The Nikki and Reuel Podcast Experience

Episode 3:First Annual Predictions Show withJohn Hinnant

• Nikki Bascome, Reuel Sample and John Hinnant • Season 1 • Episode 3

Share episode

Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.

0:00 | 55:05

Send us Fan Mail

In this last (or first) episode of the year, hosts Nikki Bascome and Reuel Sample welcome guest John Hinnant to discuss a range of political and cultural topics, including the impact of social media on community engagement, the intricacies of political fundraising through platforms like ActBlue, and predictions for the upcoming political landscape in 2025. 

They discuss various themes surrounding local politics, cultural predictions, health trends, and the resurgence of faith in the community. They explore the dynamics of local leadership, the future of comedy, and the impact of health and fitness on political figures. The discussion also touches on significant predictions for 2025, including potential changes in pharmaceutical advertising and the cultural landscape.

Takeaways

Social media can create a disconnect between people.
ActBlue is a significant fundraising platform for Democrats.
Political predictions can shape future strategies.
Community engagement is crucial for local elections.
Cultural predictions reflect societal trends.
Election reform is a pressing issue at the state level.
Understanding fundraising platforms is essential for political campaigns.
Local elections can significantly impact community policies.
Conspiracy theories can sometimes lead to important discussions.
The political landscape is constantly evolving, requiring adaptability. Weekly challenges in local politics are common.
Local leadership dynamics are shifting towards new candidates.
A resurgence of comedy and creativity is anticipated in 2025.
Health and fitness trends are influencing political figures.
There is a predicted resurgence of faith in communities.
Predictions for 2025 include significant changes in media and advertising.
The importance of community values is emphasized.
Engagement with the audience is crucial for future endeavors.
Cultural predictions reflect a desire for change and creativity.
The hosts encourage open dialogue and participation from listeners.

Sound Bites

"I think I'm a stalker."
"You cannot rely on Facebook."
"ActBlue has admitted to some malfeasance."
"Rock on with your conspiracy theories."
"I think JD Vance is going to be the one."
"I think we're ready."
"It's been a really miserable four years."
"I think that's going to be fantastic."
"2025 is gonna be amazing."
"Come on, let's do it."

Support the show

Support The Wilmington Conservative as we seek to be THE conservative publishing platform for Coastal Carolina.  Visit our store:  https://thewilmingtonconservative.com/store

Reuel Sample:

Good evening and welcome to the Nikki and Reuel podcast experience. I'm Reuel Sample joined as always by Nikki Bascom. Good evening Nikki.

Nikki Bascome:

Good evening Reuel. How are you doing?

Reuel Sample:

I am doing fine. We're catching Nikki as she is working in her backyard today surrounded by forest and trees.

Nikki Bascome:

And here we have this wonderful topiary.

Reuel Sample:

So welcome back. I hope everybody had a good, good Christmas season and time with family and friends as we get ready for the new year. This is a special show tonight. Uh, and Nikki, I'm going to have you, as always, introduce our guest.

Nikki Bascome:

Because I follow people. I think I'm a stalker because every single guest that we have had on has been someone that I have followed around, like a little puppy dog.

Reuel Sample:

Well, that's what the police reports say. You know, I'm waiting for them to come knock on my door. Um, so this is someone that I followed around around in um for a couple of years now, and I'm so excited to have him on. I'm excited about everybody. That's that's a what a wonderful life to have when you're excited to talk to people. But, um, I am so excited to introduce John Hinnant to everyone tonight. Welcome. Thank you for joining us, John.

John Hinnant:

Thank you for having me. I'm excited to be here.

Reuel Sample:

Hey, John, I went on your Facebook page today and in preparation I got a book about bitcoins and and cryptocurrency, uh, so that we can have a great conversation about that tonight.

John Hinnant:

Unfortunately, I don't know anything about that because my account was hacked back in July. And, uh, um, you know, it's unfortunate. And I did a press release, actually, before Labor Day, and zero media outlets reported it, and Facebook fortunately shut the account down. I think, um, if you can find it, I probably need to report it again. But, yeah, I've been, uh, a Facebook free for a while and actually it's quite refreshing. I've kind of enjoyed not being on there. It's, uh.

Reuel Sample:

Well, Nikki and I were actually having having that conversation about often the disconnect between between people on Facebook and social media and people off Facebook and social media. It's just there's it's it's a psychotic break, actually, actually, isn't it?

Nikki Bascome:

Well, you stole my words.

Reuel Sample:

Go ahead, John, she interrupts everybody.

John Hinnant:

Yeah, I learned a long time ago. Um, if you're if you're planning events or you're planning, um, something you want somebody to show up to, you cannot rely on Facebook. And it's just just the way it is. And there's no social media app you can rely on. Uh, you have to do the old fashioned thing of picking up the phone, calling and going and talking to people, maybe hand mailing a, you know, us mail an invitation and, uh, yeah, Facebook I just found was unreliable for, you know, you schedule an event, you do an event, you plan it on Facebook. You invite people. People RSVP. You print out the RSVP list. You show up to an event and 10% of them show up. And it's just to me, it's not, uh, it's it is what it designed to be. Yes. It's a social media tool to connect with people, um, or enrage people or make people lose friends, I don't know. And it's I enjoy X right now and Instagram is fun, but, uh, I got back to LinkedIn a little bit. Um, people keep asking me to join. Don't know, there's some.

Reuel Sample:

Are you on Truth Social?

John Hinnant:

I am on Truth Social, but I don't use it. Um, the Facebook version of or the meta version of Twitter. What is it?

Reuel Sample:

Oh, threads. Threads.

John Hinnant:

Yeah. Like I need another social media app. Like I need another hole in my head. Yeah.

Reuel Sample:

Nobody uses threads. Nobody uses threads.

John Hinnant:

So. And then the blue sky.

Reuel Sample:

And then blue sky.

John Hinnant:

Across the sky. Yeah. Nobody's going there.

Nikki Bascome:

Somebody has to go there.

Speaker3:

Nobody's going to go there.

John Hinnant:

I trolled NextDoor in Reddit just for fun. Just so you don't have to, but. Oh.

Speaker3:

Well.

Nikki Bascome:

Thanks for taking one for the team.

Reuel Sample:

Well, John, I got to tell you is that during during the campaign, you brought up an issue that's actually going to be a big thing in Washington. That whole ActBlue, uh, controversy that's not going to go anywhere. And that you're you you broke that story here in New Hanover.

John Hinnant:

Well, thank goodness for attorneys general like Ken Paxton in Texas, man. He's he's all over it. And, uh, I think it's going to I think it's going to have a huge impact on the next four years. Uh, it'll have an impact in two years. Um, in the midterms. And I think it'll have an impact in the Presidential and 28. I think, um, an actblue has admitted to some malfeasance accepting foreign gift cards, uh, that have no trackability to the donor or the source. And so I think it's going to probably have a huge impact. I, um, I would not be surprised if, uh, they're a new Democrat fundraising platform showed up.

Nikki Bascome:

Yeah. I was getting ready to ask if you could explain to some of our viewers that might not know what Actblue is or not readily involved in the political scene, what Actblue was you kind of touched on it for a second. Yeah.

John Hinnant:

So, so, so in the political circles, um, so for politicians, uh, depending on what your party affiliation is, there are online fundraising platforms so that you can accept donations online, uh, PayPal and Zelle and Cash App and Venmo don't really lend themselves to the campaign finance reporting standards that are required. And so these companies and the Obamas really, you know, Actblue was a product of the Obama administration, really kind of revolutionized this. And so Actblue is a fundraising platform for Democrat politicians. Republicans historically used products like Winred and my campaigns, and I think Nicki used anodot, which is the word antidote without an E. Um, but, uh, these platforms, uh, cap before somebody submits a donation that captures. But what happens is when you when you look at campaign finance reports for Democrats who probably raise more than 200, $300,000, which was my case two years ago, you see, 50 cent and $1 and $4 and $5 and you see hundreds, hundreds of these small dollar donations and, um, under $50. The campaign finance report is reported anonymously and for both sides, but they're supposed to keep track of it. And and what um, Actblue admitted to was that they were allowing, um, donations from foreign based or foreign originated gift cards, and they had no idea who the donor was.

Reuel Sample:

Unbelievable.

John Hinnant:

And so then Actblue is is um, is the the allegation is, is that actblue at the direction of somebody sprinkles that money around to different candidates. And so, um, they accumulate millions and millions of dollars and so it might end up in a local Da race, for example, or a local house race or a local Senate race or Planned Parenthood. Somebody's going to spend money to propagate Democrat, um, things. And I'll tell you about while we're on Planned Parenthood, uh, Elon Musk or I'm sorry, Doge. The Department of Government Efficiency tweeted yesterday. Uh, there's a question should we defund Planned Parenthood? A lot of people don't realize that Planned Parenthood receives federal funding, and it's a it's a money laundering operation. It's the federal government under the direction, historically, of Democrats to fund Planned Parenthood, who then turn around and fund campaigns to defeat Republicans. And so.

Reuel Sample:

Yeah, yeah.

John Hinnant:

We have a great shot at it. Great, great. I mean, we have the next six months of our lives are going to be more consequential, consequential than the the whole four years of the first Donald Trump administration, I have no doubt.

Reuel Sample:

Yes. And I would argue that the Republicans have anywhere from six months to maybe 18 months to get things done. Because the midterms are coming up, they've got to move quickly.

Speaker3:

We have here.

Nikki Bascome:

Locally, we have municipals coming up. So we better we got to get our act together quick.

Speaker3:

Yes. Yes. Yeah.

John Hinnant:

And there's a convention February 8th.

Speaker3:

So February 8th. Yeah.

John Hinnant:

Even faster.

Speaker3:

You know I'm.

Nikki Bascome:

Not gonna be here.

Speaker3:

You are. So, you.

Reuel Sample:

Know, my my, my older sister, who is a PhD type, still produces, pronounces municipal. Municipal because she sounded it out.

Speaker3:

As a kid.

John Hinnant:

She probably uses an aluminum foil.

Speaker3:

Aluminum. That's right.

Reuel Sample:

So we invited John here. Not just for his good looks, uh, but for his prognosticating power. As we get ready for 2025. I am so glad that 2024 is over. This was just a horrendous year, so.

Speaker3:

It wasn't that bad. It was the first.

John Hinnant:

The first 20 days of January are going to be very rocky. Let's be.

Speaker3:

Honest.

Reuel Sample:

They're going to be rough. But today is this is.

John Hinnant:

Look how skinny I am.

Reuel Sample:

This is our first annual annual prediction show. As with, uh, with John and joining us for his vast prognosticating powers, uh, and his insights into the future. Um.

Nikki Bascome:

Too many big words, Too many big words.

Reuel Sample:

We're we're going to talk about what comes next, Nikki. So our show, our our our prediction part of the show is, is broken down into three rounds. The first round is one prediction in politics for each of the levels national, state and the local level, which could either be the county or the city. Now scheduled events like Donald Trump getting inaugurated is not allowed. And I have a little button here that will, will, that will, that will. Exactly right.

Nikki Bascome:

Okay, where's my cowbell?

Reuel Sample:

For each correct prediction. The other members of the panel owe the prognosticator one drink. And I drink Guinness. By the way.

Speaker3:

Round two.

John Hinnant:

Real quick. Have you had Guinness's alcohol free version?

Reuel Sample:

I have not. That sounds like an abomination.

John Hinnant:

No.

Nikki Bascome:

Guinness is making an alcohol free version?

John Hinnant:

It is an amazing. And it's causing. It's so popular in Europe, it's created a shortage of regular Guinness. Really it is. So I bought it for a campaign finance event, a campaign fundraising event one time, and it was incredible. Just it was incredible. Yeah. If you, if, if, if you need an N/A product for an event, the Guinness and a nonalcoholic version at Harris Teeter is amazing. It's really good.

Reuel Sample:

Okay. Does it still have that that awful nitrogen tablet on the inside?

John Hinnant:

It does. It's a can you pour it in a glass? And it is phenomenal.

Reuel Sample:

Okay. I think.

John Hinnant:

Nikky, you were an event. I had some at Marsh Oaks. I had it at Marsh, I miss that.

Reuel Sample:

Well, you probably were there, but you probably didn't. Should not.

Nikki Bascome:

I wasn't drinking the N/A stuff. Come on.

Reuel Sample:

The second area is in the prediction of culture, such as Whoopi Goldberg moving to Germany for each, uh, the if if a person wins the culture prediction, they will get their merch of choice for the Wilmington Conservative Merch store, which is coming online very, very soon. And then the round three is the winner take all prediction. This is the Hail Mary. This is the big one. This is to go big or go home pPrediction. If the person wins this, then all bets are off and they get a dinner and they get a nice dinner from the other three. Other two.

Nikki Bascome:

It's a pool party at the Sample home.

Reuel Sample:

Well, no, no, no, because I'm going to win this one. I'm probably not. So all right. So now here's the thing, ladies and gentlemen, is that, uh, I sent these rules out ahead of time, but none of us, none of us know what the other ones are predicting. So it's going to be an interesting show.

Speaker3:

Wait, wait.

Nikki Bascome:

Who could have predicted that mine and John Henry's cups would match? Odd man out Reuel.

Reuel Sample:

Where's that button? Round one. I'm really not excited AI John. Hey, it's our shtick. We've got to have a shtick. I think Nikki came out looking like, um, uh, Katie Couric, actually.

Nikki Bascome:

I think I look like Tracy Mitchell, if you know who Tracy Mitchell is.

Reuel Sample:

I have no idea who Tracy Mitchell is.

Nikki Bascome:

Oh my gosh. No, she's one of the precinct. Well, used to be a precinct chair.

John Hinnant:

Kure beach. Right.

Speaker3:

Okay. Yeah.

Nikki Bascome:

You gotta look her up. I think that's who it looks like. And I like her, so it's not a bad thing.

Reuel Sample:

All right. Well, okay. All right. So, uh, John, you're the guest. Let's start off with your national prediction. What do you think is going to happen at the national level for 2025?

John Hinnant:

Um, I think in probably the first six months of Donald Trump's administration, there will be an executive order. To ban mRNA messenger RNA technology.

Reuel Sample:

You think so?

John Hinnant:

I think it's going to be big. I think I've watched a really long, um, couple of really long podcasts, um, typically during a pharmaceutical trial. In fact, in the 2007, 2008, when the, um, whatever that pandemic was, they developed an mRNA vaccine. And in the clinical trials, 50 people had complications and they pulled it.

Reuel Sample:

Interesting.

John Hinnant:

And there's been 3400 peer reviewed, um, studies, uh, based on this podcast I listen to. So, um, take that for what it's worth. But in the of the people who took the mRNA the first time, there were over 700 people who died in the first 30 days of taking an mRNA jab. And so, um, I think, I think that information is going to land in the first. It's out there. It's out there now. And I think that is going to be a, um, thing at the federal level. And I think Trump's going to just do an executive order and Congress, there'll be lawsuits, obviously. And I think, I think that by that time, the information will be overwhelming for Congress to to act on it and say, you know what? We're this is right. We got to pull this off. The technology is not safe until we have it fully developed through a clinical trial. I think that's I think that's that's probably not where you thought I was going with that. But I think that's going to be something that's going to probably happen in the first six months of the Trump administration. You know.

Reuel Sample:

The ironic thing about that is that that was all developed as a part of his Operation Warp Speed.

John Hinnant:

Yeah, yeah. And I think, you know, the thing is, is there are people who are reaching out to him now and saying, hey, you got to do this. And when you understand leadership and accountability, um, in And leadership. You one cannot hold themselves accountable. And so I think a lot of us supporters, RFK included Casey and Carly Means. I think that there's some other doctors out there that have really put Casey and Carly means to the to the, to the fence and said, hey, you're talking about food. But there's a bigger problem. And this mRNA technology is killing people. And I think I'm I'm probably coming off as a huge conspiracy theorist on this, but I think the first six months of the Trump administration, you'll see something like that. I think I think that's going to happen for six months.

Reuel Sample:

Okay. John Hinnant with that. I did not see that one coming. Nikki Bascom, what do you got?

Nikki Bascome:

Well, you know, I want to talk a little bit more about what John said about conspiracy theories. And, um, you know, I'm doing a lot of genealogy right now with my family history. And, um, if it wasn't for some people all being conspiracy theorists, and everyone says it as if this is such a bad thing. But if it wasn't for someone with a somewhat maybe conspiracy theory saying, hey, I want you to watch this. Um, I don't know if it's true, but if it is, let's be prepared. Um, and I think we have taken that whole label of conspiracy theorists to a whole new level, and it shouldn't be a bad word. It shouldn't be a bad word at all. So rock on with your conspiracy theories, John Hinnant. Let's do it. Let's keep an eye out for this stuff and and let's not get blindsided. I mean, and you know what? Um, and I say this a lot when it comes to my kids in the school district and people talk about the trans movement. And, um, the one thing that scares me is not trans. What scares me is the people that take advantage. Um, so when it comes to the Warp Speed that Trump put in place, he was doing it out of the kindness of his heart. He was doing it to save people's lives. And there will always, always be someone to take advantage of that. Um, so I think that's where that theory might come into play, is someone's taking advantage somewhere. And, um, but rock on with the conspiracy theories. You ain't going to hear me complain.

John Hinnant:

And like you said, he's he's going to recognize his mistake. And I think he's going to have a pool of people around him. And, um, but yeah, I can go I can go deeper if you want to go deeper.

Nikki Bascome:

But obviously we don't have to this time. We're going to have you on again.

Reuel Sample:

Alright, Nikki. You've stalled enough. What is your what is your prediction for the national level?

Nikki Bascome:

Gosh, on the national level, um, talking about Trump, um, learning his lessons in this in the last six years. I think he's going to take more of a back seat. I think it's going to be JD Vance. I think JD Vance is going to be. I think Trump is not necessarily going to be quiet. I think he's going to work behind the scenes a little bit more, and I think JD Vance is going to be the one that everyone's watching, the one that everyone's paying attention to, because I think he's he's putting him. I think Trump is going to put JD Vance up as the next president. So that's my that's my prediction that Trump's still going to be Trump. He's not going to keep his mouth shut. But um, but it's going to be more of a JD Vance show.

Reuel Sample:

He's smart enough to he's smart enough to get to make his legacy. And that's going to be through JD Vance.

John Hinnant:

I think that's a very good prediction. And, and and here's why. Today Trump endorsed Mike Johnson as Speaker of the House.

Reuel Sample:

I saw that.

John Hinnant:

I think that's a I think that's. And Mike Johnson, after a couple of fits and stumbles, put forward a CR that Trump endorsed. And so I think, you know, hey we got what we wanted. And now he's my guy. And so I think I think I think she's right on JD Vance. I think he has the ability to speak to the average voter like Trump does.

Reuel Sample:

My prediction at the national level is that, again, because of all that and because people like to be on the winning side, I think you're going to see one, maybe two Democrats in the Senate come over to the Republican side. I think I think they're going to and I don't think it's going to be John Fetterman. I think it's going to be somebody else.

John Hinnant:

He's not that smart. Yeah, not that smart. But I, I think we're going to start seeing the, the reemergence of the Blue Dog Democrats. And down here in the South, the Blue Dog Democrats really got hit hard under the Obama and the Biden administrations is that they were no longer allowed to be these socially conservative, politically conservative Democrats is that they had to go all the way to the left. And I think I think people will start seeing that again. So that's my prediction. And I have a feeling that's my first drink that I'm going to be being owed. Uh, on the on the state level.

Nikki Bascome:

You did you did see that in Florida. There was a Democrat representative that that flipped to Republican. And there's a huge uproar over that.

Reuel Sample:

I'm telling you. Nikki, at the state level, what are you going to see?

Nikki Bascome:

I have no idea. I'm sad. I'm sad at the state level. Um, I honestly think, um, with the legislators that we have in Raleigh right now. Um, Josh Stein. Oh, Mo green. Woo! Lord. Um, and our AG, um, I think, um, having Dave Boieck take over Board of Election oversight. Um, auditing. I think we're going to see a lot of election reform. Um, not I that seems so vague, though.

Reuel Sample:

Oh, that's okay, that's okay, that's okay

Nikki Bascome:

Oh the State I just I'm scared for North Carolina, I really am. I'm worried, I'm worried.

Reuel Sample:

I actually am not. I actually I'm going to predict that at the, at the state level, uh, because Josh Stein is so far to the left and because his AG is so far to the left, we're going to see the same thing happen at the state level, was that we might not see Democrats change to Republicans, but we will see Democrats cross the aisle to support veto overrides. And so we're going to see at least a half a dozen veto overrides this year as the Republicans try to pass some sensible legislation. Josh Stein is going to override it, of course, and or veto it, of course. And these sensible legislatures are legislators are going to veto going to override those vetoes. My my friend, our friend Ted Davis loves to push that little green button. And he's very happy every time he does that. John Hinnant, what have you got at the state level.

John Hinnant:

So this might shock you, but I agree with you Reuel. And to that end, I think Josh Stein is going to have his rear end handed to him a couple times before he signs the first budget of the biennium, the first biennium. So I think he's going to sign a budget and agree with the legislature on a budget after he's had his rear end handed to him with a couple of veto overrides, I realized. So he'll have some Democrats vote to override. And I agree with you on that. And what's going to happen is those Democrats who vote to override the veto are going to cross the aisle, shake hands, look people in the eye and do a deal. I think that's going to happen. So that's my big prediction.

Reuel Sample:

Outstanding.

John Hinnant:

Stein. Stein will sign a budget.

Reuel Sample:

Outstanding. Nikki, you're really racking up the drinks that you're going to be buying here in the at the at the local level.

Nikki Bascome:

I'm taking it all, baby.

Reuel Sample:

At the local level. I'll go first. I think that because of the very, very liberal AG that we've just put in and the very, very liberal governor, I think that Wilmington, just out of spite, is going to, uh, declare itself a sanctuary city. I think they're going to try that because there's only one Republican on the on the county commission. The city, the city council down there. And I think they're going to try to go that far to the left there. I think they're just going to just going to try to try to go that far left. John, what do you got?

John Hinnant:

Uh, so. My prediction that I had in my head before you offered that, whatever that was, um. We're going to sweep the city council elections. I think we're going to elect three Republicans.

Reuel Sample:

Do you think so?

John Hinnant:

I think we're going to, you know, I think, uh, technically we have two Republicans on council right now. So it's so it's Luke, Charlie and Clifford Barnett are up for reelection this year.

Reuel Sample:

That's right. I got to get my numbers right if I'm going to make predictions.

John Hinnant:

I think the citizens of the city of Wilmington, I'm one. I've got four votes in my house. We all agree. Thetax increases are enough. We've had enough. The wasteful spending is enough. Um. Uh, selling off of surplus properties, uh, pennies on the dollar is enough. We're done with this. Uh, the the banter up at the chambers. Council chambers, I think I think our I think we're going to sweep the city council election. I think Republicans will take over. Uh, even though it's a nonpartisan race.

Reuel Sample:

There's no such thing. There is always. It's always Partizan.

Nikki Bascome:

It's nonpartisan for the people that don't pay attention. That's what it. And you're smart enough to get people to the polls and vote the way you want them to it's partisan.

Reuel Sample:

Well, the first step is being smart enough to listen to this podcast. That's where that's where it starts right here.

Nikki Bascome:

Subscribe and like subscribe and like.

Reuel Sample:

And listen to you Nikki Bascome. Outstanding. Which brings us So Nikki, your prediction for the local level.

Nikki Bascome:

Local levels I, I honestly, I don't know. I don't.

Reuel Sample:

Know.

Nikki Bascome:

Um, I think, um, I think.

Speaker3:

I.

Nikki Bascome:

Was very ill prepared. I thought, oh, it was so funny.

Reuel Sample:

This is what I deal with every week. Every week. I deal with this, John. Every week on this podcast, I have to be here. I've got a vamp like this. As she goes through a very.

Speaker3:

Its a very exhaustive email to read through, like, here's what we're going to talk about.

Nikki Bascome:

Thank you, John. I think, um, locally, I think we might find a, um, a common sense Republican mayor for our local races. I think. I think someone is, As much as I would love Luke Waddell, um, I think I don't think he's interested in it, but I think we might find someone that's that's ready for to take on that role. I think we might have.

John Hinnant:

I think we're in a year where if someone were to step up with some name ID, um, I think it it'll make Bill spend some money and do some work, I think. I think that's not a far fetched proposal, but it's not me.

Nikki Bascome:

Think he's done, though I honestly, um, from what I'm hearing around town is, is that he's he's ready to pass the torch. Um, I don't think he's ready to pass the torch to a Republican, but I. But I think the city is. I think we're ready. Yeah.

John Hinnant:

You know, he he likes, um. So I was downtown when, um, we brought, uh, Joe Riley, the long term mayor of Charleston, South Carolina, the town to talk about, you know, how how did you guys do it? And, you know, growing up, my mother always said, we're like Charleston, what it used to be like. And so we've always been a decade or maybe even a generation behind Charleston. And I give Bill a lot of credit. We've completely transformed downtown. I mean, it's been amazing.

Reuel Sample:

Well, you've been you've been a part of that.

John Hinnant:

I was, I was, I was I was a I was a big part of it and, and and the thing you always want to do when you're in a role like that is you want to leave the place in a better situation than you were in. And you know, the big thing that I did when I stepped away is I left him in a tremendous amount of momentum. Yeah. And all that stuff happened. Um, it's been amazing. He's got this incredible feather in his cap despite his party affiliation. But yeah, Nikki's right. I think that it's a situation where I think he's going to have to hand it over. He's going to have to pass the baton.

Nikki Bascome:

Nikki's right.

Reuel Sample:

Has to happen sometimes.

John Hinnant:

He's going to have to pass the baton. Because, you know, there's there was a year there was an election not too long ago. I pulled the lever for a Democrat, and it was Bill Saffo because he was the least of two bad. You know, the the guy who's running this was a socialist. He had a, he had a t shirt that had his own image in it and the similar to the the pictures of Che Guevara. And I was like, I do not want that guy anywhere near public office. And then, you know, his news about him came out afterwards. But that was a, that was what, 70 or 85 vote difference? I mean, it was close and it was. And Bill's a good salesman for the city. But, um, you know, Joe Riley was at Charleston for 37 years. Wow. But but the law state laws are different between North Carolina, South Carolina, you know, North Carolina, it's a council manager form of government government. But in Charleston, Joe Riley signed the checks. You know, he was the city executive as the elected mayor. So it's a completely different style of governance. And so, you know that my earlier prediction about winning, sweeping the council, what's important to understand is council members actually have a little more power than the mayor. If you can get four conservatives, those are four year terms. The mayor has to run every two years. And so the council members, if you can get four on the same page, they can they can control the dynamic for four years.

Reuel Sample:

Fantastic. Fantastic. Well, let's those are great predictions I like that. All right. Let's move on to round two. Culture. And I actually really do like AI John I think that I think he looks really good there John.

John Hinnant:

We've got a long neck.

Reuel Sample:

We're going to we're going to move over to culture for predictions for the culture side. John, you're our guest. We'll start with you because Nikki probably doesn't have one for this one either.

John Hinnant:

I think 2025 is the great resurgence of comedy and creativity.

Reuel Sample:

Oh, that's going to be great. It's been it's been it's been a really miserable four years.

John Hinnant:

They remade the movie Vacation. They've remade. They're remaking.

Nikki Bascome:

I heard that was a hoax. Vacation with, um, Chevy Chase. I heard that was a hoax.

John Hinnant:

They're remaking it. They they remade it without him. They remade it with all new characters. Wow. They're remaking. Is it? They're doing Snow White right now.

Reuel Sample:

Uh, well, they're they're they're doing. Snow White, but, uh. Or they did Snow White, but it's in the editing process. But it so woke.

John Hinnant:

Was a lady of color. Yeah. And it's, it's got a kind of a DEI tone. Yes. I think this is the rebirth. I mean, Shane Gillis, um, these other comedians, um, you know, have just been pushing the edge the last few years. And I think, you know, I it's my hope that we have a resurgence of creativity. There's been too many remakes. I'm just sick of the remakes. Nobody wants to go see a new version of a movie 20 years ago. Yeah. You know.

Nikki Bascome:

Especially with especially Star Wars part 347.

John Hinnant:

Well, that's a different element let's not go there.

Reuel Sample:

You know, have you ever been to the. Have you ever been to the black is the Black Crow Comedy club downtown?

John Hinnant:

Yeah, actually, I in real estate, I actually did that deal. Did you really? Those owners are very good friends of mine, and, uh, they do a great job. Um, but, you know, the the comedy is it's been hard for comedians. And so my, my, my prediction and honestly, my hope is that comedy and creativity come back. You know, think about I've been somehow I got on this, I liked something, and now on my Instagram feed, I see scenes from Seinfeld every day because Seinfeld was a thing and Cheers. And these shows that had these amazing one liners and amazing dialog, and it was just laugh out loud, funny stuff. And, and I think we're, we're we've been missing that for a number of years because everybody's afraid to say something that might offend somebody. And I think, I think comedy and creativity are going to make a huge comeback this year.

Reuel Sample:

I'm looking forward to that. That's great. Nikki, what do you got?

Nikki Bascome:

Oh, okay. So conspiracy theorists here.

Reuel Sample:

Uh.

Nikki Bascome:

So, um, Laura Trump backed down from one of the big races in Florida, and I predict that she is stepping away from politics, but she's going to join RFK in making America healthy again. She is doing a lot of workout and trainings. She has a new athletic wear out. Um, I think that's going to be her new thing. Not necessarily on the political platform. Um, but but she is kind of going to join RFK and making America healthy again. That's my prediction. I can see her doing that. She is, um, she was actually in town over the Christmas break, and a friend of mine ran into her over in Mayfair and she said, wow, she is just like rocking body. It's it's awesome. So, um, you rock on, Laura. Get it done, John. Make America healthy again.

Reuel Sample:

Now, John, you've been around here long enough. Nikki. You have to. Do you know Laura Trump's family over there in Wrightsville. Have you run into them?

John Hinnant:

I didn't know them. I've met and have spent a lot of time with her mother in the last few years. Uh, super nice people. Um, I've followed some, uh, some real estate transactions her father's been invested in. Um, and, uh, super nice people. I've had a chance to meet Laura Trump. Um, in spite of her sixth sense heels, she's still taller than me. Uh, and she does perform in triathlons, so she does. In fact, she raced a triathlon the weekend before she was announced RNC co-chair. So she does. She is a healthy lifestyle. Um, in my household, we suspect that she might be pregnant because she's making an announcement in January.

Reuel Sample:

Wow.

John Hinnant:

So, um, so the baby bump is not showing yet. But that doesn't count among my predictions.

Reuel Sample:

Well, my cultural prediction, I had one, but I think I've changed it. So, you know, I'm I'm a pastor by training, and we have seen the church decline. But I think in 2025, Nicki just stepped out for some reason. I think she's getting her internet back up. Uh, I am going. We're going to see a resurgence of faith in in 2025. I think you're going to start seeing, uh, college students come back to the faith. I think we're going to see families come back to the faith. And I think we're going to start seeing some of that old timey religion back. I think people are going to start craving, craving that kind of, uh, uh, that kind of, uh, that kind of idea. I've just got a message that Nicki Bascom's internet went out, so. Oh, there she is. She's coming back. She's coming back in. Um. And so we're just going to vamp a little bit, but, um, Nikki's coming back.

Speaker3:

There's any advantage to living in the city limits as reliable internet?

Reuel Sample:

It really is. Although, do you do you have fiber down where you are at?

John Hinnant:

Yeah, I have AT&T Fiber.

Reuel Sample:

Yeah. See, we don't have that out where I'm at even though I'm in the city limits. We're hoping for Lumos to come in. Lumos. Hurry up. Get.

John Hinnant:

I want Starlink, to be honest.

Reuel Sample:

Well, that's true, that's true.

John Hinnant:

Uh, you know, not a bad prediction rule, I think, um, I think you're. You're right. I think, you know, if you think about the opening passage of the book of John, in the beginning was the word. And I think you're dead on. Right? I think kids are looking for it. Um, shout out to my home church, Northside Church up in, uh, Maryville in College North, College Road, uh, which happens to also be the location of the February 8th.

Speaker3:

Third straight year.

John Hinnant:

County Republican party. County convention. Registration opens February 1st. Uh, I think it's, um. I think it's critically important that people that pastors begin having real conversations and really talking about life and culture. Uh, my pastor spent the entire year, uh, on the weapons of spiritual warfare. And he said the first, uh, sermon in January of 2024. I'm not going to make mix words with you folks. It's it's an election year, and we are not fighting the other party. We're not fighting each other. This is good versus evil. And you have to speak to it. You have to say it. You have to say the words. You have to speak out against it. And, uh, it's made me and my wife so much stronger and better. And I think that, uh, I think you're right. I think we're going to see a lot of that. I'm excited for it.

Reuel Sample:

We need to we need to. We need to. Nikki, can you still. Can you hear. Oh, she's working on that, folks. Okay.

John Hinnant:

So how do you measure that prediction?

Reuel Sample:

How do I measure that prediction? Um, you can see it in the culture. You can feel it in the culture. You can.

John Hinnant:

Okay.

Reuel Sample:

You can, uh, but, um, and it's also one of the reasons why I play the lottery, because I know that I'm going to win. They're going to announce the numbers, and that's when Christ will return. So, you know, that's that's just my my level of risk. So moving on. This is the long shot. This is the winner take all. Uh, Nikki says that she can hear us. Nikki, try your, uh, try your, uh, your your phone or try your, um, microphone. See if that works. If we can just get your sound in. So, uh, this is the winner take all. This is the long shot. The one that you really hope comes true, that has a very long chance of coming true. But if it if it does, then it's going to have a profound effect on our culture, our politics, our political landscape for years to come. John, what do you got?

John Hinnant:

So mine's pretty big. I think, um, most of our mainstream media rely on this a lot. And I think if my prediction comes true, we may lose a few mainstream media organizations. And I think that at some point in 2025, there will be a ban of pharmaceutical advertising on network television.

Reuel Sample:

That will be fantastic. There's so much stuff. There's so much garbage. Have you ever listened to the disclaimers at the end of all those?

John Hinnant:

Yeah. Hey, try Reuel Sample for your problem. And if you're allergic to Reuel Sample, don't take Reuel Sample.

Reuel Sample:

How do I want to know I'm allergic to it if I haven't ever had it. Exactly. And I remember listening to one where it it listed the whole things and including you may die.

John Hinnant:

Yeah, yeah. Morbid bowel movements. Like.

Reuel Sample:

Why? And, you know, everybody's in favor. The only people that are not in favor of that are the pharmaceuticals, but doctors.

Speaker3:

And.

John Hinnant:

Tv networks.

Reuel Sample:

And TV networks, because that's big money.

John Hinnant:

It's it's it's it's got to be 60% of their advertising dollar. Right. I mean, it's got to be huge, but.

Reuel Sample:

And doctors hate it, caregivers hate it. Everybody hates it.

John Hinnant:

And the advertising dollars, you know, have to be driving the creative content. You know, the substance of what they're reporting and talking about news organizations, you know. Oh, no. You guys you guys can't talk about, uh, sudden death, death syndrome. No you're not. No, there's no factual evidence. There's no peer reviewed studies that.

Reuel Sample:

Oh, there she is. Nikki Bascom has joined us once again. Uh, there. And she's she's. Yeah. Please don't ever do that again.

John Hinnant:

The gears hooked up to the hamster wheel for her internet service.

Nikki Bascome:

So you guys know that my husband just had back surgery, and, um, he just can't run on the treadmill as fast as he used to to keep.

Reuel Sample:

Well, to catch up. Nikki. Is that, uh, John? It's big. Uh, go big or go home prediction is there will be a nationwide ban on pharmaceutical advertising.

Nikki Bascome:

A good job, John. I think that's great. I think there also needs to be a ban on, um, pharmaceutical kickbacks for doctors. Like they get X amount of free samples if they push a product. And I don't think that's right.

Reuel Sample:

That's right. Because if you're going to get a Sample, you have to pay for it.

Nikki Bascome:

That's a good one, John.

John Hinnant:

Coming from a guy named Reuel sample,

Nikki Bascome:

He rules the Sample.

Speaker3:

So was that. Was that the, um, winner take all? Because there's the cultural there's there's the cultural prediction and then there's a winner take all.

Reuel Sample:

Well, because you didn't pay your internet bill, we've already gone through the cultural one. Uh, is that, uh, and so we're gonna we're going to go right to you for the big, uh, winner take all.

John Hinnant:

I see what happened. I see what happened. She got a refill.

Reuel Sample:

She got a refill.

Nikki Bascome:

Prediction predictions on whether it's an N/A or not.

Reuel Sample:

John, I told you ahead of time this is a little bit different feel of a podcast that other things that we've done together. So, Nikki, what do you got for your go big or go home.

Nikki Bascome:

Go big or go home. I have um, along with I did hear the part where John said that Lara Trump has big news in January. I also have big news. I'm not pregnant. No, um, but I something has changed in our family dynamic, and, um, I just want to hear, instead of doing, um, a trivia question for everyone, I want to hear everyone else's predictions. What do you think has changed in Nikki's life? What? What's going.

Reuel Sample:

Okay, well, she is true because I know what it is and that it is a big thing

Nikki Bascome:

Something huge is on the horizon for the Bascome family, and.

Reuel Sample:

I'll let you get away with that. I'll let you get away with it.

John Hinnant:

So are we supposed to respond to that?

Reuel Sample:

No, no, no, no, I don't think she wants you to because she's not allowed to, uh, not.

Nikki Bascome:

Allowed to say anything yet.

Reuel Sample:

She's not allowed to say that. Okay, so here's my go big or go home. I think the Republicans are finally going to bring to the floor the Fair tax bill. I think. Not not the flat tax. The flat tax is is a Trojan horse. It's the fair tax bill where we go from a tax based on income to a tax based on consumption, which is the fairest thing to do and fairest way. And they've been they've been, uh, Huckabee is a is a big fan of it. Uh, Trump talked about it, I think John uh, he, he talked about it a couple of times during the campaign.

John Hinnant:

I've read the back in the day. Gosh, 25 years ago, I read the Neil Boortz book.

Speaker3:

Yeah.

Reuel Sample:

I haven't signed by Neal Boortz.

John Hinnant:

And, um, a recent Tucker interview, I think it was with Elon. He said, in today's economy, you're either a consumer or a creator And consumers should pay the freight. Yeah. If you if you, if you, you you get taxed on what you spend and you know, back in the old days, old, old days when you went and bought something, the retailer gave you revenue stamps. And so when it was time to file your taxes, you put your revenue stamps into your tax bill and said, here's my taxes are paid. And so, yeah, I'm I'm all for it, man. I'm I'm there with you. Let's go.

Nikki Bascome:

Yeah, I'm ready to go back to a barter system. Hey, I can do this for you. What can you do for me?

Reuel Sample:

Yeah, exactly.

Nikki Bascome:

I'm ready to go back to that.

Reuel Sample:

That's how. That's how.

John Hinnant:

Nikki is for for a back scratching economy.

Reuel Sample:

That's how we're getting revenue. And writers for the Wilmington Conservative is that.

Nikki Bascome:

We're working for scraps over here.

John Hinnant:

Well, what will you do for a Guinness from Reuel Sample.

Reuel Sample:

Exactly.

Nikki Bascome:

What will you do for a Kit Kat Kit Barr.

Reuel Sample:

Well, the great thing is, is that all these predictions are on the internet and the internet is forever. I think those are there's some are great prognostications. So I think that's I think that is worth worthy of this.

Nikki Bascome:

Oh, Lord.

John Hinnant:

We predict the future.

Reuel Sample:

I worked so very hard on that graphic. So John, thanks for joining us tonight. You look good. You sound good. You look happy.

John Hinnant:

Probably wouldn't know. I had an eye procedure today, but I feel good. I'm excited that I didn't have to go in for the deep, dark surgery. Um, so I'm. I'm feeling great right now.

Reuel Sample:

Fantastic. Well, this isn't going to be this isn't going to be the last time that you're on the on the podcast. Especially next year. Next year when you have to pay the bill for all these wrong predictions that you've got.

Speaker3:

So, uh you doing this with other guests or.

Reuel Sample:

No, no, no, it's just you.

John Hinnant:

Okay. You'll be calling me Swami next year.

Reuel Sample:

Yeah. Because, you know, we we we always go for the, the developers who have all who know the places to, to take us.

Nikki Bascome:

I think next week it's going to be, um, New Year's traditions and then we're going to be getting ready for convention. County, our county convention.

Reuel Sample:

Yeah. This is the last episode of the season. So season one?

John Hinnant:

You have seasons?

Reuel Sample:

We do. Yeah.

Nikki Bascome:

This is Season one.

Reuel Sample:

This is season one of the Nikki and Reuel Podcast Experience. So.

Nikki Bascome:

And thank you for helping us get off the ground.

John Hinnant:

Yeah. Happy to! Happy to show off my big poinsettia.

Nikki Bascome:

I love it. Wait, is that yours or is that Jamie's.

John Hinnant:

It's probably technically Jamie's. Yeah, because I'm not allowed to water things around here.

Nikki Bascome:

I don't I don't have to water this.

Reuel Sample:

I have no green in my room.

John Hinnant:

I've carried that before.

Reuel Sample:

I have no green in my office. John, happy New Year to you. Thanks for joining us.

Nikki Bascome:

Happy New Year as well.

John Hinnant:

Thank you. Have a safe and blessed New Year. Great. Greatly appreciate the opportunity to be with you and love you guys. See you. See you in the New year. All right.

Reuel Sample:

Oh, I cut him off.

Nikki Bascome:

I mean, I mean, we can't expect professionalism around here anymore.

Reuel Sample:

And and for that one critic who doesn't like the sound or the look of our podcast. It hasn't gotten any better.

Nikki Bascome:

So, uh, cutting people off. We're. So we've got cups.

Reuel Sample:

So it's good. That was great. That's another, that's another, that's another show in the in in in the bag. Uh, there are a couple of things. Uh, the answer to the trivia question from last week is.

Nikki Bascome:

Oh, Lord, I'm so sorry. It was 11 pipers piping. My true love gave to me. 11 pipers piping.

Reuel Sample:

And then the big trivia question. And Nicky got away with it in the in the in the in the big go home or go big or go big or go home.

Nikki Bascome:

I am so excited? What is the big? What is the big thing that's coming up for her? So make sure that you put that in the in the comments, like and subscribe and and let us know what think. I can't um I'm kind of conflicted. Do I smile, do I cry? Um, because my whole life is about to change in 2025, and, uh, I'm nervous, but I'm excited, and, um, I've had to. I put in some resignations to a lot of things this week because of it, and. Oh guys, 2025 is going to be amazing.

Reuel Sample:

It's going to be a great year.

Nikki Bascome:

It's going to be great. It's going to be a great year. And we just need to look forward to it and be happy and and be thankful because, um, you know, like I mentioned earlier, my husband had emergency back surgery the Friday before Christmas. And as hard as it was to sit back and realize that I'm not on the school board, even though I felt like that was my job, that's where I belong. And God said, no, God closed that door. And no matter what anyone's going through, when those doors close, it's okay. It's for a reason and for a probably a pretty good reason. And I feel like he he showed it to us over this Christmas season. I'm being home to be able to take care of my husband, to take care of my family and what's coming up in 2025. Um. God knew what? God knew what was best, and I give him all the glory.

Reuel Sample:

I am looking forward to 2025. I'm looking forward to what you and I are doing here on the podcast experience. I'm looking forward to what we're going to be doing over there on the on the Wilmington Conservative. Uh, we have just received our LLC. And so we are duly registered with the state of North Carolina. We have folks coming on board. We've got Tony McGee, who is writing a religion column for us every week. We've got Jonathan Bridges, who's writing for us from the, from the, the, the, uh, Business Alliance. We've got other folks who are coming on writing Tech articles. We've got podcasts coming on. It's going to be a great, great, great platform for a conservative outlook here in Wilmington. So I'm looking forward to that.

Nikki Bascome:

All of those naysayers are like, oh, I can't believe you have that person writing or this person writing. Um, Come on, show us what you got. You want a ride? Come on. You want to write? You want to get on a podcast?

Reuel Sample:

Come on, drop us, drop us a note.

Nikki Bascome:

I don't want to hear the. Oh, I can't believe the Wilmington Conservative did this. And I can't believe the Wilmington Conservative had that. Mhm. Nope. You want it? Bring it on. Let's go.

Reuel Sample:

And there's the gantlet laid down for 2025.

Nikki Bascome:

There's your prediction.

Reuel Sample:

That's right.

Speaker3:

We're not listening to it.

Nikki Bascome:

We're not listening to it.

Reuel Sample:

We took a week off for Christmas, but we're not going to be taking any more weeks off again. So, uh, next week we're going to be back on with yet another guest as soon as Nikki finds this one. And, uh, some more experience here on the on the podcast.

Speaker3:

Who wants to join us? Who's.

Reuel Sample:

Nikki. All the best. Happy New Year to you.

Nikki Bascome:

Happy new year. Reuel.