1 00:00:11,840 --> 00:00:15,040 Speaker 1: Good morning, peeps, and welcome to wokee F Daily with 2 00:00:15,200 --> 00:00:19,759 Speaker 1: Meet your Girl Danielle Moody. Recording from the Brooklyn Bunker. Folks, 3 00:00:19,800 --> 00:00:22,200 Speaker 1: I'm very excited about the show that we have in 4 00:00:22,280 --> 00:00:25,960 Speaker 1: store for you today. Today we have had a conversation 5 00:00:26,360 --> 00:00:31,080 Speaker 1: with the executive director of Michelle Obama's initiative when we 6 00:00:31,160 --> 00:00:34,360 Speaker 1: all vote, Stephanie Young. And then later in the show, 7 00:00:34,560 --> 00:00:38,080 Speaker 1: we have our one on one with Principal Deputy White 8 00:00:38,080 --> 00:00:43,640 Speaker 1: House Press Secretary Karine Jean Pierre. You know, in thinking 9 00:00:43,640 --> 00:00:47,720 Speaker 1: about right this past three hundred and sixty five days 10 00:00:47,840 --> 00:00:52,559 Speaker 1: with the Biden administration, I provided you all with my grades, 11 00:00:52,720 --> 00:00:55,760 Speaker 1: some of you provided yours back in the comment section, 12 00:00:55,840 --> 00:00:58,680 Speaker 1: and again I say keep them coming. You hit me 13 00:00:58,760 --> 00:01:02,360 Speaker 1: up on social media using the hashtag woke and tell 14 00:01:02,400 --> 00:01:04,560 Speaker 1: me what you think about the last three hundred and 15 00:01:04,640 --> 00:01:08,000 Speaker 1: sixty five days under this administration. But what I will 16 00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:14,920 Speaker 1: say right now, as today officially starts day two, not 17 00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:18,720 Speaker 1: day two, excuse me, year or two of this administration, 18 00:01:18,959 --> 00:01:25,160 Speaker 1: is that it cannot be understated the consequences that we 19 00:01:25,200 --> 00:01:30,840 Speaker 1: are being faced with. Twenty twenty two, which is twenty 20 00:01:30,959 --> 00:01:39,160 Speaker 1: twenty two, has significant crises that we are seeing each 21 00:01:39,200 --> 00:01:47,120 Speaker 1: and every day. For instance, run death Santis in Florida 22 00:01:47,240 --> 00:01:53,960 Speaker 1: has just passed legislation that would bar the teaching conversation 23 00:01:54,640 --> 00:01:57,720 Speaker 1: whether in private business or in public spaces, whether in 24 00:01:57,800 --> 00:02:01,760 Speaker 1: school or not. And when I say public or spaces, 25 00:02:01,800 --> 00:02:06,360 Speaker 1: I mean public schools right, or colleges, I mean private 26 00:02:06,440 --> 00:02:11,040 Speaker 1: businesses to be able to have conversations that make white 27 00:02:11,080 --> 00:02:14,840 Speaker 1: people uncomfortable. Yes, yes, that is actually a fucking thing. 28 00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:22,840 Speaker 1: And what is so detestable about that is it is foreshadowing. Right. First, 29 00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:27,440 Speaker 1: the battle was with the fake outrage around critical race theory. 30 00:02:28,120 --> 00:02:31,720 Speaker 1: And on top of that, you were seeing five hundred 31 00:02:31,880 --> 00:02:38,120 Speaker 1: plus voting restriction bills, voter suppression bills that are operational 32 00:02:38,280 --> 00:02:43,919 Speaker 1: in forty nine states. You are seeing book banning, right, 33 00:02:44,040 --> 00:02:49,440 Speaker 1: banning of authors of color, and all of this brings 34 00:02:49,480 --> 00:02:53,040 Speaker 1: me to one place. The other day, I was watching 35 00:02:54,240 --> 00:02:59,799 Speaker 1: a documentary and it was wild because it was following 36 00:03:00,160 --> 00:03:08,000 Speaker 1: this provocative Chinese artist who is now banned from China. 37 00:03:08,040 --> 00:03:10,520 Speaker 1: And I might have mentioned this in the show before. 38 00:03:10,600 --> 00:03:14,359 Speaker 1: After I watched the documentary, which please excuse me, the 39 00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:18,120 Speaker 1: title of it fails me right now. But oh no, 40 00:03:18,200 --> 00:03:20,960 Speaker 1: it wasn't a documentary. No, it was sixty minutes, and 41 00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:23,079 Speaker 1: we did have a conversation about this. It was sixty 42 00:03:23,120 --> 00:03:27,080 Speaker 1: minutes because what this artist learned and what spurred him 43 00:03:27,200 --> 00:03:31,280 Speaker 1: into his art, which was battling against and continues to 44 00:03:31,320 --> 00:03:36,520 Speaker 1: battle against the Chinese government, which is very dangerous, very 45 00:03:36,600 --> 00:03:39,400 Speaker 1: very dangerous. It is not like what I do on 46 00:03:39,520 --> 00:03:42,520 Speaker 1: ookay Ap daily. It is not like, you know, what 47 00:03:42,720 --> 00:03:45,080 Speaker 1: any of us who sit comfortably in the United States 48 00:03:45,080 --> 00:03:47,640 Speaker 1: to do when we are railing against government as of 49 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:51,760 Speaker 1: right now. But what struck me is that there is 50 00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:59,200 Speaker 1: nowhere written in their public education system, in museums, in 51 00:03:59,240 --> 00:04:03,840 Speaker 1: any artifacts, anything that has to do with Tianamen Square. Now, 52 00:04:03,920 --> 00:04:06,000 Speaker 1: for those of you who either may be too young 53 00:04:06,360 --> 00:04:09,480 Speaker 1: or too old or somewhere in the middle, and just forget, 54 00:04:10,480 --> 00:04:19,800 Speaker 1: Tianneman Square was students in China protesting right against the government, 55 00:04:20,720 --> 00:04:25,120 Speaker 1: and the government, in the face of opposition, rolled out 56 00:04:25,320 --> 00:04:35,440 Speaker 1: tanks that would kill at least twenty plus students. After 57 00:04:36,279 --> 00:04:41,480 Speaker 1: the government killed its own citizens, they would then pass 58 00:04:41,560 --> 00:04:46,640 Speaker 1: a law that would make it illegal for the families 59 00:04:46,720 --> 00:04:53,360 Speaker 1: of those that were slain to mourn publicly, to speak 60 00:04:53,400 --> 00:05:01,320 Speaker 1: at all about the child that they had lost. Now 61 00:05:01,520 --> 00:05:05,760 Speaker 1: you may think, holy shit, nothing like that could ever happen. 62 00:05:06,520 --> 00:05:10,680 Speaker 1: But the fact is is that Tianamen Square is something 63 00:05:10,720 --> 00:05:14,680 Speaker 1: that we are taught about in the United States and 64 00:05:15,160 --> 00:05:20,480 Speaker 1: many other nations are taught about right when you're learning 65 00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:23,599 Speaker 1: about government and comparative governments and protests in all of 66 00:05:23,600 --> 00:05:29,440 Speaker 1: these things. But the Chinese have completely wiped it out 67 00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:35,440 Speaker 1: of any teaching. It is more so rumor, right that 68 00:05:35,640 --> 00:05:39,840 Speaker 1: spreads from person to person by word of mouth, But 69 00:05:40,080 --> 00:05:43,680 Speaker 1: no one has ever heard of it, right, No one 70 00:05:44,279 --> 00:05:47,400 Speaker 1: has ever read about it, no one has ever been 71 00:05:47,440 --> 00:05:52,920 Speaker 1: taught about it. And so generation after generation that has 72 00:05:53,000 --> 00:05:57,440 Speaker 1: been born since and less their families were to tell them, 73 00:05:58,720 --> 00:06:02,960 Speaker 1: would not know because there is no documentation. Why do 74 00:06:03,080 --> 00:06:08,159 Speaker 1: I bring that up Because every single act that is 75 00:06:08,200 --> 00:06:12,760 Speaker 1: happening right now that Republicans are doing, whether it is 76 00:06:13,000 --> 00:06:19,080 Speaker 1: DeSantis's fiefdom in Florida, if it's Abbot's kingdom in Texas, right, 77 00:06:20,560 --> 00:06:27,520 Speaker 1: these people are passing legislation to ensure that generations of 78 00:06:27,839 --> 00:06:33,840 Speaker 1: white Americans and black and brown Americans, even though Mitch 79 00:06:33,920 --> 00:06:39,120 Speaker 1: McConnell does not believe African Americans are Americans. In his 80 00:06:39,279 --> 00:06:42,279 Speaker 1: latest quote unquote slip up, I don't think it was 81 00:06:42,320 --> 00:06:48,479 Speaker 1: a slip up. This is what they want. They want 82 00:06:48,480 --> 00:06:54,560 Speaker 1: our history obliterated, whitewashed. Only tell them the good stuff, right, 83 00:06:54,680 --> 00:06:57,480 Speaker 1: Only tell them the stuff that makes white people feel 84 00:06:57,600 --> 00:07:02,120 Speaker 1: good and look good. Maybe we'll hold up a Martin 85 00:07:02,200 --> 00:07:06,960 Speaker 1: Luther King. But when they're done right with public school curriculum, 86 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:10,840 Speaker 1: when they're done passing all of their legislation, we could 87 00:07:10,880 --> 00:07:13,400 Speaker 1: get to a place where we're not able to murmur 88 00:07:13,440 --> 00:07:18,280 Speaker 1: these things out in public. The truth I can recall, 89 00:07:18,360 --> 00:07:20,640 Speaker 1: and I've shared this with you before, when I went 90 00:07:20,680 --> 00:07:25,520 Speaker 1: to Israel and Palestine back in twenty fifteen, you were 91 00:07:25,600 --> 00:07:33,080 Speaker 1: not allowed to publicly talk about the quote unquote conflict. Right, 92 00:07:33,800 --> 00:07:37,680 Speaker 1: These are things that could get you targeted. That they 93 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:43,080 Speaker 1: the Israeli government has listening ears right and eyes everywhere, 94 00:07:44,760 --> 00:07:50,600 Speaker 1: so people would whisper in public. This is our future. 95 00:07:52,600 --> 00:07:56,520 Speaker 1: We want to believe that what we have seen, the 96 00:07:56,680 --> 00:07:59,880 Speaker 1: extreme versions of things that we have seen take place 97 00:08:00,040 --> 00:08:04,280 Speaker 1: in other countries. We have been kidding ourselves and believing 98 00:08:04,320 --> 00:08:09,240 Speaker 1: that it could never happen here. But it can. It 99 00:08:09,360 --> 00:08:14,120 Speaker 1: is happening. It's happening every single moment of every single 100 00:08:14,160 --> 00:08:18,640 Speaker 1: passing day. That we do nothing about voting rights, that 101 00:08:18,760 --> 00:08:24,320 Speaker 1: we do nothing about stopping the culture war that Republicans 102 00:08:24,360 --> 00:08:28,880 Speaker 1: have renewed and backed with their white supremacist desires and 103 00:08:29,040 --> 00:08:34,400 Speaker 1: ambitions for what they believe America should look like. So 104 00:08:34,480 --> 00:08:38,160 Speaker 1: here we are, folks, this is where we are going, 105 00:08:38,880 --> 00:08:43,040 Speaker 1: and it's not great. It's actually really bad. And so 106 00:08:43,120 --> 00:08:47,560 Speaker 1: we'll talk to Stephanie Young about what her organization is 107 00:08:47,600 --> 00:08:50,560 Speaker 1: going to be doing in the coming year and the 108 00:08:50,559 --> 00:08:54,680 Speaker 1: coming months. We'll talk to Karin Jean Pierre about what 109 00:08:54,800 --> 00:08:58,040 Speaker 1: is on the agenda for year two, given that there 110 00:08:58,160 --> 00:09:01,040 Speaker 1: is more wind in their face then at their back. 111 00:09:01,480 --> 00:09:07,760 Speaker 1: That is coming up next, Folks. I'm so excited to 112 00:09:08,120 --> 00:09:12,320 Speaker 1: welcome to woke F for the very first time Stephanie Young, 113 00:09:12,440 --> 00:09:16,800 Speaker 1: who is the executive director of When We All Vote, 114 00:09:17,800 --> 00:09:21,240 Speaker 1: an organization that is dedicated and was launched, i believe, 115 00:09:21,320 --> 00:09:27,480 Speaker 1: by the former First Lady, my forever first Lady, Michelle Obama, 116 00:09:28,880 --> 00:09:35,920 Speaker 1: working right against Republican obstructionism with regard to voting restrictions. 117 00:09:37,200 --> 00:09:41,160 Speaker 1: Since the twenty twenty election, Stephanie, we have seen five 118 00:09:41,280 --> 00:09:46,400 Speaker 1: hundred plus right voter suppression policies that have been instituted 119 00:09:46,440 --> 00:09:51,480 Speaker 1: across forty nine states. Just this week, we witnessed voting 120 00:09:51,559 --> 00:09:56,520 Speaker 1: rights die right. Martin Martin Luther King week. Right, we 121 00:09:56,559 --> 00:09:59,560 Speaker 1: start off the week with his birthday, watching the same 122 00:09:59,640 --> 00:10:03,640 Speaker 1: republic look ins, same Democrats quote Martin Luther King, and 123 00:10:03,720 --> 00:10:08,400 Speaker 1: yet fail fail on behalf of all Americans. How are 124 00:10:08,400 --> 00:10:13,280 Speaker 1: you feeling? Let me ask you at this moment about 125 00:10:13,280 --> 00:10:17,079 Speaker 1: the work that you are doing. Yeah, well, first, thanks 126 00:10:17,080 --> 00:10:20,840 Speaker 1: for having me. You know, there's always there's never a 127 00:10:20,880 --> 00:10:23,000 Speaker 1: bad time to talk about voting rights, and now it's 128 00:10:23,000 --> 00:10:25,680 Speaker 1: like become the popular thing. And I think a part 129 00:10:25,679 --> 00:10:27,920 Speaker 1: of the problem and the reason why we're even here 130 00:10:28,000 --> 00:10:32,440 Speaker 1: is because we don't talk about voting enough consistently. You know, 131 00:10:32,559 --> 00:10:37,360 Speaker 1: today I would just say, yes, of course, we're somewhat discouraged. 132 00:10:37,440 --> 00:10:39,560 Speaker 1: But being a Hill staffer work in the federal government 133 00:10:39,600 --> 00:10:42,600 Speaker 1: for many years, I understand that it's cyclical and we'll 134 00:10:42,640 --> 00:10:46,199 Speaker 1: be right back here at some other point soon. But 135 00:10:46,240 --> 00:10:49,560 Speaker 1: it's going to be a push from us the people. 136 00:10:49,600 --> 00:10:53,080 Speaker 1: And I think that sometimes we forget that we actually 137 00:10:53,120 --> 00:10:56,440 Speaker 1: have the power in these moments because it feels so 138 00:10:56,520 --> 00:11:01,040 Speaker 1: overwhelming and so frustrating. And I don't want to create 139 00:11:01,800 --> 00:11:05,120 Speaker 1: false hope for people, but I do want to remind 140 00:11:05,160 --> 00:11:07,800 Speaker 1: people that we do have an opportunity to pick up 141 00:11:07,800 --> 00:11:10,960 Speaker 1: the phone and call care cin Cinema and call Mansion 142 00:11:11,160 --> 00:11:14,480 Speaker 1: and call our senators and call other senators and tell 143 00:11:14,520 --> 00:11:17,800 Speaker 1: them how we feel. And they count every tweet, they 144 00:11:17,840 --> 00:11:21,360 Speaker 1: count every voicemail, they count every letter, every email that 145 00:11:21,400 --> 00:11:24,400 Speaker 1: they get. I think right now, as a community of 146 00:11:24,400 --> 00:11:27,360 Speaker 1: folks who care about democracy in this country, that we 147 00:11:27,440 --> 00:11:30,120 Speaker 1: have to rest over the next week and get our 148 00:11:30,160 --> 00:11:33,760 Speaker 1: strength back, because we are headed for a fight for 149 00:11:33,800 --> 00:11:37,480 Speaker 1: our democracy in a way in which we have never been. 150 00:11:37,840 --> 00:11:41,120 Speaker 1: And I know that when we were faced with Donald 151 00:11:41,120 --> 00:11:47,280 Speaker 1: Trump and you know that very problematic administration, people were 152 00:11:47,320 --> 00:11:50,480 Speaker 1: motivated for many, many, many different reasons why to go 153 00:11:50,520 --> 00:11:54,480 Speaker 1: out and vote. And as a non partisan organization, you know, 154 00:11:54,520 --> 00:11:57,600 Speaker 1: we felt like it was it was an easier kind 155 00:11:57,600 --> 00:12:00,280 Speaker 1: of message probably in twenty twenty that you know, let's 156 00:12:00,280 --> 00:12:02,600 Speaker 1: take your focus on your future. You can take your 157 00:12:02,640 --> 00:12:04,840 Speaker 1: future back by making sure you make your voices heard. 158 00:12:05,400 --> 00:12:08,760 Speaker 1: And now our messaging is going to have to shift 159 00:12:08,800 --> 00:12:11,080 Speaker 1: a little bit because you know, as we go into 160 00:12:11,120 --> 00:12:15,040 Speaker 1: the midterms, this is going to determine the next couple 161 00:12:15,080 --> 00:12:18,079 Speaker 1: of years of this Biden administration, whether or not it's 162 00:12:18,120 --> 00:12:20,839 Speaker 1: going to be taken over. And you know, none of 163 00:12:20,920 --> 00:12:23,000 Speaker 1: the things that we want to see done from criminal 164 00:12:23,000 --> 00:12:25,760 Speaker 1: justice reform, you know, to climate change and all these 165 00:12:25,800 --> 00:12:30,199 Speaker 1: different issue areas that we all care about as Americans, 166 00:12:30,920 --> 00:12:34,199 Speaker 1: or we're just going to be stalled continuously. So we're discouraged, 167 00:12:34,240 --> 00:12:36,960 Speaker 1: but yet we know that now is the time to 168 00:12:37,040 --> 00:12:39,600 Speaker 1: rest so that we're ready for the fight ahead. And 169 00:12:39,640 --> 00:12:41,960 Speaker 1: if you hadn't seen it, we did release the New 170 00:12:42,040 --> 00:12:45,439 Speaker 1: York Times a pledge with thirty other voting rights on 171 00:12:45,640 --> 00:12:48,400 Speaker 1: voter protection organizations saying what we're prepared to do. We 172 00:12:48,480 --> 00:12:50,880 Speaker 1: kind of knew this was coming, so we said, we're 173 00:12:50,920 --> 00:12:53,160 Speaker 1: prepared to register a million voters. We're prepared to get 174 00:12:53,200 --> 00:12:55,439 Speaker 1: one hundred thousand people to push Congress to do the 175 00:12:55,559 --> 00:12:57,920 Speaker 1: right thing. We're prepared to recruit one hundred thousand volunteers. 176 00:12:57,960 --> 00:13:01,320 Speaker 1: We're prepared to recruit lawyers all over this country to 177 00:13:01,400 --> 00:13:04,920 Speaker 1: help those voters who will face voter suppression in their cities, 178 00:13:04,960 --> 00:13:09,240 Speaker 1: in their states, to help them navigate this new, unfortunate normal. 179 00:13:09,840 --> 00:13:11,600 Speaker 1: And one thing I just want to say before turning 180 00:13:11,600 --> 00:13:13,800 Speaker 1: it right back to you is that people might have 181 00:13:13,800 --> 00:13:16,520 Speaker 1: missed it. But the other day Mitch McConnell said, maybe 182 00:13:16,520 --> 00:13:19,200 Speaker 1: he was last night or today. He literally said, yeah, 183 00:13:19,240 --> 00:13:22,080 Speaker 1: there's a missmotion that I'm sorry for that day, but 184 00:13:22,080 --> 00:13:25,760 Speaker 1: I'll say that again. Mitch McConnell said, there's notion that 185 00:13:25,800 --> 00:13:29,439 Speaker 1: African Americans can't vote, but they've voted at the highest 186 00:13:29,520 --> 00:13:33,800 Speaker 1: levels like other Americans or as Americans. As American Americans 187 00:13:34,200 --> 00:13:38,560 Speaker 1: are not Americans in twenty twenty two. So we're dealing 188 00:13:38,600 --> 00:13:41,040 Speaker 1: with an old devil that we have always dealt with. 189 00:13:41,320 --> 00:13:43,400 Speaker 1: Um I think right now it's just more blatant than 190 00:13:43,480 --> 00:13:47,880 Speaker 1: ever before. And if you think in this moment, let 191 00:13:47,880 --> 00:13:50,319 Speaker 1: me just rest it back, it doesn't matter, doesn't count. 192 00:13:50,559 --> 00:13:52,920 Speaker 1: Why would they be going through these great links if 193 00:13:52,960 --> 00:13:55,000 Speaker 1: you didn't matter and if your vote didn't count. They're 194 00:13:55,000 --> 00:13:57,319 Speaker 1: afraid of you. They're afraid of the American people. They're 195 00:13:57,320 --> 00:13:59,400 Speaker 1: afraid of the American voter because they know that we 196 00:13:59,440 --> 00:14:01,760 Speaker 1: are not on their side. So we have to show 197 00:14:01,760 --> 00:14:04,160 Speaker 1: them that we're ready for the fight. And I encourage 198 00:14:04,160 --> 00:14:05,840 Speaker 1: people to rest, but let's get ready. We gotta go. 199 00:14:06,840 --> 00:14:09,439 Speaker 1: You know, Stephanie, a couple of things that you've said, 200 00:14:09,760 --> 00:14:13,240 Speaker 1: you know, prompt so many different questions, But the first 201 00:14:13,240 --> 00:14:16,520 Speaker 1: one that I want to ask you here is do 202 00:14:16,559 --> 00:14:24,000 Speaker 1: you think that Democrats right recognize the urgency of this 203 00:14:24,080 --> 00:14:28,240 Speaker 1: moment because even when you mentioned the fact that you know, 204 00:14:28,800 --> 00:14:33,000 Speaker 1: longtime Hill staffer, right, like we we initially cross paths 205 00:14:33,040 --> 00:14:35,720 Speaker 1: many many moons ago when when I was a fellow 206 00:14:35,720 --> 00:14:41,200 Speaker 1: with the Congressional Black Caucus, and you know, I didn't 207 00:14:41,200 --> 00:14:43,400 Speaker 1: realize that at the time that those are the glory days. 208 00:14:43,640 --> 00:14:46,800 Speaker 1: Yet I would have had I would under siege, I 209 00:14:47,600 --> 00:14:50,800 Speaker 1: would I would add no idea. But you know, do 210 00:14:50,880 --> 00:14:54,040 Speaker 1: you think you know? And you said, like, we've been 211 00:14:54,080 --> 00:14:57,000 Speaker 1: here before, we'll be here again. I think that this 212 00:14:57,040 --> 00:15:00,520 Speaker 1: moment is different though, because I don't believe that once 213 00:15:00,760 --> 00:15:05,080 Speaker 1: Republicans gain power, that whereover going to go back to 214 00:15:05,240 --> 00:15:07,920 Speaker 1: what it was before. So do you think that the 215 00:15:08,280 --> 00:15:12,880 Speaker 1: urgency of this, of the need for voting rights to 216 00:15:12,920 --> 00:15:16,600 Speaker 1: secure our democracy, do you think it's being seen? Yeah? 217 00:15:16,760 --> 00:15:18,840 Speaker 1: So two things. And I want to clarify when I 218 00:15:18,880 --> 00:15:20,480 Speaker 1: when I met, we're going to be here again, meaning 219 00:15:20,720 --> 00:15:23,000 Speaker 1: we're not going to not see the voting rights legislation 220 00:15:23,000 --> 00:15:25,680 Speaker 1: come up again, right, Okay, so we'll see, Well, well 221 00:15:25,920 --> 00:15:29,080 Speaker 1: we'll have another opportunity, I believe, right, and that is 222 00:15:29,160 --> 00:15:32,400 Speaker 1: when and how hard we push um, you know, conquerors 223 00:15:32,400 --> 00:15:35,360 Speaker 1: to the right thing. Yep, you're right, like we haven't 224 00:15:35,400 --> 00:15:38,120 Speaker 1: been in this moment, and I think that we definitely 225 00:15:39,000 --> 00:15:43,120 Speaker 1: if Republicans are um, you know, in the majority, they 226 00:15:43,160 --> 00:15:45,480 Speaker 1: have shown this is only a fact, and again if 227 00:15:45,480 --> 00:15:48,600 Speaker 1: they were Nonharts organizations, not only a fact that they 228 00:15:48,640 --> 00:15:51,080 Speaker 1: have shown that they have no interest in ensuring that 229 00:15:51,080 --> 00:15:53,440 Speaker 1: the American people have equal access to the ballot box 230 00:15:53,440 --> 00:15:56,000 Speaker 1: and that we have freem fair elections. Instead, they care 231 00:15:56,080 --> 00:15:59,120 Speaker 1: more about how are they going to make sure that 232 00:15:59,200 --> 00:16:03,280 Speaker 1: the electoral call process is to their liking in order 233 00:16:03,360 --> 00:16:08,600 Speaker 1: to potentially try to legitimate the or make legitimate the 234 00:16:08,800 --> 00:16:13,280 Speaker 1: argument that the twenty twenty election was raped or was wrong. 235 00:16:14,000 --> 00:16:17,000 Speaker 1: So they've already shown where they stand when it comes 236 00:16:17,000 --> 00:16:18,880 Speaker 1: to voting rights. And I don't want to get I 237 00:16:18,880 --> 00:16:22,520 Speaker 1: don't want us to get confused about that, but I 238 00:16:22,560 --> 00:16:24,880 Speaker 1: will say this. I think a problem is that voting 239 00:16:24,960 --> 00:16:29,160 Speaker 1: rights has been painted as like a black issue. Yes rights, 240 00:16:29,200 --> 00:16:32,280 Speaker 1: it's not a black issue. It is an American democracy issue. 241 00:16:32,640 --> 00:16:36,040 Speaker 1: And as long as any politician, Democrat or Republican still 242 00:16:36,040 --> 00:16:38,440 Speaker 1: believes this is a black people issue or a brown 243 00:16:38,520 --> 00:16:40,840 Speaker 1: people issue, it won't get addressed in the way that 244 00:16:40,880 --> 00:16:43,200 Speaker 1: it needs to be. And I can say that speaking 245 00:16:43,280 --> 00:16:48,160 Speaker 1: as a formal federal government employee, that our issues are 246 00:16:48,240 --> 00:16:51,200 Speaker 1: seen as sometimes like I don't want to say a 247 00:16:51,200 --> 00:16:53,960 Speaker 1: pet project, but like a specialty project that you check 248 00:16:54,000 --> 00:16:56,640 Speaker 1: in on a national holiday. Yeah, it's opposed to like 249 00:16:56,760 --> 00:16:59,920 Speaker 1: being a part of Like it's an elective. If you're 250 00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:02,200 Speaker 1: if you're if you're thinking about, if you're thinking about, 251 00:17:02,440 --> 00:17:04,640 Speaker 1: you know, high school, you think about it's an elective. 252 00:17:04,960 --> 00:17:07,000 Speaker 1: It's not part of the court. It's not you know. 253 00:17:07,160 --> 00:17:11,040 Speaker 1: Voting rights has never been one of the core tenants. 254 00:17:11,400 --> 00:17:14,080 Speaker 1: And I say this as a staunch Democrat, even of 255 00:17:14,080 --> 00:17:17,400 Speaker 1: the Democratic Party. It is it has always been the 256 00:17:17,440 --> 00:17:20,600 Speaker 1: thing that those a loud and complaining black and brown 257 00:17:20,680 --> 00:17:23,800 Speaker 1: people over there with their signs, it's what they need. 258 00:17:24,080 --> 00:17:26,520 Speaker 1: And I'm saying to myself, I'm like, this is this 259 00:17:26,760 --> 00:17:28,399 Speaker 1: and it isn't you. I mean, I know that you 260 00:17:28,480 --> 00:17:32,800 Speaker 1: said your organization is nonpartisan. Voting rights is supposed to 261 00:17:32,840 --> 00:17:36,440 Speaker 1: be a nonpartisan issue because in order to elect one 262 00:17:36,520 --> 00:17:39,919 Speaker 1: party or the other, everyone needs to be able to vote. 263 00:17:40,000 --> 00:17:41,639 Speaker 1: Everyone needs to be able to vote. And at the 264 00:17:41,720 --> 00:17:45,120 Speaker 1: end of the day, like I think, the reason why 265 00:17:45,160 --> 00:17:46,960 Speaker 1: it does not get the amount of attention that it 266 00:17:47,000 --> 00:17:49,720 Speaker 1: deserves consistently, and the reason why we're in this moment 267 00:17:49,800 --> 00:17:51,359 Speaker 1: is because it has been paint as a black issue, 268 00:17:51,359 --> 00:17:55,280 Speaker 1: and I think that both Democrats and Republicans have couched 269 00:17:55,560 --> 00:17:57,399 Speaker 1: in that way. I mean even when I go on 270 00:17:57,440 --> 00:18:00,040 Speaker 1: television to talk about this, It was on MSMC the 271 00:18:00,200 --> 00:18:02,520 Speaker 1: day and they're like, well, black, black people really want 272 00:18:02,600 --> 00:18:06,879 Speaker 1: voting rights. That's what we all want, voting rights. And 273 00:18:06,920 --> 00:18:08,920 Speaker 1: if you think that these five hundred voter suppression bilts 274 00:18:08,920 --> 00:18:12,360 Speaker 1: to not unpact white people, working class people, people disabilities, 275 00:18:12,560 --> 00:18:15,840 Speaker 1: then you're mistaken. It impacts all of us. And until 276 00:18:16,240 --> 00:18:20,680 Speaker 1: politicians recognize that in both parties, then yeah, I think 277 00:18:20,720 --> 00:18:23,679 Speaker 1: it always will be relegated to like the back of 278 00:18:23,720 --> 00:18:26,439 Speaker 1: the line, a check, you know, a box checked right 279 00:18:26,480 --> 00:18:29,720 Speaker 1: before election, another kind of pet project or an elective 280 00:18:29,760 --> 00:18:31,720 Speaker 1: as you said, And I think it's a comment upon 281 00:18:32,720 --> 00:18:36,439 Speaker 1: every American of goodwill, every American who believes in true democracy. 282 00:18:36,800 --> 00:18:38,520 Speaker 1: They all need to stand up. We all have to 283 00:18:38,560 --> 00:18:40,919 Speaker 1: stand up with our collective voices about voting rights and 284 00:18:40,960 --> 00:18:43,199 Speaker 1: take this out of like the black and brown you 285 00:18:43,200 --> 00:18:46,639 Speaker 1: know column, Let's do some good and give them a 286 00:18:46,720 --> 00:18:48,520 Speaker 1: right to vote. Like what are we even talking about. 287 00:18:48,560 --> 00:18:51,680 Speaker 1: It's twenty twenty two, So I think that's that's one 288 00:18:51,720 --> 00:18:55,040 Speaker 1: of the things that has bothered me in this conversation consistently. 289 00:18:55,320 --> 00:18:59,400 Speaker 1: And I think that that's why the administration frankly approached 290 00:18:59,440 --> 00:19:01,600 Speaker 1: it in this way, because they catch it as a 291 00:19:01,640 --> 00:19:05,640 Speaker 1: minority issue as opposed to a real problem, an issue 292 00:19:05,720 --> 00:19:09,760 Speaker 1: for our democracy, Like are you kidding me? We're talking 293 00:19:09,800 --> 00:19:12,760 Speaker 1: about over five hundred bills and they've passed in places 294 00:19:12,800 --> 00:19:16,200 Speaker 1: like Texas and Georgia. We know this, um. And and 295 00:19:16,359 --> 00:19:19,879 Speaker 1: in Florida right now, the governor is literally talking about 296 00:19:19,960 --> 00:19:26,200 Speaker 1: having police like election police were not intimidation, um. And 297 00:19:26,240 --> 00:19:29,240 Speaker 1: that is the trauma in which we've experienced generation after 298 00:19:29,280 --> 00:19:32,760 Speaker 1: generation after generation as black people in this country. But 299 00:19:32,800 --> 00:19:35,120 Speaker 1: now others will be subjected to it because again, this 300 00:19:35,200 --> 00:19:39,320 Speaker 1: is not just a black issue, you know. Um. There 301 00:19:39,520 --> 00:19:44,359 Speaker 1: is so much that is wrong right now. And I 302 00:19:44,400 --> 00:19:47,959 Speaker 1: believe that, like myself, people who were holding onto this 303 00:19:48,040 --> 00:19:51,600 Speaker 1: mustard seat of hope in the twenty twenty election, believe 304 00:19:51,720 --> 00:19:55,040 Speaker 1: that a majority of our problems would go away if, 305 00:19:55,080 --> 00:19:57,480 Speaker 1: in fact, we could come out in the midst of 306 00:19:57,520 --> 00:20:01,480 Speaker 1: a health pandemic, stand out in line and do our 307 00:20:01,600 --> 00:20:06,119 Speaker 1: part to vote out Donald Trump, right, a man that 308 00:20:06,200 --> 00:20:10,520 Speaker 1: had become a cancer on this country and still continues 309 00:20:10,560 --> 00:20:15,880 Speaker 1: to be and bring in a new administration, put adults 310 00:20:15,920 --> 00:20:19,280 Speaker 1: back in charge and at the table. How do you, 311 00:20:20,960 --> 00:20:24,800 Speaker 1: as an executive director of an organization that is about 312 00:20:24,800 --> 00:20:28,159 Speaker 1: getting people to vote, what do you say now to 313 00:20:28,240 --> 00:20:31,680 Speaker 1: the disenchanted right to the And I don't even want 314 00:20:31,680 --> 00:20:34,879 Speaker 1: to say disenchanted, because I honestly believe you know, and 315 00:20:35,200 --> 00:20:38,880 Speaker 1: my mother and my family members who are staunch Democrats 316 00:20:38,920 --> 00:20:41,800 Speaker 1: watching MSNBC every single day, like voting and all of 317 00:20:41,840 --> 00:20:44,600 Speaker 1: the things, are saying to me, what does it matter? 318 00:20:45,160 --> 00:20:48,199 Speaker 1: And I think that there is a deep grief Stephanie, 319 00:20:48,200 --> 00:20:50,960 Speaker 1: that is there right, Like there is a deep sadness 320 00:20:51,000 --> 00:20:53,080 Speaker 1: that I don't even think that we talk about enough 321 00:20:53,600 --> 00:20:58,880 Speaker 1: that people have about not being heard or seen or counted. Right, 322 00:20:58,960 --> 00:21:02,159 Speaker 1: and that quote unquot nothing has changed. So what do 323 00:21:02,240 --> 00:21:06,879 Speaker 1: you say to that aggrieved voter who said, I stood 324 00:21:06,880 --> 00:21:11,320 Speaker 1: in line, I did my part, I've registered people, I donated. 325 00:21:11,760 --> 00:21:14,160 Speaker 1: How are you telling me that we can't get voting 326 00:21:14,240 --> 00:21:16,679 Speaker 1: rights passed, that we can't get police reform passed, and 327 00:21:16,720 --> 00:21:20,919 Speaker 1: Democrats are uncharged. Yeah, look, I think that you know, 328 00:21:20,960 --> 00:21:22,800 Speaker 1: I think about this every day because I have to 329 00:21:22,840 --> 00:21:25,600 Speaker 1: motivate a team and there's a lot of young people 330 00:21:25,600 --> 00:21:28,560 Speaker 1: in my team who've never worked in politics, who've never 331 00:21:28,600 --> 00:21:31,479 Speaker 1: been through presidential cycles, who don't kind of know what 332 00:21:31,520 --> 00:21:33,840 Speaker 1: this world is like. And let's be clear, we're an 333 00:21:33,880 --> 00:21:37,080 Speaker 1: impresident at times, so it is different. And I have 334 00:21:37,119 --> 00:21:39,760 Speaker 1: to talk to myself and give myself pep talks every 335 00:21:39,800 --> 00:21:42,080 Speaker 1: single day. But I do know that this work is righteous, 336 00:21:42,080 --> 00:21:43,679 Speaker 1: and I do know that this work is good. And 337 00:21:43,720 --> 00:21:46,240 Speaker 1: I do know that your votes and your time, your 338 00:21:46,240 --> 00:21:48,440 Speaker 1: effort are not in vade. And I think that a 339 00:21:50,080 --> 00:21:54,199 Speaker 1: component of voter suppression is to depress you, is to 340 00:21:54,280 --> 00:21:56,600 Speaker 1: make you feel like you know, there's no light at 341 00:21:56,600 --> 00:21:59,080 Speaker 1: the end of the tunnel, it's never going to work, 342 00:21:59,160 --> 00:22:03,719 Speaker 1: it doesn't matter. And that psychological suppression, you know, creates 343 00:22:03,800 --> 00:22:06,560 Speaker 1: your athlete And I think that we have to guard 344 00:22:06,560 --> 00:22:10,760 Speaker 1: ourselves and be careful by tutoring too close to the edge. 345 00:22:10,760 --> 00:22:13,160 Speaker 1: And look, we're in a global pandemic still. My sister 346 00:22:13,359 --> 00:22:15,919 Speaker 1: is fighting COVID right now, like we are in a 347 00:22:16,040 --> 00:22:20,160 Speaker 1: situation where we're just we're being hit on by every direction. 348 00:22:20,280 --> 00:22:22,239 Speaker 1: And first I want to say to the people who 349 00:22:22,280 --> 00:22:25,960 Speaker 1: did show up, to the people who did vote, donate, volunteer, 350 00:22:26,040 --> 00:22:29,320 Speaker 1: did all those things, We thank you, we appreciate you, 351 00:22:29,880 --> 00:22:32,080 Speaker 1: and we hope that right now that you're getting your 352 00:22:32,160 --> 00:22:34,880 Speaker 1: rest and know that your work was not in vain. 353 00:22:35,080 --> 00:22:38,640 Speaker 1: And you know, I think that like one other thing 354 00:22:38,720 --> 00:22:40,800 Speaker 1: to to kind of think through besides the fact that 355 00:22:40,840 --> 00:22:44,480 Speaker 1: this is a psychological like warfare as well. It really is. 356 00:22:44,720 --> 00:22:47,920 Speaker 1: So it's not just like physical manifestation of Okay, we're 357 00:22:47,920 --> 00:22:49,800 Speaker 1: going to take away your early voting hours, but it 358 00:22:50,080 --> 00:22:53,320 Speaker 1: is that psychological warfare as well. Is that, you know, 359 00:22:53,359 --> 00:22:57,560 Speaker 1: a part of our duty as as American citizens citizens 360 00:22:57,720 --> 00:23:00,560 Speaker 1: is to fully be a part of our government, and 361 00:23:00,920 --> 00:23:04,960 Speaker 1: voting is only that one piece, It is not all 362 00:23:05,000 --> 00:23:08,520 Speaker 1: of it. And I think that sometimes we put a 363 00:23:08,560 --> 00:23:11,080 Speaker 1: lot of emphasis in just voting, But when I look 364 00:23:11,080 --> 00:23:14,280 Speaker 1: at the stairstep of like engagement, that's just the first step. 365 00:23:14,680 --> 00:23:16,800 Speaker 1: And what we have to do is that we have 366 00:23:17,000 --> 00:23:21,320 Speaker 1: to keep and hold our elected officials accountable. And how 367 00:23:21,320 --> 00:23:22,880 Speaker 1: do we do that. We do that in a multitude 368 00:23:22,920 --> 00:23:24,960 Speaker 1: of different ways. You do that by picking up the 369 00:23:24,960 --> 00:23:27,080 Speaker 1: phone and calling them and tell them how displeased or 370 00:23:27,119 --> 00:23:29,640 Speaker 1: pleased that you are with them, and just as downtrive 371 00:23:29,800 --> 00:23:32,400 Speaker 1: that you might be. Trust me, the Congress and those 372 00:23:32,400 --> 00:23:34,800 Speaker 1: senators they're failing the same way too, and they sometimes 373 00:23:34,840 --> 00:23:36,840 Speaker 1: see that motivation know that they're doing the right thing. 374 00:23:37,640 --> 00:23:40,960 Speaker 1: I also encourage people to make sure that you're you're 375 00:23:41,000 --> 00:23:44,840 Speaker 1: feeding yourself with a community of people who believe in 376 00:23:44,840 --> 00:23:47,040 Speaker 1: the dream of what this country is supposed to be. Right, 377 00:23:47,560 --> 00:23:50,000 Speaker 1: I think our democracy, I think I think we're mourning 378 00:23:50,280 --> 00:23:53,280 Speaker 1: because we thought that we had a true democracy and 379 00:23:53,320 --> 00:23:55,560 Speaker 1: everything was intact. And I think that we are just 380 00:23:55,880 --> 00:23:58,960 Speaker 1: finally realizing that this is a work that we haven't 381 00:23:59,040 --> 00:24:02,040 Speaker 1: yet realized, and that it's going to take all of 382 00:24:02,040 --> 00:24:06,239 Speaker 1: our collective efforts consistently from advocating for the issues that 383 00:24:06,280 --> 00:24:10,080 Speaker 1: we care about, by staying unfortunately in the streets and 384 00:24:10,720 --> 00:24:15,320 Speaker 1: voices in that way, you know, by joining organizations like ours. 385 00:24:15,320 --> 00:24:16,960 Speaker 1: We try to make it as easy as possible to 386 00:24:17,000 --> 00:24:19,360 Speaker 1: build community within your own community of people who want 387 00:24:19,359 --> 00:24:22,479 Speaker 1: to do this work, and by staying with it and 388 00:24:22,520 --> 00:24:25,480 Speaker 1: staying at it. I also say this, like, and it's 389 00:24:25,520 --> 00:24:28,360 Speaker 1: not to scare people, but you know what, right now, 390 00:24:28,480 --> 00:24:30,120 Speaker 1: there's something that's going on and I don't think people 391 00:24:30,119 --> 00:24:32,560 Speaker 1: are paying attention to it. Is that there are these 392 00:24:33,640 --> 00:24:36,119 Speaker 1: characters of people around the country who are running for 393 00:24:36,160 --> 00:24:40,240 Speaker 1: secretaries of state and most people that control the election 394 00:24:40,359 --> 00:24:42,760 Speaker 1: in that state, and they have all said, all of 395 00:24:42,800 --> 00:24:45,760 Speaker 1: these different characters, its cast of characters, that they would 396 00:24:45,800 --> 00:24:49,080 Speaker 1: not have certified the twenty twenty election. I kid you not. 397 00:24:49,840 --> 00:24:52,959 Speaker 1: They are preparing to hopefully elect these people to not 398 00:24:53,080 --> 00:24:56,920 Speaker 1: certify the twenty twenty four election. So we just don't 399 00:24:56,960 --> 00:25:00,000 Speaker 1: have a We don't have to choice to get dis 400 00:25:00,080 --> 00:25:03,800 Speaker 1: urage and back down in this moment. And I'm torn 401 00:25:03,880 --> 00:25:07,200 Speaker 1: to because it is it is the responsibility of the 402 00:25:07,200 --> 00:25:09,440 Speaker 1: people that we elected to take care of our to 403 00:25:09,440 --> 00:25:12,520 Speaker 1: take care of Yep, they owe that to us. That 404 00:25:12,680 --> 00:25:14,480 Speaker 1: is why they are in office. But that is why 405 00:25:14,520 --> 00:25:16,360 Speaker 1: it's so important that we have to hold those people 406 00:25:16,400 --> 00:25:20,080 Speaker 1: accountable and primary those who do not reflect our values 407 00:25:20,119 --> 00:25:23,359 Speaker 1: and our interests. And if you feel like you know 408 00:25:23,440 --> 00:25:26,600 Speaker 1: you're ready yourself, you run for office. I mean I 409 00:25:26,920 --> 00:25:29,960 Speaker 1: wish could that your state. Yeah, that people that people 410 00:25:30,000 --> 00:25:32,280 Speaker 1: would take up that mantle. I don't know how many 411 00:25:32,359 --> 00:25:34,240 Speaker 1: times I get tweets that are like you should run 412 00:25:34,280 --> 00:25:37,200 Speaker 1: for office, and I'm like, no, you should run for office. Yeah, 413 00:25:37,240 --> 00:25:40,359 Speaker 1: I'm doing I'm doing my part by lifting up, you know, 414 00:25:40,440 --> 00:25:43,640 Speaker 1: the issues and bringing people to the table for conversation 415 00:25:43,720 --> 00:25:45,840 Speaker 1: that I don't think happens in mainstream that. I'm like, 416 00:25:46,000 --> 00:25:49,400 Speaker 1: if you are angry, turn that anger into action, right, 417 00:25:49,480 --> 00:25:51,480 Speaker 1: do something? So I know we only have you for 418 00:25:51,520 --> 00:25:55,280 Speaker 1: another minute, but tell folks how they can get involved 419 00:25:55,320 --> 00:25:58,800 Speaker 1: with when we all vote. What can they do in 420 00:25:58,840 --> 00:26:02,880 Speaker 1: this moment that they're feeling powerless with your organization? Yeah, 421 00:26:02,920 --> 00:26:06,679 Speaker 1: so look, we try to make this easy because you know, 422 00:26:06,760 --> 00:26:09,760 Speaker 1: we're all busy people, we're all living in a global pandemic. 423 00:26:10,080 --> 00:26:11,720 Speaker 1: My goal is how do we make the barrier of 424 00:26:11,760 --> 00:26:14,520 Speaker 1: injury so low that you feel like I can tap 425 00:26:14,560 --> 00:26:15,920 Speaker 1: in and I can tap out when I have the 426 00:26:15,960 --> 00:26:18,399 Speaker 1: strength and energy to do so. So you can do 427 00:26:18,480 --> 00:26:22,560 Speaker 1: everything from sign up to volunteer, and our volunteer activities 428 00:26:22,680 --> 00:26:26,800 Speaker 1: range from either making phone calls, sending text messages, or 429 00:26:26,840 --> 00:26:30,800 Speaker 1: showing up and helping early voting events, you know during 430 00:26:30,880 --> 00:26:33,439 Speaker 1: early voting season which is in the fall, or showing 431 00:26:33,520 --> 00:26:35,840 Speaker 1: up during National Vote or Registration Week of Action which 432 00:26:35,880 --> 00:26:38,640 Speaker 1: is also in the fall. It's like it's these light 433 00:26:38,720 --> 00:26:42,040 Speaker 1: touches here and there, but with big numbers we make 434 00:26:42,040 --> 00:26:44,160 Speaker 1: a really big impact. You can take it a step 435 00:26:44,200 --> 00:26:46,520 Speaker 1: further and become a voting squad captain and what that 436 00:26:46,560 --> 00:26:50,840 Speaker 1: means is that you are building a community of organizers 437 00:26:50,960 --> 00:26:54,560 Speaker 1: or rather volunteers in your community that will go out 438 00:26:54,600 --> 00:26:58,680 Speaker 1: and help to register voters and recruit even more volunteers boots. 439 00:26:58,680 --> 00:27:00,240 Speaker 1: So that's a little bit of a leadership with and 440 00:27:00,240 --> 00:27:01,680 Speaker 1: then if you're feeling like you know what I really 441 00:27:01,680 --> 00:27:03,560 Speaker 1: want to dedicate for this year to doing this work, 442 00:27:03,800 --> 00:27:06,680 Speaker 1: then sign up to be a chapter leader. And we're 443 00:27:06,720 --> 00:27:09,800 Speaker 1: creating chapter programs clearly on like went to a black 444 00:27:09,840 --> 00:27:13,600 Speaker 1: college and pledge of blacks, I love it. We need chapters. 445 00:27:13,880 --> 00:27:16,760 Speaker 1: So we're just starting our Chapter leader program. And if 446 00:27:16,800 --> 00:27:19,560 Speaker 1: you're a mother or a parent of a high school 447 00:27:19,600 --> 00:27:21,240 Speaker 1: or we have a high school program called My School 448 00:27:21,320 --> 00:27:23,639 Speaker 1: Votes because we're trying to never be in this place, 449 00:27:23,840 --> 00:27:25,760 Speaker 1: this space again, and what that means is making sure 450 00:27:25,800 --> 00:27:28,880 Speaker 1: that our young people know not just how to register 451 00:27:29,040 --> 00:27:32,040 Speaker 1: their communities, but the undertain health campaigns. They understand how 452 00:27:32,080 --> 00:27:34,320 Speaker 1: to act, yes, they care about they understand how to 453 00:27:34,480 --> 00:27:38,320 Speaker 1: organize their communities. So we have this whole program that 454 00:27:38,359 --> 00:27:41,320 Speaker 1: we have in schools all across the country. Our goal 455 00:27:41,400 --> 00:27:44,000 Speaker 1: is to have five hundred new schools this year for 456 00:27:44,040 --> 00:27:46,440 Speaker 1: our My School Votes program as an after school program. 457 00:27:46,520 --> 00:27:49,680 Speaker 1: So if you're an educator. Please sign up for that. 458 00:27:50,400 --> 00:27:52,000 Speaker 1: And if you're like, you know what, I don't really 459 00:27:52,040 --> 00:27:53,560 Speaker 1: want to do much but give you twenty dollars, just 460 00:27:53,640 --> 00:27:56,359 Speaker 1: give us, give us some support that way, and that 461 00:27:56,440 --> 00:27:59,520 Speaker 1: absolutely will go a really, really long way. But I 462 00:27:59,600 --> 00:28:02,160 Speaker 1: just really don't want you to get discouraged. And one 463 00:28:02,240 --> 00:28:04,000 Speaker 1: thing that we try to do, if we make it fun. 464 00:28:04,280 --> 00:28:07,520 Speaker 1: Missus Obama is still you know, leading this organization. She's 465 00:28:07,880 --> 00:28:10,280 Speaker 1: you know, our co chair, but she's joined with a 466 00:28:10,280 --> 00:28:13,440 Speaker 1: lot of fun people like Carrie Washington and Chris Paul 467 00:28:14,000 --> 00:28:17,760 Speaker 1: Alma and Tom Hanks. And we try to have fun 468 00:28:18,119 --> 00:28:20,720 Speaker 1: virtual events for you all, and hopefully we'll do stuff 469 00:28:20,760 --> 00:28:23,320 Speaker 1: in person too to bring us the energy that we 470 00:28:23,400 --> 00:28:26,280 Speaker 1: need so that we're not getting too tired in this 471 00:28:26,320 --> 00:28:29,600 Speaker 1: fight because we have we have a long slot ahead. Stephanie, 472 00:28:29,720 --> 00:28:32,919 Speaker 1: I cannot thank you enough one for the work that 473 00:28:32,960 --> 00:28:35,199 Speaker 1: you are doing, the work you've always done to be 474 00:28:35,359 --> 00:28:37,679 Speaker 1: you know, to be Frank, but the work particularly that 475 00:28:37,720 --> 00:28:40,200 Speaker 1: you are doing with when we all vote, I mean, 476 00:28:40,440 --> 00:28:43,160 Speaker 1: we need it. We need the energy, We need the encouragement, 477 00:28:43,200 --> 00:28:47,000 Speaker 1: we need the positivity and the hopefulness that each of 478 00:28:47,040 --> 00:28:48,960 Speaker 1: the programs that you just laid out, each of the 479 00:28:49,040 --> 00:28:53,160 Speaker 1: initiatives can bring us, particularly in this moment. So I 480 00:28:53,200 --> 00:28:55,080 Speaker 1: hope that you will come back to woke a F 481 00:28:55,680 --> 00:28:58,040 Speaker 1: as we as we trudge our way through these mid 482 00:28:58,200 --> 00:29:02,480 Speaker 1: term elections and give us some news about what is 483 00:29:02,520 --> 00:29:07,640 Speaker 1: happening around with your local chapters and the organization. Absolutely, 484 00:29:07,680 --> 00:29:09,239 Speaker 1: please sign up at when we all vote dit org, 485 00:29:09,320 --> 00:29:11,280 Speaker 1: we will have like a little bit of a town 486 00:29:11,280 --> 00:29:13,160 Speaker 1: hall and a couple of days that we'll talk about 487 00:29:13,200 --> 00:29:15,920 Speaker 1: where we are and how we go forward. So we 488 00:29:15,960 --> 00:29:17,440 Speaker 1: hope to get as many people on that call. It's 489 00:29:17,480 --> 00:29:19,800 Speaker 1: possible to motivate them but also to get them involved. 490 00:29:19,800 --> 00:29:22,080 Speaker 1: So when we all vote dot org, sign up today. 491 00:29:22,160 --> 00:29:25,200 Speaker 1: But thank you so much, appreciate you. I appreciate you. 492 00:29:25,280 --> 00:29:32,880 Speaker 1: Thank you, folks. I am so excited to welcome back 493 00:29:32,920 --> 00:29:38,440 Speaker 1: to woke F for the second time our wonderful principal 494 00:29:39,160 --> 00:29:44,160 Speaker 1: Deputy White House Press Secretary Kourn Jam Pierre. How are you? 495 00:29:44,280 --> 00:29:47,440 Speaker 1: How are you doing on this year anniversary? It's one 496 00:29:47,520 --> 00:29:49,880 Speaker 1: year anniversary. I can't believe three hundred and sixty five 497 00:29:49,960 --> 00:29:53,240 Speaker 1: days flew by. So much has happened. It's so good 498 00:29:53,240 --> 00:29:56,720 Speaker 1: to see you, my friend. You know, one day we'll 499 00:29:56,760 --> 00:29:59,920 Speaker 1: do it in person. One day, But thanks for having me. 500 00:30:00,320 --> 00:30:04,720 Speaker 1: I'm really looking forward to our conversation absolutely, you know, Karen, 501 00:30:04,880 --> 00:30:07,280 Speaker 1: three hundred and sixty five days. On one hand, it 502 00:30:07,320 --> 00:30:09,800 Speaker 1: feels like it has flown by. On the other hand, 503 00:30:10,000 --> 00:30:14,959 Speaker 1: in this wormhole of COVID pandemic life that we're living in, 504 00:30:15,080 --> 00:30:17,920 Speaker 1: it feels like it has been two years in one 505 00:30:18,560 --> 00:30:21,880 Speaker 1: What are you in the Biden administration? What are you 506 00:30:22,040 --> 00:30:26,320 Speaker 1: most proud of right now? Over this year? Because you 507 00:30:26,360 --> 00:30:30,040 Speaker 1: know you've you've taken lots of hits, right, lots of hits. 508 00:30:30,080 --> 00:30:32,920 Speaker 1: You inherited a lot of stuff as well, and so 509 00:30:33,000 --> 00:30:34,840 Speaker 1: what are you what are you all most proud of 510 00:30:35,040 --> 00:30:39,000 Speaker 1: right now? It's such a good question. I think we 511 00:30:39,200 --> 00:30:42,400 Speaker 1: come out of this first year with some his big, 512 00:30:42,480 --> 00:30:48,080 Speaker 1: historic accomplishments that thank you so much for allowing me 513 00:30:48,120 --> 00:30:49,920 Speaker 1: to talk about it. But I do want to say 514 00:30:49,960 --> 00:30:52,200 Speaker 1: this first before I go into that, which is a 515 00:30:52,280 --> 00:30:55,560 Speaker 1: year ago when the President walked into the White House 516 00:30:55,600 --> 00:30:58,960 Speaker 1: and the Vice president, they dealt with multiple crises, which 517 00:30:59,000 --> 00:31:02,120 Speaker 1: is what you are alluding to, Danielle, which is you 518 00:31:02,160 --> 00:31:05,200 Speaker 1: think about COVID right, you think about the economy, you 519 00:31:05,200 --> 00:31:09,040 Speaker 1: think about racial injustice, you think about climate change, all 520 00:31:09,080 --> 00:31:11,760 Speaker 1: of these things, which is something that the President. All 521 00:31:11,800 --> 00:31:13,800 Speaker 1: those four things that I just listed was something that 522 00:31:13,840 --> 00:31:18,560 Speaker 1: the President called out as crises in our country. And 523 00:31:19,000 --> 00:31:21,920 Speaker 1: twenty million people were out of work. Businesses were closed, 524 00:31:21,960 --> 00:31:25,840 Speaker 1: schools were closed. The economy was essentially locked down. And 525 00:31:25,920 --> 00:31:29,719 Speaker 1: what this president did, along with the Vice President, is 526 00:31:29,760 --> 00:31:34,960 Speaker 1: they passed the American Rescue Legislation, which helped change that 527 00:31:35,200 --> 00:31:37,520 Speaker 1: to a different trajectory. And what I mean by that 528 00:31:37,720 --> 00:31:41,760 Speaker 1: is now we see an economy that's historic. We see 529 00:31:41,800 --> 00:31:44,600 Speaker 1: six point four million jobs created. We see three point 530 00:31:44,720 --> 00:31:49,120 Speaker 1: nine percent in unemployment rate, which is a number that 531 00:31:49,240 --> 00:31:52,000 Speaker 1: experts had said would take us two years too extra 532 00:31:52,080 --> 00:31:55,160 Speaker 1: years to get that. We got that in our first year. 533 00:31:56,040 --> 00:32:01,360 Speaker 1: And that American Rescue Plan gave Americans some breathing room, right, 534 00:32:01,400 --> 00:32:04,240 Speaker 1: so it's an opportunity to kind of breathe a little 535 00:32:04,480 --> 00:32:07,640 Speaker 1: money in their pockets. There was a child tax credit 536 00:32:07,680 --> 00:32:10,840 Speaker 1: that put extra money in folks pockets. You know, parents 537 00:32:10,840 --> 00:32:13,000 Speaker 1: are thinking about how are they going to put food 538 00:32:13,000 --> 00:32:15,680 Speaker 1: on the table, how are they going to buy uniforms 539 00:32:15,800 --> 00:32:19,280 Speaker 1: or school supplies, all of those things just to feed 540 00:32:19,320 --> 00:32:23,480 Speaker 1: their kids. And we were able to help in that way. 541 00:32:23,760 --> 00:32:26,680 Speaker 1: And what the American Rescue Plan did as well, is 542 00:32:26,720 --> 00:32:29,760 Speaker 1: that it didn't leave anybody behind. And that's so important 543 00:32:29,760 --> 00:32:32,120 Speaker 1: because the President had talked about that when we talk 544 00:32:32,160 --> 00:32:36,800 Speaker 1: about economic policy, we forget about our communities, We forget 545 00:32:36,840 --> 00:32:40,360 Speaker 1: about disadvantaged communities, poor communities, and they don't come with us. 546 00:32:40,800 --> 00:32:45,120 Speaker 1: And so this American Rescue Plan did just that, and 547 00:32:45,120 --> 00:32:48,360 Speaker 1: and it provided funding to make sure that we had 548 00:32:48,400 --> 00:32:53,440 Speaker 1: a comprehensive vaccination strategy. And now what we see is 549 00:32:53,480 --> 00:32:57,600 Speaker 1: seventy five percent of the American public is fully vaccinated 550 00:32:57,680 --> 00:33:00,280 Speaker 1: and a year ago we were at one percent than 551 00:33:00,320 --> 00:33:02,920 Speaker 1: one percent. While we're still dealing with COVID, and we 552 00:33:03,000 --> 00:33:06,320 Speaker 1: understand that. We understand like the anxiety and the stress 553 00:33:06,360 --> 00:33:09,440 Speaker 1: that Americans are feeling, and we're not out of it yet. 554 00:33:10,240 --> 00:33:14,480 Speaker 1: But what we have taken such big strides to get 555 00:33:14,560 --> 00:33:18,000 Speaker 1: us to a place where we can help start controlling COVID. 556 00:33:18,400 --> 00:33:21,160 Speaker 1: And this will not be forever, folks, it will not 557 00:33:21,200 --> 00:33:24,520 Speaker 1: be forever. But people got to get vaccinated, they got 558 00:33:24,520 --> 00:33:27,000 Speaker 1: to get their booster shot, you know, they got to 559 00:33:27,000 --> 00:33:30,400 Speaker 1: wear those masks. And that's so important. You know, I 560 00:33:30,760 --> 00:33:35,280 Speaker 1: think that it's always very hard because the American people, 561 00:33:35,320 --> 00:33:37,200 Speaker 1: as I have said, and I'm not putting words in 562 00:33:37,280 --> 00:33:41,400 Speaker 1: your mouth, but have a very short memory, right, And 563 00:33:41,520 --> 00:33:45,880 Speaker 1: so we start out with this American rescue plan we have. 564 00:33:46,720 --> 00:33:50,680 Speaker 1: You've been able to secure the building part of the 565 00:33:50,760 --> 00:33:56,240 Speaker 1: infrastructure bill, right, and you can hail that as being bipartisan, 566 00:33:58,280 --> 00:34:01,080 Speaker 1: But we're looking at blockades with voting rights that we 567 00:34:01,160 --> 00:34:05,760 Speaker 1: just saw happen. We're looking at blockades with build back better, 568 00:34:05,800 --> 00:34:09,400 Speaker 1: which the President just announced that he believes that we 569 00:34:09,440 --> 00:34:12,400 Speaker 1: can move forward with chunks, we can move forward with 570 00:34:12,480 --> 00:34:16,520 Speaker 1: big pieces as opposed to the becomposite. How do you 571 00:34:16,600 --> 00:34:21,360 Speaker 1: think that the messaging around the other big pieces of 572 00:34:21,400 --> 00:34:25,080 Speaker 1: the agenda should be handled. In terms of how people 573 00:34:25,120 --> 00:34:29,279 Speaker 1: are seeing this administration being able to fight for the 574 00:34:29,360 --> 00:34:31,879 Speaker 1: things that they came out for and stood in line 575 00:34:31,920 --> 00:34:36,560 Speaker 1: for for hours in twenty twenty, it's so important and 576 00:34:36,600 --> 00:34:39,560 Speaker 1: so critical. In particular what we're seeing with voting rights. 577 00:34:39,560 --> 00:34:42,120 Speaker 1: We're seeing an assault on the right to vote, and 578 00:34:42,160 --> 00:34:45,000 Speaker 1: the Bay and Harris administration has been very clear that 579 00:34:45,280 --> 00:34:47,480 Speaker 1: they are going to continue to fight. We are going 580 00:34:47,520 --> 00:34:50,080 Speaker 1: to continue to fight to make sure that the heart 581 00:34:50,080 --> 00:34:52,360 Speaker 1: and soul of our democracy, which is the right to vote, 582 00:34:52,400 --> 00:34:55,000 Speaker 1: is protected. That is not going to stop with what 583 00:34:55,040 --> 00:34:58,160 Speaker 1: we saw last night, We are disappointed, but we are 584 00:34:58,160 --> 00:35:00,279 Speaker 1: not deterred, and so we're going to continue to fight. 585 00:35:00,480 --> 00:35:03,719 Speaker 1: And that's real, right, because that is our democracy, and 586 00:35:03,800 --> 00:35:05,880 Speaker 1: that is something that the President and the Vice President 587 00:35:05,920 --> 00:35:08,600 Speaker 1: has talked about. The thing that the President said yesterday, 588 00:35:08,640 --> 00:35:11,399 Speaker 1: which I think is really critical and important to your 589 00:35:11,440 --> 00:35:15,280 Speaker 1: point about messaging, and you know, he had his press 590 00:35:15,320 --> 00:35:19,840 Speaker 1: conference yesterday and he talked about getting out there himself. 591 00:35:20,600 --> 00:35:25,120 Speaker 1: He talked about connecting with everyday people and them hearing 592 00:35:25,200 --> 00:35:28,800 Speaker 1: from him directly. And so I think that's an important 593 00:35:28,800 --> 00:35:32,640 Speaker 1: thing because I think they want to hear from their president. Right. 594 00:35:32,920 --> 00:35:35,080 Speaker 1: We need to get out of this zip code that 595 00:35:35,080 --> 00:35:39,560 Speaker 1: we're currently in and go out there into Middle America 596 00:35:39,800 --> 00:35:42,120 Speaker 1: or in the West coast, you know, East coast where 597 00:35:42,120 --> 00:35:44,920 Speaker 1: we're in the South, and hear from the President directly 598 00:35:44,960 --> 00:35:47,440 Speaker 1: about those issues that you just laid out, whether it's 599 00:35:47,480 --> 00:35:50,080 Speaker 1: voting rights, whether it's billback better and how we're going 600 00:35:50,080 --> 00:35:53,000 Speaker 1: to lower cost for the American people, which is so 601 00:35:53,120 --> 00:35:56,279 Speaker 1: critical and important, and so he wants to make sure 602 00:35:56,320 --> 00:36:00,000 Speaker 1: that they hear directly from him as we move forward 603 00:36:00,320 --> 00:36:02,719 Speaker 1: into our second year. You know, one of the things 604 00:36:02,719 --> 00:36:05,120 Speaker 1: that I've been hearing and I actually agreed with You know, 605 00:36:05,560 --> 00:36:09,560 Speaker 1: we're folks saying, why doesn't this administration bring back kind 606 00:36:09,600 --> 00:36:14,160 Speaker 1: of the FDR style fireside chats, but make it but 607 00:36:14,600 --> 00:36:18,400 Speaker 1: make it social media right where you know, let's just 608 00:36:18,440 --> 00:36:22,400 Speaker 1: say the former president, right was all he did was Twitter. 609 00:36:22,480 --> 00:36:26,040 Speaker 1: All he did was social media, which was exhausting for 610 00:36:26,080 --> 00:36:29,720 Speaker 1: the public. But what would it look like like you're saying, 611 00:36:30,120 --> 00:36:34,080 Speaker 1: these physical visits are really important, but what would you 612 00:36:34,120 --> 00:36:38,160 Speaker 1: think about these kind of fireside chats, these kind of 613 00:36:38,280 --> 00:36:42,359 Speaker 1: salon ideas of just figuring out how to connect, how 614 00:36:42,400 --> 00:36:46,000 Speaker 1: to talk because a lot gets lost in translation. Now, 615 00:36:46,040 --> 00:36:48,439 Speaker 1: I think that's very important. Look, one of the things 616 00:36:48,440 --> 00:36:50,520 Speaker 1: that we try to do and we will continue to 617 00:36:50,560 --> 00:36:53,920 Speaker 1: do and elevate that as well as we go into 618 00:36:54,040 --> 00:36:57,720 Speaker 1: this next phase of this administration, is that so using 619 00:36:57,760 --> 00:37:01,200 Speaker 1: social media in that way. And you're right, and you know, 620 00:37:01,320 --> 00:37:04,120 Speaker 1: with your show, we really do connect. That's why I'm 621 00:37:04,120 --> 00:37:06,200 Speaker 1: on here with you because I know I'm going to 622 00:37:06,239 --> 00:37:09,480 Speaker 1: connect with the people who watch you, uh in this 623 00:37:09,680 --> 00:37:14,080 Speaker 1: very important show as you're informing of folks. And so, yeah, 624 00:37:14,120 --> 00:37:15,839 Speaker 1: that's something that we need to do more of. We 625 00:37:15,920 --> 00:37:18,960 Speaker 1: understand that, and I think that's a very very smart idea. 626 00:37:19,160 --> 00:37:22,000 Speaker 1: And you know, we'll we'll continue to do that and 627 00:37:22,480 --> 00:37:26,640 Speaker 1: make sure that we communicate with the American public in 628 00:37:27,000 --> 00:37:29,879 Speaker 1: different ways, not just in person, but through social media, 629 00:37:29,920 --> 00:37:32,200 Speaker 1: which is key to your point too. It's a very 630 00:37:32,440 --> 00:37:38,879 Speaker 1: very good point in name. Year two begins tomorrow, right, officially, right, 631 00:37:39,440 --> 00:37:45,400 Speaker 1: I guess officially right, It's like, but year two begins tomorrow, 632 00:37:45,480 --> 00:37:49,200 Speaker 1: and it's a consequential year. It's mid term elections. It 633 00:37:49,480 --> 00:37:52,640 Speaker 1: is um it's consequential you know, for the country in 634 00:37:52,719 --> 00:37:57,480 Speaker 1: terms of our democracy, for this administration facing an aggressive 635 00:37:58,040 --> 00:38:01,640 Speaker 1: right and aggressive Congress that could turn the gavels back 636 00:38:01,680 --> 00:38:06,560 Speaker 1: to Republicans. What is the top priority as you head 637 00:38:06,600 --> 00:38:09,359 Speaker 1: into this second year and knowing that there's a lot 638 00:38:09,400 --> 00:38:12,239 Speaker 1: of wind, that headwind that you all are going to 639 00:38:12,280 --> 00:38:15,640 Speaker 1: be facing, and not a lot out your backs, you know, 640 00:38:15,920 --> 00:38:20,319 Speaker 1: And that's just such a question, you know. Clearly from 641 00:38:20,320 --> 00:38:24,600 Speaker 1: this perch, I cannot talk about about politics, but I'll 642 00:38:24,680 --> 00:38:27,840 Speaker 1: say this is and this is just me reiterating what 643 00:38:28,000 --> 00:38:32,600 Speaker 1: the President said yesterday, which is, you know, I think 644 00:38:32,719 --> 00:38:35,799 Speaker 1: our message is going to be very clear, which is, 645 00:38:36,160 --> 00:38:39,240 Speaker 1: you know, what are Republicans for? Right? We are talking 646 00:38:39,280 --> 00:38:44,200 Speaker 1: about lowering cost on prescription drugs? Right, We're talking about 647 00:38:44,640 --> 00:38:48,080 Speaker 1: lowering cost for the American family. When you think about 648 00:38:48,160 --> 00:38:51,160 Speaker 1: elder care, when you think about childcare and all of 649 00:38:51,200 --> 00:38:53,200 Speaker 1: those things. By the way, when I when we started, 650 00:38:53,239 --> 00:38:55,279 Speaker 1: I talked about the twenty million people who were out 651 00:38:55,280 --> 00:38:58,160 Speaker 1: of work, where we stepped in two million, more than 652 00:38:58,200 --> 00:39:01,320 Speaker 1: two million. We're women. So if you think about childcare 653 00:39:01,360 --> 00:39:04,040 Speaker 1: at eldercare, we're going to we want to bring women 654 00:39:04,080 --> 00:39:06,640 Speaker 1: back into the workforce, which is so important and critical 655 00:39:07,080 --> 00:39:11,040 Speaker 1: as well. But all of those things are so key, 656 00:39:11,120 --> 00:39:14,320 Speaker 1: and that's what Democrats are for, right and the presence, 657 00:39:14,840 --> 00:39:16,920 Speaker 1: this is what democrats are for. I talked about the 658 00:39:16,920 --> 00:39:19,279 Speaker 1: American Rescue Plant, all of the things that it was 659 00:39:19,320 --> 00:39:22,560 Speaker 1: able to do to invest in the economy so that 660 00:39:22,600 --> 00:39:24,799 Speaker 1: the economy can get back going, and making sure that 661 00:39:24,840 --> 00:39:27,480 Speaker 1: we try and control COVID. Republicans didn't vote for that. 662 00:39:28,200 --> 00:39:31,600 Speaker 1: They are standing on the sideline. What are they for? 663 00:39:32,440 --> 00:39:35,560 Speaker 1: What are they for? And that is the thing that 664 00:39:35,600 --> 00:39:38,080 Speaker 1: we're going to continue to ask and put that out 665 00:39:38,120 --> 00:39:40,040 Speaker 1: there to them. You think about voting rights, we're talking 666 00:39:40,040 --> 00:39:42,880 Speaker 1: about voting rights back. It used to be a bipartisan issue. 667 00:39:43,320 --> 00:39:46,080 Speaker 1: Now used to be something that not just Democrats were 668 00:39:46,080 --> 00:39:49,919 Speaker 1: fighting for, but Republicans and what has happened, Why are 669 00:39:49,920 --> 00:39:52,680 Speaker 1: we in the situation, and why are we allowing it? 670 00:39:53,600 --> 00:39:56,360 Speaker 1: And we shouldn't and we should call them out as well. 671 00:39:56,440 --> 00:39:59,920 Speaker 1: And so you'll be hearing that from us. You heard 672 00:40:00,040 --> 00:40:03,319 Speaker 1: that from the President as well, and making clear what 673 00:40:03,440 --> 00:40:06,360 Speaker 1: Democrats are for and what we're going to continue to 674 00:40:06,400 --> 00:40:09,480 Speaker 1: do it to do and fight for and making that 675 00:40:09,560 --> 00:40:14,120 Speaker 1: message very very clear. Last question for you, Karen. You know, 676 00:40:14,280 --> 00:40:19,520 Speaker 1: there are a lot of people who feel aggrieved right now, 677 00:40:20,200 --> 00:40:23,359 Speaker 1: particularly those people that I mentioned at the top, that 678 00:40:24,320 --> 00:40:27,560 Speaker 1: stood out for hours in places like Georgia, places like 679 00:40:27,680 --> 00:40:32,400 Speaker 1: Texas to ensure that a Biden Harris administration would happen. 680 00:40:32,680 --> 00:40:38,160 Speaker 1: Right We're faced with a insurrection right before inauguration, so 681 00:40:38,200 --> 00:40:41,799 Speaker 1: we couldn't even really celebrate this historic win that we 682 00:40:41,840 --> 00:40:47,040 Speaker 1: had done. And now with everything with the how we 683 00:40:47,080 --> 00:40:51,600 Speaker 1: are so divided as a nation right ideologically about science, 684 00:40:51,719 --> 00:40:54,879 Speaker 1: about health, public health, what do you say to those 685 00:40:54,920 --> 00:40:57,799 Speaker 1: people that say that are right now, as we're heading 686 00:40:57,880 --> 00:41:00,040 Speaker 1: nine months away from midterms, are saying to themselves, I 687 00:41:01,200 --> 00:41:03,840 Speaker 1: don't I don't think I'm going to vote. It doesn't matter. 688 00:41:04,120 --> 00:41:06,520 Speaker 1: Look at them trying to steal my vote. It doesn't matter. 689 00:41:07,520 --> 00:41:10,000 Speaker 1: You know, we're heading backwards, not forward. What do you 690 00:41:10,040 --> 00:41:15,600 Speaker 1: offer to them? You know, and you know it's tough. 691 00:41:15,880 --> 00:41:18,120 Speaker 1: I get it. It's tough. You know, we all went 692 00:41:18,200 --> 00:41:20,640 Speaker 1: through the last four years together and we saw what 693 00:41:20,680 --> 00:41:24,560 Speaker 1: we got with that. And I want to say to people, 694 00:41:24,960 --> 00:41:28,640 Speaker 1: do not give up. While things are still very hard, 695 00:41:29,000 --> 00:41:31,840 Speaker 1: while we're I understand how people were feeling about the 696 00:41:31,920 --> 00:41:33,640 Speaker 1: right to vote, and we're going to continue to fight. 697 00:41:33,680 --> 00:41:37,360 Speaker 1: We're not going to stop fighting after the results of 698 00:41:37,400 --> 00:41:41,520 Speaker 1: this week, but we have we have made some progress. 699 00:41:41,760 --> 00:41:44,960 Speaker 1: Right as I'm talking about the American Rescue Plan, the 700 00:41:45,040 --> 00:41:49,120 Speaker 1: Buy Person Infrastructure Bill, you know, COVID like we did 701 00:41:49,160 --> 00:41:52,640 Speaker 1: that all on equity with equity lens. We made sure 702 00:41:52,760 --> 00:41:55,759 Speaker 1: that we did not leave anybody behind. One of the 703 00:41:55,800 --> 00:41:58,719 Speaker 1: first things that the President did, the first executive orders 704 00:41:58,719 --> 00:42:01,560 Speaker 1: if he signed when he walked into the minute into 705 00:42:01,600 --> 00:42:05,080 Speaker 1: the White House on this day a year ago, was 706 00:42:05,120 --> 00:42:08,640 Speaker 1: he made sure that he signed an executive order to 707 00:42:08,640 --> 00:42:12,719 Speaker 1: make sure that we saw inclusion and diversity and across 708 00:42:12,800 --> 00:42:15,640 Speaker 1: the federal government, to make sure that we did not 709 00:42:15,800 --> 00:42:19,239 Speaker 1: leave anybody behind, and that we were hiring in a 710 00:42:19,320 --> 00:42:24,359 Speaker 1: way that we saw some diversity. That was one thing, 711 00:42:24,480 --> 00:42:29,160 Speaker 1: and then he made sure that areas and communities that 712 00:42:29,239 --> 00:42:31,600 Speaker 1: we were that have been left behind when it came 713 00:42:31,640 --> 00:42:37,520 Speaker 1: to contracts that disproportionate way that contracts right and lifting 714 00:42:37,560 --> 00:42:40,839 Speaker 1: that up by fifty percent. So there are things that 715 00:42:40,920 --> 00:42:44,759 Speaker 1: we have done to deal with that racial inequity, which 716 00:42:44,800 --> 00:42:47,560 Speaker 1: he called a crisis, and we still see this as 717 00:42:47,600 --> 00:42:49,960 Speaker 1: a crisis that we're going to continue to fight. But 718 00:42:50,040 --> 00:42:52,319 Speaker 1: I get it. I get that people are trying to 719 00:42:52,320 --> 00:42:54,440 Speaker 1: figure out, well, how is our vote going to count. 720 00:42:54,600 --> 00:42:58,560 Speaker 1: We're going to keep fighting. We're not going to stop fighting. Again. 721 00:42:58,600 --> 00:43:02,000 Speaker 1: This is the president that this as a senator for 722 00:43:02,440 --> 00:43:05,400 Speaker 1: voting rights as a senator, and he will not be deterred, 723 00:43:05,560 --> 00:43:09,719 Speaker 1: and so that's very important. Well, you know, Krin, I 724 00:43:09,760 --> 00:43:14,919 Speaker 1: really hope that that this administration continues to fight because I, 725 00:43:14,960 --> 00:43:18,400 Speaker 1: like so many people, feel like we are living in 726 00:43:18,400 --> 00:43:21,360 Speaker 1: the most urgent times of our life and this is 727 00:43:21,400 --> 00:43:23,640 Speaker 1: really the fight for our life. I've heard the President 728 00:43:23,719 --> 00:43:26,759 Speaker 1: say that many many times, and so I thank you. 729 00:43:26,920 --> 00:43:28,640 Speaker 1: I thank you for the work that you're doing. It's 730 00:43:28,680 --> 00:43:32,640 Speaker 1: always so wonderful to see your friend, and I continue 731 00:43:32,680 --> 00:43:36,480 Speaker 1: to send you all strength, energy and ivot to continue 732 00:43:36,680 --> 00:43:39,680 Speaker 1: continue doing what you're doing. Thank you. My friend. Thank you, 733 00:43:39,719 --> 00:43:42,359 Speaker 1: says I appreciate that and we feel an energy and 734 00:43:42,400 --> 00:43:44,239 Speaker 1: thank you for giving me this time to talk to 735 00:43:44,239 --> 00:43:47,279 Speaker 1: your audience. Really appreciate it. Absolutely. We'll have you back soon. 736 00:43:47,880 --> 00:43:56,759 Speaker 1: Thank you. That is it for me today. Folks on 737 00:43:56,920 --> 00:44:00,600 Speaker 1: woke app as always, Power to the people and to 738 00:44:00,840 --> 00:44:04,800 Speaker 1: all the people. Power, get woke and stay woke as fuck.