Why Are We Victim-Blaming Tuberville? — with Scott Johnson of Lagniappe Daily - 8-5-26

Hey everybody, Lady Luck here, and we're celebrating America's 250th birthday. Now, all summer long, I'm going to be celebrating by playing on SpinQuest.com, which is an American-owned social casino. It obviously features over a thousand slot games and live blackjack, live craps, live bubble craps. Head on over to SpinQuest.com. Get yourself a $30 coin pack for just 10 bucks. SpenQuest is a free-to-play social casino. Avoid where prohibited. Visit SpenQuest.com for more details. here with you. Thank you very much for joining us. And welcome to all the children out there. Oh my God. That doesn't sound right. Welcome to all the children out there who are listening and joining us here on the program and on their way back to school. Congratulations to all of them. I think it's, what is it? Madison County, City of Huntsville, and Florence today. And then everyone else, a lot of people go back tomorrow and Friday. So congratulations to all the kids out there. They get another nice little dose of indoctrination of the Dale Jackson show. Thank you so much for joining us. I'll get some more indoctrination in here. Let's join with someone from the Lanyap. The Lanyap is a magazine down in Mobile that covers mobile issues and statewide politics and things of that nature. And we are going to bring Scott Johnson on the program because Scott Johnson wrote a story for Lanyap. Which I thought was pretty silly. And I believe I even called it embarrassing. And he said on his Facebook page, incredibly embarrassing to be the fourth estate. Hang it on my wall, I guess. Followed by people in his comments saying, F this hack. That's me. I'm the hack in this situation. Every time it opens the mouth, it's an terrible embarrassment. And Scott Johnson wrote, at least he pronounced Lanyap right. What an insult that I would maybe get Lanyap wrong. But that's okay. Scott Johnson, who works at the Lanyap, is joining us. His story that drew my attention was a story that, and this is shocking information, guys, that Tommy Tuberville, an 81-year-old man drew Social Security, a program that he was forced to pay into. He started drawing Social Security and for three years has drawn a whopping $31,000 each year after calling it a scam. When really he should have called it a Ponzi scheme. So I don't know what this is except a story looking for maybe a little attention. So let's give it a little bit of attention. Scott, thank you very much for joining us. Yes, I know I pronounce Lanyap correctly. I am very smart and I am well read on state politics. But Scott, help me out here. Why is this news? Is Tommy Tuberville like maliciously taking Social Security that he isn't entitled to?

Hey, Dale, thanks for having me on. And you pronounce it correctly. I, unfortunately, did not pronounce it correctly, especially even for my job interview, where I deferred to the Italian version, La Niapé, which was kind of embarrassing. But, no, no, I appreciate the question. Appreciate having me on. So there is no question in terms of our reporting. Is, was this improper, did he not deserve to draw on it? I don't think any of that's in question. I actually include his whole comments, which just personally, not as a reporter, but personally, I'm inclined to, I think it's a compelling argument from Senator Trevorville. And the, I think where he, with this becomes a notable news story, and we can disagree on that. I'm totally fine with that. Where this becomes a notable news story is the level of rhetoric where he begins to attack the program, calling it a quote-unquote Ponzi scheme or total socialism. All right. Time out. Time out. Time out. Time out. Time out. Time out. Time out. Time out. Let's take these piece by piece. He called it a Ponzi scheme. What do you call something that you put money into and then require other people to put money into? in order to keep it alive. And if people stop putting money into it, it would collapse. What is that? A pyramid scheme? You want to call that instead? Is that better? Is he wrong by definition to call it a Ponzi scheme? No, and again, I'm, again, I think his critiques are. Okay, all right, good, good, good. Okay, so your other problem was that he called it socialism. You brought that up. A program that Americans put money into. that is then going to require the federal government in order to put more money into in order to make that program whole, meaning additional tax revenue collected elsewhere. And I'd like for you to do this story because there's another Ponzi scheme in the state of Alabama that may not be as sexy to cover. It's called the Alabama retirement system every year. The Alabama legislature is putting a billion plus dollars into the Alabama retirement system because it's not even close to being funded correctly. We've written extensively on RSA. Good, good, good, good. But the point I'm making here is that is by definition socialism. You have socialized the risk. Tommy Tuberville put hundreds of thousands of dollars into the system. over the last, let's say, 30 years, he's been a football coach, he's been making money, all these things, and he's going to get $31,000 a year. I did the math. If he takes that $31,000 a year out for the next 20 years, he would be almost close to hole on just the raw dollars, ignoring two things. And man, I really wish you should have, you should have made this point. ignoring the fact that inflation exists and ignoring the fact that Tommy Tuverill is a pretty damn good investor. So I'm guessing if like he had $600,000 to toss around over the last 30 years, which is what he's paid in. And I've done the math here if he maxed out every single year, which I'm assuming he did. That $600,000 would be worth far more than the $600,000 in raw dollars. So that's socialism in itself. So Tommy Tuberville's two for two. What'd you say?

Yeah, no, again, I'm not a defender of the Social Security program. I mean, I'm a lifelong conservative. I've always been skeptical slash kind of, you know, edgy with the whole Social Security idea, grew up around it, you know, all those critiques and concerns with my parents especially. But again, so, you know, no worries with his critiques. It's the... It's the level of rhetoric that he wants to attack the program, which we reasonable people can be what's wrong with what he said. Again, reasonably people can disagree on. You know, you said it's the level of rhetoric. What's the level of rhetoric? What's the level of rhetoric that is what is he said that is unacceptable? So a lot of people take issue with calling it a scam. A lot of people do. I'm not saying that he's incorrect. I'm saying a lot of people on a program. You call it a scam. Do you think your article reads? Hold on. Hold on. Let me ask you something. And again, I don't want to besmirch you. Okay. You seem like a relatively young guy. Okay. I'm not, I'm not going to besmirching you at all. But. Do you think your article reads like you're framing it right here? Where you're like, hey, I don't have any problem with this. It's just that maybe he's got people are saying, you're doing the whole people are saying thing. Do you think your article reads that way or does it read like yet another hit piece on Tommy Tuberville? Which one do you think it reads like? Well, I mean, it's fair to critique how it's written. I'm, I will say that my, my motive behind it and why I think it's a newsworthy story is that he is using this, he's using a strong language. I think it's reasonable to ask him. How do you reconcile the two when you're collecting on the program? He had to pay in. End of story. That's the reconciliation. He just have to pay in. You to qualify for Social Security, and it's a social. It's a social insurance program, basically. To qualify, you have to pay in 10 years. Then you become eligible to draw. You are capped on your income. So you only contribute on the first 185. So, and then after that, there is a cap. So you're not paying it on, you know, again, he is a very successful investor. Like you mentioned, he's not paying it on anything above that cap. However, then everybody can draw up. Again, I'm not taking issue with him drawing out. I think Doug Jay Jones just had a video the other day. He draws out on the program. Oh, my God, he draws out. Wait a minute. Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on. Are you telling me that Doug Jay Jones?

A progressive liberal who is rich and beyond most of our wildest dreams is taking money from the federal government when that money could go to they, them, bipox and two spirited individuals who need social security. You're telling me that that bastard is drawing from social security. When does that story come out? Hey, this is a family show. No, no, you're totally correct. I hear you. He's not calling it a scam to his, you know. But because he's in on the scam. I mean, what do you? Jim Jordan Belfort, the Wolf of Wall Street didn't call when he was doing a scam. If Tommy Tuberville's collecting on the money of the scam he's critiquing, is he not a part of the scam as well? I mean, it's... If I call a pickpocket a thief and then punch him... Hold on, hold on, hold on. If I call a pickpocket a thief and then I punch him in the mouth and take my money back, am I... Oh, well, why'd you call him a thief if you're going to get your money back? What did they make any sense? What are you doing here? Is Tuberville, I mean, in your argument, is Tommy Tuberville's arguing that he deserves more out of the Social Security program? Is that his argument that he deserves more? I think his actual argument is. I don't know if I'm drawing the logical step from your argument is. I know what the argument is. The argument is this. The argument is actually this. The program is unsustainable in its current form. And the people that are paying into it are not going to get their benefits from it. And they've been sold a bill of goods. And the people in Washington, D.C., and this was his actual point, the people in Washington, D.C. have robbed the system blind, making it even less sustainable. And then they refuse to acknowledge that because acknowledging that has little snot-nosed punks at the Lanyap. writing articles suggesting he's a hypocrite for calling it out. I'm joking about the not-nosed punk thing. But the reality is, just think about that. The reason why, and here's what he said it on the floor. He's like, and the people here are afraid to call it out. You know why they're afraid to call it out? Because of you. That's why they're afraid to call it out. Because of people like you. Oh, my God. No, no, no. Oh, my God, all you want. But the reality is the article you wrote is a perfect example of what he's talking about. He said, people are afraid to call this out because they're more worried about getting elected. Because if they do call it out, you then get your article, an article like yours written, and then you say, well, this guy, he's taking it. He wants his. It's like the thing with Vivek Ramaswamy yesterday. I don't know if you saw this. Vivek Ramaswamy stands up at an event and says, hey, hey, guys, my generation's fine. We've already got everything taken care of. We're going to be fine. You guys are screwed, and they booed him. He's telling the truth, and they're booing him. This is the exact same. You're the ignorant crowd booing Tommy Tuberville for being right. And to make it worse. And to make it worse, hold on, and to make it worse, and to make it worse, you are here saying, oh, no, I don't disagree with him. I just put the words on paper and allowed it to run wild.

across the board. It'd be used by his political opponents to make it, to call it like he's hypocrite. We can disagree. In my view, this is a story nine times out of nine days out of ten, Dale. I didn't say it's not a story. I think it's a reasonable question to ask him. And I did ask him the question. And he doesn't, he didn't respond. His team ignored in my question. Of course he's going to. You're right. I'm probably inclined to say that whatever his response was, it's probably I would really fall pretty close to, I think would be reasonable. He didn't respond. You wrote a hit piece, and he knew it. The majority of people see the rhetoric that Social Security is a scam, that it says policy scheme. He's calling it broke, by the way. He's calling it broke, but I'm going to keep drawing out. So he's saying, I know you're paying in, but I'm going to get, is that what he's saying? But I'm going to get mine. I think that makes it a reasonable question to ask him, okay, how do you reconcile the two? That's all, that's all the story is. How do you reconcile the two? He probably has a good reason. He didn't give it. The way you reconcile it, good Lord, the way you reconcile is simple. They took his money against. We've got the, I mean, it's our job not to be these people. Stop defending yourself. Listen, listen. Stop defending the writing of the. Hold on, hold on, hold on. Then you've got people like you are saying. Why are you being so defensive? Why are you being so defensive about the writing of the story? I'm not. I'm actually saying let's take a step back from the writing of the story. We can disagree on the writing of the story. I'm saying let's actually talk about why this is a controversial issue is because he is stepping into a level of rhetoric, which a lot of people get upset about. Okay. So I want to understand this. They see a picture of him on the floor that says social security is a scam. The gist of what you're saying here is that Tommy Tuberville is right. but you don't like the way he said it. I, no, that is. That is what you're saying. It's exactly what you're saying. I agree with his critique. I think he's right over and over over again. Now, let me ask him. Are your editors making you do this? As a reporter, I'm constantly separating what my personal views might be slash what is newsworthy. I'm not trying, there is a distinction. It's newsworthy, even if I think, oh, yeah, personally, I voted for Tommy Tuberville, you know, four or six years ago. Social Security probably is a scam. There probably is a Ponzi scam. There is a large swath of Albanians who take issue with him to appearing on the floor and using this kind of inflammatory rhetoric, calling it a Ponzi scheme. Telling the truth. He should be, so what he should do is lie and say, hey, it's going to be there for you. You keep paying in and don't say anything about it. Are your editors making you do this? No, no, no, no. He should answer my questions when I ask him. You're writing a hit piece. He's not going to answer your questions. There's no way he's going to answer your questions. I'm holding him accountable. Is a hit piece holding people accountable asking hard questions? I mean, is that a hard question? You're not holding anyone accountable. Did your editors make you write this?

No, it did not. I saw that scam and I said, wow, a lot of people are going to be upset with that story. Okay, the reason to be upset is because they want their piece of the Ponzi scheme. That's the gist of the story. And that's the truth of matter. Last question, last question for you. So did Tommy Tuberville. And they should. See, this is where you're good. This is where you've missed the point here. Of course they want their part. They have been held up by the state and told you have to pay this. And now there's someone going, you guys know this money's not going to be here. Like you know this money is not going to be here unless this changes significantly. We've got to fix this problem. And as he's pulling out money, saying, hey, guys, you know this money's not going to be here. He's taking that money out. There's nothing wrong with that. Because he's, there's nothing wrong with that. But you understand your implication is that there is something wrong with that. No. Yes, you're suggesting he's doing something. And then participating, I think he's doing something wrong. That's what you're doing. You're suggesting he's doing something. No. Last question. We're out of time here. We're out of time here. I got to ask you this question before we get going here. Do you think you did a good job here today? Hey, I think I do a great job every day, no, no, no. On this interview, do you think you did a good job? I mean, I'm not really good at radio, but I think I tried to make my... Let me know what your boss says when he reams your ass over this, okay? Well, text me, text me back and let me know what your boss is. Scott, thank you very much. Appreciate you being here. We appreciate you spending time with us today. We appreciate him being there. Scott Johnson, the Lanyap, we appreciate him. Look, I think the problem with the story is pretty simple. It implies that there's some sort of shenanigans being done by Tommy Tuberville, and that's just not the case. It's just not the case. It can be a scam, and you still want your rightful part of it. So you can be mad about that if you want, but there we go. Scott Johnson, Landyap, go check that story out for yourself. Let's have a quick timeout. We'll be right back. What did you guys think? Let me know. 866-494 WVNN. Kids, you're getting a great education here today. We'll be right back. Dale Jackson. The U.S. Soccer Podcast. These players are battered and exhausted, but you don't hurt like this if you don't care about this team, about this country, about this game. I think you can feel the intensity, the goals, the energy that, wow, look at us. Here in the U.S., I have got some news for you. There's so much more to come. My name is Megan Klingberg, and we're just getting started. The U.S. Soccer Podcast, presented by Henkel. Follow and listen on your favorite platform. form.

Mike Drop, hosted by former Navy CEO, Mike Ridland. How would you characterize your prowess? I'd say my style is that I just kind of outwork everybody until I get there, because I'm not a quitter. It's just you. It's yourself. Everything else is team-oriented. The motivation, it was a sort of anger at myself for being weak. That ends up being the driving factor. That anger, that pride, that ego, I think it's a muscle. It gets stronger. When you take that voice seriously, you start to change your life. Mike Drop, follow and listen on your favorite platform. Just to be clear, that young man did a good job. They're not going to be happy with his performance. I can tell you that much. His bosses are not going to be happy with that. But that's okay. It's okay. Look. Just to clarify, before I get to some of your text, here's the point that I was maybe trying to make here. This is just yet another hit piece thrown onto Tommy Tuberville to suggest that there are some sort of shenanigans afoot. Tuberville is the victim in this scheme. Okay? He's the victim. He is the victim. He's had hundreds of thousands of his dollars taken by the federal government. And even if he lives another 20-something years, he's still going to have been getting boned by the federal government. And he is going to, quote, unquote, get his. That's me saying that. I don't want to say that quote again. He's going to get his. But what his point is. is Grant ain't getting his. That's his point. That's Tuberville's point. And that doesn't make Tuberville a villain in this situation. It makes him a truth-telling hero. Okay, that's the truth of it. I don't think he was crying. A lot of people are saying they think he was tearing up. Bugsie, do you believe that? I just think it sounded. He sounded a little, his voice broke a little bit. All right, all right. Let's be nice. Let's get to some text. I have not been mean. Dale, it sounds like the young man there just learned that you need to be ready to resign to the view that you pointed out. And he just dug that hole of his a little deeper. Yeah, and this idea, I don't believe what I'm saying. I don't like that. I don't, I don't know. I don't know. I just, I don't get it. That's just, I don't know. It's not my view. It's not, well, you wrote the story, bro. Scott's missing the point. People are tired of the lying. Lying about Tommy Tuberville telling the truth is still more lying. That's what serious people are aggravated about. Yeah, misleading about what Tuberville's actually saying is what got me irritated about all of this. Okay, that's the thing that got me irritated and animated about this. So, yeah, I agree with that. I agree. It's just non-stop. It's just non-stop. Absolutely crazy that Tommy Tuberville gets blamed for telling the truth. Well, Doug Jay Jones quietly gets his piece of the pie, and it's not newsworthy.

We don't hate the journalist media enough. The exact phrasing that if you want to use this is as follows. Damn Democrats got it good. And no matter how much you hate the media, it's not enough. Okay, if we're going to do the branding, let's get this branding right here, kids. This is the Dale Jackson Show. Mike Drop, hosted by former Navy SEAL, Mike Ridland. What is your take? Was it what you expected? Oh, it was the best thing ever. It was something I always wanted to do. If you show me a clear goal, I'm like, okay, I can do that. Master Chief, he's like, you realize there's about 1% chance that you're making a 3%. That's all I need Master Chief. My platoon went home early, and I just went up to my chief, and I was like, I'm not going home. Turns out I'm staying. That's when we go to war. Yeah, I was like, okay, I could get used to this. Mike Drop, follow and listen on your favorite platform.