Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!

WWDTM: Kali Reis

January 17, 2026

Key Takeaways Copied to clipboard!

  • Champion boxer and Emmy-nominated actor Kali Reis, the special guest on this episode of *Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!*, transitioned from boxing to acting after being inspired by *Rocky* and having a natural imagination for character work. 
  • The contestant Benjamin, a computational chemist from Boston, correctly answered all three news quiz questions, winning the game. 
  • The panel discussed several current events, including President Trump's interest in acquiring Greenland, New York Mayor Eric Adams installing bidets in Gracie Mansion, and NASA's upcoming Artemis moon mission. 

Segments

Show Introduction and Guest Tease
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(00:00:28)
  • Key Takeaway: Special guest Kali Reis is a champion boxer turned Emmy-nominated actor starring in HBO’s True Detective and the upcoming film Mercy.
  • Summary: The show Wait, Wait… Don’t Tell Me! opened by introducing special guest Kali Reis. Reis is noted for her transition from being a champion boxer to an acclaimed actor. She is currently starring in the movie Mercy following her role in HBO’s True Detective: Night Country.
Listener Contestant Introduction
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(00:01:23)
  • Key Takeaway: Listener contestant Benjamin is a computational chemist working for the scientific software company Schrödinger in Boston, Massachusetts.
  • Summary: The first listener contestant, Benjamin, called in from Boston, Massachusetts. He works as a computational chemist at Schrödinger. He was introduced to the panel, which includes Rachel Coster, Hari Kondabolu, and Luke Burbank.
News Quiz: Trump and Greenland
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(00:02:46)
  • Key Takeaway: President Trump reportedly expressed interest in acquiring Greenland, which the panel speculated was due to its large appearance on Mercator projection maps or its rare earth minerals.
  • Summary: The first news quiz question concerned President Trump’s desire for Greenland, which he reportedly wanted to be ’liberated.’ The panel joked that his interest might stem from Greenland appearing larger on flat maps due to the Mercator projection. They also mentioned the presence of rare earth minerals in the territory.
News Quiz: NYC Mayor’s Move
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(00:04:50)
  • Key Takeaway: New York City’s new mayor, Zoran Mamdani, is moving into the 11,000-square-foot Gracie Mansion and is installing bidets.
  • Summary: The second quote involved New York’s new mayor, Zoran Mamdani, installing bidets in Gracie Mansion upon moving in. The panel noted the significant upgrade from his previous one-bedroom apartment in Queens. They contrasted his move with former Mayor Bloomberg, who never moved into the mansion because it was a downgrade from his own residence.
News Quiz: NASA Moon Mission
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(00:07:54)
  • Key Takeaway: NASA announced the first Artemis moon mission could launch as soon as February 6th, prompting jokes about the moon being merely a gas station on the way to Mars.
  • Summary: The final news quiz question addressed NASA’s announcement that the first Artemis moon mission might launch on February 6th. The panel joked that going to the moon is no longer novel, viewing it as just a necessary stopover for a Mars trip. They also referenced a recent early return of astronauts from the International Space Station due to an undisclosed health issue.
Panel Game: Minimum Exercise Science
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(00:09:51)
  • Key Takeaway: Scientists have determined that working out once a week for just 20 minutes provides real health benefits, and walking more quickly significantly extends lifespan.
  • Summary: The panel discussed a scientific finding regarding the minimum effective exercise dose. Working out for only 20 minutes once a week yields real health benefits. Furthermore, walking slightly faster or vigorously running errands can significantly extend one’s lifespan.
Bluff Game: Celebrity Encounters
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(00:14:37)
  • Key Takeaway: The true celebrity encounter involved Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence being asked by a fan to squat him five times outside a bar.
  • Summary: The ‘Bluff the Listener’ game presented three fabricated celebrity encounters for listener Lauren to judge. The true story involved a 5'5" fan squatting the 6'6" Trevor Lawrence five times after meeting him at a bar. The other stories involved Timothy Chalamet needing help tying his shoes and Christian Bale posing as a plumber.
Guest Interview: Kali Reis Acting Career
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(00:20:15)
  • Key Takeaway: Kali Reis’s Emmy-nominated role in True Detective: Night Country was only her third professional acting job, and her native Rhode Island accent was written into the character.
  • Summary: Kali Reis confirmed that her role in True Detective: Night Country was her first TV show and only her third professional acting job. She began boxing around age 13 or 14, inspired by Rocky. The director of True Detective incorporated her strong Rhode Island accent into her Alaskan native character to explain any slips.
Game: CES Technology Innovations
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(00:26:37)
  • Key Takeaway: Recent Consumer Electronic Show (CES) innovations included a VR headset demo that required barf bags and a Charmin robot designed to deliver toilet paper on demand.
  • Summary: The game focused on recent CES innovations, where Intel’s 2017 VR headset demo included barf bags due to intense content. A 2020 robot, created with Charmin, was designed to bring a roll of toilet paper to someone using the bathroom via smartphone command. Another device introduced was a ’lollipop scar’ that plays music inside the head via bone conduction.
Panel Game: Wombat Poop Shape
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(00:32:36)
  • Key Takeaway: Wombat feces are cube-shaped because the cubes do not roll away, allowing the solitary animals to use them to communicate their presence and identity in common areas.
  • Summary: Scientists determined that wombats produce cube-shaped feces to prevent the droppings from rolling away from common areas where they communicate. This method of communication is necessary because wombats are generally solitary animals. The shape ensures their messages remain in place for other wombats to find.
Panel Game: CBS News Whiskey Segment
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(00:34:34)
  • Key Takeaway: CBS News introduced a new weekly segment called ‘Whiskey Fridays with Tony DeKoppol’ to make the newscast more fun, despite Jack Daniels publicly distancing itself from the promotion.
  • Summary: CBS News, under new leadership, is attempting to boost viewership by adding a weekly segment featuring anchor Tony DeKoppol drinking whiskey on air. The set reportedly resembles a bar with a prominent Jack Daniels sign. The whiskey company issued a statement clarifying they were not involved in the segment.
Panel Game: Bob Weir’s Shorts
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(00:38:24)
  • Key Takeaway: Grateful Dead fans refer to Bob Weir’s iconic short cut-off jeans as ‘Bobby shorts,’ a tribute to his distinctive style.
  • Summary: Following Bob Weir’s passing, fans paid tribute, including observing a 16-minute moment of silence in honor of his music. His short cut-off jeans were celebrated as part of his identity. Grateful Dead fans specifically call these shorts ‘Bobby shorts,’ rather than the common term ‘Daisy Dukes.’
Lightning Round Scoring and Conclusion
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(00:43:38)
  • Key Takeaway: Luke Burbank won the overall game with 12 points after the Lightning Fill in the Blank round, where correct answers were worth two points.
  • Summary: In the final Lightning Fill in the Blank round, Luke Burbank secured the win with a total of 12 points. Panelist Hari Kondabolu finished with 11 points, and Rachel Coster finished with 10 points. The show concluded with predictions about what might be found on the moon during the next mission.