ACHP Episode 449 "No Smoking"
Transcript
Welcome to a Cigar Hustler
podcast, episode 449.
I'm Mike Palmer, your host, and
with me today in engineering is
Phil.
Oh God.
Phil, I'm back, baby.
Yeah, Phil comes back next week.
We'll have everything to put
Phil back on the air on by
Monday.
We're excited to have Phil the
return to Phil The.
Return to Phil and my Co host
Mikey.
I love Phil better than Boots.
Step on Kevitch.
Wow that's not true.
I love boots better than Phil.
Thank you.
I appreciate that.
We'll miss you, Boots, but it's
going to be nice to have Phil
back.
It's going to it is going to be
nice to have Phil back.
Phil is a nice portion of this
podcast.
Yes, he's.
He's Phil's.
Not as funny as Boots though.
I don't know that's that's not
true.
Phil can be pretty funny.
It's.
All a matter of opinion.
Phil can be pretty funny.
Karen was hilarious.
Might have to bring Karen back,
never know.
Exquisite.
Karen might have a new hairdo
because I don't have that wig
anymore, but still, we might
have to bring Karen back.
Karen's subbing in.
Karen is less masky.
She's just hair in sunglasses.
Yeah, just saying, just so you
know.
Yeah, lesser of two evils,
buddy.
You can pick which one you're
like.
We can rotate back and forth.
Yeah, we can have Karen come in
from time to time.
All right, on today's show, all
the Verizon customers can't hear
you.
Now Trump says no, you can't
come in.
Johnny Knoxville is worth how
much?
And then in cigars Meta's
locking down.
It's no smoking rule, STG is
reorganizing, Vihe is super hot,
and Drew State needs a bigger
boat.
Plus this.
Just then an employee steals
$9000 worth of cigars from
somebody.
All this and then followed up
with a mini game of what's the
score?
And I won yesterday, right?
Yeah, I think.
Nope.
No, no, he didn't.
He won yesterday.
He won yesterday.
You went low and he was. 89,
Yeah, yeah.
He had 87, you said 84 I think
or.
Something, but I nailed the yes
the day before or something,
yeah.
All right, but first, Mikey, how
do you get some of that CHPOD?
Swag, what you want to do?
Let's go to chapterpod.com and
check out our latest swag.
Yesterday I was wearing our
Smoke and subscribe shirt.
It's brand new.
Shout out to my boy T money
Travis Peterson, the first
acquisition of the Smoke and
subscribe shirt.
We are great, greatly appreciate
the support and like and
subscribe to wherever you're
listening or watching the show
and Postania, San Andreas,
Corona Gorda is hitting stores.
Mike, did you?
Know about this?
Yeah, Yeah, you didn't see my
post this morning.
This is very exciting stuff,
very exciting stuff and why I've
been doing this thing all week.
And I think even into last week
that I'm going to, I'm naming 5
retailers every every day that
are taking on the Posania, San
Andreas, Corona, Gorda.
Oh, excellent.
So with that being said, shout
out to Harbor Cigars in Destin,
FL.
Back in the family.
Nice.
Welcome back to the fold,
Marvin.
Great to have you.
We've missed you, Marvin.
Smoking pipes in Dolores, South
Carolina.
Yes, Boyd Tyler.
That's right, Mr. Caldwell.
Tyler Caldwell.
No relation.
I got AI.
Got a good one for you.
Oh, Creekside cigars.
Yes, Sir.
I hear they're famous.
Yeah, they're they're kind of a
big deal.
Are we going to be on their
podcast now?
Yes, yeah, you're going on.
Well, I don't care if I do, just
long as the cigar does.
It's going to happen.
We got to get to Ohio.
I'll be in southern Michigan.
It's kind of close.
I'd like to see you go.
Where in Ohio?
Oh, hi ho.
Oh, hi.
Luxury Cigar Club in Cottonwood,
AZ, Cottonwood and my man Nick
at Cigar Den in Brunswick, New
Jersey.
So if you guys are close to any
of those areas, you want to
check out Postana, San Andreas,
Corona, Gorda, go to those
shops.
If your retailer does not have
Postana and you want and you
want them to carry it, you can
e-mail me at info@chapterpod.com
or mikep@pochiccigars.com or
comment below on this.
Send us a Carter letter.
Smoke signal, make a phone call.
Whatever you want to do.
Come by and pick him up
yourself.
Whatever is the easiest way for
us to get in touch with your
retailer, we are happy to
provide great service for them
and for you.
So all that being said, let's
get into the show.
Boo, do you know it's going to
be cold in the next couple of
days?
Yes, yeah.
If we only had something to keep
our heads warm, somebody
commented.
I had to bring it up.
I know, I know.
Real Smoke podcast said
something about it.
Oh.
Yes, yeah.
What are you looking at your
phone to see where they are?
See what are the comments that
we had all.
Right, all right, I'll just get
on with the show then.
Yeah, we got, I love Sam
Hopkins, said his brother
Rodney.
That was awesome from yes yes
from yesterday.
Epicurean smokes, I'm sure I'm
sure Bing Bong Bukaki is already
a movie series.
It's pretty good.
And then T money also says not
sure what Boots is talking
about, but we already talked
covered this.
Spartans played Indiana last
night.
MSU doesn't play Michigan until
January 30th.
Yes, we talked.
Yes, but Michigan State did
beat.
I know you already said that,
but it was the wrong.
Yeah, but you said they beat the
wrong team.
Yeah.
Doesn't count.
Yes.
I don't think your bookie pays
you when you say they're going
to beat a different team and
they don't play that team.
Yes.
All right, now the news.
On January 14th, 2026, Verizon,
one of the largest wireless
carriers in the United States,
experienced a major nationwide
network outage that disrupted
voices and data service for
hundreds of thousands of
customers across the country.
The problem first appeared
around midday Eastern Time, with
users suddenly losing cellular
connectivity and seeing SOS or
no signal alerts on their
phones.
At its peak, outage tracking
site Down Detector logged well
over 150,000 reports of service
issues affecting the major metro
areas, including New York,
Washington DC, Chicago, Atlanta,
Houston, Los Angeles, Boston and
Dallas, and apparently the
greater metropolitan Orlando
area.
Millions of customers reported
being unable to make calls, send
text messages or connect to
mobile data on Verizon's
network.
Verizon acknowledged the
disruption, publicly, confirming
that the wireless voice and data
services were impacted and that
its engineering teams were
actively working on restoring
service.
Cause.
Multiple official update Across
multiple official updates on
social platforms like X, Verizon
confirmed crews were engaged on
the issue but did not
immediately provide a specific
cause or clear timeline for full
restoration.
While the company hasn't
pinpointed any official root
cause, early reports and
industry observers suggested it
could be related to an internal
network failure, possibly linked
to software or signaling systems
rather than external attacks.
Some discussion among tech
professionals pointed towards
issues with software rollouts or
network routing glitches has the
most plausible explanation.
Nothing that major carrier.
Major carrier outages are
usually the result of
configuration errors or system
bugs, not hacking.
Well do you have Verizon, your
AT and TI?
Have AT&T.
And do you have Verizon?
Nope, I switched away from them.
T-Mobile.
So I am blessed I'm the
fortunate 1 here that has
Verizon.
Yes, and yesterday absolutely
sucked because could not call
people and right.
There a time on your wife's
phone, your brother's phone, you
guys are all in.
Brad yeah, we were all dark.
Zero Dark 30 over here.
Yeah, it was wild.
And.
So it was not Greg's fault.
It was not Greg's fault.
Greg did.
Yeah, Greg did pay the bill.
Greg did pay the bill.
You know, I know funny.
It's always the first place you
look, no matter what happens.
Like did I pay?
That Did I pay that shit?
You know, cable goes out, Wi-Fi
goes out, anything at the house
you'll like go.
Did I pay it?
You know, what's funny is I
honestly don't go that
direction.
Oh, really?
So, yeah, So 'cause like there
are times when our Internet
would go down, I'm like, it's
broken again.
Meanwhile, the credit card
expired or you know, something
like that happened or whatever.
And some other type of flaw.
And then, you know, then
Brittany calls me.
He's like, yeah, you haven't
paid, though.
You haven't paid the Internet
bill in three months.
I'm like, oh.
Oh, that slipped my mind.
Well, let's let's get them that
updated card then.
Right, all right, let's send
them a little bit of money.
So yeah, you know, it's, I guess
it's funny 'cause I don't.
Does it seem lately that more of
this kind of stuff is happening
or we're just hearing about it
better?
Yeah, I think more of this stuff
is happening.
Seems to be don't.
You.
Yeah.
Maybe This is why we're taking
over Greenland.
They have better, they have
better cell service.
They have better cell.
Service.
No.
Maybe Russia and China are
testing us.
Green Greenland tech is the way
to go now with your cell phones,
apparently.
Well, look, it's what I, you
know, here's what's really kind
of funny too about this whole
thing is there's this little
satellite button that happens,
but you have this SOS like when
the when everything's caved, SOS
and satellite, I'm like, OK, I
will play this game and let's go
down this rabbit hole.
And it says if you want service,
click the satellite.
Like click the satellite.
Really.
Yeah.
And then it says you got a
there's like a little like this
arrow looking thing on top and
there's the globe and it looks
nice.
It's.
Searching for satellites.
It's like move your phone
slightly like this, right?
So I move my phone slightly like
this and it says this may take a
few minutes.
About 15 minutes later I was
like, I am done with this.
This is ridiculous.
This is not working.
This is a lie.
Your satellite system, Verizon,
is a lie.
Oh, it's a Verizon thing.
Yeah, or whoever's if it's if
it's a cost.
I was gonna say my phone
doesn't.
I mean, I've never seen it come
up on my phone before, but I
used to.
I have one of the old original
GPSS.
You know, it's about size of
that old cell phone that you
used to be able to hold up that
was like this big.
Anyway, the way it would do it
too, that same look would come
on the screen and then it would
show you where all the
satellites is and it would have
to connect three of them to grab
your location.
To triangulate you.
Yeah, it must be the same type
of thing.
Well, it's a waste of time is
what it is.
Wild.
Last week, my phone in the car,
I used to have that yellow box,
you know, in the car that had a
little desk thing.
Yeah, my phone slid as I turned
and hit something and started
going and then it said calling
911.
Oh, like an emergency.
Oh, because.
Oh, because it thought it
crashed.
Something I guess I don't know,
right.
But yeah, I mean, I quickly, you
know, turned it off and then was
watching for the police to show
up.
But I guess they don't.
You know, if you call 911 in the
car, they don't come.
No.
If call and and you hang up,
you're fine.
Right.
Well, I mean, it was dialing,
right, but it was just weird
just to hit whatever I had to
hit.
Oh, is that what it was?
Thought I was, yeah.
The iPhone has a feature and if
you get into a car crash, it
knows if you're driving.
Oh, I guess maybe by the speed
or something.
Or checking your location.
Yeah.
And if it bumps?
The speed but OK.
Yeah, whatever it is, but by the
bump of it, it will call 911.
Oh, interesting.
The next morning I had a
notification that I had called
911.
I'm like, well turn this off.
Did you call him and go, hey,
there wasn't me, everything's?
Fine, thanks for checking in
from 8 hours ago.
With just like quiet shouting in
the background, right?
Yeah, no, everything's.
OK, everybody's fine,
Everybody's fine, Sir.
Put everyone on the phone.
There's no one else in the car.
They can't talk to your.
Phone was fine.
All right.
Now any any more others cell
phone antidotes?
Anybody wanna?
I don't.
Know do I jump off of Verizon
because I felt like Verizon was
always the one forever.
Yeah, I jumped off of them.
I I've had AT&T forever.
Right.
Yeah, I, I recently had Verizon
for like, I don't know, five
years.
Yeah, they were great.
But man, they're just getting
one too expensive and #2 the
drop calls are just ridiculous
with these guys.
You've had a lot of job calls.
Yeah, I've never really had that
is.
One really any better than the
other anymore?
And Bill hasn't really changed.
They all share the same towers
and stuff at this point.
Yeah, I don't.
Know well they share the same
towers, but they have different
technology in each of the
towers.
Do you think T-Mobile is the
best one or no?
I mean so far so far.
OK, well let's not talk over
each other because you did that
twice.
I know I did it again.
I tried to keep going OK.
Yeah, go ahead Boots.
So far they've been great.
I've had no drop calls.
It seems to have better service
in Central Florida.
Yeah, yeah, from what I've
noticed.
But, you know, I travel all over
Central Florida, so I mean, this
has been a better service.
OK.
And Palmer I.
Forgot what I was going to say
now, I figured.
Too late.
That's why I tried to squeeze it
in like it's it's it's escaping
me.
It's.
Escaping me.
Yeah.
I got to get this out.
I got to get this in.
I'm not going to know what it
was.
Yeah.
Too late.
OK.
All right.
Next story.
Yep.
That's why it's all written down
here. the US State Department
has announced an indefinite
suspension of immigration visa
processing for citizens of 75
countries.
A major thanks for the fake
interest as you look at your
phone.
I'm approving an order, you
know.
Funny, you do that a lot during
the show.
A major here it is.
I'm I, I.
Got to make money, I promise.
You, I can't even see you from
here.
There's so much light on here.
I can assure you that I am
working on every platform as
often and as fast as possible.
A major escalation in
immigration policy aimed at
restricting legal pathways to
permanent residents, the free
set to take effect on January
21st, will halt the adjudicate
adjudication.
Judicate is a big word.
I had sounded out adjudication
of visas for individuals seeking
to live permanently in the
United States from a broad range
of nations across Africa, the
Middle East, Asia, Latin
America, Eastern Europe.
According to State Department
guidance, the suspension focuses
on applicants considering likely
to become a public charge,
meaning officials believe they
could rely on U.S. government
assistance after they arrive.
The administration says the
pause will remain in place while
consular procedures are
reassessed to better screen
applicants and prevent those
expected to depend on public
benefits from entering the
country.
The affected.
We don't want a 75 list of
people.
Yeah, that's fine.
I'll skip that.
All right, so do you.
Agree, Somalia is one of them.
OK.
So that's probably where this is
coming from it.
Stuck out.
I yeah, they didn't list all
them, they just listed them.
Right.
They listed all of these, but
that was probably what they're
aiming at.
Is what you think or something?
No, no, no, just it, it stuck
out.
I mean, there's just a short
list.
So Afghanistan, Brazil, Egypt,
Iran, Nigeria, Russia, Somalia,
Syria, Yemen and dozens more.
All the people that probably
don't like us.
Right.
I mean, that's, that's a very
broad stroke.
I don't know if I'd go that far,
you know?
Where the bad people are?
You know, I can't say that
everybody is bad from one
particular country or not.
I don't think that that's
appropriate.
Yeah, I don't think everybody's
bad, but I'm saying majority do
not like the US.
All of them are bad, just most
of them.
That's what he's saying.
I don't know.
I don't know statistics in those
countries.
Yeah, well, you're, you're like.
We'll just take.
You know what, we'll just say
that they are all bad so we can
get some comments on this box.
Just want to, you just want to,
you just want to sack them.
I mean, he's still talking about
taking Canada and he, you know,
we all know he's all hot about
Greenland, so let's take Yemen.
I mean, I don't know where it.
Is let's take Yemen.
I'm not.
Even sure where that one is to
be.
Strategic.
I don't know how that helps us.
It doesn't matter at this point,
he's just making us bigger.
Just making us make America
bigger.
We're going to have to have a
hell of a flag with the 400
stars on it. 400 stars.
Officials emphasize that non
immigration visas such as
tourist, business, student or
temporary entry visas are not
included in the suspension.
Oh, so if you don't want to live
here, you just want to come
visit, spend some money, it's
OK.
Yeah, we take the money.
That's perfectly acceptable.
Because those people aren't
coming to be government
subsidized.
They have their own money.
They come here for vacations.
Yeah, it's not like they're
going to stay.
They're going to go back.
Right, it's.
Because they love America.
Right everybody.
I love America, I love America.
Which means short term travel
remains largely unaffected.
Good tourist dollars are good.
Perfect.
However, some experts note that
that scrutiny of non immigration
applications may increase to
assess public charge risk.
More broadly, the policy
underscores the Trump
administration's wider
immigration crackdown since
returning to office in 2025,
building our earlier travel bans
and restriction.
OK.
I mean that's I guess that's
very possible.
Something I have to interject
here is kind of bothering me
just a little.
Bit on the camera.
Palmer, for the last, you know,
week, has been dressed in like a
GQ, right Today he's like in the
Mr. Feeny look.
I'm visiting stores today.
Is that what that is?
Yeah, it's why they're jacketing
today.
Normally the jacket's only on
Mondays.
So when you wear GQ stuff,
you're not visiting stores?
Correct, correct.
OK, I just.
I appreciate the GQ reference
though.
Thank you so much for noticing.
Yeah, I was just kind of
bothered because I was, you
know, in my head I was like, oh,
man, you know, for the past
week, he was wearing like some
more updated type of stuff.
And, you know, it looked good.
And today I'm like when the
world's.
Gone.
That Tommy Bahama yesterday was
from the Dead Dad collection.
Oh, whoa.
I'm sorry, it wasn't anything.
No, it wasn't anything new.
I mean, I was old.
Just Harley worn.
Right.
Well, that you guys have seen,
Dad used to wear it all the
time, did he?
Yeah, nice.
Are we moving on?
I have a jacket that my dad used
to wear but it has no buttons.
We should really like.
A Sport coat.
Like lambskin.
Yeah, it's nice.
It's.
Going to be cold.
It's.
Very 70s.
Wait then you should definitely
wear it dude.
I've put it on before.
I'm like, I don't think I can
pull this off.
Is it black?
No.
Oh yeah, you swear.
Let's like.
Change it up a little bit Is.
Everybody going to be on
tomorrow's show about tomorrow,
Friday.
We're going to shoot Friday for
Monday.
Do we have a show tomorrow?
Yeah, like a light brown.
Everybody be on tomorrow's show.
Where?
Where's some clothes from your
father tomorrow, everybody
There's so.
Well, his dad's not dead, so
just go next door and get
something.
Yeah, it's not as, it's not as.
Not as symbolic, yeah, but
still.
Where are some of your father's
Jesus?
Maybe his football jersey.
I've seen him wear football
jersey.
Don't worry, one day he'll die.
Yeah, one day you'll get to pick
through the clothes and see what
you want.
I'll be there for you.
We should move on from this.
Conference, we will.
All come and help you pick
through.
Your father's clothes.
Hope he'll be there for.
Me and get rid of his belongings
and things.
If not, I've died.
If I'm not there for you, that
means I already died.
And then he's outlived me.
Jesus.
Oh wow.
But if if it's the other way
around, God willing.
Right.
I'll be there.
I appreciate it.
All right, we've been talking
about Johnny Knoxville recently,
so I have How much is Johnny
Knoxville's net worth in 2026?
OK.
You guys want to guess?
Yeah, Yeah, yeah, yeah.
OK, how much is his net worth?
I'm going to say 120 million.
Wow, boots. 200 million you.
Guys really like Johnny
Knoxville 60 million According
to Celebrity Net Worth, Johnny
Knoxville's estimated net worth
as of 2026 is 50 million.
Your your title was like he was
worth a lot of money or.
Something.
Yeah, You.
Really.
You?
Said How much is Johnny
Knoxville worth?
No, you're like Johnny Knoxville
is worth how much?
That was the title.
I thought 50 was a lot.
There was more than I was
expecting.
In today's market, yeah.
Well, it is for him.
They slap each other in the ass.
For a living.
I mean, he's been in, he's been
doing that for years.
Yeah, yeah.
But I didn't think it made that.
Much MTV, I mean.
Movies.
Yeah, all right.
Pulled largely from the wildly
successful Jackass Media
franchise, which he starred and
produced and helped create.
I didn't know he produced it to
you.
So that's extra money, right?
Create alongside Jeff Tremaine
and Spike Jones, as well as
other entertainment industry
adventures, including movies
like Dukes of Hazzard.
I forgot he was in that.
The Ringer.
Great movie.
TV show reboot The Last
Frontier.
Anybody ever seen that?
No, no, neither.
And then he does a podcast
called Pretty Sure I Can Fly
with Johnny Knoxville and.
Elena Baker, that sounds
amazing.
Boots, we're still not getting
paid.
Yeah, Palmer, have you not?
We're the only podcast that's
not giving a bad day.
That doesn't make any money.
It's.
Going to happen, don't worry.
Oh, he has video games, music
videos and more I don't know if.
He has lots of things, that's
why I thought it was way more
than 50.
Diversified.
Yeah, how much does he get paid
on the podcast?
I don't know specifically, but
it has to be enough where they
mentioned it though.
At least $500 a week.
I mean, there would be, you
know, it says video games and
music videos.
So they didn't specifically list
those.
So that's just got to be, you
know, just.
You think it's like?
Peanuts or something, mid 6
figures or something. iPad.
Because he's famous.
Can't be that.
Everybody who's famous now does
a podcast, so there's got to be
money in it.
Yeah.
Conan O'Brien.
He's not even on TV anymore, is
he?
Yeah, he's, is he not?
No, I don't think he's on TV
anymore.
He just does his podcast.
He.
Does his HBO series stuff he did
like where he was touring the
world or whatever?
Yeah, but that's over now, too.
Yeah.
Wow.
Some of these podcasts go on the
road and do live shows and
people buy tickets.
People buy tickets to watch us
be stupid.
No, you.
Don't think so.
Yes, I thought they would.
I haven't had any offers yet for
your $500 experience.
Put it out again, Ballmer.
You just have to advertise it.
I'll do it again on Monday.
I don't have it in the the copy
here.
It includes.
It needs to be a clip.
Maybe we need to add some more
stuff?
Oh, we'll throw in Mikey's
T-shirts.
No, how about you take him to
lunch and they can stay at my
house?
OK, All right.
We're now, we're for $500 now
with everything we already
mentioned, Boots will take you
to lunch after the show.
And then if you need to stay
over because of the travel
arrangements that you made
yourself that we don't pay for,
you can stay at my house.
Yeah, but we're not paying him.
Oh.
That's it.
We don't pay for the travel
arrangements.
Yeah, or, or food.
No, no, you're going to.
Oh, OK.
You're just going to drive them
to lunch.
Yeah.
Oh, OK, Boots will let you drive
him and to lunch and buy him
lunch.
Perfect.
You guys get to pick multiple
fast food places.
He's very well versed.
He's.
Very well known around.
I know all the great places.
The Tri-City area where all the
fast foods are all right.
Measles are back in the news
again.
They're up again.
Again.
I'm watching the measles.
One other person got it.
No.
South Carolina health officials
yesterday said the state now has
434 measles cases.
Shut that place down.
After 124 new cases have been
confirmed, there are currently
409 S Carolinians in quarantine
and 17 in isolation, with some
quarantines extended to February
6th.
Mobile vaccine units will be
active this week and officials
urge local residents to get
vaccinated.
Vaccination now can avoid long
term quarantines at home for
those exposed to the measles
virus.
So they're doing COVID type
shots now for measles in South
Carolina.
Who's who's the front runner?
Pfizer and Pfizer.
They haven't said vaccination
within or.
Whatever it's.
Called in Johnson and.
Johnson and Johnson you.
Just took two pharmaceutical
companies and merged them.
Together isn't Wasn't Pfizer the
leading?
Leading.
Pfizer was a single Pfizer,
Johnson and Johnson was a
double.
He made Pfizer and Pfizer.
Pfizer and Pfizer or Johnson,
right?
Pfizer and Johnson.
Pfizer and Johnson, the legal
team of Pfizer and Johnson.
We eliminated Johnson.
Vaccination within 72 hours of
exposure can prevent measles
infections, the state's
Department of Public Health said
it's update.
Most all cases come from the
Upstate region in an outbreak
centered in Spartanburg County
that began in October and has
involved exposure at several
schools and churches.
Spartan County is home to
several charter schools with
significant number of students
with religious exemptions from
routine vaccinations.
Makes sense?
Well, no, actually, it's worse
than that.
You want to know what the
problem is?
Somebody stated in an article
100 years ago that measles is
linked to autism and once that
article was debunked.
Measles related or vaccinations
were related.
Measles vaccinations, I
apologize.
Right?
Measles vaccinations were linked
to autism.
And then once that article was
debunked, nobody paid attention
to it.
And what happens is people want
to share what they can think is
good information to other
people, right?
So they read this article, they
say, hey, measles, measles shots
cause autism.
You have kids.
I have kids.
Take a look at this, right.
Oh, thanks so much for sharing
for me.
And then all the sudden we're
skipping vaccinations, right?
When when the other news comes
out, it's not as big, it's not
as widely reported, and then
boom, now you have this problem.
Everybody in South Carolina has
measles.
And now measles.
And to get a religious exemption
in that state, you don't have to
have a doctor's note, just have
to have a form and have it
notarized, right?
By your mom.
And you know, you know, look, I
think you have, I guess you to
some degree you have.
No, it's not.
To some degree.
You have every right to raise
your kid how you want to raise
your kid.
You know what I mean?
And if you don't want to
vaccinate them, I guess don't
vaccinate them.
But.
They could get the measles.
But like, yeah, you know, might
they might get hairy, you know
what I'm saying?
Like, I don't know.
Or bumpy.
Or bumpy.
Yeah, Spartanville, it's super
bumpy of the. 434 measles
patients tracked in the past six
months, 378 are unvaccinated,
4747 are unknown and six have
been fully vaccinated and three
have been partially vaccinated.
There you go.
Like you have to believe in
science to some degree.
Like the problem is that I could
argue the other side too, is
that, you know, science has
taken advantage of people as
well.
And they, they will say
something to you.
And then you have they're like,
you need to believe this or
else.
And they're like that's
improper.
Too.
So I don't like science.
I don't cook with recipes.
I don't like science.
I only trust Pfizer and Pfizer.
Only Pfizer and Pfizer.
That's where all the good
vaccines come from, Pfizer and
Pfizer.
Pfizer and Pfizer double Pfizer.
The measles cases in South
Carolina are between the ages of
five and 17.
The majority of them are.
Oh, they're just children.
What's what's?
What's the mortality rate for?
Yeah, I don't know if we only
had something in our hand that
we could look up for.
Youth with measles I.
Don't know, I don't think he
died from it.
Then Oh really?
I I haven't.
There has to be some reason they
came up with a vaccine.
So, I mean, not like, oh, you
just got red dots.
Let's make sure that goes away.
Well, it's super itchy and all
that.
The measles itch.
No, I'm I'm itching.
Talking about itchy stuff.
I have measles now on my head.
Well, you're good.
You're not between the ages of
five and. 70 vaccinated.
Back when I was vaccinated, they
gave you shots for everything,
right?
I even got a polio shot.
Right.
Polio doesn't exist anymore.
Well, neither the measles, but
it's back.
One to three deaths per 1000
cases.
One out of three.
One to three. 0123.
So we're not there yet.
So .1% Oh.
So we're not there.
Why?
Would we have picked that one to
get rid of just because it was
easily done?
I don't know.
Some guys in a lab going I would
like to beat measles because no,
but I don't like the dots.
But somebody will happily
explain to us in the comments.
Sure.
I'm sure, right?
So.
Why it is?
Why it is we can't have the
measles, right?
I mean, I don't want them back.
But yeah, just curious what that
one was chosen.
You are the chosen 1.
Right in Utah they have 200
cases.
South Carolina now has the
largest measles outbreak in the
country and the second largest
outbreak record in the past
year.
In the United States.
A West TX outbreak that began
last January and was declared
over in August saw 762 cases.
I can't go to Texas either.
More than 2/3 of West Texan
cases were in children,
including two fatalities and the
school age children.
There you go.
Other measles news There's only.
1000 people had it at that
point.
So the the ratio's got to be,
you know, higher than what this
thing is telling me.
Exactly.
Oh, they're having it in Arizona
too.
It's everywhere.
Well, it's one of the most
highly contagious viruses out
there, that's why.
Right.
And they, yeah, there's a,
whatever it's called incubation
period where, I mean, you might
have had it and then you just
give it to me in Boots, but you
haven't had it in like 3 or 4
days, something like that.
I don't know if that's
specifically correct.
I just ball parking numbers
here, people.
So just relax.
Don't worry, I'll take the short
clip and and exclude the second
portion of that so that someone
can yell at.
Them.
I thought you couldn't edit the
clips you said you can't.
I may be able to edit them.
So that's why your face is on
the front of all of.
Them No, I don't have time for
that I.
Don't have time for that.
All right.
Anybody got a video they
wouldn't share or something
before we get into the cigar
news?
Anybody.
Anybody.
Anybody.
The only thing that I wanted to
share with you today was.
It's just off the air stuff.
No Was the St. kiss or
something?
Was the STG conversion thing.
We have that in a couple of
minutes.
I wanted to cover that, so that
wasn't a video.
Boots.
Anything you want to cover?
I have videos but you guys don't
like them so.
Yeah, no, we don't want you no
more porn.
Don't send the porn, all right.
Facebook is quietly tightening
its grip on cigar related
content, leaving many cigar
pages and community pages facing
reduced reach, removed posts, or
full shutdowns.
While Meta has long banned paid
tobacco advertising, enforcement
is now expanding deeper into
organic content.
Cigar brands, lounges and
influencers, and community
admins report post being flagged
for commerce facilitation even
when no sales links are present.
Groups that allow buying,
selling or trading are
especially vulnerable.
In some cases, entire groups
have disappeared overnight with
little to no explanation.
Meta says the goal is to limit
youth exposure and comply with
global tobacco regulations, but
critics argue the platform's
automated moderation systems
often misclassify legal, adult
focused cigar content as policy
violations.
The result?
Fewer recommendations, shadow
banning, and confusion among
page owners about what is
actually allowed.
For cigar businesses and
enthusiasts, the message is
clear.
Facebook is no longer a safer,
predictable platform for tobacco
visibility, and the crackdown is
only getting stronger.
None of them are safe.
That's the reality.
Yeah, I was just thinking where,
I mean, there's not like
somewhere else you can go,
right?
I mean, they tried rolling out
whatever that new social media
thing was a couple years ago
when this was just starting to
happen, and it didn't, it didn't
take off.
Rumble.
No.
Rumble's a video service.
It was another Facebook type
thing.
Everybody was moving.
To.
Oh yeah.
What boots?
Threads.
No, that's no threads.
Is still there.
Threads is Facebook's run at X.
Right, our post onia page is not
being recommended any longer.
Right?
My there was another one too.
I thought there was another one
that might be the only one for
us.
So this week I'm not showing any
cigars that are lit and if I can
avoid it, I'm not even putting
any cigar in the post.
Isn't that wild, right?
You have to.
You have to adapt.
Like what are we doing?
Right, I've never said, you
know, you can buy it.
Just this is the, you know,
here.
Well, this looks nice sitting
with a glass of Scotch.
But yeah, we have all these
recommendations of these half
naked women and stuff all over
our Facebooks.
Right, but we.
Can't do cigars?
All sorts of other.
Things.
All sorts of other things,
right?
Perfectly acceptable.
However, there's no proof that
youth goes after cigars
whatsoever.
They.
Want to smoke them?
They smell bad.
Right.
But vape's OK.
You can vape on Facebook.
Vaping's perfectly acceptable.
You can suck on a battery all
you want.
Yeah, right.
They love.
That, and youth loves that.
Yeah.
I saw yesterday Abe's been
affected by this.
His his group, his shot page and
the great smoke is not being
shared anywhere really.
Yep.
Oh, that's hurtful.
I mean, I knew ours was, but I
just figured, you know, huh,
Luck of the draw that came after
us this month, right?
But apparently everybody's
getting it now.
That's insane, man, isn't it?
Yeah.
You guys need to help stop this
regulation.
What are you doing?
Yeah, I mean, and everybody and
then I hate when people post
that thing, but as of today, you
cannot share my pictures or look
at my stuff on my Facebook.
Well, it's a little too late.
You're late to the terms and
conditions in the.
Beginning.
That's not going to work.
Yeah, yeah.
You can't just all of a sudden
go can't see it now.
Right, I wrote it down here on
this post.
Right, because it's true.
I saw it on the news.
I didn't even write it down.
I copy and pasted this post.
Yeah.
Can't believe people still think
that's true right in today's
world.
Oh yeah?
Well, you know, cats and dogs
living together.
All right, an employee of Best
Cigar Prices has been charged
after allegedly stealing
thousands of dollars in cigars
and merchandise from the
retailer's Pennsylvania
location.
When he does that I don't know
why he just rubs me wrong when
you.
Go Oh yeah, I.
Don't know why.
It's nice to add that in every
once in a while.
According to local police, 61
year old Daniel T Brennan of
Scranton was arraigned in Butler
Township on charges of retail
theft and receiving stolen
property.
Best Cigar Prices, which
operates a retail location in
Drums, PA, discovered the theft
after surveillance footage
reportedly showed Brennan
concealing cigars inside a
travel humidor.
How many do you have to take to
pay $9000?
We're talking about retail he'd.
Probably move them out over
time.
Yeah, but they they put in
traveling so he's stealing 3 or
4 at a time.
Must have been the years.
Well, if a travel human or holds
like 20 or 30, you know and I
don't.
Know, what if an employee here
carried a giant travel humidor
in and out every day?
But did you question it at all?
Don't.
You guys don't carry any type of
travel humidors here?
Yes, but but they don't walk in
with it and then leave with it.
We sell them.
I would ask, yeah, you would
think, yeah, I'd say why are you
just.
About all of them have a little
5 Packer, but that's the stuff
they can smoke while they're.
Here like, hey, like what's
going?
What's up with that?
You know that.
Thing's kind of.
Well, if you're a store doing
inventory properly anyways.
Yeah, I mean, but like, you just
pick up on like, this doesn't
make sense.
I mean, Greg watches a lot of
things like a hawk.
You know what I mean?
As he does, Yeah.
From Michigan.
Yeah, he doesn't watch TV, He
watches cameras.
Yeah.
He watches us in here doing the
show.
He does.
Yeah, you guys are done.
Right.
Yeah, he strangely came in as
soon as it was over.
Are you finished?
Right, like.
Wow, that's a coincidence.
Right.
Oh, I'm, you know, like I can
tell you that there was 1
interaction that I had in the
past with an employee that
skimmed from the register.
And I know I've mentioned this
100 years ago, but that one was
tough because I was so confused
because I thought that this guy
was a good guy.
And I'm like, there's just no
way.
Was it is that only happened, I
mean, I know what you're talking
about that was it just that one
guy, is that the only incident
you guys have had?
As far as the skimming.
Well, an employee stealing to
where you had to let them go.
An employee stealing to where I
had to let them go It's.
The only one I know of.
Yeah, I think so.
I.
Mean if I know about that one,
I've been here for the others
so.
I mean, the other shit, the if
you know, if the theft exists,
it's below the radar, right?
You know what I mean?
It's not OK, but you know,
they're very slick about it.
All right, following an
internal.
We have a good set of people
here though.
Yeah, I mean, I, I don't think
any of them are, but I didn't
mean to imply that.
But I just didn't.
I mean, I know who the one guy
was and how that worked out.
I just didn't know if anybody
else had been.
I think that we've done a better
job of trying to create a
culture with our employees and
not treat them like dirt.
Well, that guy.
Like I said, was very
surprising.
Yeah, I was very much caught off
guard with that.
But he wasn't, he wasn't
culturally bought into.
Oh, I got you.
You know, just an employee,
right?
Where I think a lot of our
employees are more now, they
believe in the culture of what
it is, if that makes sense.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
They're been been around for a
while here.
You it is.
The crew now is different than
it has ever been as far as that.
Goes yeah, like they're willing
to pull with you, you know what
I mean?
They see the work and, and they
see all the effort that you're
putting in and they see the we
appreciate them, right.
So they're willing to go the
extra mile for you because of
that, right.
And I'm very grateful for that
100% well.
Except Keanu.
Well.
I was gonna say except for you,
but yeah, I know.
Except except for Keanu.
Not for me, yeah.
I have 75% of my body tattooed
with the logo.
You I, that's what I'm saying.
You could go the full 100%, you
know what I mean?
No tattoos on the face.
Something on the forehead or
something?
No, like a teardrop PA teardrop.
P in the corner only if I kill
Keanu.
Only if I kill Keanu.
And then I will.
Following an internal
investigation, the company
determined that Brennan had
taken approximately 600 cigars
along with accessories and
company apparel over a O2 month
period.
Wow.
It's a pretty quick haul.
I think that's easy to do.
Well, if you're if you're
determined, yes.
I'd assume that that guy came in
with an agenda, you know what I
mean?
He's like. 600 cigars.
I got him.
During July and August, the
total value of the stolen
merchandise was estimated at
roughly 9000 dollars.
You think that number's
exaggerated a little bit?
9000, yeah, maybe.
I guess I'd have to know what.
He's clothing too though.
I.
Mean yeah, well, like 600 cigars
even at full retail.
Maybe they'll they don't know
all L September.
How you get that high, you know?
Boots divide 9000 by 600.
What?
Do you get E niner?
I don't know, it's like it's
like 15 bucks a cigar or
something like.
That 9000 / 600. $15.00 that's
not hard to do that.
Doesn't make much sense.
I could just be, well, 10 times.
Oh, Oh my God, he got it.
It's 15 bucks. 15 bucks.
Well, he did it on his phone.
He didn't guess.
My phone's been sitting right.
No, he actually did the math.
You.
Guys, always the guy.
The credit I.
Can't see him.
From here, can you give him a
little bit of credit?
He's have these spotlights on me
now.
I can't even see you over there
right now.
Hello, hello, hello.
Hello, what's this thing on?
Hello, Hello Brendan was
released on $20,000 unsecured
bail while the case moves
through the legal system
Unsecured.
I'll put up these cigars for a
collateral.
In a statement provided to the
TIME Leader representative for
Best Cigar Prices confirm the
incident, noting that the
company worked closely with the
law enforcement after completing
its internal review.
We take situations like this
very seriously and appreciate
law enforcement's work in
addressing it, the company said,
adding that no further comments
will be made while the matter
remains under legal review.
Best Cigar Prices operates a
major multi channel cigar
retailer with an online store
catalog business wholesale
division and it's Best Cigar Pub
retail location.
OK serves a reminder they even
trusted positions within
specialty retail, Kimbridge and
serious internal security risk
when safeguards fail.
Who picked up this article?
Hat Wheel Charlie Minato wrote
the article.
I got to tell you, this is
probably one of the best
marketing strategies I've ever
seen, right?
Oh, because everybody's now
talking about cigar Restaurant.
Yeah.
Well, let's put out a person at
least that somebody's still
here.
Let's announce that.
Let's announce that.
I mean, Keanu has been seen
allegedly taking.
I mean.
Should we have?
Covered free advertisement in
half wheel.
Should we have covered the Sacco
statue theft and reported it to
Half Wheel?
You know, cigar?
Howser says.
Right.
They didn't pick that up.
We had a we had, didn't we put
the surveillance footage out or
something?
Yeah, it was on Facebook or
whatever.
People asked about it for a
while.
We should have reported it to,
you know, and then we should
have filed it and then sent it
to Charlie because I got I got
news for you 9000 in retail, you
know, and with the prices that
they they pay, this is probably,
you know, $1000 in their cost.
And they just got, you know,
marketing on multiple platforms.
It's kind of brilliant, kind of
smart.
Not mad.
I'm a little jealous.
Well, if you like, I'll go steal
stuff.
If you go take some things then
I can report you as long, but
you got to walk.
Can you say a a undisclosed
employee?
You got to no, you got to go
through the whole format.
You got to, I got to have you
arrested.
Never mind, we'll get Keanu to
do it.
Yeah.
He's about to be gone for four
days.
We can just report it while
he's.
Gone.
Oh yeah.
Where's he going?
He's going to Georgia.
No, don't tell him now.
They're going to arrest him.
He almost got arrested in
Georgia last time, I think he
was there.
Yeah, yeah, with the state
trooper.
It's a funny story if you have a
moment.
Yeah, I do.
He was going to go camping by
himself to a location he found
that would not charge him and
stay in a tent OK, 35 he was in
for $35.
His girlfriend found out he was
going, said you can't go, we
should go and rent a cabin OK?
So now he is in for almost $300,
OK, and he's driving to Georgia
instead of Ocala National
Forest.
OK, this is the story.
That was the story.
He went from $35 to $300 because
she said you can't go by
yourself.
I want to go too.
I thought you were talking about
how he almost got arrested in
Georgia.
Oh no, I don't know that exact.
Was it arrested or he was just
off grid and his mother called?
The police, they were worried
about him or whatever, right?
Yes, the guy can't win.
All right, he can't win.
He can't win it.
Eddie And here you are talking
about murdering him, I mean.
Well no, I said if I did I would
get the post on you.
Pi didn't say I wanted to.
Oh, OK, I apologize.
But I mean, everybody else has
families that work here.
So he stopped.
Oh, he's still clicking.
OK.
Scandinavian Tobacco Group is
making changes to its two US
sales divisions.
Most notably, the non Cuban
Cohiba brand will now be sold by
Ford Cigar Company.
Historically, the brand has been
sold by General Cigar Company.
STG is swapping 5 brands between
the two sales divisions as of
February 2nd, 2026.
Generals brands will include
Partegus, Room One O 1 Cao.
Don Don Thomas.
Not familiar with that Don
Thomas.
Don Thomas El Titan de Bronze,
Excalibur, Hoya de Monterey,
Humi Care, Makanudo Mahari and
Panter Panter.
Panter Forge will now be Cohiba,
Punch, Havana, Honeys, Alec
Bradley Blvd.
Chilling, Moose Diesel, El Rey
de Mundo, La Gloria, Cubana
Odyssey.
The brands that have changed
portfolios are in bold.
Both the Visions are owned by
STG and sell SG brands.
There are a rare instance in the
cigar business of internal
competition between sales teams.
Journal and Forge are owned by
the same company, share many of
the same resources like
factories and marketing teams,
and are led by the same
executives.
However, the individual sales
reps are directly competing
against their Co workers selling
similar products to the same
retailers in their territory.
A setup that is unique within
the cigar industry, though it
can happen to large industries
like food and alcohol.
OK, so room one O 1 and Partegus
jumped to general correct and
then Cohiba Punch and Havana
Honey's jumped to forge correct.
OK, so why do you think this
would happen?
I honestly don't know all.
Right.
Well, we're going to try and
call Justin real quick.
See if he'll.
He told me he's not going to.
Answer Oh you already called him
and oh you pre I.
Tried to offer.
Yeah, I love having the
headphones just ready.
Super amazing.
Let me see.
Oh, you know what dude?
Maybe this will work because
it's the new road caster.
Oh good.
Hey Bluetooth me.
No, he means get a marker and
paint his tooth.
Blue Roadcaster Pro and let's
see, we're connected.
So weird to hear the show in
your head now.
I missed this.
I don't.
Is it very loud now I can't
hear?
Or see, let's see if he answers
turn it down smidge.
Got it.
He never.
Answers he never.
Answers Your call has been
forwarded to voicemail.
Son of A.
Bitch, why would he not answer?
What about Matt Booth?
Because he's not at the meeting.
Because they're doing a whole
meeting.
Matt Booth is.
Doing a meeting, I went by
there.
Matt Booth is in.
He's visiting the pyramids or
something.
Oh yeah, he is in Egypt.
He's gotta be back by now.
There's.
A lot to see over there.
It's 9:00 in the morning in
Washington.
What time is it in Egypt?
Your call has been forwarded to
voicemail.
Is he maybe at the meeting?
Anybody else?
He's probably at the meeting.
Fondy.
Who's our who's our fondy
doesn't work for them?
No who's who's our Rep for them?
The guy's name?
John.
You guys always say that like
it's not a real.
Person.
It's John Smith, 00, Matt Blue.
Yes.
Hey, hold on, hold on.
Hey, hey, you're on the podcast
real quick.
How are you?
Man, I'm good.
How are you?
Are you?
At the meeting?
Are you at the meeting right
now?
I'm well, kind of OK.
He's there but obviously not
paying attention.
I'm in.
I'm in the vicinity of.
It OK, All right, that's fair.
All right, I just had a quick
question.
You know, I first of all I
tried.
Ask your question.
I tried calling Justin Andrews.
Of course he doesn't want to
answer because he has he's an
idiot, but he's.
Deeply involved.
Yeah, well, why the move?
Why the room?
one-on-one move to GC and
Partagus moved to General as
well.
And then Cohiba punch Havana
honeys to forge.
Remember, you're on the podcast,
The real podcast, not not the
Patreon.
Yeah, yeah.
No, I think, I think Simply put
it was a, a move to kind of
rationalize the two portfolios
and and bring balance to their
brand offerings as in, you know,
as intelligently as possible.
And I say intelligent.
I mean, it's, you know, cigar
business, but I I think they did
a good job with it.
Cigar Intelligence.
Yeah, because it looks to me
like you're the main there.
Yes.
Can you hear me?
No, it still doesn't do it.
Son of a bitch.
Damn, Verizon.
You can you hear me?
He's gone.
I have I have Matt boost number
OK connect.
Wait wait, I have to do the
Bluetooth thing right?
Yes.
Let me disconnect.
OK, pair.
I'm waiting now to show up on my
phone.
What is wrong with my phone?
I don't know man.
That's so wild.
Yeah, Verizon.
Damn, Verizon.
Can I hard?
Can I hardwire?
I'm connected I.
Don't know, this is amazing.
I love the fact that the guys at
the fucking meeting and he still
answers the phone.
Just the phone.
Meanwhile, Justin's like, no.
He said he's deeply involved.
Deeply involved.
I forget my song.
Did you fucking hang up on me?
No.
Mikey's phone.
Mikey's phone doesn't.
Work.
I would never hang up on you,
you know this.
OK, OK, Well, I thought I, I, I
thought, I thought that was the
case you then I was like, well,
well.
You.
Can never what happened I was
answering.
His question you just get the
no, I did answer the question.
No, no, that's what you were
saying.
Language is dead.
No, you can't jump to that
conclusion.
You have to give me the benefit
of the doubt.
You're.
Right.
No, of course, obviously.
No, I would.
You know, I get it.
I get the phone.
Like that's the same the same
thing to do.
Yeah, yes, my phone, for
whatever reason, when I connect
to this goddamn boards, it kicks
out after like 45 seconds and
then I can, we can still, yeah,
we can still hear you.
And I'm like oh fuck.
We normally do that to Jack once
a week, yeah.
Yeah, OK.
So you so you like to me, the
way that I'm looking at this,
it's like room one O 1 is the
main hub now for the general
cigar team.
Does that mean well?
Look, man, I think there's, I
mean, I think there's a sick
amount of upside and potential
running that brand with that
team.
And I'm looking forward to, you
know, ravenously taking
advantage of that.
OK.
Yes.
Yeah, that.
Does that sufficiently answer
your Does it satiate your wanton
bloodlust for knowledge, your
desire to know things?
Yes.
To hear straight from the
source.
Yes, yes, indeed it does.
While you're in the meeting.
I need you to go up.
I'm nearby the meeting.
I'm nearby he's.
In the area I need go.
Go ahead.
And Justin, there's Kennedy.
I need when when Justin is
presenting something at some
point of this meeting, I need to
just go up to him and goose them
right in the ass and say that's
from Mike.
It's a go hustler.
I'll do it, OK.
We'll do.
With my with my dominant hand.
Yes, solid.
Grab a solid, you know, and that
way he knows that he should
always answer the damn phone.
Yeah, or he's going to get a
nice grab.
Ryan is it's.
Ridiculous.
I'm not going to lie, he's going
to.
It's probably going to excite
him that you do that.
By the way, I.
Mean.
Look, man, I mean, not my first
rodeo.
I mean, but he's an elusive, you
know, gentleman of business.
He is, you know, hard to pin
down.
Yeah.
Making moves.
How are you guys doing?
We're doing fantastic, man.
We're, we're great.
Yeah, man.
Beginning of the year is is I
think things are going pretty
God damn well.
Yeah, they're going good.
I'm not going to lie, man.
I was like, OK, man.
We've had a few breakthroughs
here on multiple levels and
different on different things on
the podcast, on wholesale, on
retail.
I'm like son of a bitch.
Like, are they all, are they all
hitting?
They're all hitting I guess.
Hit the ground running bro.
Yeah, you know, hard work.
I guess hard work eventually
pays off as long as you don't
kill yourself beforehand.
That's correct.
I mean it will kill you, but
just you hope to taste a little
bit of it before you expire a.
100 percent, 100%.
So, you know, there it, it seems
like there's a light.
I can see it.
So hopefully we'll get there.
You know, good for you.
But how are you?
Egypt?
Oh my God.
Egypt was sick, amazing,
fantastic.
It was one for the record books,
man.
It was an amazing trip, a
phenomenal experience to share
with the family.
And, you know, and I'm looking
forward to getting out there and
doing something again.
And I'm, you know, I'm horny for
travel.
I can't, I can't help myself.
I'm like a crackhead for it, you
know?
Good for you, dude.
There was a picture with Gray
and he was standing in front of
like a rope.
I felt like that rope was kind
of a guideline.
He could have went behind there
without a problem and.
Touched.
Yeah.
No, for sure.
Yeah.
Yeah.
It was implied.
Yeah, exactly.
There was touching.
There was touching.
There was.
There was.
Yeah, There was touching.
Good.
Don't worry.
Yeah, that's.
No.
It was killer.
I'd highly recommend it.
Yes, that would cool.
A lot of camel play.
I saw that.
I saw that, yeah.
That's I like the camels, I
think of that.
It's like a Middle Eastern
giraffe, almost.
You know there, well, there,
there you go, right, there you
go.
What else is going on?
You're doing doing a little
show, doing a little podcast,
doing a little.
What's next on your list, Matt?
Where are you going next?
Where?
Do you want to go?
Where do you want to go?
What's?
Next I've I've got Jordan
planned this year.
Man, I'd really like to.
You know, I haven't been to
Vietnam yet.
I'd love to see it.
Yeah, I've been over, you know,
digging around in some of the
nooks and crannies of that
general vicinity.
But I haven't yet, haven't yet
touched down in Vietnam.
Man, I'd like to see it.
OK.
And fuck it while I'm there,
Cambodia, you know?
We're hitting some things.
Yeah, man.
Just go see some stuff, yeah,
about Cambodia.
Dude, your son is gonna look
back one day and be like, yeah,
no, I've been there.
And people are gonna be like,
right, What the hell are you
talking about?
Like, no, I yeah, when we went,
it's a family.
We went.
Right.
Yeah, that's.
Incredible.
I mean, look, man, at his age, I
could have never dreamt, you
know, And it's just, you know,
for me, it, it's just a lot of
big feels to be able to, to do
that.
And, and, you know, I imagine
along the way it's going to bake
the bread a little different,
you know, and there's somebody
set for experience.
And so we're just going to take
it as it comes, man.
Hey, well, you're a great dad,
dude.
You're doing a lot of good
things bro, so congratulations.
As my son says, I I try my best
and and thanks for noticing.
You know you're not doing too
bad yourself.
Thanks.
You know I'm.
Trying good dads recognize good
dads, man.
That's right.
That's right.
GDS.
GDS maybe.
OK, well, we'll let you get back
to your meeting.
We're going to wrap this podcast
up.
We're the.
Vicinity.
The vicinity Vicinity in the
general.
Area of.
Yes, to the vicinity.
We I'm I'm near.
I'm near.
I appreciate you taking the
call.
And yeah.
Of course, man.
And don't forget to goose Justin
for me.
I will.
I will.
You guys take it easy, alright
man.
I will.
Bye bye.
Take it easy guys.
Bye bye.
There you go, real friends
answer the goddamn phone, you
know what I'm saying?
Like.
Yeah, that was cool.
Right.
Oh, no, I'm, I'm around the
meeting.
Yeah.
What do you.
What's up?
Yeah, what do you want to know?
What do you want to know?
Sounds like a very official
answer though.
Justin is not in a circle.
It sounds like a very official
answer.
Matt's answer on why they moved
his company?
It sounded very, very official.
Yeah.
So why do you think they did it?
I think he's right.
I think they're they're trying
to even up the sides because I
mean, it's the article said they
two sides compete.
And if they're competing and
this guy had, you know, one
general has these companies that
do better than what Forge does,
let's flop them a little and try
to even it out a little bit.
But doesn't all the money comes
in the same pot?
Yeah, but that's not.
But you want to make the most
amount of money, right?
Are they looking to sell or I'm
not?
I don't think so.
No, I don't STG no, they don't
want that buys everything.
Yeah.
I mean, to be honest, I kind of
look at this and I think that,
you know, Cohibos and your
punches and stuff like that are
are your easy sells for a lot of
mainstream stores, right.
So, like in my interpretation,
and I could be completely wrong,
is that your your better sales
force is general cigars and you
know, your newer sales force
that needs more grooming and
more work would probably be the
forge side, right.
So, so you give them a couple of
layups and then they can kind of
develop and grow some of these
other things.
And you know, room one O 1 I
think is a good staple and they
kind of stand on their own, but
would do better with a better
sales force.
Got you right that that's just
my take.
I could be totally, totally off
That's.
Your opinion?
Yeah, but it would make sense.
OK, Good cover, good story.
All right one of via he's most
popular releases the Super shot
will be back on store shelves in
the near future as the company
has announced that it will begin
shipping both the 10 gauge and
the 12 gauge later this week.
The Shotgun Shell Super Shot is
a Nicaraguan Bureau highlighted
by a Cradolo rapper and is
offered in 2 sizes, the with 3
1/2 by 54 and the three and a
quarter by 52.
The company is not disclosing
where the cigars were produced
or how many have been made. the
Super Shot debuted in 2012 and
gets his inspiration from the
clay shooting, a sport that BI
He's founder Andre Farkas had
taken up at the time.
As he told the story of the
cigars origins, he said he found
himself getting frustrated with
not having a cigar short enough
to smoke between rounds, so he
created the line offering a pair
of short robustos.
Cigars are then packaged in
boxes designed to resemble the
ones used for shotgun shells.
In 2020, the company added the
buckshot version to the shotgun
shells line, replacing the
Nicaraguan Credolo wrapper with
a Mexican San Andreas Maduro
wrapper.
The company said the version
will not be making an appearance
this year.
Company also released a zombie
themed variant, Super Shot,
merging to the company's best
known lines.
That's for when he remembered
his hobby of shooting zombies
and he wanted to smoke something
between the zombie killing.
The zombie killings.
Yeah, yeah, I'm excited about
this one.
This is one of the easiest
double ups for a lot of
retailers.
It's highly sought after.
You know, I think we get like
three boxes each and they're
usually gone well before they
land, so.
Great cigars are great price.
Yeah, this is this is 1 of
Viaje's staples.
Like this is a good one.
It doesn't, and it doesn't even
have bands.
It's wild.
But the box is really cool.
Boxes are cool.
Those are like a box of shelves.
Yeah, they're just neat.
And they're, you know, that
exact size, right?
All right.
When the new year went into
effect, so did new pricing for
Drew Estate.
On January 1st, the company's
new price list went into effect.
As has been the case over the
last few years, these changes
reflect continued cost increases
across multiple areas of
business, said Ike Caripotides.
Turner.
No, not like Turner, the
company's senior VP of sales, in
a letter to retailers.
We will always strive to
minimize the impact of those
increases across both cost and
consumer pricing, while
remaining committed to
manufacturing the highest
quality premium cigars.
When asked about specifics of
the increase, he declined to
comment to Half Wheel or Cigar
Hustler Podcast.
Drew State is one of the first
of many companies to announce
price increases in the coming
months.
For the most part, companies
announce annual price increases
at the beginning of the year,
which most likely taken effect
during Q1.
Yeah, this is kind of wild 1st
to move.
I mean, you had a lot of price
increases over the past couple
years.
From Drew, say specifically, you
mean or just everybody?
From everybody, right.
And you know that this tariff, I
think this tariff is a little
higher than what we originally
projected.
I think it's sitting at 15% now.
So I can understand why that
would kind of offset, but I
don't know.
Why won't they say why they're
not?
They're not giving any reason
why they're doing because the
price increases none of your
business.
Because they don't have to.
Because they don't have to.
You know, like.
Well normally people give the
pet answer like, you know, cost
or raw materials, labor prices
and tariffs.
Maybe.
Maybe they just don't want you
to know.
Yeah.
I mean, they don't want you to
know, like, realistically, could
they absorb the cost this time
around?
Do you?
The answer's probably yes,
right.
So it's like, so why would so
then if you're a company that's
big enough to afford it, why
would you do it?
And it's like, well, because we
want to make more money, right?
Is the statement we need a
bigger boat?
Yeah, and and more money, right?
So like, OK, right?
Jonathan needs more sandwiches.
He.
Wants to go back to Macau.
Back to Macau.
Yeah, like sandwiches.
So, yeah, makes sense, you know,
and and half wheels, right?
It's the first of many.
You're probably going to see
more of that, you know.
Right, nobody's starting
announcing it, especially when
it gets closer to the show.
Yeah, that's usually where you
start eating up.
Oh, you know, I'm curious about
any more firings before then,
right, More shake UPS.
So as the pricing increases come
out, we'll we'll cover them.
But right now we are focused
mainly on who is entering the
portal.
Oh, the new guy is Sam Pirai is
not my friend on Facebook.
Oh, really?
Yes, very nice.
Look forward to building that
relationship with.
Him, the guy with the suit and
the.
Yeah, the guy who came from the
cabinet company.
Yeah, the cabinet guy.
You think you hook you up with
some cabinets?
Maybe you never know.
Yeah, at least I'll be pick some
out right.
You should know cabinets and
countertops.
Should give me get get some
options, right?
Yeah.
Maybe he's got like a little
Swatch books leftover or
something.
Yeah, like we can go over that
at the PCA, man.
You can.
Flip through that I, you know,
check out these cigars and by
the way, by the way.
I notice you need a new counter.
Top How do you feel about these?
Is it just countertops or is it
just cabinets as well?
I don't I know the countertops
are are a positive.
I'm not sure about the gotcha
cabinets.
OK, but I mean it's countertop.
Adjacent.
Hey, Grant, it's kind of out.
Let's look at this.
Yeah, OK.
Maybe some marble, Some nice
marble.
When we.
Got it.
Concrete very in.
All right, it's time for the
industry's favorite game from
2025.
What's the score?
Perfect gentlemen, Today's
cigar, June 30th, 2020, Charlie
Minato Cigars.
It's a Dominican Republic cigar.
It's from Jake Wyatt Company.
It is the Herbert Spencer
Robusto. 8880 8.
Jake Wyatt.
Jake Wyatt, no.
The Herbert Spencer Robusto from
Jake Wyatt, Yes. 85.
All right, Cigar reviewed.
Excuse me, I'm going to yawn.
Cigar reviewed.
Herbert Spencer Robusto from the
Dominican Republic factory is
Tablicalera JVM.
It's a Mexican San Andreas and
Ecuadorian Connecticut rapper.
Binder is Dominic because they
have that little artsy stuff cut
into Binder is Dominican
Republic filler.
Dominican Republic.
It is a 5 by 50 robusto.
They smoked 3. 87. 85.
Clue #1 The cigar stands out
immediately with his bold
artistic presentation and multi
tone wrapper which gives it a
unique identity across the
branch portfolio.
Pre light aromas are rich and
lavender and layered, sorry
blending sweetness, pecan light
acidity and a subtle sandpaper
texture that feels rustic yet
refined.
Lovely description.
When I read it, I thought.
They were going to say it tasted
like sandpaper.
I was going to have a fit. 88
You never had sandpaper?
I don't know what it tastes
like. 85.
Glue and #2 The first half of
the Herbert Spencer Robusto
offers a well balanced and
complex flavor profile.
Notes of nuttiness, creaminess,
molasses, and light metallic
tingles.
You cheating son of.
A bitch.
How does?
How does that taste good?
What a metallic tingle taste
like.
I'm not sure what metallic put.
A.
Put 1/4 in your mouth.
Does that tingle though?
Is that metallic?
Tangle.
I don't know, but that would be
metallic.
Metallic is good.
Yeah, 86.
Wait, there's more.
I interrupt.
You got excited about the
tingles.
They're complimented by
excellent Retro Hills featuring
citrus, teriyaki sauce and
softened nuttiness.
What is softened nuttiness like?
Exactly.
Metallically tingliness.
That's the same thing.
Is that like a boiled peanut?
You know what softened nuttiness
tastes like?
Nope.
Softer.
It's like nuttiness, but it's
lighter.
Well, the finish delivers oak,
orange and lingering sweetness
while the body and strength
remain approachable.
It's very approachable with its
soft nuts. 80.
Is this a?
Is this a?
Is this a woman doing this
review?
87 No Brooks, it's Brooks
there's.
No women that work for.
Charlie.
Oh Charlie, there's no women
that work for half wheel.
I thought you said Brooks.
I don't know.
Did you guys give your scores
after two I.
Did.
Oh, he did.
Metallicliness and nuttiness.
Metallic tingles and soft nuts.
Yeah, I'm still at 85.
You sure it tingles?
Yeah, I'm at 85.
All right, third clue
construction and performance
consistency.
Consistency, yes, significantly
impact.
The overall enjoyment draws very
noisily between samples, ranging
from slightly loose to
uncomfortably tight, which
directly effects both smoke
production and flavored
delivery.
As a cigar progresses into the
final third, the profile loses
cohesion, with earthiness and
metallic notes overpowering the
remaining flavors.
So the nuts are gone now.
Can't taste the nuts.
Just third clue or final
thought?
That was a third clue, and then
we have a final thought 86.
You smoked this cigar, right?
Probably.
Yeah, 85.
I don't think I've ever had a
Jake.
What?
They were here at one point.
Yeah, we carried them.
I just don't think I ever had
one.
The Herbert Spencer Reserve is a
good cigar for the 1st 3 1/2
inches, but at a certain point
it just ran out of steam.
It's a shame because I really
was enjoying a relatively easy
smoking experience and the
unique flavors, but the score
here isn't likely to reflect
that.
A lot of the blame goes to the
one sample that was way too
tight.
Honestly, if that cigar wasn't
being smoked for review, I would
have walked away from it pretty
early on and pulled a new cigar
out of the humidor.
It still produced similar
flavors, but it added annoyance
at the expense of a vibrant
flavor.
Still, these three cigars were
promising enough that I'll pick
some of their other lines up to
try the next time I see them on
the shelf at a cigar store. 86
So if he's annoyed by the cigar,
he may possibly score it lower.
Yeah, like he's struggling with
the draw and stuff, but I love
the fact that he has to sit
through it still, right?
Like that's pretty.
Fun.
No, I have to smoke.
This like nobody's going to
know, you know what I mean?
Right.
Yeah, Toss it.
Nobody cares.
Yeah, like it was plugged.
It sucked.
I'm done, right?
Nope, not Charlie.
He's like, you know what?
I'm going to go through this
whole damn thing.
Yeah, Steve had one upstairs and
I asked him, you didn't like it?
He goes, no, it was plugged
right.
Like, oh.
So I got rid of it so.
Halfway through I just put it
away.
I like it when I get rid of it
in front of people that don't
smoke cigars a lot.
Like what are you doing?
It's not working.
And no working you.
Don't want to fix it.
I'm like, no, I want to move on
from it.
Here's a nice piece of.
It that's probably on the board
somewhere.
Yeah, it is.
What?
What did you say?
86.
And this is the final thought.
That was the final thought.
This is the final score. 85.
What did you say?
86.
You said 8581.
Oh wow, I won again.
So low.
Yeah, I've this.
I mean I've smoked and I thought
the same thing like.
This is plugged.
It's terrible, Yeah.
It's not a good cigar.
I'm going to smoke all of it
anyway.
No, I threw mine out, yeah.
It was a last minute grab and
the name was easy to say, so I
figured, oh we'll go with this
one.
Yeah, You know who got into
these cigars was I think Dana
got into them for a second.
Did she?
Yeah, I think she liked them.
OK all.
Right.
Anybody got anything else?
That's it.
All right, there's been episode
449, so Wednesday.
So this is a Friday show.
Enjoy your weekend, Bing bong.
Bing bong.
Bye.
Bye.
Thank you.
Bye.
Welcome to the Cigar Hustler
podcast.
The show brought to you
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But a massive shout out to our
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Show Notes
On today’s show All The Verizon customers can’t hear you now! Trump says no you can’t come in, Johnny Knoxville is worth him much? and then in cigars Meta is locking down its No Smoking Rule, STG is reorganizing and a special phone interview with Matt Booth! Viaje is super hot and Drew Estate needs a bigger Boat! An employee steals $9000 worth of cigars All this then followed up with a Mini Game of What’s The Score!