Tucker Carlson: Unfiltered - Show # 109C1
Tucker Carlson: Unfiltered - TC 109C1 - "Opening Monologue"
Show host Tucker Carlson monologues about the news of former Governor of New Jersey Jim McGreevey’s admission that he is a homosexual. Carlson believes such information did not need to come out and should remain private. He notes that McGreevey stood on stage and confessed to his affair with another man while his wife and mother were also present. Carlson goes into the history behind McGreevey’s marriages to keep up heterosexual appearances. Now he has admitted to cheating on his wife and putting his male partner on the public payroll, but putting his wife on stage during a press conference to apologize for all of this is the worst offense of all according to Carlson.
Tucker Carlson: Unfiltered - TC 109C1 - "Exercise Footage"
Exercise montage (unclean) footage: Two adult Caucasian men doing cardio workouts and watching TV; young adult Caucasian woman pulling a weighted strap over her shoulder; adult Caucasian man wearing a hat and back support belt lifting weights; Caucasian right leg/foot peddling on a machine; adult Caucasian female performing a leg workout using weights.
Tucker Carlson: Unfiltered - TC 109C1 - "Obesity Epidemic"
Exercise and obesity montage: U.S. President George W. Bush jogging outside; U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson saying that obesity is the fastest growing disease in America; obese adult Caucasian man sitting in a chair at a restaurant; waistline of an obese adult Caucasian woman walking outside; waistline of an obese adult Caucasian man with a soda in one hand and food in the other, walking outside; obese non-Caucasian adult man eating a hot dog from an aluminum foil wrapper; waist line of an obese Caucasian adult man and woman, both standing and eating food outside; feet of an African American man stepping on a digital scale; Secretary Thompson at a press event saying that some people can look in the mirror and lose a couple of pounds; obese middle-aged adult Caucasian woman in a pink outfit with fringes, dancing outside; obese middle-aged adult Caucasian woman talking about coming out as a fat person; obese middle-aged adult Caucasian women gathered in a park together wearing pink fuzzy ears, dancing, karate punching; french fries going into a deep fryer; mouth of an African American man with a mustache eating a burger. Title sequence.
Tucker Carlson: Unfiltered - TC 109C1 - "Obesity Epidemic"
Show host Tucker Carlson says it’s easy to point to America’s obesity to an abundance of resources. This comes at the expense of working later and sitting in rush hour traffic. Carlson (VO) gives his report on obesity in America and what the future options may be. Signs for McDonald's, Wendy's, and Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) restaurants. Middle-aged adult Caucasian man eating hamburger. Waistlines of two obese adult Caucasian women. French fries being deep fried, Caucasian hands putting fries into a McDonald's container. Waistline of an obese adult Caucasian man carrying two plates of food and a drink. Pedestrians walking down crowded city street. Middle-aged adult Caucasian woman eating salad in restaurant. Overweight middle-aged adult Caucasian man doing a cardio workout. Caucasian female hands sliding bars on a weight scale. Middle-aged adult Caucasian men and women eating. Obese young adult Caucasian woman in ballet outfit and tiara dancing in the park. Obese middle-aged adult Caucasian men and women people playing with large beach ball in the park. Center for Science in the Public Interest representative Michael Jacobson, “committed fat warrior," talking with Carlson. Obese adult Caucasian woman walking outside. Caucasian finger pointing out Total Fat contents on a nutritional label. Caucasian elderly adult woman grabbing Starkist tuna package and reading the label.
Tucker Carlson: Unfiltered - TC 109C1 - "Obesity Epidemic"
Show host Tucker Carlson speaks with Michael Jacobson (Center for Science in the Public Interest), saying that Jacobson wants to “rejigger” government policy to get people to change their diets, but why shouldn’t people be able to eat whatever they want without being "hectored" by the government? Jacobson counters with asking why the food industry gets to “hecter” people in way of $30 billion towards advertising Hostess Twinkies and McDonald's products. Simply saying it is a good idea to eat healthier has not worked, so there should be more government programs, starting with education, to encourage people to make healthy diet choices and provide them with easier access to healthier foods. Carlson believes most people know they are leading unhealthy lives with their diet but still decide to eat food they like. Why should they be bothered about that? Jacobson admits people have the right to eat whatever they want, but at the same time $30 billion in advertising towards unhealthy foods has an impact as well. Carlson counters that Americans, on their own, spend about the same on health and diet aids, but that does not seem to have much of an impact so why should the American government expect to have more success. Jacobson questions if government should have any role in helping reduce health problems for public health reasons and lowering healthcare costs. If not, there should be no discussion at all.
Tucker Carlson: Unfiltered - TC 109C1 - "Obesity Epidemic"
Show host Tucker Carlson wonders if a balance can be struck between government intervention and the free market. He brings up the health crisis in the gay community stemming from unsafe sex which costs the health care system much more than obesity, but no one is suggesting the government should intervene in this situation because it’s agreed that government ought not to intrude into people’s private lives. Michael Jacobson of the Center for Science in the Public Interest says there is education available on that issue in the gay community, and it seems silly to compare to the two issues as similar. He states facts on how many people die prematurely due to dietary issues. If Carlson is of the opinion government should have no role here, then that’s his opinion and he has a right to it but it flies in the face of what government officials believe and it needs to begin with education. Jacobson suggests getting rid of junk food in schools, getting rid of junk food advertising on programs target for young children, and putting calorie information on menus.
Tucker Carlson: Unfiltered - TC 109C1 - "Obesity Epidemic"
Show host Tucker Carlson brings up aesthetics. Most obese people are minorities and financially poor and that bothers some upper-middle class people who are able to have better diets. Michael Jacobson of the Center for Science in the Public Interest says previous Surgeons General have all been racial minorities and are only focused on the public health of all Americans. African-American and Latino communities are concerned about this health problem and it's perfectly okay for white upper class people to be concerned about it, too. It is irresponsible to be able to take preventative measures and do nothing. Carlson asks if there is a religious element to this argument, where it's not only unhealthy to eat certain foods but morally wrong to consume so much food. Jacobson says perhaps some may come across that way but it is not the way he comes across on the issue. It's important preventable steps are taken where possible for the sake of public health, especially in the fields of obesity, heart disease, and cancers. For example, a Food and Drug Administration ban on partially hydrogenated vegetable oil can prevent tens of thousands of deaths a year, a issue that should not be left to the laissez-faire free market economy, and an issue that should be a priority in the Presidential election and affects both sides of the aisle equally. Carlson thanks Jacobson.
Tucker Carlson: Unfiltered - TC 109C1 - "Obesity Epidemic"
Show host Tucker Carlson with author Paul Campos discussing the topic of his book, "The Obesity Myth: Why America’s Obsession with Weight is Hazardous to Your Health." Carlson recalls how many obese people he saw recently at an amusement park, wonders what can be done about it. Campos thinks the overall health of America is great but there are marginal improvements that can be made, but focusing on losing weight is counterproductive. Carlson asks how it is detrimental to tell people to lose weight when weight is the root of the problem. Campos says weight is not the root of the problem. In fact, making weight loss the root of the issue can create more problems as it may put people on “yo yo” diets and end up increasing a person’s weight in the long run. Carlson wonders if the approach is ineffective, not the idea. Should food be regulated as Michael Jacobson of the Center for Science in the Public Interest suggested? Campos says food regulation at its best should not be regulated. If it is, it should be done so in a nuanced way. Most foods are not harmful to a person so long as they are consumed in moderation.
Tucker Carlson: Unfiltered - TC 109C1 - "Obesity Concerns"
Show host Tucker Carlson continues to name issues and drawbacks of being obese, especially as it relates to medical issues. Author Paul Campos says the relationship between weight and health is complex. There are certain medical issues that correlate with weight, but only at the extreme levels. He claims that, unlike what public officials say, hypertension, heart disease, and cancer have almost no relationship to weight. He states that, according to public health officials, despite the obesity scare, the overall health of the American population is better now than it has ever been. Additionally, the rates of hypertension, heart disease, and cancer are significantly lower than they were a generation ago. It seems obvious to him that if two thirds of Americans are overweight, it would not seem possible for Americans to be healthier than they have ever been. Weight is obviously not the pressing issue when it comes to a person’s overall health. Carlson asks if Campos has noticed that the leaders of the anti-obesity movement tend not to be so healthy themselves. Campos sees this as ironic. To him, there are two groups of people who seem to be "hectoring" people about their weight: overweight public officials like Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson, and anorexic medical personnel.
Tucker Carlson: Unfiltered - TC 109C1 - "Obesity Concerns"
Show host Tucker Carlson asks author Paul Campos if there is anything wrong with U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson’s definition of what it is to be obese. Campos says the notion of an ideal weight placed within a narrow range and that range being applicable to everyone is wrong and creates a problem where too many Americans fall outside that range while still leading healthy lifestyles. He calls it a “meaningless and arbitrary act of definition." Carlson pushes back by saying it may be arbitrary but “it’s not meaningless." That definition can be applied in hurtful ways, especially to women, who if they fall outside the ideal weight range but lead a healthy lifestyle and suffer no health problems still feel terrible about it. Campos agrees it's a problem and that society has an unhealthy fixation with thinness, fed by the phony medical panic surrounding weight loss, which puts pressure on women to conform, and if she cannot then she is unhealthy. Carlson uses Michael Jacobson of the Center for Science in the Public Interes, and his statistic that 400,000 people dying each year “from being fat." Campos calls that a “pure junk science statistic” and cites medical sources that don’t support that argument. It's a statistic that public health officials use to scare the American people and create a health scare. Carlson thanks him for his time.
Tucker Carlson: Unfiltered - TC 109C1 - "Lifestyle Choice"
Show host Tucker Carlson speaks with Wendy Shanker, author of "The Fat Girls Guide to Life." He says the very title itself makes him feel uncomfortable, primarily due to the cruel way it sounds to call any girl “fat." Shanker understands, says the title is a way to take away the fear of the word. "Fat" is just a word, a synonym to overweight. It says nothing significant about who a person truly is. Shanker says people told her not to be fat, talks the various ways she tried to lose weight before accepting who she was physically, while trying still to lead a healthy lifestyle. Carlson wonders what it is about being overweight that people demand change in another person’s physical appearance, more so than if Shanker had a large wart on her face or was partial to certain fetishes. Shanker can only speculate that an obese person projects an image of laziness and gluttony.
Tucker Carlson: Unfiltered - TC 109C1 - "Lifestyle Choice"
Show host Tucker Carlson says he does not know a single overweight person happy with their body. Wendy Shanker, author of "The Fat Girls Guide to Life," says she is happy with her body. Carlson asks, if that's true, why did she spend so much time and money on various diets and weight loss programs? Shanker says it became too much for her in terms of money and time spent trying to lose weight. She says if there are thin people unhappy, then it's possible for obese people to be happy as they are. She has reached a point in her life where she has found her peace and understanding with her body, though that's not to say there are not days where her body frustrates her, which is normal. Carlson asks if being overweight is easier than worrying about diets. Shanker says being fat and fit is much easier. Carlson wonders if it's possible to be both; Shanker believes it's absolutely possible, especially when looking at the latest research. Carlson goes back to the stereotype of overweight people, asks about eating and becoming obese because a person is unhappy. Shanker states that's not entirely true. Carlson notes everyone's personal health and choices are their own business and should not be subject to someone else’s scrutiny, particularly when that scrutiny comes off as cruel and mean. He asks her how she deals with shallow judgement passed down on her. She says she confronts the stigma and the people judging her. She used to think being called "fat" was the worst statement someone could make against her; now she accepts and knows there are much worse things to be called. Carlson asks how people react to when she confronts their behavior; she says shock is the usual response, especially when the offending party is whispering or muttering under their breath. Carlson thanks her for her time.
Tucker Carlson: Unfiltered - TC 109C1 - "Julia Child"
Show host Tucker Carlson talks about the death of American chef, Julia Child. He says Child knew food had another purpose beyond nourishment, which was fellowship. In light of that, instead of focusing on carbs and calories in the next meal, focus on the people eating with you across the table. Carlson signs off. Credits roll with Julia Child putting prepared meat from the pan to the plate and sprinkling some garnish on top.