1 00:00:04,840 --> 00:00:08,000 Speaker 1: Hi everyone, I'm Katie Couric, and this is next question. 2 00:00:08,640 --> 00:00:11,200 Speaker 1: You know, the first time many Americans got a glimpse 3 00:00:11,360 --> 00:00:16,159 Speaker 1: of Senator Amy Klobachar's no nonsense confidence in action was 4 00:00:16,200 --> 00:00:20,599 Speaker 1: February twenty twenty at the Democratic presidential primary debate in 5 00:00:20,640 --> 00:00:21,480 Speaker 1: New Hampshire. 6 00:00:21,720 --> 00:00:25,440 Speaker 2: When we were in the last debate, Mayor, you basically 7 00:00:25,800 --> 00:00:29,960 Speaker 2: mocked the one hundred years of experience on the stage. 8 00:00:30,080 --> 00:00:32,160 Speaker 2: And what do I see on this stage? I see 9 00:00:32,159 --> 00:00:34,000 Speaker 2: Elizabeth Work starting the consumer. 10 00:00:34,200 --> 00:00:37,519 Speaker 1: This is Senator Klobachar taking a then thirty eight year 11 00:00:37,520 --> 00:00:40,840 Speaker 1: old Pete Buddha judge to task on something he'd said 12 00:00:40,840 --> 00:00:44,400 Speaker 1: at the presidential debate in Iowa just weeks before. 13 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:48,839 Speaker 2: Sanders Work working to get the Veterans Bill passed across 14 00:00:48,880 --> 00:00:51,479 Speaker 2: the aisle. And I see what I've done, which is 15 00:00:51,479 --> 00:00:55,240 Speaker 2: to negotiate three farm bells and be someone that actually 16 00:00:55,240 --> 00:00:58,200 Speaker 2: had major provisions put in those bills. So what you 17 00:00:58,240 --> 00:01:02,160 Speaker 2: can dismiss committee hearings. I think this experience works. And 18 00:01:02,240 --> 00:01:05,399 Speaker 2: I have not denigrated your experience as a local official. 19 00:01:05,520 --> 00:01:06,840 Speaker 3: I have been one, you know. 20 00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:10,080 Speaker 2: I just think you should respect our experience when you 21 00:01:10,120 --> 00:01:13,960 Speaker 2: look at how you evaluate someone who can get things done. 22 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:15,640 Speaker 1: If you, Senator for to mayor, I'll give you a 23 00:01:15,720 --> 00:01:19,200 Speaker 1: chance to respond. And Amy Klobachar knows a thing or 24 00:01:19,240 --> 00:01:22,640 Speaker 1: two about getting things done. She was the first woman 25 00:01:22,680 --> 00:01:26,319 Speaker 1: elected to the US Senate from Minnesota, where since two 26 00:01:26,319 --> 00:01:29,520 Speaker 1: thousand and seven she has served on dozens of committees, 27 00:01:29,800 --> 00:01:34,600 Speaker 1: past major bipartisan legislation and fought hard for universal healthcare, 28 00:01:35,080 --> 00:01:39,720 Speaker 1: strong new environmental policies, gun control, and the regulation of 29 00:01:39,800 --> 00:01:43,120 Speaker 1: big tech. But over the course of the pandemic, Senator 30 00:01:43,160 --> 00:01:47,160 Speaker 1: Clobchar was faced with some very personal challenges, and through 31 00:01:47,240 --> 00:01:49,680 Speaker 1: all of it she was inspired to write a book 32 00:01:49,840 --> 00:01:52,800 Speaker 1: in her spare time. I guess it's called The Joy 33 00:01:52,920 --> 00:01:58,320 Speaker 1: of Politics, Surviving cancer, a campaign, a pandemic, an insurrection, 34 00:01:58,800 --> 00:02:02,960 Speaker 1: and life's other expected curveballs. In it, she digs deep 35 00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:05,960 Speaker 1: into a well of resilience she didn't know she had, 36 00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:11,519 Speaker 1: and she finds up all things joy, I mean, really joy. 37 00:02:12,400 --> 00:02:15,680 Speaker 2: I spend a lot of this book answering that question 38 00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:19,520 Speaker 2: about what is the joy. There is joy in perseverance, 39 00:02:19,800 --> 00:02:23,160 Speaker 2: whether it's through an illness or whether it's through trying 40 00:02:23,160 --> 00:02:24,880 Speaker 2: to get a bill through Congress. 41 00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:28,840 Speaker 1: Senator Klobachar and I had a wide ranging conversation we 42 00:02:28,880 --> 00:02:31,320 Speaker 1: even got to geek out on policy, which is something 43 00:02:31,440 --> 00:02:36,959 Speaker 1: both of us love, including a fascinating dive into immigration reform. 44 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:40,160 Speaker 2: So we're in a crisis, and no great nation has 45 00:02:40,200 --> 00:02:43,520 Speaker 2: ever expanded that I know of, into even greater nation 46 00:02:43,840 --> 00:02:46,520 Speaker 2: with a shrinking workforce. We can try to be the 47 00:02:46,520 --> 00:02:48,920 Speaker 2: first experiment, but I'd rather not do that. 48 00:02:48,960 --> 00:02:49,720 Speaker 3: So how do you do that? 49 00:02:50,080 --> 00:02:52,360 Speaker 1: But my first question to her was, how on earth 50 00:02:52,360 --> 00:02:57,359 Speaker 1: did you have time to write this book? Way? How 51 00:02:57,440 --> 00:02:58,440 Speaker 1: are you right? 52 00:02:58,680 --> 00:02:59,600 Speaker 3: This is what I did? 53 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:00,360 Speaker 2: I know? 54 00:03:00,600 --> 00:03:03,480 Speaker 1: How are you doing? I how are you? Did you 55 00:03:03,520 --> 00:03:04,120 Speaker 1: have fun writing? 56 00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:04,440 Speaker 2: Yeah? 57 00:03:04,440 --> 00:03:06,359 Speaker 1: I wondered, how did you have time to do this? 58 00:03:06,520 --> 00:03:09,560 Speaker 2: I just do it late at night and weekends, you 59 00:03:09,600 --> 00:03:14,600 Speaker 2: know so I always thought every time you're quarantined for COVID. 60 00:03:14,960 --> 00:03:16,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's true. 61 00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:18,560 Speaker 3: So anyway, I enjoyed writing it. 62 00:03:19,160 --> 00:03:22,480 Speaker 1: So given the state of the country, the state of 63 00:03:22,520 --> 00:03:26,519 Speaker 1: the world, the personal shit excuse me, that you have 64 00:03:26,720 --> 00:03:30,800 Speaker 1: been through in the last couple of years, how in 65 00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:33,519 Speaker 1: the world could you write a book called The Joy 66 00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:35,080 Speaker 1: of Politics? 67 00:03:35,720 --> 00:03:39,400 Speaker 2: Good question, and it is not a sarcastic title. It 68 00:03:39,480 --> 00:03:42,480 Speaker 2: is real And for me, I first look at what 69 00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:47,160 Speaker 2: America's been through, the pandemic, the isolation, of all that, 70 00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:50,960 Speaker 2: people have lost loved ones, they've lost their grandmas and grandpa's, 71 00:03:51,400 --> 00:03:54,680 Speaker 2: people have had to change their jobs or lose jobs. 72 00:03:54,920 --> 00:03:58,280 Speaker 2: There is the political divide, there's the violence that we're seeing. 73 00:03:58,760 --> 00:04:02,240 Speaker 2: And through all of it, yes, we can lament the setbacks. 74 00:04:02,280 --> 00:04:04,520 Speaker 2: And I go through my own from you know, not 75 00:04:04,600 --> 00:04:08,560 Speaker 2: winning the presidential campaign to losing my dad with leid 76 00:04:08,640 --> 00:04:13,320 Speaker 2: onset Alzheimer's and being diagnosed with breast cancer, something I 77 00:04:13,360 --> 00:04:16,360 Speaker 2: know you can relate to, and all of this happening and. 78 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:19,320 Speaker 1: Husband deal with the serious in COVID. 79 00:04:19,560 --> 00:04:23,040 Speaker 2: So we're now that is that's lamenting those setbacks, and 80 00:04:23,080 --> 00:04:26,320 Speaker 2: it's important to do and realize what you've been through, 81 00:04:26,520 --> 00:04:30,320 Speaker 2: but it is equally important to rejoice in the comebacks, 82 00:04:30,800 --> 00:04:33,480 Speaker 2: to talk about how we get through things and how 83 00:04:33,520 --> 00:04:36,160 Speaker 2: we get on the other side and the joy. And 84 00:04:36,640 --> 00:04:40,200 Speaker 2: for me, it's joy in getting things done, joy in 85 00:04:40,279 --> 00:04:43,320 Speaker 2: stepping back, as I'm sure you did when you got 86 00:04:43,320 --> 00:04:47,120 Speaker 2: that breast cancer diagnosis or when you lost your husband. 87 00:04:47,240 --> 00:04:51,080 Speaker 2: You do step back and you have this gratefulness for 88 00:04:51,240 --> 00:04:54,719 Speaker 2: things that happen to you every day, total strangers helping 89 00:04:54,760 --> 00:04:56,960 Speaker 2: you out. So that's part of the joy as well. 90 00:04:57,520 --> 00:04:59,640 Speaker 1: Have you always been a glass half full person. 91 00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:05,640 Speaker 2: Yes, or I wouldn't have decided to run for president today, right, 92 00:05:05,720 --> 00:05:08,039 Speaker 2: I haven't There the story of going to talk to 93 00:05:08,160 --> 00:05:11,960 Speaker 2: Barack Obama and he looked super cool in his leather jacket. 94 00:05:12,200 --> 00:05:15,080 Speaker 2: He was meeting with a number of the candidates. Didn't 95 00:05:15,080 --> 00:05:17,479 Speaker 2: really endorse anyone, but it was one of the best 96 00:05:17,520 --> 00:05:20,279 Speaker 2: meetings I had. I went over my chances and then 97 00:05:20,279 --> 00:05:23,800 Speaker 2: in that Barack Obama understated way it goes well. When 98 00:05:23,839 --> 00:05:26,920 Speaker 2: I was running, most people put it less than fifty 99 00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:29,880 Speaker 2: percent that I was going to win in the Democratic primary, 100 00:05:29,920 --> 00:05:33,200 Speaker 2: and there were others that put it even less. And 101 00:05:33,240 --> 00:05:36,160 Speaker 2: then he went on to give me advice of just 102 00:05:36,920 --> 00:05:39,560 Speaker 2: taking each day at a time, having a goal. If 103 00:05:39,560 --> 00:05:41,800 Speaker 2: you don't have a north star purpose, why do it? 104 00:05:42,240 --> 00:05:45,520 Speaker 2: So that conversation with him was really actually quite inspiring 105 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:48,720 Speaker 2: for me, because you when you go into these things, 106 00:05:49,080 --> 00:05:52,320 Speaker 2: you know your chances are not great, but then you remember, 107 00:05:52,520 --> 00:05:55,360 Speaker 2: you know, the winner of some of these last years, 108 00:05:55,360 --> 00:05:58,800 Speaker 2: I think Kentucky Derby was like one out of eighty odds, 109 00:05:58,839 --> 00:06:00,719 Speaker 2: so you think it can happen. 110 00:06:01,520 --> 00:06:05,240 Speaker 1: You know You've also found a lot of inspiration, I know, 111 00:06:05,600 --> 00:06:10,120 Speaker 1: Senator from your fellow Senator the late Paul Wellstone, who 112 00:06:10,200 --> 00:06:13,040 Speaker 1: went to my high school in Arlington. Really oh right. 113 00:06:13,240 --> 00:06:16,400 Speaker 1: He is part of the Yorktown Wall of Fame, of 114 00:06:16,480 --> 00:06:20,240 Speaker 1: which I am on as well, so we share this wall. 115 00:06:21,240 --> 00:06:25,440 Speaker 1: He was an extraordinary man who died way too young 116 00:06:25,520 --> 00:06:29,120 Speaker 1: in that prime crash. Tell me about your relationship with 117 00:06:29,320 --> 00:06:34,480 Speaker 1: him and how he has inspired your attitudes. 118 00:06:34,839 --> 00:06:39,200 Speaker 2: Sure so, no one ever thought he was going to win. 119 00:06:39,720 --> 00:06:42,960 Speaker 2: He was a college professor. He went around in this 120 00:06:43,120 --> 00:06:46,640 Speaker 2: green bus kind of ahead of his time, I would say, 121 00:06:46,720 --> 00:06:52,200 Speaker 2: in focusing on economic justice and environmental issues. Yes, and it's 122 00:06:52,240 --> 00:06:55,640 Speaker 2: kind of like the little guy. And he would talk 123 00:06:55,640 --> 00:06:58,240 Speaker 2: about how we don't need another Rockefeller. I'm for the 124 00:06:58,279 --> 00:07:03,200 Speaker 2: little fella. And he had this buoyancy about him and joy, 125 00:07:03,839 --> 00:07:08,200 Speaker 2: and he taught me so much when he then surprisingly 126 00:07:08,320 --> 00:07:11,840 Speaker 2: comes from behind wins the Senate races in the Senate, 127 00:07:12,160 --> 00:07:14,360 Speaker 2: and I remember learning so much from him. For one thing, 128 00:07:14,440 --> 00:07:16,720 Speaker 2: he taught me how to campaign on city buses. 129 00:07:17,080 --> 00:07:17,840 Speaker 3: We would get on. 130 00:07:17,840 --> 00:07:20,080 Speaker 2: A bus and we would meet everyone on the bus. 131 00:07:20,120 --> 00:07:23,080 Speaker 2: We go down what is called the Nickelet Mall, the 132 00:07:23,280 --> 00:07:25,600 Speaker 2: in Minneapolis, and we would get to the end and 133 00:07:25,640 --> 00:07:28,040 Speaker 2: we go buy everyone. Then we get off the bus 134 00:07:28,080 --> 00:07:29,480 Speaker 2: and we just get a ticket and go on the 135 00:07:29,480 --> 00:07:32,760 Speaker 2: other way. So the joy story about him, he had 136 00:07:32,800 --> 00:07:36,200 Speaker 2: gone to the Senate floor and he had done lost 137 00:07:36,280 --> 00:07:40,239 Speaker 2: big time some amendment and he'd made this passionate speech 138 00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:43,760 Speaker 2: in his you know, five foot six frame, and he'd 139 00:07:43,840 --> 00:07:47,240 Speaker 2: like and then he just lost. And he got back 140 00:07:47,280 --> 00:07:50,160 Speaker 2: to the office and everyone had their heads down. They'd 141 00:07:50,160 --> 00:07:52,600 Speaker 2: been watching it on the Senate TV. 142 00:07:52,720 --> 00:07:53,640 Speaker 3: They knew what happened. 143 00:07:53,760 --> 00:07:55,640 Speaker 2: And he walked in and it looks around at all 144 00:07:55,720 --> 00:07:59,640 Speaker 2: of them, and it would some I would say, self 145 00:07:59,680 --> 00:08:02,240 Speaker 2: reckoned ignition about the humor of this, because he. 146 00:08:02,240 --> 00:08:05,280 Speaker 3: Was so mad, and he goes, what's going on in 147 00:08:05,320 --> 00:08:10,880 Speaker 3: this room? Where is the joy? What happened to the joy? 148 00:08:11,400 --> 00:08:14,520 Speaker 2: And then there's that joy of getting things done and knowing, 149 00:08:14,640 --> 00:08:18,120 Speaker 2: like after working for years to pass a bill to 150 00:08:18,120 --> 00:08:21,800 Speaker 2: bring down the cost of pharmaceuticals, that it finally happened, 151 00:08:22,200 --> 00:08:26,480 Speaker 2: My bill finally got passed into law last summer. Or 152 00:08:26,600 --> 00:08:29,720 Speaker 2: it's the joy of just being part of something bigger 153 00:08:29,760 --> 00:08:32,760 Speaker 2: than yourself. That's what John McCain would always tell me. 154 00:08:32,880 --> 00:08:35,600 Speaker 2: In fact, when I visited him when he was dying 155 00:08:35,679 --> 00:08:38,240 Speaker 2: in Sidona, I tell the story, and he was still 156 00:08:38,240 --> 00:08:41,679 Speaker 2: irascible and hilarious, and at the very end of it, 157 00:08:41,800 --> 00:08:44,440 Speaker 2: when he can't talk, he points to some words that 158 00:08:44,520 --> 00:08:46,720 Speaker 2: he had written, and the words where there's nothing in 159 00:08:46,760 --> 00:08:50,440 Speaker 2: life more liberating than fighting for a cause larger than yourself. 160 00:08:50,880 --> 00:08:53,360 Speaker 2: And I think that's something we all have to remember 161 00:08:53,440 --> 00:08:57,120 Speaker 2: right now. So as people gather again, it is exhilarating 162 00:08:57,360 --> 00:09:00,720 Speaker 2: to go to events. It's also can be a scary thing, 163 00:09:00,960 --> 00:09:03,559 Speaker 2: but it's also a good thing because the only way 164 00:09:03,600 --> 00:09:06,240 Speaker 2: we're going to go back to having civic discussions of 165 00:09:06,360 --> 00:09:09,440 Speaker 2: views and differing views is if we actually talk to 166 00:09:09,480 --> 00:09:10,240 Speaker 2: each other again. 167 00:09:10,520 --> 00:09:14,240 Speaker 1: I know that's so true. At the same time, you know, 168 00:09:14,320 --> 00:09:17,680 Speaker 1: I have to say I'm a pretty optimistic person and 169 00:09:18,280 --> 00:09:23,239 Speaker 1: I would like to see people talk who disagree on issues. 170 00:09:24,080 --> 00:09:26,760 Speaker 1: But as you know, and as you write about, we 171 00:09:26,880 --> 00:09:31,920 Speaker 1: have created our own ecosystems based on our political beliefs. 172 00:09:32,480 --> 00:09:38,400 Speaker 1: I think bridging this divide and reducing polarization is the 173 00:09:38,440 --> 00:09:44,680 Speaker 1: biggest existential threat our country faces. So I mean, it's 174 00:09:44,920 --> 00:09:47,679 Speaker 1: great to be optimistic and think we can talk to 175 00:09:47,679 --> 00:09:50,960 Speaker 1: one another, but it's not happening on Capitol Hill. 176 00:09:51,600 --> 00:09:56,040 Speaker 2: Well, so, Chris Som what you've said is just righteous, 177 00:09:56,160 --> 00:09:59,480 Speaker 2: But to me. Courage isn't just standing by yourself giving 178 00:09:59,520 --> 00:10:02,480 Speaker 2: some speech, yelling at everyone. Courage is whether or not 179 00:10:02,559 --> 00:10:05,080 Speaker 2: you're willing to stand next to someone you don't always 180 00:10:05,080 --> 00:10:09,240 Speaker 2: agree with for the betterment of this country. And in 181 00:10:09,280 --> 00:10:13,280 Speaker 2: this book, I actually recount how things have happened, and 182 00:10:13,320 --> 00:10:15,800 Speaker 2: it's not pretty. And I am never going to pretend 183 00:10:15,840 --> 00:10:18,600 Speaker 2: that this book will stop all the anger in our politics. 184 00:10:18,880 --> 00:10:22,479 Speaker 2: But when you look at what we've been through, the pandemic, 185 00:10:22,679 --> 00:10:26,720 Speaker 2: the aftermath with the economy, through all of that, some 186 00:10:26,840 --> 00:10:31,000 Speaker 2: incredible things happened last year, many of them bipartisan. So 187 00:10:31,200 --> 00:10:35,080 Speaker 2: after years of working on infrastructure and why you know, 188 00:10:35,120 --> 00:10:39,080 Speaker 2: they have high speed broadband next of spewing volcanoes in 189 00:10:39,280 --> 00:10:43,440 Speaker 2: Iceland and we don't have it in Lanesboro, Minnesota, you 190 00:10:43,520 --> 00:10:46,480 Speaker 2: do start wondering, maybe we can do better. And so 191 00:10:46,600 --> 00:10:49,280 Speaker 2: this infrastructure bill that was a product of a number 192 00:10:49,320 --> 00:10:55,000 Speaker 2: of Senators actually working together, including Center Portman and Center 193 00:10:55,080 --> 00:10:59,400 Speaker 2: Cinema and so many others. We got that passed. Then 194 00:10:59,440 --> 00:11:02,280 Speaker 2: you fast forward the gun safety bill. As we know 195 00:11:02,400 --> 00:11:05,720 Speaker 2: from the events of this last months, from what we 196 00:11:05,800 --> 00:11:10,040 Speaker 2: saw happen in Kentucky to Nashville to what just happened 197 00:11:10,080 --> 00:11:13,720 Speaker 2: in Texas that our work is so far not done. 198 00:11:13,920 --> 00:11:16,040 Speaker 2: There is so much more has to be done. But 199 00:11:16,160 --> 00:11:19,120 Speaker 2: finally a group took on the NRI and did something 200 00:11:19,160 --> 00:11:23,880 Speaker 2: about background checks and something about mental health funding. Senator 201 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:26,880 Speaker 2: Cornyn and I, in the middle of the pandemic, joined 202 00:11:26,880 --> 00:11:30,040 Speaker 2: forces to save our stages, the biggest investment in the 203 00:11:30,160 --> 00:11:34,040 Speaker 2: arts in the history of America, and we enlisted everyone 204 00:11:34,120 --> 00:11:38,079 Speaker 2: from Pittbull to the Fargo Theater to help us get senators. 205 00:11:38,080 --> 00:11:41,120 Speaker 2: And before you knew it, we had Mitch McConnell on 206 00:11:41,160 --> 00:11:43,840 Speaker 2: the bill and Chuck Schumer on the bill and we 207 00:11:43,840 --> 00:11:47,439 Speaker 2: were able to move it. So those are legislative examples 208 00:11:47,520 --> 00:11:49,839 Speaker 2: of that. But time and time again in the book, 209 00:11:49,880 --> 00:11:54,000 Speaker 2: I recount how people Roy Blunt and I the insurrection 210 00:11:54,240 --> 00:11:56,000 Speaker 2: that was in our hands. 211 00:11:56,040 --> 00:11:56,960 Speaker 3: At the end of the day. 212 00:11:57,240 --> 00:11:58,960 Speaker 2: We were the ones that had to make that walk 213 00:11:59,000 --> 00:12:02,960 Speaker 2: with Vice President Pi over the broken glass, passed the 214 00:12:03,000 --> 00:12:06,640 Speaker 2: pillars filled with vulgarities, to finish the job and make 215 00:12:06,679 --> 00:12:10,120 Speaker 2: sure that democracy prevailed. We were the ones that had 216 00:12:10,160 --> 00:12:13,600 Speaker 2: to do the investigation of the security failures at the Capitol, 217 00:12:13,960 --> 00:12:17,240 Speaker 2: and then ultimately the ones who made sure when everyone 218 00:12:17,280 --> 00:12:19,839 Speaker 2: wanted to put the inauguration in a bunker, and many 219 00:12:19,920 --> 00:12:22,280 Speaker 2: did that. We stood up and said, no, we're going 220 00:12:22,320 --> 00:12:25,480 Speaker 2: to take back that platform that those insurrectionists tried to 221 00:12:25,480 --> 00:12:28,240 Speaker 2: strip down, and we're going to have people of both parties, 222 00:12:28,559 --> 00:12:32,280 Speaker 2: everyone from George Bush and Dan Quayle to Barack Obama 223 00:12:32,559 --> 00:12:35,600 Speaker 2: and Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton on that platform to 224 00:12:35,720 --> 00:12:40,200 Speaker 2: show that America peacefully passes on the torch of power. 225 00:12:40,880 --> 00:12:42,400 Speaker 3: That was bipartisan. 226 00:12:42,840 --> 00:12:45,480 Speaker 2: And so I don't think it's dead, and I certainly 227 00:12:45,480 --> 00:12:49,160 Speaker 2: think the American people don't think democracy is withering on 228 00:12:49,240 --> 00:12:51,640 Speaker 2: a vine when they turn out in record numbers to 229 00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:55,760 Speaker 2: defeat election deniers, which was a real I would say, 230 00:12:55,800 --> 00:12:59,120 Speaker 2: shot in the arm for those that believe in democracy, 231 00:12:59,200 --> 00:13:01,400 Speaker 2: and that just in the last election. 232 00:13:02,920 --> 00:13:05,640 Speaker 1: When we come back, you'll hear how the demanding life 233 00:13:05,720 --> 00:13:10,640 Speaker 1: of a US senator doesn't stop even after a difficult diagnosis. 234 00:13:20,960 --> 00:13:25,360 Speaker 1: We're back with Senator Amy Klobuchar. Isn't it shocking when 235 00:13:25,400 --> 00:13:28,440 Speaker 1: you hear that sixty percent of Republicans still believe the 236 00:13:28,480 --> 00:13:32,120 Speaker 1: election was not fair? I mean it, you know, I 237 00:13:32,200 --> 00:13:35,599 Speaker 1: hear you, and I think eighty seven percent of Americans 238 00:13:35,640 --> 00:13:39,520 Speaker 1: consider themselves centrists or moderate and you have these extreme 239 00:13:39,600 --> 00:13:44,200 Speaker 1: factions on either side. But Wow, that number is shocking 240 00:13:44,240 --> 00:13:48,520 Speaker 1: to me. And yes, ultimately the election deniers didn't win, 241 00:13:49,040 --> 00:13:54,000 Speaker 1: but that view is still so prominent out in the 242 00:13:54,120 --> 00:13:59,240 Speaker 1: United States of America despite all evidence to the contrary. 243 00:13:59,400 --> 00:14:02,920 Speaker 2: Well, Ronald Trump's shadow is still out there. He is 244 00:14:03,080 --> 00:14:06,280 Speaker 2: still a force to be reckoned with within their party. 245 00:14:06,679 --> 00:14:09,440 Speaker 2: But when you look again at the actual voting of 246 00:14:09,480 --> 00:14:14,680 Speaker 2: Americans in this last midterm, people were horrified Independence turned 247 00:14:14,679 --> 00:14:18,720 Speaker 2: out big time and actually voted democratic. I think Hakeem 248 00:14:18,800 --> 00:14:22,080 Speaker 2: Jeffries calls them team Normal, Team America. 249 00:14:22,120 --> 00:14:24,760 Speaker 1: And I want to get that t shirt Team Normal. 250 00:14:24,840 --> 00:14:28,080 Speaker 2: There you go, And they were making a sensible case 251 00:14:28,480 --> 00:14:29,520 Speaker 2: about our democracy. 252 00:14:29,640 --> 00:14:30,600 Speaker 3: So that's I mean. 253 00:14:30,640 --> 00:14:32,840 Speaker 2: I know there's polls all over the place and like, 254 00:14:32,960 --> 00:14:35,400 Speaker 2: including the one you just cited, but I just can't 255 00:14:35,440 --> 00:14:37,760 Speaker 2: help but looking at the actual elections, Yeah. 256 00:14:37,560 --> 00:14:38,920 Speaker 3: What happens in the end, America. 257 00:14:39,040 --> 00:14:43,440 Speaker 2: They may be understandably grumbling about a politician or not 258 00:14:43,640 --> 00:14:46,320 Speaker 2: like a certain position or what's been happening, But in 259 00:14:46,360 --> 00:14:49,040 Speaker 2: the end, when faced with do I want to have 260 00:14:49,080 --> 00:14:53,280 Speaker 2: someone that actually is out there fomenting an insurrection or 261 00:14:53,480 --> 00:14:57,280 Speaker 2: fomenting divides, or do I want someone that sees the hope, 262 00:14:57,640 --> 00:15:00,240 Speaker 2: that wants to get things done that wants to work 263 00:15:00,280 --> 00:15:02,920 Speaker 2: across the aisle, many of them tend to go to 264 00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:04,200 Speaker 2: that second candidate. 265 00:15:04,560 --> 00:15:08,160 Speaker 1: I can't help but ask you about gun violence, something 266 00:15:08,200 --> 00:15:11,520 Speaker 1: that I care deeply about, and I've been pretty outspoken 267 00:15:11,760 --> 00:15:15,840 Speaker 1: for years now, just because I couldn't understand after all 268 00:15:15,920 --> 00:15:20,240 Speaker 1: those first graders were mowed down in Sandy Hook and 269 00:15:20,320 --> 00:15:23,080 Speaker 1: the fact that I think at the time the vast 270 00:15:23,080 --> 00:15:28,200 Speaker 1: majority of Americans favored sensible gun laws, and seventy four 271 00:15:28,240 --> 00:15:33,120 Speaker 1: percent of the NRA actually favors sensible gun laws. Yeah, 272 00:15:33,240 --> 00:15:36,640 Speaker 1: so let's talk about the assault weapons ban, because I 273 00:15:36,720 --> 00:15:40,119 Speaker 1: know that Congress as it stands today, with the Republican 274 00:15:40,200 --> 00:15:44,360 Speaker 1: majority in the House, could never pass another assault weapons ban. 275 00:15:45,200 --> 00:15:50,000 Speaker 1: But for crying out loud, what is the argument against it? 276 00:15:50,560 --> 00:15:53,680 Speaker 2: Well, I am from a strong hunting state. It's the 277 00:15:53,720 --> 00:15:56,800 Speaker 2: way the quality of life in Minnesota. And I always 278 00:15:56,840 --> 00:16:00,040 Speaker 2: look at these proposals and say, would this hurt my 279 00:16:00,160 --> 00:16:03,880 Speaker 2: uncle Dick in his deer stand. My uncle Dick loved hunting, 280 00:16:04,280 --> 00:16:07,400 Speaker 2: And the answer is no, they don't need AR fifteen, 281 00:16:07,720 --> 00:16:09,960 Speaker 2: they don't need assault weapons. So then you go to 282 00:16:10,040 --> 00:16:14,120 Speaker 2: your next question, could it practically do anything if we 283 00:16:14,320 --> 00:16:16,800 Speaker 2: banned the purchase of these assault weapons. 284 00:16:16,960 --> 00:16:19,080 Speaker 3: And my answer is yes. And let me give you 285 00:16:19,120 --> 00:16:20,120 Speaker 3: some examples of this. 286 00:16:20,480 --> 00:16:24,560 Speaker 2: When you look at the two shootings in Uvalde, Texas 287 00:16:24,680 --> 00:16:27,680 Speaker 2: or in Buffalo, when you look at those, those were 288 00:16:27,680 --> 00:16:31,840 Speaker 2: both eighteen year olds who were waiting to turn eighteen 289 00:16:32,200 --> 00:16:35,520 Speaker 2: and then bought an assault weapon on the internet twenty 290 00:16:35,520 --> 00:16:38,040 Speaker 2: five years ago or how many years ago we had 291 00:16:38,040 --> 00:16:41,440 Speaker 2: that assault weapon nine and ninety four. People weren't doing 292 00:16:41,480 --> 00:16:45,600 Speaker 2: things like that. So even Center Manson has favored banning 293 00:16:45,680 --> 00:16:48,960 Speaker 2: the future purchase of assault weapon bans for eighteen to 294 00:16:49,000 --> 00:16:51,680 Speaker 2: twenty one year olds, you know, So you look at that, 295 00:16:52,160 --> 00:16:54,120 Speaker 2: So that's one thing you can do, and then after 296 00:16:54,160 --> 00:16:56,240 Speaker 2: you ban them, you could do all kinds of things 297 00:16:56,280 --> 00:16:59,720 Speaker 2: with gun buybacks. There's just no reason we have to 298 00:17:00,040 --> 00:17:03,640 Speaker 2: accept this as it is. So I just I go 299 00:17:03,800 --> 00:17:07,840 Speaker 2: back to the fact that political movements start with individuals 300 00:17:08,280 --> 00:17:11,920 Speaker 2: and what you've seen in Nashville with people pushing back 301 00:17:11,960 --> 00:17:17,640 Speaker 2: when those legislators were basically pushed out and expelled from 302 00:17:17,680 --> 00:17:21,960 Speaker 2: the legislature, and then their constituents said no way, and 303 00:17:22,000 --> 00:17:24,800 Speaker 2: it became a national issue. No one thought that in 304 00:17:24,840 --> 00:17:28,520 Speaker 2: the state of Kansas after the Dobbs decision came out, 305 00:17:28,560 --> 00:17:31,399 Speaker 2: and Roe V. Wade was pushed out that in this 306 00:17:31,560 --> 00:17:33,840 Speaker 2: middle of the prairie, that all these people would turn 307 00:17:33,880 --> 00:17:37,080 Speaker 2: out and say no, we want our reproductive rights in 308 00:17:37,680 --> 00:17:41,560 Speaker 2: more numbers than even had voted in the mid term before. 309 00:17:41,920 --> 00:17:46,520 Speaker 2: That's what happened in Kansas, so people turn out to vote. 310 00:17:47,119 --> 00:17:50,200 Speaker 1: Let me talk about another issue that I cared deeply about. 311 00:17:50,320 --> 00:17:53,439 Speaker 1: I wonder if you had the same experience. You and 312 00:17:53,520 --> 00:17:56,280 Speaker 1: I were both diagnosed with breast cancer. We were very 313 00:17:56,359 --> 00:18:01,199 Speaker 1: lucky because you were stage one. I was just I 314 00:18:01,320 --> 00:18:05,320 Speaker 1: was an apartment unit when I frustrated, and we both 315 00:18:05,560 --> 00:18:09,560 Speaker 1: have lumpectomies and radiation. And I just want to ask 316 00:18:09,680 --> 00:18:13,800 Speaker 1: you about our healthcare system, Senator, because I couldn't help 317 00:18:13,880 --> 00:18:17,760 Speaker 1: but think I am so lucky. I have the best healthcare. 318 00:18:18,160 --> 00:18:20,919 Speaker 1: I live in New York City, I have the best doctors. 319 00:18:21,200 --> 00:18:24,879 Speaker 1: I have good health insurance. And you know, when you 320 00:18:24,960 --> 00:18:28,719 Speaker 1: think that black women have a forty percent higher mortality 321 00:18:28,880 --> 00:18:32,920 Speaker 1: rate than white women from breast cancer, that so many 322 00:18:33,000 --> 00:18:37,680 Speaker 1: women can't afford or don't have access to preventative screening 323 00:18:37,800 --> 00:18:42,720 Speaker 1: for all kinds of cancer, is our healthcare system as 324 00:18:42,760 --> 00:18:44,280 Speaker 1: screwed up as I think it is? 325 00:18:45,400 --> 00:18:48,200 Speaker 2: I think it has a lot of problems that need 326 00:18:48,280 --> 00:18:52,800 Speaker 2: to be fixed, and some of this is pharmaceutical crisis, 327 00:18:53,119 --> 00:18:56,280 Speaker 2: which does affect everyone. So if you have less money 328 00:18:56,640 --> 00:18:58,879 Speaker 2: and not as good a plan, it affects you even more. 329 00:18:59,480 --> 00:19:03,239 Speaker 2: If you like someone in Minnesota, kid was on our 330 00:19:03,280 --> 00:19:06,880 Speaker 2: healthcare because the Affordable Care Act guaranteed that till twenty six. 331 00:19:07,320 --> 00:19:11,880 Speaker 2: He turns twenty six, he's diabetic, starts rationing his insulin, 332 00:19:11,920 --> 00:19:14,960 Speaker 2: which should have never been that expensive, and gets the 333 00:19:15,040 --> 00:19:18,240 Speaker 2: numbers wrong and died. That mom came out to Washington 334 00:19:18,280 --> 00:19:20,359 Speaker 2: as my guest to the State of the Union to 335 00:19:20,440 --> 00:19:21,240 Speaker 2: make that point. 336 00:19:21,440 --> 00:19:22,359 Speaker 3: So that's part of it. 337 00:19:22,440 --> 00:19:25,879 Speaker 2: And you have seen major advancements on this in terms 338 00:19:25,880 --> 00:19:29,400 Speaker 2: of finally pushing medicare and negotiation because the prices were 339 00:19:29,400 --> 00:19:32,520 Speaker 2: locked in double what they are in so many countries. 340 00:19:32,920 --> 00:19:35,960 Speaker 2: We have the most expensive drugs of any industrialized nation, 341 00:19:36,160 --> 00:19:38,880 Speaker 2: yet our taxpayers are the ones that funded so much 342 00:19:38,920 --> 00:19:41,080 Speaker 2: of the research. So I would start with that it's 343 00:19:41,080 --> 00:19:44,080 Speaker 2: a total outrage, and that insurance company. 344 00:19:43,960 --> 00:19:45,280 Speaker 3: That's what I was going to get to next. 345 00:19:45,720 --> 00:19:49,320 Speaker 2: So we've finally done something on emergency medical bills so 346 00:19:49,359 --> 00:19:51,640 Speaker 2: they can't just shock you in their amounts that there's 347 00:19:52,000 --> 00:19:54,600 Speaker 2: limits on it, but there is more we should be 348 00:19:54,680 --> 00:19:59,000 Speaker 2: doing in terms of transparency about how much things really cost, 349 00:19:59,520 --> 00:20:04,840 Speaker 2: and looking at expanding medicare to go down to possibly 350 00:20:04,880 --> 00:20:08,720 Speaker 2: fifty five. Those kinds of things would be a good step. 351 00:20:09,160 --> 00:20:11,679 Speaker 2: And that's one of the bills that I favor. 352 00:20:12,080 --> 00:20:14,879 Speaker 1: Did the Affordable Care Act help? 353 00:20:15,359 --> 00:20:15,639 Speaker 3: Yes? 354 00:20:16,200 --> 00:20:19,480 Speaker 1: And I don't know, it just doesn't feel it feels 355 00:20:19,480 --> 00:20:21,320 Speaker 1: like we've gone backwards. 356 00:20:21,720 --> 00:20:24,720 Speaker 2: Well, the Affordable Care Act has made a major difference 357 00:20:24,720 --> 00:20:27,399 Speaker 2: for people. Millions and millions and millions and more people 358 00:20:27,400 --> 00:20:30,639 Speaker 2: got healthcare. There's absolutely no doubt about it. And if 359 00:20:30,640 --> 00:20:34,920 Speaker 2: we're talking about breast cancer, millions of women now had 360 00:20:34,960 --> 00:20:38,520 Speaker 2: access to that kind of screening that wasn't available to 361 00:20:38,600 --> 00:20:42,960 Speaker 2: them before. That's a big, big deal. Trying to focus 362 00:20:43,080 --> 00:20:46,320 Speaker 2: and use our knowledge of medicine to get those people 363 00:20:46,560 --> 00:20:49,880 Speaker 2: tested more so that they have a chance to catch 364 00:20:49,920 --> 00:20:52,800 Speaker 2: it early, which we all know catching it early is 365 00:20:52,840 --> 00:20:54,879 Speaker 2: a key part of this. And yes, in my case, 366 00:20:55,720 --> 00:21:00,560 Speaker 2: like yours, during the pandemic, I maybe wasn't quite as 367 00:21:00,680 --> 00:21:02,800 Speaker 2: up to date on everything I was supposed to do, 368 00:21:02,920 --> 00:21:05,600 Speaker 2: and I had waited too long. And when they first 369 00:21:05,600 --> 00:21:09,000 Speaker 2: told me, oh, we just did this mammogram and it 370 00:21:09,080 --> 00:21:12,560 Speaker 2: looks like there's some problems here. I said, oh, I'm 371 00:21:12,560 --> 00:21:14,520 Speaker 2: sure it's fine. I promise you need to get this 372 00:21:14,640 --> 00:21:17,080 Speaker 2: checked again right away, right away. And I'm like, yeah, 373 00:21:17,119 --> 00:21:20,040 Speaker 2: but and I still remember the feeling as I took 374 00:21:20,080 --> 00:21:23,280 Speaker 2: off that hospital gown, put on my suit, put my 375 00:21:23,320 --> 00:21:26,400 Speaker 2: lipstick on, and said, I am ready to go out 376 00:21:26,440 --> 00:21:28,320 Speaker 2: and do my press conference on vaccines. 377 00:21:28,440 --> 00:21:30,480 Speaker 3: That's what I did. I just go, I promise. 378 00:21:30,840 --> 00:21:33,760 Speaker 2: Well, Luckily a week later I did go back, and 379 00:21:33,800 --> 00:21:35,600 Speaker 2: that was when I found out that I had this 380 00:21:35,680 --> 00:21:38,040 Speaker 2: stage one A cancer and it got the call in 381 00:21:38,280 --> 00:21:41,600 Speaker 2: Washington and had to go into the Senate Chamber and vote. 382 00:21:41,680 --> 00:21:45,280 Speaker 2: And I think then the experience and your experience gets 383 00:21:45,280 --> 00:21:48,439 Speaker 2: to be like a lot of people's experiences putting that 384 00:21:48,560 --> 00:21:51,920 Speaker 2: story out there as I did in finding Out, as 385 00:21:51,960 --> 00:21:54,719 Speaker 2: I discuss in the book, that other people then go 386 00:21:54,760 --> 00:21:57,720 Speaker 2: in and get their own exams, which right they're guaranteed 387 00:21:57,840 --> 00:22:02,000 Speaker 2: with the Affordable Care Act, by the way. That's the 388 00:22:02,200 --> 00:22:06,639 Speaker 2: joy of actually getting a story out that's hard and 389 00:22:06,760 --> 00:22:11,400 Speaker 2: not easy, and then other people listen, it resonates and 390 00:22:11,480 --> 00:22:14,160 Speaker 2: they take care of themselves. That's a pretty good thing 391 00:22:14,240 --> 00:22:18,120 Speaker 2: about using what is a really bad experience for good, 392 00:22:18,480 --> 00:22:21,000 Speaker 2: and no one knows that better than you, Katie Kuric. 393 00:22:22,080 --> 00:22:25,399 Speaker 1: You know, I think everyone has to shout it from 394 00:22:25,440 --> 00:22:29,960 Speaker 1: the mountaintops because too few people are still getting screened 395 00:22:30,640 --> 00:22:34,680 Speaker 1: for so many diseases that it really is the difference 396 00:22:34,720 --> 00:22:39,000 Speaker 1: between life and death if these cancers are detected early. 397 00:22:39,600 --> 00:22:43,080 Speaker 1: And so thank you for being so public about your situation. 398 00:22:43,240 --> 00:22:45,280 Speaker 1: It makes a huge difference. 399 00:22:45,440 --> 00:22:48,200 Speaker 2: Yes, And I tried to do it as horrible as 400 00:22:48,280 --> 00:22:51,919 Speaker 2: the whole thing is, with some humor of the situation 401 00:22:52,119 --> 00:22:54,800 Speaker 2: as well, that you can get through it. Including one 402 00:22:54,880 --> 00:22:57,440 Speaker 2: of my best stories was I'm waiting to get what 403 00:22:57,480 --> 00:22:59,920 Speaker 2: I thought was a lumpact to me and I'm laying 404 00:23:00,200 --> 00:23:02,800 Speaker 2: I've got this target literally drawn on my breast. I'm 405 00:23:02,800 --> 00:23:06,720 Speaker 2: wearing those you know, hospital thing over me. And this 406 00:23:06,760 --> 00:23:10,120 Speaker 2: woman comes over and says, hey, Senator. She goes, could 407 00:23:10,160 --> 00:23:13,840 Speaker 2: I talk to you about Burma. There's some really bad 408 00:23:13,880 --> 00:23:16,200 Speaker 2: things happening, and I happen to know a lot about it, 409 00:23:16,560 --> 00:23:18,840 Speaker 2: and I go, I go, yes, I know. She goes, yeah, 410 00:23:18,880 --> 00:23:22,000 Speaker 2: but it's getting worse here and there's a lot of refugees. 411 00:23:21,640 --> 00:23:24,800 Speaker 3: Ten ho minutes, okay, on and on, but I go, look. 412 00:23:24,800 --> 00:23:26,240 Speaker 2: I want to help you but I don't on my 413 00:23:26,280 --> 00:23:29,920 Speaker 2: phone because I'm going into the surgery and they've taken away. 414 00:23:30,320 --> 00:23:32,560 Speaker 2: But I do want to help you. And so now 415 00:23:32,560 --> 00:23:35,600 Speaker 2: they're wheeling me away and they put the anesthesian and I. 416 00:23:35,600 --> 00:23:38,080 Speaker 3: Know I'm talking about all though she's now left. 417 00:23:38,240 --> 00:23:40,719 Speaker 2: But most people like count sleep. They say, think of 418 00:23:40,760 --> 00:23:43,440 Speaker 2: peaceful things. All I'm saying over and over in my head, 419 00:23:43,480 --> 00:23:45,679 Speaker 2: so I won't to forget is don't forget Burma. 420 00:23:45,800 --> 00:23:47,520 Speaker 3: Don't forget Burma. Don't forget Burma. 421 00:23:47,680 --> 00:23:50,320 Speaker 2: Then I wake up hours later and my husband's there 422 00:23:50,880 --> 00:23:53,080 Speaker 2: and I look at him and he goes the first 423 00:23:53,080 --> 00:23:55,560 Speaker 2: thing I do say, was it a lumpectomy or mess sectomy? 424 00:23:55,600 --> 00:23:58,639 Speaker 2: Because I've given them permission to do that, and you 425 00:23:58,680 --> 00:24:00,639 Speaker 2: don't know what's going to happen. He goes to his 426 00:24:00,680 --> 00:24:03,760 Speaker 2: a lumpectomy, and I'm feeling kind of sick for the anesthesia. 427 00:24:03,760 --> 00:24:07,359 Speaker 2: I go, okay, good, Then could you give me my phone? 428 00:24:07,840 --> 00:24:11,520 Speaker 2: I got to write the stuff about Burma. And then 429 00:24:11,560 --> 00:24:15,719 Speaker 2: he said, well, I guess you're okay. Then, oh, when 430 00:24:15,760 --> 00:24:17,120 Speaker 2: you get the call, and then you got to walk 431 00:24:17,160 --> 00:24:19,560 Speaker 2: into the Senate to all those people in that room 432 00:24:19,920 --> 00:24:21,760 Speaker 2: and they're just like telling you way why aren't you 433 00:24:21,840 --> 00:24:23,520 Speaker 2: on this bill? Well, you can't do that. You can't 434 00:24:23,520 --> 00:24:23,840 Speaker 2: do that. 435 00:24:24,280 --> 00:24:26,760 Speaker 1: It does kind of give you a new perspectives on 436 00:24:26,840 --> 00:24:27,879 Speaker 1: the things matter. 437 00:24:27,960 --> 00:24:30,040 Speaker 2: And I can't tell any of these people about this 438 00:24:30,119 --> 00:24:32,240 Speaker 2: because one of them will tell the press and I'll 439 00:24:32,240 --> 00:24:33,159 Speaker 2: have no privacy. 440 00:24:33,440 --> 00:24:34,040 Speaker 3: I've got to wait. 441 00:24:34,080 --> 00:24:36,600 Speaker 2: Tell the story is mine, right, and I can tell 442 00:24:36,640 --> 00:24:39,760 Speaker 2: it myself, which I did. And so that's another weird 443 00:24:39,800 --> 00:24:42,520 Speaker 2: thing to be in the public light as you are, 444 00:24:42,920 --> 00:24:44,879 Speaker 2: and then trying to figure out how you're going to 445 00:24:44,920 --> 00:24:47,480 Speaker 2: be able to have your own private thing with your family, 446 00:24:47,840 --> 00:24:50,359 Speaker 2: which I felt like, you know, we handled, we know 447 00:24:50,520 --> 00:24:51,959 Speaker 2: pretty well. 448 00:24:52,200 --> 00:24:55,640 Speaker 1: When we come back, Amy Klobuchar reveals what you're not 449 00:24:55,720 --> 00:24:59,520 Speaker 1: supposed to sneak into a presidential debate, even though a 450 00:24:59,560 --> 00:25:05,399 Speaker 1: lot of then do. That's right after this. If you 451 00:25:05,440 --> 00:25:07,879 Speaker 1: want to get smarter every morning with a breakdown of 452 00:25:07,920 --> 00:25:11,159 Speaker 1: the news and fascinating takes on health and wellness and 453 00:25:11,200 --> 00:25:14,399 Speaker 1: pop culture, sign up for our daily newsletter, Wake Up 454 00:25:14,480 --> 00:25:24,119 Speaker 1: Call by going to Katiecuric dot com. We're back with 455 00:25:24,200 --> 00:25:27,800 Speaker 1: Senator Amy Klobachar. You know I'm so interested in policy. 456 00:25:27,840 --> 00:25:30,560 Speaker 1: I could talk to you about policy all day long. Senator, 457 00:25:30,960 --> 00:25:34,480 Speaker 1: Can we just touch on what's going on with immigration 458 00:25:34,720 --> 00:25:38,480 Speaker 1: real quickly only because it's so time right now tell. 459 00:25:38,359 --> 00:25:40,879 Speaker 2: Us with this change in policy that it had been 460 00:25:40,920 --> 00:25:44,480 Speaker 2: put in place because of the pandemic Title Title forty two. 461 00:25:44,520 --> 00:25:48,359 Speaker 2: We're now through the pandemic. So that changes to solutions here. 462 00:25:49,040 --> 00:25:52,000 Speaker 2: One of them is to process people not on the 463 00:25:52,040 --> 00:25:55,760 Speaker 2: border but back in places like Guatemala and Honduras where 464 00:25:55,760 --> 00:25:59,840 Speaker 2: so many of these asylum seekers in El Salvador and 465 00:26:00,040 --> 00:26:02,119 Speaker 2: other places are coming from. 466 00:26:02,160 --> 00:26:02,800 Speaker 3: To do that. 467 00:26:03,400 --> 00:26:07,680 Speaker 2: The other one is to have immigration reform. And I 468 00:26:07,720 --> 00:26:11,080 Speaker 2: cannot tell you how much we need this because in 469 00:26:11,119 --> 00:26:14,119 Speaker 2: the Northern States we actually are down to in some 470 00:26:14,240 --> 00:26:18,200 Speaker 2: cases two three percent unemployment. We don't have enough ag workers, 471 00:26:18,400 --> 00:26:21,280 Speaker 2: we don't have enough tourism people, we don't have enough 472 00:26:21,320 --> 00:26:24,680 Speaker 2: people in healthcare. There's in especially in some of these 473 00:26:24,760 --> 00:26:29,159 Speaker 2: rural states. Its nursing homes are closing down. So how 474 00:26:29,160 --> 00:26:31,399 Speaker 2: do you do that legally to make this work and 475 00:26:31,440 --> 00:26:33,800 Speaker 2: be able to vet people. You do that with a 476 00:26:33,880 --> 00:26:37,760 Speaker 2: more robust legal immigration system, so you're letting people in 477 00:26:37,920 --> 00:26:42,800 Speaker 2: with vetting more straightforwardly, so you don't have situations like 478 00:26:42,840 --> 00:26:45,600 Speaker 2: we have where we bring people in and it works 479 00:26:45,720 --> 00:26:49,879 Speaker 2: with our corn growers or planting or do producers. We 480 00:26:49,920 --> 00:26:51,840 Speaker 2: have a ton of people come in America, including my 481 00:26:51,920 --> 00:26:54,600 Speaker 2: state like that. Well right now a number of them 482 00:26:55,000 --> 00:26:57,480 Speaker 2: are just deciding to go work in Canada. Why we 483 00:26:57,520 --> 00:26:59,760 Speaker 2: have a rule in place that their spouse can oh 484 00:26:59,800 --> 00:27:02,679 Speaker 2: so work for five years when they are here on 485 00:27:02,800 --> 00:27:05,919 Speaker 2: work permits, they have been vetted. But we make it 486 00:27:06,000 --> 00:27:10,040 Speaker 2: so hard and so difficult that it's easier to go 487 00:27:10,080 --> 00:27:12,919 Speaker 2: work in other countries. We need to make the legal 488 00:27:12,960 --> 00:27:15,320 Speaker 2: part of this work better and then we can put 489 00:27:15,359 --> 00:27:18,600 Speaker 2: more resources at the border. But to think we're just 490 00:27:18,680 --> 00:27:22,720 Speaker 2: going to close off our country and not bring in 491 00:27:23,280 --> 00:27:27,000 Speaker 2: immigrants legally, our country was built on immigrants. Immigrants don't 492 00:27:27,000 --> 00:27:28,760 Speaker 2: diminish America. They are America. 493 00:27:28,800 --> 00:27:34,840 Speaker 1: And yet immigration is so weaponized, particularly by the far 494 00:27:34,960 --> 00:27:39,960 Speaker 1: right in this country, that it seems unlikely that there 495 00:27:40,040 --> 00:27:43,520 Speaker 1: will be immigration reform. Do you think it's going to happen. 496 00:27:43,600 --> 00:27:45,399 Speaker 2: I think something is going to have to happen because 497 00:27:45,440 --> 00:27:49,680 Speaker 2: of this weird dual problem. You've got problems at the border, 498 00:27:49,880 --> 00:27:52,919 Speaker 2: but you also have problems of not having enough legal immigration. 499 00:27:53,400 --> 00:27:57,520 Speaker 2: Grover Norquist favored immigration reform because it brought the debt 500 00:27:57,560 --> 00:27:59,520 Speaker 2: down in ten years by over one hundred and fifty 501 00:27:59,520 --> 00:28:02,879 Speaker 2: billion dollar because people are finally paying into taxes and 502 00:28:02,960 --> 00:28:05,600 Speaker 2: things instead of working in the shadows. So some of 503 00:28:05,640 --> 00:28:08,639 Speaker 2: this money can be used to figure out what is 504 00:28:08,720 --> 00:28:12,080 Speaker 2: real and what's not when processing these cases. And one 505 00:28:12,080 --> 00:28:14,919 Speaker 2: of the things that I note in the book is 506 00:28:15,000 --> 00:28:18,720 Speaker 2: just that some of these long term issues have just festered, 507 00:28:18,760 --> 00:28:21,080 Speaker 2: but in this book I actually have solutions to some 508 00:28:21,160 --> 00:28:24,119 Speaker 2: of this, in addition to some very fun stories about 509 00:28:24,119 --> 00:28:25,560 Speaker 2: the presidential debates. 510 00:28:25,640 --> 00:28:27,840 Speaker 3: Just as we enter a presidential DIBt. 511 00:28:28,200 --> 00:28:31,400 Speaker 1: Actually, that's great segue because you talk a lot about 512 00:28:31,400 --> 00:28:35,080 Speaker 1: your twenty twenty presidential bid, which fittingly is the senior 513 00:28:35,119 --> 00:28:38,120 Speaker 1: Senator of Minnesota was launched in the middle of a blizzard. 514 00:28:38,360 --> 00:28:39,680 Speaker 1: As listened. Because it's funny. 515 00:28:40,240 --> 00:28:44,520 Speaker 2: Now, we don't let a little snow stop us. We 516 00:28:44,560 --> 00:28:48,880 Speaker 2: don't let a little cold stops like, are you guys 517 00:28:48,920 --> 00:28:49,640 Speaker 2: even cold? 518 00:28:51,200 --> 00:28:52,360 Speaker 1: Tell the troth. 519 00:28:54,600 --> 00:28:58,760 Speaker 2: Now, when I said that elected leaders should go not 520 00:28:59,160 --> 00:29:05,480 Speaker 2: just where it's comfortable, but also where it's uncomfortable, this 521 00:29:05,560 --> 00:29:10,600 Speaker 2: is what I meant as the first woman elected to 522 00:29:10,640 --> 00:29:16,280 Speaker 2: the United States Senate from the state of Minnesota to 523 00:29:16,880 --> 00:29:26,200 Speaker 2: announce my canadacy for President of United State. Memories Memories 524 00:29:26,240 --> 00:29:30,680 Speaker 2: of hoping that no one would freeze. Memories of we 525 00:29:30,720 --> 00:29:33,320 Speaker 2: had to start bonfires so that there would be like, 526 00:29:33,400 --> 00:29:35,520 Speaker 2: literally no one freezing. It was supposed to be cold, 527 00:29:35,600 --> 00:29:38,040 Speaker 2: but it wasn't supposed to snow. And while it was 528 00:29:38,080 --> 00:29:42,320 Speaker 2: this beautiful backdrop, there were people that were literally encrusted 529 00:29:42,360 --> 00:29:45,880 Speaker 2: in snow. Then out in the crowd was my which 530 00:29:45,920 --> 00:29:49,920 Speaker 2: I recount in the book, the woman who has cut 531 00:29:50,000 --> 00:29:53,360 Speaker 2: and colored my hair for decades named b and she'd 532 00:29:53,440 --> 00:29:56,000 Speaker 2: come out early and she was like, you know, she'd 533 00:29:56,520 --> 00:29:58,960 Speaker 2: done my hair right before I went out there, and 534 00:29:59,360 --> 00:30:01,920 Speaker 2: she was later told me she was out there praying, 535 00:30:02,040 --> 00:30:03,920 Speaker 2: and I said, oh, Bie, you didn't have to go 536 00:30:03,960 --> 00:30:05,840 Speaker 2: out there was so nice of being and you know, 537 00:30:05,880 --> 00:30:08,040 Speaker 2: I'm going to be fine. We've got this great team. 538 00:30:08,840 --> 00:30:11,560 Speaker 2: She goes, no, no, it was that bad intersection of 539 00:30:11,600 --> 00:30:15,240 Speaker 2: a blizzard and a haircut, and she goes, you didn't notice, 540 00:30:15,280 --> 00:30:17,760 Speaker 2: but I saw some gray coming in on your part, 541 00:30:18,040 --> 00:30:19,720 Speaker 2: and I took a bunch of brown stuff and I 542 00:30:19,760 --> 00:30:22,040 Speaker 2: sprayed it on there. And I was sitting out in 543 00:30:22,080 --> 00:30:25,600 Speaker 2: the crowd, thinking, oh my god, it's going to start 544 00:30:25,680 --> 00:30:30,280 Speaker 2: dribbling down her face, which yes, I note him in 545 00:30:30,320 --> 00:30:33,200 Speaker 2: a footnote. I note that he needed to be, but 546 00:30:33,280 --> 00:30:35,160 Speaker 2: he needed a lot more than that because he wasn't 547 00:30:35,160 --> 00:30:37,680 Speaker 2: even in a blizzard like I was. So you know, 548 00:30:37,840 --> 00:30:41,360 Speaker 2: that never happened, but it was truly a joyous thing, 549 00:30:41,600 --> 00:30:45,040 Speaker 2: and our odds were slim, but it was important for 550 00:30:45,120 --> 00:30:47,560 Speaker 2: me to make the case. When I look back at 551 00:30:47,560 --> 00:30:50,400 Speaker 2: that speech, it meets the test of time. I was 552 00:30:50,440 --> 00:30:54,240 Speaker 2: talking about workforce, I was talking about immigration reform. I 553 00:30:54,400 --> 00:30:58,320 Speaker 2: was focused on technology, which many of my opponents were 554 00:30:58,320 --> 00:31:00,440 Speaker 2: not talking about the need to put rules of the 555 00:31:00,520 --> 00:31:03,960 Speaker 2: road in place when it comes to tech companies. And 556 00:31:04,280 --> 00:31:08,160 Speaker 2: it was about bringing our country together, crossing the river 557 00:31:08,200 --> 00:31:11,760 Speaker 2: of our divides, and the metaphor of the Mississippi River 558 00:31:12,400 --> 00:31:15,400 Speaker 2: running through our country all the way from Minnesota to 559 00:31:15,640 --> 00:31:20,200 Speaker 2: Louisiana to New Orleans, the place of our resilience in 560 00:31:20,240 --> 00:31:22,120 Speaker 2: that our country was resilient. 561 00:31:22,720 --> 00:31:24,000 Speaker 3: So that was the theme of it. 562 00:31:24,080 --> 00:31:27,080 Speaker 2: And we went from there to town halls in Iowa 563 00:31:27,280 --> 00:31:33,280 Speaker 2: and casino basements in Nevada and debates and unbelievable events 564 00:31:33,320 --> 00:31:36,000 Speaker 2: all over the country. And one of the things that 565 00:31:36,040 --> 00:31:38,280 Speaker 2: can happen when you're running for president, especially in a 566 00:31:38,320 --> 00:31:42,240 Speaker 2: crowded primary, you can start to hate. 567 00:31:41,960 --> 00:31:44,560 Speaker 3: The people you're running against. Or like them, and I 568 00:31:44,640 --> 00:31:46,120 Speaker 3: actually grew to like them more. 569 00:31:46,560 --> 00:31:49,200 Speaker 2: I loved the fact that in one night in Miami, 570 00:31:49,320 --> 00:31:53,160 Speaker 2: we doubled the number of women ever on either party's 571 00:31:53,400 --> 00:31:56,600 Speaker 2: presidential debate stage in one night, and we showed the 572 00:31:56,640 --> 00:31:59,840 Speaker 2: world that women who were running from Elizabeth to kom 573 00:32:00,240 --> 00:32:04,240 Speaker 2: to me Kearston, that the women look different, they wore 574 00:32:04,280 --> 00:32:07,040 Speaker 2: different clothes, they came from different parts of the country, 575 00:32:07,080 --> 00:32:09,520 Speaker 2: and here's what's most important, they had different views and 576 00:32:09,600 --> 00:32:12,160 Speaker 2: they could debate each other. So that was a cool 577 00:32:12,200 --> 00:32:15,640 Speaker 2: thing on its own, But my fondest memories were those 578 00:32:15,680 --> 00:32:19,720 Speaker 2: debate stages where just the craziest things happened. The best 579 00:32:19,760 --> 00:32:23,360 Speaker 2: of all was in la when I had Bernie was 580 00:32:23,480 --> 00:32:27,160 Speaker 2: to my right, which alone was funny. People are scribbling 581 00:32:27,200 --> 00:32:30,200 Speaker 2: down their notes and I'm doing it all like you're 582 00:32:30,200 --> 00:32:34,080 Speaker 2: writing what you're going to say, Statistics, you want to use, lines, 583 00:32:34,120 --> 00:32:36,920 Speaker 2: you want to use. My pen just explodes, and it's 584 00:32:36,960 --> 00:32:39,880 Speaker 2: the one they've given us. I turned to Bernie elbowm 585 00:32:39,880 --> 00:32:42,320 Speaker 2: I'm like, I need a pen. Now he's using his, 586 00:32:42,800 --> 00:32:44,960 Speaker 2: and he takes his pen out. We were never supposed 587 00:32:44,960 --> 00:32:46,840 Speaker 2: to bring in pens, but this is the day I 588 00:32:46,840 --> 00:32:49,120 Speaker 2: realized all the men could just hide these pens in 589 00:32:49,160 --> 00:32:52,480 Speaker 2: their pockets. So he takes out one for himself, gives 590 00:32:52,480 --> 00:32:55,600 Speaker 2: me his debate pen. I start using the same one 591 00:32:55,680 --> 00:32:58,840 Speaker 2: and it breaks down too. Then I turned to Styre 592 00:32:58,960 --> 00:33:02,560 Speaker 2: on my left. He luckily has one his own pen, 593 00:33:02,840 --> 00:33:05,160 Speaker 2: gives me. I'm finally able to write the notes, and 594 00:33:05,200 --> 00:33:06,960 Speaker 2: I just want to thank those guys because that debate 595 00:33:07,040 --> 00:33:08,120 Speaker 2: was one of my best ones. 596 00:33:08,240 --> 00:33:10,960 Speaker 1: I can't let you go without turning to twenty twenty 597 00:33:10,960 --> 00:33:14,640 Speaker 1: four briefly. Sure, there has been and this is not 598 00:33:14,720 --> 00:33:18,480 Speaker 1: a surprise question, Senator, a lot of concern about Joe 599 00:33:18,560 --> 00:33:23,640 Speaker 1: Biden's age, and do you think that's a legitimate concern. 600 00:33:24,760 --> 00:33:28,600 Speaker 2: I think what the legitimate issue is who is going 601 00:33:28,640 --> 00:33:32,960 Speaker 2: to continue moving this country forward? And Joe Biden has 602 00:33:33,040 --> 00:33:36,280 Speaker 2: shown that his experience has been a good thing, that 603 00:33:36,680 --> 00:33:39,680 Speaker 2: the people he's put in have been fantastic in these 604 00:33:40,040 --> 00:33:43,280 Speaker 2: cabinet positions, and that he's moved us out of this pandemic. 605 00:33:43,720 --> 00:33:46,880 Speaker 2: He has brought dignity back into the White House. And 606 00:33:46,920 --> 00:33:49,840 Speaker 2: I just think in the end, when independence and modern 607 00:33:49,880 --> 00:33:52,959 Speaker 2: Republicans look at this, and as you look at Jnald 608 00:33:53,000 --> 00:33:56,240 Speaker 2: Trump's support that's growing with the magabase of their party. 609 00:33:56,480 --> 00:33:57,960 Speaker 2: They're going to look at this and say, no, we 610 00:33:58,000 --> 00:34:00,640 Speaker 2: don't want to go back to that chaos and hate 611 00:34:01,040 --> 00:34:05,200 Speaker 2: and divisiveness. And that's how I that's why I'm supporting Joe, 612 00:34:06,200 --> 00:34:08,640 Speaker 2: and that's why I think he will win this race. 613 00:34:08,760 --> 00:34:12,800 Speaker 1: Can the country survive another Biden Trump election? 614 00:34:13,840 --> 00:34:17,680 Speaker 2: Honestly, country survived a lot, and we still don't know 615 00:34:17,719 --> 00:34:20,920 Speaker 2: who the candidate is going to be on the other side. 616 00:34:21,000 --> 00:34:25,960 Speaker 2: But you believe, don't you that it's probably going to 617 00:34:25,960 --> 00:34:28,920 Speaker 2: be Donald Trump right now? If you looked at the 618 00:34:29,040 --> 00:34:32,319 Speaker 2: pure numbers, you'd believe that. But there are going to 619 00:34:32,320 --> 00:34:34,160 Speaker 2: be a lot of things. As I learned in my 620 00:34:34,920 --> 00:34:38,839 Speaker 2: primary campaign, there's a lot of twists and turns that 621 00:34:38,880 --> 00:34:41,799 Speaker 2: the road takes on the way there. There really are, 622 00:34:42,000 --> 00:34:44,920 Speaker 2: And so many of our candidates who people thought were 623 00:34:44,960 --> 00:34:48,160 Speaker 2: the front runner in other elections on both sides of 624 00:34:48,200 --> 00:34:51,040 Speaker 2: the aisle, ended up not being the front runner in 625 00:34:51,080 --> 00:34:53,520 Speaker 2: the end. So I don't think that's a given at all. 626 00:34:53,920 --> 00:34:56,800 Speaker 2: Would you ever run for president again? I am focused 627 00:34:56,840 --> 00:35:00,480 Speaker 2: on supporting this president and my work in the send It, 628 00:35:00,520 --> 00:35:03,160 Speaker 2: And as you have pointed out by many of your questions, 629 00:35:03,600 --> 00:35:05,399 Speaker 2: we have a lot on our plate and a lot 630 00:35:05,440 --> 00:35:08,560 Speaker 2: to do, Amy Klovichar, it's so great to talk to you. 631 00:35:08,560 --> 00:35:12,480 Speaker 2: Your book is called The Joy of Politics, and it's fun. 632 00:35:12,760 --> 00:35:18,279 Speaker 2: It's fun and joyful surviving cancer, a campaign, a pandemic, 633 00:35:18,560 --> 00:35:24,160 Speaker 2: an insurrection, and life's other unexpected curveballs, and boy, there 634 00:35:24,200 --> 00:35:27,719 Speaker 2: have been plenty of them for you and for the country. 635 00:35:27,960 --> 00:35:30,279 Speaker 2: Thank you, Katie, Thanks Ane, It's been great to be 636 00:35:30,680 --> 00:35:31,520 Speaker 2: Can I call you Amy? 637 00:35:31,600 --> 00:35:34,120 Speaker 3: Yes, that's what most of my constituents call me. 638 00:35:37,080 --> 00:35:40,000 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening everyone. If you have a question for me, 639 00:35:40,160 --> 00:35:43,080 Speaker 1: or want to share your thoughts about how you navigate 640 00:35:43,120 --> 00:35:46,240 Speaker 1: this crazy world reach out. You can leave a short 641 00:35:46,320 --> 00:35:49,680 Speaker 1: message at six oh nine five point two five to 642 00:35:49,800 --> 00:35:52,600 Speaker 1: five oh five, or you can send me a DM 643 00:35:52,640 --> 00:35:56,160 Speaker 1: on Instagram. I would love to hear from you. Next 644 00:35:56,239 --> 00:35:59,920 Speaker 1: Question is a production of iHeartMedia and Katie Couric Media. 645 00:36:00,400 --> 00:36:04,040 Speaker 1: The executive producers are Meet, Katie Couric and Courtney Ltz. 646 00:36:04,320 --> 00:36:09,080 Speaker 1: Our supervising producer is Marcy Thompson. Our producers are Adrianna 647 00:36:09,120 --> 00:36:13,040 Speaker 1: Fazzio and Catherine Law. Our audio engineer is Matt Russell, 648 00:36:13,080 --> 00:36:16,600 Speaker 1: who also composed our theme music. For more information about 649 00:36:16,600 --> 00:36:19,600 Speaker 1: today's episode, or to sign up for my newsletter, wake 650 00:36:19,680 --> 00:36:22,520 Speaker 1: Up Call, go to the description in the podcast app, 651 00:36:22,680 --> 00:36:25,760 Speaker 1: or visit us at Katiecuric dot com. You can also 652 00:36:25,840 --> 00:36:29,040 Speaker 1: find me on Instagram and all my social media channels. 653 00:36:29,440 --> 00:36:34,719 Speaker 1: For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, 654 00:36:35,000 --> 00:36:37,200 Speaker 1: or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.