1 00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:05,200 Speaker 1: In our first White House Press Secretary briefing, Caroline Levitt 2 00:00:05,200 --> 00:00:07,800 Speaker 1: made a point to talk about how President Trump wanted 3 00:00:07,800 --> 00:00:10,760 Speaker 1: his first presidential visit to be to western North Carolina 4 00:00:11,080 --> 00:00:14,840 Speaker 1: and to California. That this is why Americans know that 5 00:00:14,880 --> 00:00:16,520 Speaker 1: he's a man of the people, that he doesn't want 6 00:00:16,560 --> 00:00:19,800 Speaker 1: any American to feel forgotten. And we know that, especially 7 00:00:19,800 --> 00:00:24,600 Speaker 1: the citizens of western North Carolina, four months after Hurricane Helene, 8 00:00:24,640 --> 00:00:26,680 Speaker 1: have felt forgotten. That they have felt like they haven't 9 00:00:26,680 --> 00:00:30,159 Speaker 1: been heard by the Biden administration, that FEMA was not 10 00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:33,199 Speaker 1: there for them, that FEMA was actually causing more harm 11 00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:36,360 Speaker 1: than good. They felt left behind. And if you remember, 12 00:00:36,440 --> 00:00:40,279 Speaker 1: Hurricane Helene caused devastation in western North Carolina. There were 13 00:00:40,280 --> 00:00:43,960 Speaker 1: at least one hundred and four reported deaths. The flooding 14 00:00:44,080 --> 00:00:47,760 Speaker 1: was so severe, exceeding thirty inches in some places, resulting 15 00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:52,120 Speaker 1: in historic widespread flooding. It was described with terms like 16 00:00:52,320 --> 00:00:56,520 Speaker 1: biblical that's how bad it was, leaving neighborhoods destroyed, communities 17 00:00:56,600 --> 00:01:00,000 Speaker 1: isolated with no access out. But those days are over 18 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:02,160 Speaker 1: or with President Trump, and he made a point to 19 00:01:02,240 --> 00:01:04,040 Speaker 1: let them know that. And what I think was so 20 00:01:04,160 --> 00:01:07,479 Speaker 1: cool about his visit to western North Carolina and to California. 21 00:01:07,480 --> 00:01:11,080 Speaker 1: If you watched the press conferences, he handed the press 22 00:01:11,080 --> 00:01:14,840 Speaker 1: conference over in both instances to the citizens, to the people. 23 00:01:15,680 --> 00:01:18,280 Speaker 1: He wanted them to be heard. And in one instance, 24 00:01:18,319 --> 00:01:20,560 Speaker 1: when one man was talking about the difficulties that he 25 00:01:20,600 --> 00:01:23,360 Speaker 1: has had, the struggles that he has had, President Trump 26 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:25,840 Speaker 1: asked him to name the insurance company, to name and 27 00:01:25,880 --> 00:01:28,880 Speaker 1: shame the insurance company that hadn't been helping him. And 28 00:01:28,920 --> 00:01:31,360 Speaker 1: I think those Americans felt heard for the first time 29 00:01:31,480 --> 00:01:33,800 Speaker 1: in a long time. And as much as President Trump 30 00:01:33,840 --> 00:01:36,640 Speaker 1: gets criticized, this is someone who loves America, who wants 31 00:01:36,720 --> 00:01:39,120 Speaker 1: to put citizens first. I mean we saw it during 32 00:01:39,160 --> 00:01:43,440 Speaker 1: his first term when he visited Texas twice after Hurricane Harvey, 33 00:01:43,920 --> 00:01:46,360 Speaker 1: or when he visited Florida after Hurricane Irmar, even as 34 00:01:46,360 --> 00:01:49,800 Speaker 1: a candidate, when he visited East Palestine, Ohio after they 35 00:01:49,800 --> 00:01:52,960 Speaker 1: were ignored by the Biden administration. So we're going to 36 00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:55,800 Speaker 1: talk to one man today who's from Western North Carolina, 37 00:01:55,880 --> 00:01:58,440 Speaker 1: who has been relentlessly fighting to try to bring the 38 00:01:58,520 --> 00:02:01,520 Speaker 1: truth about the day image that was done to Western 39 00:02:01,640 --> 00:02:05,000 Speaker 1: North Carolina, as well as just the fact that the 40 00:02:05,000 --> 00:02:07,400 Speaker 1: community has been ignored by FEMA, bringing a lot of 41 00:02:07,440 --> 00:02:10,040 Speaker 1: those issues to light as well. So he's been a 42 00:02:10,040 --> 00:02:13,120 Speaker 1: truth teller for his community. His name is Matt Vincewell, 43 00:02:13,160 --> 00:02:15,359 Speaker 1: we're going to talk to him about that, his experiences 44 00:02:15,720 --> 00:02:19,639 Speaker 1: living through Hurricane Helene, and then also how this has 45 00:02:19,760 --> 00:02:25,000 Speaker 1: shaped his personal opinions, his politics, his viewpoint on the government. 46 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:27,320 Speaker 1: What's it like to live through something like that. So 47 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:35,639 Speaker 1: stay tuned for Matt Vanswoll. So, Matke, you lived through 48 00:02:35,720 --> 00:02:40,000 Speaker 1: Hurricane Heleen and western North Carolina where you reside, First 49 00:02:40,000 --> 00:02:42,240 Speaker 1: of all, tell us what that was like to have 50 00:02:42,240 --> 00:02:44,560 Speaker 1: gone through that, to experience it, you know, walk us 51 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:47,240 Speaker 1: through your story so we have an understanding of kind 52 00:02:47,240 --> 00:02:49,120 Speaker 1: of where you were and what you've been through. 53 00:02:49,720 --> 00:02:52,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, So we live in a small town just outside 54 00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:57,000 Speaker 2: of Asheville called Weaverville. We live along just a little 55 00:02:57,000 --> 00:03:00,800 Speaker 2: ways from like this, this very small creek. And during 56 00:03:00,880 --> 00:03:04,360 Speaker 2: Hurricane Helene, this little creek that was maybe five feet 57 00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:09,880 Speaker 2: wide it its max went to essentially two football fields 58 00:03:09,880 --> 00:03:13,760 Speaker 2: wide during the flooding and took out most of the 59 00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:18,960 Speaker 2: homes along the creek, nearly all of the bridges, and 60 00:03:19,200 --> 00:03:22,520 Speaker 2: we saw like eighteen wheelers like floating in the creek. 61 00:03:22,560 --> 00:03:24,919 Speaker 2: It was just one of the wildest things you've ever 62 00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:26,000 Speaker 2: seen in your life. 63 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:28,680 Speaker 3: I couldn't believe it was real. Like I still. 64 00:03:28,440 --> 00:03:34,600 Speaker 2: Remember driving out of our neighborhood after a neighbor actually 65 00:03:35,280 --> 00:03:38,040 Speaker 2: took his tractor and pushed all of the trees out 66 00:03:38,040 --> 00:03:40,960 Speaker 2: of our road because we had probably one hundred trees. 67 00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:43,200 Speaker 2: We lived on this little cul de sac, and we 68 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:46,920 Speaker 2: probably had one hundred trees down over over our road. 69 00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:49,960 Speaker 2: We couldn't get out, so a guy with a tractor 70 00:03:50,040 --> 00:03:54,600 Speaker 2: ended up chainsawing some trees and clearing the road for us, 71 00:03:54,640 --> 00:03:57,480 Speaker 2: which was awesome that I'll never forget pulling out of 72 00:03:57,480 --> 00:04:01,160 Speaker 2: our driveway and seeing what I thought looked like an ocean, 73 00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:04,040 Speaker 2: but it was actually our little creek that had just 74 00:04:04,680 --> 00:04:07,520 Speaker 2: risen and just smashed through everything in sight. It was 75 00:04:07,640 --> 00:04:10,840 Speaker 2: one of the craziest things I've ever witnessed. But we 76 00:04:10,840 --> 00:04:15,000 Speaker 2: were with that power for three weeks. We left and 77 00:04:15,040 --> 00:04:18,240 Speaker 2: went to Charlotte, North Carolina, got starlink and a generator 78 00:04:19,200 --> 00:04:22,800 Speaker 2: one night, and then came back and actually ended up 79 00:04:22,839 --> 00:04:26,919 Speaker 2: running really long extension courts into our neighbors' homes so 80 00:04:26,960 --> 00:04:29,200 Speaker 2: they could power some of their appliances for a couple 81 00:04:29,240 --> 00:04:32,039 Speaker 2: of weeks, and then our home kind of became like 82 00:04:32,080 --> 00:04:35,800 Speaker 2: the internet cafe for the neighborhood because we were the 83 00:04:35,800 --> 00:04:39,039 Speaker 2: only ones with starlink. So it's crazy to just see 84 00:04:39,040 --> 00:04:41,280 Speaker 2: people come in and like call loved ones and say 85 00:04:41,320 --> 00:04:42,159 Speaker 2: like we're okay. 86 00:04:43,480 --> 00:04:46,880 Speaker 3: It was just, I mean, this is the craziest experience. 87 00:04:47,320 --> 00:04:50,039 Speaker 1: I guess living through. I mean, it's always crazy to me. 88 00:04:50,120 --> 00:04:52,159 Speaker 1: You know, Thank God I've not had to live through 89 00:04:52,160 --> 00:04:52,680 Speaker 1: something like that. 90 00:04:52,720 --> 00:04:52,960 Speaker 3: I might. 91 00:04:53,000 --> 00:04:54,839 Speaker 1: I do live in Florida, so you know, there's always 92 00:04:54,839 --> 00:04:55,960 Speaker 1: the possibility. 93 00:04:57,040 --> 00:04:57,240 Speaker 3: You know. 94 00:04:57,279 --> 00:05:00,280 Speaker 1: I can't imagine just having you know, resided someplace for 95 00:05:00,960 --> 00:05:03,440 Speaker 1: you know, a while, it's your home, and then just 96 00:05:03,480 --> 00:05:06,000 Speaker 1: wake up one day and everything you knew is gone 97 00:05:06,040 --> 00:05:09,359 Speaker 1: and different and life has changed that substantially. I just 98 00:05:09,480 --> 00:05:14,040 Speaker 1: I imagine that's a really hard thing to digest in life. 99 00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:18,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's been really hard on our kids the most. 100 00:05:19,080 --> 00:05:24,040 Speaker 2: And how old are they They are thirteen, eleven and four, 101 00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:31,120 Speaker 2: so man, it's so so hard. But they see, you know, 102 00:05:31,200 --> 00:05:35,040 Speaker 2: all the parks that they normally play in are still 103 00:05:35,320 --> 00:05:36,640 Speaker 2: just completely destroyed. 104 00:05:38,200 --> 00:05:38,360 Speaker 3: You know. 105 00:05:38,680 --> 00:05:40,719 Speaker 2: I've posted a couple of videos of the soccer field 106 00:05:40,800 --> 00:05:42,800 Speaker 2: just right across from my home, and you can see 107 00:05:42,839 --> 00:05:46,640 Speaker 2: like tractor trailers on the soccer field and campers and 108 00:05:46,680 --> 00:05:50,800 Speaker 2: it's all still there, and so many of the parks, 109 00:05:51,400 --> 00:05:53,920 Speaker 2: the playgrounds that we used to go to are gone. 110 00:05:53,960 --> 00:05:56,760 Speaker 3: And I think my wife posted this the other day. 111 00:05:56,800 --> 00:06:00,400 Speaker 2: But we were driving just a target to get some 112 00:06:00,440 --> 00:06:02,560 Speaker 2: stuff and my son looks out the window of the 113 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:04,599 Speaker 2: four year old and he goes. 114 00:06:04,480 --> 00:06:09,120 Speaker 3: Are there dead people there? And it's just something he 115 00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:11,080 Speaker 3: thinks about constantly. 116 00:06:10,720 --> 00:06:13,839 Speaker 2: When we drive by all this debris piled up everywhere, 117 00:06:14,560 --> 00:06:16,520 Speaker 2: because he you know, he has just such a basic 118 00:06:16,600 --> 00:06:19,919 Speaker 2: understanding of what happened, but he knows it was horrific 119 00:06:19,960 --> 00:06:22,039 Speaker 2: and that you know, people died, and it's just, you know, 120 00:06:22,080 --> 00:06:24,720 Speaker 2: it's one of those things you should never have to 121 00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:27,480 Speaker 2: explain to your toddler that, like, yes, it was hard 122 00:06:27,560 --> 00:06:29,840 Speaker 2: and we're getting through it, but they just feel the 123 00:06:29,880 --> 00:06:32,080 Speaker 2: effects every single day, if. 124 00:06:31,960 --> 00:06:34,800 Speaker 1: I mean, that's got to be hard as parents, because 125 00:06:35,360 --> 00:06:38,720 Speaker 1: you know, with young kids, obviously you want to protect them. 126 00:06:38,839 --> 00:06:41,520 Speaker 1: You want to shield them from pain and from you know, 127 00:06:41,560 --> 00:06:45,080 Speaker 1: having to witness bad things. I guess how do you 128 00:06:45,160 --> 00:06:47,320 Speaker 1: kind of balance that with also you know, they're they're 129 00:06:47,360 --> 00:06:50,200 Speaker 1: probably wondering why their lives have been so disrupted as well. 130 00:06:50,279 --> 00:06:51,800 Speaker 1: So I mean, I guess how do you balance that 131 00:06:51,880 --> 00:06:54,320 Speaker 1: as a parent. I imagine that's got to be a 132 00:06:54,360 --> 00:06:56,360 Speaker 1: really challenging thing to try to navigate. 133 00:06:57,240 --> 00:06:59,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, as a parent, you just hate it. 134 00:06:59,080 --> 00:07:01,720 Speaker 2: You know, your heart, you don't know what to say, 135 00:07:03,200 --> 00:07:06,280 Speaker 2: But I have to say that kids are so resilient 136 00:07:07,279 --> 00:07:10,040 Speaker 2: and one of the greatest things that's come out of 137 00:07:10,040 --> 00:07:15,040 Speaker 2: this is seeing my kids volunteer and help other people 138 00:07:15,280 --> 00:07:19,840 Speaker 2: like they volunteered at so many different places, sorting clothes, 139 00:07:20,000 --> 00:07:24,040 Speaker 2: food items, putting you know, food in people's cars. 140 00:07:24,240 --> 00:07:26,360 Speaker 3: My four year old got. 141 00:07:26,120 --> 00:07:30,200 Speaker 2: To deliver an RV with us to a woman who's 142 00:07:30,240 --> 00:07:33,480 Speaker 2: homeless after Hurricane Helena lost her home and got to put. 143 00:07:33,320 --> 00:07:36,080 Speaker 3: Toys in it for a kid a year younger than him. 144 00:07:36,560 --> 00:07:38,640 Speaker 2: And I think that's just such a good experience for 145 00:07:38,760 --> 00:07:42,680 Speaker 2: kids to be able to give back in a way 146 00:07:42,720 --> 00:07:46,040 Speaker 2: they never would have been able to if a natural 147 00:07:46,080 --> 00:07:47,080 Speaker 2: disaster like this. 148 00:07:46,920 --> 00:07:47,679 Speaker 3: Wouldn't have happened. 149 00:07:47,680 --> 00:07:50,080 Speaker 2: But I'm truly, I'm really so proud of my kids 150 00:07:50,080 --> 00:07:52,400 Speaker 2: for the way that they have they've handled it and 151 00:07:52,480 --> 00:07:56,280 Speaker 2: being able to give them an experience of giving back. 152 00:07:56,800 --> 00:07:58,160 Speaker 3: I think it's so important. 153 00:07:58,760 --> 00:08:02,360 Speaker 1: What is living through through a natural disaster lake that 154 00:08:02,800 --> 00:08:05,600 Speaker 1: teach you about humanity. I know you had talked about 155 00:08:05,600 --> 00:08:07,760 Speaker 1: how you know your neighborhood. You set up sort of 156 00:08:07,760 --> 00:08:12,160 Speaker 1: an Internet cafe for the rest of the neighborhood. I 157 00:08:12,160 --> 00:08:13,680 Speaker 1: guess what does it show you? What does it tell 158 00:08:13,720 --> 00:08:14,800 Speaker 1: you about humanity? 159 00:08:15,880 --> 00:08:17,720 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean it brings out the best and the 160 00:08:17,760 --> 00:08:21,720 Speaker 3: worst simultaneously, you know, and you find out very quickly 161 00:08:21,760 --> 00:08:25,200 Speaker 3: that essentially nothing else matters except the friends that you've 162 00:08:25,200 --> 00:08:27,680 Speaker 3: made in life, because those are the people that come 163 00:08:27,720 --> 00:08:31,120 Speaker 3: and help you. And we always think that we have, 164 00:08:32,640 --> 00:08:34,800 Speaker 3: you know, less in common with people than we actually do. 165 00:08:35,920 --> 00:08:38,480 Speaker 3: Like the neighbor that cut us out of our driveway. 166 00:08:38,520 --> 00:08:40,360 Speaker 2: I've only talked to him twice in my whole life, 167 00:08:40,400 --> 00:08:43,839 Speaker 2: and he spent seven hours on my road, you know. 168 00:08:43,920 --> 00:08:47,640 Speaker 3: Just trying to get us out. And I mean I've. 169 00:08:47,480 --> 00:08:50,400 Speaker 2: Only talked to this many class and you know, he 170 00:08:50,480 --> 00:08:52,600 Speaker 2: took time out of his day to help. And I 171 00:08:52,640 --> 00:08:57,160 Speaker 2: truly think that that is what makes Americans Americans. You know, 172 00:08:57,600 --> 00:09:01,160 Speaker 2: regardless of your political views, if something bad is going 173 00:09:01,240 --> 00:09:03,839 Speaker 2: to happen, we're going to be there for you. And 174 00:09:04,200 --> 00:09:06,600 Speaker 2: no one talked about politics at the beginning of the storm. 175 00:09:06,679 --> 00:09:10,200 Speaker 2: Everyone was trying to help everyone, and you know, we 176 00:09:10,240 --> 00:09:14,200 Speaker 2: had some bad actors that tried to do some looting 177 00:09:14,240 --> 00:09:17,000 Speaker 2: and stuff, but our neighborhood set up like a little 178 00:09:17,000 --> 00:09:20,520 Speaker 2: police force with people driving around with walkie talkies. 179 00:09:20,240 --> 00:09:21,640 Speaker 3: And made sure everyone was safe. 180 00:09:22,040 --> 00:09:25,200 Speaker 2: And that felt great, and I just really think that 181 00:09:25,280 --> 00:09:27,680 Speaker 2: it brought out, you know, some of the best in people, 182 00:09:29,160 --> 00:09:31,360 Speaker 2: and you know, we all worked to make sure everyone 183 00:09:31,360 --> 00:09:34,800 Speaker 2: else was okay. And you know, our house barely had 184 00:09:34,840 --> 00:09:38,120 Speaker 2: any damage at all, and other people's had, you know, 185 00:09:38,280 --> 00:09:40,800 Speaker 2: terrible damage. I changed aw quite a few trees off 186 00:09:40,840 --> 00:09:44,200 Speaker 2: of neighbors' houses during this first weeks of the storm, 187 00:09:44,240 --> 00:09:47,080 Speaker 2: and then obviously we saw so much worse damage with 188 00:09:47,120 --> 00:09:50,720 Speaker 2: the flooding later on that we just couldn't believe. 189 00:09:50,760 --> 00:09:52,000 Speaker 3: And that's kind of phase two. 190 00:09:52,160 --> 00:09:54,960 Speaker 1: We've got more after the commercial break, but first, after 191 00:09:55,000 --> 00:09:57,520 Speaker 1: more than a year of war, terror and pain in Israel, 192 00:09:57,600 --> 00:10:00,840 Speaker 1: the need for security essentials and support for for responders 193 00:10:00,960 --> 00:10:04,079 Speaker 1: is still critical. Even in times of ceasefire. Israel must 194 00:10:04,160 --> 00:10:07,040 Speaker 1: be prepared for the next attack, wherever it may come from. 195 00:10:07,120 --> 00:10:10,520 Speaker 1: Is Israel surrounded by enemies and all sides. The International 196 00:10:10,520 --> 00:10:13,439 Speaker 1: Fellowship of Christians and Jews is supported and will continue 197 00:10:13,440 --> 00:10:17,239 Speaker 1: to support the people Visrael with life saving security essentials. 198 00:10:17,520 --> 00:10:20,840 Speaker 1: Your gift today will help save lies by providing bomb shelters, 199 00:10:20,960 --> 00:10:26,520 Speaker 1: armed security vehicles and ambulances, firefighting equipment, flak jackets, bulletproofests, 200 00:10:26,559 --> 00:10:29,319 Speaker 1: and so much more. Your generous donation today will help 201 00:10:29,400 --> 00:10:31,880 Speaker 1: ensure that the people of Israel are safe and secure 202 00:10:32,120 --> 00:10:34,320 Speaker 1: in the days to come. Give a gift to Bless 203 00:10:34,400 --> 00:10:38,360 Speaker 1: Israel and her people by visiting support IFCJ dot org. 204 00:10:38,679 --> 00:10:42,160 Speaker 1: That's one word support IFCJ dot org. Or you can 205 00:10:42,200 --> 00:10:46,080 Speaker 1: also call eight eight eight four a eight IFCJ. That's 206 00:10:46,160 --> 00:10:49,360 Speaker 1: eight eight eight four a eight IFCJ eight eight eight 207 00:10:49,480 --> 00:10:55,160 Speaker 1: four a eight four three two five. Yeah, it is 208 00:10:55,200 --> 00:10:58,120 Speaker 1: so interesting how resilient humans are. You know, you're talking 209 00:10:58,120 --> 00:10:59,800 Speaker 1: about just how you guys set up your own police 210 00:10:59,840 --> 00:11:02,280 Speaker 1: for worse and you know kind of people just coming 211 00:11:02,280 --> 00:11:06,880 Speaker 1: together to problem solve. So you've really been fighting for 212 00:11:06,920 --> 00:11:09,959 Speaker 1: your community by bringing the truth on AX, by by 213 00:11:10,000 --> 00:11:12,480 Speaker 1: posting about it, sort of forcing attention to the issue, 214 00:11:12,520 --> 00:11:15,120 Speaker 1: making sure that it's not forgotten it. 215 00:11:15,280 --> 00:11:15,960 Speaker 3: Take us through for. 216 00:11:16,240 --> 00:11:19,320 Speaker 1: People who are unfamiliar. I mean, obviously we saw images 217 00:11:19,480 --> 00:11:23,080 Speaker 1: after the hurricane hit, but take us through just the 218 00:11:23,160 --> 00:11:26,400 Speaker 1: level of devastation and the damage that it did, and 219 00:11:26,440 --> 00:11:29,800 Speaker 1: then also talk about how important X has been for 220 00:11:29,880 --> 00:11:31,800 Speaker 1: you to get the word out about that devastation. 221 00:11:32,480 --> 00:11:35,480 Speaker 2: Oh man, Yeah, I haven't even been to all of 222 00:11:35,480 --> 00:11:38,160 Speaker 2: the places that have been devastated. There's just so many, 223 00:11:39,840 --> 00:11:42,040 Speaker 2: especially like out in the Hallers, in some of the 224 00:11:42,080 --> 00:11:46,040 Speaker 2: mountain areas like Spruce Pine and others that just got 225 00:11:46,120 --> 00:11:51,320 Speaker 2: absolutely walloped. And I feel like East Tennessee, you know, had. 226 00:11:51,360 --> 00:11:54,079 Speaker 3: Had some really rough stuff happen as well. 227 00:11:55,400 --> 00:11:58,959 Speaker 2: But down I've lived very close to downtown Ashville, and 228 00:11:59,000 --> 00:12:00,679 Speaker 2: like I said, I live next to Creek and all 229 00:12:00,720 --> 00:12:03,800 Speaker 2: of those homes and bridges you know, got flooded pretty 230 00:12:03,840 --> 00:12:07,920 Speaker 2: pretty badly, and it was just beyond comprehension, Like the 231 00:12:08,040 --> 00:12:11,280 Speaker 2: mind really couldn't comprehend what you were seeing because it 232 00:12:11,320 --> 00:12:16,320 Speaker 2: didn't look familiar in any sense. Like I remember getting 233 00:12:16,400 --> 00:12:19,680 Speaker 2: to the French Broad River maybe day two or three, 234 00:12:20,040 --> 00:12:23,920 Speaker 2: I mean, when the flooding had subsided, subsided substantially, and 235 00:12:24,000 --> 00:12:27,280 Speaker 2: I still didn't recognize that. I could not believe how 236 00:12:27,320 --> 00:12:31,520 Speaker 2: bad it was, Like the river was so wide, it 237 00:12:31,640 --> 00:12:35,200 Speaker 2: just didn't even look the same. Especially River Arts District 238 00:12:35,559 --> 00:12:41,360 Speaker 2: in downtown Asheville just completely underwater, completely leveled. It was 239 00:12:41,440 --> 00:12:47,599 Speaker 2: just so crazy, and I remember I was at a 240 00:12:48,559 --> 00:12:53,400 Speaker 2: restaurant called White Duck Taco when I first heard about 241 00:12:53,400 --> 00:12:57,080 Speaker 2: that the assassination of or the attempted assassination of Trump, 242 00:12:57,320 --> 00:12:59,319 Speaker 2: And we were all out there like looking at our phones, 243 00:12:59,520 --> 00:13:01,840 Speaker 2: and I was staring at it from a bridge and 244 00:13:01,880 --> 00:13:02,720 Speaker 2: it was gone. 245 00:13:02,960 --> 00:13:04,640 Speaker 3: I mean, it was not there anymore. 246 00:13:04,640 --> 00:13:07,160 Speaker 2: And I just thought, Wow, these are going to be 247 00:13:07,200 --> 00:13:09,240 Speaker 2: so many memories that are just going to be wiped 248 00:13:09,280 --> 00:13:12,720 Speaker 2: off the face of the earth. And that's just in 249 00:13:12,800 --> 00:13:15,320 Speaker 2: the little little portion where we were. 250 00:13:16,559 --> 00:13:20,000 Speaker 3: Towns like Marshall, we have a lot of friends. 251 00:13:20,040 --> 00:13:24,120 Speaker 2: I mean, those places are completely you know, wiped off 252 00:13:24,120 --> 00:13:24,920 Speaker 2: the face of the earth. 253 00:13:25,040 --> 00:13:26,800 Speaker 3: Like it surprises me that they're. 254 00:13:26,640 --> 00:13:30,040 Speaker 2: Able to even pull out from the experience of the 255 00:13:30,040 --> 00:13:31,440 Speaker 2: flooding that they got. 256 00:13:31,520 --> 00:13:32,760 Speaker 3: It's it's just insane. 257 00:13:34,080 --> 00:13:37,600 Speaker 2: But X you know, was really a lifeline, I think 258 00:13:38,160 --> 00:13:41,240 Speaker 2: for getting the word out about what was happening in 259 00:13:41,240 --> 00:13:46,080 Speaker 2: western North Carolina because very few mainstream media outlets were 260 00:13:46,280 --> 00:13:50,320 Speaker 2: covering it, especially you know, at the beginning of the storm, 261 00:13:50,559 --> 00:13:53,920 Speaker 2: like maybe the first two to seven days, we did 262 00:13:53,920 --> 00:13:56,480 Speaker 2: have a lot of coverage, and then, just like any 263 00:13:56,559 --> 00:14:00,640 Speaker 2: national disaster, people just lose interest. They don't really want 264 00:14:00,679 --> 00:14:03,800 Speaker 2: to hear that things aren't going well, and I'm guilty 265 00:14:03,840 --> 00:14:07,440 Speaker 2: of that myself, just as a consumer of media, you know, 266 00:14:07,520 --> 00:14:12,560 Speaker 2: forgetting about places like Lehina in Mali and East pastein 267 00:14:14,120 --> 00:14:16,560 Speaker 2: So I just didn't want that to happen to us. 268 00:14:16,600 --> 00:14:19,560 Speaker 2: So I kind of made it my mission to stay 269 00:14:19,600 --> 00:14:22,880 Speaker 2: on top of it no matter what until things started 270 00:14:22,880 --> 00:14:26,200 Speaker 2: to turn around. And it was just so surprising to 271 00:14:26,240 --> 00:14:31,000 Speaker 2: me how long it has taken for that mission to 272 00:14:31,280 --> 00:14:35,920 Speaker 2: finally be accomplished. I mean, I would have never thought 273 00:14:36,320 --> 00:14:39,000 Speaker 2: in a million years that I would still be posting 274 00:14:39,040 --> 00:14:43,640 Speaker 2: about FEMA and people needing electricity and food and propane 275 00:14:44,240 --> 00:14:46,720 Speaker 2: four months after the storm, Like, no. 276 00:14:46,840 --> 00:14:48,760 Speaker 3: Chance would I have ever thought I'd be doing something 277 00:14:48,840 --> 00:14:49,160 Speaker 3: like that. 278 00:14:49,960 --> 00:14:55,160 Speaker 2: But it was necessary because people were hurting and they 279 00:14:55,320 --> 00:14:58,360 Speaker 2: just didn't have a voice. And I've truly felt like, 280 00:14:59,040 --> 00:15:01,760 Speaker 2: you know, perhaps we were screaming into the void for 281 00:15:01,800 --> 00:15:05,800 Speaker 2: four months straight, and it was just truly amazing when 282 00:15:05,840 --> 00:15:08,120 Speaker 2: Trump came and gave a voice to some of the people. 283 00:15:08,160 --> 00:15:09,480 Speaker 2: I think it was one of the most beautiful things 284 00:15:09,480 --> 00:15:10,040 Speaker 2: I've ever seen. 285 00:15:10,200 --> 00:15:12,400 Speaker 1: We've got a quick commercial break war with Matt on 286 00:15:12,440 --> 00:15:19,600 Speaker 1: the other side. What has the experience been like trying 287 00:15:19,640 --> 00:15:22,360 Speaker 1: to work with FEMA trying to work with you know, 288 00:15:23,080 --> 00:15:27,080 Speaker 1: your state, with your governor. What has an experience been 289 00:15:27,200 --> 00:15:27,920 Speaker 1: like for people? 290 00:15:28,840 --> 00:15:33,240 Speaker 3: Super frustrating? Oh so frustrating. You know. 291 00:15:33,320 --> 00:15:35,400 Speaker 2: For me, we actually, you know, we didn't have any 292 00:15:35,480 --> 00:15:38,840 Speaker 2: damage to our home, so we applied immediately for the 293 00:15:38,880 --> 00:15:39,960 Speaker 2: seven hundred and fifty dollars. 294 00:15:40,000 --> 00:15:41,880 Speaker 3: We got it within a couple of weeks. 295 00:15:42,200 --> 00:15:45,080 Speaker 2: It took a lot longer, in a couple of denials 296 00:15:45,120 --> 00:15:48,520 Speaker 2: to get a generator I bought, and I'm still waiting 297 00:15:48,960 --> 00:15:53,160 Speaker 2: for my chainslaw to be reimbursed. That's okay, but so 298 00:15:53,280 --> 00:15:56,920 Speaker 2: many people have had, I mean so many frustrating stories. 299 00:15:56,920 --> 00:15:59,000 Speaker 2: And those are the people we talked to with our 300 00:15:59,040 --> 00:16:04,440 Speaker 2: little nonprofit operation Shelter. Oh, you just hear some horror 301 00:16:04,480 --> 00:16:08,560 Speaker 2: stories of people getting denied from FEMA or FEMA just 302 00:16:08,800 --> 00:16:10,680 Speaker 2: really slow rolling. 303 00:16:10,360 --> 00:16:11,560 Speaker 3: The ball to help them. 304 00:16:13,240 --> 00:16:18,440 Speaker 2: We talked to a woman just this weekend who miraculously 305 00:16:18,480 --> 00:16:21,400 Speaker 2: got approved for the forty two thousand dollars a couple 306 00:16:21,400 --> 00:16:24,680 Speaker 2: of months ago, but still hasn't gotten it, so she's 307 00:16:24,760 --> 00:16:27,360 Speaker 2: not been able to rebuild or even start the process 308 00:16:27,400 --> 00:16:30,560 Speaker 2: of rebuilding, and is just waiting on FEMA to hand 309 00:16:30,800 --> 00:16:34,080 Speaker 2: that max amount of money. But I mean some others 310 00:16:35,160 --> 00:16:38,880 Speaker 2: we it is a crazy story. FEMA put a lot 311 00:16:38,880 --> 00:16:42,080 Speaker 2: of people in these transitional housing assistance programs, which are 312 00:16:42,120 --> 00:16:46,320 Speaker 2: essentially just hotel stays extended hotel stays, and one of 313 00:16:46,360 --> 00:16:49,720 Speaker 2: the people we were working with, she reached out to 314 00:16:49,800 --> 00:16:52,240 Speaker 2: us because FEMA was going to kick her out of 315 00:16:52,360 --> 00:16:56,360 Speaker 2: her hotel, but they had not yet inspected her home 316 00:16:56,600 --> 00:16:58,200 Speaker 2: to see if it was habitable. 317 00:16:58,640 --> 00:17:03,080 Speaker 3: So we actually got on the phone with Ted Budd's office. 318 00:17:02,720 --> 00:17:05,080 Speaker 2: And they were able to confirm that FEMA dropped the 319 00:17:05,080 --> 00:17:08,160 Speaker 2: ball in her case and get her hotel stay extended 320 00:17:08,200 --> 00:17:08,800 Speaker 2: from FEMA. 321 00:17:09,760 --> 00:17:12,199 Speaker 3: But that's just one of like so many stories. 322 00:17:12,200 --> 00:17:13,520 Speaker 2: And I was just talking to a guy at the 323 00:17:13,560 --> 00:17:16,760 Speaker 2: gym yesterday morning who says he's given up. He's not 324 00:17:16,800 --> 00:17:19,320 Speaker 2: going to even continue trying to get some of the 325 00:17:19,359 --> 00:17:21,440 Speaker 2: money from FEMA. And I do feel like that's where 326 00:17:21,480 --> 00:17:23,360 Speaker 2: most people are at at this point. 327 00:17:23,880 --> 00:17:25,600 Speaker 3: They're just they're just sick and tired of it. 328 00:17:26,920 --> 00:17:30,240 Speaker 1: You had mentioned in the beginning how politics originally wasn't 329 00:17:30,240 --> 00:17:31,399 Speaker 1: really part of the conversation. 330 00:17:32,359 --> 00:17:33,520 Speaker 3: Imagine it is now. 331 00:17:34,840 --> 00:17:38,880 Speaker 1: You know, I guess how has this reshaped maybe political 332 00:17:38,960 --> 00:17:41,880 Speaker 1: views in the area or yours, or you know, talk 333 00:17:41,880 --> 00:17:44,439 Speaker 1: about sort of the evolution of politics being you know, 334 00:17:44,480 --> 00:17:46,360 Speaker 1: now being more part of the equation here. 335 00:17:47,119 --> 00:17:51,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean it has completely reshaped my opinion of 336 00:17:52,680 --> 00:17:57,560 Speaker 2: politics having really impact on people's lives. I mean, I 337 00:17:58,240 --> 00:18:03,520 Speaker 2: I lean pretty center or left on most political issues, 338 00:18:03,600 --> 00:18:04,440 Speaker 2: or did before the. 339 00:18:04,400 --> 00:18:07,359 Speaker 3: Storm, and I find myself leaning very far right now. 340 00:18:08,640 --> 00:18:13,919 Speaker 2: And I think once you realize the government's ineptitude, especially 341 00:18:14,000 --> 00:18:18,200 Speaker 2: in this particular response, it's hard to unsee something like that, 342 00:18:18,280 --> 00:18:20,679 Speaker 2: and it was especially frustrating. 343 00:18:20,119 --> 00:18:21,439 Speaker 3: I think for everyone here to. 344 00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:26,440 Speaker 2: Like, For example, my wife knows people at CNN personally. 345 00:18:26,960 --> 00:18:29,720 Speaker 2: She was going to do a documentary for them, and 346 00:18:29,760 --> 00:18:32,000 Speaker 2: when the storm hit, she reached out to them and said, 347 00:18:32,160 --> 00:18:33,879 Speaker 2: you know, hey, you know me, I'm on the ground. 348 00:18:33,880 --> 00:18:35,920 Speaker 2: I would love to like get in contact with you. 349 00:18:36,359 --> 00:18:41,080 Speaker 2: And they ghosted us for four months straight. They would 350 00:18:41,119 --> 00:18:44,400 Speaker 2: not talk to us. And the only networks that would 351 00:18:44,440 --> 00:18:48,000 Speaker 2: have us on at all to talk about anything were 352 00:18:48,960 --> 00:18:52,440 Speaker 2: you know, right wing networks. You know people I never 353 00:18:52,480 --> 00:18:55,600 Speaker 2: thought i'd talk to, my in my life, news maps, 354 00:18:55,680 --> 00:18:56,760 Speaker 2: Fox News. 355 00:18:58,080 --> 00:19:01,840 Speaker 3: News Nation places I never thought I'd be talking on. 356 00:19:03,280 --> 00:19:04,240 Speaker 3: I was talking on. 357 00:19:04,280 --> 00:19:06,439 Speaker 2: Because they were the only ones that would give us 358 00:19:06,480 --> 00:19:11,720 Speaker 2: a voice. And then to go through the press, conference 359 00:19:11,760 --> 00:19:16,000 Speaker 2: after press conference of FEMA just talking down to people 360 00:19:16,840 --> 00:19:20,879 Speaker 2: in western North Carolina, making excuses for why they couldn't 361 00:19:20,960 --> 00:19:25,760 Speaker 2: get homes into the mountains because it was mountainous, saying 362 00:19:25,840 --> 00:19:29,080 Speaker 2: that no one was living intents, and then renaming the 363 00:19:29,200 --> 00:19:33,000 Speaker 2: word tent to be lightweight tent or heavyweight tent to 364 00:19:33,160 --> 00:19:36,399 Speaker 2: make sure that you know, and then call us out 365 00:19:36,440 --> 00:19:39,600 Speaker 2: on misinformation, you know, constantly. It was just it was 366 00:19:39,720 --> 00:19:42,119 Speaker 2: such an eye opening experience for me to realize that 367 00:19:42,720 --> 00:19:45,520 Speaker 2: just because it's not on CNN doesn't mean it's not happening, 368 00:19:46,280 --> 00:19:49,720 Speaker 2: and you can't unsee it once it happens to you personally, 369 00:19:50,080 --> 00:19:51,000 Speaker 2: and it happened to us. 370 00:19:51,080 --> 00:19:54,200 Speaker 3: We got left behind and the media. 371 00:19:54,040 --> 00:19:56,800 Speaker 2: Just kind of left us there, and FEMA TREA is 372 00:19:56,920 --> 00:20:01,760 Speaker 2: just terribly you know, some of the press conferences, you know, 373 00:20:01,880 --> 00:20:06,320 Speaker 2: went viral, not because press conferences they're so boring, They 374 00:20:06,359 --> 00:20:10,439 Speaker 2: went viral because FEMA was just talking down to mountain 375 00:20:10,480 --> 00:20:13,320 Speaker 2: folk out here and it was jarring to watch. 376 00:20:14,640 --> 00:20:15,800 Speaker 3: Why do you think that happened? 377 00:20:16,240 --> 00:20:18,600 Speaker 1: Why do you think some of the media ignored the 378 00:20:18,680 --> 00:20:21,920 Speaker 1: story or the the Bide administration, you know, sort of 379 00:20:21,960 --> 00:20:23,040 Speaker 1: ignored your area. 380 00:20:23,840 --> 00:20:27,639 Speaker 2: Is an election. I'm fully convinced it was an election issue. 381 00:20:28,920 --> 00:20:33,600 Speaker 2: You know, it happened right right before the election. I mean, 382 00:20:33,640 --> 00:20:36,159 Speaker 2: I am personally convinced that's that's what it is. It 383 00:20:36,600 --> 00:20:40,840 Speaker 2: certainly wasn't a business decision. You can see that immediately 384 00:20:40,920 --> 00:20:43,199 Speaker 2: if you go look at my tweets, which have millions 385 00:20:43,240 --> 00:20:45,920 Speaker 2: of years like they could have absolutely had a lot 386 00:20:45,960 --> 00:20:49,359 Speaker 2: of clicks and very interesting stories had they chosen to 387 00:20:49,480 --> 00:20:49,920 Speaker 2: pursue it. 388 00:20:50,800 --> 00:20:53,639 Speaker 3: They just chose not to. And my guess is because 389 00:20:53,760 --> 00:20:56,080 Speaker 3: it just didn't fit the agenda they were trying to push. 390 00:20:57,440 --> 00:21:00,280 Speaker 1: What did that mean for your community to have asident, 391 00:21:00,359 --> 00:21:04,200 Speaker 1: Trump make Western North Carolina and then California his first 392 00:21:04,320 --> 00:21:07,399 Speaker 1: domestic trips of the president of his presidency to make 393 00:21:07,440 --> 00:21:08,840 Speaker 1: sure it happened in his first week. 394 00:21:10,040 --> 00:21:12,359 Speaker 2: Oh man, it was, like I said, I think it 395 00:21:12,440 --> 00:21:14,320 Speaker 2: was one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen 396 00:21:14,840 --> 00:21:15,640 Speaker 2: in my whole life. 397 00:21:15,720 --> 00:21:15,920 Speaker 1: I have. 398 00:21:16,280 --> 00:21:18,840 Speaker 3: I mean, I've watched Trump a lot on the news, 399 00:21:19,600 --> 00:21:19,800 Speaker 3: I have. 400 00:21:20,280 --> 00:21:23,760 Speaker 2: It's been pretty rare that he steps out of the limelight, 401 00:21:24,359 --> 00:21:27,720 Speaker 2: hands his microphone to someone and says, tell me your story. 402 00:21:28,320 --> 00:21:31,520 Speaker 2: And that's exactly what he did in Western North Carolina. 403 00:21:32,040 --> 00:21:35,040 Speaker 2: And I was crying the whole time. I really was. 404 00:21:35,200 --> 00:21:38,400 Speaker 2: I was like, I feel like I've been telling these 405 00:21:38,480 --> 00:21:41,840 Speaker 2: victims stories for months and months and months, and you know, 406 00:21:42,040 --> 00:21:44,879 Speaker 2: the Biden administration to just ignored us for those months. 407 00:21:44,920 --> 00:21:46,920 Speaker 3: You know, we have been screaming we need more help. 408 00:21:47,520 --> 00:21:50,399 Speaker 3: You know, the help isn't coming fast enough. It's too slow. 409 00:21:51,119 --> 00:21:53,560 Speaker 2: Really bad things are happening, and it was just silence 410 00:21:53,640 --> 00:21:56,280 Speaker 2: on the other end of that line. And then Trump 411 00:21:56,400 --> 00:22:00,880 Speaker 2: comes in and he's like, you know, allowing a guy 412 00:22:00,960 --> 00:22:03,640 Speaker 2: on national TV to go after his insurance. 413 00:22:03,240 --> 00:22:08,000 Speaker 3: Company always like name them name. I know it was wild, 414 00:22:08,480 --> 00:22:11,320 Speaker 3: but I mean these that that's what we need. We 415 00:22:11,440 --> 00:22:11,879 Speaker 3: needed that. 416 00:22:12,040 --> 00:22:15,600 Speaker 2: We needed that so bad because that's the reality of 417 00:22:15,800 --> 00:22:19,040 Speaker 2: what we were hearing from people constantly, like all day, 418 00:22:19,359 --> 00:22:21,960 Speaker 2: every day, from people we are trying to help. And 419 00:22:22,040 --> 00:22:25,600 Speaker 2: it was just mind blowing to me that the stories 420 00:22:25,720 --> 00:22:28,000 Speaker 2: were not getting out in the way that they that 421 00:22:28,119 --> 00:22:30,920 Speaker 2: they should. And I just have to say, like, it 422 00:22:31,040 --> 00:22:34,320 Speaker 2: was so beautiful to see Trump come in and you know, 423 00:22:34,440 --> 00:22:37,280 Speaker 2: make those promises and then to see the executive actions 424 00:22:37,359 --> 00:22:40,879 Speaker 2: actually roll out, and I feel like we're already seeing 425 00:22:41,040 --> 00:22:44,760 Speaker 2: some change at least in my area that is positive. 426 00:22:44,880 --> 00:22:46,840 Speaker 3: It's just man, it just felt so good. 427 00:22:47,880 --> 00:22:51,480 Speaker 1: You know, President Trump gets attacked a lot, but he's 428 00:22:51,560 --> 00:22:53,080 Speaker 1: he's always had a heart for people, and when we 429 00:22:53,119 --> 00:22:55,399 Speaker 1: saw it with these policy you know, he's always like 430 00:22:55,600 --> 00:22:57,280 Speaker 1: he's always you know, even when he was president during 431 00:22:57,320 --> 00:22:59,800 Speaker 1: his first term, he always tried to get our hostages back. 432 00:23:00,080 --> 00:23:04,879 Speaker 1: He's always been very protective of his people. You know, 433 00:23:05,000 --> 00:23:07,440 Speaker 1: you said that you're a center left before. I guess 434 00:23:07,800 --> 00:23:12,120 Speaker 1: has this changed your position or your viewpoint? Your viewpoint 435 00:23:12,160 --> 00:23:12,879 Speaker 1: of President Trump? 436 00:23:13,880 --> 00:23:18,080 Speaker 2: One hundred percent? It has completely turned it around. I 437 00:23:18,440 --> 00:23:23,800 Speaker 2: cannot emphasize that enough. Like even if it was a 438 00:23:24,000 --> 00:23:28,200 Speaker 2: political move, I'm already seeing action. So you know, to me, 439 00:23:29,160 --> 00:23:32,600 Speaker 2: actions matter much more than words. And he came here first, 440 00:23:33,240 --> 00:23:37,960 Speaker 2: and the you know, Biden administration ignored us and said that, 441 00:23:38,680 --> 00:23:41,720 Speaker 2: you know, we were being dramatic or spreading misinformation. 442 00:23:41,880 --> 00:23:43,800 Speaker 3: And that was just not the case. You know, we 443 00:23:43,920 --> 00:23:45,480 Speaker 3: were we were trying to help. 444 00:23:46,160 --> 00:23:49,320 Speaker 2: People were getting let down left and right by FEMA, 445 00:23:50,040 --> 00:23:52,320 Speaker 2: and we were like, hey, I even wrote like an 446 00:23:52,320 --> 00:23:55,240 Speaker 2: open letter to FEMA at you know, a couple of 447 00:23:55,320 --> 00:23:57,359 Speaker 2: months ago, like this is how you can turn it around, 448 00:23:57,440 --> 00:24:01,000 Speaker 2: please help us, and none of it actually got done. 449 00:24:01,520 --> 00:24:05,920 Speaker 2: And it's just wild to me to see true action. 450 00:24:06,440 --> 00:24:10,880 Speaker 2: Like their motto of promises made, promises kept is so good. 451 00:24:11,200 --> 00:24:15,480 Speaker 2: I love that motto because it invites transparency into what 452 00:24:15,600 --> 00:24:18,639 Speaker 2: the government is doing, and people go, aha, yes he 453 00:24:18,720 --> 00:24:21,240 Speaker 2: did make that promise, and yes he has kept that promise. 454 00:24:21,880 --> 00:24:25,400 Speaker 2: And the promises he made to visit western North Carolina 455 00:24:25,720 --> 00:24:30,800 Speaker 2: he kept Jadie Vance visiting Virginia and seeing the Hurricane 456 00:24:30,840 --> 00:24:34,040 Speaker 2: Elene devastation there, he made that promise, He kept that promise. 457 00:24:34,119 --> 00:24:35,320 Speaker 3: The executive actions that have. 458 00:24:35,400 --> 00:24:38,000 Speaker 2: Come in, it's just like one thing after another and 459 00:24:38,080 --> 00:24:41,000 Speaker 2: you're like, wow, like, man, I really should have gotten 460 00:24:41,040 --> 00:24:44,280 Speaker 2: out of my echo chamber and seeing some different news 461 00:24:45,080 --> 00:24:47,360 Speaker 2: years ago, because now I feel so stupid. 462 00:24:48,359 --> 00:24:50,639 Speaker 1: Well, I really don't think it's political because you know, 463 00:24:50,680 --> 00:24:52,920 Speaker 1: he already won, right so, and he can't run. He 464 00:24:53,000 --> 00:24:55,560 Speaker 1: can't run for reelection, so he really doesn't, you know, 465 00:24:55,680 --> 00:24:58,560 Speaker 1: gain anything that politically outside of just I really just 466 00:24:58,760 --> 00:25:01,800 Speaker 1: do believe that he like genuine only cares about the 467 00:25:01,880 --> 00:25:04,160 Speaker 1: American people and you know, feels like it's his job 468 00:25:04,240 --> 00:25:09,359 Speaker 1: to protect them. I imagine you like, going through something 469 00:25:09,400 --> 00:25:12,040 Speaker 1: like this just changes your whole like perspective. Like you know, 470 00:25:12,119 --> 00:25:14,639 Speaker 1: we talked about the changing perspective on like politics and 471 00:25:14,720 --> 00:25:17,440 Speaker 1: things like that, but just of like government and like 472 00:25:17,600 --> 00:25:20,480 Speaker 1: its role and you know its effectiveness, and you know, 473 00:25:20,640 --> 00:25:21,639 Speaker 1: I guess, so how does that? 474 00:25:22,359 --> 00:25:24,320 Speaker 3: How do you view government? After this? 475 00:25:26,160 --> 00:25:29,920 Speaker 2: I viewed government as having as getting in the way 476 00:25:30,480 --> 00:25:34,159 Speaker 2: of what's happening and what needs to be done, especially 477 00:25:34,240 --> 00:25:35,000 Speaker 2: during disasters. 478 00:25:35,000 --> 00:25:37,320 Speaker 3: And I feel like I repeated myself so much saying, 479 00:25:37,920 --> 00:25:40,360 Speaker 3: you know, if if FEMA is really good at his job, 480 00:25:40,480 --> 00:25:43,280 Speaker 3: why is it so slow? Like why isn't the. 481 00:25:44,080 --> 00:25:49,360 Speaker 2: United States Premier Emergency Management Agency moving as slow as 482 00:25:49,440 --> 00:25:50,040 Speaker 2: it has been? 483 00:25:50,920 --> 00:25:52,800 Speaker 3: It should not exist if it's going to be this 484 00:25:53,040 --> 00:25:54,280 Speaker 3: slow and bureaucratic. 485 00:25:55,000 --> 00:25:58,200 Speaker 2: And it's just completely changed the way of thought about 486 00:25:59,280 --> 00:26:02,400 Speaker 2: the role of in things like disasters. When I saw 487 00:26:03,080 --> 00:26:09,520 Speaker 2: Samaritan's purse absolutely everywhere in western North Carolina, and I 488 00:26:09,680 --> 00:26:12,680 Speaker 2: have yet to see someone in a FEMA. 489 00:26:13,520 --> 00:26:16,760 Speaker 3: Outfit anywhere, it's just, you know, it's kind of crazy. 490 00:26:17,600 --> 00:26:19,280 Speaker 2: And you know, I know there's a lot of calls 491 00:26:19,359 --> 00:26:22,320 Speaker 2: to abolish FEMA or dramatically reform it, and I think 492 00:26:22,359 --> 00:26:26,600 Speaker 2: that's exactly right, because one of the mottos we've been 493 00:26:26,640 --> 00:26:29,720 Speaker 2: saying here on the ground is hey, if the rules 494 00:26:29,760 --> 00:26:33,639 Speaker 2: are hurting people in a disaster, change the rules, you know, 495 00:26:33,800 --> 00:26:37,879 Speaker 2: and it just felt like every rule was sacred with 496 00:26:38,000 --> 00:26:41,560 Speaker 2: FEMA and nothing could be changed to actually help people 497 00:26:42,040 --> 00:26:44,199 Speaker 2: when they really needed it. You know, they were they 498 00:26:44,240 --> 00:26:48,480 Speaker 2: were blocking people from putting temporary homes in what FEMA 499 00:26:48,600 --> 00:26:51,760 Speaker 2: designated as a floodplain. I mean, these are mountains thousands 500 00:26:51,800 --> 00:26:55,600 Speaker 2: of feet out fished, and you know, flooding doesn't happen. 501 00:26:55,440 --> 00:26:57,359 Speaker 3: Here very often, that's why it's in the news. 502 00:26:58,640 --> 00:27:00,760 Speaker 2: And you know, they were they were locking people from 503 00:27:00,800 --> 00:27:03,640 Speaker 2: trying to get just you know, RVs on their land 504 00:27:03,760 --> 00:27:08,320 Speaker 2: because FEMA designated that area of flood zone and just 505 00:27:08,400 --> 00:27:11,080 Speaker 2: stupid stuff like that happened over and over with FEMA, 506 00:27:11,680 --> 00:27:14,879 Speaker 2: and it just felt like, you know, maybe agencies like 507 00:27:14,960 --> 00:27:18,680 Speaker 2: this do more harm than good, you know, and maybe 508 00:27:18,760 --> 00:27:22,480 Speaker 2: these these agencies need to be overhauled so that they're 509 00:27:22,600 --> 00:27:27,159 Speaker 2: actually working for the people instead of just existing to 510 00:27:27,280 --> 00:27:29,919 Speaker 2: hand out money to the people they employ. 511 00:27:31,080 --> 00:27:32,840 Speaker 1: Well, yeah, or you know, I mean even I was 512 00:27:32,880 --> 00:27:34,879 Speaker 1: just thinking with the seven hundred and fifty dollars, I mean, 513 00:27:34,960 --> 00:27:36,399 Speaker 1: it's like that doesn't you know if you've got a 514 00:27:36,480 --> 00:27:39,200 Speaker 1: family that doesn't really go that far, you know, particularly 515 00:27:39,240 --> 00:27:40,280 Speaker 1: when they lost everything. 516 00:27:40,440 --> 00:27:43,520 Speaker 3: So it's like and even the forty two thousand dollars. 517 00:27:43,920 --> 00:27:45,040 Speaker 3: That guess the MAXI amount? 518 00:27:45,280 --> 00:27:45,520 Speaker 1: Have you? 519 00:27:45,680 --> 00:27:47,840 Speaker 3: Can you buy a house for forty two thousand? Yes, 520 00:27:49,119 --> 00:27:50,159 Speaker 3: they're not going to be able to. 521 00:27:50,240 --> 00:27:54,080 Speaker 2: And nobody here had had fled insurance because it's the mountains, 522 00:27:55,080 --> 00:27:57,600 Speaker 2: you know, Like, so insurance. 523 00:27:57,160 --> 00:27:59,120 Speaker 3: Didn't cover anything up here. 524 00:27:59,240 --> 00:28:01,120 Speaker 2: And I think that's like one of the things people 525 00:28:01,160 --> 00:28:03,720 Speaker 2: forget is like, well, where was the role of insurance? 526 00:28:04,320 --> 00:28:08,440 Speaker 2: And nobody had flood insurance, so their lives are completely 527 00:28:09,040 --> 00:28:13,080 Speaker 2: upended and insurance is paying them nothing. If your home 528 00:28:13,240 --> 00:28:16,240 Speaker 2: was flooded and you didn't have flood insurance, it's tough 529 00:28:16,359 --> 00:28:16,639 Speaker 2: luck for. 530 00:28:16,680 --> 00:28:20,159 Speaker 1: You, Yeah, because I mean you wouldn't think to have it, 531 00:28:21,200 --> 00:28:22,240 Speaker 1: of course, not if. 532 00:28:22,160 --> 00:28:24,640 Speaker 2: You live on a tiny little creek up in the mountains. 533 00:28:24,760 --> 00:28:27,040 Speaker 2: You're not you know, you're not going to think to 534 00:28:27,119 --> 00:28:31,320 Speaker 2: have you know, your home float away hundreds of feet 535 00:28:31,680 --> 00:28:33,440 Speaker 2: that that would have never crossed your mind. 536 00:28:34,000 --> 00:28:36,880 Speaker 1: I can't even imagine where can people follow your content? 537 00:28:37,359 --> 00:28:39,960 Speaker 1: As you know, we hope that your community gets the 538 00:28:40,040 --> 00:28:42,240 Speaker 1: hope that it needs and hopefully gets some of these 539 00:28:43,120 --> 00:28:47,080 Speaker 1: regulations and red tape slashed so that the response is 540 00:28:47,120 --> 00:28:47,680 Speaker 1: more efficient. 541 00:28:47,960 --> 00:28:51,720 Speaker 3: Yeah, follow me on X Matt Underscore van Swell. 542 00:28:52,000 --> 00:28:53,959 Speaker 1: Matt, thank you so much. I'm so sorry to your 543 00:28:54,000 --> 00:28:57,600 Speaker 1: family and to everyone in your community. I really I 544 00:28:57,640 --> 00:29:00,440 Speaker 1: can't imagine just how scary and devastating and just eruptive 545 00:29:01,560 --> 00:29:03,120 Speaker 1: that's got to be, and just how hard it's got 546 00:29:03,200 --> 00:29:04,720 Speaker 1: to be. And I know it's been a long time 547 00:29:04,760 --> 00:29:08,240 Speaker 1: and it's probably just been really exhausting and you know, 548 00:29:08,400 --> 00:29:10,920 Speaker 1: probably felt like given up hope. So I'm glad that 549 00:29:12,320 --> 00:29:15,520 Speaker 1: glad you didn't, and you know, really respect the fact 550 00:29:15,560 --> 00:29:17,320 Speaker 1: that you continue to fight for your community. 551 00:29:18,000 --> 00:29:21,200 Speaker 3: Yeah, thank you, Lisa. It means a time that you're 552 00:29:21,280 --> 00:29:22,080 Speaker 3: covering the story. 553 00:29:22,120 --> 00:29:24,320 Speaker 2: I mean, it just feels like we've been, you know, 554 00:29:24,400 --> 00:29:26,720 Speaker 2: screaming to the void for months, you know, and it 555 00:29:26,880 --> 00:29:29,520 Speaker 2: just it means so much that anyone would actually touch 556 00:29:29,560 --> 00:29:30,040 Speaker 2: the story. 557 00:29:31,120 --> 00:29:33,920 Speaker 3: For all the people here, it was Matt van Swell. 558 00:29:34,040 --> 00:29:37,240 Speaker 1: We appreciate him for taking the time. Just can't imagine 559 00:29:37,280 --> 00:29:39,280 Speaker 1: living through that. Or Hark goes out to him. I 560 00:29:39,320 --> 00:29:41,040 Speaker 1: want to thank you guys at home for listening every 561 00:29:41,080 --> 00:29:43,040 Speaker 1: Monday and Thursday, but you can listen throughout the week 562 00:29:43,160 --> 00:29:43,760 Speaker 1: until next time.