Latest / Culture Brief - Christian perspectives on the week's biggest news, sports & pop-culture stories / Netflix vs. Paramount fight for Warner Bros., Hollywood’s future, Spotify Wrapped & College Football Playoffs | Ep. 48

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Netflix vs. Paramount fight for Warner Bros., Hollywood’s future, Spotify Wrapped & College Football Playoffs | Ep. 48 · Culture Brief - Christian perspectives on the week's biggest news, sports & pop-culture stories

0:02
[SPEAKER_01]: Hi, I'm Connor Jones.
0:04
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm Mike Atama-Sella, and this is Culture Brief, a Dinnison Forum podcast where we navigate the constant stream of top stories and news, politics, sports, pop culture, and technology, and we're doing it all from a Christian perspective.
0:15
[SPEAKER_01]: And Mike, last week when we talked, if I had said, Batman could end up in Stranger Things, and Philip Rivers would be back in the NFL, which you've thought I was crazy.
0:25
[SPEAKER_00]: I think I want to believe the first thing more than the second thing.
0:27
[SPEAKER_00]: You're right.
0:27
[SPEAKER_00]: Philip Revers has been retired since like the COVID years, but you know what good for them.
0:32
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, if he comes back to the cults, the Indianapolis cults, and leads that team to some playoff success.
0:38
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, that would just be one of the most incredible sports stories of all time.
0:44
[SPEAKER_00]: Who knows, I'm on board with it.
0:45
[SPEAKER_00]: Let's see what happens.
0:45
[SPEAKER_01]: To clarify for the listeners, he's been out of the league for four or five years.
0:49
[SPEAKER_01]: He's also 44 years old and a grandfather now.
0:51
[SPEAKER_00]: He is a great father.
0:53
[SPEAKER_01]: Yes, he he signed with the practice squad this morning with the Indianapolis Coltson potentially be the starting quarterback.
0:58
[SPEAKER_01]: That is to replace Danny Dimes who got injured this past Sunday is out for the season.
1:02
[SPEAKER_00]: That is unbelievable because you know for a fact he came in to like a try out right and they were literally you know the people making decisions the GM the coaches for that in anapolis Coltsmus to set.
1:13
[SPEAKER_00]: Wow, this guy's still got it.
1:14
[SPEAKER_00]: This guy can still rip it.
1:16
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean
1:17
[SPEAKER_00]: Otherwise, why would you do this?
1:18
[SPEAKER_00]: Right?
1:19
[SPEAKER_00]: Because they're they're a good team.
1:20
[SPEAKER_00]: They could still make some ways into the playoffs.
1:22
[SPEAKER_00]: You just need somebody who can pass the ball and control the control of the game and all that stuff.
1:27
[SPEAKER_00]: Anyway, I digress.
1:28
[SPEAKER_00]: All right.
1:28
[SPEAKER_00]: So here's what we're going to be talking about today.
1:30
[SPEAKER_00]: Okay.
1:31
[SPEAKER_00]: We've got Netflix buying Warner Bros. All right.
1:34
[SPEAKER_00]: So that's maybe that's a big deal.
1:35
[SPEAKER_00]: Maybe.
1:36
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, we're going to jump into that and like what that really looks like because you got paramount making shadow bids and
1:41
[SPEAKER_00]: Trump is involved and justice departments of all I mean, it's all kinds of things.
1:45
[SPEAKER_00]: We're going to talk through our mailbag.
1:46
[SPEAKER_00]: We got some Spotify wrapped results that we want to share with you guys and just thank our loyal culture brief audience farmer bail out latest on drug boats and Venezuela and so much more so let's jump into the brief.
2:02
[SPEAKER_00]: All right, so as we jump into our story here, you know, Netflix is buying Warner Bros or are they, right?
2:07
[SPEAKER_00]: And then we've got Paramount making shadow bids to buy Warner Bros and everything that's involved in it.
2:13
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, we'll kind of get into how all of these worlds can come together and how it's exciting, but also really hard to like wrap our minds around.
2:19
[SPEAKER_00]: How does it affect movie theaters?
2:20
[SPEAKER_00]: Like, what is all of this mean?
2:22
[SPEAKER_00]: So we're calling this the streaming shake up.
2:24
[SPEAKER_00]: Hollywood is in an actual Hollywood moment right now.
2:27
[SPEAKER_00]: The drama is big.
2:29
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, the drama is big.
2:31
[SPEAKER_00]: the antagonist is in a billionaires of fighting of despair, you know, the pro-tag.
2:37
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, we are, this is truly a Hollywood moment where what is going to happen, things to be, you know, things seem to be kind of on a cusp of going one direction of the other.
2:46
[SPEAKER_00]: So,
2:47
[SPEAKER_00]: This is not just a merger rumor though, right?
2:49
[SPEAKER_00]: It's all about who will control some of the biggest franchises in the world corner, who shapes the news that a lot of Americans watch it affects that too, and how much cultural influence, one platform, one media company should have, and right now the landscape is shifting in real time, where moment by moment, day by day, something shifting, something is changing.
3:08
[SPEAKER_00]: So Netflix once Warner Bros.
3:11
[SPEAKER_00]: Paramount once Warner Bros. Washington is watching very closely about who gets Warner Bros. Wall Street is trying to guess which version of the future becomes real so they know what to invest in, what they know what to bet on.
3:24
[SPEAKER_00]: So let's talk through what we know and what we don't know.
3:26
[SPEAKER_00]: We're going to be very careful with that.
3:27
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm going to kind of set the stage for Connor.
3:29
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm going to set it up for him to spike it here and why the stakes are so high.
3:33
[SPEAKER_00]: So, here's what we know so far, okay?
3:36
[SPEAKER_00]: First of all, here's the confirmed landscape of what we know right now, as we're recording Wednesday, December 10th, and we're releasing the episode Thursday morning, December 11th.
3:45
[SPEAKER_00]: Netflix and Warner Bros Discovery have signed a deal worth $83 billion.
3:49
[SPEAKER_00]: Netflix would acquire the Warner Bros film and TV studios, HBO, HBO Max, and all their gaming assets, okay?
3:56
[SPEAKER_00]: But it would not get the cable networks,
3:59
[SPEAKER_00]: cable, like CNN, TNT, TBS, Discovery, because those would be spun into a new company called Discovery Global, before the deal closes.
4:08
[SPEAKER_00]: So that would kind of go into its own thing called Discovery Global.
4:11
[SPEAKER_00]: So Netflix is not acquiring the TV stations.
4:14
[SPEAKER_00]: If this goes through, Netflix would suddenly own things like DC.
4:20
[SPEAKER_00]: Harry Potter, the studio level rights connected to the Lord of the Rings, the entire HBO prestige library, and a massive production footprint across Hollywood and let's say that would redraw the entertainment power map virtually overnight, okay?
4:35
[SPEAKER_00]: So then Paramount Skydance stepped in with a hostile, all cash offer to, and I love that they like even legally call it a hostile offer, it's like, oh yeah.
4:46
[SPEAKER_00]: of course this is hostile right you're you're coming in in the 11th hour uping it saying oh somebody's going to beat me okay well i'm going to come in higher but paramount skydance is willing to buy it all by the entire Warner Bros Discovery company for 108 billion point four dollars okay their pitches simple their offers richer cleaner and more likely to get regulatory approval and they want CNN which Netflix does not they want the TV networks Netflix does not
5:15
[SPEAKER_00]: two competing futures are officially on on the table.
5:18
[SPEAKER_00]: Connor, what are your initial thoughts so far on all this?
5:21
[SPEAKER_01]: No matter what happens here is going to upend a lot in Hollywood and so we'll dive into that in just a minute, but I do want to point out why Warner Brothers would not just immediately go towards Paramount who's offered this richer and you could say better deal to buy the whole company.
5:34
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, because I definitely thought that because on paper, I'm like,
5:36
[SPEAKER_00]: why not go with the paramount deal.
5:38
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, you're like, they're they're offering more per share and all of that.
5:41
[SPEAKER_01]: That I think the the worry there is the financing and Netflix has a ton of cash on hand.
5:47
[SPEAKER_01]: They're basically doing an all cash bid here and they've got some financing coming from like American banks such as Wells Fargo, but paramount is dipping into other places.
5:55
[SPEAKER_01]: They are dipping into David, if you remember, we talked about this to the summer.
5:58
[SPEAKER_01]: David Ellison is the son of Larry Ellison.
6:01
[SPEAKER_01]: Larry Ellison is the second richest man on the planet.
6:03
[SPEAKER_01]: He's worth $400 billion dollars.
6:04
[SPEAKER_01]: his son David bought paramount for eight billion dollars earlier this summer that was easy peasy money for them but this is a much bigger amount of money and so they're having a dip into getting financing from other banks and more specifically Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth funds which is not exactly what Warner Brothers feels like they can trust to actually come maybe a great area that's that's a little bit of a great area for moral ethical and financial grounds and so if you're wondering why they don't just immediately go to paramount that's kind of
6:31
[SPEAKER_00]: Didn't you say that the C E O of Netflix or Warner Bros. wants to work for Netflix?
6:39
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, Netflix is apparently offered the CEO of Warner Bros. David Zaslov who is considerably the worst Hollywood CEO of all time.
6:46
[SPEAKER_01]: He really is this company into the ground, but he's going to he's going to get a nice nest egg of 500 to 600 billion or sorry million dollars out of this deal because of all of his shares no matter what happens.
6:56
[SPEAKER_01]: He ran the company the ground, but he's going to just
6:58
[SPEAKER_01]: He's he's he's flying off free, but he likes to party with Hollywood celebrities.
7:01
[SPEAKER_01]: He likes to be a portside of Madison Square Garden.
7:03
[SPEAKER_01]: Travels to the film festival in Europe.
7:05
[SPEAKER_01]: And so we all he wants to continue doing that.
7:08
[SPEAKER_01]: And Netflix has offered him the opportunity to have a nice cushy job at their company if they if he well don't.
7:14
[SPEAKER_00]: Don't you love it when people get rewarded for doing bad work?
7:17
[SPEAKER_00]: It's, it's a clever stuff.
7:19
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm being sarcastic.
7:20
[SPEAKER_00]: All right.
7:20
[SPEAKER_00]: So let's talk about the players and what they want.
7:23
[SPEAKER_00]: Because there's several, there's several angles to this.
7:27
[SPEAKER_00]: And several large influential entities a part of this.
7:30
[SPEAKER_00]: So let's look at a, just a quick look at the motivations.
7:33
[SPEAKER_00]: So Netflix is trying to grow at scale.
7:36
[SPEAKER_00]: This deal with strengthened its ad tiers.
7:38
[SPEAKER_00]: Load up its pipeline with major franchises and give it a library that literally no one can match.
7:43
[SPEAKER_00]: like it wouldn't even be close.
7:45
[SPEAKER_00]: Warner Bros.
7:45
[SPEAKER_00]: Discovery is trying to fix debt that, you know, the CEO helped accumulate.
7:51
[SPEAKER_00]: And escape a streaming war, it's been losing from the jump.
7:55
[SPEAKER_00]: Okay, breaking up the company is their attempt to stop their financial bleeding.
7:59
[SPEAKER_00]: So Paramount Skydance, he's an opening to leapfrog its competitors.
8:03
[SPEAKER_00]: With significant outside investment, they argue that regulators will prefer their structure over Netflix becoming even bigger, okay?
8:10
[SPEAKER_00]: And in the White House, and the Justice Department are signaling they plan to scrutinize both bids.
8:15
[SPEAKER_00]: But Trump has already said he wants a role in this decision which adds a political air that no one can control and something to think about here, too, is that Trump does have a good relationship with the Ellis and family.
8:25
[SPEAKER_00]: Okay.
8:25
[SPEAKER_00]: So we do have to wonder how that plays into it.
8:28
[SPEAKER_00]: Trump cannot ultimately have read up a lot on this on Trump, like what Trump can actually do.
8:33
[SPEAKER_00]: He can direct the justice department and from the White House, like if they want to move forward, if Warner Bros. discovery wants to move forward with the Netflix bid, the White House and the Justice Department could make it really difficult, but they
8:45
[SPEAKER_00]: specifically the White House can't ultimately stop it, but it is a factor to keep in mind like do you want to battle the White House in the decision that you make?
8:53
[SPEAKER_00]: Okay, so that's something that they're kind of thinking through right now.
8:56
[SPEAKER_00]: And then Hollywood, Labor unions are preparing for consolidation and potential job cuts because of this no matter what happens.
9:02
[SPEAKER_00]: Like it's going to shake up like because Warner Bros Discovery is selling.
9:06
[SPEAKER_00]: It's just which direction are they going to go?
9:08
[SPEAKER_00]: Everyone has something at stake here.
9:10
[SPEAKER_00]: Am I missing anything on that part, Connor?
9:12
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, there's just their both companies would cut thousands of jobs at Warner Bros. if they bring them because then they would have two of every position in a lot of ways.
9:19
[SPEAKER_01]: And so they're like either way, it's not good for Hollywood and talent and and you know the people who work on crews and sets and all of that.
9:26
[SPEAKER_01]: And in the offices of these studios, it's going to be a lot of job loss.
9:29
[SPEAKER_01]: which that's another thing that Warner Brothers is considering is which company would cut less jobs and save more jobs within their company now?
9:35
[SPEAKER_01]: And Netflix has said they would cut less then Paramount would, but who really knows?
9:40
[SPEAKER_00]: You'd think too that Trump should consider that considering kind of the bad job numbers these last few months.
9:45
[SPEAKER_00]: Like, you know, you would almost prefer the one that would cut the least amount of jobs if you're trying to put like a good economic record out there that the economy is picking up jobs and shedding less jobs.
9:55
[SPEAKER_00]: So, I mean, who knows how much that actually plays into it?
9:58
[SPEAKER_00]: Okay, so here's what we still do not know.
10:00
[SPEAKER_00]: Like it's all these are the things I want to clarify that we don't know.
10:02
[SPEAKER_00]: This part matters as much as the facts, because there's just been so much out there.
10:06
[SPEAKER_00]: We do not know which offer Warner Bros Discovery shareholders will choose.
10:09
[SPEAKER_00]: Okay, so Netflix has a signed agreement, but Paramount's cash offer has created pressure, walking away from Netflix with trigger major penalties, but it could still be done.
10:18
[SPEAKER_00]: We don't know what regulators will allow, I think that's kind of the biggest thing right now.
10:22
[SPEAKER_00]: So a Netflix Warner Bros. combination raises real antitrust questions.
10:26
[SPEAKER_00]: This is a big part of it, okay?
10:28
[SPEAKER_00]: Paramount's bid brings up questions about foreign capital and another large media consolidation, but Netflix is also facing a new consumer class action lawsuit.
10:35
[SPEAKER_00]: This is new as of like yesterday, seeking to block the deal entirely, which adds another layer of legal uncertainty.
10:41
[SPEAKER_00]: We don't know what happens to CNN and the remaining cable networks, okay?
10:45
[SPEAKER_00]: Discovery Global could stay independent or quickly could become another acquisition target all together.
10:50
[SPEAKER_00]: And then there are already early inquiries from outside buyers about CNN and the broader Discovery Global bundle.
10:58
[SPEAKER_00]: But no formal offers have been made yet on that part.
11:00
[SPEAKER_00]: We do not know how disruptive Netflix's integration would be.
11:04
[SPEAKER_00]: A deal this size would almost certainly mean like we said.
11:07
[SPEAKER_00]: large job cuts, large budget cuts, and even some content cuts as well.
11:13
[SPEAKER_00]: These are big unknowns, but this is something that is worth noting that I think you're going to get into.
11:16
[SPEAKER_00]: There is a real antitrust issue here of like the government does step in and there's a legal precedent to stop one company monopolizing an entire industry.
11:26
[SPEAKER_00]: Right, like you don't want an entire grocery store chain to take over all grocery stores in the country that is anti capitalism anti-free market principle competition is what drives prices down and so if Netflix takes us like takes over that's a real concern because ultimately if they just start dominating and being the real only name and Hollywood and in streaming they can charge and do whatever they want right
11:49
[SPEAKER_01]: Right.
11:49
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, we're going to dive into that because that's one of the big implications of this whole thing is the What happens to us like the biggest thing I'm thinking about I feel like yeah, yeah
11:57
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, we're not in the boardrooms.
11:58
[SPEAKER_01]: We don't really care that much about the multi-billion dollar transactions.
12:02
[SPEAKER_01]: What we do care about is what does this mean for us a couple of years on the road with Hollywood and all that?
12:05
[SPEAKER_01]: So yeah, Mike, did you have anything else you were going to add?
12:08
[SPEAKER_01]: Or are we ready to dive in some of the bigger inputs?
12:10
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, let me just, let me just touch on this cultural layer real quick.
12:14
[SPEAKER_00]: So there is a cultural layer to this.
12:16
[SPEAKER_00]: This is not only about who owns Batman, which again, they could acquire DC, right?
12:21
[SPEAKER_00]: Or who gets the friends reruns?
12:23
[SPEAKER_00]: It's about who shapes the news, who frames the culture, and how much control just a few companies would have over what Americans watch.
12:32
[SPEAKER_00]: But even what a country like Saudi Arabia could have over American entertainment and news.
12:37
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, it's just an interesting question.
12:39
[SPEAKER_00]: Public interest groups and some lawmakers are already warning that those deals could reduce competition, could cut a lot of jobs, and then could shrink the range of voices in entertainment and news.
12:48
[SPEAKER_00]: So Connor, here's the question.
12:49
[SPEAKER_00]: Are we watching the end of it streaming wars or the beginning of a long fight over who controls American media for the next generation?
12:56
[SPEAKER_00]: And then how does this affect movie theaters even?
12:58
[SPEAKER_00]: Like those are just some of the questions that I'm coming to that I'm sure you're about to get into.
13:02
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I think with that, you know, the streaming wars, it's been going on.
13:05
[SPEAKER_01]: It will continue on, but there has been for the last two or three years, a clear winner and obviously Netflix.
13:10
[SPEAKER_01]: They have, yeah, by far, in a way, the most subscribers to their streaming service Disney
13:19
[SPEAKER_01]: But Netflix has 300 million subscribers and Warner Brothers has I think a hundred and twenty eight million on HBO Max I'm sure a lot of that is overlapped people too, but either way Netflix bringing them into the fold of the HBO Max platform bringing them into their Netflix full brings way more subscribers helps them grow because right now they're kind of capped a lot of analysts believe that three hundred millions about as high as you're going to go as a streaming service there's not that many more people you can get subscribed at least not interestingly.
13:49
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, but what you have to remember is how many people log on through other people's Yeah, but like said a pretty good job of shutting that down, though.
13:58
[SPEAKER_00]: They would have correct some company to shut that down.
14:00
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, I pay for my own now.
14:02
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, it worked on me.
14:03
[SPEAKER_00]: I tried everything.
14:06
[SPEAKER_00]: I tried everything.
14:06
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, it was my mom or my in-laws.
14:08
[SPEAKER_00]: Look man, I'm on my, I'm on my, I'm on my, I'm on my, I'm on my, I'm on my, I'm on my, yeah.
14:11
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.
14:12
[SPEAKER_01]: that's what you do and a lot of people that you're right, they did start to crack down quite a bit but what they've also done is raised their prices and so they've priced so many people out of being able to join in.
14:20
[SPEAKER_01]: So how do we get more people without you know they introduce an ad tier that makes it cheaper for some people to log in and get into account you just have to watch ads all of that.
14:30
[SPEAKER_01]: So they've thought about that but I think they really see this as like their opportunity to grow and honestly they don't see these other streamers as their main competitor.
14:38
[SPEAKER_01]: YouTube and Tik Tok as their main competitors, there's it is of those two things.
14:42
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, and that's their antitrust case here.
14:45
[SPEAKER_01]: They're not saying, oh, we're just buying up another Hollywood studio to on Hollywood.
14:48
[SPEAKER_01]: They're saying we have to do it to compete with these other players.
14:52
[SPEAKER_01]: These tech companies that are also generating so much time and attention.
14:56
[SPEAKER_01]: on screens that's not Netflix.
14:59
[SPEAKER_00]: So there's a really good point.
15:00
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, like, I really don't want to throw you off here, but you think about when it comes to American entertainment and Hollywood, you go from movies that you can only see in movie theaters to then like VHS and then DVD and then streaming, but it wasn't really a question of like, do people enjoy long-form content?
15:20
[SPEAKER_00]: They did, but then you've got an entire generation, Gen Z, Gen Alpha that's coming up.
15:25
[SPEAKER_00]: a lot of them won't even sit down to watch a 30 minute show anymore right right like a lot of podcasts like we get a lot of real views and so many people who engage with our reels are one minute reels but they're not going to listen to the 45 minute podcast right there is an attention span change in the American consumer that you're right like Netflix is competing against like 30 second videos on TikTok or like 10 minute videos on YouTube and that's just like a
15:53
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, if you want to know how they're going to approach this in a legal case, if they end up actually keeping this bid away from Paramount, they're going to say, TikTok is Chinese own.
16:01
[SPEAKER_01]: We are American owned.
16:03
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, we are a better option if we can compete with TikTok to have American eyeballs on our platform, as opposed to TikTok.
16:09
[SPEAKER_01]: And YouTube is honestly even bigger than Netflix.
16:12
[SPEAKER_01]: YouTube is like the biggest entertainment system in America.
16:15
[SPEAKER_01]: And so it's all.
16:15
[SPEAKER_00]: That's how they're going to provide the way.
16:17
[SPEAKER_00]: But yeah.
16:18
[SPEAKER_01]: Yes, it is.
16:19
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, Netflix is, you know, known for creating, AKA, like, Slop, essentially is where a lot of people say, like, just bad television, they may have some good shows that get a lot of attention.
16:28
[SPEAKER_01]: For sure.
16:28
[SPEAKER_01]: So much bad television and movies and reality, TV and stuff with the entire idea of filling an algorithm, essentially curated to everybody.
16:35
[SPEAKER_00]: Their goal is quantity over quality.
16:39
[SPEAKER_00]: Sure.
16:39
[SPEAKER_00]: Like, like, when you create that many, okay, like, when I go to cheesecake factory and the menu is 38 pages long.
16:47
[SPEAKER_00]: You know what I mean?
16:47
[SPEAKER_00]: It's like you're flipping through at your, okay, like you're not going to, you're not concentrated.
16:52
[SPEAKER_00]: You're not going to be excellent at anything.
16:54
[SPEAKER_00]: You're going to have, if you're offering that many things.
16:57
[SPEAKER_00]: But the goal is quantity over quality and it's absolutely worked for them.
17:01
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, it has worked for them, but that and that's what they're doing with this this transaction right if they get Warner Brothers it allows them to bring in more content into their library.
17:08
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I think it triples the size of their library because Warner Brothers has been around for a hundred years create so many movies over time and then it also this HBO Max thing they're bringing in some of the top shows game of thrones the soprano succession.
17:21
[SPEAKER_01]: The pit is a huge show right now.
17:23
[SPEAKER_01]: They would get all of that on their platform, which automatically ups the game of their television and the lead service, right?
17:29
[SPEAKER_01]: Like it gives them prestige television, which is something they don't really have.
17:32
[SPEAKER_01]: So it's a big deal.
17:34
[SPEAKER_01]: I wanted to quote something here, Mike, up from the former Warner Brothers CEO, back in 2010, Netflix had really just conquered Blockbuster.
17:41
[SPEAKER_01]: They had already been like that that David and Goliath situation where they took over Blockbuster.
17:45
[SPEAKER_01]: I saw that the mail in service.
17:47
[SPEAKER_01]: Okay.
17:50
[SPEAKER_01]: In 2010, his name is Jeff Buick's.
17:52
[SPEAKER_01]: He laughed off Netflix when they were starting their streaming service in 2010.
17:56
[SPEAKER_01]: He was asked about if they were a threat to Hollywood giant such as Warner Brothers and all that and he responded with, it's kind of like the Albanian army is going to take over the world.
18:05
[SPEAKER_01]: And he laughed at them and he said, you know, there's no chance, essentially.
18:09
[SPEAKER_01]: And now here we are, 15 years later, in Netflix is coming to buy that giant Warner Brothers.
18:14
[SPEAKER_01]: They really have been smart about the way they've approached all of media and entertainment.
18:18
[SPEAKER_01]: They were the first streamer and then they started buying up their own content, essentially.
18:21
[SPEAKER_01]: They started with House of Cards, which was a huge hit and that really built up their streaming service.
18:26
[SPEAKER_01]: They've been smart, man.
18:27
[SPEAKER_01]: This is not unprecedented to the, I was going to point out that back in 2019, we saw similar transaction.
18:32
[SPEAKER_01]: Disney, but most of Fox, they bought all of the Fox movie studios.
18:36
[SPEAKER_01]: They bought a lot of IPX men, you know, the Simpsons Ice Age right now.
18:41
[SPEAKER_01]: And movie would watch and Disney plus its home alone.
18:43
[SPEAKER_01]: That was a Fox movie.
18:45
[SPEAKER_01]: But now it's on Disney Plus because they got the right.
18:47
[SPEAKER_01]: So that right.
18:48
[SPEAKER_01]: They did not buy all the news networks and all the TV networks.
18:50
[SPEAKER_01]: So Fox news and Fox sports networks and Fox like the TV channel you watched football on that's all stayed with Fox.
18:56
[SPEAKER_00]: That's all because that's what Fox wanted to focus on.
18:59
[SPEAKER_00]: You know what's funny when you say that that was six years ago and it's almost normal to me.
19:04
[SPEAKER_00]: Like right all the titles X-Men is like yeah, it's on Disney.
19:08
[SPEAKER_00]: Wait.
19:08
[SPEAKER_00]: No.
19:09
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, it's horrible.
19:11
[SPEAKER_00]: Right.
19:12
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, you just kind of.
19:13
[SPEAKER_01]: So that's what I'm saying.
19:14
[SPEAKER_01]: This is not a present and that was six years ago.
19:16
[SPEAKER_01]: And that's just become the normal way is this one.
19:19
[SPEAKER_01]: But yeah, this one's slightly bigger, but it was, it's similar.
19:22
[SPEAKER_01]: If Netflix got this to get those TV or the movie studios, but not the TV studios.
19:26
[SPEAKER_01]: Paramount wants the whole thing though.
19:28
[SPEAKER_01]: Either way, what we're going to see is a shrinkage of the Hollywood studio system.
19:34
[SPEAKER_01]: drop down to big five and now we're gonna go down to a big four and what that does Micah is consolidation and ultimately that does hurt us to consumers.
19:43
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I'll point out back in the 2010s We saw the big airline consolidation so Micah, you might remember U.S. Airways, Northwest Airlines, Continental Airlines, some of those names that
19:54
[SPEAKER_01]: are no longer around because they got bought by American and Delta and Southwest and united.
20:00
[SPEAKER_01]: So now we got the big four airlines and what that did was cause us all to have to pay more to fly essentially and get more fees and rely more upon these four airlines as opposed to a wider range of competition.
20:10
[SPEAKER_01]: So that's what's going to happen in Hollywood and it will cut jobs.
20:13
[SPEAKER_01]: It will also reduce the output.
20:15
[SPEAKER_01]: It's going to reduce the amount of scripts that get read, the amount of movies that get greenlighted.
20:19
[SPEAKER_01]: TV shows that get greenlighted.
20:20
[SPEAKER_01]: But ultimately, Michael, my biggest worry with Netflix buying Warner Brothers is movie theaters.
20:25
[SPEAKER_01]: I think this is a massive worry in Hollywood right now.
20:28
[SPEAKER_01]: And one of the reasons a lot of people in Hollywood would actually prefer Paramount get Warner Brothers.
20:33
[SPEAKER_01]: Paramount David Ellison has said he would still put 30 movies into the movie theaters every year.
20:38
[SPEAKER_01]: It's going to be a movie production company.
20:40
[SPEAKER_01]: He produced Top Gun Maverick.
20:41
[SPEAKER_01]: He produced some other really large movies in his time.
20:44
[SPEAKER_01]: And so he's more pro movies, right?
20:47
[SPEAKER_01]: This would be interesting if Netflix buys it because they are not pro movie theater.
20:51
[SPEAKER_01]: Obviously, their whole thing is keeping you at home.
20:53
[SPEAKER_00]: They're saying they would though, but what would actually hold the accountable to it?
20:56
[SPEAKER_00]: I wonder if Netflix does end up being able to purchase it.
20:58
[SPEAKER_00]: I wonder if they could write it into the contract that they would still release movies.
21:02
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, that's just such a big industry.
21:03
[SPEAKER_00]: Now, the movie theater industry has been hurting for a long time.
21:06
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.
21:06
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, they haven't really recovered from the COVID years either, you know, and just all the...
21:11
[SPEAKER_00]: all the great TV and movies that we have access to at home now.
21:14
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, it's just purely convenience.
21:16
[SPEAKER_00]: And you know, you're not talked about this being dads of young kids.
21:18
[SPEAKER_00]: Like, I mean, Connor used to go to the movies all the time.
21:22
[SPEAKER_00]: probably been a while since you've been in the movie theater for a while as I was at the movie theater once a week probably and let go I try to go at least once a month now i normally said that card you had that i had that maybe past card did i was saying this card i love it movies yeah yeah yeah now i was in my life and he has been for 10 years you know so
21:43
[SPEAKER_01]: Catch me at Avatar at the end of the month.
21:45
[SPEAKER_01]: That's where you're going to go.
21:49
[SPEAKER_01]: Actually, I'm glad I said that.
21:50
[SPEAKER_01]: Because I get that reminds me when Disney Bot Fox with that did kind of like you're saying.
21:53
[SPEAKER_01]: The movie theaters have already been in decline.
21:55
[SPEAKER_01]: When Disney Bot Fox, they got all those properties.
21:57
[SPEAKER_01]: And they made it less about smaller mid budget movies.
22:00
[SPEAKER_01]: They started making more tint poll.
22:02
[SPEAKER_01]: We saw all the Marvel movies.
22:03
[SPEAKER_01]: We've seen Avatar.
22:04
[SPEAKER_01]: And the movie theaters really have come to rely on these big budget films that are kind of eventized and everybody goes in like a one to two week period and then it empties out for the next month or two until another big movement because and that's not great and Netflix is only going to add to that.
22:19
[SPEAKER_00]: But that that makes sense to me personally because I like going to movies like especially growing out like I love to go to the movies but there's a lot of movies like dramas and comedies there's no difference.
22:30
[SPEAKER_00]: watching it at home, then watching it in the movie theater from me.
22:34
[SPEAKER_00]: I know that you kind of romanticize it a little bit better than I do, but I did like a little top gun.
22:40
[SPEAKER_00]: If I had seen top gun at home, like I would not have
22:46
[SPEAKER_00]: you know it would have been a totally different experience.
22:49
[SPEAKER_00]: I would have seen it in a different light.
22:51
[SPEAKER_00]: I wouldn't have enjoyed as much.
22:52
[SPEAKER_00]: I saw Top Gun Maverick in theaters and to this day.
22:55
[SPEAKER_00]: It's a top three movie I've seen in the last five years and I'm telling you what it's because I saw it in theaters.
23:00
[SPEAKER_00]: Like those are the types of movies that you have to see in a movie theater right now.
23:05
[SPEAKER_00]: For sure.
23:05
[SPEAKER_01]: Oh, absolutely.
23:06
[SPEAKER_01]: No, I'm right there with you.
23:07
[SPEAKER_01]: It used to be you always were the theaters in part of that was because they had this 90 day exclusive window where movie came out of theaters, and you wouldn't get it on DVD or I now blockbuster for another three months.
23:16
[SPEAKER_01]: So if you wanted to know about that movie, you had to go that window has shrunk down to 45 days and in some cases less than that Netflix puts movies in theaters now for one to two weeks and they only do it so they can be nominated for Oscars because that's one of the requirements, right?
23:29
[SPEAKER_01]: yeah so the fear is Netflix would try to shrink that window down of exclusivity to like two weeks maybe 30 days at first but then keep shrinking down until ultimately they probably are like oh we'll put a movie in theater for a week and then we want it on Netflix which makes people not go to the theater because
23:45
[SPEAKER_01]: They're like, I'm to just wait seven days and it'll be on my TV, but you're right, some movies, I get it.
23:50
[SPEAKER_01]: Like, I don't, I don't go see dramas really at the theater anymore.
23:53
[SPEAKER_01]: I really most just go to see anything that I think will be much better on a big screen.
23:56
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, like a seminar avatar.
23:59
[SPEAKER_00]: Yes, avatar, mission, just visually spectacular.
24:01
[SPEAKER_01]: It makes sense, and theaters are expensive.
24:04
[SPEAKER_01]: Ultimately, it changes the game in Hollywood.
24:06
[SPEAKER_01]: It changes the way a lot of people see films.
24:08
[SPEAKER_01]: It changes the way we as consumers approach films, the way we engage with our entertainment.
24:12
[SPEAKER_01]: And we have to remember that Netflix really is a tech company that just happens to produce films and entertain us.
24:20
[SPEAKER_01]: But they're really like I said, they're competing with TikTok in YouTube.
24:22
[SPEAKER_01]: I would not say that they see themselves in the same realm as a paramount or 20th century fox or Sony pictures or anything like that.
24:29
[SPEAKER_01]: They see themselves as a tech company.
24:31
[SPEAKER_01]: And this is just the service they provide.
24:33
[SPEAKER_01]: And so they're trying to compete with those big tech giants.
24:35
[SPEAKER_01]: They're scared of Apple Amazon and Google, not necessarily Sony pictures.
24:40
[SPEAKER_01]: You know what I mean?
24:41
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, no, I do, and Connor, honestly, this topic, I would say, like, you're probably the expert in my life on this topic of, you just like, live, eat, breathe, sleep, this, like, this is a natural topic for you.
24:54
[SPEAKER_00]: What is your prediction of how all this shakes out in the acquisition of Warner Bros and what's your prediction on?
25:00
[SPEAKER_00]: Okay, they're going to be acquired by one of the other.
25:03
[SPEAKER_00]: How do you, like, what are movie theaters in three years?
25:06
[SPEAKER_00]: Like, you know, what are your predictions on both of those things?
25:09
[SPEAKER_00]: And then we're gonna hold you to it.
25:12
[SPEAKER_00]: Okay.
25:12
[SPEAKER_00]: We're gonna hold you to it.
25:13
[SPEAKER_00]: Come back in three years.
25:14
[SPEAKER_01]: See if anybody else could just swoop.
25:17
[SPEAKER_01]: What if Amazon came in with an insane bid themselves?
25:19
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, no, it's probably gonna be it will be either Netflix or Paramount that buys this company.
25:24
[SPEAKER_01]: I think Paramount will continue to up their up their bid.
25:27
[SPEAKER_01]: until they finally get it.
25:29
[SPEAKER_01]: David Ellison is adamant that he wants to buy Warner Bros. and so he's going to go as far as he can.
25:34
[SPEAKER_01]: So I think Paramount actually ends up with this.
25:36
[SPEAKER_01]: I've been talking as though Netflix is going to get it because they did sign this deal with Warner Bros so that they are the exclusive deal.
25:43
[SPEAKER_01]: Like they've got this ability to negotiate even more because if they break this deal now,
25:48
[SPEAKER_01]: Netflix and Warner Bros.
25:50
[SPEAKER_01]: I think Warner Bros. owes Netflix $5 billion for breaking the deal off.
25:54
[SPEAKER_01]: Which change for the elephants?
25:56
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, and the elephants will just front that money to them.
25:58
[SPEAKER_01]: Yep.
25:58
[SPEAKER_01]: So I really think it's going to be paramount.
26:01
[SPEAKER_01]: And I think David Ellison is big on putting theaters at the forefront of the movie industry.
26:07
[SPEAKER_01]: And so he's not so focused on streaming.
26:09
[SPEAKER_01]: In fact, Paramount plus is way down there in streaming numbers.
26:12
[SPEAKER_01]: It's like eight or ninth in all the streaming platforms.
26:14
[SPEAKER_01]: So this would be a boost to term out plus to me, because Paramount has all the Taylor shared in shows.
26:20
[SPEAKER_01]: It does not have Yellowstone, the biggest one.
26:22
[SPEAKER_00]: Oh, no.
26:23
[SPEAKER_01]: He cock.
26:24
[SPEAKER_00]: you got to remember that was so confusing that was just such a confusing or deal anyway well this is paramount was bleeding money and they needed money so they sold the rights to Yellowstone to NPC to put it on peacock which ended up back firing but anyways if it wasn't for the I want you to keep going but I think for me just to jump in I think if it wasn't for
26:43
[SPEAKER_00]: kind of the Saudi investment.
26:47
[SPEAKER_00]: And then maybe even like Trump's relationship with Ellison, like you take those two things out.
26:51
[SPEAKER_00]: This is an absolute no brainer.
26:53
[SPEAKER_00]: It should be paramount skydance because it's a much smaller antitrust issue.
26:58
[SPEAKER_00]: There's still plenty of players in the game.
27:00
[SPEAKER_00]: The rich don't get richer in that sense because of like what paramount standing is paramount.
27:05
[SPEAKER_00]: a choir's Warner Bros. And then they're just kind of up there with everybody else.
27:09
[SPEAKER_00]: So there's still good competition.
27:11
[SPEAKER_00]: And it's better for movie theaters.
27:13
[SPEAKER_00]: So if it wasn't for those two issues I just named, it seems like an easy choice that we would want Paramount to be the one to acquire Warner Bros.
27:19
[SPEAKER_00]: Right?
27:20
[SPEAKER_00]: It does seem that way.
27:21
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, the the Saudi money is what freaks everybody up because yeah, it seems like they're just trying to get some serious influence over the American population.
27:27
[SPEAKER_01]: They're already buying up sports leagues, live golf, not cool.
27:30
[SPEAKER_01]: Trying to buy up.
27:30
[SPEAKER_01]: You have seen all that and so they're really trying to influence America in a weird way So there is some there is some concerns there for sure and I think the government will definitely want to take a look at that But yeah, the elephants are our buds with Trump big time donors to Trump and so we'll just see what happens there Yeah, my cut I can make a prediction as much as I want, but we won't know
27:49
[SPEAKER_01]: By the end of this week everything could look different.
27:51
[SPEAKER_01]: I do think this hostile bid is something straight out of a movie or TV show We love a merger and acquisition drama suits or succession something like that This is literally right out of those playbooks right?
28:01
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, you know what I mean?
28:02
[SPEAKER_01]: So fun stuff I do think it's fun to talk through all this We can even dream about what all the different collaborations could be of Netflix IP and Warner Brothers IP If you could put Batman and Stranger Things I'd be crazy right, but we're gonna tie it all back to something
28:16
[SPEAKER_01]: bigger than us and bigger than entertainment.
28:19
[SPEAKER_01]: It's funny.
28:20
[SPEAKER_01]: The Bible doesn't really talk about mergers and acquisitions of media companies, you know?
28:23
[SPEAKER_01]: So it's like, oh, how do we take this and turn it back to God?
28:27
[SPEAKER_01]: But I think there's several ways we can do that.
28:29
[SPEAKER_01]: I just want to point out that these deals are about three primary things, attention, influence, and money.
28:36
[SPEAKER_01]: And this company's work very hard to keep our eyes glued to our screens and specifically on
28:42
[SPEAKER_01]: and in that they influence the way that we think and the way that we approach their shows and especially seeing ends involved, approach the way we digest our news, all of that, right?
28:53
[SPEAKER_01]: And then, you know, it's all really to improve their bottom line.
28:57
[SPEAKER_01]: So it's kind of the big thing here.
28:58
[SPEAKER_01]: But they're not alone.
28:59
[SPEAKER_01]: It's not just these big media companies.
29:01
[SPEAKER_01]: This happens all the time.
29:01
[SPEAKER_01]: Mergers and acquisitions.
29:02
[SPEAKER_01]: It's just not usually such a big public thing that all of us consume.
29:05
[SPEAKER_01]: It's when an insurance company buys another insurance company.
29:08
[SPEAKER_01]: We don't read it and think about all of that, right?
29:11
[SPEAKER_01]: It's all about bottom line.
29:13
[SPEAKER_01]: It's all about attention influenced money all of that everything on earth is working to grab not only our attention though, Micah, it's also working to grab our hearts.
29:21
[SPEAKER_01]: And so we have to question, where does our heart truly lie?
29:25
[SPEAKER_01]: Are we M.I.
29:26
[SPEAKER_01]: are you, Micah?
29:27
[SPEAKER_01]: Distracted by worldly influences or is our heart fully in the hands of the Lord?
29:33
[SPEAKER_01]: The scripture.
29:33
[SPEAKER_01]: This one's always been good.
29:35
[SPEAKER_01]: First Peter 5-8-9
29:37
[SPEAKER_01]: He's warning us, be sober, be vigilant, because you're adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
29:46
[SPEAKER_01]: Man, my God, the devil is just always lurking.
29:48
[SPEAKER_01]: He's always around every corner.
29:49
[SPEAKER_01]: He wants to grab us, and if that's through a media company, if that's through a business deal, if that's through anything that draws us away from the Lord through pride, or greed, selfishness, lust, gluttony, I don't even know, name all the sins.
30:03
[SPEAKER_01]: The devil's trying to do anything he can to pull us away from God, and he can do that through a business deal.
30:09
[SPEAKER_01]: He can do that through our work.
30:10
[SPEAKER_01]: He can do that through our school.
30:11
[SPEAKER_01]: Whatever it is that we're doing each day, he can do that.
30:15
[SPEAKER_01]: going to do in a situation like that.
30:16
[SPEAKER_01]: Well James 4 7 tells us what to do.
30:18
[SPEAKER_01]: He says therefore submit to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
30:24
[SPEAKER_01]: So I'm just thinking man, with all of this, just submit to God.
30:28
[SPEAKER_01]: Imagine if these companies were submitting everything to God in all of these meetings.
30:32
[SPEAKER_01]: I think things might look different.
30:34
[SPEAKER_01]: It wouldn't be so hostile in a way.
30:35
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.
30:36
[SPEAKER_01]: And there would be a much better influence going on.
30:38
[SPEAKER_01]: So we can pray for situations like this and for things that will impact the greater public
30:44
[SPEAKER_01]: to submit to God.
30:46
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, and that's what we got to do every day too, as we go throughout our day and throughout our wheat.
30:49
[SPEAKER_00]: It's a great reminder, brother, and I'm thinking about scripture reminds us to renew our minds in Christ.
30:55
[SPEAKER_00]: And so no matter who's influencing media, as a follower of Jesus, the command is clear, we cannot let the world
31:04
[SPEAKER_00]: Tell us what to do or who to be or what our goal should be.
31:07
[SPEAKER_00]: It's founded in something much, much deeper, much richer, much more eternal, much more joy-filled, much more purpose-driven, than what Netflix or Warner Bros. or Paramount can provide.
31:21
[SPEAKER_00]: And we just have to remind ourselves of that, you know, you ask the question, you know, am I allowing myself to be distracted?
31:27
[SPEAKER_00]: Am I allowing other things to influence me that are of this world?
31:30
[SPEAKER_00]: Absolutely.
31:31
[SPEAKER_00]: Absolutely.
31:32
[SPEAKER_00]: And I'm not sure if any of us, maybe unless you're like, I'mish, you know, I'm not really sure if any of us can sit there and say we're not influenced by media and technology and the ways of this world.
31:44
[SPEAKER_00]: But it's always a good reminder to take a step back, say a quick breath prayer.
31:49
[SPEAKER_00]: Jesus, I'm yours.
31:49
[SPEAKER_00]: I put you on the throne of my heart today,
31:54
[SPEAKER_00]: Everything, I want to be more like you, Jesus, help me to look to you, quick prayer, easy prayer, say it throughout the day, and hopefully that helps.
32:02
[SPEAKER_00]: So yeah, good stuff Connor.
32:04
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, thanks.
32:05
[SPEAKER_01]: Fun conversation.
32:06
[SPEAKER_01]: Lots of see and just give it all up to the Lord.
32:08
[SPEAKER_01]: Everything you do this week, y'all.
32:10
[SPEAKER_01]: Okay, Mike, let's jump into our quick mailback situation.
32:14
[SPEAKER_01]: As always, you guys can email us.
32:16
[SPEAKER_01]: You can DM us on Instagram, email us at culture brief at dinnisonform.org or find us on Instagram at culture brief podcast.
32:22
[SPEAKER_01]: We did want to hit on our Spotify Rapps real fast.
32:25
[SPEAKER_01]: First off, Mike, did you watch your own Spotify Rappt and what age did you get as your music listenership is?
32:31
[SPEAKER_01]: Dude, it was old.
32:32
[SPEAKER_01]: I think it was 67 or something.
32:35
[SPEAKER_00]: Well, that's nothing compared to me.
32:36
[SPEAKER_00]: I was 78.
32:36
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, I mean, I could have been 772s.
32:40
[SPEAKER_00]: It ended with a seven and it was, you know, six, seven, six, seven.
32:45
[SPEAKER_00]: Oh, I don't, I don't know.
32:47
[SPEAKER_00]: Listen, listen to me though, okay.
32:50
[SPEAKER_00]: I definitely had no issue qualifying for AARP.
32:54
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, it was up there for sure.
32:56
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I was trying to figure out how I ended up so old.
32:58
[SPEAKER_01]: I listen to music of all ranges, but I You know somewhere.
33:01
[SPEAKER_00]: I really feel like you listen to like you listen.
33:03
[SPEAKER_01]: Oh, you're listening.
33:04
[SPEAKER_01]: Oh, you catch me on the Indian movie soundtracks a lot of times, but also country music all of it.
33:09
[SPEAKER_01]: So I don't know.
33:10
[SPEAKER_01]: I also a lot of jazz.
33:11
[SPEAKER_01]: I imagine I was listening to a lot of like 1940s jazz music.
33:14
[SPEAKER_00]: Listen though, I and I'm not sure why it had that either man.
33:17
[SPEAKER_00]: The Wiggles was a top artist for me.
33:20
[SPEAKER_01]: It's your daughter's bro.
33:21
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, because of my kids.
33:22
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, you know, my top songs.
33:24
[SPEAKER_00]: I didn't even share my Spotify rap.
33:26
[SPEAKER_00]: My kids have ruined my Spotify rap from me, because I mean, every time we're in the vehicle, you know what I mean?
33:31
[SPEAKER_00]: Like they're asking for the wiggles.
33:33
[SPEAKER_00]: They're asking to listen to, to spidey, or super simple songs, or, you know, whatever.
33:38
[SPEAKER_00]: And I only have so much willpower, guys.
33:41
[SPEAKER_00]: So oftentimes, we're cruising down the street, listening to whatever it is they want to listen to.
33:46
[SPEAKER_00]: And I wouldn't have any other way.
33:47
[SPEAKER_00]: That's amazing.
33:49
[SPEAKER_01]: All of the say we as a podcast got to see the back end of our Spotify wrapped and we just want to say thank you guys you guys are amazing listeners And we're so grateful for the community that is growing here.
33:58
[SPEAKER_01]: We got an incredible just feedback We had a bunch of y'all send us images and messages of being on your top five some of y'all top two Some of you guys that are crazy top one podcast on Spotify, which is insane Thank you for zero five percent of fans.
34:13
[SPEAKER_00]: I got sent one of those.
34:14
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, gracious
34:15
[SPEAKER_01]: incredible stuff.
34:16
[SPEAKER_01]: Also want to know, we thought this was just so cool.
34:18
[SPEAKER_01]: Top five countries on our Spotify RAPT would be, of course, the United States and then Canada.
34:22
[SPEAKER_01]: We've always love our Canadian listeners, but also Nigeria, the UK and South Africa, and so just getting to talk to some of you all across the world is so fun.
34:30
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, those were our top five countries of most lessons.
34:33
[SPEAKER_00]: So obviously US and then Canada makes sense.
34:35
[SPEAKER_00]: But then Nigeria number three, unbelievable UK South Africa.
34:39
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, we're just so thankful for that.
34:41
[SPEAKER_00]: We were considered a 25 instant hit show, meaning that our debut season was more popular than 96% of all shows that started in 2025.
34:50
[SPEAKER_00]: We do not boast in our own talent here.
34:53
[SPEAKER_00]: We're a part of an awesome ministry in Dennis and Forum that seeks to speak truth to culture, to encourage and equip believers.
35:01
[SPEAKER_00]: So we're so grateful to be a part of that.
35:02
[SPEAKER_00]: But also we just really feel like God's working in and through us, giving us the words to say, giving us discernment on what to cover.
35:10
[SPEAKER_00]: And Connor and I have a very close friendship and we have for many years.
35:13
[SPEAKER_00]: And so we get to just have conversations like we normally would in the fact that so many of you like to listen in on that, we're just really grateful.
35:19
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, and also shout out to you guys because we had more shares than 95% of other shows.
35:24
[SPEAKER_00]: So that's you guys doing that sharing and letting 90% of all other podcasts on Spotify.
35:30
[SPEAKER_00]: Our show was shared more than 95% of all.
35:32
[SPEAKER_00]: Do you think we beat out Joe Rogan in that sense?
35:35
[SPEAKER_00]: For sure.
35:36
[SPEAKER_00]: You don't need to share his show anymore.
35:38
[SPEAKER_00]: Everyone listens.
35:39
[SPEAKER_00]: You don't even have to share it.
35:40
[SPEAKER_00]: That's true.
35:41
[SPEAKER_01]: Does do people share those episodes?
35:43
[SPEAKER_01]: I said one of our events that doesn't episode last week of Joe Rogan and I was
35:48
[SPEAKER_01]: Since somebody has sent because it's just an assumption now, like oh You're listening to a real good episode, you know, yeah, or some of the other really big shows like that too Anyways, thank you guys y'all are amazing and we are so grateful that you join us every single one.
36:01
[SPEAKER_01]: Okay, Michael, let's jump into check in real fast
36:05
[SPEAKER_01]: We've got several things going on across the world and here in America first off just want to mention Thailand and Cambodia.
36:10
[SPEAKER_01]: This is not a conflict that gets a ton of attention but Trump did claim to end the conflict.
36:15
[SPEAKER_01]: They were having some border clashes earlier this year.
36:17
[SPEAKER_01]: He led through a piece deal.
36:19
[SPEAKER_01]: They signed a piece deal when he was in Southeast Asia earlier this year.
36:21
[SPEAKER_01]: Actually really two months ago.
36:23
[SPEAKER_01]: He signed a piece deal with the presidents of Thailand and Cambodia well.
36:27
[SPEAKER_01]: Those skirmishes have launched back up.
36:29
[SPEAKER_01]: There are already dozens of people who have been killed
36:35
[SPEAKER_01]: F-16s are making strikes over there.
36:37
[SPEAKER_01]: We have sold Thailand F-16s in the past.
36:39
[SPEAKER_01]: So they've got those.
36:39
[SPEAKER_01]: They are doing air strikes on positions.
36:41
[SPEAKER_01]: I've seen some clips.
36:42
[SPEAKER_01]: It kind of looks like the Ukraine war.
36:45
[SPEAKER_01]: Just this modern warfare going on in trenches and across rivers and all that.
36:49
[SPEAKER_01]: And it's not pretty.
36:50
[SPEAKER_01]: So we just need to pray for that situation to come back down and for peace to actually be had in that area of the world.
36:55
[SPEAKER_00]: Yep, and then next the farmers are getting a bailout.
36:59
[SPEAKER_00]: So the US government under Donald Trump has announced a 12 billion dollar aid package from American farmers.
37:04
[SPEAKER_00]: This is a big bailout.
37:05
[SPEAKER_00]: About 11 billion will go to row crop producers and 1 billion to specialty crop growers.
37:09
[SPEAKER_00]: The money will come from tariff revenue specifically, and it's meant to offset losses from rising and put costs and disrupted export markets caused by tariffs and caused by
37:21
[SPEAKER_00]: China bought all their soybeans from Argentina this year, not America, and that really hurt farmers, but China did that because we ramped up the trade war on them, but then China's been taking advantage of us for many, many, many years, so there's two sides of every story, so payments are expected to start February of 26, Connor.
37:38
[SPEAKER_00]: It's just been a while since I've seen the gut like a government bailout of this size in the news, right?
37:44
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, it's big.
37:46
[SPEAKER_00]: It's not as big as like when they bailed out the auto makers back into the Of course, but it's just like government bail out in a while like this, you know, since the auto maker Think through COVID and stuff like that, but one more story, you know, we've been talking about what's going on with the strikes on drug Boats in the Caribbean and then what's going on in Vizuela?
38:03
[SPEAKER_00]: So let me just give a quick update on that so the US has been striking boats.
38:05
[SPEAKER_00]: It says are tied to Venezuela and drug trafficking hitting more than 20 vessels and drawing criticism
38:10
[SPEAKER_00]: Specifically after a double tap strike that killed survivors in the water in September.
38:16
[SPEAKER_00]: So lawmakers are pushing for full video release while the administration maintains the actions are illegal.
38:21
[SPEAKER_00]: Maduro, the dictator of Venezuela is under growing pressure, but says he will not go into exile.
38:27
[SPEAKER_00]: He confirmed a recent call of Trump where he asked for amnesty and sanctions relief in exchange for stepping down, but the U.S. did not agree to those terms.
38:35
[SPEAKER_00]: He continues to call the strikes and military build up an act of aggression.
38:38
[SPEAKER_00]: and the tensions are remaining high.
38:39
[SPEAKER_00]: I really just kind of hope Maduro gives up because, you know, no one wants boots on the ground wall right now.
38:45
[SPEAKER_00]: True.
38:45
[SPEAKER_01]: Trump did say in an interview yesterday with Politico, he kind of re-imposed them.
38:50
[SPEAKER_01]: He said Maduro's days are numbered.
38:51
[SPEAKER_01]: But whatever that means, I don't know if that means numbered as leader or numbered as in life.
38:55
[SPEAKER_01]: Trump's not backing away from that.
38:57
[SPEAKER_00]: statement though and he's really just trying to know and he's been on this I mean on the campaign trail he was talking about this right you know just the influx of hard drugs specifically fit in all from countries like this like he's he's taking a really hard line on it and I you know I just don't think everybody's going to really be able to change his mind yeah okay what about tune-in part
39:17
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, we got several things mostly football really just college football related this week.
39:21
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, it's actually the only thing we have for tonight kind of a slow weekend.
39:24
[SPEAKER_01]: We've always got NFL football on all that, but what did point out to Christmas is coming up Christmas is coming up.
39:28
[SPEAKER_01]: Well, yeah, but we're like two weeks out and it's late of football between Christmas and New Year's.
39:31
[SPEAKER_01]: Man, it doesn't get better than that, right?
39:33
[SPEAKER_01]: So, but until then, we will rely on two things.
39:37
[SPEAKER_01]: One, the Army Navy game, big game every year massive rivalry always draws on a lot of attention.
39:41
[SPEAKER_01]: That is the Saturday at 3 p.m. Eastern on Testware, CBS in Paramount Plus.
39:47
[SPEAKER_01]: the elephants will be broadcasting that and then we've also got the calls for ball playoff it is set cost a lot of drama this past week.
39:55
[SPEAKER_01]: Maybe you've seen that Notre Dame was left out and they are unhappy about that and they are making their claim very loud and proud that they
40:03
[SPEAKER_01]: Should have been in there.
40:04
[SPEAKER_01]: They're not even gonna play in a bowl game.
40:06
[SPEAKER_01]: They're being uh, but Mike.
40:08
[SPEAKER_01]: I know the Texas longhorns Also did not make it in be what you did not make it in so a lot of big schools that you would have thought at the beginning of the season would be in this playoff or out But guess who's number one of all places?
40:19
[SPEAKER_01]: Indiana University, and you might be the Ohio State.
40:21
[SPEAKER_01]: Isn't that a basketball school, you would be correct in that, but now they're apparently a football school.
40:26
[SPEAKER_01]: So here we go.
40:26
[SPEAKER_01]: Let's see if they can win this whole game.
40:27
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm just, yeah, I'm just not used to Indiana being good at football.
40:30
[SPEAKER_00]: Like when they beat Ohio State this past week, and I was like, what am I seeing?
40:35
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, because they are in division one like FBS football.
40:38
[SPEAKER_00]: They're like the losingist program historically.
40:41
[SPEAKER_00]: And then like this year, they finally came out of it.
40:43
[SPEAKER_00]: Like it's it's unbelievable.
40:45
[SPEAKER_00]: They've always been bad.
40:46
[SPEAKER_01]: And so kind of like it's kind of like scrappy Netflix in 2010 being told by Warner Bros you're not a threat and here they are they're coming and taking the eight Ohio states lunch just like right no Netflix coming to get Warner Bros it's all the David and Goliath situation always make it these stories are fun right.
41:02
[SPEAKER_00]: Yep.
41:03
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.
41:03
[SPEAKER_00]: Absolutely.
41:04
[SPEAKER_01]: That's all we got, guys.
41:05
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.
41:05
[SPEAKER_01]: On the tune-in.
41:06
[SPEAKER_01]: Michael, anything else to add this week?
41:09
[SPEAKER_00]: No, no.
41:10
[SPEAKER_00]: Christmas is coming up.
41:11
[SPEAKER_00]: We're so thankful to you guys.
41:12
[SPEAKER_00]: Thanks for joining us for this week's episode of Culture Brief Adinison Forum podcast.
41:16
[SPEAKER_00]: All the articles and videos mentioned will be linked in the show notes.
41:19
[SPEAKER_00]: And if you enjoyed today's episode, please like, please subscribe, rate review the show, and share the show with a friend.
41:24
[SPEAKER_00]: You guys have been faithfully doing that.
41:26
[SPEAKER_00]: Keep it up, and we'll see you next Thursday.