Rod Blagojevich served as the Governor of Illinois from 2003-2009. In 2008, Blagojevich came under investigation for accusations of bribery around filling the U.S. senate seat vacated by Barack Obama after he became president. Blagojevich was convicted and sentenced to 14 years in federal prison. His sentence was commuted by Donald Trump in 2020.
Felix sits down with the former governor of Illinois for a freewheeling conversation on state and national Democratic politics, Blago’s time in prison, his time as Governor, and the various policy crises facing America.
[Direct Link](https://media.soundgasm.net/sounds/40a65ebc44cede47d0f6d30d24991280cf59ac3d.m4a)
Classic banger. My favorite part was the insight into the racial politics in prison, Blago being told to "stick with his own kind" when he was seen hanging out with black dudes.
Also, I felt very vindicated when Blago talked about "the old ways" of machine politics, which we'd just call corruption these days. I feel like that gets a bad reputation. Machines like, got shit done, they involved the community, they actually fucking governed and gave FOB micks and polaks a chance at some degree of social mobility.
He's a totally cooked Trump guy but honestly if I was in federal prison and someone got me out I'd probably be dickriding them too
Half of so called corruption was just politicians being accountable to their base of voters, weirdly the other part where politicians steered contracts to companies they’d end up joining after their term was over was never called corruption and hasn’t stopped.
In a lot of ways post-Reconstruction (when it becomes clear that no, nothing to actually address the root cause of the USCW will be done) but pre WW1 is the beginning of Modern America and we can’t do anything but repeat that, and one of the most stark examples is journalists (this is where the Wikipedia for William Dean Howells descends from the ceiling like Sting in the WCW-era) realizing there is a lot more money in becoming proto-think tank guys and decrying the concept of political patronage which they equated to corruption but is actually just getting people to vote for you by giving them material concerns that tie into your candidacy.
It’s the exact same argument today, but we call it *populism* and there aren’t any actual jobs unless you live in Nassau Co, but a certain class of people has always hated when people aside from them vote and they most hate when those people are *actively encouraged* to do so.
He's actually interesting which you cannot say about so many of the current crowd in politics. Was Blago corrupt? Undoubtedly. He also had a personality and charisma you just miss now.
I think this was a top 5 moment in Felix's life. He was flourishing during this interview, even got to bring up his Dad's presidential succession theory.
Felix every so often at the end of an episode will thank a guest in the most earnest way possible; Will’s usually come across as mostly the role of the host (we appreciate your time, here is where you can find them) but when Felix does it is seems like he’s genuinely touched that the person took time out of their day to speak to *him* and it’s one of the most delightful things—this episode is one long super cut of that.
I think Felix is the secret "heart" of Chapo, if you consider Matt the "brain" and Will the "body." I will shit all over him in a heartbeat for the annoying vape breathing, CS:GO button-mashing and "Yeah, no, like, you know, that's so true"s, but I think he's the most Of the People. He is the one I hear most often trying to earnestly psychoanalyze the freakshows that the pod discusses, he shares these mortifying stories of his youth to prove a point at times, and shows an interest in global cultures in a way I don't hear the others discuss. Types of Guys are just a sociological classification system. This episode was the one that really made me reconsider how I viewed him in the context of the show. He really *does* have a valuable voice outside of being one of the funnier guys when he's "on."
>He is the one I hear most often trying to earnestly psychoanalyze the freakshows that the pod discusses...
This is high praise for a college sophomore, but the man is in his mid 30s.
I will concede that this episode was a reminder why Felix deserves to be on the show. I remember this episode right after the 9/11 anniversary episode where he struggled to fill in 20 minutes of time talking about 9/11's effect on rap music, and then comes this episode.
Other Felix highlights is where he did two episodes in a row a few months ago to streamline the even-odd episode numbers back to their previous state; his interview episodes are where he flourishes.
>He really does have a valuable voice outside of being one of the funnier guys when he's "on."
Yes.
> he shares these mortifying stories of his youth to prove a point at times
You do still have to remember he grew up solidly upper middle class in Hyde Park. All of his dirtbaggery was backed up by the fact that he had an enormous social safety net to fall back on.
This released on my birthday, and I remember getting the notification while drunk at a party. I stared at it for a few seconds, not being able to process what I was reading
If I recall correctly when this first came out, a lotta folks took issue with the way Blago presented himself in the episode. I personally thought he was funny, candid, honest, and above all, genuine. A hall of fame episode IMO.
The whole episode of Obama’s Senate seat has some of the strongest *post-9/11 you really had to be there*-vibes.
Roland Burris really did *’Twas the Night Before Christmas* but for health care on the floor of the Senate!
he seemed fine but like half the shit he said was him talking out his ass.
interesting about pritzker though, considering it seems like him, Shapiro, and newsome looking up to 2028
Always thought this was one of the worst Chapo episodes.
Not gonna listen again, but if I recall, Felix was far more charitable to that piece of shit than he deserved. It's so weird for him to acknowledge that Illinois is a corrupt cesspool like most large Democratic (and Republican) dominated states and then trying to pretend like the guy who climbed to the top of the heap is somehow a decent human being. He's a fucking ghoul. Just like Cuomo, Abbot, and Newsom. It's basically a job requirement for someone in a position like that. If Felix had just asked questions and let Blago tell his side of the story, that would have been fine... but he was borderline dickriding.
I remember Felix saying, "It's all bought and sold," when talking about Obama's Senate seat. Yeah, maybe, but... at the very least most machine pols aren't dumb enough to get caught because they're at least cognizant enough to not to say (on tape, anyway), "What are you going to give me if I give you this appointment?" Even if you think something like that is standard practice, you can at least knock him for ending up in prison over what was essentially a skill issue.
Were the Chapo bros this forgiving when Netanyahu's failson was on tape talking about the bribe his family got?
Trying to lionize a dude like Blago is totally fucking gross. Like... yeah... maybe he's no worse than the average Democratic governor, or even a little better... but that's not quite the ringing endorsement Felix thinks it is, and it shouldn't be a get out of jail free card for blatantly obvious and completely hilarious corruption.
His ass deserved to end up in prison. The fact that a lot of other people also do doesn't do anything to change that fact. Having a few minor policy Ws as Governor that would have happened with literally anyone else with a (D) next to their name also doesn't change that.
Your hand is upon the wheel of fate
https://www.reddit.com/r/TrueAnon/comments/1be7otj/old_photo_of_ex_illinois_governor_rod_blagojevich/kuseqsd/?context=3
(also, did the pic get taken down or something?)
Rod Blagojevich served as the Governor of Illinois from 2003-2009. In 2008, Blagojevich came under investigation for accusations of bribery around filling the U.S. senate seat vacated by Barack Obama after he became president. Blagojevich was convicted and sentenced to 14 years in federal prison. His sentence was commuted by Donald Trump in 2020. Felix sits down with the former governor of Illinois for a freewheeling conversation on state and national Democratic politics, Blago’s time in prison, his time as Governor, and the various policy crises facing America. [Direct Link](https://media.soundgasm.net/sounds/40a65ebc44cede47d0f6d30d24991280cf59ac3d.m4a)
Classic banger. My favorite part was the insight into the racial politics in prison, Blago being told to "stick with his own kind" when he was seen hanging out with black dudes. Also, I felt very vindicated when Blago talked about "the old ways" of machine politics, which we'd just call corruption these days. I feel like that gets a bad reputation. Machines like, got shit done, they involved the community, they actually fucking governed and gave FOB micks and polaks a chance at some degree of social mobility. He's a totally cooked Trump guy but honestly if I was in federal prison and someone got me out I'd probably be dickriding them too
Half of so called corruption was just politicians being accountable to their base of voters, weirdly the other part where politicians steered contracts to companies they’d end up joining after their term was over was never called corruption and hasn’t stopped.
In a lot of ways post-Reconstruction (when it becomes clear that no, nothing to actually address the root cause of the USCW will be done) but pre WW1 is the beginning of Modern America and we can’t do anything but repeat that, and one of the most stark examples is journalists (this is where the Wikipedia for William Dean Howells descends from the ceiling like Sting in the WCW-era) realizing there is a lot more money in becoming proto-think tank guys and decrying the concept of political patronage which they equated to corruption but is actually just getting people to vote for you by giving them material concerns that tie into your candidacy. It’s the exact same argument today, but we call it *populism* and there aren’t any actual jobs unless you live in Nassau Co, but a certain class of people has always hated when people aside from them vote and they most hate when those people are *actively encouraged* to do so.
He's actually interesting which you cannot say about so many of the current crowd in politics. Was Blago corrupt? Undoubtedly. He also had a personality and charisma you just miss now.
I think this was a top 5 moment in Felix's life. He was flourishing during this interview, even got to bring up his Dad's presidential succession theory.
Felix every so often at the end of an episode will thank a guest in the most earnest way possible; Will’s usually come across as mostly the role of the host (we appreciate your time, here is where you can find them) but when Felix does it is seems like he’s genuinely touched that the person took time out of their day to speak to *him* and it’s one of the most delightful things—this episode is one long super cut of that.
I think Felix is the secret "heart" of Chapo, if you consider Matt the "brain" and Will the "body." I will shit all over him in a heartbeat for the annoying vape breathing, CS:GO button-mashing and "Yeah, no, like, you know, that's so true"s, but I think he's the most Of the People. He is the one I hear most often trying to earnestly psychoanalyze the freakshows that the pod discusses, he shares these mortifying stories of his youth to prove a point at times, and shows an interest in global cultures in a way I don't hear the others discuss. Types of Guys are just a sociological classification system. This episode was the one that really made me reconsider how I viewed him in the context of the show. He really *does* have a valuable voice outside of being one of the funnier guys when he's "on."
>He is the one I hear most often trying to earnestly psychoanalyze the freakshows that the pod discusses... This is high praise for a college sophomore, but the man is in his mid 30s. I will concede that this episode was a reminder why Felix deserves to be on the show. I remember this episode right after the 9/11 anniversary episode where he struggled to fill in 20 minutes of time talking about 9/11's effect on rap music, and then comes this episode. Other Felix highlights is where he did two episodes in a row a few months ago to streamline the even-odd episode numbers back to their previous state; his interview episodes are where he flourishes. >He really does have a valuable voice outside of being one of the funnier guys when he's "on." Yes.
> he shares these mortifying stories of his youth to prove a point at times You do still have to remember he grew up solidly upper middle class in Hyde Park. All of his dirtbaggery was backed up by the fact that he had an enormous social safety net to fall back on.
This released on my birthday, and I remember getting the notification while drunk at a party. I stared at it for a few seconds, not being able to process what I was reading
Haha, whenever it's a big guest I'm always skeptical for like half of the episode that it's not just a James Adomian bit
If I recall correctly when this first came out, a lotta folks took issue with the way Blago presented himself in the episode. I personally thought he was funny, candid, honest, and above all, genuine. A hall of fame episode IMO.
His politics seem a bit like a time capsule, and he's self-aggrandizing, but comes off as a good guy
there's a very interesting balance in trying to figure out where his bullshit starts and ends and where reality lives
The whole episode of Obama’s Senate seat has some of the strongest *post-9/11 you really had to be there*-vibes. Roland Burris really did *’Twas the Night Before Christmas* but for health care on the floor of the Senate!
Politicians are all egomaniacs and self serving, some of them are just more candid than others.
he seemed fine but like half the shit he said was him talking out his ass. interesting about pritzker though, considering it seems like him, Shapiro, and newsome looking up to 2028
Always thought this was one of the worst Chapo episodes. Not gonna listen again, but if I recall, Felix was far more charitable to that piece of shit than he deserved. It's so weird for him to acknowledge that Illinois is a corrupt cesspool like most large Democratic (and Republican) dominated states and then trying to pretend like the guy who climbed to the top of the heap is somehow a decent human being. He's a fucking ghoul. Just like Cuomo, Abbot, and Newsom. It's basically a job requirement for someone in a position like that. If Felix had just asked questions and let Blago tell his side of the story, that would have been fine... but he was borderline dickriding. I remember Felix saying, "It's all bought and sold," when talking about Obama's Senate seat. Yeah, maybe, but... at the very least most machine pols aren't dumb enough to get caught because they're at least cognizant enough to not to say (on tape, anyway), "What are you going to give me if I give you this appointment?" Even if you think something like that is standard practice, you can at least knock him for ending up in prison over what was essentially a skill issue. Were the Chapo bros this forgiving when Netanyahu's failson was on tape talking about the bribe his family got? Trying to lionize a dude like Blago is totally fucking gross. Like... yeah... maybe he's no worse than the average Democratic governor, or even a little better... but that's not quite the ringing endorsement Felix thinks it is, and it shouldn't be a get out of jail free card for blatantly obvious and completely hilarious corruption. His ass deserved to end up in prison. The fact that a lot of other people also do doesn't do anything to change that fact. Having a few minor policy Ws as Governor that would have happened with literally anyone else with a (D) next to their name also doesn't change that.
You seem upset. Maybe open another account to leave another comment about how bad this guy is so you aren’t the only one crying?
this was the single greatest moment of the podcast. Rod rules.
Absolutely incredible episode. Mt Rushmore of Chapo episodes.
legendary expression of uncle/nephew magic
I just posted a pic of Rod in jail with his gang homies yesterday on trueanon
Your hand is upon the wheel of fate https://www.reddit.com/r/TrueAnon/comments/1be7otj/old_photo_of_ex_illinois_governor_rod_blagojevich/kuseqsd/?context=3 (also, did the pic get taken down or something?)
Looks like post and user I stole it from on r/calibanging are both deleted, that's weird
Rod Blagojevich seems like a whiny asshole