1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:16,560 Speaker 1: Hi everyone, It's Sophia. Welcome to Work in Progress. Hi everyone, 2 00:00:16,720 --> 00:00:18,920 Speaker 1: we are back with the host of Inside with Jen 3 00:00:19,040 --> 00:00:22,880 Speaker 1: Zaki and former White House Press Secretary Jen Zaki. There 4 00:00:22,960 --> 00:00:26,360 Speaker 1: is just so much to discuss, and we're thrilled that 5 00:00:26,360 --> 00:00:28,640 Speaker 1: you're joining us again for part two of this episode. 6 00:00:29,080 --> 00:00:37,800 Speaker 1: Let's get into it. What do you make of the 7 00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:40,560 Speaker 1: way that all these candidates get talked about, because, look, 8 00:00:40,560 --> 00:00:43,800 Speaker 1: it's not lost on me. We're talking about our experiences 9 00:00:43,840 --> 00:00:46,640 Speaker 1: as women in our early forties coming into our own 10 00:00:47,159 --> 00:00:49,640 Speaker 1: I look at the Vice president. I mean, Kamala Harris 11 00:00:49,720 --> 00:00:55,120 Speaker 1: is charismatic and accomplished. She's incredibly successful, she has done 12 00:00:55,240 --> 00:00:59,960 Speaker 1: an incredible job in her position. And you know, she's 13 00:01:00,320 --> 00:01:03,440 Speaker 1: fifty eight. She's young in the political world. You know, 14 00:01:03,560 --> 00:01:06,880 Speaker 1: Biden is older, Trump is older, but Mitch McConnell is older. 15 00:01:08,440 --> 00:01:11,520 Speaker 1: Do you it's not lost on me that we're having 16 00:01:11,520 --> 00:01:15,000 Speaker 1: this sort of ageist conversation, but also a practical conversation 17 00:01:15,080 --> 00:01:19,120 Speaker 1: about you know, perhaps people who are potentially having strokes, 18 00:01:19,480 --> 00:01:23,240 Speaker 1: or you know, like the former president can't literally string 19 00:01:23,280 --> 00:01:25,240 Speaker 1: a sentence together. I don't know, shouldn't be in charge 20 00:01:25,240 --> 00:01:29,640 Speaker 1: of the country. I think these are important conversations. And 21 00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:32,240 Speaker 1: I also don't I don't love the way they seem 22 00:01:32,280 --> 00:01:35,800 Speaker 1: to be weaponized against certain people like the current president, 23 00:01:35,840 --> 00:01:38,080 Speaker 1: in ways that they don't seem to be weaponized against 24 00:01:38,120 --> 00:01:41,959 Speaker 1: the former one. It's not lost on me that there 25 00:01:42,040 --> 00:01:45,200 Speaker 1: is always a sexist angle when women are elected or 26 00:01:45,200 --> 00:01:48,960 Speaker 1: in powerful positions, which we see happening, you know, with 27 00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:52,080 Speaker 1: the vice president all the time. How do you kind 28 00:01:52,080 --> 00:01:56,880 Speaker 1: of make sense of this? You know, do we need 29 00:01:56,920 --> 00:01:58,720 Speaker 1: to be concerned about these things? Do we need to 30 00:01:58,720 --> 00:02:01,400 Speaker 1: be pushing back against these like? Yeah, how do you 31 00:02:01,640 --> 00:02:02,040 Speaker 1: see it? 32 00:02:02,720 --> 00:02:06,840 Speaker 2: I mean, you know, I think, first of all, like 33 00:02:07,240 --> 00:02:10,919 Speaker 2: call it what it is. And the Trump maga world 34 00:02:11,200 --> 00:02:16,240 Speaker 2: has been very effective and painting using Joe Biden's age, which, again, 35 00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:18,880 Speaker 2: just to put it in terms people might understand, Joe 36 00:02:18,919 --> 00:02:21,519 Speaker 2: Biden would have been a senior when Donald Trump was 37 00:02:21,560 --> 00:02:24,520 Speaker 2: a freshman in college. I mean, they are not They're 38 00:02:24,600 --> 00:02:26,960 Speaker 2: like the same age, They're the same god inside. And 39 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:29,040 Speaker 2: Donald Trump even said age is not a thing. He's 40 00:02:29,080 --> 00:02:31,360 Speaker 2: even said that, of course not because he is in 41 00:02:31,400 --> 00:02:36,400 Speaker 2: his late seventies. But they have been effective in making 42 00:02:36,440 --> 00:02:41,480 Speaker 2: the age issue, which they've made an issue about being senile, 43 00:02:41,840 --> 00:02:45,760 Speaker 2: about not being up for the job, and that is 44 00:02:45,919 --> 00:02:49,040 Speaker 2: where it has become ingrained and a certain faction of 45 00:02:49,080 --> 00:02:52,160 Speaker 2: the public. I worked for the man for two years. 46 00:02:52,320 --> 00:02:54,920 Speaker 2: I haven't worked for him in a year. He is 47 00:02:55,560 --> 00:02:59,160 Speaker 2: very much with it and very much running the country, 48 00:02:59,480 --> 00:03:03,040 Speaker 2: and like we're organizing Europe to deal with the war 49 00:03:03,080 --> 00:03:06,840 Speaker 2: in Ukraine and very much moving legislation forward and negotiating 50 00:03:06,880 --> 00:03:11,359 Speaker 2: with people. Yeah, he's incredible that that is what he's doing. 51 00:03:12,440 --> 00:03:15,600 Speaker 2: The vice president piece, again, we're gonna call it what 52 00:03:15,639 --> 00:03:20,280 Speaker 2: it is. Is what when this comes from white ring circles, 53 00:03:20,280 --> 00:03:23,120 Speaker 2: which a lot of it has. They are basically saying 54 00:03:23,639 --> 00:03:26,960 Speaker 2: Joe Biden is old and senile. So there's that, and 55 00:03:27,000 --> 00:03:30,760 Speaker 2: he may die, which again that's morbid and crazy, but 56 00:03:30,800 --> 00:03:33,080 Speaker 2: that's what they're trying to He may die. You may 57 00:03:33,120 --> 00:03:35,080 Speaker 2: not find him offensive, but he may not be around 58 00:03:35,160 --> 00:03:38,160 Speaker 2: that long. And guess who's in charge if he dies? 59 00:03:38,560 --> 00:03:42,000 Speaker 2: A black woman. I mean, that's what it is. So 60 00:03:42,320 --> 00:03:46,160 Speaker 2: it's it is. You know, she is obviously a historic 61 00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:49,280 Speaker 2: vice president. She would not be getting the level of 62 00:03:49,400 --> 00:03:52,080 Speaker 2: venom if she were not a black woman. I think 63 00:03:52,120 --> 00:03:53,760 Speaker 2: we can that's pretty clear. 64 00:03:54,240 --> 00:03:57,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, sexism and racism together there all day. 65 00:03:57,480 --> 00:04:00,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, and I also think there has been a bit 66 00:04:00,480 --> 00:04:04,320 Speaker 2: of a delay in recognizing what she has been doing 67 00:04:04,360 --> 00:04:06,800 Speaker 2: out there in the country and talking about a range 68 00:04:06,840 --> 00:04:10,839 Speaker 2: of issues, specifically abortion rates in a lot of communities, 69 00:04:11,920 --> 00:04:16,400 Speaker 2: and I think she'll be probably, I think, a pretty 70 00:04:16,440 --> 00:04:19,560 Speaker 2: powerful force on the campaign trail. We'll see, but that's 71 00:04:19,560 --> 00:04:20,400 Speaker 2: what I suspect. 72 00:04:21,520 --> 00:04:26,040 Speaker 1: So knowing what you know, again, as an expert, if 73 00:04:26,080 --> 00:04:29,000 Speaker 1: somebody at home is listening to us talk going, I'm 74 00:04:29,080 --> 00:04:31,000 Speaker 1: kind of embarrassed to admit I don't really know what 75 00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:33,800 Speaker 1: she's been doing, Like what has the Vice president been doing? 76 00:04:34,040 --> 00:04:38,480 Speaker 1: What would be your rapid fire overview of her accomplishments, 77 00:04:38,520 --> 00:04:41,280 Speaker 1: because I know we listed a lot of the accomplishments 78 00:04:41,279 --> 00:04:44,880 Speaker 1: of the administration, and you know, you just touched on 79 00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:50,279 Speaker 1: one that Vice President Harris really made women's and pregnant 80 00:04:50,279 --> 00:04:54,880 Speaker 1: people's reproductive autonomy a number one campaign issue for Biden. Harris, 81 00:04:55,120 --> 00:04:58,320 Speaker 1: she really pushed it. It's been an incredible thing to 82 00:04:58,400 --> 00:05:00,920 Speaker 1: watch and to support. You know, I was lucky enough 83 00:05:00,960 --> 00:05:04,360 Speaker 1: to interview her at an event at Brinmar College just 84 00:05:04,560 --> 00:05:10,719 Speaker 1: this past October. She has centered our experiences as women 85 00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:14,880 Speaker 1: in the administration. But you know, if you were going 86 00:05:14,960 --> 00:05:17,440 Speaker 1: to give like an intro to her before she came 87 00:05:17,480 --> 00:05:19,760 Speaker 1: on your show next week, like, what would be the 88 00:05:19,760 --> 00:05:20,760 Speaker 1: things you would highlight? 89 00:05:21,560 --> 00:05:23,440 Speaker 2: Well, I'm going to get there in a second. But 90 00:05:23,440 --> 00:05:26,360 Speaker 2: I think it's important to remember presidents and vice presidents 91 00:05:26,400 --> 00:05:30,120 Speaker 2: don't run on separate tickets, right, They run together. Their 92 00:05:30,120 --> 00:05:34,120 Speaker 2: accomplishments are together. So the president, no matter who it is, 93 00:05:34,160 --> 00:05:37,279 Speaker 2: including when Barack Obama was president Joe Biden was vice president, 94 00:05:37,560 --> 00:05:41,040 Speaker 2: gets the credit for anything that goes well. Right, vice 95 00:05:41,120 --> 00:05:44,200 Speaker 2: president is always a part of that. They are partners 96 00:05:44,279 --> 00:05:46,520 Speaker 2: in the effort. That's important for people to a really 97 00:05:46,560 --> 00:05:49,960 Speaker 2: good point to make people Also, maybe this will be different. 98 00:05:50,200 --> 00:05:53,280 Speaker 2: Don't historically vote on who the vice president is. It's 99 00:05:53,360 --> 00:05:56,760 Speaker 2: just not it's not typically a big factor. Maybe this 100 00:05:56,880 --> 00:06:00,880 Speaker 2: year will be different. Okay, that is side to mention that. 101 00:06:00,920 --> 00:06:03,600 Speaker 1: It's a good little nugget. Yes, What I. 102 00:06:03,520 --> 00:06:07,000 Speaker 2: Think that she has done is a couple of things. One, 103 00:06:07,080 --> 00:06:10,400 Speaker 2: she has played a very important role in getting out 104 00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:16,720 Speaker 2: there since the DABS decision and really engaging directly with legislators, 105 00:06:16,800 --> 00:06:23,359 Speaker 2: with women, with activists, young people about what this decision means, 106 00:06:23,680 --> 00:06:26,880 Speaker 2: what can be done, and how we move forward and 107 00:06:26,920 --> 00:06:29,480 Speaker 2: what we can do to address it and protect ourselves. 108 00:06:29,839 --> 00:06:31,800 Speaker 2: She also was just named as a co chair of 109 00:06:31,839 --> 00:06:34,400 Speaker 2: this kind of gun violence initiative. This is another issue 110 00:06:34,440 --> 00:06:38,120 Speaker 2: she cares very very deeply about. She's worked on a 111 00:06:38,200 --> 00:06:41,040 Speaker 2: number of the different components and implementation of it, as 112 00:06:41,080 --> 00:06:43,680 Speaker 2: some of these bills that they have passed together that 113 00:06:43,720 --> 00:06:47,800 Speaker 2: people care deeply about, including the expansion of broadband access, 114 00:06:48,160 --> 00:06:51,400 Speaker 2: making sure kids have access to clean drinking water. We're 115 00:06:51,440 --> 00:06:53,719 Speaker 2: all for that. That is not an easy thing to 116 00:06:53,880 --> 00:06:56,039 Speaker 2: do or get done and accomplish, and she's been a 117 00:06:56,040 --> 00:06:59,280 Speaker 2: part of the implementation of that and making sure that 118 00:06:59,440 --> 00:07:02,359 Speaker 2: is done. You know. She's also a person who is 119 00:07:02,400 --> 00:07:05,839 Speaker 2: in the room for every meeting the president has about 120 00:07:06,200 --> 00:07:10,520 Speaker 2: immigration policy, a national security issue, whatever it may be, 121 00:07:10,840 --> 00:07:15,080 Speaker 2: just as Joe Biden was for Barack Obama. And anything 122 00:07:15,680 --> 00:07:19,520 Speaker 2: that goes well is because of the work of both 123 00:07:19,560 --> 00:07:21,520 Speaker 2: of them. And that's what I think it's important for 124 00:07:21,560 --> 00:07:24,520 Speaker 2: people to remember. And thinks like go poorly too. I mean, 125 00:07:24,520 --> 00:07:26,040 Speaker 2: it's you know that happens as well. 126 00:07:26,280 --> 00:07:30,160 Speaker 1: Sure, but I think that's such a good point that 127 00:07:31,080 --> 00:07:36,360 Speaker 1: you have to remember who's got the ability to speak 128 00:07:36,400 --> 00:07:39,800 Speaker 1: in those rooms. And uh, you know, it's funny. I 129 00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:43,560 Speaker 1: think back to the first time I ever saw President Obama, 130 00:07:44,400 --> 00:07:47,080 Speaker 1: you know, when he was still an elected official, you know, 131 00:07:47,080 --> 00:07:50,520 Speaker 1: an elected state official, way back in the mid two thousands, 132 00:07:50,520 --> 00:07:54,120 Speaker 1: when he went on Oprah for the first time. And 133 00:07:54,160 --> 00:07:58,680 Speaker 1: then I think about, you know, her influence similarly to 134 00:07:58,840 --> 00:08:01,280 Speaker 1: yours in my life, these women who I just want 135 00:08:01,320 --> 00:08:03,280 Speaker 1: to hear what you have to say about everything every day, 136 00:08:03,680 --> 00:08:07,160 Speaker 1: And I think about listening to Oprah's podcast, and I 137 00:08:07,200 --> 00:08:09,360 Speaker 1: never knew I would get some of my best, you know, 138 00:08:09,440 --> 00:08:12,040 Speaker 1: gender equity life advice from a Catholic nun. But here 139 00:08:12,080 --> 00:08:16,320 Speaker 1: we are this old, this older famous nun named Sister Joan, 140 00:08:16,760 --> 00:08:21,840 Speaker 1: who talks about how, you know, feminist equity is the 141 00:08:21,880 --> 00:08:25,880 Speaker 1: cause of her life because despite what people might think 142 00:08:25,920 --> 00:08:28,480 Speaker 1: about that in the Catholic Church, she said, you know, 143 00:08:28,680 --> 00:08:31,120 Speaker 1: you can't expect people with fifty percent of the information 144 00:08:32,320 --> 00:08:37,439 Speaker 1: to make one hundred percent good decisions. And by nature, 145 00:08:37,559 --> 00:08:40,800 Speaker 1: we have a different life experience than the men were 146 00:08:40,800 --> 00:08:45,040 Speaker 1: in rooms with. And by nature, the experience Kamala Harris 147 00:08:45,080 --> 00:08:48,040 Speaker 1: brings into a room is different than Joe Biden's. And 148 00:08:48,520 --> 00:08:51,880 Speaker 1: you know, they've proven this in c suites at corporations 149 00:08:51,920 --> 00:08:54,160 Speaker 1: around the world. The more diverse perspectives you have in 150 00:08:54,160 --> 00:08:56,760 Speaker 1: the room. The better your company does, the better your 151 00:08:56,840 --> 00:09:00,200 Speaker 1: ROI is, the better your ideas are. And I I 152 00:09:00,240 --> 00:09:04,359 Speaker 1: think we see in these historic achievements of this administration, 153 00:09:05,080 --> 00:09:10,680 Speaker 1: we see this diverse input in these rooms where it happens, yes, 154 00:09:11,080 --> 00:09:13,080 Speaker 1: making this this work. 155 00:09:13,840 --> 00:09:16,839 Speaker 2: That is such a good point, absolutely true. I feel 156 00:09:16,840 --> 00:09:20,160 Speaker 2: like something they should be saying. Maybe maybe they're listening 157 00:09:20,240 --> 00:09:21,000 Speaker 2: right now. 158 00:09:21,559 --> 00:09:25,040 Speaker 1: I'll go anytime, I'll brainstorm in the office. Here you go. 159 00:09:25,320 --> 00:09:28,400 Speaker 2: And and you know, I think when I hired the 160 00:09:28,440 --> 00:09:32,240 Speaker 2: press team at the for for Biden, it was a 161 00:09:32,320 --> 00:09:39,360 Speaker 2: huge priority for the team to be very diverse, and 162 00:09:39,360 --> 00:09:41,840 Speaker 2: and it was like, Okay, we're gonna we're gonna meet 163 00:09:41,880 --> 00:09:46,160 Speaker 2: that bar and that's important to to have different faces, 164 00:09:46,280 --> 00:09:50,280 Speaker 2: different voice at the table. What is very true, and 165 00:09:50,320 --> 00:09:52,880 Speaker 2: it's not just through data, is from experience I can 166 00:09:52,920 --> 00:09:56,240 Speaker 2: tell you, is that that makes the team better and stronger. 167 00:09:56,360 --> 00:09:59,720 Speaker 2: And you know, when I worked for I mean, I 168 00:09:59,760 --> 00:10:04,440 Speaker 2: run perhaps Barack Obama. I was the only female spokesperson 169 00:10:04,480 --> 00:10:08,440 Speaker 2: in the press office for the first year or so, right, 170 00:10:09,600 --> 00:10:14,200 Speaker 2: it was predominantly white men. Not we're all great in 171 00:10:14,240 --> 00:10:16,360 Speaker 2: their own right, but that was just like who was 172 00:10:16,400 --> 00:10:20,920 Speaker 2: in those jobs. You know, our team was I think 173 00:10:20,960 --> 00:10:24,040 Speaker 2: it was like maybe we had two white men on 174 00:10:24,080 --> 00:10:27,079 Speaker 2: our team. I mean, it was just it changed a 175 00:10:27,160 --> 00:10:31,080 Speaker 2: lot over the course of years, because because it was 176 00:10:31,080 --> 00:10:34,520 Speaker 2: a priority, but because also it made the team stronger 177 00:10:34,559 --> 00:10:39,400 Speaker 2: and made the conversations better and made people it Having 178 00:10:39,440 --> 00:10:41,720 Speaker 2: people at the table means people bring their own life 179 00:10:41,760 --> 00:10:44,280 Speaker 2: experience to it. It makes you think about things in 180 00:10:44,320 --> 00:10:50,000 Speaker 2: a different expansive way, and that's just so important. It's 181 00:10:50,000 --> 00:10:52,880 Speaker 2: so important because it makes us all better what we 182 00:10:52,960 --> 00:10:54,680 Speaker 2: do as communicators. 183 00:10:55,559 --> 00:10:59,720 Speaker 1: So I'm curious about that because we know the way 184 00:10:59,800 --> 00:11:02,480 Speaker 1: that landscapes have been changing, we know the way that 185 00:11:02,600 --> 00:11:05,200 Speaker 1: rooms have been diversifying. We see the difference in the 186 00:11:05,240 --> 00:11:10,040 Speaker 1: staffing photos from the current administration to the last one. 187 00:11:10,480 --> 00:11:15,360 Speaker 1: We know that we all do better when diverse perspectives 188 00:11:15,400 --> 00:11:18,600 Speaker 1: are included in decision making, including people who look like us. 189 00:11:18,640 --> 00:11:20,840 Speaker 1: By the way, like two white women said on a podcast, 190 00:11:21,360 --> 00:11:25,920 Speaker 1: I wonder then, why we see this repeat panic in society. 191 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:32,880 Speaker 1: You saw the backlash of you know, far right, alt right, 192 00:11:33,400 --> 00:11:39,040 Speaker 1: white supremacist violent groups when Barack Obama was elected. We're 193 00:11:39,080 --> 00:11:42,000 Speaker 1: talking about what Kamala Harris faces as you know, a 194 00:11:42,080 --> 00:11:46,040 Speaker 1: black woman in the second highest position in the land. 195 00:11:46,640 --> 00:11:52,320 Speaker 1: We see at this moment, all of this far right 196 00:11:52,400 --> 00:11:57,680 Speaker 1: pushback against generations of progress for you know, gender equity, 197 00:11:57,720 --> 00:12:00,960 Speaker 1: for racial equity, for equal rights, for the rights of 198 00:12:00,960 --> 00:12:07,520 Speaker 1: the LGBTQ plus community, for bodily autonomy, for our reproductive autonomy. 199 00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:12,640 Speaker 1: Why why do you think the right is pushing back 200 00:12:12,840 --> 00:12:17,440 Speaker 1: so hard? Why to your earlier point, why are grown 201 00:12:17,800 --> 00:12:22,480 Speaker 1: people who should be prioritizing, you know, our community safety 202 00:12:22,520 --> 00:12:27,079 Speaker 1: and health going after trans kids. Why do you think 203 00:12:27,120 --> 00:12:30,600 Speaker 1: the pushback is this intense? Are people just that scared 204 00:12:31,240 --> 00:12:34,439 Speaker 1: of diversifying perspectives? 205 00:12:35,720 --> 00:12:39,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think that's a part of it. I mean, 206 00:12:39,559 --> 00:12:42,280 Speaker 2: look in a big part of it. I mean, Rupert 207 00:12:42,360 --> 00:12:46,440 Speaker 2: Murdoch just announced, right, he's stepping down. And I'm using 208 00:12:46,440 --> 00:12:49,360 Speaker 2: this example because I do think that the creation, the 209 00:12:49,400 --> 00:12:53,840 Speaker 2: origin of the right wing ecosystem is part of his legacy. 210 00:12:53,960 --> 00:12:56,960 Speaker 2: And I don't need that in a complimentary way, you know. 211 00:12:57,440 --> 00:12:59,920 Speaker 2: I Mean it all started you go back to kind 212 00:12:59,920 --> 00:13:03,120 Speaker 2: of of the Iraq War and this kind of fear 213 00:13:03,200 --> 00:13:07,120 Speaker 2: that was created by the Fox News apparatus even back then, 214 00:13:07,440 --> 00:13:10,720 Speaker 2: right that all Muslims might be terrorists. I mean, that 215 00:13:10,880 --> 00:13:14,600 Speaker 2: was their basic theme, right, and then it evolved into well, 216 00:13:14,679 --> 00:13:19,000 Speaker 2: Barack Obama's a Muslim, and remember Muslims are all terrorists, right, 217 00:13:19,240 --> 00:13:22,200 Speaker 2: And then it was like, oh, okay, Muslims people who 218 00:13:22,240 --> 00:13:24,600 Speaker 2: are brown, and then there's you should be scared of 219 00:13:24,640 --> 00:13:27,480 Speaker 2: everybody coming across the border. And it was kind of 220 00:13:27,520 --> 00:13:31,559 Speaker 2: this like creation of this fear of the other people 221 00:13:31,559 --> 00:13:36,320 Speaker 2: who are not traditionally white Christian, right. And I'm not 222 00:13:36,400 --> 00:13:39,080 Speaker 2: suggesting for any haters out there, I know you always 223 00:13:39,120 --> 00:13:41,800 Speaker 2: come and find me that, like white Christians are all 224 00:13:41,840 --> 00:13:44,880 Speaker 2: evil at all. I'm white, I would grow grow up Catholic. 225 00:13:45,400 --> 00:13:47,920 Speaker 2: I just mean it was this creation of anyone who 226 00:13:47,960 --> 00:13:52,840 Speaker 2: didn't look like you or people in your neighborhood was dangerous, 227 00:13:53,240 --> 00:13:58,760 Speaker 2: and that fear was profitable, the exclusionary other, and that 228 00:13:58,920 --> 00:14:02,120 Speaker 2: fear was profitable and it still is. So the other 229 00:14:02,280 --> 00:14:06,120 Speaker 2: has evolved. It is immigrants, it is trans people, it 230 00:14:06,200 --> 00:14:10,000 Speaker 2: is people who are different in any way, shape or form, 231 00:14:11,040 --> 00:14:14,560 Speaker 2: and that is profitable. So it's like, if you were 232 00:14:14,760 --> 00:14:17,640 Speaker 2: privately having dinner with some of these people who were 233 00:14:17,679 --> 00:14:21,400 Speaker 2: producing all these segments, would they think this. I don't know, 234 00:14:21,640 --> 00:14:25,680 Speaker 2: maybe not. I have no idea, but it is a 235 00:14:25,800 --> 00:14:28,880 Speaker 2: business model and that is part of what's scary about it. 236 00:14:29,240 --> 00:14:31,600 Speaker 1: And now a word from our sponsors that I really 237 00:14:31,680 --> 00:14:39,160 Speaker 1: enjoy and I think you will too. Do you think 238 00:14:39,720 --> 00:14:44,960 Speaker 1: that that business model understanding that it's business over reason, 239 00:14:45,320 --> 00:14:51,360 Speaker 1: over fact, over moral care for our neighbor. Do you 240 00:14:51,400 --> 00:14:55,480 Speaker 1: think that's why people are really frustrated with the hypocrisy 241 00:14:55,520 --> 00:14:58,520 Speaker 1: that we see in Washington, particularly on the right, because 242 00:14:59,000 --> 00:15:02,200 Speaker 1: the right screams judgment about a whole lot of things, 243 00:15:02,240 --> 00:15:04,800 Speaker 1: and then they do all of those things and then say, 244 00:15:04,840 --> 00:15:09,360 Speaker 1: that's not what we're doing. It's it's wild. Why do 245 00:15:09,400 --> 00:15:11,720 Speaker 1: you think that we have a whole subset of our 246 00:15:11,720 --> 00:15:15,600 Speaker 1: political system that sees themselves held to a different standard 247 00:15:16,120 --> 00:15:19,360 Speaker 1: than the one they demand the rest of the country meet. 248 00:15:20,360 --> 00:15:25,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think that's part of it, because in many ways, 249 00:15:26,120 --> 00:15:29,440 Speaker 2: the majority of people are the other you know, in 250 00:15:29,480 --> 00:15:33,320 Speaker 2: this country almost I mean, it's becoming that way right. 251 00:15:34,120 --> 00:15:38,400 Speaker 2: I also think it's combined with this frustration with the 252 00:15:38,440 --> 00:15:43,800 Speaker 2: absolute dysfunction of Washington right now. And you know, the 253 00:15:43,840 --> 00:15:50,160 Speaker 2: objective of some of the most powerful voices here. Their 254 00:15:50,200 --> 00:15:54,360 Speaker 2: objective is like not to got not to debate about 255 00:15:54,680 --> 00:15:57,920 Speaker 2: how to healthcare, how to provide healthcare, or like who 256 00:15:57,960 --> 00:16:00,680 Speaker 2: should get tax cuts. It's like they just want to 257 00:16:00,720 --> 00:16:03,080 Speaker 2: shut it all down and burn it all down. Yeah, 258 00:16:03,280 --> 00:16:06,120 Speaker 2: to some degree, that's their goal. That's it. That's the 259 00:16:06,160 --> 00:16:10,160 Speaker 2: whole thing that I don't know that people digest it 260 00:16:10,240 --> 00:16:13,240 Speaker 2: exactly in that way, but that is there's a feeling 261 00:16:13,280 --> 00:16:17,080 Speaker 2: of like dysfunction and like what are these people doing? Right? 262 00:16:17,840 --> 00:16:20,240 Speaker 1: Okay, so what are they doing? Because by the way, 263 00:16:20,400 --> 00:16:24,000 Speaker 1: we're we're you know, we have an impending government shut down? 264 00:16:24,080 --> 00:16:28,280 Speaker 1: Cost Yeah, like what does that even mean? You know, 265 00:16:28,320 --> 00:16:31,040 Speaker 1: I'm reading all about these things and looking at how 266 00:16:31,120 --> 00:16:33,600 Speaker 1: every government shutdown that's happened in the last fifty years 267 00:16:33,600 --> 00:16:37,080 Speaker 1: has happened at the best of the Republicans, but it 268 00:16:37,200 --> 00:16:41,280 Speaker 1: costs so much money, Like you know, the last one 269 00:16:41,320 --> 00:16:43,720 Speaker 1: I think they were saying was like an eight billion 270 00:16:43,840 --> 00:16:47,280 Speaker 1: dollar cost, and people defaulted on loans and you know, 271 00:16:47,400 --> 00:16:50,920 Speaker 1: cancer research programs halted and all of these things that 272 00:16:50,960 --> 00:16:56,720 Speaker 1: are just horrible. Jen tell us, like, why why do 273 00:16:56,760 --> 00:16:58,520 Speaker 1: they want to shut the government down? What is a 274 00:16:58,560 --> 00:17:02,200 Speaker 1: government shut down for the folks at home even really 275 00:17:02,320 --> 00:17:05,760 Speaker 1: mean like incrementally? And how could anyone think this is 276 00:17:05,800 --> 00:17:06,359 Speaker 1: a good idea? 277 00:17:06,520 --> 00:17:10,120 Speaker 2: Well, it's crazy. There's nothing good about a government shutdown, 278 00:17:10,200 --> 00:17:14,359 Speaker 2: So let me start there. It's not good. It means 279 00:17:14,960 --> 00:17:17,240 Speaker 2: for as long as it lasts, and the longer it lasts, 280 00:17:17,280 --> 00:17:19,240 Speaker 2: the more damaging it could it would be to the 281 00:17:19,240 --> 00:17:22,240 Speaker 2: economy to your point, But for as long as it lasts, 282 00:17:22,520 --> 00:17:25,479 Speaker 2: members of the military won't be paid, people who are 283 00:17:25,520 --> 00:17:30,000 Speaker 2: inspecting food won't be paid, cancer research will be halted. 284 00:17:30,400 --> 00:17:33,439 Speaker 2: Nobody's going to renew your passport. I mean, you know, 285 00:17:33,560 --> 00:17:35,959 Speaker 2: these people won't be paid during this period of time. 286 00:17:36,440 --> 00:17:39,280 Speaker 2: They will retroactively be paid. But given the number of 287 00:17:39,320 --> 00:17:44,720 Speaker 2: people who can't afford that, including many public servants, it's 288 00:17:45,280 --> 00:17:49,320 Speaker 2: kind of a Obviously, it's a hugely scary thing for 289 00:17:49,440 --> 00:17:51,439 Speaker 2: many people across the country, and it is going to 290 00:17:51,440 --> 00:17:53,520 Speaker 2: have impacts on people who even don't work in government. 291 00:17:53,720 --> 00:17:56,399 Speaker 1: What are we, the voters, supposed to do, because you 292 00:17:56,440 --> 00:17:59,240 Speaker 1: see the numbers, most people don't agree with any of this. 293 00:17:59,440 --> 00:18:04,920 Speaker 1: Everybody thinks Washington's broken. So what can what do you 294 00:18:04,960 --> 00:18:10,240 Speaker 1: think we can do to encourage change? Like, what do 295 00:18:10,320 --> 00:18:11,159 Speaker 1: we do here? 296 00:18:12,040 --> 00:18:14,800 Speaker 2: I mean, you know, part of it, which isn't very 297 00:18:14,800 --> 00:18:19,479 Speaker 2: satisfying in this moment, is definitely exercising your right to vote. 298 00:18:19,760 --> 00:18:24,800 Speaker 2: That is the voice that every citizen has right. Everyone 299 00:18:24,960 --> 00:18:28,359 Speaker 2: is busy in this country. I understand and believe that. 300 00:18:28,400 --> 00:18:30,320 Speaker 2: I mean, my job is to stay up to date 301 00:18:30,359 --> 00:18:32,240 Speaker 2: on these things, and I even find it sometimes like 302 00:18:32,280 --> 00:18:36,560 Speaker 2: there's a lot happening, but it is like nowhere your 303 00:18:36,640 --> 00:18:40,040 Speaker 2: member of Congress stands. Do you support that? Do you 304 00:18:40,080 --> 00:18:44,200 Speaker 2: have fiships with that? I mean, that is what a democracy, 305 00:18:44,640 --> 00:18:46,880 Speaker 2: That's how a democracy is supposed to work. Maybe you're 306 00:18:46,920 --> 00:18:49,080 Speaker 2: proud of what they're doing, maybe you wish they'd be 307 00:18:49,119 --> 00:18:52,240 Speaker 2: more courageous, maybe you're opposed to it. This is this 308 00:18:52,280 --> 00:18:55,119 Speaker 2: is where you can kind of have your voice heard. 309 00:18:55,280 --> 00:18:58,320 Speaker 2: But you know what's hard and challenging is that because 310 00:18:58,320 --> 00:19:01,760 Speaker 2: people are so busy, it's like I don't know, like 311 00:19:01,760 --> 00:19:04,000 Speaker 2: do people even know that the Republicans are in charge 312 00:19:04,000 --> 00:19:05,640 Speaker 2: of the House. I think a lot of people do. 313 00:19:05,760 --> 00:19:09,560 Speaker 2: But like, if the government shuts down, typically in the past, 314 00:19:09,760 --> 00:19:14,600 Speaker 2: it's becomes everybody's fault and there's not a differentiator politically. 315 00:19:14,720 --> 00:19:17,600 Speaker 2: So it's obviously bad for the country and it's bad 316 00:19:17,640 --> 00:19:20,720 Speaker 2: for the functioning of our society. It's also not good 317 00:19:20,800 --> 00:19:23,960 Speaker 2: politically for anyone for the government to shut down. So 318 00:19:24,040 --> 00:19:28,720 Speaker 2: it's like it's a lose lose lose, as they say, Yeah, something. 319 00:19:28,440 --> 00:19:31,960 Speaker 1: I will say has really inspired me because a lot 320 00:19:31,960 --> 00:19:34,720 Speaker 1: of the folks who just want to burn it down 321 00:19:34,800 --> 00:19:37,440 Speaker 1: do it for self serving interests, right, Like they want 322 00:19:37,480 --> 00:19:40,000 Speaker 1: to sell books and they want to have more Twitter followers, 323 00:19:40,040 --> 00:19:42,080 Speaker 1: and they want to do whatever they want to do. 324 00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:47,199 Speaker 1: And I've been really inspired during all of this mayhem 325 00:19:47,240 --> 00:19:51,040 Speaker 1: coming out of the extreme right in Washington, seeing the 326 00:19:51,040 --> 00:19:54,440 Speaker 1: way labor has organized this summer and seeing the flight 327 00:19:54,440 --> 00:19:57,720 Speaker 1: attendance unions coming to protest, with the writers' guilds and 328 00:19:57,760 --> 00:20:02,080 Speaker 1: with Sagastra and the actors, and with Iotze our crew members, 329 00:20:02,200 --> 00:20:06,440 Speaker 1: and with you know, the the ups workers and drivers. 330 00:20:07,200 --> 00:20:11,840 Speaker 1: Folks are saying enough, like the structures of power aren't 331 00:20:11,880 --> 00:20:16,480 Speaker 1: working for us, and they're really seeing through the sort 332 00:20:16,520 --> 00:20:21,399 Speaker 1: of veils of separateness and this like this hot strike 333 00:20:21,480 --> 00:20:24,000 Speaker 1: summer we've been watching, I've just been like cheering all 334 00:20:24,080 --> 00:20:28,359 Speaker 1: summer long, like I'm so so in for every every 335 00:20:28,960 --> 00:20:33,160 Speaker 1: labor group that is organizing, and in a way, I'm 336 00:20:33,200 --> 00:20:36,520 Speaker 1: really hoping that the the energy of the strikes and 337 00:20:36,560 --> 00:20:40,359 Speaker 1: this sort of spirit of unity that you see permeating 338 00:20:40,359 --> 00:20:43,080 Speaker 1: all of these unions, because union workers are saying, look, 339 00:20:43,440 --> 00:20:46,840 Speaker 1: I may not get exactly what I need, you know, 340 00:20:46,920 --> 00:20:50,359 Speaker 1: as me individual number, whatever I might be on the planet, 341 00:20:50,840 --> 00:20:54,120 Speaker 1: but our union is going to win. The people are 342 00:20:54,160 --> 00:20:57,440 Speaker 1: going to win. People will have better protections, people will 343 00:20:57,480 --> 00:21:01,600 Speaker 1: have better healthcare. Every member of this union will benefit, 344 00:21:02,160 --> 00:21:05,240 Speaker 1: regardless of how much I personally stand, you know, to 345 00:21:05,480 --> 00:21:09,480 Speaker 1: gain a little or a lot. Yeah, And I really 346 00:21:09,560 --> 00:21:13,960 Speaker 1: hope that that labor energy can kind of get into 347 00:21:14,000 --> 00:21:17,800 Speaker 1: our elected officials a bit more where they realize, oh, right, 348 00:21:17,920 --> 00:21:22,240 Speaker 1: our job is to essentially unionize the country. It's to 349 00:21:22,320 --> 00:21:27,960 Speaker 1: work on behalf of the people, not our little individual selves. 350 00:21:28,000 --> 00:21:29,080 Speaker 1: Wouldn't that be nice? 351 00:21:29,280 --> 00:21:32,000 Speaker 2: It's so true, and I think it's so interesting. I 352 00:21:32,040 --> 00:21:33,520 Speaker 2: was listening to kind of I think it was on 353 00:21:33,680 --> 00:21:38,080 Speaker 2: NPR kind of a story about the writer's strike and 354 00:21:38,080 --> 00:21:40,760 Speaker 2: where things stood earlier this week, and it like struck 355 00:21:40,800 --> 00:21:43,800 Speaker 2: me in the car. I mean, this is obvious and 356 00:21:43,840 --> 00:21:46,840 Speaker 2: you've lived it. It's like that is about something, right, 357 00:21:47,080 --> 00:21:50,960 Speaker 2: The UAW strike is about something. It's like people getting 358 00:21:51,520 --> 00:21:55,760 Speaker 2: paid what they deserve and paid what they have earned. 359 00:21:57,200 --> 00:22:02,679 Speaker 2: In Washington, these negotiations are about anything. And sometimes I 360 00:22:02,720 --> 00:22:06,560 Speaker 2: think this small wing of the right. I say small 361 00:22:06,600 --> 00:22:08,120 Speaker 2: wing of the right because I don't think it's as 362 00:22:08,160 --> 00:22:10,399 Speaker 2: hopeless as everybody thinks it is. I think it's like 363 00:22:10,560 --> 00:22:17,240 Speaker 2: a very problematic crew. They like to pretend or portray 364 00:22:17,320 --> 00:22:22,120 Speaker 2: themselves as like the truth tellers, these like oppressed. Well 365 00:22:22,160 --> 00:22:24,600 Speaker 2: I say that because I think it's important to differentiate. 366 00:22:24,800 --> 00:22:29,320 Speaker 2: Like they are not the writer striking, they are not 367 00:22:29,560 --> 00:22:33,280 Speaker 2: the union workers. Like these people, I don't know who 368 00:22:33,280 --> 00:22:36,120 Speaker 2: to compare them to. But it's not about anything. They're 369 00:22:36,160 --> 00:22:38,840 Speaker 2: trying to destroy the industry they work in, right, They're 370 00:22:38,840 --> 00:22:41,600 Speaker 2: not trying to get paid for what they deserve so 371 00:22:41,640 --> 00:22:45,160 Speaker 2: that their industry can continue functioning. And there's a big difference. 372 00:22:45,720 --> 00:22:50,240 Speaker 1: Right, Well, they seem to want to model themselves after 373 00:22:51,080 --> 00:22:53,600 Speaker 1: oligarchies that we see in other parts of the world, 374 00:22:54,080 --> 00:22:57,920 Speaker 1: where it's just about who has more as the as 375 00:22:57,960 --> 00:23:00,800 Speaker 1: the individual person, and you get to compete in these 376 00:23:00,840 --> 00:23:05,200 Speaker 1: little zones, and I don't quite understand it. I'm like, listen, 377 00:23:05,200 --> 00:23:08,560 Speaker 1: if that's what you want, Like, okay, move to Russia 378 00:23:08,640 --> 00:23:11,680 Speaker 1: and be friends with Putin. But like, this is America. 379 00:23:11,720 --> 00:23:13,720 Speaker 1: We were built on the American dream. We were built 380 00:23:13,760 --> 00:23:17,639 Speaker 1: on the notion of democracy. We were built on ideologies that, 381 00:23:17,720 --> 00:23:22,240 Speaker 1: however flawed and their execution, are really and truly about 382 00:23:22,600 --> 00:23:26,119 Speaker 1: a democratic republic where everybody is supported and has a 383 00:23:26,160 --> 00:23:30,000 Speaker 1: shot and you don't have to like that, but maybe 384 00:23:30,040 --> 00:23:32,639 Speaker 1: don't try to represent it in the halls of government. 385 00:23:33,040 --> 00:23:35,439 Speaker 1: If it's not your thing, go do something else. 386 00:23:38,440 --> 00:23:42,400 Speaker 2: Well, I also think that there's a version of this 387 00:23:42,600 --> 00:23:45,920 Speaker 2: that is their business model. Not to be gross about it, 388 00:23:46,000 --> 00:23:52,080 Speaker 2: but like the more that they are obstructionists, right, and 389 00:23:52,160 --> 00:23:57,080 Speaker 2: the more that they are outrageous, the more money they 390 00:23:57,080 --> 00:24:00,240 Speaker 2: can raise, the more they can get on Fox Prime Time. 391 00:24:00,320 --> 00:24:02,000 Speaker 1: Well, they're building brands off of it. 392 00:24:02,280 --> 00:24:07,840 Speaker 2: They're building brands, and so it's gross because it's like 393 00:24:08,440 --> 00:24:14,000 Speaker 2: not for good, but that's what they're incentivized to do. 394 00:24:14,840 --> 00:24:17,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, I'm curious watching all of this because, look, 395 00:24:18,000 --> 00:24:22,080 Speaker 1: I know how it affects me as a person, as 396 00:24:22,359 --> 00:24:27,119 Speaker 1: an advocate, and I know how passionate about it you 397 00:24:27,200 --> 00:24:29,440 Speaker 1: are and how passionate about getting the truth out there 398 00:24:29,480 --> 00:24:32,080 Speaker 1: you are. But you know, you mentioned earlier thinking about 399 00:24:32,119 --> 00:24:35,680 Speaker 1: your eight year old self and watching that younger version 400 00:24:35,680 --> 00:24:37,600 Speaker 1: of your self mirrored and your eight year old daughter, 401 00:24:38,320 --> 00:24:41,760 Speaker 1: and you know you are a mother of two children, 402 00:24:42,000 --> 00:24:46,680 Speaker 1: Like as a parent, does this stuff ever just overwhelm 403 00:24:46,800 --> 00:24:51,960 Speaker 1: you or does the world that you will be passing 404 00:24:52,000 --> 00:24:56,040 Speaker 1: to your kids? You know the promise of that, and 405 00:24:56,480 --> 00:24:59,480 Speaker 1: perhaps the danger that that future is in. Now, does 406 00:24:59,520 --> 00:25:01,160 Speaker 1: it make you want to double down on the fight? 407 00:25:01,359 --> 00:25:02,800 Speaker 1: Is it a little bit of both? Is it like 408 00:25:02,920 --> 00:25:04,280 Speaker 1: terrifying and inspiring? 409 00:25:07,119 --> 00:25:10,159 Speaker 2: You know, I think it's about I always try to 410 00:25:10,200 --> 00:25:14,880 Speaker 2: think of the right way to not shade them from 411 00:25:14,920 --> 00:25:18,240 Speaker 2: what's happening, or you know what I mean, but how 412 00:25:18,280 --> 00:25:22,280 Speaker 2: to expose them to it in a way that feels 413 00:25:22,440 --> 00:25:25,560 Speaker 2: in some way age appropriate. And I you know, we 414 00:25:25,600 --> 00:25:28,240 Speaker 2: didn't this wasn't on a part of the interview on air, 415 00:25:28,320 --> 00:25:31,119 Speaker 2: but when I interviewed Hillary Clinton a week ago, we 416 00:25:31,200 --> 00:25:33,720 Speaker 2: talked about this a little bit afterwards, just about because 417 00:25:33,720 --> 00:25:37,399 Speaker 2: her granddaughter is eight, my daughters eight, and just about 418 00:25:37,640 --> 00:25:42,679 Speaker 2: exposing kids at that age to the realities to some 419 00:25:42,840 --> 00:25:46,040 Speaker 2: degree of the world. And I don't mean like let's 420 00:25:46,080 --> 00:25:50,880 Speaker 2: watch murder documentaries, not that, But you know, I watched 421 00:25:51,520 --> 00:25:54,600 Speaker 2: my daughter watched a little bit of the Zelensky interview 422 00:25:54,640 --> 00:25:57,199 Speaker 2: on sixty Minutes with me, and she was kind of 423 00:25:57,240 --> 00:26:01,320 Speaker 2: asking questions just like what's going on there? Why why 424 00:26:01,359 --> 00:26:04,879 Speaker 2: do they want that more of that country? And you know, 425 00:26:04,960 --> 00:26:07,520 Speaker 2: we kind of guy covered her eyes when there was 426 00:26:07,560 --> 00:26:11,080 Speaker 2: something that was scary. But I try to think a 427 00:26:11,119 --> 00:26:14,480 Speaker 2: lot about how to expose them to a world that's 428 00:26:14,480 --> 00:26:17,520 Speaker 2: bigger than them, because I do think that that's something 429 00:26:17,560 --> 00:26:21,080 Speaker 2: that we can share with our kids in doses that 430 00:26:21,240 --> 00:26:25,520 Speaker 2: is acceptable, if that makes sense, you know. But you know, 431 00:26:25,600 --> 00:26:27,480 Speaker 2: my son, it's so funny because I don't even you 432 00:26:27,480 --> 00:26:29,400 Speaker 2: don't always know like where they get things from. When 433 00:26:29,400 --> 00:26:30,760 Speaker 2: I was at the White House, he thought I worked 434 00:26:30,760 --> 00:26:33,480 Speaker 2: at the Honda dealership, which sounds very funny and random. 435 00:26:33,480 --> 00:26:36,200 Speaker 2: I mean, he was like three and four. He also 436 00:26:36,240 --> 00:26:40,000 Speaker 2: loves cars. It was like a big compliment. But lately 437 00:26:40,040 --> 00:26:43,760 Speaker 2: he's been saying, Mommy and Donald Trump hate each other. 438 00:26:44,160 --> 00:26:47,159 Speaker 2: First of all, I don't know where that comes from. Second, like, 439 00:26:47,240 --> 00:26:49,720 Speaker 2: we don't use the word hate in our house. Third, 440 00:26:50,000 --> 00:26:53,480 Speaker 2: like I don't feel hate. Like also he doesn't. I 441 00:26:53,480 --> 00:26:56,399 Speaker 2: mean I can't even imagine. I was like, he doesn't 442 00:26:56,440 --> 00:27:00,560 Speaker 2: think about me, you know, but I mean think about 443 00:27:00,560 --> 00:27:05,000 Speaker 2: you a lot. Well, who knows, But there are ways 444 00:27:05,080 --> 00:27:07,280 Speaker 2: that some of the stuff is like some of the 445 00:27:07,400 --> 00:27:10,680 Speaker 2: vitriol out there. I mean he's five, right, Yeah, it's 446 00:27:10,720 --> 00:27:13,879 Speaker 2: like I'm not talking about Donald Trump in my house. 447 00:27:13,960 --> 00:27:18,080 Speaker 2: Like I'm like being quizzed on which monster truck I 448 00:27:18,200 --> 00:27:20,600 Speaker 2: like on a particular day. And that's very stressful because 449 00:27:20,600 --> 00:27:23,840 Speaker 2: I can only remember so many of their names. But 450 00:27:24,040 --> 00:27:28,360 Speaker 2: somehow it's like they consume it, you know, and so 451 00:27:28,440 --> 00:27:31,760 Speaker 2: it's like, how do you introduce it to them in 452 00:27:31,760 --> 00:27:35,399 Speaker 2: a way that's about values and not about like hate 453 00:27:35,480 --> 00:27:39,960 Speaker 2: or vitriol, but about like what we believe in. Like 454 00:27:40,119 --> 00:27:43,560 Speaker 2: I believe in I say, daddy, and I believe that 455 00:27:44,760 --> 00:27:47,639 Speaker 2: people should have access to healthcare. And I mean I 456 00:27:47,720 --> 00:27:50,320 Speaker 2: met my husband, as you know, in democratic politics, so 457 00:27:50,400 --> 00:27:54,320 Speaker 2: like you know, I can be a spokesperson, but I 458 00:27:54,400 --> 00:27:56,880 Speaker 2: do think a lot about like what to expose them 459 00:27:56,920 --> 00:27:59,080 Speaker 2: to and when. I mean, they are kids growing up 460 00:27:59,400 --> 00:28:04,080 Speaker 2: in a suburb of Washington, d C. But I also 461 00:28:04,119 --> 00:28:06,920 Speaker 2: don't want them to like go around saying they hate anyone, 462 00:28:07,080 --> 00:28:11,680 Speaker 2: including like you know, politicians I find to be abhorrent 463 00:28:12,280 --> 00:28:14,320 Speaker 2: so well. 464 00:28:14,119 --> 00:28:16,520 Speaker 1: And I imagine not only are you trying to figure 465 00:28:16,560 --> 00:28:23,040 Speaker 1: out how to inform them without overwhelming them, but that 466 00:28:23,200 --> 00:28:26,400 Speaker 1: goes beyond Washington, that goes into the news cycle in general. Right. 467 00:28:26,440 --> 00:28:29,920 Speaker 1: I mean, we live as a privilege in the most 468 00:28:29,920 --> 00:28:32,919 Speaker 1: connected information era of all time, but I think it 469 00:28:32,960 --> 00:28:36,240 Speaker 1: can also really feel like an onslaught. You know, there's 470 00:28:36,320 --> 00:28:39,320 Speaker 1: these huge news cycles on these important stories to your 471 00:28:39,360 --> 00:28:44,840 Speaker 1: point talking to kids about what's happening in Ukraine, watching 472 00:28:45,000 --> 00:28:48,320 Speaker 1: the earthquake in Morocco, the flooding in Libya, the fires 473 00:28:48,320 --> 00:28:52,640 Speaker 1: in Maui, you know, the fires in Canada, tropical storms 474 00:28:52,640 --> 00:28:58,480 Speaker 1: off the East coast. Like everything feels so dialed up, 475 00:28:58,560 --> 00:29:05,800 Speaker 1: and there's tragedy and suffering everywhere, and not just for kids, 476 00:29:05,800 --> 00:29:07,920 Speaker 1: but I mean even for us. You know, you said it, 477 00:29:08,000 --> 00:29:12,320 Speaker 1: your job is the news. How how do you think 478 00:29:13,080 --> 00:29:16,360 Speaker 1: we can maintain the sort of like drum beat and 479 00:29:16,440 --> 00:29:20,760 Speaker 1: presence for these important stories, for these you know, people 480 00:29:20,800 --> 00:29:26,880 Speaker 1: around the world who need our support and not feel 481 00:29:26,920 --> 00:29:29,520 Speaker 1: like everything is crumbling around us all the time. Is 482 00:29:29,800 --> 00:29:32,840 Speaker 1: there is there a balance that working in the news 483 00:29:32,880 --> 00:29:34,160 Speaker 1: you have found works for you. 484 00:29:35,440 --> 00:29:37,840 Speaker 2: Gosh, that's such a good question. I like feel like 485 00:29:37,880 --> 00:29:39,680 Speaker 2: I want to phone a friend and bring my mom 486 00:29:39,720 --> 00:29:42,960 Speaker 2: on who's a therapist? Oh, because it is like this 487 00:29:43,120 --> 00:29:47,160 Speaker 2: time almost requires that, you know. I think one of 488 00:29:47,200 --> 00:29:49,320 Speaker 2: the things that I've really tried to do, and I 489 00:29:49,920 --> 00:29:52,800 Speaker 2: have not perfected this over the last couple of years, 490 00:29:53,400 --> 00:29:57,320 Speaker 2: is really be conscious about being present and being present. 491 00:29:58,120 --> 00:30:01,600 Speaker 2: That's important to do, and I mean present in all aspects. Right, 492 00:30:01,720 --> 00:30:05,920 Speaker 2: If I'm with my kids, I want to be present 493 00:30:06,080 --> 00:30:09,640 Speaker 2: in their lives. I'm imperfect at this, but like I 494 00:30:09,640 --> 00:30:12,440 Speaker 2: should not be looking at what's on Twitter. I should 495 00:30:12,440 --> 00:30:15,440 Speaker 2: be like playing with again Monster Trucks. It's a big 496 00:30:15,480 --> 00:30:21,600 Speaker 2: dominant part of my life, Monster Trucks, or like you know, 497 00:30:21,720 --> 00:30:24,640 Speaker 2: my daughter is like the star of her own musical play. 498 00:30:24,920 --> 00:30:31,360 Speaker 2: So like you know that whatever she's into, and that's important. 499 00:30:31,400 --> 00:30:34,440 Speaker 2: It's like carving out time to be present in your 500 00:30:34,520 --> 00:30:40,720 Speaker 2: life with your kids, with your spouse or partner, boyfriend, girlfriend, whatever. 501 00:30:40,840 --> 00:30:43,080 Speaker 2: I think, as I've established, you can date and be 502 00:30:43,200 --> 00:30:45,360 Speaker 2: with anyone you want to be with, just be present 503 00:30:45,400 --> 00:30:52,200 Speaker 2: with them. But I also think that's true in work too. 504 00:30:52,640 --> 00:30:55,280 Speaker 2: I mean, you know, it is about I mean, one 505 00:30:55,320 --> 00:30:57,640 Speaker 2: of the things I don't remember who gave me this advice, 506 00:30:57,680 --> 00:30:59,400 Speaker 2: but I thought it was so good. As I'm like 507 00:30:59,480 --> 00:31:03,600 Speaker 2: learning to transition here is about being present in the 508 00:31:03,640 --> 00:31:07,320 Speaker 2: conversations that you're having. Even on a television show or 509 00:31:07,320 --> 00:31:10,400 Speaker 2: a podcast, you were a very present person, like you are, 510 00:31:10,480 --> 00:31:14,360 Speaker 2: like a very That is hard to do. It takes focus, 511 00:31:14,560 --> 00:31:18,040 Speaker 2: you know, and but it makes the conversation so much 512 00:31:18,080 --> 00:31:21,560 Speaker 2: more enjoyable and so much deeper. And so I've thought 513 00:31:21,600 --> 00:31:25,320 Speaker 2: a lot about that no one's perfect at being present, right. 514 00:31:25,400 --> 00:31:26,800 Speaker 2: We all have moments where you just want to like 515 00:31:26,880 --> 00:31:30,400 Speaker 2: endlessly scroll through Instagram and like read us magazine. I 516 00:31:30,440 --> 00:31:32,480 Speaker 2: do all those things. I've like gone down the rabbit 517 00:31:32,480 --> 00:31:36,240 Speaker 2: hole of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelsey the world. But like, 518 00:31:37,560 --> 00:31:39,680 Speaker 2: but I also think it's like carving out time to 519 00:31:39,680 --> 00:31:42,200 Speaker 2: be present, and that's a would be present for yourself too. 520 00:31:42,440 --> 00:31:46,720 Speaker 2: You know it's time for yourself because I can't. You know. 521 00:31:46,920 --> 00:31:49,040 Speaker 2: It's it's funny like someone was asking the other day, 522 00:31:49,080 --> 00:31:51,480 Speaker 2: like how do you engage with people or how do 523 00:31:51,520 --> 00:31:54,920 Speaker 2: you convince people to come your way who are support Trump? 524 00:31:55,040 --> 00:31:57,120 Speaker 2: And like how do you discuss it at the bus stop? 525 00:31:57,160 --> 00:31:59,680 Speaker 2: And I'm like, I don't. I don't make it's like 526 00:32:00,280 --> 00:32:02,680 Speaker 2: at the must stop. I have no idea what people's 527 00:32:02,680 --> 00:32:06,000 Speaker 2: political views are. Sometimes people will tell you or want 528 00:32:06,040 --> 00:32:09,240 Speaker 2: to discuss something, but like we talk about our kids, 529 00:32:09,240 --> 00:32:11,320 Speaker 2: we talk about the dogs, We talk about like the 530 00:32:11,360 --> 00:32:13,520 Speaker 2: neighborhood party that's coming up. We talked about when the 531 00:32:13,560 --> 00:32:15,680 Speaker 2: trash guys come in, when the leaves are coming, who's 532 00:32:15,680 --> 00:32:18,600 Speaker 2: decorating their house for Halloween? You know, there are ways 533 00:32:18,600 --> 00:32:21,160 Speaker 2: to connect with people that don't have to be about 534 00:32:21,160 --> 00:32:24,120 Speaker 2: the things you disagree with. It doesn't mean that you're 535 00:32:24,120 --> 00:32:27,000 Speaker 2: putting aside your views and your morals. It just means 536 00:32:27,040 --> 00:32:30,280 Speaker 2: for me, I can't. I'm not going to debate people 537 00:32:30,360 --> 00:32:33,840 Speaker 2: twenty hours a day because I would be depleted, you know. 538 00:32:35,240 --> 00:32:39,600 Speaker 2: And so it's about being present and also recognizing that 539 00:32:39,680 --> 00:32:46,000 Speaker 2: sometimes it's about finding connection and not finding topics to 540 00:32:46,040 --> 00:32:46,640 Speaker 2: debate over. 541 00:32:47,200 --> 00:32:50,880 Speaker 1: Yeah. Well, and I think you know that this idea 542 00:32:51,000 --> 00:32:55,840 Speaker 1: sort of keeps coming up. It's remembering that there's so 543 00:32:55,920 --> 00:32:59,320 Speaker 1: much more to a human than what they do, or 544 00:33:00,120 --> 00:33:03,880 Speaker 1: they believe, or how they vote. I think we're all 545 00:33:03,920 --> 00:33:06,920 Speaker 1: beginning to see that you've got to vote with your 546 00:33:07,000 --> 00:33:12,800 Speaker 1: humanity because if you don't, people who don't believe that 547 00:33:12,880 --> 00:33:16,440 Speaker 1: anyone who's different than them deserves humanity, those are the 548 00:33:16,440 --> 00:33:20,120 Speaker 1: people who get into power. So hopefully we really do 549 00:33:20,280 --> 00:33:23,320 Speaker 1: see our civic engagement as a as a more human 550 00:33:23,440 --> 00:33:29,880 Speaker 1: exercise of love moving forward. But yeah, yeah, I think 551 00:33:29,920 --> 00:33:33,280 Speaker 1: it's wild, and I get it. You know, it's sometimes 552 00:33:33,360 --> 00:33:35,240 Speaker 1: I wonder, I'm like, what do people think actors do 553 00:33:35,280 --> 00:33:35,640 Speaker 1: all day? 554 00:33:35,640 --> 00:33:35,720 Speaker 2: Like? 555 00:33:35,760 --> 00:33:37,480 Speaker 1: Do you think I just do monologues in my house? 556 00:33:37,520 --> 00:33:40,000 Speaker 1: I don't, you know, It's like people think you're debating 557 00:33:40,040 --> 00:33:42,320 Speaker 1: at the bus stop. You're like, I'm not. I'm like, 558 00:33:42,680 --> 00:33:44,360 Speaker 1: I'm packing, I'm making. 559 00:33:44,120 --> 00:33:47,920 Speaker 2: Sure my kid has lunch, Like right, forget whether my 560 00:33:48,000 --> 00:33:52,640 Speaker 2: kids leave breakfast or not. I'm like around with muffins. Yeah, 561 00:33:52,720 --> 00:33:56,440 Speaker 2: you know exactly. It is. It's such an important point. 562 00:33:56,560 --> 00:34:02,280 Speaker 2: Everybody is multifaceted, right, and and that is sometimes hard 563 00:34:02,360 --> 00:34:05,280 Speaker 2: to digest or hard to picture, because, especially if you 564 00:34:05,320 --> 00:34:07,360 Speaker 2: are a person who is in any degree of a 565 00:34:07,360 --> 00:34:11,600 Speaker 2: public role, people picture you in a very specific way. Yes, 566 00:34:11,760 --> 00:34:14,120 Speaker 2: like you'll really picture you like you're always on a movie, 567 00:34:14,360 --> 00:34:16,880 Speaker 2: Like you're always like on a television set, right, Like 568 00:34:16,920 --> 00:34:19,480 Speaker 2: you're just always like you know, and then. 569 00:34:19,360 --> 00:34:22,759 Speaker 1: People people think the work is very glamorous, and then 570 00:34:22,800 --> 00:34:25,239 Speaker 1: people come to visit sets and within two hours they're like, 571 00:34:25,280 --> 00:34:26,920 Speaker 1: I got to get out of here. This is horrible, 572 00:34:26,920 --> 00:34:30,719 Speaker 1: and Mike, welcome to reality. It's always so like where I. 573 00:34:30,880 --> 00:34:34,160 Speaker 2: Change for where I change before the show. Since I've 574 00:34:34,239 --> 00:34:37,440 Speaker 2: established I wear like jeans and sneakers, like every day 575 00:34:37,960 --> 00:34:41,040 Speaker 2: I change in like the hall bathroom, which is shared 576 00:34:41,080 --> 00:34:43,239 Speaker 2: with like all of the organizations, and I just like 577 00:34:43,960 --> 00:34:47,160 Speaker 2: throw stuff over the stall. I mean, yeah, which is fine. 578 00:34:47,160 --> 00:34:50,600 Speaker 2: I'm not gonna it's just this is this is, this is. Yeah, 579 00:34:50,600 --> 00:34:53,239 Speaker 2: we're lucky to do what we get to do. But yeah, but. 580 00:34:53,239 --> 00:34:55,200 Speaker 1: It's like you don't have the dressing room that Jen 581 00:34:55,280 --> 00:34:58,080 Speaker 1: Anison has on the Morning show. To be clear, Well 582 00:34:58,200 --> 00:34:59,920 Speaker 1: that's a TV maybe. 583 00:34:59,800 --> 00:35:02,040 Speaker 2: Some people do. I just have like the bathroom stall 584 00:35:02,080 --> 00:35:03,800 Speaker 2: in the hallway, which works just fine. 585 00:35:04,200 --> 00:35:07,919 Speaker 1: Honestly, I love it. I learned I learned like back 586 00:35:07,960 --> 00:35:10,080 Speaker 1: in the day as a camp counselor the good you 587 00:35:10,120 --> 00:35:12,760 Speaker 1: know when you can like change under your own clothes. 588 00:35:12,920 --> 00:35:15,320 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, and like I still do the camp change 589 00:35:15,400 --> 00:35:17,200 Speaker 1: on set all the time. I'm like, we don't have 590 00:35:17,239 --> 00:35:18,960 Speaker 1: time to go to base camp. I've never seen the 591 00:35:19,000 --> 00:35:21,799 Speaker 1: inside of my own trailer, Like, you know, let's do 592 00:35:21,880 --> 00:35:25,480 Speaker 1: this corner. This will be fine. Yeah, somebody somebody tossed 593 00:35:25,520 --> 00:35:28,640 Speaker 1: me up like a yeah, hand me a reflector that 594 00:35:28,719 --> 00:35:31,000 Speaker 1: the camera uses and I'll change behind it. I don't care. 595 00:35:31,200 --> 00:35:34,719 Speaker 2: It's a skill set to have exactly all. 596 00:35:34,760 --> 00:35:38,080 Speaker 1: Right, Well, what's coming up next? I mean, my god, 597 00:35:38,280 --> 00:35:42,040 Speaker 1: two big interviews recently, you know you you mentioned you 598 00:35:42,040 --> 00:35:44,600 Speaker 1: spoke to Hillary Clinton and you were speaking to Nancy Pelosi. 599 00:35:45,120 --> 00:35:49,200 Speaker 1: What can viewers look forward to? What's what's what are 600 00:35:49,200 --> 00:35:50,319 Speaker 1: you looking forward to. 601 00:35:51,080 --> 00:35:54,160 Speaker 2: Oh god, you know, one of the things I'm so 602 00:35:54,200 --> 00:35:57,879 Speaker 2: excited about is just having conversations with people who are 603 00:35:58,440 --> 00:36:02,359 Speaker 2: not afraid to speak their and like change the conversation, 604 00:36:02,520 --> 00:36:06,080 Speaker 2: if that makes sense, And so I'm super drawn to 605 00:36:06,320 --> 00:36:10,000 Speaker 2: those people. I'm also really drawn to some of the 606 00:36:10,120 --> 00:36:13,359 Speaker 2: up and coming elected officials and members of Congress who 607 00:36:13,400 --> 00:36:17,399 Speaker 2: people don't entirely know or they're getting to know and 608 00:36:18,040 --> 00:36:22,680 Speaker 2: introducing those them to people. I also love a good 609 00:36:23,160 --> 00:36:26,239 Speaker 2: hypocrisy call out, so there'll be plenty of that. But 610 00:36:26,800 --> 00:36:28,680 Speaker 2: you know, we're gonna in the next couple of months, 611 00:36:28,719 --> 00:36:31,000 Speaker 2: we're gonna go on the road with some more people 612 00:36:31,960 --> 00:36:36,719 Speaker 2: and kind of hopefully bring their lives and what they're 613 00:36:36,760 --> 00:36:40,400 Speaker 2: really like to some of our viewers. And we literally, 614 00:36:40,640 --> 00:36:42,879 Speaker 2: i mean, you know where NBC is in Washington, We're 615 00:36:42,920 --> 00:36:46,359 Speaker 2: just like blocks from the Capitol, so people can walk 616 00:36:46,400 --> 00:36:48,600 Speaker 2: over here and come on the show. And that's my 617 00:36:48,680 --> 00:36:51,760 Speaker 2: hope too. But yeah, now that we have one Monday 618 00:36:51,840 --> 00:36:54,080 Speaker 2: Night shown our belts, we're just we're excited for the 619 00:36:54,120 --> 00:36:54,680 Speaker 2: next one. 620 00:36:54,880 --> 00:36:58,120 Speaker 1: Oh it's so cool. Well, thank you so much for 621 00:36:58,160 --> 00:36:59,040 Speaker 1: taking your time. 622 00:36:59,200 --> 00:37:00,440 Speaker 2: Thank you to. 623 00:37:00,400 --> 00:37:03,240 Speaker 1: Be here with us today. It's really just a thrill. 624 00:37:03,800 --> 00:37:05,560 Speaker 2: It was a pleasure. Thank you so much.