1 00:00:11,840 --> 00:00:14,760 Speaker 1: Good morning, Peepsen. Welcome to WIKA F Daily with Meet 2 00:00:14,800 --> 00:00:19,439 Speaker 1: your Girl Danielle Moody back recording from the Home Bunker. Friends, 3 00:00:19,480 --> 00:00:22,640 Speaker 1: I'm very excited to bring to you today an interview 4 00:00:22,840 --> 00:00:26,880 Speaker 1: with brid Jenkins, who is the president and CEO of 5 00:00:27,040 --> 00:00:31,680 Speaker 1: AAPI Victory Fund, And you know, we get into a 6 00:00:31,760 --> 00:00:37,160 Speaker 1: conversation about the Asian American Pacific Islander community, this very 7 00:00:37,159 --> 00:00:41,839 Speaker 1: complex and diverse and layer community and how it is 8 00:00:41,920 --> 00:00:47,240 Speaker 1: oftentimes overlooked in this country when we're talking about the electorate, right, 9 00:00:47,280 --> 00:00:50,600 Speaker 1: we are always talking about you know, suburban voters and 10 00:00:50,680 --> 00:00:53,000 Speaker 1: we know who the fuck that is. And then we 11 00:00:53,040 --> 00:00:56,240 Speaker 1: talk about the black vote and will black people turn out? 12 00:00:56,600 --> 00:00:59,480 Speaker 1: Then we talk about the Latin X vote, right, and 13 00:00:59,560 --> 00:01:04,840 Speaker 1: this growing population. But folks, the AAPI community is one 14 00:01:04,880 --> 00:01:09,360 Speaker 1: of the fastest growing communities in the country, with over 15 00:01:09,480 --> 00:01:14,280 Speaker 1: twenty million citizens in this country from over you know, 16 00:01:14,680 --> 00:01:19,720 Speaker 1: thirty different countries, and Brad will break down to us. 17 00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:23,600 Speaker 1: You know, some startling news that came up in their 18 00:01:23,880 --> 00:01:27,959 Speaker 1: latest report that was done by API Victory Fund along 19 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:33,800 Speaker 1: with their Progressive Coalition members that set off kind of 20 00:01:34,040 --> 00:01:38,000 Speaker 1: alarm bells in my head about once again, how Democrats 21 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:43,759 Speaker 1: seem to be neglecting these growing populations and also their base, 22 00:01:43,920 --> 00:01:47,520 Speaker 1: which is black people and black women, in order to 23 00:01:47,920 --> 00:01:52,800 Speaker 1: tend or run after the white vote, which they haven't 24 00:01:52,800 --> 00:01:57,160 Speaker 1: had in decades. And so you know, as I'm talking 25 00:01:57,200 --> 00:02:01,240 Speaker 1: to Brad, you know he is and by virtue of 26 00:02:01,280 --> 00:02:05,760 Speaker 1: this report signaling the fact that Democrats are losing a 27 00:02:05,800 --> 00:02:09,080 Speaker 1: foothold in this community. I won't give away what he 28 00:02:09,160 --> 00:02:11,680 Speaker 1: says in the interview, but I will say this that 29 00:02:12,639 --> 00:02:16,600 Speaker 1: you know, by the time that you listen to this, right, 30 00:02:17,720 --> 00:02:21,400 Speaker 1: we will still have a handful of days until polls close, 31 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:25,960 Speaker 1: meaning that people have been early voting. Election day is 32 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:28,840 Speaker 1: the last day, right is how we look at it nowadays, 33 00:02:28,919 --> 00:02:32,280 Speaker 1: is the last day to vote, and we have no 34 00:02:32,360 --> 00:02:35,680 Speaker 1: idea where things are going to end up. And President 35 00:02:35,760 --> 00:02:38,959 Speaker 1: Biden spoke about the fact that people are going to 36 00:02:39,040 --> 00:02:41,720 Speaker 1: need to be patient because votes are going to take 37 00:02:41,760 --> 00:02:45,000 Speaker 1: time to be counted. This is just our new normal 38 00:02:45,160 --> 00:02:48,640 Speaker 1: unless something is a blowout, which no elections really going 39 00:02:48,680 --> 00:02:52,600 Speaker 1: forward will in fact be blowouts. We won't know on 40 00:02:52,760 --> 00:02:58,120 Speaker 1: election night who won. Right, And in this upcoming midterms, 41 00:02:58,160 --> 00:03:02,920 Speaker 1: it's truly hair raised and terrifying because the balance of 42 00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:06,520 Speaker 1: power is either going to rest with a party that 43 00:03:06,560 --> 00:03:11,200 Speaker 1: believes in preserving democracy, believes in human decency, believes in 44 00:03:11,240 --> 00:03:15,800 Speaker 1: equity and justice, or with a rapid cult that believes 45 00:03:15,840 --> 00:03:21,639 Speaker 1: in violence, that champions lies, and that celebrates ignorance. And so, 46 00:03:21,960 --> 00:03:25,119 Speaker 1: you know, as I talk to my friends who are 47 00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:29,600 Speaker 1: from you know, around the US and our children of 48 00:03:29,639 --> 00:03:33,799 Speaker 1: immigrants or our immigrants themselves, and they're watching their own 49 00:03:33,800 --> 00:03:39,200 Speaker 1: elections at home, be a raiser thin and recognizing that 50 00:03:39,240 --> 00:03:43,840 Speaker 1: this push for fascism and authoritarianism isn't unique to the 51 00:03:43,960 --> 00:03:48,440 Speaker 1: United States. It is happening everywhere. And the religious right 52 00:03:48,560 --> 00:03:52,880 Speaker 1: and white evangelical Christians and you know, fascists and Nazis 53 00:03:52,880 --> 00:03:57,000 Speaker 1: and all of these people have their tentacles in all countries. 54 00:03:57,560 --> 00:04:00,480 Speaker 1: And so are we going to wake up to that 55 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:03,640 Speaker 1: right or are we going to wake up, you know, 56 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:07,160 Speaker 1: several days after the election wondering what it's going to 57 00:04:07,240 --> 00:04:09,640 Speaker 1: be like to stand in breadlines, wondering what it's going 58 00:04:09,680 --> 00:04:12,760 Speaker 1: to be like to not have social safety nets like 59 00:04:12,880 --> 00:04:17,680 Speaker 1: social security and medicare to recognize that, you know, we 60 00:04:17,800 --> 00:04:21,640 Speaker 1: have a politicized and weaponized Supreme Court that is gutting 61 00:04:21,680 --> 00:04:25,720 Speaker 1: civil liberties and rights, and what happens to a desperate 62 00:04:25,760 --> 00:04:30,560 Speaker 1: and broke people. There is nothing more that signals revolution 63 00:04:30,800 --> 00:04:33,680 Speaker 1: than all of the things that I just named. So 64 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:37,040 Speaker 1: we are living in frightening times and there is no one, 65 00:04:37,320 --> 00:04:41,560 Speaker 1: no community, no vote should be left behind. And so 66 00:04:41,640 --> 00:04:44,839 Speaker 1: that's the conversation that I'm getting into next with the 67 00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:52,039 Speaker 1: President and CEO of AAPI Victory Fund, Brad Jenkins. Hey, 68 00:04:52,040 --> 00:04:55,760 Speaker 1: I'm David Plots of SLA Political Gabfest. As another election 69 00:04:56,040 --> 00:04:59,479 Speaker 1: season accelerates, it can be tricky to sort through all 70 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:02,440 Speaker 1: the ways in the news. Each week on the gap Fest, 71 00:05:02,600 --> 00:05:05,880 Speaker 1: John Dickerson, Emily Bathlon and I decipher the headlines, break 72 00:05:05,880 --> 00:05:09,119 Speaker 1: down the races, and tell you what issues really matter. 73 00:05:09,520 --> 00:05:12,960 Speaker 1: We do not always agree, We definitely do not always agree, 74 00:05:13,200 --> 00:05:16,240 Speaker 1: but we always deliver thoughtful debate and we always have 75 00:05:16,279 --> 00:05:20,200 Speaker 1: a good time. So subscribe to Slate's Political Gapfest, new 76 00:05:20,240 --> 00:05:26,000 Speaker 1: episodes every Thursday, folks. I am very excited to welcome 77 00:05:26,040 --> 00:05:28,720 Speaker 1: to wok a f daily for the first time President 78 00:05:28,720 --> 00:05:33,919 Speaker 1: and CEO of AAPI Victory Fund, Brad Jenkins, who is 79 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:37,760 Speaker 1: also a former Associate Director of the White House Office 80 00:05:37,760 --> 00:05:42,520 Speaker 1: of Public Engagement under Obama, our forever and favorite president. 81 00:05:43,480 --> 00:05:46,880 Speaker 1: So Brad, you know, first, I want to give you 82 00:05:46,960 --> 00:05:53,840 Speaker 1: an opportunity to tell people exactly what AAPI victory fund 83 00:05:54,279 --> 00:05:58,600 Speaker 1: is and what you all focus on. Yeah, well, first off, 84 00:05:58,640 --> 00:06:02,880 Speaker 1: thank you so much everything you do, UM, which is education, 85 00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:07,040 Speaker 1: firing people a huge fan um so presidency of a 86 00:06:07,480 --> 00:06:10,320 Speaker 1: victory fund. And my name is Brad Jenkins, which I 87 00:06:10,360 --> 00:06:16,480 Speaker 1: know is the worst Asian name of are very confused, 88 00:06:16,520 --> 00:06:22,479 Speaker 1: like what what is it? Yeah, that is black. My 89 00:06:22,520 --> 00:06:26,200 Speaker 1: mom is curring. So so that's where that's where that 90 00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:28,840 Speaker 1: comes from. But uh, you know, we're the first Asian 91 00:06:28,880 --> 00:06:33,960 Speaker 1: American superpath were formed about eight years ago. Normanetta mayhe 92 00:06:34,000 --> 00:06:37,880 Speaker 1: rest in peace UM founded it with our our chair 93 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:41,719 Speaker 1: Shaker Ramison. And you know, look, at the end of 94 00:06:41,720 --> 00:06:46,120 Speaker 1: the day, our community is always overlooked when it comes 95 00:06:46,160 --> 00:06:49,120 Speaker 1: to voting for a lot of different reasons, and so 96 00:06:49,279 --> 00:06:52,840 Speaker 1: there's this vicious cycle. Our community votes the least of 97 00:06:52,880 --> 00:06:55,920 Speaker 1: all communities. Asian Americans vote the least, they're the least 98 00:06:55,920 --> 00:07:02,440 Speaker 1: civically engaged, they're the least uh least available to donate 99 00:07:02,839 --> 00:07:05,120 Speaker 1: right of all communities, which is crazy if you think 100 00:07:05,120 --> 00:07:08,159 Speaker 1: about it. So I took over the Helm about a 101 00:07:08,240 --> 00:07:11,920 Speaker 1: year ago to change that. And the biggest reason why 102 00:07:12,720 --> 00:07:15,600 Speaker 1: was we were facing a moment, right, a moment of 103 00:07:15,680 --> 00:07:19,680 Speaker 1: Asian hate, a moment where Donald Trump was weaponizing words 104 00:07:19,760 --> 00:07:23,440 Speaker 1: against our community that was leading to very real violence 105 00:07:23,480 --> 00:07:26,520 Speaker 1: and discrimination in the streets. And it was great that 106 00:07:26,560 --> 00:07:29,240 Speaker 1: we were sort of galvanizing and coming together, but we 107 00:07:29,240 --> 00:07:32,960 Speaker 1: weren't seeing that at the ballot box. And so our 108 00:07:33,000 --> 00:07:36,160 Speaker 1: work this year and our work beyond November is to 109 00:07:36,240 --> 00:07:39,040 Speaker 1: really change that that dynamic, is to make sure that 110 00:07:39,920 --> 00:07:44,559 Speaker 1: Asian American voters are invested in, that we are thought 111 00:07:44,600 --> 00:07:48,440 Speaker 1: of and centered and polling and data and voter turnout 112 00:07:48,840 --> 00:07:51,040 Speaker 1: because at the end of the day, all of the 113 00:07:51,080 --> 00:07:53,960 Speaker 1: candidates that we care about, right, especially candidates like Stacey 114 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:58,560 Speaker 1: Abrams or Ralph Warnock or folks who are in Nevada, 115 00:07:58,640 --> 00:08:02,680 Speaker 1: folks who are in Arizona, they're not winning without Asian 116 00:08:02,680 --> 00:08:06,640 Speaker 1: American votes. So we are working in locks that speaking 117 00:08:06,680 --> 00:08:09,480 Speaker 1: up a lot of those folks like Center, We'reknock and others. 118 00:08:09,480 --> 00:08:12,760 Speaker 1: We're working very closely with the turnout the vote to win. 119 00:08:14,200 --> 00:08:16,880 Speaker 1: So so let's unpack a couple of things, Uh that 120 00:08:17,040 --> 00:08:19,720 Speaker 1: that you stated that you know I a are of 121 00:08:19,800 --> 00:08:24,040 Speaker 1: surprise to me, which is one, why does the AAPI 122 00:08:24,120 --> 00:08:29,960 Speaker 1: community vote the least and what is what is the thing? 123 00:08:30,160 --> 00:08:33,719 Speaker 1: And again we will talk about the report that was 124 00:08:33,800 --> 00:08:37,320 Speaker 1: done by your organization in coalition with a group of 125 00:08:37,360 --> 00:08:40,920 Speaker 1: other progressive organizations kind of digging into this issue. But 126 00:08:41,360 --> 00:08:43,559 Speaker 1: why is it that they vote the least and what 127 00:08:43,640 --> 00:08:48,200 Speaker 1: do you believe, Sho, is that is an activation point 128 00:08:48,360 --> 00:08:53,600 Speaker 1: that maybe Democrats have been missing. Yeah, well, there are 129 00:08:53,600 --> 00:08:55,800 Speaker 1: a lot of reasons why. I mean the biggest reason 130 00:08:56,440 --> 00:08:59,240 Speaker 1: in my opinion, I mean we see this in polls 131 00:08:59,760 --> 00:09:05,319 Speaker 1: is you know, campaigns, candidates parties, you know, the Democratic 132 00:09:05,320 --> 00:09:08,680 Speaker 1: Party in particular, they're they're not investing to actually reach 133 00:09:08,679 --> 00:09:12,160 Speaker 1: our voters. So you'd be surprised. I think a lot 134 00:09:12,200 --> 00:09:16,119 Speaker 1: of folks just assume, well, you know, maybe this community. 135 00:09:16,360 --> 00:09:18,640 Speaker 1: By the way, our community which is very diverse, right, 136 00:09:18,640 --> 00:09:22,079 Speaker 1: I mean there's like thirty different countries and nationalities, languages, 137 00:09:22,280 --> 00:09:25,200 Speaker 1: So that in and of itself makes it challenging for 138 00:09:26,120 --> 00:09:29,720 Speaker 1: the Democratic Party or state democratic parties to reach our community, 139 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:34,760 Speaker 1: especially in language, in culture, in religion. So because of that, 140 00:09:35,480 --> 00:09:39,640 Speaker 1: it's just costs more and it's more more labor intensive, 141 00:09:39,720 --> 00:09:42,120 Speaker 1: and it's work to reach our community to turn out 142 00:09:42,120 --> 00:09:44,000 Speaker 1: to vote. And I think the second thing, and this 143 00:09:44,080 --> 00:09:47,120 Speaker 1: is a generational thing, especially for my you know, my 144 00:09:47,200 --> 00:09:51,280 Speaker 1: mom who's a Korean immigrant, and a lot of Asian Americans, 145 00:09:51,320 --> 00:09:54,880 Speaker 1: younger Asian Americans talk about that older generation. You know, 146 00:09:54,960 --> 00:09:59,520 Speaker 1: the culture of voting is just not as embedded in 147 00:09:59,559 --> 00:10:02,199 Speaker 1: a lot of these immigrant communities, and so the idea 148 00:10:02,360 --> 00:10:06,480 Speaker 1: of being an active citizen running for office being you know, 149 00:10:06,520 --> 00:10:11,520 Speaker 1: holding elected officials accountable not as present in a lot 150 00:10:11,600 --> 00:10:15,880 Speaker 1: of our our parents generation or our grandparents generation. But 151 00:10:16,040 --> 00:10:18,360 Speaker 1: what we're finding, and the exciting thing for me, is 152 00:10:18,440 --> 00:10:21,400 Speaker 1: that this younger generation, eighteen to thirty four year old 153 00:10:21,440 --> 00:10:26,360 Speaker 1: Asian Americans, very different, very very different, voting at higher rates, 154 00:10:26,840 --> 00:10:29,880 Speaker 1: very progressive as it relates to you know, issues like 155 00:10:30,040 --> 00:10:33,840 Speaker 1: lack lives matter, issues like climate change, issues like abortion access, 156 00:10:34,520 --> 00:10:38,480 Speaker 1: and so we're breaking that cycle. In fact, in twenty twenty, 157 00:10:39,200 --> 00:10:41,959 Speaker 1: you know, largely because of Donald Trump. We can kind 158 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:45,960 Speaker 1: of thank him for galvanized our community together. Asian Americans 159 00:10:46,080 --> 00:10:48,600 Speaker 1: voted at the highest rates that we've ever voted before 160 00:10:49,040 --> 00:10:54,720 Speaker 1: in twenty twenty, especially in early vote numbers. So it's happening. 161 00:10:54,800 --> 00:10:57,920 Speaker 1: I think that you're you're starting to see our community 162 00:10:58,040 --> 00:11:01,800 Speaker 1: understand that you know, Donald Trump, you know, his hatred 163 00:11:02,120 --> 00:11:05,959 Speaker 1: was for everyone. His hatred was directed at black people, 164 00:11:06,320 --> 00:11:12,040 Speaker 1: at LGBTQ, at immigrants, right, and also in Asian Americans. 165 00:11:12,520 --> 00:11:15,880 Speaker 1: And so there's a you know, a reckoning, right, there's 166 00:11:15,920 --> 00:11:19,160 Speaker 1: a there's a realization and awareness that we have to 167 00:11:19,280 --> 00:11:22,079 Speaker 1: be in solidarity with the black community, we have to 168 00:11:22,160 --> 00:11:25,400 Speaker 1: be in solidarity with the immigrant rights community, we have 169 00:11:25,520 --> 00:11:29,559 Speaker 1: to be in solidarity with the LGBTQ movement. Because it's 170 00:11:29,600 --> 00:11:31,839 Speaker 1: like that you know old adage, you know they're coming 171 00:11:31,880 --> 00:11:36,360 Speaker 1: for us next. Clearly Trump was coming for us, you know, 172 00:11:37,280 --> 00:11:40,600 Speaker 1: kung flu and wuhan and all of this awful rhetoric 173 00:11:40,720 --> 00:11:43,000 Speaker 1: every single day from the White House. It led to 174 00:11:43,200 --> 00:11:46,559 Speaker 1: real debts, It led to real violence in the streets. 175 00:11:47,040 --> 00:11:50,839 Speaker 1: And so the exciting things we mentioned is that organization 176 00:11:51,160 --> 00:11:54,439 Speaker 1: that typically have never invested in Asian American research, you know, 177 00:11:55,000 --> 00:11:59,360 Speaker 1: organizations like Planned Parenthood, organizations like nay roll and vegu 178 00:11:59,400 --> 00:12:03,880 Speaker 1: of conservation voters all came together to do the biggest, 179 00:12:04,000 --> 00:12:06,640 Speaker 1: most comprehensive poll of Asian American voters and we've never 180 00:12:06,720 --> 00:12:10,920 Speaker 1: done before, largely because they all want to win the 181 00:12:11,000 --> 00:12:13,920 Speaker 1: other one day, it's like, yes, it's good, we should 182 00:12:14,040 --> 00:12:18,280 Speaker 1: understand where Asian American voters are, but we all need 183 00:12:18,440 --> 00:12:21,079 Speaker 1: we all know it's at stake. We know democracy is 184 00:12:21,080 --> 00:12:23,400 Speaker 1: at stake, and we know we are not going to 185 00:12:23,480 --> 00:12:27,800 Speaker 1: win these elections if we are just completely overlooking the 186 00:12:27,920 --> 00:12:31,400 Speaker 1: Asian American community. So while it's a good thing to do, right, 187 00:12:31,440 --> 00:12:34,880 Speaker 1: obviously we should always be including Asian American polling and 188 00:12:34,920 --> 00:12:36,880 Speaker 1: we should be reaching out to the Asian American community 189 00:12:36,920 --> 00:12:39,280 Speaker 1: because it's the right thing to do. At the end 190 00:12:39,280 --> 00:12:42,280 Speaker 1: of the day, you know, my job is to win elections, right. 191 00:12:42,480 --> 00:12:44,760 Speaker 1: My job is making the case that if we want 192 00:12:44,800 --> 00:12:47,680 Speaker 1: to win, we want to win in Pennsylvania, we got 193 00:12:47,800 --> 00:12:50,360 Speaker 1: to turn out Asian Americans in Philadelphia, right. If we 194 00:12:50,480 --> 00:12:53,240 Speaker 1: want to win in Nevada, we had to turn out 195 00:12:53,320 --> 00:12:59,320 Speaker 1: Filipinos in Clark County. If we don't, then these big elections, 196 00:12:59,480 --> 00:13:02,280 Speaker 1: right or it's John Fetterman, you know, whether it's court 197 00:13:02,360 --> 00:13:05,760 Speaker 1: as Master, we are going to lose. So it's an 198 00:13:05,800 --> 00:13:09,280 Speaker 1: exciting moment for our community. It's a moment that again 199 00:13:09,320 --> 00:13:11,599 Speaker 1: there's still a lot of work that we need to 200 00:13:11,720 --> 00:13:14,599 Speaker 1: do in catching up to you know, a lot of 201 00:13:14,840 --> 00:13:19,439 Speaker 1: larger institutions, but it's work that we're really proud of. So, 202 00:13:20,000 --> 00:13:24,400 Speaker 1: you know, I want to talk a bit about Trumpism 203 00:13:24,800 --> 00:13:30,040 Speaker 1: and the rise of uh Asian hate, um, and the 204 00:13:30,160 --> 00:13:33,000 Speaker 1: way you know, you mentioned with all of the rhetoric 205 00:13:33,160 --> 00:13:39,319 Speaker 1: that surrounded the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic um, and 206 00:13:40,040 --> 00:13:45,439 Speaker 1: how that rhetoric translated into into violence. Um. You know 207 00:13:45,960 --> 00:13:49,960 Speaker 1: it's it's as as an outsider looking into the community, 208 00:13:50,840 --> 00:13:55,319 Speaker 1: I've always looked at the AAPI community as one that 209 00:13:55,640 --> 00:14:00,720 Speaker 1: is readily ignored, right. Um. That is that is yet 210 00:14:01,320 --> 00:14:05,080 Speaker 1: still put up in many ways portions of the community 211 00:14:05,200 --> 00:14:08,840 Speaker 1: as the model quote unquote minority, but then readily ignored 212 00:14:09,320 --> 00:14:12,880 Speaker 1: right with the violence and the issues that are facing 213 00:14:12,960 --> 00:14:17,240 Speaker 1: the community. And so do you think that as we 214 00:14:17,360 --> 00:14:20,600 Speaker 1: are seeing once again a rise in anti Semitism, the 215 00:14:20,720 --> 00:14:27,680 Speaker 1: consistent you know, rise in anti blackness, that Democrats do 216 00:14:28,240 --> 00:14:32,480 Speaker 1: a good job of being able to weave together all 217 00:14:32,560 --> 00:14:37,320 Speaker 1: the ways in which the right has pitted communities against 218 00:14:37,400 --> 00:14:42,080 Speaker 1: each other. Right, but then are using the same tactics, 219 00:14:42,720 --> 00:14:45,880 Speaker 1: but just with different targets at different times. So our 220 00:14:45,920 --> 00:14:49,840 Speaker 1: democrats exploiting what it is that the right is doing 221 00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:54,480 Speaker 1: as a way to forge this coalition that frankly Obama 222 00:14:54,600 --> 00:14:57,920 Speaker 1: had in hand, and then he left and it left 223 00:14:57,960 --> 00:15:02,160 Speaker 1: with him. I couldn't agree more. No, Democrats are not 224 00:15:02,240 --> 00:15:04,160 Speaker 1: doing good enough job. And I'll just say, and by 225 00:15:04,160 --> 00:15:07,520 Speaker 1: the way, I think that and I would I think 226 00:15:07,600 --> 00:15:10,240 Speaker 1: that probably the Democratic Party would agree to it, that 227 00:15:10,320 --> 00:15:12,360 Speaker 1: there needs to be a lot more work when we're 228 00:15:12,400 --> 00:15:17,640 Speaker 1: talking about intersectionality, we're talking about building power as communities 229 00:15:17,680 --> 00:15:20,520 Speaker 1: of color together. And you're right. You know, I'm an 230 00:15:20,600 --> 00:15:24,040 Speaker 1: Obama baby, right, so I'm like, I volunteered from the president. 231 00:15:24,080 --> 00:15:25,760 Speaker 1: I then worked for him in the White House. And 232 00:15:25,880 --> 00:15:29,960 Speaker 1: it was easier to do under an Obama administration because 233 00:15:30,000 --> 00:15:33,160 Speaker 1: he embodied it. He embodied it front to back, from 234 00:15:33,280 --> 00:15:36,000 Speaker 1: staffing to the rhetoric. You know, it was all really 235 00:15:36,040 --> 00:15:39,000 Speaker 1: about how do we bring all of these disparate communities 236 00:15:39,040 --> 00:15:44,200 Speaker 1: of color together in common purpose to win? And I 237 00:15:44,320 --> 00:15:46,200 Speaker 1: think you're exactly right. I think the one thing that 238 00:15:46,280 --> 00:15:49,320 Speaker 1: Trump did a very good job of is pitting communities 239 00:15:49,320 --> 00:15:52,200 Speaker 1: against each other. And we saw that, I mean, we 240 00:15:52,240 --> 00:15:55,000 Speaker 1: saw that play out a lot with Asian American violence. 241 00:15:55,080 --> 00:15:58,560 Speaker 1: We saw a lot online viral videos hitting the black 242 00:15:58,640 --> 00:16:00,920 Speaker 1: community against the Asian American community. I mean, this is 243 00:16:01,000 --> 00:16:04,040 Speaker 1: not new. They've been doing this to the black and 244 00:16:04,120 --> 00:16:09,720 Speaker 1: Asian American community forever, you know, like since there's been redlining, 245 00:16:09,760 --> 00:16:12,800 Speaker 1: and since poor people have lived in concentrations of poverty. 246 00:16:13,560 --> 00:16:16,200 Speaker 1: You know, Black people and Asian people have been pitted 247 00:16:16,240 --> 00:16:19,080 Speaker 1: against each other. And so the short answer is no. 248 00:16:19,520 --> 00:16:23,120 Speaker 1: But the exciting thing is, you know, that's where groups 249 00:16:23,200 --> 00:16:25,640 Speaker 1: like ours come in. Because that's the first thing I 250 00:16:25,800 --> 00:16:28,880 Speaker 1: did when I joined the Victory Fund was we reached 251 00:16:28,920 --> 00:16:31,920 Speaker 1: out to Collective Pack, which is the largest African American pack. 252 00:16:32,320 --> 00:16:34,520 Speaker 1: We reach out to the Latino Victory Fund, which is 253 00:16:34,520 --> 00:16:37,800 Speaker 1: the largest Latino pack, and we formed an MoU together 254 00:16:38,000 --> 00:16:40,600 Speaker 1: to say, we got to share all this data. We 255 00:16:40,720 --> 00:16:43,040 Speaker 1: got to work together when we're knocking doors. We had 256 00:16:43,120 --> 00:16:45,960 Speaker 1: to fund race together, we had to do donor pitches together, 257 00:16:46,400 --> 00:16:50,640 Speaker 1: because to your point, we cannot let them divide us. 258 00:16:51,120 --> 00:16:54,200 Speaker 1: That's that's a recipe for success with the right. Right 259 00:16:54,520 --> 00:16:58,320 Speaker 1: is when we start feeling like, oh, well, you know 260 00:16:58,480 --> 00:17:01,360 Speaker 1: the Asians, but I don't mean really care about the 261 00:17:01,520 --> 00:17:06,080 Speaker 1: Asian violence. We care about our issues. And we saw 262 00:17:06,240 --> 00:17:08,040 Speaker 1: a little bit of that play out in a lot 263 00:17:08,080 --> 00:17:11,880 Speaker 1: of local elections this past year or past two years. 264 00:17:12,480 --> 00:17:15,639 Speaker 1: And you know, our work this year is really breaking 265 00:17:15,680 --> 00:17:18,440 Speaker 1: that cycle. In a state like Georgia, you're seeing it 266 00:17:18,560 --> 00:17:22,159 Speaker 1: on the ground because we have just an incredible ticket. 267 00:17:22,240 --> 00:17:25,879 Speaker 1: We have Center Warrenot, we have the win who's running 268 00:17:25,880 --> 00:17:29,400 Speaker 1: for Secretary of State, a young Asian American woman who's incredible, 269 00:17:29,480 --> 00:17:32,600 Speaker 1: and then obviously of Stacey Abrahams and the three of them, 270 00:17:33,040 --> 00:17:36,240 Speaker 1: as they're going out to communities, not just black communities, 271 00:17:36,400 --> 00:17:38,680 Speaker 1: not just Asian communities, not just the team of communities, 272 00:17:38,880 --> 00:17:42,520 Speaker 1: all communities. They're doing it together, they're doing it coordinated, 273 00:17:42,800 --> 00:17:45,760 Speaker 1: and they're bringing all of these disparate communities together. So 274 00:17:46,560 --> 00:17:48,200 Speaker 1: it's hard work and at the end of the day, 275 00:17:48,680 --> 00:17:52,119 Speaker 1: this work isn't easy. And I do think that the 276 00:17:52,240 --> 00:17:54,399 Speaker 1: one thing I will say about these communities is that, 277 00:17:55,560 --> 00:17:58,760 Speaker 1: you know, a lot of money and a lot of polling, 278 00:17:59,160 --> 00:18:02,720 Speaker 1: and a lot of stations on NPR and you know, 279 00:18:03,440 --> 00:18:06,840 Speaker 1: MSNBC and CNA focus on white voters. We love to 280 00:18:06,880 --> 00:18:09,160 Speaker 1: talk about white voters. We love to talk about whether 281 00:18:09,240 --> 00:18:12,560 Speaker 1: they're college educated, what kind of minivans they drive, if 282 00:18:12,560 --> 00:18:15,119 Speaker 1: they're soccer moms, you know, like if they work in 283 00:18:15,200 --> 00:18:17,960 Speaker 1: coal mines. Like all of that work is focused on 284 00:18:18,119 --> 00:18:21,200 Speaker 1: white voters. And at the end of the day, the 285 00:18:21,320 --> 00:18:24,000 Speaker 1: opportunities and we want to thank well, okay yuh for 286 00:18:24,119 --> 00:18:30,000 Speaker 1: giving us this opportunity. Very rarely are Asian Americans even mentioned. Right, 287 00:18:30,560 --> 00:18:35,280 Speaker 1: there's twenty four million Asian Americans in this country, but 288 00:18:35,400 --> 00:18:37,080 Speaker 1: if you were to turn on the news, you would 289 00:18:37,119 --> 00:18:40,320 Speaker 1: not think that we even know that we are even 290 00:18:40,400 --> 00:18:44,000 Speaker 1: a part of the conversation. So the other thing that 291 00:18:44,160 --> 00:18:46,920 Speaker 1: we were really trying to do here and working with 292 00:18:47,000 --> 00:18:49,480 Speaker 1: our friends at Collective Pack in others, is that, you know, 293 00:18:49,720 --> 00:18:52,680 Speaker 1: we when we do get that spotlight, when we as 294 00:18:52,800 --> 00:18:56,439 Speaker 1: organizations do get shine, we want to bring our partners together, 295 00:18:56,720 --> 00:18:59,680 Speaker 1: you know, and give them the opportunity to shine as well. 296 00:19:00,800 --> 00:19:03,000 Speaker 1: It's a lot of work, you know, It's it's not 297 00:19:03,080 --> 00:19:05,680 Speaker 1: going to happen overnight, but it's work that we just 298 00:19:05,760 --> 00:19:08,119 Speaker 1: have to do if we want to win. Get a 299 00:19:08,200 --> 00:19:10,880 Speaker 1: behind the scenes look at Comedy Central's The Daily Show 300 00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:13,800 Speaker 1: on Beyond the Scenes, an original podcast from The Daily 301 00:19:13,840 --> 00:19:16,639 Speaker 1: Show with Trevor Noah. Every week, host Roy Wood Junior 302 00:19:16,680 --> 00:19:19,040 Speaker 1: goes deeper with the notable guests and experts from the 303 00:19:19,119 --> 00:19:22,160 Speaker 1: Emmy Award winning series. Together, they use comedy to tackle 304 00:19:22,240 --> 00:19:25,000 Speaker 1: current topics from gentrification to gun laws and take a 305 00:19:25,080 --> 00:19:27,720 Speaker 1: closer look at how and why these topics matter. Listen 306 00:19:27,760 --> 00:19:30,000 Speaker 1: to Beyond the Scenes from the Daily Show with Trevor 307 00:19:30,080 --> 00:19:33,119 Speaker 1: Noah on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast or wherever you 308 00:19:33,240 --> 00:19:39,919 Speaker 1: get your podcast, new episodes every Tuesday. Let's talk about 309 00:19:41,000 --> 00:19:46,679 Speaker 1: your the report that was done by the Progressive Coalition. 310 00:19:48,080 --> 00:19:50,320 Speaker 1: Where in it? And you know, and I'll allow you 311 00:19:50,440 --> 00:19:55,520 Speaker 1: to lay out this specifics, but we're in it it. 312 00:19:55,960 --> 00:20:01,080 Speaker 1: There's an alarming stat which is that, you know, support 313 00:20:01,520 --> 00:20:05,440 Speaker 1: for Democrats has fallen and I believe it was from 314 00:20:05,760 --> 00:20:09,399 Speaker 1: fifty four percent to fifty one percent. Now when I 315 00:20:09,520 --> 00:20:12,879 Speaker 1: say that, people will hear well, it's still about fifty percent, 316 00:20:13,000 --> 00:20:20,080 Speaker 1: so we're fine. On the opposite side, there's been a 317 00:20:20,240 --> 00:20:24,800 Speaker 1: rise by two percentage points to support for Republicans. And 318 00:20:24,960 --> 00:20:28,200 Speaker 1: I sit here and I say to myself, Bread, how 319 00:20:28,280 --> 00:20:31,200 Speaker 1: the hell does that happen when you have an entire 320 00:20:31,320 --> 00:20:36,040 Speaker 1: Republican party that was out here essentially raising the flag 321 00:20:36,800 --> 00:20:41,040 Speaker 1: for Asian hate, essentially pointing at this community and saying, oh, 322 00:20:41,560 --> 00:20:44,320 Speaker 1: you see these people that are on the trains and 323 00:20:44,480 --> 00:20:46,680 Speaker 1: on your subways and in the stores and whatever. They're 324 00:20:46,720 --> 00:20:50,960 Speaker 1: the reason why you're you know, held up quarantine in 325 00:20:51,040 --> 00:20:53,880 Speaker 1: your home. That's essentially what they did. So how did 326 00:20:54,000 --> 00:20:58,000 Speaker 1: the hell do you see a tick up in support 327 00:20:58,040 --> 00:21:02,159 Speaker 1: for Republicans and a tickdown for support with Democrats in 328 00:21:02,240 --> 00:21:07,840 Speaker 1: the report that you, along with your coalition members put together. Yeah, well, 329 00:21:07,880 --> 00:21:10,480 Speaker 1: first off, thank you for reading the report. And it's 330 00:21:10,480 --> 00:21:13,600 Speaker 1: a learning I mean again, shows that we as Democrats 331 00:21:13,680 --> 00:21:17,320 Speaker 1: have not done a very good job of educating right 332 00:21:17,480 --> 00:21:21,520 Speaker 1: and telling the story of what this party, what this president, 333 00:21:21,680 --> 00:21:24,119 Speaker 1: what a lot of our elected officials had done to 334 00:21:24,200 --> 00:21:27,360 Speaker 1: get us out of the munk of the Donald Trump administration. 335 00:21:28,000 --> 00:21:31,399 Speaker 1: The short answer is why is honestly, it's, you know, 336 00:21:31,560 --> 00:21:34,120 Speaker 1: a majority of Asian American voters, much like the majority 337 00:21:34,160 --> 00:21:37,480 Speaker 1: of most voters, not just the Asian American feel like 338 00:21:37,520 --> 00:21:41,959 Speaker 1: the country's on the wrong track. The cost of living, inflation, 339 00:21:42,720 --> 00:21:45,120 Speaker 1: costs of you know, gas prices, all of these things 340 00:21:45,200 --> 00:21:49,760 Speaker 1: have risen, and the jobs in the economy are scaring 341 00:21:50,040 --> 00:21:53,040 Speaker 1: a lot of our voters. So while you know, anti 342 00:21:53,200 --> 00:21:57,040 Speaker 1: Asian hate is an issue that's important, these other issues 343 00:21:57,119 --> 00:22:01,240 Speaker 1: take priority, and these other issues were public have you know, 344 00:22:01,359 --> 00:22:04,080 Speaker 1: like any other party, like any midterm right, it's it's 345 00:22:04,119 --> 00:22:06,960 Speaker 1: the party that's out of power. Can just say, these 346 00:22:07,000 --> 00:22:08,760 Speaker 1: guys will know what they're doing, give us a shot. 347 00:22:09,359 --> 00:22:12,800 Speaker 1: And that is resonating with with some Asian Americans who 348 00:22:12,880 --> 00:22:16,560 Speaker 1: are fearful that Democrats don't have a plan to get 349 00:22:16,600 --> 00:22:20,199 Speaker 1: the economy back on track. The good news with all 350 00:22:20,240 --> 00:22:23,600 Speaker 1: of this, though, there're a couple of bright spots. One, 351 00:22:24,200 --> 00:22:28,600 Speaker 1: young Asian Americans, do not believe. Young Asian Americans are 352 00:22:28,800 --> 00:22:32,480 Speaker 1: essentially the base of the Democratic vote for Asian Americans. 353 00:22:32,880 --> 00:22:35,160 Speaker 1: They're more progressive and fired up to vote than they've 354 00:22:35,200 --> 00:22:38,040 Speaker 1: ever been. And so again this is a community that 355 00:22:38,160 --> 00:22:41,919 Speaker 1: typically doesn't vote as high as as you know, older 356 00:22:42,040 --> 00:22:45,560 Speaker 1: Asian American voters, but this cycle they are very motivated 357 00:22:45,640 --> 00:22:48,280 Speaker 1: to vote. And so that's that's a bright spot for me. 358 00:22:48,680 --> 00:22:51,320 Speaker 1: And then the other bright spot I think broadly speaking, 359 00:22:51,440 --> 00:22:54,920 Speaker 1: is issues like abortion access that was typically not as 360 00:22:55,440 --> 00:22:59,800 Speaker 1: crucial or important of an issue for Asian Americans has skyrocketed, 361 00:23:00,119 --> 00:23:03,120 Speaker 1: you know, especially among Asian American women. So you are 362 00:23:03,240 --> 00:23:06,000 Speaker 1: going to find and what we're seeing with early voting 363 00:23:06,080 --> 00:23:10,160 Speaker 1: from pulling that especially first time voters and young Asian 364 00:23:10,160 --> 00:23:13,160 Speaker 1: American women, they are inspired to vote up and down 365 00:23:13,200 --> 00:23:16,920 Speaker 1: the ballot for Democrats. But you know, the question that 366 00:23:17,000 --> 00:23:18,920 Speaker 1: you're asking is the right one. I mean, you know 367 00:23:19,240 --> 00:23:21,639 Speaker 1: this is not going to be not through the Debbie 368 00:23:21,640 --> 00:23:27,200 Speaker 1: Downer I'm sure you're like, I need help. This in 369 00:23:27,400 --> 00:23:29,840 Speaker 1: term is not going to be pretty, you know, it's not. 370 00:23:30,000 --> 00:23:31,760 Speaker 1: I mean, I mean, if you're just kind of looking 371 00:23:31,800 --> 00:23:35,240 Speaker 1: at the numbers across the board, I think you know, 372 00:23:35,400 --> 00:23:39,920 Speaker 1: most Americans are, you know, very uneasy with the direction 373 00:23:39,960 --> 00:23:42,639 Speaker 1: of the country and Democrats are in control, and so 374 00:23:43,640 --> 00:23:46,760 Speaker 1: m what I am most concerned about right now is 375 00:23:46,840 --> 00:23:50,960 Speaker 1: that all of these races, right, you know, states like Pennsylvania, 376 00:23:51,440 --> 00:23:54,720 Speaker 1: states like Georgia, states like Nevada, if you live in 377 00:23:54,800 --> 00:23:57,520 Speaker 1: any of these states, by the way, like God blessing, 378 00:23:57,640 --> 00:23:59,920 Speaker 1: please vote, Please get all of your friends to vote. 379 00:24:01,119 --> 00:24:03,119 Speaker 1: The margin of victory or defeat is going to be 380 00:24:03,280 --> 00:24:06,800 Speaker 1: so small, it's going to be one point point one 381 00:24:06,840 --> 00:24:09,359 Speaker 1: and a half point And so I know for a 382 00:24:09,480 --> 00:24:12,919 Speaker 1: fact that you know, if we are leaving any votes 383 00:24:13,240 --> 00:24:15,240 Speaker 1: you know, on the table, so to speak, or we're 384 00:24:16,000 --> 00:24:17,840 Speaker 1: you know, there are a lot of Democrats right now 385 00:24:18,119 --> 00:24:22,840 Speaker 1: who are feeling a little disillusion and don't understand, as 386 00:24:22,920 --> 00:24:24,600 Speaker 1: you know, and you've been talking about on your pot, 387 00:24:24,960 --> 00:24:28,520 Speaker 1: what's at stake this election, any election deniers that are 388 00:24:28,600 --> 00:24:31,280 Speaker 1: running and are likely going to win, right, and what 389 00:24:31,560 --> 00:24:35,040 Speaker 1: this means for our next election? Right, whether it's Trump 390 00:24:35,119 --> 00:24:37,000 Speaker 1: or DeSantis or whomever is going to be running at 391 00:24:37,040 --> 00:24:39,800 Speaker 1: the top of the ticket. How many election deniers are 392 00:24:39,920 --> 00:24:42,879 Speaker 1: running and could potentially win is what keeps me up 393 00:24:42,920 --> 00:24:45,639 Speaker 1: at night. So we just have to do everything that 394 00:24:45,760 --> 00:24:48,280 Speaker 1: we can, you know, not just at the federal level, 395 00:24:48,359 --> 00:24:50,679 Speaker 1: but especially at the local level. We're doing a lot 396 00:24:50,760 --> 00:24:53,720 Speaker 1: of work. I mentioned be Win who's running for secretary 397 00:24:53,760 --> 00:24:57,800 Speaker 1: of state in Georgia, but Steve Hobbs is another Asian 398 00:24:57,800 --> 00:25:00,880 Speaker 1: American running for secretary of State in the state of Washington. 399 00:25:00,960 --> 00:25:03,879 Speaker 1: Like these secretary of state races are only now how 400 00:25:03,960 --> 00:25:07,040 Speaker 1: important they are. Yep, We're just important. They are going 401 00:25:07,119 --> 00:25:10,520 Speaker 1: to be there. There are last line of defense. They're 402 00:25:10,640 --> 00:25:13,399 Speaker 1: counting these votes and making sure that there's you know, 403 00:25:13,640 --> 00:25:17,399 Speaker 1: real election integrity. So you know, again I urge all 404 00:25:17,440 --> 00:25:19,440 Speaker 1: of your listeners, you know, when you're going out to vote, 405 00:25:20,080 --> 00:25:23,560 Speaker 1: please vote for Democratic secretaries of state, because that's our 406 00:25:23,600 --> 00:25:27,760 Speaker 1: last last line of defense, um Brad. With the time 407 00:25:27,840 --> 00:25:31,480 Speaker 1: that we have left, um you know, I wouldn't stay 408 00:25:31,520 --> 00:25:33,760 Speaker 1: on the report for a second and then give you 409 00:25:33,880 --> 00:25:36,840 Speaker 1: some closing thoughts, but you know, in in the report 410 00:25:36,880 --> 00:25:43,280 Speaker 1: as well, the issues that are important to AAPI voters, 411 00:25:43,960 --> 00:25:48,639 Speaker 1: UM It is about the is about inflation, is about 412 00:25:48,840 --> 00:25:52,200 Speaker 1: the economy, is about quote unquote kitchen table issues. I 413 00:25:52,359 --> 00:25:55,960 Speaker 1: want to ask you too, though, where does this community, 414 00:25:56,040 --> 00:26:01,120 Speaker 1: your community fall as it pertains to the rising gun violence, 415 00:26:01,680 --> 00:26:07,120 Speaker 1: as it pertains to abortion which was overturned, and frankly 416 00:26:07,760 --> 00:26:13,080 Speaker 1: our democracy, right because if you're stating earlier that you know, yeah, 417 00:26:13,320 --> 00:26:16,119 Speaker 1: Asian hate, that was a thing. But like people also 418 00:26:16,240 --> 00:26:19,680 Speaker 1: need jobs, um, you know, and are concerned about meeting 419 00:26:19,720 --> 00:26:22,639 Speaker 1: their day to day needs. The things that Democrats have 420 00:26:22,840 --> 00:26:27,399 Speaker 1: been banging the drum on, um, are you know the 421 00:26:27,520 --> 00:26:29,720 Speaker 1: fact that our democracies hanging on by a thread. This 422 00:26:29,840 --> 00:26:31,959 Speaker 1: may in fact be our last free and fair election. 423 00:26:32,720 --> 00:26:36,720 Speaker 1: That you know, gun violence is rampant, um, we have 424 00:26:36,960 --> 00:26:40,000 Speaker 1: we don't miss it day without a mass shooting, um. 425 00:26:40,160 --> 00:26:42,200 Speaker 1: And then the overturning of rov Wait. So I just 426 00:26:42,320 --> 00:26:45,840 Speaker 1: also want to understand as it pertains to what democrats 427 00:26:46,240 --> 00:26:49,760 Speaker 1: have been focusing on and what your community is actually 428 00:26:49,920 --> 00:26:52,760 Speaker 1: interested in. Where are the overlaps or where are the 429 00:26:52,960 --> 00:26:58,240 Speaker 1: where where are the gaps? It's a it's a great question, 430 00:26:58,520 --> 00:27:01,000 Speaker 1: and you know, I wish I could tell you that 431 00:27:01,840 --> 00:27:05,080 Speaker 1: the fate of our democracy was the top issue for 432 00:27:05,240 --> 00:27:08,760 Speaker 1: Asian American voters. It's just not it's not I mean, 433 00:27:08,840 --> 00:27:13,280 Speaker 1: it's up there. Gun control, surprisingly, in my opinion, was 434 00:27:13,440 --> 00:27:17,600 Speaker 1: number three of the most important issues to Asian American voters. 435 00:27:17,720 --> 00:27:21,400 Speaker 1: Number one was inflation and the cost of living. Overwhelmingly 436 00:27:21,520 --> 00:27:26,199 Speaker 1: that was number one. Almost half of Asian American voters 437 00:27:26,280 --> 00:27:28,320 Speaker 1: that we pulled list of that as their number one. 438 00:27:29,160 --> 00:27:32,040 Speaker 1: Jobs in the economy was number two, and then gun 439 00:27:32,200 --> 00:27:36,600 Speaker 1: violence was number three. Again, I don't think most people 440 00:27:36,720 --> 00:27:40,399 Speaker 1: think of Asian American voters as gun violence voters, but 441 00:27:40,960 --> 00:27:45,480 Speaker 1: we are. And so again, I you know, urge I 442 00:27:45,680 --> 00:27:48,879 Speaker 1: urge Democrats and candidates to talk about this issue. You know, 443 00:27:49,400 --> 00:27:51,679 Speaker 1: people think of Asian Americans and you're like, oh, well, 444 00:27:51,680 --> 00:27:55,879 Speaker 1: we should just talk about cookie, you know, kitchen table issues, 445 00:27:55,960 --> 00:27:58,600 Speaker 1: but no, I mean gun violence. And the fourth, to 446 00:27:59,200 --> 00:28:05,160 Speaker 1: your point, is abortion access. So these are central issues. 447 00:28:05,600 --> 00:28:07,919 Speaker 1: A lot of the other issues that follow our close. 448 00:28:08,080 --> 00:28:10,919 Speaker 1: You know, healthcare is right up there, climate changes right 449 00:28:11,000 --> 00:28:13,840 Speaker 1: up there. As you go through that sort of different 450 00:28:13,920 --> 00:28:16,679 Speaker 1: sub ethnic groups, what you'll find is because we are 451 00:28:16,720 --> 00:28:20,240 Speaker 1: not a monolith, right, I mean, there's very different You're 452 00:28:20,280 --> 00:28:23,920 Speaker 1: talking to a Filipino voter in Vegas than an Indian 453 00:28:23,960 --> 00:28:27,159 Speaker 1: American voter in Gwinnette County, Georgia. So these issues do 454 00:28:27,440 --> 00:28:31,320 Speaker 1: change state by state, but I will say that overall 455 00:28:32,440 --> 00:28:36,760 Speaker 1: your question is right, which is yes, we have to 456 00:28:36,840 --> 00:28:40,280 Speaker 1: be talking about reducing the cost of living, you know, 457 00:28:40,480 --> 00:28:43,640 Speaker 1: getting you know prices, you know, gas prices and food 458 00:28:43,680 --> 00:28:47,840 Speaker 1: prices down, making sure that we have jobs in the economy. 459 00:28:47,960 --> 00:28:51,560 Speaker 1: But particularly for young Asian American voters, they want to 460 00:28:51,560 --> 00:28:54,240 Speaker 1: see a vision of what do we stand for, right, 461 00:28:54,480 --> 00:28:57,960 Speaker 1: How are we fighting for abortion access, how are we 462 00:28:58,120 --> 00:29:02,080 Speaker 1: codifying row V we are we doing on gun violence. 463 00:29:02,160 --> 00:29:05,600 Speaker 1: There's some really great first steps this administration did, but 464 00:29:05,760 --> 00:29:08,360 Speaker 1: clearly we have so much more to go. And so 465 00:29:09,280 --> 00:29:12,360 Speaker 1: again we'll see in these final days and you're seeing 466 00:29:12,440 --> 00:29:15,800 Speaker 1: in the debates as well. You know, I think Democrats 467 00:29:15,960 --> 00:29:17,840 Speaker 1: have to do a little bit of a better job 468 00:29:17,920 --> 00:29:21,560 Speaker 1: of pointing out what we are actually fighting for, um 469 00:29:21,640 --> 00:29:25,200 Speaker 1: and not just you know, trying to explain away why 470 00:29:25,280 --> 00:29:27,800 Speaker 1: the economy is not doing so well at the moment. 471 00:29:29,320 --> 00:29:34,080 Speaker 1: So closing arguments, right, um, you know, when when this airs, 472 00:29:34,960 --> 00:29:39,320 Speaker 1: we will have heard from the President uh giving his 473 00:29:39,640 --> 00:29:44,720 Speaker 1: closing argument for for midterm elections. For you, Brad and 474 00:29:45,360 --> 00:29:50,040 Speaker 1: you know, AAPI victory fund what would your closing argument? 475 00:29:50,360 --> 00:29:56,880 Speaker 1: What is your closing argument for America? I mean, especially 476 00:29:56,960 --> 00:30:00,560 Speaker 1: for a community that feels as if their voice doesn't matter. 477 00:30:01,520 --> 00:30:04,080 Speaker 1: And I say this a lot, especially speaking to younger voters, 478 00:30:04,120 --> 00:30:07,560 Speaker 1: where they feel like, well, our issues aren't prioritized and 479 00:30:07,880 --> 00:30:10,680 Speaker 1: I don't feel like my vote, my vote matters. What 480 00:30:10,800 --> 00:30:13,000 Speaker 1: I would say to you is that's what they want 481 00:30:13,040 --> 00:30:16,479 Speaker 1: you to feel, right, those in power, particularly Republicans, they 482 00:30:16,760 --> 00:30:19,800 Speaker 1: want you to feel like your vote doesn't matter, because 483 00:30:19,800 --> 00:30:23,600 Speaker 1: that means, in large respects a lot of the status 484 00:30:23,680 --> 00:30:27,800 Speaker 1: quo Republicans remain in power. And so you know, at 485 00:30:27,880 --> 00:30:33,280 Speaker 1: this moment, especially when there's so many election deniers, and 486 00:30:33,360 --> 00:30:37,240 Speaker 1: I know that this is something that's we're still kind 487 00:30:37,280 --> 00:30:42,120 Speaker 1: of wrapping our heads around. And it's almost been almost normalized. 488 00:30:42,120 --> 00:30:46,640 Speaker 1: It's almost normalized that almost half of Republicans still believe 489 00:30:46,680 --> 00:30:49,520 Speaker 1: that Donald Trump won the election. I mean, it's it's 490 00:30:49,640 --> 00:30:53,840 Speaker 1: it's it's crazy. We have to vote. And I know 491 00:30:54,120 --> 00:30:56,400 Speaker 1: sometimes when you say that, you're like, oh, voting it 492 00:30:56,480 --> 00:31:00,040 Speaker 1: doesn't really matter. There's no difference between these parties. I 493 00:31:00,120 --> 00:31:03,760 Speaker 1: will guarantee you there is. There is one hundred percent 494 00:31:04,240 --> 00:31:08,520 Speaker 1: a difference between these parties and there's one hundred percent 495 00:31:08,560 --> 00:31:11,880 Speaker 1: of difference, especially at the local level, of who's going 496 00:31:11,920 --> 00:31:14,600 Speaker 1: to be fighting for communities of color and who's not. 497 00:31:15,280 --> 00:31:18,040 Speaker 1: And so for any not just Asian Americans, but for 498 00:31:18,120 --> 00:31:21,480 Speaker 1: anyone listening to this. You know, if you're feeling a 499 00:31:21,560 --> 00:31:25,600 Speaker 1: little disillusion if you're not that excited about your candidate, 500 00:31:25,720 --> 00:31:27,760 Speaker 1: or maybe even not that excited about Joe Biden or 501 00:31:27,800 --> 00:31:33,760 Speaker 1: Kama Harris or remember, that's fine. But do know that 502 00:31:34,640 --> 00:31:37,240 Speaker 1: this idea of democracy, this idea that we should have 503 00:31:37,360 --> 00:31:39,600 Speaker 1: to say and that we should have free and fair elections, 504 00:31:40,160 --> 00:31:45,200 Speaker 1: that's at stake this election cycle because Republicans believe that 505 00:31:45,320 --> 00:31:49,080 Speaker 1: they can run on lies. They believe that they can 506 00:31:49,320 --> 00:31:53,560 Speaker 1: literally trick the American public into believing things that just 507 00:31:53,720 --> 00:31:57,600 Speaker 1: aren't true. And so if you are pro facts and 508 00:31:58,000 --> 00:32:02,360 Speaker 1: pro truth, please find other friends of yours who are 509 00:32:02,480 --> 00:32:04,120 Speaker 1: may be like, oh, I don't know that my vote 510 00:32:04,200 --> 00:32:07,440 Speaker 1: is important. It is, Every single one of our votes 511 00:32:07,440 --> 00:32:10,320 Speaker 1: are important. The last thing I'll say is every election cycle, 512 00:32:11,000 --> 00:32:13,160 Speaker 1: all of this money is spent trying to, you know, 513 00:32:13,320 --> 00:32:17,680 Speaker 1: get you to vote Republican or Democrat. And the largest 514 00:32:17,760 --> 00:32:21,000 Speaker 1: subset if you look at a pie chart of the 515 00:32:21,120 --> 00:32:27,000 Speaker 1: voting electorate are people that don't vote, right eligible non voters, 516 00:32:27,480 --> 00:32:34,680 Speaker 1: that is the biggest majority of voters. If those people voting, 517 00:32:35,680 --> 00:32:37,920 Speaker 1: everything can change because a lot of those people that 518 00:32:38,040 --> 00:32:39,920 Speaker 1: are not voting are people that look like you and 519 00:32:40,040 --> 00:32:42,800 Speaker 1: I you know, people that are that are younger, people 520 00:32:42,840 --> 00:32:45,000 Speaker 1: that are people of colors that just don't believe that 521 00:32:45,080 --> 00:32:49,120 Speaker 1: their voice matters. And so the other thing I say 522 00:32:49,200 --> 00:32:51,400 Speaker 1: too is, you know, if you're not into the red 523 00:32:51,400 --> 00:32:53,760 Speaker 1: team or blue team, that's fine, but you have to 524 00:32:53,880 --> 00:32:57,000 Speaker 1: be for your team, you have to be for your family. 525 00:32:57,120 --> 00:33:02,120 Speaker 1: And when you're not voting, you're letting other people make 526 00:33:02,160 --> 00:33:05,600 Speaker 1: decisions for you. And so, you know, I hope the 527 00:33:05,680 --> 00:33:08,000 Speaker 1: president makes that case. It sounds like you're right. It 528 00:33:08,000 --> 00:33:10,280 Speaker 1: sounds like he's gonna be making that case that this 529 00:33:10,520 --> 00:33:13,520 Speaker 1: is bigger than Republicans and Democrats. This is really about 530 00:33:13,640 --> 00:33:16,160 Speaker 1: what kind of a country do we want to live in. 531 00:33:16,880 --> 00:33:20,640 Speaker 1: And so you've got we've got what six days left 532 00:33:20,680 --> 00:33:24,640 Speaker 1: we vote, Get out there and get out there and 533 00:33:24,920 --> 00:33:27,480 Speaker 1: like make honestly get out there and make your voice, 534 00:33:27,680 --> 00:33:32,640 Speaker 1: make your voice heard. Brad Jenkins, President and CEO of 535 00:33:32,800 --> 00:33:37,040 Speaker 1: AAPI Victory Fun, thank you so much for joining w 536 00:33:37,480 --> 00:33:39,480 Speaker 1: F and thank you for the work that you're doing, 537 00:33:40,520 --> 00:33:42,800 Speaker 1: and I hope that you will join us again post 538 00:33:42,880 --> 00:33:46,560 Speaker 1: midterms and we will see where we are and what 539 00:33:46,720 --> 00:33:49,040 Speaker 1: the strategies we need to move forward in order to 540 00:33:49,280 --> 00:33:52,440 Speaker 1: create the country we all want to live in. We 541 00:33:52,560 --> 00:33:59,760 Speaker 1: appreciate you. That is it for me today, Dear friends. 542 00:34:00,240 --> 00:34:03,520 Speaker 1: Woke app as always, Power to the people and to 543 00:34:03,800 --> 00:34:07,880 Speaker 1: all the people. Power, get woke and stay woke as fuck. 544 00:34:13,320 --> 00:34:15,680 Speaker 1: Get a behind the scenes look at Comedy Central's The 545 00:34:15,760 --> 00:34:18,839 Speaker 1: Daily Show on Beyond the Scenes, an original podcast from 546 00:34:18,880 --> 00:34:21,440 Speaker 1: The Daily Show with Trevor Noah. Every week, host Roy 547 00:34:21,480 --> 00:34:24,200 Speaker 1: Wood Junior goes deeper with the notable guests and experts 548 00:34:24,280 --> 00:34:27,120 Speaker 1: from the Emmy Award winning series. Together, they use comedy 549 00:34:27,200 --> 00:34:30,160 Speaker 1: to tackle current topics from gentrification to gun laws and 550 00:34:30,200 --> 00:34:32,719 Speaker 1: take a closer look at how and why these topics matter. 551 00:34:32,920 --> 00:34:35,080 Speaker 1: Listen to Beyond the Scenes from the Daily Show with 552 00:34:35,160 --> 00:34:38,400 Speaker 1: Trevor Noah on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever 553 00:34:38,520 --> 00:34:41,280 Speaker 1: you get your podcast. New episodes every Tuesday.