ACHP Episode 395 – TikTok, Trials, and Tobacco News

Transcript

And go.

Welcome to Episode 395, the

Cigar Hustler Podcast.

Hello, Michael.

Hi, Mike.

How are you?

I'm good.

How are you today?

I'm fantastic.

Can you get a little more

energy, please?

You're the energy I'm counting

on you to bring.

I will bring the energy, don't

you worry.

I will deliver So what we got

going on here soon.

As as far as what aspect,

Michael?

Oh well, on July 15th I'll be on

Deep Cuts live with Antoine Reed

from the PCA.

Oh, and then on July 19th,

you'll be doing a cutting light

at Ramsey's Smoke Shop from 3:00

to 7:00 PM in Minnesota.

Excellent.

I'm very excited to go to

Minnesota.

It's cold.

It's not this time of year.

Not cold right now, not this

time of year.

I.

Wonder what it looks like in the

evenings though.

I'll probably have to bring a

sweatshirt.

Maybe at night.

This time of year is perfect.

Is it?

Yeah.

Perfect for us.

I went in the winter time, it

sucked.

Oh yeah, I'm not doing that.

You should do.

How about that cigar when you're

there?

Like a live but they do on

record on Mondays.

I'm sure we can get them to a

special episode for you.

I'll text Matt, alright?

And then at the end of the month

here at Cigar Hustler, we're

doing an Espinoza event, Yeah,

on the 25th.

Of July.

Yeah, that's be the end of the.

Month and we don't know if Eric

will be here or not.

We don't know all the details

yet because we like Greg in

charge.

And whenever Greg's in charge,

that's.

We'll find out on the 24th.

It's a glacial page.

Right.

OK, that's true.

OK.

All right.

This past week What?

Before we go any further, what

do you think of my shirt?

I have that in a little bit all.

Right, I'll shut up then.

I'll.

Go ahead and do it.

No, you haven't punched in.

I don't want to mess up your.

Right.

This past weekend, we had my

opportunity to do a special

interview with Mr. Skip, AKA

Chip Martin.

We did.

Wow.

Thanks.

Yeah.

And OK, you got more to come.

Well, yours like you have to.

Let me know if you want me to

speak.

Well, when I look at you speak.

That.

Doesn't OK, that means I'm not

looking at the monitor.

Oh, OK, so at that point I need

to speak.

Yeah, it was a fantastic

interview.

It it wound up being 2

interviews, two shows, kind of

tied into 1/2 shows.

No, I'm talking now.

Fuck you.

I didn't look.

I'm not looking at you.

I was looking over here now.

You looked at me before.

Look away, Look away.

When I look away, you stop

talking.

Oh, is that how that works?

Way it works.

Now yeah, we did 2 This is me

shutting down.

We got one right, We got one

regular show.

And then if you want to hear,

Skip.

What we're doing with the

Patreon, that's.

Later too, if you want to hear

true Skip Martin fashion, you

got to join our Patreon show to

hear the second show.

Yeah, check out, listen to both.

They're very, they're both very

good.

Unfortunately and fortunately,

the second-half of Things is

really where Skip kind of opened

up about some stuff.

So we decided to hold that back

and release it for the Patreon

and see exactly what Skip said

So.

When you got towards the end of

the first show, Greg come over

and whisper in my ear.

Don't turn off the recording.

Yeah, I was smart.

I was smart.

Yeah, I thought you did shut it

off.

No.

Yeah.

So now we got we're not having

two episodes.

I just had to cut some dead

stuff out of the middle.

Yeah, OK.

What are what are you doing with

the Patreon?

I don't know, show us.

I'm going to.

Show we got cigars from Mr. Fran

Soletto when he came to the

event, brought us these lovely

sticks.

The pressure you wanted us to

review these on the Patreon,

Boots.

It's probably out of focus.

No back.

It's got to be even with your

face.

Your face is focused.

Back there you go.

What is it?

So we don't know what the cigar

is.

I didn't bother to look, he told

me.

But there was so much going on

that night, so.

Rodriguez.

It says on the back.

Rodriguez.

Rodriguez, Primero Where?

Does it say Rodriguez?

On the band.

Oh, then it says Key West.

They can barely see the name

Rodriguez Familia class.

For those of you that is

Rodriguez family class, 1st

class, 1st class Oh not familiar

first.

Premera.

All right, Michael, we need a

name.

Oh, hold on.

Now he's rushing.

Tyler Caldwell.

Bing bong.

Bing Bong, I like how he goes.

Bing Bong let.

Me tell you what this weighs in

before I light it up.

By the way, do do do 11.7g. 11.7

boots, can you scribble that

down over there?

Yeah, sure.

I'll remember it.

Thanks.

Right, this is episode 395

TikTok Trials and Tobacco.

OK.

This week we cover Tik Tok's new

US app rollout, Elon Musk

surprises launch of 1/3

political party and the One

Taste founder shot.

Oh, we cut that.

We cut that story out and UFC is

planning a event on the grounds

of the White House.

America.

We also breakdown the Diddy

trial verdict and big changes in

the cigar world.

If you look, if you look at the

last episode, I told you he was

going to walk.

You told us he was going to walk

first time we talked about it.

Yeah, I'm so smart.

Big changes in the cigar world

from new leadership.

We still haven't talked about

this shirt.

Oh, I did my head after I OK,

well, I let me finish the little

intro and then we'll do the

shirt.

Oh, I gone.

You threw it off.

You did say he's.

Looking at me, I did say I got

it, yeah.

New leadership of PDR and Mia

Salva.

The fresh releases like Hooton

Young's Midnight Hammer, Plus

What's the Score returned with

reviews of the Tetwahe

Especiales and Island Gym Barber

pole #2 but before we get

started, Mikey, what are you

wearing?

Oh.

I am wearing the new Cappuccino

Assassinino shirt.

Oh.

Compliments.

Cappuccino Assassinino.

Have you ever heard of Italian

brain rot?

No.

No, I haven't either.

So I guess this is a thing.

This is a thing for the kids.

Yeah, Yeah, My kids tell me

about, you know, I'm I, you

know, they go, oh, cappuccino

Sassanino.

I'm like, what the hell is that?

And.

Oh, I thought you came up with

this.

Yeah, no, I did not come up

with.

This are the kids.

Do they drink cappuccinos?

Now I know they well, they say a

bunch of ridiculous things that

are Italian, like bombadillo.

Crocodillo is like a like a

bombing plane and and a

crocodile that's kind of morphed

into one.

Is this like off a game or is

this just like something they're

doing?

I think that it's on Roblox as

well.

And like, I don't know it's, I

don't look, I don't know all the

details is.

This a copyrighted thing?

I have no idea, I'll let you

know later.

We get our.

We get we.

Get the cease and desist.

Did you make the image or?

Made this image.

Yes, OK, I made this image.

Take somebody's image and put a

little.

P on it.

No, I made this image.

I gave him a little post on your

logo on his suit and they are

available at chapter pod.com for

a limited time.

Now it makes more sense.

I just thought you'd just like

cappuccino.

No, but I thought it was was bad

ass.

It's nice looking shirt.

Yeah, it's a very nice and that

comes in just the Heather Gray

color.

Yep, just the Gray.

Trying to mix it up a little

bit, you know?

Sure.

Get an assortment of shirts.

Everybody doesn't wear black

every single day.

Keeping it fresh, right?

If it was what Mikey liked, it

would be called Nitro

Assassinino.

Nitro Assassinino, What's that?

Well, you like the Nitro coffee.

Yeah, it's true.

Isn't nitrile an actual?

Thing I do like the Nitro cold

brew.

What's that?

Is nitrile?

Isn't that an actual thing?

It's only like a pillar or

something.

I don't know.

It's definitely a coffee.

Yeah, maybe that's it.

Yeah.

All right.

You ready to get started?

I am.

I think we've covered everything

at this point.

Boots, Are you ready over there?

Ben ready?

Let's go.

The UFC plans to host a fight

card on the White House of

grounds, A spokesperson for the

promotion confirmed to NBC News

on Friday.

Further details were not

available, but President Donald

Trump said he would like it as

part of a celebration honoring

America's 250th birthday on July

4th, 2026.

We're going to have AUFC fight

on the grounds of the White

House, Trump said in Des Moines,

IA, on Thursday.

I guess he was in Iowa.

We have a lot of land there.

Oh, that's thank you, Donald.

He's going.

To be in Iowa.

No, he was in Iowa and he

announced, he announced the

information.

Ah.

OK, what was that?

My Siri went off.

Oh, really?

Yeah, I'm completely confused at

this point.

He's in Iowa.

He's talking about doing.

He's in Iowa.

He's giving a speech and

somebody asks him.

He goes, yes, we're doing a UFC

fight.

Right.

What's up QB?

Yeah, I just, I didn't know why,

he said.

There was a lot of land there.

That's where I got confused.

He says there's a lot of land at

the White House where they can

have the fight.

Oh, OK.

He expects the card to include.

A got a big yard, you know,

right?

Yeah.

Big.

Yeah, they can have it in the

Rose Garden.

I mean, this is this is pretty

cool actually.

It includes a fight in front of

20,000 to 25,000 people.

Every one of our national parks,

battlefields and historic sites

are going to have special events

in honor of America's 250th

birthday, and I even think we're

going to have a UFC fight.

Trump said.

It's not clear how far along

planning for the event is or how

definite it is that it will

actually happen, and the UFC

spokesperson said more details

would be released in due time.

Former two division champion

Conor McGregor, who has not

competed since 2021, said on his

social media he's interested in

returning to the White House

event.

I would be honored, he wrote.

Count.

Me in OK.

Do you think this is a good

idea?

Let me let let's start there.

I have some more information but

that's.

OK, go ahead.

No.

No, no.

No, no.

Let's hear the rest, all right.

Trump is close friends with UFC

President Dana White, who has

appeared at his campaign rallies

immediately after winning the

2024 election, Trump brought

White House, brought White on

stage to thank him for his

efforts in helping him get re

elected.

So this is just a payoff.

Do you think this is a good

idea?

I don't know.

And and I don't think they

should be at the White House.

You.

Don't think they should be at

the White House.

No, I think the White House

needs to stay the White House.

I mean, you know, like what a

you know, that's that's America,

but I don't know, just would it

be different to you if it was

AWWE with that like.

Blowjob to the Oval Office type

stuff is.

That oh, that's inside.

They don't do that on the

outside ground.

That's just in the inside.

So only insides, only inside.

It's only inside, only inside.

It's only inside stuff

shenanigans, right?

Would I care if it was AWWE

thing?

Instead.

Well, you haven't said if you're

forward against it anyway, so

it's, it's not a question to ask

yet.

Yeah, but no, I, I don't, I

think it's a little tacky to

have that at the white.

House You think it's tacky?

Yeah, OK.

I mean, he's one step away from

having gladiators now.

Which would be even doper I.

Mean they.

They could announce, you know, a

mid the midway the next July

like it's to the death.

Now we've decided.

And no, well, if the Conor

McGregor, it's not going to be

to the death.

Well, no, maybe his isn't, but

they might have just one.

Let's test it and just have one

fight to.

Like, like, like criminals that

are.

Lesser known people.

Like no, like death row people,

like people are on death row

you.

Know what they could do?

Running man's is getting to be

re released and redid it.

They could do a running man 1

and then they can get them to

help wait.

For it The Running Man now the

the new movie looks a little

different than the old one.

Same idea though.

And this is how it go.

And here now Tim Williams versus

Cody Blair and you're like, who

the hell are these people to the

death?

And then everybody cheers.

Yes, I think that.

'D be amazing, so are you for or

against Sir the.

No, I'm definitely for.

You're definitely for

gladiators.

Except for that, yeah.

Instead of that, well, OK, let's

think about this right one,

there is an issue with this

security.

Yeah, right.

That's definitely an issue.

That's the first thing I thought

of too, right?

It's definitely an issue, but

this is one of the most prolific

pieces of property of all time,

right?

The White House.

And now you're having an event

here for the birthday, right?

And you're going to have

everybody all over the world

watching this period because

it's just at the White House.

It's not just because it's UFCI

mean UF CS already big to begin

with, but this is going to help

out UFC.

This is going to help out

America as well because

everybody's going to come

together and watch this

situation.

It's going to be a pay-per-view.

It's got to be.

I'm sure it will definitely be a

paid thing.

I understand how I understand it

helps UFCI mean they'll sell the

thing out if there is a sell out

on pay-per-view.

I don't know how that works, but

I don't know how that helps

America.

But I will say, too, kudos the

Dana White for making a a

situation like this happen.

Yeah, you know, as you know you

got.

Well, we don't know if it

happens yet.

Well, if it does the.

Possibility.

Of it, you know, like somebody

like, OK, we look at the big

guys like Roger Goodell and not

David Stern, but Howard Stern.

No, Who's the new guy for the

NBA?

The Commissioner.

Cooper Flag No.

No, the Commissioner.

I'm sorry.

Not David Stern.

Cooper flag.

Anyways, the Commissioner.

He's the first.

He's the draft, the Duke guy.

Adam Soward, there you go.

That guy's terrible.

Right.

So you got these two other guys

though, right?

These big organizations and

really truthfully, UFC is

smaller than these two other

organizations, right?

I would think.

So, OK, you think UFC is smaller

than basketball, but what's the

other organization?

NFL.

Oh, OK.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

It's smaller than.

Little a bit of knowledge from

sports, I would say UFC smaller

than football and.

Back, it's definitely smaller

than both of those.

Yeah, for sure.

Sure, So kudos to this guy for

making it happen.

I mean, why didn't the other

guys try this?

Yeah, like the NBA Finals.

Well, if they donated money and

supported Trump.

Well, you know, I'm I'm.

Sure, somebody did.

I don't know, you know, just

kind of looking at it from a

bird's eye view.

Yeah, I think that this is

pretty cool.

I think it's interesting.

I think it's fun and exciting.

I'd love to see Conor McGregor

be part of it 'cause he's

definitely sells the most

tickets for sure.

Is there there's a stadium in

Washington somewhere, I would

imagine, right?

Yeah.

Couldn't they just have it

there?

No.

Where's?

Where's the fun of that?

I think the only thing could

have been better is Conor versus

Sugar Shane.

Sugar Sean, he's done.

He lost.

He lost his guy twice.

He's, you know, he's.

O'Connor snapped his ankle or

something.

Has he fought since then?

No, but.

Or maybe bring back like Ken

Shamrock.

And I'm gonna.

Be yelling sweep the leg.

Johnny Sugar in two different

weight classes too, but.

Everybody yell sweep the leg,

Johnny, sweep the leg.

I think it'll be good.

I don't know what you're

talking.

About I'm kind of excited about

it.

I think it'd be fun to see, you

know, I don't care who's in the

office.

Yeah, it means nothing to me

like.

Well, I don't care if it's any

obviously, but I mean, like, I

think they're making a spectacle

of the White House.

Now is yeah, I think that

that's, I don't see the issue

with that.

I think that that's fine.

Now, like the Cologne and all

this other crap, I'm like, all

right dude, you know, like.

You know the.

Give it a rest.

They have another cool situation

where they do a location sport

sporting event is if you, I

don't know if you guys ever

watched the basketball game that

gets played on the ship on a

Navy ship.

What?

Yeah, they play.

It's usually college and they

play a game on a aircraft

carrier.

They laid, they had to lay down

a wood floor and everything

'cause you know, those things

are all movable.

So they lay down the wood floor

and everything, and then all the

people and then they they go out

to sea and all the people on the

ship get to watch the game.

That's pretty cool.

So you never saw a game though?

No, yeah, he knows how much you

didn't get on the boats.

Do they still do that or was

that a one time?

Thing.

No, they still do that.

How do they keep the ball from

going off the edge of the boat?

No, they don't.

They just have extras.

Oh, so it is.

Yeah, I'm sure there's method if

it rolls off they.

Just you don't really try to get

it back in bounds.

Out of bounds.

All right, 10.

Points out of bounds.

We need to know, we need another

ball.

You know the ball on forward

because he went over after the

ball.

I mean like the aircraft carrier

is huge.

Oh, I understand that.

So let balls bounce.

Sure, it could happen.

It could happen.

It's possible, yeah.

If the ball goes over, would you

jump and save it?

No, no.

Definitely not.

It's just a basketball.

That's where you draw the line

and basketballs other people's

kids and basketballs.

Exactly.

Yes, Thank you.

And as a callback, folks, the

last week's show.

Yeah, no, I'm for it.

I think it'd be cool.

And and to answer your question,

if it was WWEI think that'd be

cool too.

Oh, it'd be better.

Why would that not be OK?

I just, I don't know, I just

don't think that's a thing you

should do at the White House.

WWE.

Well, WWE is all scripted, so I

mean why they just at that point

they just do concerts and plays

at the White House.

If there was a big enough track

sequence, could you do like a a?

Pay-per-view of of a Sure they

do.

Pay-per-view concerts, yeah.

Sure.

Yeah, they have.

Like The Beatles?

They get whoever's left in The

Beatles to come back, and then

they do a Beatles reunion on the

lawn of the White House.

OK.

Obviously you like The Beatles.

No, it's just the first group I

thought of because he mentioned

The Beatles.

I think that'd be fine for

celebration, the 250th year,

yeah.

Look, you got to do some crazy

stuff, man.

You got to mix it up.

Let's go.

Man, WWE pay-per-view of the

White.

House yeah, you know what like

the Rock versus Stone Cold

here's the thing I'll tell you

what intertwine the two title

championship for UFC, right,

yes.

And then like have Roman Reigns

come out and hit him with those

steel chairs Oh yeah.

As they're fighting like, Oh my

God, like, well.

They have Trump come hit him

with a steel chair.

There you go.

Well, he's the president.

Let's not get crazy.

And then John Cena comes out,

'cause he's America.

Yeah.

I tried watching that movie for

1/3 time.

Head of state.

Yep, can't get through.

It you know, it's funny as I

punched it on last night, passed

out.

Yep, I fall asleep through the

volume.

I don't.

Understand what happens with the

volume because like the volume's

low when they talk, so I have to

turn it up and then they have

like these action sequences.

I'm like oh shit now.

I've had other movies like that.

It's so.

Frustrating.

Well you might have your SO they

have sound settings.

Is it your sound come through

your TV or a sound bar?

Sound bar.

So like on my sound bar, it has

a smart setting, Yeah, where it

does that, it'll go lower for

voices and then you know, when

the action.

So you have to change it to

standard.

OK, I'll try and do that.

I tried to watch the accountant

too.

I got a lot of good nabs

yesterday.

Fell asleep in that one too.

I enjoyed The Accountant too.

I like that one.

Thunderbolts.

Did you watch Thunderbolts?

No, it was $25 to rent it.

I'll wait.

You draw the line on that it was

good.

Yeah, I want to see it, but

I'll, I'll wait in about $25.

Yeah, I'm gonna make a point to

watch that one.

And then Ballerina.

I could have went to the theater

for less than $25.

I can't.

No, you have quite the passel.

You have the passel of people.

That yeah, it's like 80 bucks to

go to the movies, right?

Yeah, that's just the drinks and

food.

That's no, that's just a get in

that's.

Even more, that's a three figure

number.

Yeah, that's just a get in

buddy.

All right, Tik Tok's building a

new version of the app ahead of

expected US sale The Information

reports TikTok is building a new

version of its app for users in

the United States ahead of a

planned sale of the app to a

group of investors.

We going to build a new one.

Well, but it's with an English

accent.

It's American.

No, it's definitely a Chinese.

Accent.

It's China.

It's China.

Nope, they're trying to build an

American one, Information

reported on Sunday, citing

unnamed sources.

This comes as U.S., President of

Donald Trump, said on Friday he

will start talking to China on

Monday or Tuesday about a

possible TikTok deal.

We going to build a new one.

It's Bobby, Mom.

With without getting more into

the story that I'm going to

read, China has said they will

not sell it to Americans because

of the tariffs.

That's why he's talking to them,

trying to broker a deal.

Look, they've already showed

their hand as far as I'm

concerned when this comes to

this whole thing.

Look fellas, we'll give you a

couple of these Fords.

You give us TikTok.

Dude, I think that the the whole

tariff thing, the way that that

all played out.

I mean, we bombed Iran.

Yeah, they did nothing.

It's over so Well, they weren't.

Going to do anything yeah I.

So we already kind of worked

these these things out.

I think the tariff thing was

part of that whole.

It's all intertwined.

Hmm.

Yeah, go ahead, continue.

He said thank you.

He said the United States.

Look at me.

Pretty much.

Look at me.

Look at me.

Look away.

Michael Roth, Power.

OK.

Oh oh.

It's going off on the Bay.

I'm attached to Rd.

Caster, aren't I?

Yeah.

He said he said he said the

United States pretty much has a

deal on the sale of the TikTok

short video app see TikTok.

Well, he says pretty much TikTok

is there.

I plan to launch the new app,

the US App Stores, on September

5th, the report said.

Last month, Trump extended to

September 17th a deadline for

China based Byte Dance to divest

the US assets of TikTok.

The report added that TikTok

users will eventually have to

download the new app to be able

to continue using services,

although the existing app will

work until March of next year,

though the timeline could

change.

New followers.

We're starting from zero, Yeah.

You got to start all the way

from.

No way, right?

No, there's no way.

It'll feedback in.

They'll pipe it in, Yeah.

TikTok did not immediately

respond to a Reuters request for

comment.

Reuters could not immediately

confirm the report.

A deal had been in the works

earlier this year to spin off

Tik Tok's US operation into a

new US based firm, majority

owned and operated by US

investors.

Mr. Beast.

That was put on hold after China

indicated it would not approve

it following Trump's

announcement of steep tariffs on

Chinese goods.

OK.

So who do you think buys?

Who do you think's going to buy

it?

Private investors?

What does that mean?

People with money.

Yeah, you don't.

You don't think there's going to

be a big name behind it?

Yeah, no.

It's going to be the trifecta.

Who do you think is it?

It's going to be Elon, Trump and

Bezos.

Elon no longer.

Elon Elon's on the blacklist.

No, this is going to be the

coming back tour.

Nah.

Nah, I think he's done.

I have a theory behind all that

too.

Yeah.

You really want me to go down

that rabbit hole?

Wait till we talk about that

there's an Elon.

Story There's a deep rabbit

hole.

OK.

Trump said the United States

will probably have to get a deal

approved by China.

OK, we need a name.

Michael.

We need a name.

You know the name.

Not of, not of the new.

Textbook.

I'm looking at you.

Not for that.

I mean, that story's over.

Jason Walpert, my guy.

Bing bong.

Race car driver.

Yes, former.

He's retired.

Oh, did he, Musk?

Musk says he is forming a new

political party.

Yes, after fallout with Trump.

Indeed.

Oh wait, so we're done with

TikTok?

I guess that won't be a clip

'cause I didn't ask any

questions.

You did as it was rolling,

talked about who the investors

were and all that kind of stuff.

All right, whatever.

I love TikTok just by the way,

Yeah, yeah, I can't watch

Facebook video reels.

You're a TikTok guy, Yeah.

I fell into Instagram reels this

weekend.

Those aren't bad either.

I haven't watched them.

Yet some of them are the same

though cause a lot of a lot of

the creators post the same thing

on multiple places.

Oh yeah, yeah, that's how that's

kind of how like Facebook is.

And it's, and it's Facebook is

definitely screened like there

you don't get everything on

Facebook like you do on TikTok.

I mean, TikTok, there's some,

yeah, there's some wild stuff on

TikTok.

All right, OK, continue Elon

Musk, billionaire American

party.

Billionaire Elon Musk said

Saturday he's forming 1/3

political party after a dramatic

fallout with Donald Trump,

indicating he will make good on

threats he made if the

president's domestic policy bill

became law.

Any idea what that was?

The bill he.

Particularly the big beautiful

bill that he's talking, he's.

Talking about like the the one

with the taxes and all that.

It's going to be great.

It's going to we're going to,

we're going to cut taxes.

Suppose I don't know, I, I don't

read these things.

I just listen to everybody get

upset about all of it and I find

that all entertaining or

somebody that's like, yeah, this

is great.

And then I look at both of them

and I say, OK, good for OK.

So from what I saw from via the

social media platforms is like

people are mad that it's cutting

Medicaid or something like that

and people are happy about the

fact that it's giving tax

benefits and tax cuts and, and

you know, red hates blue, blue

hates red.

Nothing has changed.

Yeah, I was I.

Was maybe there's green now too.

Until this is and I honestly

believe.

Do you have more to read?

Yeah, here's a quote.

When it comes to bankrupting our

country with wasting graft, we

live in a one party system, not

a democracy.

Trump's former first buddy.

Oh, that was that his title

first buddy.

Yeah, Oh.

I didn't know they called him

that first Buddy said on social

media platform X Today the

American party is formed to give

you back our freedom.

Most alert.

Is he AUS citizen?

Yeah, I think so.

He started and then he came over

and he got the thing.

It was like a whole he did one

of those things.

Did he get the express pass

thing where you?

No, this is prior Express pass.

This is like I'm a business

person.

I come over and I can get yeah.

Yeah, all right.

Most of the largest individual

individual donor to Trump's 2024

presidential campaign, and until

recently a close advisor to the

president who spearheaded his

administrators push to cut

government waste, had criticized

Trump's big, beautiful bill

because of estimates that it

would add trillions of dollars

to the federal deficit.

Yeah, Musk Criticism of the bill

was the catalyst for a major

falling out between the two men

last month.

That feud seemingly cooled after

Musk expressed regret and

deleted the most incendiary

social media post he made about

Trump.

They said it was on the Epstein

list.

Yes, but is reignited in the

last several days as the bill

near passage.

Now there isn't a list.

Now what?

Now there's no list.

Yeah, it's gone.

The list just never.

Happened.

Oh, the Epstein list.

Yeah.

Oh, yeah.

Now there's no list.

He committed suicide and there's

no list.

Yeah, right.

OK.

Trump signed the bill into law

on Friday.

For his part, Trump called

Musk's announcement of the new

party ridiculous and said it

would it would start confusion.

I think it's ridiculous to start

a third party.

We have a tremendous success

with the Republican Party, Trump

said ahead of the boarding Air

Force One in New Jersey on

Sunday.

The Democrats have lost their

way, but it's always been a two

party system and I think

starting a third party just adds

to the confusion.

There's more than two parties

though, technically.

And there I mean there's.

Well, you have.

Well, there's two major parties

2.

Major parties correct?

Didn't like Ross Perot, tried to

start a party when?

He was an independent, yeah.

Right, but he tried to start a

party.

Yeah, and he screwed over Bush,

right?

Or whatever.

Read my lips.

No more taxes, then.

He couldn't do it because Perot

took part of the action.

Like, what do I know?

But that's what I know.

Yeah.

I look, I honestly think that

this is kind of the evolution of

of where things are going.

That we be that we get a third

major party.

There's going to be a party

that's going to be practical on

both and and it's going to be in

the middle on both of them like.

Purple.

The purple.

Whatever it is, I, I think that

that's really the, the direction

that this has been heading for

the past 30 years.

Like there was a point in time

where, you know, becoming a

Democrat was, hey, you know, it

doesn't matter who you are, we

want you to be a part with us,

right?

And then eventually that shifted

to if you don't agree with

these, then we don't like you,

right?

And like people were like, hold

on, what's going on with that?

Then the Republican Party all of

a sudden became the, hey, give

us your, you know, we'll take

everybody and we're about core

principles or whatever the case

may be.

And then that shifts into, but

you know, rich stay richer,

whatever the case may be.

And it doesn't matter where you

stand on any of these things,

but you, a lot of people stand

one side or the other, right?

But now what has happened is you

have this this middle section

that continues to grow.

And they're like, well, wait a

second.

I agree with some of the things

over here.

I agree with some of the things

over here.

I don't understand why the hell

we're all arguing about all this

stuff, right?

And that's where you're seeing

the creation of this party.

Now the real question is, is

this party, is this party being

created because of hate?

No, because of like the it's the

natural course of things.

Or is this actually being

dictated by both parties?

Like a smoke and mirror.

Yeah, like, you know, hey,

here's what we're going to do.

We're going to have a, we're

going to have a falling out and

whatever the case can be, and

you're going to create this next

thing and it's going to be.

Kind of like I'm going to poke

you in the chest.

Yeah, from from billions.

I want you to.

You can poke me on God damn day.

Yeah, you can take so much

money, you can have a third

family.

Yeah, 2's fucking enough.

Two's fucking plenty.

Right.

It's unclear to what extent Musk

has taken steps to legally form

the party, which which would be

required to register with the

Federal Election Commission.

The most recent FEC filing show

no indication that that it has

happened.

The world's richest man has

indicated he wants the party

that is fiscally conservative

and reigns in spending, but has

offered few other details about

what the party's platform would

be.

Yeah.

You want to know what it is.

It's I think that eventually

you're, whether it's Elon or

not, you're going to see an

evolution of a party that's,

look, you're entitled to believe

whatever you want to believe,

and the government doesn't have

to back that belief.

I think that that's the bigger

issue here.

You know, like as an individual,

you can be, you can be against

abortion, right?

You can, you can say, hey, I'm

not for that.

But that that doesn't mean that

abortion should be off the table

as far as regulation.

You know what I mean?

Like, I know that's a hot topic.

That's a, that's a touchy

subject.

But like the government doesn't

need to be involved in all of

these things is, is my point.

And the government's involved on

both sides, no matter what you

say.

So like.

Isn't that the libertarians that

that want less government

involvement in our lives?

It's more classic libertarian.

Yeah, but no.

But, you know, there should

still be aid and and things

should still happen to the right

people that need those

opportunities.

And then not only that, but

there should be programs to get

people off the aid instead of

keeping them on the aid so that

they become your voters.

Like all of these things happen

on both parties.

I don't care.

Sure, right.

What side you vote on?

So you're going to see it.

It's going to, it's going to

evolve.

It's going to happen eventually.

Well, that's, I mean, basically

there's already that, right?

That's the independent, I mean,

basically.

What he's doing is making sense.

Well, independents.

There's Libertarians, whatever

the Rush Perot group was.

No, I mean, I think I've never

seen somebody come out and say,

Hey, I am, am I, are you pro or

against gun like personally,

like I'm pro gun, you know, like

should there be, but should

there be some form of licensing

and, and, and permitting?

I think maybe there should be

like, you know, I don't know, I

don't have the answers.

But like there's, there's more

of a reasonable line that exists

and there should be no reason to

have to pick either side of the

party because either look at the

end of the day, everybody's

American and everybody's just

trying to do what they think is

best for themselves.

That's what you should call this

new group the Americans.

I think it is called like the

American.

Oh, he hasn't said.

He hasn't given it a name at

all.

Whatever the South African

Americans.

No, I don't think that would,

no.

It doesn't doesn't think.

That cause or or it's.

Only got to be South American,

American or.

Going to be the Canadian

Americans because he does hold

citizenship in Canada.

Yeah, I mean, look.

Our 51st state, Canada.

Yeah, maybe it maybe it will

become the 51st when he does

this whole group.

Maybe that's where he gets all

the memories.

Honestly, you know, whatever,

either, either way, within my

lifetime, you're going to see

another party emerge.

I think another party and it

becomes sustainable when it's

when someone becomes reasonable.

I think that that's inevitable.

The real question is going to

be, is it going to be something

that was created by both

parties, right?

Because realistically, you still

need, even if you did have a

party that was more reasonable,

you still need something to

challenge that party.

You can't have something just

kind of be the be all, end all

because eventually, yeah.

Check balances.

Absolute power corrupts

absolutely, right?

So, and that's why this whole

government was created.

But the taxation's out of

control.

You know, tariffs are out of,

it's all out of control.

Everything's out of control.

Yeah, cats and dogs living

together.

It's insane.

I I feel like though, like this

always happens, like it's always

out of control, but it's never

been put out past the White

House.

You know, they just deal with it

internally, but now it's

external.

I think that they're giving you

a show, buddy.

They're really good at that.

Do you think it's because

information is more available

now than it ever has been

before?

Yeah, I definitely, I definitely

think the media has been lit off

the leash big time because

remember what?

Who was it?

Was it Reagan that used to

censor the media?

I.

Don't know.

One of the presidents used to

censor him a hardcore.

Don't you talk bad about Ronald

Reagan.

No, I just, I just remember

there was there was a whole

movie about this.

And then the president, his

wife.

I just don't see the purpose in

picking the side, be on the

side, the side of the American

people.

It's just, it's just that easy.

Right.

I'm you should run I really.

Agree with that.

I don't know.

Right on that platform, right

there.

Yeah.

OK.

I'll do that.

I'm on the side of the American.

People I'd be killed in in less

than a month.

I know You just tilt your head

and they hit you in the ear.

It's fine.

Yeah.

Every once in a while you just

do that.

Just at the right second.

Right.

Oh, yeah, always go both ways,

'cause just go one way.

They're gonna yeah, they're

gonna go shoot, right?

He always goes right.

All right.

The Diddy trial outcome legal

analyst breaks down the verdict

The jury did not find there was

enough evidence to prove these

crimes.

From CNN, Ali Rosenblum.

If I give credit they can't get,

we can't get in trouble, OK?

Sean Diddy Combs was found

guilty this morning of two

counts of transportation to

engage in prostitution.

Is that a law?

You can't.

You can't drive the

prostitution.

Yeah, you can't drive them

across state lines.

Those ridiculous.

Yeah.

The counts that carry federal

charges.

The count that carries the least

severe penalty?

The jury's acquittal of Combs on

the more serious charges,

according to former Assistant

District Attorney Julie Grant,

it come down to the fact that

the jury did not find enough

evidence to convict Combs of

those crimes.

Yeah, Julie got paid.

Julie got paid.

Yeah.

Allegedly.

That being said, Grant added it

doesn't mean it didn't happen.

Combs was acquitted on 2 counts

of sex trafficking.

So sex trafficking and driving

the prostitute is not the same

thing.

Correct.

It's a deal bro.

That's how this works.

Yeah.

OK, pertaining to Cassie Ventura

and Jane, respectively, and one

count of racketeering

conspiracy, both charges of

which hold a maximum penalty of

life in prison.

Not going to happen.

No, no grant.

Well, no, those he was found not

guilty, not guilty, right?

Yeah, the other one's what, 10

years or something like that?

The driving the prostitute

around.

Yeah, yeah. 2 counts 10.

Years going to be time served

and he's going to be out.

He did try to post bail and they

said no bail.

Well, they're going to.

There's going to be an appeal.

I'm sure you're.

Going to you're going to appeal

everything, but I mean you don't

get advanced to the guy who's

got his own plane.

That his lawyer is going to

appeal, so they got a deal,

they're going to appeal to get

the time dropped to time served

is what's going to happen.

Yeah, and then he's out.

Then he's out.

Then he's out and then the

fucking baby oil for everybody.

Johnson and Johnson is revving

up manufacturing.

As soon as the not guilty thing,

you saw a surge in the stock

market at Johnson.

Johnson, I don't think he's

kidding.

But she also recognized that

every, well, there was some

information we talked about that

I don't need to read.

Every juror comes into the

courtroom with their own

experiences.

The jurors, she said, may not

see the enterprise.

They may not see the sex

trafficking for what it

literally is by law.

The defense strategy of not

calling any witnesses when they

presented their case was

somewhat of a stunning legal

strategy, Grant said, adding

that this move signaled

confidence from Combs side.

When I was in the courtroom on

Friday watching the closing

arguments, I saw even more

confidence from Diddy's attorney

and from Diddy himself, she

said.

And it seemed to me, looking at

the faces of some of those

jurors, they seemed to be in

agreement with what the defense

was arguing.

OK, each one of the jurors got

flipped.

Each one.

Yeah.

Have you ever seen that movie

with?

I think it's with.

A legend, first of all, it's in

a legend.

That's what you say.

You have to say like I think.

I believe that.

Yeah, yeah.

You can't say.

You can't say it as a factual.

OK.

So it's not factual.

The opinions brought by Boots is

not neither condoned nor agreed

to by the Cigaros or podcast,

its staff or its Hostess.

So you think that the every got

flipped?

They all got flipped.

Yeah, there's a movie with Al

Pacino and Kevin Spacey where

they're going against each

other.

But Kevin Spacey is not a

lawyer.

He's just the guy that flips all

the jurors.

I think it was about like Big

pharma or something like that.

OK, so you think that is you

think that that's what happened

here?

Yeah.

Jurors got flipped.

What do you?

Think the day before this was

released I heard that they had

not come to a verdict and they

had closed for the day and then

the next day they released that

the verdict was in.

So I mean, something happened

overnight that was fast.

Yeah, that was fast.

Someone knocked on the door,

allegedly.

Hello, here's some baby oil.

No, it's just a sack of money.

Allegedly.

I don't know, I think fear.

I'm sure they were sequestered

quite well and it'd be hard to

get, you know, maybe they give

the money to the families

allegedly or something.

You think money works better

than fear?

You don't think that he's?

Going to smear you with baby oil

and you're going to be in his

one of his videos.

No, I'm just saying in general,

not in in particular to this

case, but like, yeah, money can

motivate people.

But like, don't you think hey,

do this or else type scenario, I

think a photo of your kids

playing in a playground,

something like that, like you

better.

Yeah, but what if they don't

have kids?

What if they don't have anybody?

Everybody's got somebody.

You should watch this movie with

Al Pacino.

You should watch this movie.

Watch the movie with Al Pacino.

Both of them would work.

It would seem like the money

would be less nefarious where

you, you know, oh.

Nefarious.

You know, if they call and go

May maybe that fly was driving

me crazy early.

I'm glad I just found you like.

That me alone.

Right, I forgot a number.

You think the money is

nefarious?

I think the money would be is

kinder obviously, but you know

little somebody's going to

notice if all of a sudden the

jurors family start

disappearing.

Yeah, that's true.

But you know who's going to

notice that Bob Wynn got a new

Cadillac?

You know, less of a news story.

We'll see.

Look, at the end of the day, you

know, are you surprised that he

got away?

No, I'm not surprised at.

All Are you surprised that he

got off?

Boots.

Some of the things I read,

they're saying that the people

voluntarily participated.

I.

Don't know what Boots is doing

on his phone.

I was trying to find a movie I'm

switching.

He's watching him.

He's he's trying to watch a

movie.

I got there's a hit live see

hammer this fly he.

Can't see him on camera, it

looks like he was freaking.

Out of it.

OK, I got tourettes.

It was perfect though.

I had him ride on him when he

did it, it was like.

He comes, he keeps coming back.

Maybe like some?

Hammer, actually, yeah, he likes

your hair.

Apparently I can see him in the

camera.

He's very tame.

He's lying on my.

Hand and see him.

Yeah, he's on your front.

Oh yeah, now I just saw him zip

by.

Oh.

He's on your forehead.

Oh God, keep the camera on him

the entire time.

Don't do that.

All right, boots, you got a

train.

Are we all done with the with

Diddy?

I think so.

I think at the end of the day,

you know, look.

Are all the movie stars that

thought they were going to have

to go talk under if they were

going to have to appear in court

have come back into the country?

Listen, I believe honestly at

the end of the day that there is

a divide.

The The rich get richer, they

can do whatever they want.

They can do whatever.

They want and you know, that's

definitely a thing.

Now, does that mean that all

rich people are bad?

No.

There are plenty of great people

that are successful and rich and

they and they do a lot of good

things.

However, there are devious

people in every every facet of

life.

Sure.

Normally, though, if if you

don't have a big enough

bankroll, you get caught and you

serve time, you know, it's a

capitalist society.

Is it is it perfect?

No.

Is it is it the best one?

Is it the best society in

existence?

Yeah, by far.

There he is.

So.

Alright Boo, you got a trending

topic.

Yes, I did.

Oh, by the way, I was completely

off.

It wasn't.

Al Pacino is Gene Hackman.

Oh my God, how do you mix up

Gene Hackman and Al Pacino?

It was Gene Hackman, Dustin

Hoffman and John Cusack.

It's called Runaway Jury.

Gene Hackman was probably the

guy that was persuading.

Yeah, without question.

Who are the other people?

John Cusack and.

Yeah, he's not.

He's not pushing anybody into

any.

He's got the speaker in the

standing out in the yard.

He was the one that nobody could

persuade.

I believe that.

And he had his own thing going

on.

And then Dustin Hoffman was the

lawyer.

Yeah, Dustin, you know he's not

the wolf, you know what I mean?

Like, yeah.

All right.

OK.

Hello, peoples.

All right, McDonald's is adding

three new sandwiches to its

menu, and I couldn't be more

excited.

Who you on boots?

No, I'm on Palmer.

OK, good Boots doesn't have a

camera.

No go on him.

No stay on Palmer.

I have to read this on my phone,

that's OK.

You both are reading on your

phone.

McDonald's is adding three new

offerings to its early bird menu

that you've certainly never seen

before in celebration of

Mcmuffin's 50th anniversary.

My favorite anniversary?

Even more exciting?

Definitely not than my wedding

anniversary.

McDonald's is introducing 3 new

versions of the sandwich.

On July 8th, McDonald's is

adding three new spicy Mcmuffins

to his menu.

The chain will introduce the

spicy Egg Mcmuffin, spicy

sausage Mcmuffin, and spicy

sausage Mcmuffin with egg.

The new offering simple asks

McDonald's Spicy Pepper Sauce to

its flagship breakfast

sandwiches for an extra zip of

heat and flavor.

The Spicy Pepper Sauce is the

same one Mickey DS uses on its

Spicy MC Crispy Sandwich and

what it plans to add to the

Spicy Snack Wrap and what it

plans to add to the Spicy Snack

Wrap when it returns on July

10th.

So tomorrow meet me at

McDonald's where I'll be eating

all three sandwiches to see

which is best.

The snack wrap is coming back.

That's exciting.

Yeah, I guess.

No spicy breakfast sandwiches,

No.

No, but it said the.

They said the snack.

Wrap.

Oh, they say snack wrap.

Yeah.

Spicy snack.

Wrap.

I like that you pull these

things and you don't even know.

Well I cut it down because you

guys always say I give him 2

longer stuff.

Yeah, but she even added things

in there.

Well, I did to make it funny.

Otherwise it's just you reading

about McDonald's.

Yeah.

So did you not read it when you

were putting the things in?

Yeah, you just added the end

sentences.

I just added the stuff.

And I'm going to be at

McDonald's tomorrow to review.

Yeah.

Cut out a whole paragraph about

a jalapeno.

Yeah, they tried putting

jalapenos on things in the past.

Didn't work.

Yeah, that would be delicious.

Well, apparently you didn't buy

them, so they stopped making

them.

No, you know what they used to

have a jalapeno like chicken

sandwiches on.

I remember that.

Right, and they stopped making

it because nobody bought it.

Now they have their patented

pepper sauce.

Probably be a spicy Big Mac

coming next.

Toilet pulls are going to be

occupied in the upcoming weeks.

They already are when you eat

McDonald's all.

Right, Michael, you got a

question or you got a topic of

the week?

I do have a topic of the week.

I love how he frantically looked

at his phone for a second.

Because here's what happens.

So here's what we've done.

We really kind of evolved this

thing.

And it's like what happens is

throughout the week, we

periodically think of things

that we need to discuss.

And if I don't cross reference

it to Palmer, it'll just die,

right?

And then the then it's done.

And I'm like, Oh my God, we

forgot to talk about this.

So yeah.

We have our own little two

person group chat.

Yeah.

So, yeah, you know, let me let

me see exactly how I worded

this.

Yeah, I have a question.

So, you know, a lot of people

that smoke cigars or smoke in

general, whatever that is.

Like if I talk to a person, I'm

like, hey, you know, you, you

like cigars or whatever the case

may be.

And they're like, yeah, I smoke

cigars.

I'll maybe I'll give them some

cigars or something to try or

whatever.

Right.

And you know, the upcoming, the

last weekend, it was the 4th of

July weekend.

And you know, sometimes you give

people some cigars and I was

like, hey, you know, I talked to

somebody.

I'm like, here's some here, you

know, enjoy the 4th of July with

some cigars.

For one, there's nothing better

than lighting fireworks with a

cigar.

I don't know if you guys have

done that, but it's.

No, but I can imagine that would

be quite cool.

There's nothing more American

than that.

Definitely America.

America.

All I need is some American flag

overalls.

Anybody got a lighter hold on?

Hold on just and then just plug

that in.

Run away.

Run.

No, you don't run.

You get to have a cigar.

You walk.

You got to be cool.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

In your BDP Your BDP.

Tank top.

Yeah, which I proudly wore.

Them Oh, did you wear it all the

time?

Of course.

For you of.

Course my brother-in-law wore

his down at the lake.

Excellent.

Oh and then the little sticker,

the little BDP 4th July sticker.

Yeah, she took that every place

they went and posted a picture

as if I was there.

That's fantastic.

Yeah, so, but some guys, they

won't smoke around their kids.

It's like, Oh no, you know, I'm

going to be around my kids and I

like, I don't want them to

smoke.

Do you smoke around your?

I mean, your kids are grown up,

sure, but.

But they weren't always, though.

Right.

OK.

So that's a great, that's a

great point.

When your kids were younger,

would you smoke around them?

Yeah, I never hit it.

Did you have any issues with it?

Neither one of them smoke

cigars.

They they have all tried it.

Right.

But like Jake is a firefighter,

he's tobacco free so I assume he

doesn't.

I don't know if he.

Does it right?

Connor doesn't, he just doesn't

like it, wouldn't think for him.

Alex does on occasion, but his

new father-in-law does.

So I think the bonding thing for

them.

OK, yeah, it's a bonding thing,

right?

Do you smoke around your kids?

You have kids of, you know,

you've multiple children.

You spread your seed right as

you, so you got a little 1, you

got a medium one, and you got a

big one, right?

And the big one's the smartest.

He knows it all.

He's got it all figured out.

He's a teenager.

Has he ever asked if he could

smoke a cigar?

Has he wanted to ever smoke a

cigar with you?

Nope.

How old is he now?

18.

He doesn't really like you

sometimes anyways.

I mean, he's still at that age,

yeah.

So is it?

I know they can't buy until

they're 21 because it's a

federal thing or everything, but

can they smoke at 18 still?

Is that a thing or can you not?

Well, you can't purchase.

Right.

You can't purchase because

that's a federal thing, I think.

We talked about this one time.

I think you can smoke at 18.

I just don't remember where it

sits.

I mean, I obviously not worried

about.

That I mean, it's somebody

that'll be climbing out of a

Bush movie.

How old are you, you know?

Right, exactly right.

But would it be socially frowned

upon if Boots gave Ethan a

cigar?

Would somebody judge him?

Yeah, of course.

Absolutely.

Somebody's going to judge him.

I mean, somebody judges you.

If you're walking down the

street with a cigar in your

hand, it's not even lit.

That's true.

Right.

Yeah.

But I don't.

I guess I don't understand.

I never understood.

People try to hide it.

Why would you hide something

that you are like?

This is something that I do do.

They, I mean obviously would

know, but do they hide drinking?

Do they drink beer in front of

the children?

I don't know, probably.

Why is?

Why is that OK?

Right, I guess that's kind of my

point.

I would be more concerned about

and and it is obviously

happened, being drunk in front

of my children.

Of course.

That then you end up

apologizing, have to make

explanations, smoking a cigar

and nothing's going to happen

other than I'm going to smoke a

cigar.

Right.

Like, hey, you know, Daddy, you,

you said some things last night.

Like, you know what?

Daddy went a little hard in the

paint and he had too much.

He had too much to drink.

And, you know, I'm really sorry

for whatever, right?

That's never going to happen

with a cigar.

No.

Right, right.

And to be honest, out of all of

them, I rather them smoke a

cigar versus any of the other.

Outside, of course, that which

is going to that was going to be

my next question, if, if they

wound up being a cigar smoker,

if any of your kids wound up

being a cigar smoker, would that

bother you?

No.

No.

Would it bother you?

No, I've actually encouraged,

not encouraged them to smoke,

but I I have smoked a cigar with

each one of my boys and it was a

bonding thing like we talked

about before.

You know what?

OK, Ginger, do me a favor.

I need you to get up and go go

to Boots's mic real quick.

Can you hear me?

Hey.

Ginger, come here.

Come here because I want him to

answer this question because

he's more of a a guy that he

smokes a a little bit.

He doesn't smoke as much as we

smoke, right?

Oh.

Man, lately he's been.

Yeah, he's had some down time.

OK, All right, so, so, Ginger,

I, I, I need you to go to

Boots's mic and I I need you to

talk directly on the mic.

I'm going to ask you a question.

All right, I know that you

currently don't have children,

but if.

He knows of.

But if you had children, would

you have a problem smoking a

cigar around your children?

No.

OK.

If your kids grew up and they

became cigar smokers, would that

ever bother you?

No.

OK, so there you go.

I mean, that's the guy that

doesn't smoke a lot, right?

So I don't understand why people

hide it from their kids.

Like I don't hide anything from

my kids.

Right.

Yeah.

You know.

You don't filter your language

or anything.

No, not at all.

Like, I, this is who I am now.

There are requirements.

I, I have expectations of my

children.

You're not going to go outside

and say it.

You know, you're not going to

speak inappropriately.

You're going to be extremely

respectful to people.

You know, you're not going to

curse or anything like that.

Like that's all those things.

There will be consequences if

you cross those lines.

My kids aren't perfect.

They make mistakes.

You know, they're human.

Yeah.

And there will be punishment

from me accordingly, right?

You know, like the one of the

worst things you can do is take

away their tech.

They can't.

It's like, Oh my God, you know?

Yeah, that's worse than a

spanking.

Yeah, you know, you just lost

your iPad today.

Like what?

The world ended.

Oh my God, I love it when it

escalates.

You ever see Breakfast Club

where he kept going?

No, like if my kid gives me that

lip, if he's like, I didn't do

it, I'm like, now you lost it

for two days.

And then if he goes like that

and throws his arms up, I'm

like, now it's gone for the

week.

I'm like, I can go on, dude.

You know, you learn to control

yourself or you know, whatever.

You're going to be reading books

and painting pictures for the

next month.

Finger painting in your room.

You know what's crazy about that

situation though 'cause then

they learn how to negotiate,

right?

Because after they get it taken

away, oh, there's definitely a

negotiation process for however

long it's been taken away.

What's the negotiation?

Well, Mom.

Yeah.

Since dad's not here, can I

please get my iPad?

Oh yeah, there is no

negotiation.

'Cause they're like, I'll go cut

the grass if I can get my iPad.

No, I will now now listen.

There is a thing that I believe

called good behavior.

So.

Give right?

Half off time off for good

behavior.

Yeah, but if he asks if

somebody, hey, you know what?

I've done all these good things,

can I get this back?

I'm like, absolutely not.

Have they learned that it just

do it and don't mention?

It you know, no like the big

one, it knows the most, right?

That's why I would assume it

would work with jacks first.

No, what normally happens is

like he changes his attitude,

right?

And he realizes that he's messed

up.

It's not like he cleaned the

countertop and said, all right,

I'm good to go.

Like all the sudden you see a

change in patterns that's

happening with your kid.

Like he's going, he's doing the

right things.

He's taking care of his little

sister.

He's you know, he's he's, you

know, he's getting along with

everybody.

He's making sure things are put

away and taken care of and like

consecutively when all of those

things happen for a period of

time, if there's a harsh

punishment, you might get that

punishment lightened up.

But I don't say I don't ever

make the statement of I don't

ever say, hey, do that again.

I'm going to take take that

away.

And then they do it again.

I'm going to say do it if you do

it again.

Now I'm serious.

No, no, that's not how that

works.

I go, I'm going to take away

your iPad.

If you do this, they do it.

I take it away.

You follow through a contract.

It's gone, you know.

You know, Jack's lost his mind

the other day.

I walked right in his room.

I ripped the TV right out of his

out of his room, sitting in my

bedroom.

Like ripped it out of the wall.

I unplugged it, took it out and

it's gone.

I can see you just.

Walking I I mean, you know, I, I

tempered my emotions, but.

Hanger and everything.

But I I was definitely.

Staring at 4 screw holes in a.

Wall, I was definitely agitated,

I could tell you that much, but

it's like, hey, I'll take it

away.

You know they can't touch their

phones without.

Your flies over here.

Good.

They can't touch their phones

without reading.

You got to read first.

Right.

So I don't know.

But kind of getting back to the

basis, I just don't understand

that.

I don't understand.

I don't either.

How do you live your life?

In a closet.

Not.

Filtering your life so that you

portray some type of.

Image that you're not.

Right, exactly.

That's what I was looking.

For yeah, you know, you're,

you're trying to show that

you're, you know.

Well, not only that.

I mean, you're going to at some

point smell like the cigar, the

cigarette, whatever you're

smoking.

Wacky tobaccy, you smell like

it.

How are you hiding?

Are you taking a shower?

Washing your hands every time

you do something.

Yeah, you're lying to yourself,

right?

And you're trying to personify

something you're not.

Let's go a step further.

Let's say you smoke marijuana.

Yeah.

Do you do that around each

other?

If I did, I would, yeah.

If I, I wouldn't like, you know,

first of all, if I did, it'd

probably be outside.

But I wouldn't just melt the

house.

I wouldn't wait for them to go

to sleep.

I'm like, OK, I'm gonna go slide

this in.

Well, let's say it wasn't.

I mean, on certain levels it's

legal in the country.

I would say some type of illegal

act then.

If it was an illegal substance.

Cocaine or something?

I wouldn't hide it from my kids.

Oh, I would not.

I'm.

Sorry, just snort one off the.

Counter just yeah.

Whole image Just yeah.

I wouldn't.

I wouldn't hide it right through

my mind.

Not at all, because the second

that I hide it, I know that I'm

doing something wrong.

I don't it is wrong to get to

law in this scenario.

OK, so so I don't do those

things because I know not that

they're illegal or legal or

illegal.

I know that they're mind

altering substances that could

reflect in bad decisions.

Right.

No, but we are saying for some

reason you're addicted to

cocaine.

I would do the I would do it out

in the open.

I would do it so that my kids.

Saw you snorting cocaine.

Yeah, because at that point my

logic would be totally

different.

My logic would totally be that

I'm a failed parent and then I

suck as a person so that my kids

should learn not to be like me,

right?

Like, why does he suck?

Why does he not attend things?

Why is he not involved with us?

That's 'cause he's a he, you

know, he's an addict and he's a

mess, you know?

So yeah, I would have no problem

hiding that.

You take them with you to buy

the cocaine, No.

Trying to see what a line is

here.

No, they don't.

They don't go down the corner

with you to go see Jimmy the

drug.

Dealer.

No, because then if I got

incarcerated, they'd go.

They'd go too.

I don't think it'd go to jail.

They'd go in the system.

They'd go exactly they'd go into

the system.

Let's say you're a serial

killer.

Oh boy, I I see the squirrel

just fucking.

Running well again, it's the

same.

It's the same principle, you

know.

Well, it's a little more extreme

than taking cocaine.

How about this?

No here's here's a better

scenario.

Instead of saying like serial

killer, what if I was Batman?

You were Batman.

If I was Batman, oh, you don't

tell them.

I would tell them.

You can't tell them why.

Would you not tell them?

Because you have to protect them

because like you said before,

everybody's got somebody are.

You kidding me?

Look at this utility bill.

There's a lot of cool things.

On they would, they would.

Well, 100% now.

Check out the car the Fly.

Yeah, but what if they go?

You know my dead Batman.

Well, then that's the I mean,

I'd have to face those

consequences, but they would

have to know.

And then your whole family's in

danger.

Yeah, the Penguin would find.

The idea of the secret identity

is is to protect your loved

ones.

He told Rachel Dawes.

Yeah, but Lois Lane acted like

she didn't know Clark Kent was

Superman, so that way they don't

get her.

And when they found out, Lex

Luthor captured Lewis.

She really knew who he was.

I mean, come on, the glasses

really made.

A difference is in the hair.

It's a thing.

So yeah, how?

Where's the line?

What will you not do in front of

your children?

I don't know, I don't know.

Apparently everything OK I.

Have one more level, but it's

inappropriate.

Yeah, just move on.

I need.

I see.

That's why.

I did.

When he was, when I saw the

squirrel running, I'm like, oh

boy, here we go.

That's it, buddy.

That's all you got.

Hi, Mike.

We need a name.

David Morris, my guy.

Big Bang we.

Pulled some good names this this

time Jester.

All right, now we're moving on

to international cigar news.

I don't everybody get excited.

Dutch government opens a comment

period for plain packaging

proposal.

Yep, for years the Netherlands

has been working on introducing

plain packaging for cigars.

But first, the government will

let people provide their

thoughts on the proposal.

The Dutch government has said

that the law is needed because

cigars are enticing for young

people and that fancy packaging

is part of the reason why the

fancy packaging makes the kids

one.

It's all those cookie monsters

candy bar.

Yeah, it's just insanity.

Whatever.

The proposal would ban retailers

from displaying open boxes in

stores.

Yep.

Require the outer box to be

covered in a sticker in the

specific color with a health

warning on it.

Require tubes, tubos to be in

neutral colors.

Those are the things they're

asking you to do.

Yeah.

Notably, it doesn't appear that

it would require neutral bans as

in the case in countries like

Australia and Ireland.

As niche as the occasional

consumed products.

Cigars play no part in smoking

initiation of young Dutch people

with even fewer adult kind of

sewers consuming them, said Paul

Varacus, director general of the

European Cigar Manufacturers

Association, or ECMA, in a

statement.

During this period, during which

cigars have been excluded from

the scope of plain packaging,

there has been no observed

increase in cigar consumption in

the Netherlands or in other

countries with plain packaging.

In fact, in these markets,

cigars have continued a long

term downward trend and

consumption that's not good.

Well, that's the whole purpose

of the regulation.

Right, they're trying to.

Right, they're trying.

To they're trying to eradicate

something, right?

So it's just a sale, right?

Not like if somebody has them

with stuff all over it, they're

in trouble.

Yeah, they're covered.

There's plain packaging moving

forward, so you don't.

Yeah, if you're out in public,

you don't have to take the band

off or have a sticker on.

The no, you definitely don't get

the smoke in public in those.

Areas.

Well, this is well my question.

Well, I was going to follow with

another one.

OK.

So when this happens, if it

happens, right, because Canada's

the same way, correct?

Yeah.

So would that increase the sale

cells in America where maybe

they would America would ship

over to those places?

No.

OK.

No, exporting to other countries

is extremely difficult.

OK.

For these reasons, ECMA consider

the introduction of a plain

packaging for cigars in parallel

with E cigarettes to be

completely inappropriate and

unjustified.

Yeah.

According to the ECMA, the

proposals language would allow

for non compliant packaging to

be imported for six months after

the proposal effective date and

retailers would have two years

from the effective date to sell

through the non compliant

packaging.

Those who are interested in

providing a comment can do so by

clicking on the link on the

story.

The comment period closes on

August 13th, 2025.

OK.

Do you think that this is an

overstep of regulation?

Yes, I believe so.

Didn't they try that here?

And then they decided it was too

much trouble?

OK, why is it an overstep in

regulation?

It's just my opinion.

OK, why?

I don't think it's necessary.

I don't think it's going to

deter anyone from smoking

because the package is.

Dull.

Well, the data has already shown

that it reduces people smoking

over time, right?

No, they said it doesn't show

that it has.

Oh, I thought you said that

those things are slowly

diminishing in other countries

like Canada.

No, I.

Didn't mention Canada, he did.

I mentioned Australia.

OK.

It's not making a change in

Australia.

OK.

Do you think that it's over

regulation?

I mean, I do.

I mean, look, man, we only got

so many things right.

Yeah.

And with I mean he was talking

about E cigs, we're talking

about cigars.

Well, they're they're lumping

them together because they're

already making E cigs do it.

Yeah, I don't, I don't think it

should be lumped together.

I think, I don't think cigars

should be regular that way

because one, I mean, this is

probably one of the most natural

thing you're going to smoke

other than wacky tobaccy, right.

But this is completely natural.

There's no chemicals in it.

You know, everything is is

natural in it.

So why, why would you over

regulate it to where you say,

OK, well, now we're just going

to completely take away from the

creator of all these cigars, the

way to sell their cigars.

It just doesn't make any sense

to me, like you're taking away a

a vital part of their business.

OK, so we agree that this is an

overstep of government.

Yeah, yes, right.

Where do they stop then after

that?

That's going to be that was my

next question.

Do they all of a sudden now a

bottle of vodka has to, you

know, have no label, have health

warnings on it and a nondescript

label and maybe a bottle you

can't see through?

How about listen, I'll take it a

step further.

That used to be illegal, by the

way.

One of the biggest issues that

we have in America is obesity,

right?

Yeah.

People eat too much.

Sure, right.

Well, listen, you know,

advertisements of McDonald's is

enticing, right?

So should we remove that?

Stick around a big.

Yeah, I mean, like, look, heart

attacks #1 cause of death,

right?

Consumption of this product

could cause heart attack.

Right.

So what are we going to do?

We're going to, are we going to

minimize the size of the burger,

the calories that are in the

burger?

Are we going to make it so that

you can't advertise and only put

it in plain packaging or

something like you know what I

mean?

Nothing that says what it is or,

you know, there's no slogan.

There's no, I'm loving it,

nothing.

Just a big picture of like.

Roseanne Barr Right on the

thing.

Yeah, like I want to see a, you

know, I want to, I want to open

up my Big Mac in my complaint,

my plain container of white, as

soon as it pops up, I want to

see a warning.

Oh, on the inside of the.

Yeah, could clog arteries.

Sure, may die.

And heart attacks are, you know,

number one reason why people die

in the US.

Happy Meals are just called just

OK meals.

Yeah, just meals.

Meals not good for you.

Meals.

Yeah.

Right, not good for you meals.

Do we think that, you know,

eliciting toys in Happy Meals

are OK?

I mean, at this point, you're

condoning behavior of unhealthy

foods.

We have to stop.

This Well then just keep going

to like sugary cereals.

Got a stick around Kuzuka

Diabetes?

Right.

So all of it's extreme over

regulation, sure.

And like, I don't even

understand how this is always in

a conversation like well, we

want to do this life banning of

cigar like OK, so then let's

let's life ban the amount of

excessive caloric intake

everyday.

You know what I mean?

I.

Think what happens, My personal

opinion, what happens is

somebody that is voting on this

or putting this into trying to

put this in effect, somebody

close to them or somebody they

know has probably gone through

something and they're want to

make a change because of that

personal issue that happened.

OK.

So you're saying that trauma,

it's possible that trauma has

indicated this person to put in

this law into play, right?

OK.

Do you think that if if a

traumatic incident happened to

you, you should be instilling a

law to blanketing people?

No.

I mean, look.

It's unfortunate.

Yeah, unfortunate things happen

all the time, right?

And like, I think that we all

deal with trauma to some degree.

We've all had some type of

trauma in our lives and it makes

us act differently.

Whether whether how we act

differently is good or bad is

subjective, sure.

But passing a law for the land

of people based on your

traumatic experience?

Probably not a good idea.

Yeah, I had a bunch of buddies

down in the military and I'm not

like, oh, let's stop guns.

Right.

Yeah, let's not get on the boats

anymore.

Right.

Yeah, you know, I mean, I like

the everybody shits their

Prince, we all wear diaper

scenario, you know, like I was

hanging out with some friends

and I shit myself.

So like, let's all make sure

that we're all covered.

If that happens again, like

better safe than sorry.

I think if you're in the

government, if you're a senator

or whatever it is that makes

these laws, you have to come up

with something.

Everyone's wanting to get your

name up to get your name out

right now.

Everybody hates tobacco.

I mean, you know, everybody

hates cigarettes and stuff.

So let's just go against tobacco

this week.

Next week could be like, give me

they talked about abortion

before.

Could just be abortion.

Let's go after abortion this

week, Yeah?

Well, this will be real.

I mean, OK, you talked about

Diddy earlier about

prostitution.

There's still prostitutes.

Well, it's legal in Nevada.

OK, but it's illegal everywhere

else, but it's still there like

it's.

So why put a regulation on when

it's still going to happen

anyways?

Well, I mean, why?

Why put a regulation on banning

it?

Right.

To be popular.

So it's yeah, you just.

I mean, he doesn't.

It doesn't matter if they win or

lose the guy that wrote the

bill.

Yeah, he's popular.

He's popular for we're talking

about him, right?

Do something about.

Do something a little bit more

productive.

Yeah, but you want something

that's going to get the

headlines.

Being against tobacco gets

headlines.

But God forbid people should

have a right to choose how they

live their life, right?

You know what I mean?

I mean, being if you're against

weed control, want everybody to

cut the grass, it's not really

going to get you in the news,

right?

We're shutting down lawn care.

Big lawn care unlike where your

head's at.

Shutting down big lawn care,

Yeah.

Yeah, they didn't do it when

that whole roundup thing went

down.

Well, that's different, right?

That I mean, that could be abuse

from a corporation.

If a corporation, I mean it, if

they've done something wrong and

they've caused cancer, you know,

should that be looked at?

I think it should be looked at.

You know, it's a fine line.

It is OK moving on.

PDR Cigars name's Wayne Clark,

VP of Sales.

Are you familiar with Wayne?

Party on, Wayne.

PDR party on guard.

PDR Cigars has announced that

Wayne Clark is its new Vice

President of Sales, effective of

July 1st.

Clark brings more than 14 years

of experience to the position.

He was most recently a regional

sales manager for Placentia,

where he helped expand the

company's distribution across

the Northeast and Mid South

regions.

I was thinking of the Mountain

Tobacco and his new role with

PDR Cigars.

He will oversee the company's

sales efforts and work to deepen

relationships with retail

partners nationwide.

I'm generally excited to join

the talented team at PDR Cigars,

said Clark and a press release.

I look forward to helping push

an innovation, expanding the

brand's presence and building

profitable, winning partnerships

with our retail purveyors.

I can't wait to get out and

reconnect with our retail

partners in the near future to

grow the PDR family and bring

new opportunities to the

industry.

OK.

So you have a guy that's a

regional sales manager for

Placencia Cigars, correct?

OK.

And he makes it's not a lateral

move.

He moves up and becomes the

national sales manager for PDR.

Vice President of sales.

So whatever.

Vice President, Sorry, I

apologize.

Vice President.

Vice President, It could.

Be the same job, everybody calls

it something different.

Right.

So do you think that jumping

from regional sales manager

Placencia to this VP of Sales of

PDR was a good move for Wayne?

Good move for Wayne.

Yeah, he went from Placencia to

PDR. I mean you would you would

think it's more important

because now he is Vice President

of sales.

But company wise, I think

Placencia had more of a cachet

to the name than.

Placencia is a way bigger name

for sure.

Sure.

OK.

What do you think?

Do you think this is a good

decision for Wayne?

No.

Why not?

I just like like you guys are

just saying I mean Placencia is

way bigger.

I think I I what is PDR cigars

I've never heard of.

They've been around for 100

years, they've been around

forever.

I'd have to see numbers.

Richie used to work for.

PDA he may have.

I think he did.

I'd have to see numbers on

companies see.

One staggeringly more than the

other.

I would stay with a staggering

1.

I'm sure PDR doesn't own farms

and factories and things like

Placencia.

OK.

So all right.

So I'm going to do one more.

So like if you're a regional

sales manager for Placencia

Cigars and and you have other

job opportunities to become VP

of sales for something else,

like what companies give me your

top five companies that you

think you, you would say, OK, I

can move to these companies and

this is a positive move for me

and my career in the cigar

industry.

From Placencia.

From Placencia.

Well.

You got to remember it's not a

lateral move.

You're in, you're moving up.

Right.

You're moving up.

You're becoming more important,

but it's a smaller company.

Yeah.

From Placencia Espinosa.

OK.

You think moving to the VP of

Sales, Espinoza's up OK.

Sure, Drew State.

Drew State, Yeah.

Any of the legacy brands, I

guess.

I I want your top five, I don't

want you to say I don't want a

blanketing shotgun.

Got you.

So I did too.

Trying to think of another one

off the top of my head.

I guess you can say Espinoza,

you can say Roma craft.

OK.

I'll give you that.

You can say other brands, other

legacy brands.

I know.

I'm thinking.

I'm thinking, though.

OK.

Arturo Fuente.

Sure, Padron.

Yeah, OK.

All right.

Those are OK.

What about you?

Give me 5 other ones, not the

ones that he said.

Arganosa.

Aganorsa OK probably pays less.

Think so.

Yeah, but OK.

Well, well, I mean, they're kind

of.

Complete though, right now with

those damn red vinyl couches.

And then?

I'm sorry, who did you say after

Arganosa?

Well, I would think Arganosa

would be kind of complete

because they've got, they have

their own tobacco.

They're kind of like Placencia,

right?

Yeah, I said OK, that'll

probably be last, but I said OK.

Oh, is is just.

Give me 3.

All right, is Don Papine What

is?

Kevin Garcia.

Yeah, sure.

OK, OK.

EEP, Ernie.

You think Ernie?

And then AJ, like general, is

that general?

OK.

And no, this is AJ Fernandez.

OK, OK.

Yeah, I mean, I agree with that.

I mean, you know.

AJ have a vice president of

sales or is he more under the?

General Yeah, I think he's AVP.

Does he?

Yeah.

I mean, like Dabitoff would be

good.

I mean argue.

I didn't even argue Dunbarton.

If you move to VP of Sales for

Dunbarton, I think that'd be a

better.

Move so he'd be Lafferty.

Is he national or is he VP?

What's the difference?

I don't know.

Yeah, exactly.

Great question.

What is the?

I think he's national salesman

is his. 11 probably pays less

which?

One do you think pays less and.

1.

National.

Travels definitely.

National VP pays more.

You know foundation.

I think Foundation would work.

Yeah.

You can't.

If you can say Espinoza, then

Foundation definitely falls in

that conversation.

Are you sure?

Right.

What about LFD?

LFD for sure.

LFD.

Probably has ESMA go right.

Crown has has a national.

He's national, he comes to the,

he comes to the meetings.

OK.

But but so, but we don't think

that the PDR move is necessarily

the best decision.

No, I, I.

No, I mean, this guy could

potentially reshape everything

and all of a sudden we could be

talking about could.

We could all be smoking PD Rs

next week.

Not next week, but maybe next

year in a few years time.

Few.

Years.

You think he lasts that long or

it moves on?

OK, let let's let's do this now.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Where do you go from PDR?

Vice President of Sales at PDR.

Where do you go from there?

Jake Wyatt.

Well.

Sorry.

Well, yeah, I mean, the question

is like, is it, you know?

That was funny.

If if you're at PDR and you're

the VP guy right and it doesn't

work out, you left this regional

position of Placencia, is your

next job better or worse than

your previous job as a regional

sales manager of Placencia?

Because it depends on what you

do there I guess.

For example, Tony Gomez I.

Had to see, that's why I said.

Regional salesman for Espinosa,

yeah, went to national salesman

for.

He didn't go there directly.

Whatever.

No.

No, he went somewhere before

that.

OK.

Jake White?

Yeah, I think it was Jake White.

And then from Jake White, he

went to the next one and now

he's a broker.

It was like a trickle down.

It was like a trickle down.

Yeah.

So, well, that's my question.

Like, you know.

He would go down after PDR. You

think that he would go he would

be in a lesser position than

regional salesman and Placencia

if things didn't workout of PDR,

Yeah.

If I was him, I would hope not.

But again, I'm, I'm asking the

question, right?

It's not the question of his, if

he succeeds or not.

We don't know.

We don't know Wayne, right?

We have no idea who Wayne is.

Yeah.

We know Wayne.

No, we don't know, Wayne.

There so.

Here's where cowboy hat.

Wayne Wayne does have 14 years

of experience, so.

I have his other roles in the

premium.

So that so all of these things

are very possible.

He could become very successful

in PDR if he doesn't.

OK.

Is the next job better or worse

than the regional position at

Placencia?

If he's not successful, correct.

Probably worse.

Worse.

Worse.

Worse.

OK, that was my question.

I agree, I think the same.

Thing.

So would there be a president of

sales at PDR?

Of course.

So then the national salesman

would answer to the vice

president.

Of correct.

Vice president of Sales answers

to the There's a lot of people

at PDRI can see how they could

help their pricing.

Possibly.

I mean, or it's there isn't.

Right, Maybe his next job is

president of Wayne Cigars.

Could be.

Oh man, that's an even tougher

rule.

Getting and selling what?

Is less pay though.

Oh yeah?

Well, you, you, you, you.

Yeah, I can already cash flow

expectations very difficult.

He also served as Sales

representative for Hiram and

Solomon before being anointed to

the role of anointed to the role

of General Manager 2018.

He also spent just over 2 years

as a Sales Manager for General

Cigar Company.

We're very happy to welcome

Wayne to the teams at Abe

Flores, owner of PDR Cigars, in

a press release.

I look forward to working with

him and building on our strong

foundation for the future.

His experience and vision will

be key as we continue to grow

and innovate with PDR. All

right.

We'll look forward to seeing

what Wayne does and how that

goes.

Yes, congratulations, Wayne.

We wish you all the luck.

Yes.

No.

Matter what we said.

Oh, we didn't say anything bad.

We just said.

No, we were just, yeah, just

laying it out.

OK, party on win.

Party on win, party on Garth.

Hooton Young is launching the

Midnight Hammer on July 14th.

Midnight Hammer.

A new limited edition from

Hooton Young is named after a

recent U.S. military operation

involving B2 stealth bombers.

Midnight Hammer is a 6 by 60

torpedo made with a Mexican San

Andreas Maduro wrapper covering

a binder and filler blend of

Nicaraguan tobacco.

Yeah.

The Midnight Hammer has an

unfinished shaggy foot and the

cigars are rolled at the table

Calera CM factory in Nicaragua.

Each cigar has an MSRP of $16.00

and 2000 cigars are being

released in 4 count bags.

The new limited edition is named

after Operation Midnight Hammer,

a June 22nd U.S. military

operation involving 7B2 bombers

that bombed 3 different nuclear

sites in Iran.

To the USA TODAY.

The operation was first known

operational the use of 30,000 LB

bunker Busters blah blah blah.

We don't need to know all that.

So here's the question.

OK, well, you have a question.

I have a question.

Oh, you're tired of me asking

questions?

Oh, no, I just have a question

because that's why I pulled

this.

All right, good.

How do they come out with this

so fast?

Within with less than 30 days,

the rolling out a cigar named

after Operation Midnight Hammer.

You already have a cigar on the

pipeline, Yeah.

Still, can you get packaging the

stuff that fast?

I mean basically in 2 1/2 weeks.

I think that I think that Carney

can do it.

I think that it can be done

fast.

You know, there could be some

hiccups.

There's always hiccups in the

cigar industry, but I think it

could be done.

Well, you said it was only 2000

cigars.

Right, so they so, So what we're

saying is they had a cigar ready

to go.

Yeah, OK.

And they're going, you know,

they three weeks till shipping,

it's all packaged ready to go.

They go hold the prices.

No, I don't think they made it

that far.

Probably something aging.

Hey, let's work on a blend.

OK, What do you want to call it?

I don't know.

Let's work on a blend.

I think that that's the right

way to do things.

Anyways, I have no idea what the

name is for anything.

Realistically, unless I have a

story in my brain that I'm

thinking I want to link this to

a cigar.

But realistically, when you come

it comes to creating something,

it's like, hey, I see a need for

this.

I or I personally need have a

need for this particular cigar.

That's how I create a cigar,

right?

Name.

Comes name comes.

Last name comes, you know, I'm

not thinking about the name.

You know, that's just how that's

my process, right.

OK, so let's say hypothetically

that they created their hey,

let's, let's make a cool cigar,

right?

And you know, I want it to be a

torpedo or a bellicose or

something.

Well.

This is a 6 by 60, so it's

already a bigger cigar that

could represent a bunker Buster

bomb.

Yeah, Well, yeah, we're

thinking, you know, and going

that direction and you know,

it's kind of military based as

far as hooting and young and

stuff.

Sure.

I you know, I'm thinking missile

anyway.

So there's sort of bullet

looking anyway.

And then?

They make bigger ring gauge

anyway.

Right.

And that opportunity comes boom,

right?

Like realistically the band is

probably just hooting and young.

Yeah, it's what it looks like on

the.

AI all right, so your band was

going to be Hoon and young

regardless, So now you're only

talking about secondary band if

you add a secondary band.

Probably.

Well, I was.

Taking more take time to make

the zip lock bangs.

It's going it's going in 4

packs.

So they're going to be in those

fresh packs.

OK, so you got to have all those

printed and made to say midnight

bomber.

What if they just say Hoon and

young?

They don't have the necessary to

say that.

Well, somewhere.

Doesn't have to say hammer.

Whatever.

Somewhere it's got to say

Midnight Hammer.

Yeah, maybe it just says on a

secondary band, the cigar.

There's cigars that don't that

are named something that don't

have any name on the packaging

or secondary band.

Right, but if you want this to

sell as Midnight Hammer, you

better have a Midnight Hammer on

that package somewhere.

Like a stealth bomber.

Stealth bomber?

A Black Hammer?

Something better?

Be careful with Hammer, but Joan

may be talking to you.

OK, maybe it's like a sickle.

What about Hammer?

Let.

Me ask you this, do you think

it's a good marketing strategy?

I think it follows their what

they do.

I mean, like you said, they're

military based, veteran owned,

you know, why not?

OK.

Do you think it's a good

marketing change?

Yeah, for 2000 cigars, sure.

Yeah, I think it's a good name

for a good run.

It's a quick run.

We're in and out.

Next question.

God forbid it with the the thing

went bad, right?

Yeah, we blew these up and then

put them in the bag.

OK, now I like using AI for

things.

I like AI for imagery and all

these other things I think.

Everybody does nowadays.

It's it's it's fun, it's

entertaining, right?

You know, fast.

OK.

Do you think you should use an

AI image for a new cigar that

you're selling?

Now then, I don't, I don't.

OK, first, I didn't notice that

it was AI the first.

I mean, when it came through, I

just sort of.

Oh, how did you not notice?

Well, I didn't pay much into it,

but when I was pulling the story

and I saw the photo, oh, it's

quite obvious it's an AI photo.

So do you think that you should

use AI as an image for your

cigar?

No.

If they had these cigars already

made, why couldn't they take a

picture?

Right.

Do you think they should use?

Slap a band on one of them.

For 2000 cigars again, sure.

OK, well I can tell you that if

you go to Half Wheel and please

go to half Wheel and take a look

at the Hooten and Young press

release, it's got a shaggy foot

and it looks like a fucking

squid is.

What I was going to say, the

shaggy foot is all dangling

things.

I think it's got strings

cutting.

It's not like a real authentic

kind of an image, you know, I

get, I get that it was probably

put together relatively quickly.

Yeah, that's what we were

discussing earlier.

I mean, that's probably why they

did it.

I understand why they did it.

Well, and Carney's big with the

AI stuff.

But and Carney is big with the

AI stuff, but the real question

is should they have done it is

the question.

No, they should.

I mean if they have the cigars,

they should have taken a picture

of the cigar.

OK.

And for you?

I think I mean proper process,

yeah, you're, you're completely

correct.

I mean, I don't think they

should have done that, but they

were trying to get it out quick

because what does somebody else

capitalize on it or the

nostalgia or the the excitement

of it is already gone?

All right, but you could have

just launched the image of it

with a band.

You didn't.

Take a picture of the cigar.

If, like Mikey said, they

already had the cigars made,

they were gonna, they were gonna

call it the Bigfoot or

something.

Yeah, I mean the Shaggy or

something.

You could have done the press

release with just an image of

Hooten and Young.

Yeah, just the logo, yeah.

Maybe Carney's just trying to do

something different.

Yeah.

I mean, look again, I'm not

begrudging somebody.

No, no, no for trying because I

think that that's awesome.

You know, you need to push the

envelope to kind of test things

and see how what the response.

Is right.

See where you stand?

Yeah, now.

But I'm always going to ask the

question, was it the right move?

Now?

Who the hell are we?

We're just, you know, we're

just.

Yeah, just three knuckleheads

sitting here talking.

About Yeah.

And, you know, but like, but we

have opinions and, you know, I'm

looking at that image and I'm

thinking, oh, yeah, I look

pretty Carney, you know, like

Carney has to tell me, hey,

look, I'm making a cigar.

It's it's a hoot and young and

we're going to call it Midnight

Hammer.

And I'm going to say, damn it,

you got me.

I'm in, right.

Like, I don't have to.

I'm first of all, I'm going to

support Carney regardless.

You know, all he's got to do is

reach out.

Hey, this is the new cigar.

It's coming out.

We'd love you to have it.

OK, cool, bro.

We're in, right?

I don't think that.

I just think that it kind of

discredited, it almost

diminishes the value of it in

that AI aspect.

You'd be surprised how many

people don't catch that it's AI

though.

I'm sure.

I'm sure that's the case, yeah.

Yeah, I mean again, this is only

2000 cigars.

So what?

No, but I'm saying that's, you

know, something like this, Yeah,

I don't think it matters much on

the AI image, but if it was.

I have one at the factory.

Pick one up at his hand.

Have him take a picture.

Yeah, send it to me.

I cut the background off.

I don't see his hand anymore.

Right.

Boom, there's the cigar.

Yeah, you could totally do that.

Lay it on a pile at the back I.

Just picture, look, I don't care

if it's one cigar or it's 10

cigars or thousand cigars or

10,000 cigars.

For me personally, my name's on

it.

I always want to look back and

say what could I have done

better?

But again, it's, it's

traditional, right, the the

methods you guys are talking

about and Carney is trying to to

vamp these companies that he is

with now, so.

That's true.

Maybe he's trying to get people

to do AI pictures of?

Which I agree with.

I agree with pushing the

envelope right, But I also asked

the question, is it the right?

Was it the right approach?

And you said no, you said,

what'd you say?

I I said he's OK with that.

I was OK with.

It so you said yes, right.

And that's my point of this

conversation, yeah.

So it's half a half 1/2.

Yeah, I lean towards no more.

You know, I want to see if you

can either produce the image

with a cigar.

Great.

If you can't produce the image

of the cigar, I don't know if I

didn't use AI at that point is

is what I'm saying.

Or use whatever the logo's going

to be for the Midnight Hammer.

Correct, America.

An eagle carrying two ARS.

You know, right?

All right, Michael, need a name.

A bald eagle.

Eddie Martel.

Some good names this week.

Placencia to implement tariff

related price increases next

week.

OK.

Nothing new about that.

Next week, Placencia Cigars will

increase the prices of its

cigars in a move the company

says was instigated by the Trump

administration's tariffs on

foreign made goods.

An e-mail Ed Bilio did How you

say his last name.

Emilio.

Bilio Bello.

Bello yeah bellow.

CEO Placentia Cigars he must

know the guy that no longer

there.

We're glad Wayne's gone.

Told half will that the changes

will result in an increase

between 32 to $0.47 on the

wholesale price of each cigar.

Increase will go into effect on

Monday, July 7th.

As you're aware, recent changes

in US international trade policy

have resulted in new, higher

import tariffs being introduced

on goods from countries where

Placentia cigars are proudly

crafted, said Bailey O in an

e-mail.

While we have worked diligently

to absorb these rising costs,

which we have managed to do

during these past several

months, the scope of the new

tariffs has made it necessary

for us to now implement an

adjustment in our prices.

OK.

So it's kind of inevitable,

right?

Everybody thinks that they have

that they know what the prices

increases are going to be on

tariffs, arguing that it's

either 5% or so.

But realistically it's going to

be 10%.

And I understand the logic

behind why I'm saying why people

say it's going to be 5%.

It's not going to be 5%, it's

going to be more.

It's odd that I'm sorry, but

it's odd that they gave a semi

specific amount.

I mean it was 32 to 47 cents.

They didn't say 3 percent, 10%.

They didn't say $0.30.

They said 32 to 47.

Yeah, it's because there, I

think the reason why that is

because it's hard to determine

what the percentage of price

increases as far as cigars,

right?

So like you don't know what

they're importing it as far as

their overall cost.

If they're importing it at

$44.00 and it's 10%, then you

know it's $0.40.

What if they wholesale it at 8

or 7 or whatever the case may

be, that's not 10%, right?

It would have had to be $0.70 at

that point.

So like you don't know what

they're, what they're

determining the cost of the

product coming in is, right.

As a manufacturer, you can call

it whatever you want as far as

your cost, right?

This is what it cost me.

You know, here's my cost.

And they can raise it again once

the level comes.

Out they could.

I mean they could say hey it

cost 2 bucks.

Sure.

Yeah.

I mean, say what?

They own the factory, they own

all of those things.

They they can dictate that

price.

So what what is that percentage?

Well, you know, I'm not telling

you that because it's not the

wholesale cost, right?

Yeah.

Now, if it was the direct

wholesale cost, it's easy to say

it's 10%, right?

Well, they're saying that it's

going to go up 32 to 47 on the

wholesale price.

Right.

But they're not saying that it's

up 10% on the wholesale.

Price.

Oh, I see what you're saying.

OK.

Makes sense.

Yeah.

All right.

So if it, but look, if it

increases the wholesale price 32

to 47 cents, you're going to pay

$0.90 more for that cigar,

right?

Yeah.

So are we key stoning tariffs?

Yes, that's that's your answer.

Have they, have they come with a

date yet when this is going in

effect, the tariffs?

They're they've gone into

effect.

Yeah, they're a set.

Of number, well, here's what's

crazy is there was, look,

there's two scenarios that it's

going on that when nobody's

really talking about well is,

and we kind of dabbled this on

our upcoming skip shows, but

like Black Label got pelted

right before the show.

They had an importation come in

and they had to pay 19 percent

or something like that.

Whatever the high one.

Was yeah, because for that for

those four days or whatever when

they.

Just bad timing.

Yeah, like boom, whacked, right.

Then it went down to the 90 day

arguable, you know, 10% tape and

you know, we're going to chill.

Well, guess what?

Those 90 day, that 90 day

conversation is about over come

end of July, I think.

I think it's when it got April,

May, June, yes, at some point in

July.

In July, it goes back to 19.

Well, we don't know.

Oh, it's true.

Just the 90 days is up.

Right.

Right.

So do you think this effects how

this effects stocks of retailers

and stuff based off of how these

numbers are moving?

Like cigar companies aren't

going to want to import and

export based off of these

tariffs.

Because if it, if it's a moving

number, you know, if it's 19%

right now, they're going to say,

OK, hold on, let's let's wait,

let's wait another 90 days.

That may happen.

You know, I think that as far as

like Insider Baseball is

concerned, if the manufacturers

and brands had the ability to

import product before the

tariffs that they did, that's

why I argued before when you

talked about it, you know,

things kind of staying the same

for Q1 as importation, that

could actually mean that

importation is going to be down.

Some of those guys got ahead of

the curve, dropped the stuff

into the US before the tariff

went into play and then they're

going to slow their importation

moving forward for the for the

remainder of the year, right.

And then see.

What happens with the tariffs?

Right.

And then we're talking about

recession, like, oh, things are

pulling back.

Yeah, of course things are

pulling back, right.

So yes, you know, and, and then

also, yes, I, I think that we

also saw, I mean, I definitely

heard quiet rumblings of people

who were were expecting to

receive things from China when

they were at their highest

point.

Boats were waiting before they

made it to port.

They were staying on.

Oh.

Sure, they'll circle out in the.

Water, right.

We're going to hang tight until

something changes because

because we believe something is

going to change.

Someone's going to move.

There's going to be

negotiations, whatever that is,

Right.

So could you see that in the

cigar industry?

Yeah.

Hey, we're 19%.

All right.

Well, you know how much

somebody, somebody's got to

move.

There's got to be a break.

All right, well, let's hang

tight now.

How long can you hang tight for,

you know?

Because it's a perishable.

Good, is it not?

Not only that, it's demand if

the product is out of stock.

Look, if your if your product is

out of stock for 60 to 90 days,

your retailer replaces that.

Oh, sure.

All right, well, you're not

getting it right now, so hey,

I'm going to put something else

on the shelf.

You just lost the shelf space.

So not only do you lose the

shelf space, but now, so now

somebody's got to go back and

fight for that shelf space.

Hey, we got this back in stock,

all right.

Well, I got to clear something

else out.

I got to move something else.

I got to figure out where I'm

going.

All these midnight hammers over

here.

I got Did you see these midnight

hammers?

You know, right?

Exactly.

They look like squids.

Yeah, they're, they're squiddy.

They're squiddy.

Yeah.

So you know, so that's the whole

game that's about to to to

happen in the next, I would say

Q3 of this year.

Well, Q1, what are we at Q3?

Yeah.

Q3.

Yeah, OK.

All right, you guys ready.

It's time for what's the score.

The game is sweeping the nation.

I'm going to read you sections

of a halfway review and you will

guess the final score based on

the info I give you.

Now we start with the reviewer

and what the cigar is.

You guys ready?

Yes.

All right, First cigar Tetua Hey

Brown Label Especiales Reviewed

by Charlie Minato.

OK, the review was done May 6th,

2011.

So this is our old one for the

week.

OK, that's right.

Sorry.

This goes first.

Oh, we're doing a number off of.

OK, Charlie.

Yeah, Charlie.

I'm going.

To go.

Yeah, I'm going to go 88.

Fuck, that's a good number 87

all right.

The Tua Hey Selecione de Casador

especiales vitola is a lancero.

OK, it's a 7 1/2 by 38.

The rapper is Ecuadorian Corojo

99 binder Nicaraguan filler

Nicaraguan country, United

States.

Made in the US.

Made in the US.

OK.

Factory El Rey Los Habanos, Inc

MSRP is $10.

Time and humidor.

And now he's got this is So this

is an old one.

There's a lot of other

information.

He even talks about what cutter

he uses, what lighter he uses.

He drank a Coke, and it took him

one hour, 50 minutes to smoke.

OK, All right.

The wrapper itself, not the

cigar.

Oh, wait.

Do you guys wanna?

Do you put in a score after I

tell you what?

Yeah, do you wanna change

anything?

No, I think that's good.

I mean, the size of the cigar

doesn't matter.

Sure, it's a Lance arrow.

I'll stick at 87.

The wrapper itself, nuts a

cigar, is soft to the touch and

somewhat delicate, giving off an

acidic leather aroma with an

apple aroma underneath.

Boots.

I'll stick 88. 88 Michael.

Apple aroma underneath.

There's a lot of flavor

description, but Charlie.

Charlie's.

It's hard to give you guys

something that was not a mention

of a cereal or a nut or a cookie

or.

Do I want to change based solely

on that?

I'll stick 87.

All right, second clue.

Cole draws a bit tight with

Berry, nuts, earth and cocoa and

an orange peel taste on the

finish.

The Zykars dual flame lit this

up a bit quicker than I would

like.

Quickly fill in the air with

Woodsy Berry and Coco notes,

then the first puff.

Boots.

I don't think that's enough to

change.

I'm going to stick at 88.

I think Boots is in trouble.

I think the tight draw is going

to be a problem.

I'm going to stick with 87.

So you didn't change either.

Nope.

Yeah.

OK, third clue.

Draw is tight with average smoke

production, but it seems to be

loosening.

It's by far not the least

exciting portion of these

specials, but there aren't any

real complaints.

The least exciting?

It's not the least exciting.

Where you at buddy?

I'll go to 86.

Yeah, I knew he was going to

drop.

I set him up for that.

Should I have dropped to 86?

Is the real question.

Then you'd be both at 86.

Well, you said I can't do that.

I.

Don't remember how we finished

our life, but we talked about

that on a different show.

I'll say 87. 8786.

Yes.

All right, the final thought was

edited as he mentioned his final

score.

OK, OK is by no means the

strongest, but it is medium,

full in body and the flavors are

mature.

They aren't overbearing and for

the most part is relatively easy

in terms of the division.

But when it comes to the

details, they are quite good.

It's not my favorite Pepin

Lancero Lancero, but it's

definitely one of the better

ones out there.

Boots.

God, I'm going to take out 86.

87. 89 OH.

Man, just.

Half a point for me.

All right, so.

He's hard to read.

Oh, he's the toughest. 10 He's

toughest and everything he's

talking, he just talks about all

the flavor stuff.

Charlie for sure is the

toughest.

The final thoughts mean

absolutely nothing to me.

He can be like, this was the

greatest cigar I've ever had. 72

Yeah, I'm like.

All right, the next cigar is the

Island Gym Barber pole #2.

Island Gym Barber pole number 2.

So this just came out.

Just came out by Patrick.

Oscar Valadares, right?

The date is July 3rd, 2025.

Oh man, that's fresh.

Yeah.

By Patrick OK Boots.

I'm I'm going to go 89 on this.

87 I'm sticking 87 today.

You guys are playing the

averages, yeah.

No, I'm not.

Country of origin Honduras

factory.

Oscar Valadares tobacco and

Company rapper is a Honduran.

Connecticut Seed and Creoho

binder undisclosed.

Filler undisclosed. 6 inches by

52 round, $13.

Release date April 2025.

Number of cigar smoke for review

3.

OK, Boots, did that change

anything for you?

No, I'm sticking 80. 9 I think

I'm going to go 80. 888 All

three of the Island Gym Barber

pole number twos are rolled

firmly with nothing more than an

occasional spot with a bit of

give.

I'm sticking 89.

It's a bit of give that's.

What it says?

87.

And boot your standard 89 you.

Said yeah.

Right.

Even though I could in theory

smoke the cigar without taking

any of the head off, the cigar's

air movement as is feels tight

and I don't think it would be

able to get sufficient air flow,

so I clip off most of the darker

portion of the head.

So you have to readjust on the

cut. 88.

Oh boy.

Spongy but clogged.

Interesting.

Well, it has an open end because

it tapers at the end, so it's

open, so you don't have to cut

it.

But he felt it was too tight, so

he did cut it.

I'll go, I'll fuck, I'll go 87.

I'll stick 87.

So neither one of you have

changed it.

No, I changed to 88.

Oh, you're 88?

You picked 87 from the

beginning.

Yes.

I think so all.

Right, 8788.

All right.

The flavor continues to get

sharper, though it never reaches

the point of delivering a sting.

There are not a lot of changes

outside of outside of a return

to a corn flakes flavor, making

for me petty tame progression to

the finish of the cigar.

OK, boots.

I just sometimes I just don't

understand these descriptions.

I know you don't.

I I'm sticking 88.

The whole.

Point of picking these.

So he's saying sharp but

one-dimensional.

I'm going to go 86.

The Island Gym Barber pole #2

delivers a perfectly enjoyable

smoking experience, though 1.

I feel pretty confident that I

won't have much money.

I won't have much memory sorry

of by the by this time next

week.

The flavors are pretty tame and

agreeable, just not particularly

memorable.

I felt like every puff was

pretty much the same combination

of bread, cereal, and pepper

with some creaminess added in

for a bit of variation in the

second third.

The construction is good though

the combustion in the

second-half.

Has it challenges, which I'm a

bit surprised by giving the

uncapped head, but at the same

time, it seems to be get a long

sentence.

Sorry.

Seems to be fairly common in

cigars these days.

I certainly enjoy the island.

Jim Barber pole number.

Oh, this is the final thought.

Yeah.

Oh.

So I'll just keep going.

I think it would be a cigar that

a good number of cigar smokers

would enjoy.

But if you're looking for a

dynamic range of flavors and

layers of complexity, this cigar

doesn't seem to deliver on that

request.

Boots.

This guy always rates things

higher than what I think.

OK, so go up.

I'm I'm at 87, right?

No, you're 80.

You're 88.

OK, 87.

Fuck, and what are you at?

I'm at 86.

Oh.

I lost strike, I always do by

the second one.

I'm going to say I'm going to

say 86.

I might have fucked myself by

going too low gun. 86.

Oh.

My God, 1 1/2 points for me and

the gap has officially widened.

All right, Listener of the Week

Fran Salito for so many of this

week's Patreon cigars do review.

Yolnar the Crusher.

Shop of the week Ramsey Smoke

shop where Michael will be on

July 19th.

Yes.

Please come out Minnesota.

Let's go.

Michael, we need a name.

One last.

Name Final name Jose Torres.

Bing bong.

All right guys, Episode 395.

See you next week.

We gotta go to the Patreon.

Thank you very much guys.

Bye.

Goodbye.

The timer end at 99.

Welcome to the Cigar Hustler

podcast.

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Show Notes

This week, we cover TikTok’s new U.S. app rollout, Elon Musk’s surprise launch of a third political party, and the OneTaste founders’ shocking forced labor convictions. We also break down the Diddy trial verdict and big changes in the cigar world — from new leadership at PDR and Maya Selva to fresh releases like Hooten Young’s Midnight Hammer. Plus, “What’s the Score!” returns with reviews of the Tatuaje Especiales and Island Jim Barber Pole #Two. Don’t miss it!