gyms in London where people can go and work out. This is specifically for women, designed for us, for our biological needs and our safety needs.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
It's designed to keep women like her, who have experienced harassment and sexual assault, it is designed to keep them safe. Now, similar to what I just said, she also made the point that this is just one gym in the world, in all of London, and it is not some huge gym like LA Fitness where men and women can go and there's locker rooms for both of them. Like, this is one gym.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
tiny, tailored to women, specific gym. If you are angry, you have other options. You can go elsewhere. And I would add that actually, you can go to one of the many queer gyms that London has to offer, which many people on X were quick to point out. Here's one, Bend Movement, accessible queer-led fitness. in London. Another, Knockout LGBTQ Plus Boxing Club for London's LGBTQ community.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
Team at WorkoutWithPride.co.uk. Join Workout With Pride for a safe fitness group for the LGBTQIA plus community. Another one, Uplifting Trans Lives at Not A Phase, which is a free fitness and self-defense program in seven UK cities. This gym is not trampling on your rights. You actually have a myriad of options. You are welcome basically everywhere.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
Someone that is creating a gym specific for one community is not an assault on your rights. And that is literally proven by the fact that you guys have your own gyms that is just for your community. I mean, it literally makes no sense. So no, this outrage is not actually about access or inclusivity or fairness because you have a myriad of other options literally in the same exact city.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
And women from across the world are desperately fighting to protect what is ours, often at an incredibly brutal cost. And today, we actually have one of these women here to share her story. But before we dive into this story, make sure that you are following our podcast page and that you leave a rating if you're enjoying the show.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
What you're actually up in arms about is trying to force yourself into single-sex spaces for the sake of power, point blank, that is obviously all you care about. And while I hate the fact that she even felt the need to make that video and to be sympathetic in the slightest to the people who are wishing death upon her, I am so glad that she did not fold.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
I'm so glad that after four years of creating this gym and building this space, she did not throw it all away because of an angry mob that just wants to abuse and control her. I am so glad that her line in the sand is still drawn. Because as she said, her gym, her decision, it is not about hate. It is about women saying enough to men invading our spaces.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
And the reaction to her announcement online proves her point. It proves why a safe gym like this is so necessary. Because no, we do not want your meat in our faces unless it is Good Ranchers meat and then that is a totally different conversation. My friends over at Good Ranchers put American values first, just like you and I do.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
Their meat is born, raised, and harvested right here in the USA from local family farms around the country so that you know exactly where your meat is coming from. It is also free from hidden additives, no antibiotics ever, no added hormones, no seed oils in their fried products, just simple, trustworthy ingredients that you can feel good about feeding your family.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
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The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
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The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
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The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
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The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
Now, as most of you know, if you guys have been engaged in this issue for many years at this point, if you've been following along these stories, this is far from the only time that this has happened. Women who create women's only spaces are consistently targeted by trans activists, even when they don't call out trans people specifically.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
And that is exactly what happened to Saul Grover in Australia. Now, you guys might have heard her name in conjunction with her app, Giggle. But if you do not know her story, back in 2020, Saul Grover created a social networking app for women that was called Giggle.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
And she created this after facing years of sexual harassment in Hollywood and sexual abuse, and she wanted to create a space where women could find community and network and have a good support system, because in her words, had she had a better community of women, she feels like she could have avoided many of the situations that she found herself in while working as a screenwriter in Hollywood.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
And if you want ad-free episodes and access to an exclusive newsletter and weekly Dear Brett advice videos, make sure to check out my subscriber-only platform called Cooper Confidential. The link is right here, or you can click the link in the description to check it out. So by now, I'm sure that many of you all have seen Natalie's Now viral video.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
And in 2020, after leaving Hollywood and moving back to Australia, she finally created this app. And while it was still in the beta testing phases on the app store, trans activists somehow got wind of this women's social networking app. They blasted it all over Reddit and their discord channels, and they blew up her entire world. And yesterday she told me her story.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
And so then, after all of that in 2020, 18 months later now, we're in 2022, Saul was literally served a human rights complaint for creating an app that was just for men. An app that she had not even gone out of her way to say, this is only for biological men. It was literally just because it was a women-only app. It was a single-sex space for women.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
She was served a human rights complaint because she was discriminating against trans people. And since 2022, her life has now been consumed by lawfare from one trans activist with a vendetta.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
I'm sure many of you guys have been following her story, but if you have not, I'm going to kind of set the scene here and give you some context. So back in 2021, Natalie announced that she wanted to create a women's only gym in her hometown of London. And she has spent the last four years working towards that goal.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
And another insane thing to note about the story is that in 2023, the Australian Human Rights Commission even intervened in this lawsuit, of course, on the side of the trans activist and the story blew up even more. Now, just less than a year ago in August of 2024, there was finally a resolution and the federal court ruled in favor of the trans activist because of course, why not?
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
This is our culture. This is our society. Nothing surprises me anymore. And they said that what she was doing, creating a women's networking app, was indirect discrimination against this trans activist and the trans community.
The Brett Cooper Show
Why Trans Activists Are Attacking This Gym Owner | Episode 14
Again, I just want you guys to listen to this because it's so insane. By creating a women's social networking app, she was discriminating against men and that actually sex is changeable in the eyes of the Australian government. So now obviously we are in March of 2025 and Saul is preparing to appeal this decision with the federal court. But ironically, so is the trans activist.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
Yeah. That's the craziest part is people would even take the first step to see if, you know, something is possible.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
Yeah, that's where he goes for all of his information. What took you from doing your tactical training and your gun videos into interviews?
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
And people don't want to make themselves uncomfortable. Like a big thing if we want to talk about like, you know, the housing market in Gen Z and houses is they'll talk about like, well, starter homes, I can't afford a starter home. Everything is $500,000. But it's like you're looking within 15 minutes of the city. If you're willing to drive 25 minutes, if you're willing to have a further commute,
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
willing to live in an area that's not $500,000, $600,000. Especially here in Nashville, you can buy homes that are $250,000, $300,000. It's possible I have friends that have done it, but for those friends, it took a mindset shift of, is this a priority of mine? And if it is, then you have to act like it's a priority. And you have to say, okay, then I'm willing to drive the extra 10 minutes.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
I'm willing to buy the house that has not been newly renovated It's not some custom bill that I'm willing to put in the elbow grease because it's priority. And if it's not, that's fine, but don't bitch and moan about it. Like if you don't want to make those sacrifices, then live in the apartment and that's fine and nobody will judge you. But don't say it's not possible.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
And our culture rewards it.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
So why would they? With any big leap that you take in life or any risk that you're taking, there comes more responsibility. There come sacrifices that you're going to make. And hopefully there's a greater reward, but that discomfort is part of it. And I think that Gen Z just hasn't had to experience that.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
It's also part of the helicopter parenting that I think has ruined Gen Z. But think about this.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
Well, it's the same way people talk about you. I've told you I had the funniest interaction of my show in New York where the New York Times came up to me and they were like, we love Sean Ryan. And I was like, this like lib New York Times reporter was like, oh, my gosh, we heard that you like Sean Ryan. You know, Sean Ryan, we're such big fans. He won't talk to us.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
Like, obviously, he's not going to talk to you. But you have their attention. And it's like when you talk to these huge network, it's, you know, you're consistently in the top three. You are making, it's crazy to think about you starting in your attic, starting with, you know, friends of yours, pulling them on the podcast. And you are now having clips of your podcast being played in
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
confirmation hearings you've interviewed jd vance and trump it's incredible what you've done you're not just changing the media landscape but you single-handedly are changing the political landscape you're changing conversations about national security you're doing you know flying all over the world now you change where were you in romania romania yeah causing protests over things you were doing 250 000 people showed up pretty incredible
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
What do you think, you know, talking about following what interests you, I think a lot of Gen Z and just young people in general feel, I have to be in the rat race. I have to do this job and provide for my family. And obviously that's a big part of it. And a lot of people can't, you know, change the situation at the drop of a hat.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
But should a driving force be finding that thing that interests you? Should you prioritize that over something? I'd always say prioritize that over something that's safe. But for people who feel like they can't do it, what would you say? Try.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
And I think also with podcasting, I've seen people say, you know, highly produced podcasts. Great aesthetic, that kind of, you know, multi-cam. I think people have attempted that, but they lack the authenticity. They lack it coming from, you know, them. And so they'll rush that off and say, oh, it doesn't work. You got to have the Joe Rogan set up. It's just got to be like you and a folding table.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
And that's what matters, right?
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
But it has to be you.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
It has to be 100% in the fact that, yeah.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
And it's hard to, I don't want to say find authenticity in yourself, but you, I think it takes a lot of work. At least this is what I've experienced has been setting up this show. You have to really figure out what is you and what you want to portray and put online and create. Cause I think it's very easy to go. I'll just do a show. I'll just do this, but you have to get to the core of,
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
why am I doing this? Why do I care? Why am I having this personal? Why am I talking about this issue? And it forces a lot of self-reflection. I feel like I've gotten to know myself better over the last six months of, you know, getting to this point that I, you know, even if this was a absolute failure and never went anywhere and nobody ever watched my stuff again and they were like, screw you.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
Did you go on one?
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
We don't, you know, like you anymore or whatever it is. That would be fine because I've learned, I've learned so much about this industry. I've learned so much about being my own boss, but I've more importantly, I've learned so much about
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
mean what I want and who I am as a person and as a you know whatever you want to call this personality whatever that that's worth it for me but it takes I think it's harder work than people think
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
And it's exciting to be able to have a hand in it.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
Okay, the two that I want the most are, which we were talking about beforehand, Amanda Bynes. She's a former child actor, came out of Nickelodeon. She is embroiled in a lot of the Dan Schneider controversy. He has an awful reputation in Hollywood. When I was coming up as a child actor, I don't even know the amount of auditions I would get for untitled Dan Schneider projects.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
I'm not from an acting family. We're not super, I would say, Hollywood savvy. Even my mom was like, you're not going out for any of those. That guy's a creep. We've heard awful things. She was his protege.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
You didn't know that about me?
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
A bunch of random stuff. We started in theater. My first professional job actually was singing opera at the Atlanta Symphony Opera.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
Yeah. Then I did a lot of musical theater and then moved to... Los Angeles when I was 10 because I got too tall to do Broadway and theater, which is a whole other story. They have height requirements if you're under 18. I did commercials. I did TV shows mainly. Like I was on, you know, the movie Heathers with Winona Ryder. Paramount did a TV reboot of that. That was like my big thing.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
And then it ended up being too politically incorrect. So Paramount butchered it and shelved it. I did kids TV, like Gordon McGibbon's Life on Normal Street.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
That's where my dad lives. I had a whole other life in L.A.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
Three years ago for Daily Wire. Yeah.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
I had to take a massive risk. I was 19 years old, moved across the country. Thankfully, it was, you know, Tennessee. I still had family here. I grew up, you know, two and a half hours away. Spent summers here. My mom would be in Los Angeles. My dad would be there. But I was leaving everything I had known for the past 10 years and taking a massive risk.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
I think that was a major piece of growing up that I needed to do. And I had no idea that this would end up being a career or if I even wanted this. I was just, you know, I had nothing else to do. I had decided to stop acting and then had dropped out of law school before I even started. So I was a waitress writing articles for Foundation for Economic Education.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
2A. Nice. I wanted to do constitutional. Nice. And it was because I was a liberal arts major, so I was an English lit major. And I love writing. I love reading. I love arguing. I cared about trying to make things right and make the world better. And I was like, well, I'm a good writer. I'm good at critical thinking. I guess that means I should go be an attorney.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
Because if you don't know what you're doing with your life and you were an English major or philosophy major, you go to law school. Kind of a joke. So I took the LSAT and did all that. And then I realized first day of my orientation, I realized I should not be a attorney. I was like, this is an awful idea. What am I doing? I'm an actor. I'm like a communicator. I'm going to hate this.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
So yeah, I took the risk and came here. But you learn from it.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
I've heard about all the agents banging on your door.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
Yeah. And I think that that is a learning experience that's priceless. I talk about that in terms of education a lot too because I was homeschooled for the majority of my life. But I went to public school for a year, you know, or actually a couple years I started in public school and then I went to like a performing arts high school for one year.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
You know, my mom homeschooled me and then I went to a private online school. I basically did everything except Catholic school is kind of my joke. And my brothers went to military school. The other ones went to like a boarding Christian school. We basically tried everything.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
and I'm so glad because I can speak to all of it and I you know I really found out as a young person what worked for me and I'm grateful that my parents gave me the opportunity to like evaluate that and become self-aware and figure out what was actually right for me so I think I've taken that into adulthood too where it's you know I'm glad I've tried everything I'm glad I've been in both situations I'm glad I know what works for me and what didn't work what's it like going to public school as a as a child actress horrible horrible but okay so here's the thing I
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
No, not none at all. I mean, I was like zealous. But the thing is, it's like I have people like hate comments and they're like, oh, you failed child actor. I was like paying for my own apartment at like 14 years old. I emancipated myself at 15. I put myself through college, you know, with acting. And I think a lot of people think about Hollywood and they just think about celebrities.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
But the people who make that industry run are people whose names you never know. who are doing voiceover. One of my most lucrative jobs that I had consistently in Hollywood was doing basically ADR, so voiceover, for network TV shows. So it's like, I still, to this day, get residual checks from Black-ish, which was that show on ABC. Because I went in for three episodes.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
It's huge network television, so they pay a crap ton of money. There were a couple of episodes They would have me come in with a room of like 10 other people. And there were like, there was a big party scene. There was a soccer game. And we had to pretend to be at those things. Like we were just doing voiceover. So we're like, yeah, yeah, Mike, get the goal, whatever. Like that kind of stuff.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
You'd go in for like an hour. And it's called a loop, like looping. So I was in a loop group. And that's like, you have so many actors that you have, you literally will never know who pop in on different TV shows here and there. And they make a normal living. They're not super wealthy. But they skate by in Los Angeles. They're able to pay the bills. They're the ones who the strikes hurt the most.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
I was actively working, making good money, emancipated myself at 15 for a myriad of different reasons, but was able to prove to the court at 15 I can pay for myself. I had a part-time job at Trader Joe's to make sure that I'd consistent income.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
I know. Oh yeah. Trader Joe's is probably like behind this. Trader Joe's is my second favorite job.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
I loved it. So I was actively working. I think the weird thing was not fame, but it was that it, so I was, it was for my ninth grade year. I was 12 going into my ninth grade year, which is already, I don't know why I did that. I made a PowerPoint presentation for my mom and I said, I want you to let me go to public school because I want to know what I'm missing.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
Like, I want to know if homeschooling works for me. I want to know. I want to have part of it was so like psychological on my end. I was like, I want to know what it's like to be like an American kid in like public school. It's going to be great for my acting career, too, because I'll be able to like play a high schooler. And so I made this presentation.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
This is probably the coolest thing I've ever heard.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
She was like, you know, I can't deny it's great. Let's try it. And she's awesome. And so we literally moved to from L.A. She rented a house in Atlanta, Georgia, randomly, because the best performing arts high school in the country is in Mableton, Georgia. It's the best magnet performing arts high school. And I had a bunch of friends that were going there. I applied, got in, 12 as a freshman.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
So already I was the odd one out. But I think the thing that was the hardest was not that I was like the professional actor or any like fame, whatever, because I didn't have that. But that it was I had already been out in the real world. I had, you know, had jobs. I, you know, had had to deal with my taxes at 12 years old. Like I was 12 years old realizing I'm being taxed with a representation.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
Like I can't vote. I had to deal with lawyers and agents and managers. I was in meetings with casting directors representing myself. And, you know, I was dealing with directors and producers. And I was surrounded by people who were, you know, 15 to 18 years old. Who had never even worked a part-time job. And that was in college as well.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
My friend group at UCLA, this is, you know, if we want to get into Gen Z, had never worked a job ever. It was like 20-year-olds who were in college had not, like, they were shocked. Number one, that I was an actor. They thought that was kind of cool. But that I worked at Trader Joe's throughout. They were like, why would you, why?
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
like you can just go to college and not work i was like well some of us our parents aren't paying but also it's like acting isn't consistent you know you might book a job here you might like i'd rather have money all the time plus it's discipline i would wake up at 4 a.m and go work the 5 a.m shift at trader joe's and then go to college classes afterwards wow anyway so the whole thing was weird man i had no idea i know i feel like we just skipped a whole thing i could have told you about on your podcast yeah well we'll go into more detail we'll go into more detail
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
But that's why I really want to interview Amanda Bynes. I mean, was the darling of Hollywood. And they chewed her up and spit her out and she was just left hanging to dry and ended up in a conservatorship. She's now out of one. She's like right now trying to piece together her life. She was trying to get, you know, her certification to be a nail artist. She's now doing painting.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
Like she's finally seeming like she's She's not back to her, but in those situations, I don't think, and it's weird to tie that to, you know, the guys in your life, but you don't ever go back to who you were before you were abused, before you experienced PTSD. I mean, I don't think you know this. My brother has schizophrenia.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
He will never, even if he's on meds, even if he heals, he'll never be the person he was 10 years ago before he had his first break. Amanda Bynes will never be who Amanda Bynes was. On Nickelodeon at 15 years old that we all knew and loved. But nobody's talked to her. And people have speculated about her. And it's kind of like, I know you want to interview Britney Spears.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
It's like that kind of thing. You have no idea what goes on in her mind and what she's actually experienced. We've gotten bits and pieces thanks to documentaries and people who know her.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
I mean, Nickelodeon had them sign NDAs upon NDAs and non-disparagements and all of this stuff. And there are very few people who didn't sign.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
And those have been able to speak out. And one did sign but then wrote a book where the characters were named different things. That was the book I'm Glad My Mom Died. It was a girl from iCarly, Jeanette McCurdy. But yeah, they've kept it completely silent.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
And to this day, that guy Dan Schneider, if you speak about him, if you don't say allegedly all of this stuff, I mean, his legal team will come at you. It doesn't matter who you are. If you're just a random YouTuber. And they have the power to do that. So it's like, imagine if they're doing that to people who are just talking about the story.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
Guys, I am so excited to bring you the first long form conversation of the red Cooper show. Genuinely. I have been looking forward to this since all of this started. I've been promising you guys this for the last month that I've had a bunch of comments and DMs saying, when are the interviews going to start? Well, I was painting trim in this new studio.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
Imagine what they did to somebody who people have claimed and speculated was abused. So that's my top person. That and Barron Trump. Two very polar opposites.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
That's actually something... So you were talking about your wife being a partner in all this. Alex, my husband, is very involved. You know, we have a very tiny team and he's... I think the creative genius behind a lot of my best ideas, to be honest. And so he's, and he's a strategist.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
So he's been pushing me on that in terms of, you know, you need to under, and that's kind of what I was talking about of understanding yourself and finding what's authentic is he's kind of been the driving force of, you know, why are you doing this? Why do you care so much? So he's pushed me on a lot of those questions because I have all these people that I want to talk to.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
He was like, what's the real reason why? And I think it's that you have a story that people haven't heard before. So it's like with you, when I was like, oh, I should talk to Sean, it's because there's so much about your, not even your past in, you know, special ops and military, but it's your journey of getting here.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
Your life as a husband and a father that I think people don't get to hear about as much.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
How do you make it work?
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
Yeah, I mean, family is more important than anything, which is why I only feed my family meat from Good Ranchers. Now guys, did you know that over 85% of the grass-fed beef in stores is actually imported? And that is because the country of origin labeling law was repealed in 2015. So now, meat in our American grocery stores can be packaged here in the US and earn a product of the USA label
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
even if it was born, raised, and harvested overseas. And the other truth is, a lot of the meat in our grocery stores are filled with things that you don't want, like antibiotics and added hormones, and even harmful seed oils. But GoodRanchers.com is changing everything.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
Good Ranchers meat is born, raised, and harvested right here in the USA by American ranchers, so you know exactly where it comes from. It is free from hidden additives, no antibiotics ever, no added hormones, and no seed oils. Just simple, trustworthy ingredients that you can feel good about feeding your family. And they make life even easier by delivering their products straight to your door.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
So no more last-minute grocery store runs, no standing in the long Walmart lines or wondering if you're getting the best quality. With GoodRanchers.com, everything you need to create delicious meals for your family is just a click away. And at GoodRanchers.com, You can also check out my exclusive box.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
You can check out my handpicked selections from the bratwurst to the pork chops to the bacon that Alex and I eat every single day while simultaneously supporting my show and supporting American ranches. So go to goodranchers.com slash Brett to check out my box today. And if that hasn't sold you yet, right now, Good Ranchers is still running their new year new meat promotion.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
so you and your family can easily get the quality that you deserve. If you subscribe to any of their boxes, preferably it's the Brett Cooper box, but any of their boxes, you will get an option of getting free ground beef, chicken breasts, or salmon in every order for an entire year. Plus, you will get $25 off when you use my code BRETT at checkout.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
That is high quality, clean protein in every order delivered to your door for free for an entire year, plus $25 off. It has never been easier to prioritize your family's health and spend more time where it matters, together around the table. Visit GoodRanchers.com today and don't forget to use my code Brett to claim your free meat and $25 off. All right, back to you, Sean.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
That was a good rant. What is the key to your relationship with your wife, do you think?
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
it's humbling to have somebody who knows you better than yourself in a lot of ways and knows what you can be and what you could be and knows you at your happiest and is like, it's not, this is not it right now. And I think at times when I've been so clouded, I'm just in it and I'm completely, you know, bogged down by everything else.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
Having somebody who's pulling back the curtain and saying, this is not sustainable in the slightest.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
I want to ask one more question that kind of ties in with that, and I'll let you go. I have so many young people who watch the show, and I think one of the biggest issues with my generation is obviously dating. We weren't taught how to date. I always joke that my first dating experience was on Snapchat. I was never asked out in person. People slid into my DMs, or we downloaded Tinder and Hinge.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
That was the first way that we dated. So there's a lot of societal issues in that regard, but I think people are just struggling. I think a lot of people also don't know what to look for or even how to present themselves.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
But specifically for young men, when you're dating with intention and you're looking for the person that you want to marry, I guess what would you advise young men look for in women? Because this can also help the women too.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
Why waste the energy?
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
Connection first.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
I think the theme of you is being 100% yourself, which is a testament to you. I think it's the reason why you've blown up in the way you have. The reason why your marriage is strong. Well, thank you. It's a good thing. Thank you for coming on the show. I appreciate it.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
Thank you. I'm reaching over the mic. Thank you.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
I was going to ask if you had noticed something that worked and leaned in or whether it was completely driven by you and your interest, but I guess that answered it there.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
We were hanging shiplap and getting all the wallpaper done. We were building furniture this morning. And now we have our first guest here with me today. The incomparable Sean Ryan host of the Sean Ryan show. And if you guys don't know, Sean is a former Navy SEAL and CIA operative turned podcaster who interviews some of the world's most interesting people.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
And you've stayed independent the whole time, basically.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
You've had people come and go, which is very difficult to do. I don't think many have.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
Thank you. And you've been so wonderful. And for those who don't know, Sean's here in Nashville and has been a great source of support. So I appreciate it. And that's why I'm so happy that you're the first guest. You brought something up about your therapist. You were talking about men coming on the show and being able to be vulnerable. I think that there is a...
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
prevailing attitude especially on X in this like manosphere world where we kind of have this new caricature of men and obviously I think that it is a response to the softening of men in our society obviously and what people are experiencing but it feels like we've been pushed in the opposite direction where men are now these caricatures of
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
You can't cry, you can't love a woman, you can't get married, you know, being a father's gay. Obviously, you know, you're a husband, you're a father, you have these men who are incredibly, incredibly successful, incredibly brave, probably the most masculine men in our society, and they're coming on and crying. What...
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
I guess, can you talk about masculinity in your mind and what an accurate representation of masculinity is based on your experience?
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
I made it broader than it probably should have been.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
His show is consistently ranked in the top three podcasts in the world, as it should be. He has also become a wonderful friend and mentor to me, especially in this transition into independence. And so I'm just so honored that he agreed to be my first guest. Sean, thank you so much for being here.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
And I think that goes for men and women, especially anyway, it's more of a generational thing too, where I think a lot of my generation is floating through and trying to get by and we self-diagnose very aggressively. That's the thing that Gen Z does. It's like, well, we're all depressed. We're all anxious. We can't change anything. The world is against us.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
And that mindset I think has really held us back because now my generation is like, well, then why would we even try? Like we can't change anything. And it's so crippling. Yeah.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
You're guest number one.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
And to be able to move forward from it and set an example of somebody who can grow and live a productive life and start a family and be that example. I think that a lot of people see, you know, vulnerability or crying and that in and of itself is, you know, powerful and it's an important thing, you know, it's an important part of processing.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
I know. I'm very excited. No, I'm honored that you came. I wanted actually to start off by asking you, who was your first guest? Do you remember?
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
And it's so hard. I think there's a juxtaposition in our society right now because, again, if we go back to the masculinity conversation, people are definitely overusing therapy, in my opinion, especially young people. People claim PTSD for ridiculous things. They claim they're depressed when they're basically just going through a hard time.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
That's something that Jordan talks a lot about is convoluting depression with just going through a normal challenging part of your life. And I'm sure it's difficult to try to be like, no, I'm not that. And I'm not feeding into those weaknesses and the ridiculousness of what our culture has cultivated. But to understand that you still need help, I'm sure that that's difficult for them to walk.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
That's a great first guest.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
And plus, I mean, the support for veterans has been abysmal.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
I really feel like I've learned so much from you, almost as much as I learn at Peterson Academy. And Peterson Academy is Jordan Peterson's online university that is open for enrollment right now.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
If you are somebody who loves lifelong learning, wants to learn from the brightest professors in the world, or if you've ever benefited from Dr. Peterson's lectures or his podcast, his amazing guests, this platform is for you. Every month, Peterson Academy releases four new in-depth eight hour university level courses taught by world renowned experts and produced to keep you fully engaged.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
They cover an amazing range of topics from philosophy and history and psychology and science and business, complete with optional testing to further your understanding. Plus, they are continually rolling out new educational features as they grow. And there is also a built-in social community where you can connect and learn alongside like-minded people from around the world.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
So if you are ready to challenge your intellect and expand your horizons and take control of your education and learn as much as I'm learning from Sean Ryan right now, it is time to go to petersonacademy.com slash brett. It is $599 per year or $59 a month to access all 31 eight-hour courses with four new courses a month plus the community with a seven-day money-back guarantee.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
I love Fieldcraft. It's great. I think that Fieldcraft has inspired all of my husband's prepping.
The Brett Cooper Show
Shawn Ryan on Masculinity, Independence, and Family | Episode 6
And the best part is, for that price, you don't have to take out a $60,000 loan to further your education. Again, that is petersonacademy.com slash brett to join Peterson Academy today. As you were saying, Sean.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
So if you guys have watched the show for a while now, then you probably know that I like patterns. When I look for things on social media to cover on the show, I like seeing repetition, I like seeing things bubbling up in a grassroots way.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
And we also need to talk about fame in general and how fame drives people to act this way and what we all, as normal individuals, can learn from it. And to help tell this story and round out this idea, I called up one of the most prolific tabloid reporters and celebrity biographers from the last couple of decades who, guys, I think you will just adore because he is hysterical.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
I actually really appreciate Ian saying all of that about the Kardashians because obviously I have my qualms with that whole family, I think a lot of people in society do, I think they've kind of lost their hold on culture in recent years, and obviously I believe that they contributed a lot of harmful messages and ideas about young women to young women, so I have those feelings about them, but he's not wrong.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
They're really not too talented, but they worked their asses off to make us all think that they were very important and they were not ashamed to say, we want to be famous. We're going to have an entire reality TV show about us. We're going to have cameras in our faces for over a decade. We're going to let all of you into our lives.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
We're not going to beg for privacy, except, you know, Kylie Jenner wanting to hide her pregnancy, which was totally fine. They have welcomed us all into their homes. They've been unabashed about all of it. And I think you can kind of respect that and you can respect the hustle.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
But with Megan, like basically all of the pieces that you would need to achieve success in this weird industry, in this field, she lacks. From genuine talent to drive to the strategy and people can tell. Again, we're sniffing out literally everything that should be the theme of this entire episode. And to be fair, because I don't want this just to be a pile on Megan episode,
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
She is far from the only public figure who has played this little mind game. And again, not to beat a dead horse, because I feel like we've talked about this a lot recently, but this is kind of similar to what we saw with Elon Musk's most recent baby mama, Ashley St. Clair. But basically with that story, she publicly came out, she publicly demanded privacy, and then literally
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
Within hours of making that first post, she had the New York Post at her home doing an entire story on her, an exclusive, doing a whole photoshoot of her in her very ritzy apartment in, like, sexy attire, and then from there has had multiple articles, has given quotes to basically every single tabloid about the situation, trying to reach Elon, trying to get attention from us and from Elon.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
It's just a mess. Another example. that I think you guys would all enjoy is Dylan Mulvaney, my old friend. I have not talked about Dylan in so long, it feels like. And you know, I haven't even really followed Dylan recently. Like Dylan seems to be out in California, just doing Dylan, having a time. I have literally no idea what's going on in Dylan's life.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
And that actually kind of seems to be the problem that we haven't been paying attention because suddenly Dylan has burst back on the scene with a new memoir that's coming out and an attempt at a standup comedy career. However, The stand-up comedy career really did not last long. I think that Dylan did literally one show and it did not go well.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
I think the book is coming out soon, so maybe there will be a tour that is in conjunction with that. But actually, guys, even though Dylan is releasing a memoir that all of us are apparently supposed to buy and that Dylan is doing stand-up comedy that we all should buy tickets to, actually, Dylan just wants privacy. Ugh, Dylan just wants a private life for once.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
Literally, guys, that is what was printed in the New York Times. Dylan Mulvaney dreams of privacy. Really? But also, he has an entire profile in the New York Times about me and a photoshoot inside my house.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
And yes, again, please buy my memoir and learn all about my life and my transition from the last couple of years that you guys have also seen on social media because I literally documented my life every single day for multiple years. Like, come on. Like, the charades. Like, just be honest and consistent. It is 2025. People wanting to be famous is not shocking.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
And I think I've talked about my, like, chat that I have with myself before where I just send myself stories and posts from X and TikToks and all of these things that I know are somehow kind of connected but I'm waiting for the stories to come together. And today we have yet another pattern that I have been noticing on social media and more specifically in celebrity culture.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
People blowing up and becoming viral on social media and becoming influencers is not shocking. That happens every single day. You can just say that you want to be famous. And honestly, I think more people would be on board and kind of respect that. But apparently these people think that you can't say that because just a couple of weeks after that Dylan Mulvaney profile, Casey Anthony.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
But before we get into this story, if you want ad-free episodes and a weekly advice video for me called Dear Brett. And guys, I wanna let you know that this is the last week that you can order my exclusive launch merch. This is the merch that we just created for the launch of the Brett Cooper Show. It was always gonna be limited, so we are closing out the sale.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
And yes, it is the same Casey Anthony who was tried and later acquitted in her daughter's murder, which to this day is an incredibly controversial case where most people don't actually believe that this mother is innocent. But you know, all that aside, this is not a true crime podcast. I'm not trying to get into that. That's just what the internet is saying.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
Well, after doing God knows what for the last decade since that trial, Casey Anthony was so inspired, maybe I should say enraged by Trump's presidency and everything that he has done this first month in office, that she decided to make a TikTok to create a new public profile and create a sub stack so that she could become, just wait,
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
an LGBTQ and women's rights activist and hopefully make some change in the world since she has been in the legal field for the last decade. Yeah, that's because you were accused of murder. That is why you are in the legal field. She also said that this was how she was going to reintroduce herself to the public. and hopefully build a career. So again, she is literally becoming public.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
She is saying she is going to build this into a career. This is gonna be great for her.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
But even though she's doing all of that, even though she made this very huge TikTok that literally got over a hundred million views across all of these different platforms, even though she's creating a sub stack and wants everybody to subscribe to it, she's gonna make all of these videos, she still wants her privacy. Take a listen.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
You really didn't have a platform until you made this video? Like, you had kind of gone off into oblivion? You are thrusting it upon yourself.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
And so that is why I am going to become a public facing brand. That is why I'm going to build a career as an LGBTQ and women's rights activist. I mean, guys, it quite possibly is the most nauseating and self-important video I have ever seen. And not just because I think that her social justice causes are ridiculous as somebody on the right who obviously feels that way.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
It is because her entire premise is is just ridiculous. And clearly everyone agreed because the right laughed at her. Obviously they were like, ha, look at you Democrats. This is what you got. You got Casey Anthony. We get RFK Jr. and you get Casey Anthony. And to their credit, the people on the left immediately rejected her.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
They were like, oh no, no, this is not going to help us when we do not want you crazy lady. We do not want you on your side. You are not helping us. And within 48 hours, She deleted her video off of TikTok.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
So if you have not gotten shirts like this or the hats that are behind me on my beautiful set right now, this is your last opportunity. It is linked below in the description and on that sweet little carousel. So obviously, because I promised you this on social media, if you don't follow me on Instagram, I was posting this on my story. We need to start with Megan.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
So actually, Casey Anthony, you are going to get the privacy that you so desperately wanted, even though, again, you were making a whole public profile and reintroducing yourself, doing the whole thing. Now, I want to go back to what I just said about that self-aggrandizing self-importance.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
And I think that that term is really important as we go through all of these stories and we talk about this broader issue, because it's relevant in every single case that we have just discussed from Meghan to Casey Anthony, because it is this prevailing idea that these individuals have that we need them.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
But we are desperate to hear from them that they are so important that we can't live without these people that we are hanging on to every word, when really, in all honesty, we don't care. Like, the world keeps spinning, as Ian summarized here.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
And guys, this cycle, this self-importance, like that screws with people's head. When you walk through the world thinking that you are the most important person, that everything revolves around you, that is not healthy. And this is why fame in general, just as a fact, as an idea, as a, you know, way of living and being, that is why it is such a dangerous game.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
Like, it destroys people who become famous too young, it ruins those who chase it just for the sake of fame itself and for money and power, and these days, with all of our access through social media and reality TV and
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
you know, citizen journalist, whatever it may be, it can, as a celebrity or an influencer, completely destroy your relationship with the audience that pays your bills, that watches your videos or your content on a daily basis. And that really, in my opinion, is the reckoning that we are seeing now. It is people utterly rejecting Casey Anthony within 48 hours of her posting that ridiculous video.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
It is people going on X and saying, Dylan Mulvaney, you literally showed us your daily life for over an entire year. We don't believe that you want privacy, and this is just ridiculous.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
They're saying, Meghan Markle, you have been lying to us about what you actually want in order to garner our sympathy, to turn that into views and purchases and supporting your businesses so that you don't have to be part of the world. People are just seeing through all of it.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
And I really wanted to hear Ian's take on this, especially as somebody who has been following and investigating and studying celebrities and artists for years. And when I asked this question, he brought up two examples and two case studies that I think you guys will really love. The first was Michael Jackson, who he wrote a best-selling biography on and he later directed an entire film on.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
And on Michael Jackson, he said this.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
She just released a new show on Netflix. I think it's called With Love, Megan, like the ending of a letter. And it is truly, truly terrible. Genuinely. And I like fluff shows like that. I like lifestyle shows. I like kind of cooking and hosting shows. I love reality TV. You guys know that. That's why I like politics because it reminds me of reality TV. But this, guys, it was so boring.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
And so really the point that he's making with this anecdote about Michael Jackson is that it isn't just about your quest for fame and your motivations and your drive, but also the drive of the people that you choose to surround yourself with. And while none of us are Michael Jackson level of famous, we will never be Michael Jackson level of famous. I don't know if anyone will ever get there again.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
I think Taylor Swift is getting close, but I mean, he is just unmatched. Even though we are not him, I think that is a really important lesson for all of us as human beings to hear and understand. You always have to be considering who are the people in your circle. Do they actually have your best interests at heart? Do they make you a better person?
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
Do they make you reflect on your choices and be self-aware in the way that you're walking through the world? Do they protect you? And if the answer to any of those questions is no, then you have to take responsibility for yourself and leave and find better people. And in hearing this story, I wish that that had happened for Michael Jackson. I wish that that had happened for a lot of people who
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
have clearly fallen prey to this idea that the people that you surround yourself with doesn't matter. Now this next example that Ian brought up, we're kind of continuing with an obviously important theme of humility, Ian brought up an unnamed blockbuster friend of his who seems to have cracked the code to success and fame. Take a listen.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
So guys, at the end of the day, what we can take from all of these stories, from this idea of fame, from Megan's ridiculous new show, is that it really is about your intentions and what drives you through the world. Is it fame or money or attention or power? Or is it your craft and doing something in service of the world?
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
Of making the people around you better, of leaving the world a better place than you found it. And I'll just say personally, I have been around a few of those famous people who fall in that former bucket, who do it all for money and power, and some are arguably able to hide it well. They convince even the most astute audiences that they are in it for virtue and goodness,
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
But that facade, guys, it will always break and crack and be exposed. But, you know, some people can't even hide it from the jump. They don't even have a facade to begin with. And I think that is what we have watched unfold with Meghan and Harry. They have never had the facade and they have never been able to build one back up because we all knew this was a sham from the beginning.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
It was never about privacy. It was about garnering sympathy to then further attention and fame. With Love Megan was never about teaching Netflix audiences and her friends how to host and make rainbow fruit trays. It was a vanity show that was objectively poorly done and she should fire all of the producers and advisors and marketers who allowed this to air because it was so objectively bad.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
But you know what? I'm kind of glad that it did air. I'm glad we're all able to see it and laugh at it and comment on it and analyze it because this was just another nail in the coffin.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
It is another wake-up opportunity for audiences who are becoming more and more astute in sniffing out bullshit in this search for genuine goodness and authenticity in their content and in the people that they follow. And I am so glad that that is happening, that that is what we are all searching for because our world could use a lot more of that right now.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
And it is being received terribly. Here are just a couple of the headlines. This is from Time Magazine. This is not even a tabloid that hates Meghan Markle. This is Time Magazine. And they said, Netflix's With Love Meghan is a royal primer on entertaining that couldn't be more boring.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
This next one is from The Telegraph, and they said that the Duchess of Sussex's new Netflix series is an exercise in narcissism filled with extravagant brunches, celebrity pals, and business plugs. And this last one is from Fox News, and they wrote, Meghan Markle's Netflix show, Inauthentic, depicts Duchess as a cringey Stepford wife.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
And as you can see, the critiques are coming from everywhere, from all sides of the political aisle, from Telegraph to Fox News to Time Magazine, and number one, they are addressing the utter lack of entertainment, the fact that the show is just undeniably boring, and we're just kind of asking why is this even a thing in the first place,
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
And the second thing that they're calling out is the utter lack of authenticity. And then from the audience's perspective, we're all sitting here confused because this is never something that we wanted. This is not something that we asked for. We don't need another show like this. We certainly don't need it from Meghan Markle.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
This wasn't coming from Netflix knowing that they need to fill this niche, that they have a hole and that they need a new lifestyle, right? It wasn't coming from audiences going like, we need, a new Martha Stewart, we need Meghan Markle. No, it is coming from Meghan herself.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
It is coming from Meghan and her innate desire to further her brand, to further her fame, and people, these audiences, me, all of us, could smell that from a mile away. And so this is the point when I want to bring in my friend Ian Halperin, who is a well-known Canadian investigative journalist, tabloid reporter, and biographer. And guys, he had some choice words that I think you all will love.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
Just listen to his take.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
And that pattern would be celebrities and influencers demanding privacy and then berating us for not respecting their boundaries and privacy and then doing the exact opposite and never, ever, ever getting out of our faces. And I am sure because you all are very smart individuals, you know the person that has inspired this episode right now, today.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
And so basically, the point that Ian is making, that I am making, that I think we all are making and understand is that because of the world's perception and experience with Meghan and Harry and their shenanigans over the last four years, this show was basically doomed from the start and it was always just a medium to keep Meghan in the spotlight. Nothing else.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
Like, again, when you watch this show, guys, there is no reason for it. And I mean, guys, the public jury is out on this issue. They have made up their minds about Meghan Markle, like not even a prayer will save her, but a prayer might save you this Lent season with Hallow. Hallow is the number one prayer app in the world. And right now you can join their Lent Prayer Challenge.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
Lent, if you didn't know, is the 40 day period leading up to Good Friday and Easter that is filled with prayer, fasting, almsgiving, sacrifice, and surrender. It's a great way to grow your relationship with God. And this year's Lent challenge at Hallow is called The Way, and it will help us all focus on how Jesus is the way to heaven and salvation.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
And the way includes sacrifice, which leads to peace, joy, healing, and love. Mark Wahlberg and my favorite Chris Pratt will lead some challenges to help you surrender to God. Jonathan Rumi and Sister Miriam James will lead you through powerful stories and prayer. and Father Mike Schmidt, another one of my favorites, will deliver his amazing Sunday sermons.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
These are the ones that I listen to every single week. And on top of all of that, you will get to hear some incredible true stories of faith. It is already shaping up to be their biggest Lent ever, with thousands of people praying together all over the world. When you sign up at hallow.com slash cooper, you can get three months free, which will get you through the entire Lent challenge.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
And when you join, make sure that you check out the thousands of guided prayers, meditations, music, and so much more, all designed to help you grow closer to God and find peace in your faith. So download the Halo app and jump into the Lent Pray 40 challenge today. Again, that is halo.com slash cooper to get three months free. You can also find them in the app store.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
Now, obviously, while talking about and laughing about Meghan Markle's ridiculous show is obviously entertaining, I objectively think that it is more entertaining than the show itself. In the first episode, she organizes a platter of vegetables and her friend that she's allegedly known for 10 years comes in and is like, oh my God, Megan, you can cut vegetables like this?
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
She literally just sliced them. And then the other thing that is just so weird, again, with the inauthenticity, is that she has all of her friends come on the show, like this first guy, which in my opinion is just her token gay friend. There is not a single, conversation of substance in the entire first episode or the second episode with her best friend Mindy Kaling.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
They literally talk like they do not know each other. Even like her friend in the first episode even makes a joke when they're sitting down to eat their cake and talk about their lovely day at her ranch, which isn't her ranch, it's He goes, oh, this is so beautiful. Is it fake? I feel like that was him like winking at the audience being like literally guys, none of this is real.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
I'm not even her friend. Like it was just so, so weird. She's making foods that she obviously doesn't really know how to make. And she's keeping bees that obviously she doesn't even keep because she has to have a beekeeper there to show her how to do it. It's this weird dichotomy. Really? Okay. This is my thesis on the entire show.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
There is no point for Megan to be doing the show because she is not an expert on any of this. And yet she is painted as the expert. She has all of her friends come in and she's teaching them how to hoe. She's teaching Mindy Kaling how to assemble a platter of fruit into a rainbow to make kids at a birthday party happy when you could easily find that on Pinterest.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
Like she's not doing anything revolutionary, but they're painting her as an expert. But simultaneously, the entire premise is that she's like, I'm just learning as I'm going and I'm just a human. and I'm doing all these things and, oh, these bees, they kind of scare me and I still need the beekeeper to do it. I've never made these bees walk hands before.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
Obviously, that would be my good old friend, Meghan Markle.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
Then why are you teaching people how to do it? Literally, it makes no sense. They're talking out of both sides of their mouth. And so the entire time that you're watching it, you're just like, why? That's the main question here. Why? Why was this produced? Why are we watching it? And what is the point?
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
Like I was about to kind of say the only thing that she's an expert on is Megan, but I don't even think she's an expert on Megan either. Because to host a reality show or a show that is about you and your life and your interests, you kind of have to know yourself and know what you're good at and know who your actual friends are and what your strengths are.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
Even though Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, or Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, as she's wanting us all to call her now, even though she left the royal family, even though they have led the charge on their privacy world tour, they are far from the only public figure who has done this charade, has done this dance of the privacy, and the no, I don't want privacy, and pay attention to me, and you're not paying attention to me, even though I want privacy.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
And I feel like after years of playing characters, of being an actress and of playing this role as a royal, like I don't know if Meghan has ever figured out who Meghan actually is. I think she's very concerned with how the public perceives her and who she wants to be and that's all she's focusing on. And again, we can sniff that out from a mile away.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
So again, the question is why was this even created in the first place? And so And because of all of these problems, everything that I've said in this entire rant because I did the very generous thing and watched the show for you guys, because of all of this, Ian and I both really see no future for the show beyond this first season.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
This conversation doesn't necessarily feel too productive, and enough people have been piling on and giving their own opinions. You can go on TikTok and you will probably see two million videos of people giving their takes and breaking down why the show is so ridiculous. You've heard my take. We don't need to talk about this anymore. And really, I think that the conversation should be broader.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
This conversation is actually about an unrelenting need for fame, where that comes from, and what it actually does to people. And And Ian, with all of his experience with celebrities, did not mince words as he broke this down.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
I mean, where was the lie? We see this every day with celebrities, especially with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. I mean, they continuously show up in front of our faces and we're dealing with the same issue every single time.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
And this is especially relevant and hilarious with Harry and Meghan because when they left the royal family, as we all know by now, they repeatedly said that their boundaries had been crossed, that they wanted a life of privacy. They wanted a quiet life. with their family, you know, behind closed doors in Montecito, that they would have a private personal life.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
And guys, even though this is something that we all watched unfold in 2020 and 2021, this is now something that the media has desperately tried to bury and cover up to protect Meghan Markle and Prince Harry from critique. Just read a couple of these. headlines. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle respond to claims that they wanted privacy amid release of Netflix docuseries. That was in 2022.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
It's from BBC. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle say they didn't step back over privacy concerns. This one's from BuzzFeed. Harry and Meghan have never wanted privacy. They wanted control. Well, then you should have said that! In 2021, you should not have said that you wanted privacy. But unfortunately for them, and fortunately for us, the internet does in fact live forever.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
They've fallen into this hypocritical trap of begging for one thing and then doing another, and basically... The public is done. We're saying we're tired. We're seeing through it. We don't care anymore. And that is what we're witnessing with the response of Megan's new show on Netflix.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
So just so we are all on the same page, in 2021, in their bombshell, very private interview with Oprah, they also talked about wanting privacy and wanting a private life for the sake of their mental health. As they were leaving the royal family, they were making all of their statements.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
They talked about how even royals should have privacy and should be able to have boundaries, which, you know, I agree. And then in his memoir, Spare, that literally broke the internet for a myriad of terrible reasons, which I'm sure you guys remember, Harry even wrote about a desire for privacy in that. And the thing is, their desire for privacy, that is totally fine and respectable.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
I can completely understand that. I can empathize with that. I think the world would understand somebody actually taking a step back and saying, this is not the life that we want for our kids. This is not the life that we want for each other. We're going to step away. And if they actually did it, we would be fine with it. But where they went wrong was being anything but private.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
Because it's not just that the press has continued to hound them and cover them, but they themselves have been in front of our faces with docu-series and bombshell interviews with Oprah and Meghan's podcast and her lifestyle brands and memoirs and speaking tours and all of the different things. So I'm sorry, but no wonder... normal audiences are gonna be done.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
No wonder they are going to scoff at your plight. Your, oh, I'm such a victim, I have no privacy, but please watch my doggies. Your people are done. Like, we genuinely have just had enough with the constant victimhood while simultaneously contributing to your own problem and your own plight as you parade around in front of us and the media, especially with something
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
that is so fake and contrived and inauthentic as this new Netflix show. Like, did she actually believe genuinely that this charade would work? Like, how does she not get it after all these years? Is she sick? Merrick Health could help her figure that out. And Merrick Health could do the same for you. If you want to stop guessing and start optimizing your health, you need Merrick Health.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
Merrick Health is the premier health optimization platform, empowering you to maximize your health thanks to personalized expert guidance in your back pocket. Merrick Health offers cutting edge diagnostic labs, guys, I'm talking like 40, 50 pages all about your body, personalized coaching, expert clinical oversight.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
They support clients in achieving their health and fitness goals by leveraging data-driven lifestyle and nutrition recommendations, along with supplement and prescription treatment options. And As you might know, I started my journey with Merrick Health long before they ever sponsored any of my work.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
And like we talked about last month with celebrities and celebrity culture, we are simply unwilling as a society and culture to play their mind games anymore. We are tapped out, we've seen through the facade, we've, you know, the veil has been pulled back, and we're just done. We're seeing hypocrisy for what it is.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
After we had had a few health scares in our circle and in our family, I made the commitment with my brother. I told him that I was going to be doing yearly blood tests and truly start staying on top of my health outside of the traditional medical model, because obviously that was not working. That was not giving me the support that I needed. And Merrick Health truly exceeded my expectations.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
They completely changed the way that I view and care for my body. They taught me so much that I literally had no idea. Like guys, I think I've told this story before, but Merrick Health helped me figure out that I was severely anemic, that I basically should have been in the hospital. They called me and they were like, um, are you okay? And I was like, I don't know.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
I would have had no idea if I had not done their blood work. They completely changed my life. And I know they can do the same for you. This is an investment worth making for you and your family. And today, you can get 10% off your order with them. Just head to MerrickHealth.com and use my code COOPER at checkout to start the process today.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
Again, that is Merrick, M-A-R-R-E-K, health.com with code COOPER for 10% off today. Stop guessing and start optimizing your health today with Merrick Health. Now, another thing I want to bring up is that I do believe that there is a distinction between Meghan and other influencers and celebrities. Not all celebrities are created equal. Not all celebrities are Meghan Markle.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
And I often see critiques online from commenters and Meghan Markle stans that, you know, we don't shame people like the Kardashians or other influencers for creating self-serving businesses or TV shows or podcasts and being focusing on themselves. The difference in my eyes, what I would say to all of those Meghan stans is that the difference is that those influencers, they're not being hypocritical
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
in how they presented themselves. Like they're very upfront with the fact that they're like, yeah, this is all about me. I'm creating this. This is great. I want to be famous. I want to be an influencer. They're not lying about any of that. And we're like, great. Glad you're being honest. We will support you because this is a cool brand. We like your thing. We like your shtick. With Megan,
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
There's all of these weird lies and the victimhood and the hypocrisy. And again, because of the culture of celebrity and everything we've learned, we're just done. The other difference in my eyes is with work ethic and strategy, which Ian also pointed out specifically in regards to the Kardashians, who he has also covered extensively. He even wrote a book about them.
The Brett Cooper Show
Here's Why The Internet Hates Meghan Markle's New Show | Episode 12
And this is what he had to say.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
But the thing is, even though this executive order would be historic, it would be hugely impactful, Trump can't just abolish the Department of Education with a signature. The Department of Education was created through an act of Congress, so it must be abolished by a vote in Congress. However, Welcome back to another episode of The Brett Cooper Show. We have some updates for you all.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
And she recently did an interview where she was screeching about Trump's plans for the Department of Education and how this would take money away from students and instead line the pockets of billionaires.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
See, this is why this issue is so emotional, because they say things like this. We're taking money away from your kids. Your kids are going to go hungry. They're lining the pockets of billionaires. None of that is happening. Literally not in the slightest. Also, I love at the beginning, she goes, where's the money going?
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
The money wouldn't exist in the first place because we would stop taxing people. People, American citizens, the parents of these students would be able to keep more of their money. That is where it would go. It just wouldn't go to you, Randy, which I think is what you were most concerned about. Because again, None of what you just screeched about and basically burst into tears over is happening.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
None of it. Yes, you might make less money. Your $500,000 a year salary might decrease. You might have less power, but children will still be able to go to public school. Children will still have access to school lunches, if that is what you're concerned about. Teachers will still be paid as their salaries are set by the state. They're not even set by the federal department of education.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
And I just wanna be on record saying that I am in favor of anything that decreases the political power of these teachers unions, that decreases the power of people like Randi Weingarten, who used her position to further her own political ideologies and to make more money for herself.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
I mean, from that to directing our government to unseal the JFK records, so much has happened. And next up in the slate of executive orders is apparently the future of the Department of Education and TLDR Trump wants to abolish it. But as are many things in our political landscape right now, education is a very heated issue.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
So yes, Randi, that is a long way of saying that money will be allocated differently, that will change, but it will be sent to the states.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
Which, interestingly, you seem to support, Randy.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
I'm so glad we can all agree, Randy, that the state should run education, that the federal government, with your $238 billion budget, should not be running the American educational system. So maybe that faux emotional outrage that we just saw is really not about the students, but it's about you and your pals losing political power.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
So hopefully, guys, those insights from Ryan, that brief history about the Department of Education, Trump's plans, how that would actually work, hopefully that clears this up for you, explains why this is happening and what you can expect. So yes, things hopefully are going to change.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
But hopefully, if this works the way that we want, fingers crossed, this means that students will be getting a better education. This means that parents and states and school boards, the people who actually understand their local students and understand what they need,
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
we'll be given power again and hopefully this means that our education system will stop being run into the ground by a small sect of self-serving bureaucrats. So in my opinion, this is something that everyone, regardless of whether you are on the left or the right, should be excited about.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
And if you are worried about this department being abolished in its entirety and that causing something that we've not planned for, according to Ryan, Republicans don't even have the votes to do that as it stands now to abolish the department, so maybe it's something we don't even need to worry about.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
So again, support for your students is not going away. Protections over students are not going away. Aid for school lunches is not going away. The Pell Grants aren't going away. They will hopefully just be run by people who are actually involved in those specific issues. Hopefully the person that is now overseeing school lunches will be RFK Jr.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
And hopefully this reallocation means that students' education will not just be increasing, but also their health will be increasing. And I also think that this could help spark fresh involvement from parents and students on the local level, because I want you guys to know that you actually have way more power than you think.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
Like, we really, honestly, do not have to wait for any of this to happen on the federal level. We do not need to wait for this executive order or for any of this to take effect to make a change. And the school system in Miami-Dade County in Florida is a testament to this. Just listen.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
I mean, all of that is incredible. They are getting a classical education in elementary school thanks to what the school board is doing and what they are willing to try and implement.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
And a lot of people don't understand how this would work if Trump would even be able to abolish it. They don't understand why people even want to get rid of the Department of Education. And they're very concerned with what happens after the Department of Education has been abolished.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
Another great example that Ryan talked about were the states of Mississippi and Louisiana who had the best student rebound in the country, in the entire nation post COVID because of the steps that the local school boards and local legislators took. In fact, in Mississippi,
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
Fourth graders had achieved the number one spot in the nation for gains on the NAEP in reading and in math, with fourth graders scoring higher than the nation's public school average in math and tying the nation in reading. In addition to that, eighth graders had outpaced the nation for growth in math and held steady in reading. Nationally, scores for most NAEP subjects dropped or remained flat.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
And in Louisiana, the results were similar. And the superintendent there credits this to getting back to the basics and credits it to states' rights. And he said this in a recent interview from just a couple of days ago. He said, I operate from what I call the brave plan. Going back to basics, redesigning systems, accelerating parental rights, valuing teachers, and expanding educational freedom.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
It's so funny how things get better and move more efficiently and faster when you remove the influence of government. He goes on and he says, this department is organized to accomplish those things. That is the way that we push out resources and it's what drives our conversation with community members, policymakers, and educators.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
It is a comprehensive set of reforms we put in place and it's really encouraging to see movement. Right now, we also have a ton of alignment between our governor's office, our legislature, our state board, and our agency. And that united front helps with implementation in schools. I also think that we execute really well.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
I've had conversations with individuals in other states that have attempted similar reforms, but the execution wasn't what it needed to be. We are really intentional about both the initial launch of policies, but also support afterwards. And then continuing on, he said, many schools and systems and educators across the country have chased shiny things.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
and sometimes even ideologies that aren't necessarily relevant to simply teaching kids to read and do math. At a time when funding is becoming less plentiful, which is odd because again, $238 billion budget, that really shouldn't be the case, states need to look at academic returns on investment. It's a really good time to focus on schooling, particularly in elementary schools.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
I mean, seriously, it is comical that this is something that a superintendent has to say, that really it's a good time to focus on schooling, Shouldn't that have been the focus of the federal government of the Department of Education for the last 40 odd years? No, no. Because they focused on ideologies.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
So we're gonna try to break all of that down for you guys, answer some questions, but before we do, if you want ad-free episodes, a weekly advice video from me, and an exclusive newsletter for subscribers only, make sure to check out my subscriber platform, Cooper Confidential. We have the link right here. We will also have it in the description below, along with my exclusive launch merch.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
They focused on giving power to administrators and these teacher unions instead of actually helping the kids. And what makes me even more excited about states like Louisiana and Mississippi, Alabama was not far behind them, is that these are the states that get mocked and shamed.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
These are the low-income, backwards, conservative states that the left and the teachers unions love to mock and demonize. They're the ones who are the laughingstock of America, but obviously they're doing something right.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
All the coastal cities that boast about their education system, sorry, you can't keep up with Louisiana and Mississippi because, as the superintendent said, they're focusing on schooling.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
And back to that point about local school boards and parents being able to make change as you were seeing in Louisiana and Mississippi, I have always said that the only way I would run for public office, because truly that seems like the worst thing on earth, I would rather drag myself across hot coals than do that, the only way I would do that was if it was for a school board.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
Because real change happens there. Again, even without the federal government. And you do not need to be a parent or an educator to be on the board. I mean some of the most effective change makers recently have been young people. Some as young as 18 years old who are hungry and motivated and have just recently left the school system. So they intimately know the problems.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
They intimately know solutions that can help students that can get this system back on track. So to sum all of this up, Hopefully Trump is able to make this happen. I hope that he is able to dismantle and restructure American education, maybe even abolishing the Department of Education in its entirety. I would love for that to happen.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
I would love to see the glee on Thomas Massey's face if he is finally able to pass this one sentence back. bill. And this certainly will make things better and easier coming from the federal level. It will eliminate a lot of financial bloat. It will eliminate a lot of corruption, which is obviously a good thing and we should all be advocating for whether you are on the left or the right.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
But per usual, what I want you to remember is the change always starts with you at home. So if there's something that you do not like about your school system, if there's something that you do not like about your child's education, the power is in your hands. And if you are a student, there is so much that you can do. And I urge you to look into Ryan's work with the 1776 Project Pack.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
And with all of this combined, after 40 plus years, we will finally, hopefully, be focusing on improving American education. Because truly, that is the end goal.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
But without further ado, let's of course get back into the topic. Abolishing the Department of Education has been something that has been talked about for years at this point, but in the grand political sense, it has kind of been a fringe issue. Many conservatives and Republicans in Congress are very much against this.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
They support the Department of Education, and so this issue has really been propped up by libertarians like Justin Amash and limited government conservatives like my favorite Thomas Massey and Rand Paul. And Thomas Massey has actually tried to abolish the Department of Education multiple times at this point.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
It feels like he is constantly reintroducing a bill to abolish it completely, and yet it never happens. And as recently as last month, he reintroduced it yet again. On January 31st, he said, I just reintroduced H.R. 899, a one sentence bill to terminate. the Federal Department of Education return power back to teachers and parents. This is it, the entire bill.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
I'm so honored. I'm so excited to inform you all that I've gotten a pop filter. So the days of me blasting in your ears and you hearing literally every single piece of my enunciation, Hopefully those days are over. Also guys, I read your comments. I removed the headphones. You know, I got these really cool headphones that you saw in the previous episode.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
And the bill reads, be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, section one, terminate the Department of Education, and that's it. Literally one line, it is pretty epic.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
But of course, that would never pass in our modern government because, as we know, bills have to be like 700 pages long and chock full of ridiculous, random things that our government wants to spend money on. So, of course, this has not passed.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
But with Trump's comeback with his focus on slimming down government with Elon Musk's influence and the influence of Doge, eliminating this incredibly bloated, incredibly corrupt government department, seems more possible than ever. And this time around, with this reintroduction, Massey actually has 30, 30 Republican co-sponsors for this bill. So times are obviously changing.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
But 30 co-sponsors is still not enough. One article reads, if a bill were to move forward in the House, the GOP would still have to pull support from lawmakers outside of their 53-member Senate majority to reach the 60-vote threshold they need for the legislation to pass. So at this point, we gotta keep educating people and we gotta pray, which you can do with Halo.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
Guys, I am so excited to share that this episode is sponsored by my friends over at Halo. I've talked about Halo before, you know that I use them. It is an incredible prayer app that I have implemented into my daily routine. Halo's daily devotionals and meditations are so simple and make sure that a daily prayer routine is not out of reach for anyone.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
And as we are getting very close to the start of Lent, the 40 days leading up to Easter, Hallow has an incredible prayer challenge launching to help us draw deeper into the core principles of Lent, prayer and fasting and almsgiving. And as we often talk about in our society, we can be weak. We can lack personal responsibility. We can push our values aside.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
We can make excuses for why we don't have time to spend time with God. But trust me, you have plenty of time. You're just not using it well, and that is where Hallow comes in. Lent reminds us of what is important in our lives.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
Hallow's Lent Prayer Challenge will take you through some of the most powerful stories you will get to pray alongside incredible people, and you will have a guided prayer every day. Last year, over a million people around the world prayed every day on Hallow during Lent, and this year's Lent is going to be even bigger.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
And thanks to Hallow sponsoring this episode, you guys can get three months free when you sign up at hallow.com slash cooper which means that your free trial will last all of Lent. And when you join, make sure to check out the over 10,000 guided prayers and meditations that will all help you grow closer to God.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
So again, go to hallow.com slash Cooper or download the app and join the Lent Pray 40 wait list today. And maybe we can all work together to pray for the state of education because Lord knows our country needs it. Even though Massey has 30 Republican co-sponsors, even though Trump is talking about it, people are still against this.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
And it makes sense because getting rid of anything, education, dealing with education will always be difficult as it is a very emotional and personal issue for people involving their children. And in my opinion, this is because they often conflate the existence of the Department of Education with the existence of public education in the United States, which is just simply not the case.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
I think that this comes down to most people not even knowing the history of the Department of Education and the fact that it was never really supposed to have the power or the budget that it does today. I mean, like most government agencies, it has obviously overstepped its bounds. I mean, most people don't even know that it is a relatively new government department.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
And also you'll see them in an episode that I pre-recorded for next week. But I got these really cool headphones. They're from the 70s. We got them fixed up so that I could use them. I put it on and it just didn't feel right. And oddly, I just felt so weird wearing them when I saw comments being like, Brett, you don't need the headphones anymore. So I have officially ditched them.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
In fact, Jimmy Carter, who just passed away, he was the one who created the Department of Education. He signed it into law in 1979. And somehow, just to give you an example, somehow over the last 40 odd years, their budget has ballooned from $14 billion to over $238 billion. That is insane.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
But what is even more insane is that over these 40 years, over that insane increase in spending and in budget, there has been no improvement. in American education. Just look at this graph from the Cato Institute. This is the trends in American public schooling since 1970. So the blue line right here is the total cost, the amount that we as taxpayers are spending on American education.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
That obviously has skyrocketed. Oh, employees have skyrocketed. We're paying more people. We see where our money is going. And then let's look at Reading scores, math scores, science scores, oh, they've stayed exactly the same. There has been no improvement in the slightest.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
Now, to give you guys a bit more backstory and context on this department and on this issue as a whole, I called my friend Ryan Gerduski, who is the founder of the 1776 Project PAC, which is reforming school boards across the country, is trying to reform education. He is a genius on all things American education, and he broke down the history of the Department of Education like this.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
And like I said at the beginning, and many of you know this, like I said, education is near and dear to my heart. This is probably the political issue that I care about the most. I feel like I have a stake in this as a young person that recently came out of the education system. I feel like I tried every different form of homeschooling and public schooling. I went to community college.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
We're back to the original setting. Happy to be here. But guys, today we need to talk about something that is near and dear to my heart. We need to talk about the state of education.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
I went to a formal university. I basically tried everything except Catholic school at this rate. And I know that there are problems. But the one thing that really stood out to me that I learned from Ryan when I interviewed him
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
was that all of the intended functions of the Department of Education already existed in our federal government prior to 1979, prior to the department actually being created. They were just broken up into different departments based on what those departments' specialties were. They were not under one huge umbrella.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
And creating the Department of Education consolidated all of it and gave this department and the unions that lobbied for the creation of this department major power and control, as Ryan also covered. Listen here.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
And guys, to this day, the people who have the most control over the Department of Education, who are the major lobbyists, the major motivators behind everything they do, and that would be the teachers unions, quickly followed by the guidance counselor union.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
And if you don't know about the power of teachers unions, maybe we'll have to do an entire episode just dedicated to that because it is truly insane. And based on the graph that we just looked at from the Cato Institute, it seems like these unions, these major lobbyists, the motivators behind the Department of Education have cared
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
If you guys have been watching my content for the last three years, even before the last three years, because this is something I would write about constantly and talk about in my social media videos, we need to talk about education and more specifically what the future holds for education under President Trump, because Trump has been signing
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
a lot more, about lining their pockets, about hiring more administrators, obviously, because the staff is growing, and pushing political ideologies instead of improving American education. In fact, in a recent op-ed for The Hill, Representative Harriet Hegman spoke on this perfectly. She wrote, "'That money,' in other words, the $238 billion, hasn't been effectively used to educate our young.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
It has disappeared into the maw of the Department of Education with no accountability for failure.'" The departments not related to education activities are also well known. Federal bureaucrats, for example, spent three years seeking to replace the word sex in federal education amendments to the Civil Rights Act with sexual orientation and gender identity.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
They have interfered with teachers' ability to remove disruptive and dangerous students from their classrooms, and they have promoted a seemingly endless stream of woke policies at the expense of our cohesiveness and to undermine pride in being American. The result? They are turning out generations of children who can't read or do math and believe that America is evil.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
Hence why so many lawmakers and so many conservatives like myself want to see this department dismantled. It is beyond time to silence that disruption like I do with my silencer from Silencer Shop. And you all know that I am a big advocate for our Second Amendment rights, and I believe in being prepared and being responsible when it comes to firearms.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
But let's be honest, shooting can be loud and sometimes even uncomfortable. And that's why I want to tell you about my friends over at Silencer Shop. They offer the largest selection of top brand suppressors that make your shooting experience quieter, safer, and way more enjoyable. So whether you are hitting the range or out hunting, a suppressor can make a world of difference.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
And do not worry about the paperwork because I know there is always paperwork involved. They have got you covered. Silencer Shop simplifies the entire process, making it hassle-free,
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
so that you can get your suppressor from the comfort of your own home plus approvals are coming back faster than ever so there is no better time to get started but here's the best part silencer shop isn't just about selling suppressors they are fighting the good fight for our gun rights every single day which is why i love supporting them because in these unpredictable times it is crucial to support companies that stand up for the second amendment and that is what silencer shop does they are actively lobbying they are battling in courtrooms and they are pushing back against anti-gun legislation nationwide so
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
If you want to enhance your shooting experience and support a company that is fighting for your rights, head over to Silencer Shop to get started today. Trust me, Silencer Shop is the easiest and best way to get your suppressor. Upgrade your guns today. But obviously, right now, this noise and this disruption to our education system has not been silenced. It is in full force.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
And it is not positively impacting the quality of our children's education in the slightest. In fact, by taking power away from the states and the parents, many argue that it has only made education worse, not just stagnant.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
executive orders left and right, and I know it is pissing off the left because they think that he is abusing his power, but honestly, he is doing exactly what he promised us. I mean, the theme of Trump's presidency thus far is promises made, promises kept, and listen, we are getting exactly what we voted for, and we are very happy.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
And so, as part of his 2024 campaign, one of the ideas that Trump ran on, one of the promises that he ran on, was abolishing this department in its entirety and sending power back to the states. Just take a listen from one of his rallies.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
Which is all true, which should be incredibly embarrassing to every American. It should be a top priority for Americans to figure out how to fix this so that we can serve our children and our students better. And yet on the left and with many Republicans, the only solution they seem to come up with is more money. But we are already spending an insane amount of money.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
And again, going back to that graph, you can see where the money goes. It goes to the unions. It goes to the administrators. It does not even go to the teachers, which we're going to talk about later. later. But going back to Trump and going back to his promises, you know, promises made, promises kept.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
Just this week, the Wall Street Journal revealed that Trump is actively taking steps to ready an executive order that would, quote, dismantle the Department of Education. So apparently that is next in the pipeline. They wrote, Trump advisors weigh plan to dismantle education department. Administration officials are discussing executive order that could shut down key functions of the agency.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
And that was published on February 3rd. This has got people very excited. It was trending for like 24 hours on X. But the thing is, even though this executive order would be historic, it would be hugely impactful, Trump can't just abolish the Department of Education with a signature. The Department of Education was created through an act of Congress, so it must be abolished by a vote in Congress.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
However, with an executive order, Trump can break it apart. And that is what people are speculating that he'll be doing. Here is how Ryan broke it down.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
I mean, from keeping men out of women's sports just a couple of days ago, which was just incredibly historic if you guys have not seen that photo, of Trump signing the executive order surrounded by young female athletes. It was, I mean, truly brought tears to my eyes. So many years of hard work came to that moment. It was just incredible.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
So TLDR, how this would work, is that many of the original core functions of the department, pre-Department of Education, pre-Jimmy Carter era, they would still exist. Title I would be protected. It would be just moved under a different jurisdiction. Title IX, everything that we fought for, for women, for protecting women, that would be protected. It would just be moved.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
It would all be reallocated and shifted around to break up this power monopoly that this department has over our education system and over the states. And you just gotta know, and I love this, that the teachers unions are losing their minds. Because remember, they were the ones who wanted this in the first place. They are the ones who benefit the most.
The Brett Cooper Show
It’s Time to Abolish the Department of Education — Here’s Why | Episode 4
They are the ones who have the most power over everything this department does. So I want you to take a listen to my good friend, Randy Weingarten. Randy Weingarten, if you didn't know, is one of the people that I despise most on the face of the earth. She's the president of the country's largest and most powerful teachers union.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
So this might be crazy to think about in 2025, considering everything that we have heard about New York City and the subway system. But when I was a kid and I was in New York visiting my family who has lived there for 30 years, when I was auditioning, doing acting classes and dance classes, I would very frequently ride the subway alone.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
Now another thing that has stood out to me as I've been watching all of this unfold is that it is not just all parents up against law enforcement and the government, it's parents up against parents.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
Now I mentioned this in the introduction, but my good friend Alex Clark, who hosts the Culture Apothecary podcast, she has been talking about this issue all week on her social media, and she has gotten reamed. online by parents in her own community who listen to her podcast, who follow her on social media for pushing this idea that they believe is so dangerous and unsafe and out of touch.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
And this story alone broke open a whole debate about childhood independence and autonomy and the changing trends between generations because, for a lot of people, they saw this as completely normal and permissible based on their own childhoods. For example, my friend Hannah Cox, who was actually my boss when I was writing at the Foundation for Economic Education,
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
But she has held strong all week long. I mean, it's probably 10 days at this point because she knows that this is a root cause of so many of the issues that our society and our children are facing today. And I commend her for sticking through that because, I mean, the comments that she's been getting have been insane.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
And so now, over a week later, after some of these parents have taken the time to go you know, kind of reflect, do some of the research, watch the videos that Alex has been posting on her social media, they've actually come around. And now they're DMing her and commenting and saying, really sorry for my emotional reaction. You're actually right. I should, you know, try doing this for my kids.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
I mean, it's kind of like the parents who come around to Good Ranchers after years of eating mediocre grocery store meat. They know the better option, and that better option is Good Ranchers.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
Good Ranchers puts American values first, just like we all do, and their meat is born, raised, and harvested right here in the United States from local family farms so that you know exactly where your meat is coming from and the quality that you can expect.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
It is free from hidden additives, so no antibiotics ever, no added hormones, no seed oils in their chicken nuggets, which I was literally eating before I came on screen. Just simple, trustworthy ingredients that you can feel good about feeding your family. And to make it even better, these products are delivered straight to your door.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
With GoodRanchers.com, everything you need to create delicious meals is just a click away. And at GoodRanchers.com, you can also check out my exclusive box that Alex and I curated with all of our favorite things that we eat throughout the week.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
And I love this box because you get to try a little bit of everything, including their amazing pork chops, which might be my favorite thing that Good Ranchers has ever sent me. And at goodranchers.com slash Brett, you can also check out my exclusive box that Alex and I curated based on the things that we eat in our house every single week.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
Their pork chops are in there, which that is just the best thing that Good Ranchers has ever sent me. You get to try that with the brats, with the steaks, it's incredible. So go to goodranchers.com slash Brett to shop my box today.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
And if you want a deal on top of that, right now Good Ranchers is running their spring into action deal, which means that if you subscribe to any of their boxes, but preferably the Brett Cooper box, You will get free bacon, free ground beef, seed oil-free chicken nuggets, or salmon in every single order for a year. You get to pick which one you want.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
That is free meat for an entire year, plus you will get $40 off when you use my code BRETT at checkout. That is high quality, clean protein in every order delivered to your door for free for an entire year. Again, visit goodranchers.com slash brett to check out my box, and don't forget to use my code BRETT at checkout to claim your free meat and $40 off.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
Now, speaking of researching and finding better options for your families, as I was researching all of this, I started to think about other cultures because obviously, you know, I'm in America, I think through an American lens, but I wanted to think outside of that box. And I was really interested, like, are people as terrified as Americans are?
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
Are they so concerned with basically keeping their children in bubble wrap for 18 years straight? And I learned that no, No, that is not the case. This is not how things work in a majority of the world. Like take Japan, for instance. This was the most interesting thing I learned. This culture values independence from a young, young age. It is a core tenant of their entire society.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
She tweeted and said, Another person said, This man did nothing wrong. Safetyism is destroying society. And guys, based on this, I completely agree. Like, I think back to my childhood, which really wasn't that long ago. And at 10 years old, I had just gotten my Red Cross babysitter certification. I knew CPR. I was actively working as a babysitter and a mother's helper. I was doing pet sitting.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
And my favorite thing that I stumbled upon that I just cannot wait for you guys to go and watch is the fact that all of this is highlighted in a long running, I mean, like 25 year long reality show called Old Enough. And it is based in Japan. It's a Japanese show, but you can watch it on Netflix now. And it depicts young Japanese children running errands for the first time. And it is so adorable.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
It is hilarious. Please watch this clip. It's humor. It's funny. It's entertainment. But again, this speaks to a much deeper issue of what is actually going on in Japan's culture and what they value. Take a watch. I mean, it's just that every single episode. It's tiny little humans and they're being secretly recorded by these camera crews as they go back and forth to the store.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
Oh no, I forgot the curry. I need to order this pho. Oh my god, I forgot the cabbage. And they just go back and forth. You see them crossing the street. I mean, it is just pure comedy, but it is also such a far cry from what we're seeing in the U.S. where parents... are literally getting arrested for their kids being out of their sight for an hour.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
And yes, because I had this question, I'm sure that you guys will too. This is not just fodder for a reality show. According to Japanese people on Reddit, this actually happens. This is what they said as they were discussing the show. One person said, we sent each of our kids on their first errand a month or so before elementary school started.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
It was part of getting them used to their neighborhood and surroundings and so on. Another person said, it's definitely not unusual to see scores of elementary school age kids going to and from school as well as just running around the neighborhood being kids. Another person said, I remember my mom sent me to buy bread and the guy asked me salt or sugar bread.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
I started crying and went back home running. This show is awesome, by the way.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
Now, all of that being said, even though I'm incredibly happy that this actually does happen, it's important to note that in Japan, it's not just about being without your parents and walking to school alone and running errands alone, but this independence and this responsibility is fostered on every single level, not just in the home, not just with these errands, but also in school and in extracurriculars.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
One Bloomberg article was writing about this and they said, this assumption is reinforced at school, where children take turns cleaning and serving lunch instead of relying on staff to perform such duties. This, quote, distributes labor across various shoulders and rotates expectations, while also teaching everyone what it takes to clean a toilet, for instance.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
Taking responsibility for shared spaces means that children have a pride of ownership and understand in a concrete way the consequences of making a mess since they will have to clean it up themselves. This ethic extends to the public space more broadly, one of the reasons why Japanese streets are generally so clean. A child out in public knows that he can rely on the group to help in an emergency.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
So they foster from a young age this responsibility, not just for themselves and their own person, but for the world around them, for the people around them, for the things that they do in life that they will then have to face the consequences for, even if it is as small as spilling a drink that you then have to clean up yourself because the staff member isn't going to come and do it for you.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
And so knowing that and actually seeing it in action where it works means that this conversation is so much bigger than just having your kids doing things alone in public or doing dangerous things safely, as Jordan Peterson often says. It is about instilling responsibility at every level and encouraging maturity, even at a young age. Maturity is often looked at as such a bad thing in our culture.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
Like, oh, you had to grow up so quickly. You're so mature. I think that that is a good thing for young people. Obviously it needs to be age appropriate, but we should be encouraging that. I mean, whether that is
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
helping around the house or at school caring for your younger siblings when your parents are busy or even getting a job as a teenager which is so crazy that that feels controversial or revolutionary but it has become that American teens working just like normal jobs after school part-time jobs that was on a decline for decades it is only in the last couple of years I think due to economic insecurity that that has changed and I just think about that
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
an entire generation was pumped into the workforce after college with no legitimate work experience, not having to show up somewhere or punch a clock or be responsible for their work or respond to an authority that was not their parent or their teacher. And while I think that
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
a lot of parents thought that they were doing the right thing and that this was a gift they were giving their kids, that it was a privilege that they didn't have to work, that they were, you know, protecting them, allowing them to be kids, that only hurt their kids and it hurt society as a whole.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
I mean, this had a detrimental effect on our culture and it has now driven even more protective parenting styles. and a massive overcorrection and outrage anytime these people see a young person working or doing something independently. Like there are so many stories of young teens who have been blasted on social media for working part-time jobs.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
Like people go into Burger Kings or Dairy Queens or McDonald's and they take pictures of kids working or they find parents posting about kids working on social media and they basically go, oh my God, this is a travesty. This is so appalling. How could Donald Trump have done this that the economy is so bad that now the children have to work? This is so abusive. This is so awful.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
And it's a 14 year old working the cash register at McDonald's. And they literally think that this is some kind of child labor controversy when 20 years ago this was completely normal.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
And so I think the major takeaway here in looking at how our society responds and supports and how that differs from other cultures like Japan is that these cultural norms, they help parents shape their children's independence and it is far from being supported here in the US. And the reason for that, the reason that is almost always cited is crime.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
People always point back to crime like Jonathan Haidt said in that clip that we watched at the beginning of this episode. They say the world is different than we were kids. It's far more dangerous. Kids can't play outside because of everything that we've seen on social media and in the news. It's so dangerous, we just can't do it.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
But we have to ask, is this really as big of an issue as we have been told or as we have just been conditioned to think? Because violent crime against children has actually been on a decline since the 90s. And yes, there was a crime surge in the 70s that made everybody feel paranoid, but in the 90s, it dropped. And it has been on a steady decline since then.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
In fact, between 1993 and 2019, violent crime against children decreased by 67%. But even since then, the numbers have continued to decrease. The Bureau of Justice Statistics wrote, the rate of non-fatal violent victimization of persons ages 12 to 17 declined 85% in the 30 years from 1993 to 2022, based on the BJS's National Crime Victimization Survey.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
I was doing little like gardening tasks for people. I was working as an actor. Like, I was very independent already at 10 years old. It was totally normal for me to go over to somebody's house and and take care of their two, three, four, five year old kids. I would go into stores alone. I would shop alone.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
Now, I do want to acknowledge that there was a slight increase amidst the crime surge of COVID in 2020, But the broader trend over the last 30 years does show a significant decline. But of course, we also have to ask, if we're being honest about this, we're having integrity in trying to examine this, you know, is that because our society is getting better?
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
Is that because crime has actually decreased? Or is it because parents aren't letting their kids outside, so they're not putting them in harm's way to begin with? Now, we don't have a firm answer there. I don't know if that can even be studied. But what we do know, just on a whole, is that reducing independence out of fear is not a net positive.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
And there is a way to keep your children safe and out of harm's way while still encouraging their autonomy. Because what we're doing now, this is only hurting younger generations. It is setting them up for decades of failure and anxieties in adulthood, which is what Jonathan Haidt wrote about in his entire book. And of course, the alternatives to all of this are no better.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
The alternatives are that parents just drop their kids in front of screens 24-7, and that is not any less dangerous, in my opinion, because instead of playing outside or walking to the park or doing whatever kids have normally done in history, they are handed iPhones and iPads and laptops and video games, and they are encouraged to stay sheltered.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
They are encouraged to stay inside in this little digital bubble. And not a single study that has ever been done on this subject points to children having heavily online and digital lives helping their development in any way. It doesn't even say stagnant. It always harms. It impacts language skills. It impacts interpersonal relationship skills and focus and confidence and mental health.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
And that alone is before you even start exploring the risks of cyberbullying and exposure to pornography at a young age, which is a huge issue on Instagram and, of course, online trafficking. That is the biggest risk for children in 2025. I mean, in 2018, it was found that 90% of trafficking victims met their abusers online. That is the direct pipeline.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
And I'm not trying to scare everybody and say, oh, my God, it's dangerous outside, it's dangerous inside. But you do have to acknowledge the reality of the world that we live in and that this is where the majority of crime against children is happening. And yet parents are thinking that this is the safer alternative. But we don't really know if it is.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
And so if you are intentionally keeping your children in bubble wrap, as I like to say, or hindering their independence out of fear, out of risks, the monitoring that you should also be doing or maybe focusing even more on in 2025 should start with your child's online life, not following them around the playground out of fear.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
By age 10 or 11, I probably had already flown as an unaccompanied minor on an airplane by that age. Apparently, a lot of people online had had very similar experiences. So again, this became a broader conversation about not just parenting, but also how our society and how law enforcement encourages and supports or does not support that kind of independence.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
And this is not the only thing that I did independently as a kid. My mom was 100% committed to raising independent, resilient kids. And that started with doing things alone confidently. But apparently that is very controversial.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
And so the lesson that I hope to leave you all with is that pushing yourself and your kids, that is a good thing. And of course, you have to do those risky things safely, as Jordan says, but Humans need responsibility. We need autonomy. We need to learn all of those things. In order to flourish, we need to be independent and resilient. And that starts in childhood. It is nearly impossible.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
It's not easy to learn that as an adult. You have to start that at a very young age. And so everyone, I encourage you to go pick up Jonathan Haidt's book because it is just incredible. I think it speaks to so many of the issues that are going on in our world. world right now.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
Read the Free Range Kids blog, take part in the independent challenge if you have young kids, and find ways in your day-to-day lives to assist your kids in developing this confidence and this competency that is just so vital. I also don't want this episode just to be for parents.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
I'm not even a parent, so maybe I shouldn't even be speaking to you about this, but I also think this is something that I need to hear sometimes, that young adults need to hear. Like, what can I, Brett, at 23 years old be doing to encourage buoyancy in my life? How can I continue to develop that resilience in my day-to-day life? Like this is the way that we all learn to weather life storms.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
This is how we become flexible and grounded. And again, that doesn't come easily. You learn all of this through very calculated and intentional and safe growth and discomfort. Discomfort is just part of life. It is a necessary part of childhood.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
And with the story that we saw unfold on X last week, even though the facts are a bit murky, maybe not that great, but the fact that people responded with a huge outrage about safetyism and wanting children to have more autonomy, that gives me so much hope that our society is finally waking up to this once again. And I promise you, we will all be better for it.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
And so people immediately rallied behind this father, saying this is completely out of line, this is ridiculous. Antonio Brown, the former NFL player, he even created a huge GoFundMe for him, which is now amassed for $70,000. It had been donated, you can see it here. $76,000 as of this morning, and to me, looking at all of this, this seemed like, it was just amazing.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
Like this seemed like a rousing, unifying cry across our society. Like people, regardless of their political affiliation and their background or their age, they were standing up for this man. And more importantly, we're standing up against a culture of safetyism. And I still think the root of this story is. However, there has been a major plot twist.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
It was very Shakespearean in nature, which you would know if you had taken one of my favorite Peterson Academy courses. And guys, if you love Shakespeare like I do, then I promise you, you will love The Shakespearean Tragedies, which is just such an amazing course at Peterson Academy.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
And of course, Peterson Academy is Jordan Peterson's online university that is open for enrollment for all of you right now. And so if you are somebody who loves lifelong learning, who wants to learn from the brightest professors in the world, if you're a homeschooler that wants to expand your curriculum, or if you're just somebody who has ever benefited from Dr. Peterson's lectures or his podcast,
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
this is the platform for you. Every month, Peterson Academy releases four new in-depth eight hour university level courses taught by world renowned experts and these are produced to keep you fully engaged. These are not your normal university classes. They cover an amazing range of topics from Shakespeare and philosophy and history and psychology to business and science.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
They're also complete with optional testing to further your understanding of all the subjects. Plus they are continually rolling out new educational features as they grow the entire platform. And my personal favorite is their built-in social community where you can connect and grow alongside like-minded people from around the world.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
So if you are ready to challenge your intellect and expand your horizons and take control of your education, it is time to go to petersonacademy.com slash brett. It is $599 per year or just $59 a month to access all of the eight hour courses with four new courses coming out a month, plus the community with a seven day money back guarantee. But I highly doubt you will need it.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
And the best part, in my opinion, is that for that price, you don't have to take out some insane $60,000 loan to further your education. Again, guys, that is petersonacademy.com slash brett to join, and right now, they are offering a 20% off discount for anyone under the age of 25, students, I know there's a bunch of you out there, teachers, military, active, and veterans. You get 20% off.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
So a recent story about a father being arrested for leaving his three children at a local McDonald's has blown the entire helicopter parenting debate into the limelight in a major way on social media, which also perfectly coincides with a movement that author and psychologist Jonathan Haidt has been pushing in a debate that my friend Alex Clark has literally been having on her own social media this week.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
This is not a deal you want to miss. But back to this very Shakespearean twist, Clay Travis and his group over at Outkick, they were able to actually talk to the Augusta police, and they acquired the police report from this arrest, And now it seems like the story isn't exactly what we were presented with.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
So Outkick reported in their article, according to the report from Louis C. Blanchard of the Sheriff's Department, Chris Lewis, who is the father, quote, was not engaged in a job interview or application process during the time that the children were left unattended. Furthermore, by his own admission, he was walking between McDonald's and the Hendricks apartments on foot during that period.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
The distance between these two locations is approximately 0.4 miles.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
And so now, based on all of these new facts and what is being presented to us in this police report, a lot of people are suspicious that, you know, no, this was not some kind of, you know, job application, going and interview, trying to make a better life for your kids, but that actually it might've been some kind of drug deal because the kids themselves told the cops that their dad had to go deliver a backpack.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
to somebody. They don't know what was in the backpack, but he was in pursuit of delivering this random bag. But more importantly than even that and what the dad was doing, according to the children, they were often left alone. This was a very frequent thing. This was not a one-time thing. This is something that happened normally in their family. Now, all of this information is actively coming out.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
I am filming this episode on a Thursday. It's going to be edited. We're going to be releasing it on a Monday. I am sure that we will have updates even then. Maybe I'll even do one of my selfie updates if there's something crazy that comes out. But again, the facts are still rolling out. And so Antonio Brown has decided that he is going to keep the GoFundMe up until all of these facts come out.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
He has also said that he has spoken with the family and the mother of these children. They have apparently been homeless since last year. He's working through what is true, what is not, if he still wants to give the money to the family, because obviously people are wanting to support them. which I completely respect. I think that that is the right thing to do.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
Now back to the main point here, because this episode really isn't about this father specifically. Even though this story isn't exactly what many people believed it to be, the conversation that arose from it is still vitally important, in my opinion. And as I said earlier, it lined up with a broader discourse that was already happening online.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
And the reason why all of that was happening this week is because last week was the one year anniversary of Jonathan Haidt's incredibly important book, Anxious Generation, which actually I have on the shelf. Where is it? Oh, right there, it's under my hat.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
Basically, this book dissects all the reasons why the younger generations are so stunted, which shock of the century is partially due to this helicopter parenting and the lack of independence that we are talking about today. The fact that these children were so sheltered and that independence and autonomy was never fostered in the home.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
And because he has been celebrating the anniversary of the release and trying to bring this conversation back into the limelight, he actually posted about that point just a couple of days ago. Take a listen.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
Jonathan Haidt is making an incredibly important point here, and he actually directs people to chapters two and three of his book, which completely focus on this focus on childhood independence and the importance of risky play, as he calls it.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
And so the questions that we need to dive into today are how much freedom do young children actually need? How much is too dangerous? And why are modern parents so damn afraid of childhood independence? But before we dive into that story, make sure that you are following our podcast page and please rate the show if you are enjoying it.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
Now, even though he has been promoting the book on his own social media and talking about this over the last couple of weeks, what has really taken off online is something that his organization called Let Grow created. And that would be the independence challenge, where basically he encourages parents to put their kids in situations where they have to do something alone.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
And he has been sharing all the parents who are doing this on his social media, and they have been going incredibly viral. Here's an example.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
And my favorite part of this entire video is the mother's confidence. Like, she has become so accustomed to doing this with her son. Her daughter is completely comfortable because the mom is saying, you've got this. You have all the tools you need. You're going to be great. Go on in. The girl just marches right in there. That is incredible.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
And you think about the types of kids that are in schools these days. You know, you watch the videos of teachers who were saying, oh my God, Gen Alpha is just so awful. They can't communicate. They can't express their emotions. They can't do anything independently. Like, please parents help us. This is one of the things that you need to do.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
You need to make them feel comfortable being away from you, being adept. It's so, so incredible. Now in this video, they also referenced a Chick-fil-A video. That was the first one that really went viral last week. So let's watch that one as well. He's so little.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
And if you want to come join me on tour this spring, we will link all of the stops and the links to buy tickets in the description below. I hope that I get to see all of your beautiful faces in person and meet a bunch of you.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
He just gave it to me, yeah. They just served you? Yeah. And then, yeah. You got your Happy Meal. It's so awesome. He gave me some money. And you can literally see the kids when they come back, they're so excited. Like this hasn't been a terrifying experience. They feel confident, they feel secure. They're so proud to come back and show their parents what they were able to accomplish.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
That's something the parents should be striving for. That's an incredible gift. to give your children. I mean, this is like the exact type of thing that my mom would do with me. I distinctively remember because I was so shy, as I've talked about before, I would literally like hide in the cupboard. If you guys watched my Sean Ryan interview, I would literally hide in cupboards, close the door.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
I was so, so quiet. I didn't want to speak to anybody. Like if I was with my family, that would be a totally different thing. I was very, very reserved when I was like five or six years old. And my mom was like, this is a problem. This is not going to work out in adulthood. So she would, you know, take me to 7-Eleven, to Goodwill, wherever we were.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
And she would give me like five to ten dollars and say, okay, I want you to go in there and you're going to get my Diet Coke. She loved Diet Coke and you can get a snack for yourself. But you need to find the item that you want. You need to go and check out. You need to bring back. And I remember like sobbing at the idea of doing that. And then
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
you know the challenges we didn't really call them challenges it was just things that she did like they progressed like I you know then started an acting career and I remember there was one time where I was in an acting class and it really didn't fit like I was having a really hard time I wasn't really responding to the people I had had some kind of conflict with the teacher where I was made to feel uncomfortable and I basically came home and I was like I don't want to go again I don't want to go again and my mom was like okay well then you need to tell her
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
All right, so you guys might have seen this story already because it went mega viral last week on X, but basically this huge story broke on X last week after a father in Augusta, Georgia was arrested for allegedly leaving his three children alone at a McDonald's while he attended a job interview nearby.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
You need to express yourself and, you know, go without me because you are, you know, a young adult. You're a tween. You need to go tell her. And I literally, I sat in the car, sobbed. Don't make me do it. Don't make me do it. I was a very dramatic child is how I ended up being an actor.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
But like literally full on tantrum with the idea of having to go in and do something by myself, confront somebody, stand up for myself. And my mom was like, sorry. You got to be independent. You got to learn how to deal with these things yourself. This is a very safe environment. This is somebody who cares about you. They're not going to hurt you, but you do have to go do this by yourself.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
That was an incredible gift that my mom gave me throughout my childhood, and I would not be the same person had she not taken those steps, had she not felt uncomfortable as a mother. I'm sure watching her child cry and be so scared, but she stuck with it and I am better for it. And I guarantee that all of these children whose parents are doing the independent challenge will be better for it.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
And this whole idea, really, it goes back so much further than just Jonathan Haidt. I mean, of course, my mom was doing this 10 years ago, other parents were doing this, you know, 10, 15 years ago, it was very normal, but he has such a prolific voice right now, so I think a lot of people look to him. But we also need to talk about his co-founder of his organization, Let Grow.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
Her name is Lenore Skenazy, and she is the founder of the Free Range Kids Movement, which works very closely with Jonathan Haidt and his work. And you might remember her, if you were paying attention to the news at this time, as the mom who came to fame 15 years ago for letting her nine-year-old child ride the subway by himself.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
This is a headline from a 2015 op-ed that she wrote about it, and she said, I let my nine-year-old ride the subway alone, and I was labeled as America's worst mom. We are having a hysterical moment in our society, she writes. We believe that children are in danger every single second that they are unsupervised. And I just want you to listen to this first line.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
Two Maryland parents stand accused of doing the unthinkable. They trusted their kids, 10 and 6, to walk home from the park. The children got about halfway there when somebody saw them and called the cops. For this, the parents, Danielle and Alexander, had been visited by the police and Child Predictive Services.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
Their kids were interviewed at school without their consent, and CPS even threatened to take their children away because they walked home from the park unsupervised. That is their crime. I mean, that is an insane and major overcorrection that we are seeing in our society. And this is a story that Lauren knows well.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
She then goes into her own story saying, this is all because we are having this hysterical moment in our society. We believe that children are in danger every single second that they are unsupervised. I learned this firsthand six years ago when I let my nine-year-old ride the subway alone. We live in New York. And I wrote a column about it.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
Two days later, I found myself decreed as quote, America's worst mom on the Today Show, MSNBC, Fox News, and NPR. That might be the one time that MSNBC and Fox News agreed on something and that was 15 years ago. That weekend, I started my free range kids blog to explain my philosophy. Obviously, I love safety.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
One headline from Everything Georgia reads, a 24-year-old Augusta man was arrested for leaving his children, ages one, six, and 10, alone at a McDonald's while he attended a nearby job interview.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
My kid wears a helmet, got strapped into car seats, always wears his seatbelt, but I don't believe that kids need a security detail every time they leave the house. When society thinks they do and turns that fear into law, loving, rational parents get arrested. And that is not hyperbolic, that is reality.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
And the stories that she has shared over the years on her blog are genuinely nothing short of shocking and eye-opening like these. She wrote, over the summer, a South Carolina mom who sent her nine-year-old to play in a popular park was arrested for not supervising her child. She was held overnight in jail, the mother was, and her daughter spent 17 days as a ward of the state.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
Another example she cited was that in the fall, an Austin, Texas mom who let her six-year-old play outside within view of the house was also visited by the cops and then child protective services. CPS interviewed the kids individually and even asked her eight-year-old daughter if she had ever seen movies with people's private parts, the mom told me.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
So my daughter, who didn't know things like that existed, does now. Thank you, CPS. I mean, again, an insane overcorrection. This mom could watch, she was watching her children play. She was within eyesight and that still happened. And this was 10 years ago and we are still hearing stories like this.
The Brett Cooper Show
How This Sparked A MASSIVE Parenting Debate Online | Episode 20
I mean, Lauren and all of these parents were up against the exact same paranoia that good parents are facing today. And I'm clarifying good because allegedly leaving your three kids at a McDonald's to go do a drug deal is different than, you know, intentionally encouraging parent-assisted confidence and independence. I think we all can acknowledge that nuance there.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
So I think that there is a reckoning with modern women right now, especially on the right. I think that there's a lot of people in general, if you just go on social media, that don't like women. I'm sure that you see those takes a lot. They genuinely just don't seem to appreciate or even enjoy women in the slightest.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
Admitting her own lack of first-hand knowledge on the subject, she quotes several of her time-starved mother friends as authorities and sounds mildly flummoxed that anyone would willingly undertake such an endeavor. Here we go. This is where it all came from, ladies and gentlemen. This is the beginning of the end of, you know, girlbossing. That's where it all started.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
Quote, Isn't that a hard sell if you ever heard one? So it's so funny to me because this whole ideology, this whole girl boss push, the things that my mom dealt with in the 80s that she had to push back against. When so many of her friends and her siblings were gawking at her for being a stay-at-home mom, for saying, yeah, I don't really know if I want this career, I just want to be a mother.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
This, this ideology is what she was pushing back against. And it's so ironic because we know it to kind of include motherhood and be about balancing motherhood, but it actually excluded motherhood from the get-go, and we sort of just assumed that it would fit in, which only set up women for decades of problems, in my opinion.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
inconsistent to me because I thought we were supposed to celebrate women like Jessica Krause, who stayed at home with their kids, who chose to sacrifice parts of their career to be there for their children. And now, years later, as her children are grown, they are older, they're able to be involved in her work. She has stepped into this fascinating role as this blogger and this journalist.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
Because from there came the belief that women needed to have it all, and that actually it was our government and men that were holding us back. Like, we, we can't have it all because of the patriarchy.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
because men have all of these expectations of us and we can't have it all because the government won't allow every single woman, no matter your age, no matter how far along you are, to get an abortion. We just created all of these issues that we're keeping women back from having it all. Which, spoiler alert, you're gonna see, none of that is actually real.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
So now, decades later, we are in 2025, long after this book was published, long after this phrase was coined, and this entire idea of women having it all has fallen apart. We know now that it was a sham. This is one of the reasons why so many women have turned their back on feminism. I mean, the feminists are no longer marching.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
I literally, when I was putting this episode together, I had to look up and even see if there was a women's march that happened over Trump's inauguration because there has been no outrage whatsoever. I mean, they are defeated. Women are tired. They have lost their gusto. They are not interested in this girl boss rallying cry anymore. You know, lean in feminism has been expended. It's done.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
That is why these trad aesthetics and creators like Ballerina Farm are going viral because women want something different. It is a response to what began in 1982 and women are done. They're exhausted. They're looking for something else. They want something different because they know that this having it all idea isn't real and it doesn't work.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
And all this has done has breed a generation and a type of woman who is anxious and angry and resentful and entitled and not fulfilled in the slightest.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
Which was expertly summed up in this piece by Christine Hassler, who is a motivational speaker and an author, because after years of trying to do it all and believing this lie and feeling less than for not being able to, she said that she learned that by trying to do it all at once, she was not doing anything at the level of 100% effort or enjoyment.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
She said, there was simply too much to do and accomplish to feel 100% about anything other than my stress level. So in my thirties, when each item on my checklist that I accomplished did not create a sense of fulfillment or relief, but rather more longing, I could not deny that having it all was perhaps not all it was cracked up to be.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
I looked at women who seemingly had it all and I noticed that so many of them were so tired and overburdened that they didn't seem to be enjoying anything. And when I looked at women who nurtured their natural preferences and their abilities and made choices to support those rather than chasing all of the shoulds in life, they seemed peaceful and actually quite happy.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
And these women seemed far more feminine to me. I mean, mic drop moment. That is the mic drop moment of this entire episode. It's almost like nature has been telling us these things all along, just like it's been telling us that American grass-fed beef is obviously best, and you would know that if you bought from good ranchers. Now, since 2017, over 140,000 family farms in the U.S.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
have shut down, and Why, you would ask? Well, it's because a lot of the meat in grocery stores isn't coming from American farms anymore. It is imported from overseas where mass production and low costs take priority over true quality. And this spring, we need to change that. And you can do that with Good Ranchers.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
It is time to spring into action and put American farms first because nothing beats American quality. And that is why I love goodranchers.com.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
She's at the White House all the time. I thought that that was something that we could celebrate, but I guess not because she's being belittled and called just a housewife. As another example of this chaos, you have some people
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
Good Ranchers puts family values first, just like you do, just like I do, and their meat is born, raised, and harvested right here in the USA from local family farms, so you know exactly where your meat is coming from, and I promise it's coming from Happy Cows.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
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The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
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The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
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The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
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The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
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The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
All right, so now you guys might be wondering how all of this, this whole history lesson on leaning in and having it all in feminism, how all of this relates back to what we talked about at the top of this episode, to Megyn Kelly and her tweet about Ashley St. Clair, or about conservative traditional women in general.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
celebrating the fact that Trump has surrounded himself with women like Caroline Levitt and Pam Bondi and Tulsi Gabbard and more, and then you have other people on the right who are saying that that is disgraceful and that that means that he is a weak man.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
And again, to jog your memory, this outdated idea of having it all, this feminist left-wing idea, is what people on the right were accusing Megyn Kelly of parroting because they now have their own ideas of what is right for women, about what women should be doing.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
And many of them not only believe that women shouldn't try to have it all and that they're not entitled to that and that it doesn't work, but that they should only focus on being in the home, being in the kitchen, being a wife and mother, because that is what is morally and biblically right.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
These are the types of people who look at creators like me and Megyn Kelly and even Allie Beth Stuckey and say that we are the lingering results of feminism, that we are still a net negative on society because we are women who work. And I obviously brought that up to Allie Beth because she deals with that a lot, especially on X, and this is how she examines that and responds to this.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
And as Allie Beth brought up just a couple seconds later, it is actually a very new idea that women should solely focus on being in the home or being in the kitchen.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
It literally feels like we can't win, and the right is just screaming at each other 24-7 about women and about who we should be, and it feels like everyone just has something to say about women right now in this cultural moment where, you know, feminism TM has lost its hold. And in my opinion, as a young woman, I think that a lot of this lacks nuance.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
If you guys have been watching me for a while, then you probably know that I was not raised in the most religious home. I was not raised in the most Christian home, but you know, Allie Beth's point makes a lot of sense. And so, you know, after talking with her, I made my way on over to my Bible to take a look and it's ironic,
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
That so many of these people online, these critics of women, these critics of me and Allie Beth and Megyn Kelly and all the other women that you see and that you might listen to, that these critics use Proverbs 31 to instruct women on their place in the home and out of the public sphere because it seems as though they missed the part where the Bible says that the woman, the wife,
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
There's a lot of people who can't figure out how women should fit into modern society. You know, are we working? Are we being stay-at-home moms? Should concessions be made for women who are in public office and are in government, do we all want to go frolic in fields and make sourdough and have homesteads, or is that what we should be doing?
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
considers a field and buys it. Out of her earnings, she plants a vineyard. She sits about her work vigorously. Her arms are strong for her tasks. She sees that her trading is profitable and that her lamp does not go out at night. At another point it reads, her husband is respected at the city gate where he takes a seat among the elders of the land.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
She makes linen garments and sells them and supplies the merchants with sashes and that she speaks with wisdom and grace and that she is respected by the community. She is not just contributing to her home and her family, but she's contributing to the community at large. And that is what Allie Beth is arguing that a lot of these people are missing.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
And so basically the argument that I am now making in this episode with you guys is that basically it seems like everyone seems to have these ideas and the opinions on what the perfect life is for women in 2025. I mean, the left has parroted one idea for years at this point, we are all well accustomed to it, and it didn't work.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
Women were not fulfilled by trying to juggle it all while primarily focusing on their careers, and this idea was pushed and started by women who actually didn't want to have families in the first place.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
So obviously it wasn't going to work, they weren't juggling it in the first place, and now we're dealing with the political right that has this new idea for women that really isn't rooted in historical truth, and we should get into that in another episode,
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
could be interesting, but it's also an idea and a structure that is not attainable for many women, especially in this economy and in this dating landscape. And also in Allie Beth's mind, she says that this is pushing a standard that Jesus himself did not set. Take a listen.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
And so now all of this, this idea has grown to a magnitude where women online are shamed and mocked if they don't fit into these standards. And it kind of reminds me of how the left would mock women who made the choice to stay at home. Like my mom was mocked. 30 years ago, the way that I was mocked when I was 15 years old and told my best friend that I desperately wanted to have kids one day.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
And I think that all of it came to a head last week in a really crazy and beautiful way when Megyn Kelly made a now very viral tweet, a tweet that possibly dipped its toe into the idea that women could have it all, and the entire world on X freaked out.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
And she gawked because she said that I was ruining any shot I had at ever having a career, finding any kind of fulfillment outside of the home. I mean, it is like a never ending cycle and it is so exhausting. And in my mind, we are completely focusing on the wrong things. And we actually should go back to what Megan said and maybe take a closer listen to what she was trying to communicate.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
Because in my eyes, what I want to be focusing on, but I think that everyone should be focusing on, man or woman, regardless of your age or your situation, is living a life that is in accordance with your values, whatever they may be. And that is up to you to decide. I obviously have the ones that I live my life by that I think are more correct and healthy.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
But again, at the end of the day, that's up to you. And it's important to focus on that and then also focus on not compromising those values for immediate gratification or material success. Because at the end of the day, when we all fall asleep at night, It's only us that we have to contend with.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
At the end of our lives, when we look back, we have to know that we had integrity with ourselves and that we lived a life of principles rather than cheapening ourselves or trying to fit in boxes set by other people who don't know our individual situations, literally do not know us at all.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
Because that personal integrity, being honest with yourself and living in accordance with your values, that is fulfillment. Sleeping your way to success, that's not fulfillment.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
Trying to juggle having it all and prioritizing a career when really that's not what you want, but you're just trying to do it because women told you that that is what you should want and that you should be doing that, that will not provide fulfillment.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
As Christine Hassler explained, chasing an aesthetic of traditional womanhood that you see on X because people are telling you that that is what you should want also will not bring fulfillment because it's not coming from you. And also, finally, I'm kind of running out of breath here, but this is probably the most important point in the entire video.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
is that no one, no one on this earth is going to be able to have it all. That is simply not realistic and it's not just a female issue. That goes for men as well. Life is made up of dreams and reality and sacrifices and priorities and you do not get everything you want in the exact way that you want at the time that you want. There might be things that you want and you'll get them later in life.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
I think about my mother-in-law who I just adore, who sacrificed so much of her career to raise my husband and his siblings, put her career on hold. You know, she works part-time, she did other things, but she sacrificed success that other people were getting at a younger age. And now,
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
in her 60s now that her kids are grown that they're in their 30s she has a career that she absolutely adores that she loves in this like third act of her life she is so so happy and is so successful but she didn't get it when everybody else was or when they told her that she should be getting it and that's okay because your timeline does not need to be everyone else's you just need to be living in accordance with your values and what you believe to be good and correct and that will inevitably
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
But I actually think that people have deeply misunderstood what she was trying to communicate with that tweet, and that it actually begs for a much deeper analysis, which, of course, rarely happens on X, rarely happens on social media in general because it's just a lot of screaming and black and white takes. So today, I want to talk about that.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
require sacrifices and it will require prioritizing what you believe to be important for example if you want that nine to five job if you want to climb the corporate ladder and that's what you want to focus on i'm sorry but you probably will not be able to have eight kids and be as engaged as other mothers who don't work or have more flexible jobs or work part-time things or work from home or whatever it may be just as if you want to have eight children there are things in your life and career
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
that you will have to sacrifice and say no to, and that if you want to be that very engaged mother to all eight of your children and spend those years of your life having children and raising them, you probably won't be able to have the nine to five. And of course, that does not mean that your life is going to be bad by any means. I'm not saying that at all, but it might not be... Perfect.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
It might not be having it all or exactly how you envisioned in your perfect dream world, and that's normal. That is just part of real life. And Allie Beth actually wrote an entire book based on this idea that, you know, you're not enough and that's okay. And in our interview, she said this.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
And in addition to that, she continuously emphasized, I think that this is so important, that the values and the principles of your life must always be the driver.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
I want to talk about the ideas that both the left and the right have been pushing on women and what we should actually be seeking instead of just trying to have it all, which, spoiler alert, Megyn Kelly was sort of trying to explain.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
So the point of all of this, the point of this entire episode that I've been talking about for the last 30 plus minutes, all of this was to say that number one, Megyn Kelly was not attacking you. She was not attacking women or men for that matter. And I see, personally, I see her tweet as a form of empowerment.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
She wasn't telling you that you can and should have it all and that you must go do it all and you must go get that apartment and you must do everything the way that she has done it. But she's saying that if there are things
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
that you dream of and that you hope for, that you see happening in your life, you do not have to compromise the things that you say are your core principles to get there, which is at the time what we were seeing unfold on social media.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
And then secondly, what I wanted to talk about, and this is for women more specifically, there are a lot of people right now telling us who to be and who we are and what we should do and how we should be defined and what is right for us. And at the end of the day, that is up to you and your family and your principles to decide.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
Because like with every single human being on planet Earth, you will have to prioritize and sacrifice and say no and then take risks. But that doesn't mean that you won't have a full life, no matter what people online say. So focus on you, focus on your values, and I promise things will turn out all right.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
But before we dive into that, if you want ad-free episodes, if you want a weekly advice video called Dear Brett that I've just started recording, you can go to Cooper Confidential, which is my subscriber-only platform. And if you guys are interested in merch, you can find all of that below in the description.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
Alright, so before we dive into my analysis and why I think all of this is just so crazy, we obviously have to read Megan's tweet. Now, this tweet now has over 4.1 million views, but...
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
She said on February 17th, Ladies, it is possible to make your own money, have your own career, pay for your own swanky New York City apartment, etc., and find a man who loves you and wants to have and raise kids with you and wants to be with you and only you. The only thing stopping you is your decision to settle for less. That's kind of a harsh ending. And people lost their damn minds.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
And as you can see, it racked up millions and millions of views, millions of comments and quote tweets. She was getting ripped to shreds on X. And people were saying that this was a feminist rallying cry, that she was a fake conservative, that she had no grounds to stand on, that this was terrible advice that she was giving women.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
And women themselves were slamming her and accusing her of parroting something that was unrealistic. New York Post wrote about this the next day. Megyn Kelly stirs controversy with her take on balancing kids and a career, which In my opinion, that really wasn't what the tweet was about, but again, we're gonna get into that at a later time.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
But let me tell you, the response that the New York Post covered in their article was emotional. These were some of the things the woman had said. This woman said, I am a month out from giving birth and I have a toddler. I can assure you I'm not in boss babe mode. I'm surviving even with house help.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
Another person said, I remember Megan admitting that she doesn't cook during a Thanksgiving show episode. So what do they eat? Does her husband cook? This puts very unrealistic pressures on most mothers." Another person said, "...I don't consider foregoing a career and choosing to be a stay-at-home mom and mother to be less."
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
Which again, Megyn Kelly did not say, but we're gonna get into that, I promise. Another person said, "...Ladies, it is also possible that you'll win the lottery. Adjust your expectations and enthusiasm and drive accordingly. Realistic expectations are better here than engagement-farming feminist talking points." One person said, who the F relates to this shit? A swanky New York City apartment?
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
There is just a lot of online discourse and debate about all of our lives. And I think that a lot of this was broken open over the past couple of weeks, especially with the Ashley St. Clair and the Patriarchy Hannah drama that unfolded last week. And if you guys missed that, my best friend Amir and I talked about that when he came on the show last week.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
Please stop, we already did this whole thing in the late 2000s and it didn't work out. Another person said, not wanting to be a boss babe is not settling for less. My kids were raised by me, not a nanny or a daycare. It is okay to find a man who wants to provide for his family. But here's my question. When did she say that that was not okay? That was not the point of the tweet.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
This was not a personal attack on any of you or your life choices. In fact, the tweet was, in my mind, about choices and about making choices that are good for you and your values and your family. Choices that are good for only you because it is your life and your decision. You have the freedom to raise your family, to be the kind of mother that you want to be.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
And that is what Megyn Kelly was talking about. And now I understand the women are testy right now. I am testy right now. There are a lot of people that are trying to define what women should be or what we should do, who women even are. That's been a debate that we've literally had to have for the last four years. Obviously women are gonna be riled up.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
And of course, what a woman is should not even be a question that we're debating, but you know what? It's 2025, that is where we've gotten. Thankfully though, none of the professors at Peterson Academy have to ask that question. And that's because these professors are the best of the best and they are actually rooted in reality.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
And if you don't know, Peterson Academy is Jordan Peterson's online university that is open for enrollment right now. If you are someone who loves lifelong learning and wants to learn from the brightest professors in the world, or if you are somebody who has ever benefited from Dr. Peterson's lectures or his incredible guests on his podcast, then this platform is for you.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
Every month, Peterson Academy releases four new in-depth eight hour university level courses taught by world renowned experts. And they're specifically produced to keep you fully engaged. They cover an amazing range of topics from philosophy and history to mathematics and psychology and science and business complete with optional testing to further your understanding of all of these subjects.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
Plus they're continually rolling out new educational features as they grow. And there is also a built-in social community where you can connect and learn alongside like-minded people from around the world. So if you are ready to challenge your intellect and expand your horizons and take control of your education, it is time to go to petersonacademy.com slash brett.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
It is $599 per year or $59 a month to access all 31 eight-hour courses with four new courses a month plus the community with a seven-day money-back guarantee. And the best part is, in my opinion, that for that price, guys, you do not have to take out a $60,000 student loan to further your education. You can do that just through Peterson Academy.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
But basically, people are wondering if either of these women were genuine in their desire for a more traditional life, because Ashley St. Clair posted one thing online, she said one thing online, and then obviously did another.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
Again, guys, that is PetersonAcademy.com slash Brett to join today. But back to the point, I do just want to offer a disclaimer, and I think that it would be dishonest of me not to, you know, give this caveat, but we have to acknowledge that... Women can be catty and emotional and often pick fights against other women, which I think is what we're seeing online.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
But I just want you to read Megyn Kelly's tweet again. Remove emotion. Remove this idea that she is attacking you. Let's just read the words that she wrote and think about the context of what was going on on social media when she posted this. Again, ladies, it is possible to make your own money, to have your own career, pay for your own swanky New York City apartment, et cetera.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
She's not saying that is what you need to have. And also find a man who loves you, wants to have and raise kids with you, and wants to be with you and only you. The only thing stopping you is your decision to settle for less. Megan.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
was not calling out normal women just trying to get by in America, women who are totally fine and happy living in their suburban lives, who do not want the swanky New York City apartment, women who are stay-at-home moms that are very happy with that, that that was their dream. This tweet, my friends, this X post, whatever we're calling it now, this was a direct response to Ashley St.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
Clair and the whole Elon Musk, baby daddy, baby mama drama that was going on. And it was more of a conversation on not sacrificing your values than anything else, whatever those values might be. And that makes this tweet applicable to anyone. And she explained this context later that day on her show. Just take a listen.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
She said that she wanted a traditional life, that she just wanted a husband and a couple of kids and a homestead, and then ended up having a child with the richest man in the world and is now A single mother times two, trying to figure that out and literally tweeting at him to get his attention because he's not responding to her lawyers or her.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
I mean, listen, some people don't like Meghan. Meghan did not miss here at all. This was completely factual. I say it all the time. Your life is your fault and that doesn't have to be a negative thing. And right now, Ashley St. Clair is dealing with the consequences of her own actions.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
Now she has a beautiful new child and she's trying to protect this child, but there are consequences to her actions. And what Meghan was trying to say is it didn't need to be this way. She had a career. She was very well connected. I'm sure she was around a lot of men.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
She could have found somebody who wanted to marry her and raise a family with her like she tweeted about for years on end, but that's not how it worked out. And instead, she now has a child with a man who historically, very publicly, has never committed to anyone. Like it's very, very public. You probably knew that going into this situation.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
And so this tweet that everyone got so riled up about is specifically calling out the fact that she allegedly got this expensive swanky apartment paid for, that she's being seen and photographed
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
in all of these fancy clothes, you know, like head to toe Balenciaga is what I've heard, that she acquired that by having a child with this billionaire who won't commit to her or anyone else for that matter. And obviously not being able to contact the father of your child is awful and messy, especially for this innocent child.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
But this man's history with dating and relationships and parenthood is well on display. And as Megan says, I'm sorry, but this was a choice. And she is also saying, in addition to kind of, you know, that subtweet, that dig at Ashley, she is also saying, women and Ashley, this is not the only option. You have other choices.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
And Allie Beth Stuckey, who is a good friend of mine, and she is one of the biggest Christian conservative female podcasters and mother, is living proof of that. And so I asked her for her take. Take a listen.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
You have patriarchy Hannah, who literally built a brand off of being this Christian conservative stay-at-home mom of 14 children with her husband Tony, literally shaming women on a daily basis for not being as virtuous or traditional as she was, and then it all ended up being fake. It was all a sham. She had no children whatsoever. She was not married to a man named Tony.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
women like if you want money and you want the ritzy apartment this is not the way to do it and it could be possible that you get all of those things one day now another great example of this type of woman that you guys might know is brittany martinez hugo boom who is the founder of evie magazine she also runs 28 wellness which is the hormone tracking and period tracking app and she is married to this man that she is deeply in love with that she has been with since they were young and she had this idea for a more traditional women's magazine she wanted this health app because there wasn't anything like that on the market
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
And she found a way to pursue something that she loved and that she was passionate about and build it with the person that she loved while also being a mother and being very engaged in their life and also finding massive, massive success. And she didn't have to compromise her values in order to do that. And she's not the only example of that.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
I have so many examples in my personal life on all different scales of success and different lifestyles and different things that they're pursuing. But the common denominator is that they are living in accordance to their values and they're not compromising that at any turn. And finding success obviously does not mean having the lavish swanky New York City apartment.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
It can be anything and that's different for everyone. That is up to you to decide. But that again is what Megan is saying. You can find that success that you want and not compromise your values when it comes to the things that mean the most to you like marriage and family. You can get the expensive apartment or the nicer house or the great job and not do it through child support.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
You can get social clout and higher social standing or more opportunities without sleeping your way there, which is what people are alleging that Ashley St. Clair did. So again, not trying to beat a dead horse here, but you can achieve your dreams and build the life that you want and simultaneously not compromise your values without compromising your belief
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
in traditional family, traditional marriage. And in my mind, this point, this point that Meghan is making, is a very clear and objectively good statement for anyone to hear. But as you guys obviously saw from that New York Post article, many did not see it that way, and many thought that she was parroting this idea, this very left-wing feminist idea
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
that women can and should have it all but where did that even come from and what does that mean i think we need to understand that before we can circle out to this argument now that term you know women having it all can you have it all was popularized in 1982 by the longtime cosmopolitan editor
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
Helen Gurley Brown, and she wrote a book entitled Having It All, Love, Success, Sex, and Money, which was basically instructing women at the time how to succeed in the workforce and still balance it all, how to have great romance and a sex life and make all the money and, you know, climb the corporate ladder and do all the things because she was the cosmopolitan editor.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
So that is kind of where this term came from, but she also was not the first one to use that term, as a New York Times article from 2015 acknowledges. The term having it all, at least as it applies to women and work, has a relatively limited pedigree. Ruth Rosen, a scholar who has written extensively on the history of
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
feminism, told me that you can't find much archival evidence of the phrase before the tail end of the 1970s, and even then, it wasn't so much a feminist mantra as a marketing pitch directed towards the well-heeled, liberated consumer. By 1980, two years before Brown's book, Joyce Gabriel and Betty Baldwin published Having It All, a practical guide to managing a home and a career.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
She had no grounds to stand on whatsoever. And then this past weekend, just a couple of days ago, we had Laura Loomer on X attacking housewife Jessica Krause for getting involved in politics, which is just so...
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
True to its promise, Gabriel and Baldwin's book offers straightforward tips on how a working mother might make the most of her scarce time. strive to do two things at once, the author's advice, like letting your nail polish set while you blow dry your hair, which, I'm sorry, is the worst advice I have ever heard.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
Your nail polish will be all in your hair, or maybe these authors do not have as much hair as I do, because that would be a recipe for disaster. Anyway, that was just an aside.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
But they go on and they say, women's magazines and Madison Avenue might have been selling the concept, but it was after Brown's book landed on the bestseller list, Rosen said, that the phrase gathered real cultural momentum, becoming a shorthand for having kids and a career.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
So as you heard from there, the phrase took off and as they wrote, being shorthand for children and a career and doing everything perfectly and having all the things and having all the success that you want with no compromises whatsoever because you're a woman and you deserve to have it all.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
But the thing that is so ironic about this entire story is that Helen didn't even want having it all to be the title and she famously did not have children. She was not a mother. She did not even believe that children would fit into her framework of what success looks like for women. and the instruction that she was giving to these young women.
The Brett Cooper Show
Can Women Have it All? | Episode 10
New York Times goes on and they say, there is then no small absurdity in the fact that Brown's vision omitted children. Only six of the 462 pages of Having It All mention them. And Brown has a hard time disguising her suspicion that children aren't so seamlessly integrated into her program.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
It has become nearly impossible for one narrative to reign supreme through mainstream and legacy media alone. Corporations no longer own our voices. They no longer own truth or our information or our evidence. Welcome back to episode two of The Red Cooper Show. I am so excited. about this episode, like seriously, for the last six weeks, I've been watching this unfold.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
as the star and then kind of took over production on the film. At least that is what we saw back at the end of this summer as everything was starting. So the reason why we kind of understood that things were not as they seemed, that there was trouble in paradise, is that Blake Lively and the cast of It Ends With Us
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
Remember, Blake Lively? Wear your florals, everyone, because her character is a florist who works at this floral shop. All of the signs are there. So suddenly people are connecting the dots and they're going, oh my God. So they were literally making fun of him on screen. They were trying to push him out of his own production. They hated him. They're literally bullying him on screen.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
And that just shows the power of social media because they brought up all of these points. And then Justin and his team added that into a second lawsuit. Well, now actually we're on the third lawsuit of this entire scandal, but the second lawsuit from Justin's team. And guys, what was happening on social media was seriously a machine that could not be stopped. Like it was faster moving.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
It was more ferocious than what we saw this summer when Blake's reputation was first destroyed. And all of that is super interesting to me because this kind of social media momentum, this, you know, internet sleuthing that is happening throughout the scandal, is actually relatively new in the world of PR and entertainment strategy and marketing.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
So I wanted to hear somebody else's opinion about this. So I called a friend of mine, Jared Sopransky, who is a PR expert who works in entertainment, and I wanted to hear his take. So listen to what he said about social media drastically changing the scope of his work.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
And as I'm sure you can imagine, this kind of social media pressure can obviously help make somebody's job in PR a lot easier because the social media users are doing the legwork for you and they're moving the story forward and they're keeping you in the right direction. But for Blake's case, I mean, it's not helping her at all.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
And so now her PR team is having to fight against literally millions and millions of people who are picking up on everything. I mean, you guys are literally incredible. Like people on social media, you do not miss a single thing. It's like you have millions of collective minds that remember everything, that have clipped everything, that are scouring photos and videos.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
And even the world's most powerful and largest PR team can't actually fight that. And that is what we're seeing.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
all mass unfollowed Justin Baldoni as the film was about to premiere, and it was very suspect because Justin Baldoni was the one who first got the option for this book. He had been driving the production literally for years before they even started filming. He was very, very close to the project, and he was nowhere to be found on the press tour.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
And so while all of that was happening on social media, Justin Baldoni's team was able to kind of sit back and relax because people were on their side, while not actually relaxing, because they were pulling all of their facts together, for this third lawsuit. And so they came out just last week with yet another bombshell suit, this time $400 million directly against Blake and her team.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
This is not against the New York Times. This is a totally different lawsuit. This one is directly against Blake Lively. And guys, this lawyer is incredible. Like it is worth going and reading this lawsuit because The story that he paints, the way that he writes, it is gripping. He knew that the public was going to see this and he wrote it for us, which I very much appreciated.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
So basically, TLDR, the Internet was right, as the Internet often is. It's crazy how that works, that all the clues people saw, all the things that were caught on camera. I don't think Blake considered the fact that a majority of this movie was shot in New York City, like on the streets of New York City. So they had people literally from like two and a half to three years ago watching them film.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
They have random people filming interactions between Blake and Justin. All of that is online and it refutes so many of her different claims. So all of that is in this lawsuit. The lawsuit covers the tensions over the creative direction of the film, how Blake Lively strong-armed her way in and basically elbowed her way into a producer role that Justin literally had to go to the union and say-
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
hey, yeah, Blake really wants a producer credit. She's basically taking over the film, so we need to give her one. They reiterated yet again that no, Justin Baldoni did not fat shame Blake Lively, but that yes, he had the back injury that we have been talking about for basically six months at this point and wanted to make sure he could lift her.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
And in the lawsuit, they added that after he asked that question,
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
very harmless question we can all agree that that is a very harmless question that he got invited over to Blake and Ryan's home and got berated by Ryan Reynolds for having the gall to ask that question of his wife that that was so offensive and so hurtful to her but also we know that it wasn't hurtful because also in the lawsuit they included text messages between Justin and Blake where they were literally talking about body image issues just listen to this so Justin this is in 2023 he texts Blake and says I want you to know that you will look amazing
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
Anything you are insecure about, we will talk through and get creative together and make sure that you are comfortable. I just don't want you to stress about your body. It is the last thing you need. As soon as I have a rough schedule that is even remotely accurate, I'll share it and I'll make sure that the team keeps this in mind as well. And then he puts a heart emoji.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
He was the male lead, was the love interest of Blake Lively, and was in no interviews, was not walking the red carpet, and people got super confused, but They thought that maybe there was a reason for it because this film is about domestic violence.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
And the reason why she was allegedly so sensitive about her body was because she had just had her fourth baby. She was breastfeeding. She felt like she hadn't bounced back yet. And so Justin is being sensitive about this in this text message. And Blake Lively responds and is grateful. She says, this is my job here and I meet my responsibilities with extreme work ethic.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
Also one thing that you'll see if you read this lawsuit is that Blake Lively has way too much time on her hands because her text messages are literally insane. She also at one point compares herself to Khaleesi from Game of Thrones and says,
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
I have dragons who will fight for me, basically talking about Ryan Reynolds and Taylor Swift and insinuating that Justin Baldoni should not fight her because she has more powerful people that will go against him, obviously, now that we're seeing that she is suing him. Anyway, the texts were just insane and very egotistical, but to finish what I'm talking about here,
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
She responds relatively kindly, and she's saying, So having your understanding and support to help me pull this off is critical and very, very appreciated. She appreciates all of his support. Not just in my experience now, but also healing from experiences past. So thank you.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
So actually, Justin Maldoni is being so kind and so wonderful that not only is he helping Blake Lively through this hard experience and her body image issues, but he's actually helping her heal. which is definitely not what we heard in her first complaint.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
Now, moving on from that little part of the story, I just wanted you guys to get finality of that since we've been talking about that literally since like August, I think. In the lawsuit, they also talk about how Blake made Justin and made his team hire additional producers that she would supervise to monitor the production because she didn't trust him.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
So she had to have personal approved producers to supervise him. The director of the film, again, the producer of the film, who optioned the film six years ago.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
They also revealed in the lawsuit that it was her that refused the intimacy coordinator, not him, and that she actually took control and was the one instructing him on how to be sexual and how to be romantic in all of these intimate scenes, which, again, because people were watching the filming of this movie on the streets of New York, was caught on camera.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
And so they thought, okay, well maybe they're trying to separate these characters and they want us to already get into the mindset of this being an abusive relationship, of them being at odds. So people thought, okay, maybe that's the reason why. But then it just kept going and nobody acknowledged it and it got weirder because they noticed that she had unfollowed him
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
We literally have her going up to him and saying, this is how you need to grab me, this is how you need to kiss me, and it was even brought up in press interviews. Here we go.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
No, you didn't. She's literally nervously laughing going, haha, you should definitely have one. Blake, you were the one who refused it. Okay, we'll let her continue.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
I actually just saw it too. It was on Instagram yesterday. Now the person speaking who is off screen is Colleen Hoover, the author of the book. And Blake Lively is trying to cover all of this up and go, oh no, where did that happen? No, I definitely didn't do that. And she's going, no Blake, I saw that video on Instagram. That was so funny.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
You were being the intimacy coordinator and you can watch Blake's face going, oh shit, oh my God, people are going to know. And guess what? We have even more evidence than those two videos. There are texts covering this.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
In one exchange, Justin is talking to a production member on set and he texts them a screenshot of a conversation that he had with Blake, where he says, Hey Blake, just hired an intimacy coordinator who I love. I will set up a time for you to meet or FaceTime them for next week. And she says, I feel good. I can meet with them when we start. Thank you, though.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
And then he sends this exchange to the production member and said, just FYI, wanted to tell you about this. She seems like she doesn't want to meet the intimacy coordinator until we start, which may mess up the workflow, but I can still meet with her, of course. And then the female producer responds and says, that's fine if she doesn't want to meet her now.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
You'll just have to walk her through what you and blank, the intimacy coordinator, are are thinking, but she never actually met or wanted to use the intimacy coordinator. She just kept pushing it off. Also, she never actually signed her employment agreement.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
She also kept pushing that off, probably because she wanted to strong arm her way in and not just be an actress, but end up being the producer.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
Now, another thing that was included in this lawsuit that corroborates what people were saying on social media a few months ago was Ryan Reynolds' involvement and the fact that during the writer's strike, when nobody was writing, Ryan actually stepped in without just knowing, without anybody knowing, and rewrote scenes and added scenes that they would later film.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
And Justin did not know until he saw a cut of the film. Also, at the end of production, Blake did not like Justin Baldoni's cut of the film, and his cut was far more serious, darker, focused a lot more on domestic violence. She didn't like that. Florals, fun, silly, girly, chick flick, promoting her hair Caroline, best friends with Taylor Swift, all of those vibes, she wanted that.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
So she hired her own post-production team. And she had them do their own edit of the film, and then they showed these two versions to different audiences. People far more preferred Justin Baldoni's version, but they ended up going with Blake's.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
And what is even crazier to me is that they would not even let Justin and his team, the original team, see the new version of the film, even if it was just to see what had been cut out or what had been changed. They were not allowed to look at the film that they had poured blood, sweat, and tears in for years because she and Ryan Reynolds literally took over. Here's a text conversation about that.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
And then we started to see a stark contrast with how Justin was promoting the film independently, because he wasn't included in anything else, with how Blake Lively and the rest of the cast was promoting the movie. And Blake Lively was doing all of these big, colorful, floral events. She was also simultaneously promoting her new hair, Caroline.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
Justin Baldoni says to his editors, just curious if you guys have peeked at her cut and if anything has changed. And the editor says, I have just been told that we are not permitted to look. And he says, ha ha, wow, when did that happen? Editor one says as per Sony. So now Sony is involved, they're complicit because they are on the side of Blake and Ryan.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
So editor one says as per Sony, editor two said this evening through redacted. Justin says, wow, okay then. The editors and the director aren't even allowed to look at an actress's cut. Got it. Well, here we go. We will just keep taking the high road.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
Now, the other thing that we have confirmed in Justin's lawsuit is that actually he did not burst into her trailer while she was breastfeeding repeatedly, but that actually she was inviting him into her trailer while she was breastfeeding. Here is a text conversation about that from June 3rd, 2023. She said, I'm just pumping in my trailer if you want to work out our lines.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
And Justin Baldoni said, copy. Eating with crew and we'll head that way. She said, take your time. He said, I'm here. I'll meet you in hair and makeup. So Justin, he has all the evidence. He is refuting anything. every single one of these claims. And more importantly, he and his team, as you can see, are being totally transparent.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
I mean, these are just five or six examples of things that they've brought up and clear text message exchanges that refute everything that she put out to the press. They dropped everything. totally uncensored, totally unedited.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
And last week they actually announced that they're even creating an entire website where they will publish every single email and text exchange to prove that he is innocent, that none of this happened. I mean, that's literally unprecedented. And that is because they know the power of social media. They know the power of the public courtroom because this is what is driving
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
people in Justin Baldoni's favor because they actually have truth they actually have the evidence and this is where I see the stark differences between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni and how they are handling all of this because Blake is being so tactful and so specific you know she's dropping edited texts and specific stories that might be a little bit true but do lack all context like yes he came into my trailer while I was breastfeeding but actually
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
I invited him in because I wanted to work on lines and we didn't have an intimacy coordinator, but actually it was because I never wanted to meet with one. She's also cozying up to journalists to get the story out that she wants. She is leaking these stories to people. She's getting them to ask these tailored questions, to omit things from text messages.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
And she believed that that would be enough to run Justin Baldoni into the ground. And unfortunately, that is a very widely used tactic, especially in these smear campaigns. But with this new age of social media and internet sleuths, that just does not work like it used to. And you see Justin, on the other hand, is literally leaving it all out on the field. He is showing all of his cards.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
She was making this like a chick flick, rom-com, cutesy movie. She was telling everybody like, wear your florals to go see the movie because her character owns a flower shop. Meanwhile, Justin Baldoni took every single interview to talk about domestic violence and to talk about protecting women and the importance of telling these types of stories with, you know, very, you know, sincere care.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
His team is going straight to the public. He is going on podcasts. He is talking to the media. They are literally publishing all of these exchanges online so the people can see the truth. He's literally saying, I have nothing to hide, just like Good Ranchers has nothing to hide with their meat. Because guys, did you know
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
that 85% of meat in our grocery stores is not actually raised in the United States. And that's because the country of origin labeling law was repealed in 2015. So that means that if a piece of meat is packaged in the US, it can even get a product of the US label, even if it was not born, raised, or processed in the United States.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
But with good ranchers, when they say their meat is 100% American raised, you can trust them. Because their meat is born, raised, and processed right here in the States by American ranchers. And it's completely free from hidden additives. No antibiotics, no added hormones, no seed oils, just simple good ingredients that you can feel good about feeding to your family.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
They truly make everything more simple, even down to the fact that their products are delivered right to your door. No more store runs, no more long lines, no more questioning the quality of the meat at your grocery store. Because with goodranchers.com, everything that you need to create a delicious meal is just a click away.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
And at goodranchers.com slash Brett, you can also check out an exclusive box that I curated just for you guys. These are all of my favorite Good Ranchers products that are staples in our home. These are the things that Alex and I eat every single day of the week, and I know that you will love them.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
And if all of that is not enough to convince you, right now, Good Ranchers is still running their New Year New Meat deal, where if you subscribe to any of their boxes, but preferably the Fred Cooper box, you will get free ground beef or chicken or salmon in every order for an entire year, plus If you use my code BRETT at checkout, you will get an additional $25 off that first order.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
So visit goodranchers.com today and use code BRETT at checkout to claim your free meat and $25 off. It has never been easier to prioritize your family's health, make things more convenient, and support a company that you can truly trust. Unlike all of these journalists and celebrities that are obviously lying about this story.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
Now, I wanted to hear my friend Jared's take on this and what it means for each of these sides and what it means for their careers going forward. And I thought he had a really interesting take. Just listen.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
Now, I also think that it's a fascinating strategy that over the last six months, until that Christmas Eve lawsuit, that Justin basically took the high road. He stayed silent while he was being pushed around, literally being pushed out of his own production and into the basement with his family and friends.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
And so then people started to wonder, okay, well, what if they got into a big argument about how the film was going to be released and Justin did not want to be part of this floral, happy, fun, girly chick flick and Blake Lively, you know, got everybody to turn against him. So we all thought, okay, maybe it's just in post-production. Oh no, guys, it goes so much deeper.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
He literally held off his PR team, even though Blake Lively doesn't want you to believe that and just let it happen. Trusting. that at some point the truth would come out and that that would prevail. He probably believed, you know, rightfully so, considering what we know about Blake Lively now, that she would not be able to be silent.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
That she and her ego would hate so much that her reputation had been destroyed, that her actions had been exposed, that she would want to fight, that she would not be able to stand the fact that she had been run into the ground, and she would come back with some kind of fight, and then he would be ready to drop the hammer.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
He basically sat silently for the last, you know, five or six months, honestly for the last couple of years while he was working with her, let her wind herself up and then shoot herself in the foot because of her own ego.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
way that they've gone about this there's a lot of arrogance involved now to wrap all of this up at this point we really don't know where this case is going obviously we have all of these lawsuits they're muddling through it you know justin is pushing for a public trial that would literally be televised in front of a jury a la amber heard johnny depp that would be in california but interestingly blake lively specifically filed
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
I have been tearing out my hair, wanting to talk about the story. I have had you people DMing me, messaging me, tagging me and things being like, Brett, just like go live and talk about this. But I know that it is a big enough story. So I wanted to do it in a proper format and make this one of the first episodes.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
So then a couple of weeks after all of that, I really am giving you the full recap. A couple of weeks after that, we started to see some leaks and it seemed like Blake Lively's camp had dropped some allegations that Blake Lively had not been very kind to her on the set of It Ends With Us and that he had fat shamed her because he asked about her weight.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
,, , , , , , , , , ,,學. M. M. B. B. B. B. B. B. B. B. B.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, se X XZQ XZ XZ XZ XZ XZ XZ XZ X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. and Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
But the thing is, Justin Baldoni has a very severe back injury and there was a scene where he had to lift her up. So he had asked her how much she weighed so that he could then go to his trainer and make sure that he could safely and properly lift her since he could barely do anything with his back. So we learned that that was a bunch of hocus pocus and was just ridiculous.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
And then people started seeing Blake Lively's attitude in interviews. And not only was she being flippant about the story, and talking about florals and silly things and promoting her haircare and being like, oh my God, look at my hair, it's so amazing, whatever, look at what I'm wearing. But they started just to see that she was not kind to interviewers.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
Like she was very cold, she was very sarcastic. One of the interviewers asked her if a audience member, if a viewer is very impacted by the story, has a personal experience, like should they come up to you and talk to you? Like how should they approach that? Because this is a very, you know, personal story that's gonna impact a lot of people.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
And Blake Lively took that question and we can roll the clip, but she basically was like, um, don't talk to me. Like, what do you want me to do? Give you my number? Like, whatever. Asking for like my address or my phone number or like my location share. I could just location share you and then we could.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
And just blew off this very serious and understandable question considering the subject matter of the film. And then it just kept going. People kept bringing up old interviews of her, like from Gossip Girl days when she would speak over Leighton Meester and make fun of her.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
They brought up another interview, which went mega viral, where a interviewer brought up that Blake Lively had recently announced that she was pregnant. She was like, oh my goodness, your cute little bump. And Blake Lively immediately snapped and went, oh, look at your little bump. And the woman was not pregnant.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
She had actually, I believe, had just suffered a miscarriage or had just realized that she could not have children in the future. That just blew up. So basically, we knew that there was tension. Things did not seem right.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
This premiere did not go how people expected, and as it snowballed, people just turned against Blake Lively, and their impression of her and impression of her relationship with Ryan Reynolds was completely shattered.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
She went from being this sparkly, happy personality who is best friends with Taylor Swift and has this perfect, ideal relationship with Hollywood hunk Ryan Reynolds, and they have the cutest kids, to actually, she might be a diva and an egomaniac, and somehow, it has just been hidden from us for years. The movie came out and by all metrics, it was a success.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
They made lots of money, so she should have been happy, but she could not get over the fact that her reputation had been destroyed. Now, in my opinion, I think people would have moved on because listen, people have the attention span of a pea. They move on to a new controversy within 24 hours. I think that she could have come back maybe after a year
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
But obviously we must talk about part two and now part three, four, five, six, and seven. of the Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni scandal. And if you are interested in ad-free episodes and exclusive content, check out the link in the description below for my new subscriber-only platform, Cooper Confidential. Go check that out. There's lots of information in the description and on the website.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
made some amends, tried to be better at interviews, just tried to move forward and not address it, and she probably would have been fine, especially because she is married to Ryan Reynolds, who literally everybody adores, but she did not do that. She could not stand that people did not like her and that they had uncovered the alleged truth about her personality, so she spent the last four months
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
curating a lawsuit against Justin Baldoni to take him down. And that is what was dropped on Christmas Eve while I was sitting here with no show and I was like, please let me talk about this if that is what we're doing today. So in this first lawsuit, in this complaint that she released on Christmas Eve, she wanted to clear her name.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
So she filed this lawsuit against Justin Baldoni and against his PR team.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
And she alleges that there was a hostile work environment, that he had sexually harassed her, and that when she had asked him to stop and brought these complaints to the public, meaning on set, he had retaliated by organizing a PR war against her to destroy her image during the premiere and all of the promotion of It Ends With Us. Now, she took this directly to the New York Times.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
She had a journalist release text messages and lay out this entire thing. The article was called we can bury anyone inside a Hollywood smear machine. Private messages detail an alleged campaign to tarnish Blake Lively after she accused Justin Baldotti of misconduct on the set of It Ends With Us.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
And in this lawsuit, she claims that he fat shamed her, which we had heard about, you know, six months ago. that he busted into her trailer repeatedly while she was breastfeeding when she did not want that. She alleges that he was constantly sexual and made her and other women listen to him talking about his former porn addiction.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
She says that he tried to force sex scenes into the project that she was not comfortable with, allegedly made women on set watch videos of his naked wife giving birth, which was pornographic. as Blake and her team put it. She alleged that he did not want to hire an intimacy coordinator and so it was very uncomfortable on set.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
She also alleges that there was a whole team meeting to address all of these concerns and that they actually laid them all out in a document, which they did put in a New York Times article saying, hey, here are all of our concerns. This is what you're doing, busting into my trailer.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
said that they talked to Justin about all of that, that he agreed to change the work environment, but that it just continued, and that that is why he retaliated with this coordinated PR smear campaign, a.k.a. what happened after the premiere of It Ends With Us. Now, these allegations were certainly damning.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
Like, I read them and I was like, ooh, that is obviously not a good look, but also, it's not out of the ordinary for Hollywood. Like, Anyone who has worked in media or entertainment or Hollywood has probably had experiences kind of like that, has probably had their boundaries crossed, has probably been talked to inappropriately by someone and made uncomfortable.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
But what stood out to me the most about this and really kind of made my head tilt is that in the chance that all of this was right, that she was true about all these allegations with Justin, it seemed extra sinister. if you have followed Justin's career at all, because this man is an ally. He is a feminist.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
He has a super famous TED Talk that talks about like dismantling masculinity and trying to be a better man. He literally has an entire podcast that talks about gender roles and feminism. He has a man bun. That is his entire brand is being this non-toxically masculine feminist ally. Like just listen to the description of his podcast. The podcast is called Man Enough.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
And it explores what it means to be a man today and how rigid gender roles have affected all people. The show creates a safe environment for a range of perspectives to meet and stay at the table, exploring how the messages of masculinity show up in relationships, body image, privilege, fatherhood, sex, success, mental health, and so much more.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
Instead of polarizing and demonizing men and masculinity, it invites all humans to participate and thrive in the world. So you guys kind of get the tone. This is the kind of person that we're dealing with.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
Hope you guys enjoy. All right, let's get into it. So to start off, I just wanna do a recap in case you are not caught up on this drama or we need to have our memories jogged. Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni did a movie together and it is called, It Ends With Us. It is based off of a book by Colleen Hoover which is a kind of a controversial author.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
And why I'm bringing this up is because, unfortunately, so many people, specifically men, who present themselves as these, you know, feminist allies and being so pro-woman and having this, you know, holier-than-thou attitude about the world are actually just creeps. And they are using those attitudes to cover up their bad behaviors.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
And Blake's team in the New York Times positioned Justin Baldoni just like that. And I'll admit, It got me. I was like, oh, that is not good if these are correct. Again, because of how he has presented his entire brand for the last, you know, 10 plus years.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
And for a moment over those couple of days on Christmas, I'm sure that Blake felt like everything was right in the world because people were on her side. They were like, oh, this does not look great. Apparently we screwed with the wrong person. We fell for this coordinated PR campaign. I am sure she felt like she was on top of the world.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
But that was because they had only seen her side of the story. It was like they were checking the news without checking Ground News first. Guys, my partners over at Ground News understand the problem with legacy media and the fact that they are often bought and paid for, that they only share one side of the story, and that they often prioritize cheap wins over journalistic integrity.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
And that is why Ground News was born. They cut through the noise with an unbiased perspective and show every side of the story and how it's being covered, prioritizing transparency over everything.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
Their technology allows users to compare how different sides of the corporate media are reporting on a story all the way down to how independent creators like me are reporting on a story, making sure that you truly see every side of the news. And from my perspective, they make sure that I stay on top of the stories that I'm covering so that I can bring you the latest and most honest updates.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
Like with this story. they were able to quickly show me who was covering Blake Lively's lawsuit, where people were leaning, and they were able to break through the noise to quickly break down what was in Blake's filing and what was in that New York Times article. But it doesn't stop there.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
Their Blindspot feed brings you the stories that have gotten little to no coverage on one side of the political aisle. making sure that you always stay informed instead of letting big tech or their algorithms decide what they want you to see. So if you are ready to truly break free from media bias and stay informed with transparent news consumption, now is the time to join Ground News.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
And when you go to groundnews.com slash Brett or scan this QR code that's on the screen right now, you can subscribe to the same premium platform that I use every single day, but for nearly half the price. Again, that is groundnews.com slash Brett to break free from media bias and hold the media accountable for only $5 a month. And yes, I know what you are all thinking. I agree.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
Ground News is probably Blake Lively's biggest nightmare. Those feelings of ecstasy, I'm sure, only lasted a few days because just a week later, I believe, it was December 31st, the day before New Year's, Justin filed a lawsuit against her team and also filed a suit against the New York Times for defaming him and deceivingly editing the text that they included in their original article.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
The text between him and his PR team saying that they were trying to bury or destroy her. And guys, that lawsuit, broke the entire thing open. And from there, it just snowballed. And more and more was coming out. Like Justin Baldoni's lawyer immediately hopped on a press tour. He went on Megyn Kelly's show and basically said, we have all the evidence.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
We are going to destroy you, Blake Lively, because all of this is false. Just listen to what he said. Are you going to sue Blake Lively too?
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
Some people say that it's a stretch to even call her an author if you have read some of her books, but whatever, you can have your own opinions on that, but the book is called It Ends With Us. And Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively play the leads, but Justin Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, produced the film, he directed it, he started it, and then Blake Lively came in
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
And just so you know, spoiler alert, they were all sued. It all came out. It was literally insane. And I love the fact that in that video keeps going, it will be based on evidence. It will be based on truth because what they are alleging is that Blake Lively's team in the New York Times tampered with evidence to paint the story in a certain light in Blake Lively's benefit.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
And so over the next couple of days through this lawsuit against the New York Times, They released even more text messages, the unedited version of the text messages. They released audio recordings of Justin Baldoni talking to his family, talking to his team, saying that on the night of the It Ends With Us premiere, he was put in the basement. And again,
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
This is the movie that he optioned that he had been working on. I think it was for six plus years that he had poured his heart and soul into the director and the producer of this film. They did not even want him to attend the premiere, but said, OK, sure, I guess you can. We have to wait in the basement.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
And we have photos of that of his friends and his family all in the basement sitting on cases of water. While Blake Lively goes up gallivanting around in her sequin floral dress talking about her Blake Lively Target exclusive hair care line. That is what was happening while he was in the basement. And very quickly, the internet started to turn around as crazy.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
Quickly, as they got on Blake's side, they left the Blake train. And then this was one of my favorite parts. People on TikTok started coming out with firsthand accounts. These are PAs from the set. These are extras who watched all of this go down, who saw the tension, who saw Blake Lively and Justin screaming at each other, who saw Blake take over in the middle of scenes and direct.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
They saw her ignore the extras. Meanwhile, Justin Baldoni was coming up and talking to the extras saying, hey, I'm so sorry that you had to see that. I know that this scene is tough. Asking them about their experiences. Drastically different.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
And then, guys, where it really started to get juicy for me and I really got excited and this just went even deeper is when people started to connect the dots about NicePool. Because another thing that social media users noticed during the whole press tour and premiere of It Ends With Us was the fact that Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
were randomly in all of these interviews and on all of the press stops. And obviously, Blake Lively is married to Ryan Reynolds, so it would make sense that her husband is there. But why is Hugh Jackman there? Well, because around the same time that It Ends With Us is coming out, Deadpool and Wolverine is coming out, which obviously is Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman. And I think...
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
that maybe Blake was trying to orchestrate some kind of Oppenheimer Barbie weekend where these movies convulge, but obviously that did not work in the slightest. People were very, very confused, but it seemed like Ryan and Hugh were kind of helping ice out Justin Baldoni.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
And then people went back and watched Deadpool and Wolverine, and they noticed a character who seems very, very similar to Justin Baldoni, and that would be So in the film, there's this character, he has a man bun. He is this ultra feminist ally, soft-spoken, talking about his faith and how much he loves women.
The Brett Cooper Show
How Blake Lively Ended Her Own Career | Episode 2
And people are saying that Ryan Reynolds put that in the film to mock Justin Baldoni because they were filming around the same time that It Ends With Us was filming. And as the cherry on top, Nicepool gets killed. and he gets killed by Ladypool, who is played by Blake Lively. You can literally see her blonde ponytail, and better yet, he gets killed in front of a flower shop.