1 00:00:11,720 --> 00:00:14,600 Speaker 1: Good morning, peeps, and welcome to wok F Daily with 2 00:00:14,680 --> 00:00:18,840 Speaker 1: me your girl, Danielle Moody. Pre recording from the Home Bunker. 3 00:00:19,800 --> 00:00:22,000 Speaker 2: Folks. You know, I want to start off today. 4 00:00:22,120 --> 00:00:27,000 Speaker 1: Today is the last pre recorded conversation that I had 5 00:00:27,040 --> 00:00:30,880 Speaker 1: with our in house doctor, doctor Jonathan Metzel, and I 6 00:00:30,960 --> 00:00:33,080 Speaker 1: just want to say, which I do at the top 7 00:00:33,240 --> 00:00:37,239 Speaker 1: of our conversation, is just how grateful I am for 8 00:00:37,360 --> 00:00:41,879 Speaker 1: Jonathan showing up each week, you know, to join me 9 00:00:42,159 --> 00:00:47,199 Speaker 1: in conversation, to have some really tough conversations, but nonetheless 10 00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:52,159 Speaker 1: try and figure out a way through write a path forward. 11 00:00:53,440 --> 00:00:58,280 Speaker 1: Whether we're talking about, you know, the gun issue, whether 12 00:00:58,320 --> 00:01:01,520 Speaker 1: we're talking about abortion, whether we're talking about our democracy 13 00:01:01,600 --> 00:01:05,080 Speaker 1: as a whole, mental health, all of these different components. 14 00:01:05,280 --> 00:01:09,480 Speaker 1: It is wonderful to be in the trenches with somebody 15 00:01:09,800 --> 00:01:14,160 Speaker 1: like Jonathan. On today's episode, you know, we kind of 16 00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:17,640 Speaker 1: give a retrospective, like I've been doing with some of 17 00:01:17,680 --> 00:01:21,559 Speaker 1: our favorite friends on you Know, what we think about 18 00:01:21,600 --> 00:01:25,360 Speaker 1: twenty twenty three, how it made us feel, how the 19 00:01:25,480 --> 00:01:28,840 Speaker 1: year has landed for us, and you know, and kind 20 00:01:28,880 --> 00:01:33,240 Speaker 1: of how we juxtapose the anxiety that we may feel 21 00:01:33,440 --> 00:01:39,720 Speaker 1: about the politics right and where we are globally versus 22 00:01:40,160 --> 00:01:44,160 Speaker 1: you know, how we've been managing through personally and what 23 00:01:44,440 --> 00:01:49,480 Speaker 1: conflicts that may arise internally around those things. I'm also 24 00:01:49,560 --> 00:01:52,080 Speaker 1: excited to remind you all that in twenty twenty four, 25 00:01:52,160 --> 00:01:55,080 Speaker 1: Jonathan and I will be live and in person in 26 00:01:55,080 --> 00:01:59,680 Speaker 1: New York at green Light Books in Brooklyn, where we'll 27 00:01:59,680 --> 00:02:04,080 Speaker 1: be in conversation about Jonathan's new book, What Have We Become? 28 00:02:04,320 --> 00:02:08,240 Speaker 1: And I'm really excited and honored to interview him there. 29 00:02:08,320 --> 00:02:11,680 Speaker 1: So if you find your way in New York or 30 00:02:11,720 --> 00:02:14,359 Speaker 1: you're in New York, come out and check us out. 31 00:02:14,919 --> 00:02:19,400 Speaker 1: We're going to be promoting that appearance on our socials, 32 00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:22,560 Speaker 1: so you'll be able to get the direct information there. 33 00:02:23,200 --> 00:02:27,320 Speaker 1: In the meantime, my dear friends, Coming up next, my 34 00:02:27,440 --> 00:02:33,640 Speaker 1: conversation with our friend, our in house doctor, doctor Jonathan Metzel. 35 00:02:36,480 --> 00:02:40,080 Speaker 1: I cannot believe that this is the last interview that 36 00:02:40,160 --> 00:02:45,200 Speaker 1: I am having with our in house doctor, doctor Jonathan 37 00:02:45,240 --> 00:02:50,320 Speaker 1: Metzel for the year for twenty not forever, but as 38 00:02:50,360 --> 00:02:56,160 Speaker 1: we close out this year and open up a new one. Jonathan, First, 39 00:02:56,440 --> 00:02:58,960 Speaker 1: you know, I just have to thank you. You are 40 00:02:59,160 --> 00:03:05,760 Speaker 1: literally the best and have been the most loyal and 41 00:03:05,840 --> 00:03:10,640 Speaker 1: consistent and brilliant analysts that we have brought on wo KF. 42 00:03:11,040 --> 00:03:15,480 Speaker 1: Every week you show up and it is just it 43 00:03:15,240 --> 00:03:18,480 Speaker 1: is is truly given your schedule, all that you do, 44 00:03:20,280 --> 00:03:23,880 Speaker 1: it's truly an honor to be in conversation with you 45 00:03:23,960 --> 00:03:27,360 Speaker 1: every week and to count on and to look forward 46 00:03:27,400 --> 00:03:30,320 Speaker 1: to conversation with you every week. So I just want 47 00:03:30,400 --> 00:03:32,880 Speaker 1: to say how much I appreciate you. 48 00:03:33,080 --> 00:03:34,800 Speaker 3: Well, let me say the same. I mean, I it's 49 00:03:34,800 --> 00:03:36,920 Speaker 3: just this is honestly the highlight of my week. Very 50 00:03:36,960 --> 00:03:40,560 Speaker 3: often it's kind of like the world is spinning out 51 00:03:40,600 --> 00:03:44,720 Speaker 3: of control, but Danielle and I will figure it out. 52 00:03:44,760 --> 00:03:50,600 Speaker 3: So I'm grateful to everybody for listening in on like 53 00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:55,720 Speaker 3: our mutual therapy every week. But it's really lovely for 54 00:03:55,760 --> 00:04:00,640 Speaker 3: me too. It's really a nice, consistent, rounding conversation where 55 00:04:00,680 --> 00:04:03,280 Speaker 3: we we take things that don't make sense and we 56 00:04:03,400 --> 00:04:05,960 Speaker 3: try to at least put a frame around them that 57 00:04:06,040 --> 00:04:10,520 Speaker 3: makes them not manageable maybe, but at least at least 58 00:04:10,560 --> 00:04:12,280 Speaker 3: gives us a way to think about them. And so 59 00:04:12,680 --> 00:04:16,040 Speaker 3: I think it's it's very mutual. It's you know, it's 60 00:04:16,160 --> 00:04:18,080 Speaker 3: it's maybe something to do with me or you, but 61 00:04:18,120 --> 00:04:20,440 Speaker 3: it's also just the way we talk about things that 62 00:04:20,520 --> 00:04:24,159 Speaker 3: it feels like it's very much like, Okay, the world's 63 00:04:24,160 --> 00:04:25,680 Speaker 3: on fire, how are we going to put it out? 64 00:04:25,800 --> 00:04:27,120 Speaker 2: Kind of yeah. 65 00:04:27,160 --> 00:04:29,479 Speaker 1: And I you know, and I just think that I 66 00:04:29,560 --> 00:04:33,279 Speaker 1: wish that more people, you know, had these types of conversations. 67 00:04:33,320 --> 00:04:36,839 Speaker 1: I wish that you know, that they were modeled for 68 00:04:37,000 --> 00:04:39,480 Speaker 1: folks on how to have these conversations because we've had 69 00:04:39,480 --> 00:04:43,880 Speaker 1: some difficult ones, right, We've had difficult ones where, you know, 70 00:04:44,080 --> 00:04:48,000 Speaker 1: right by your campus at Vanderbilt was you know, one 71 00:04:48,040 --> 00:04:53,359 Speaker 1: of the deadly school shootings of the year that took place, 72 00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:55,919 Speaker 1: and you know, you being in the thick of those 73 00:04:55,960 --> 00:05:00,480 Speaker 1: things we've talked about, you know, attacks that have been 74 00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:03,640 Speaker 1: made on you and your character as you roll out 75 00:05:04,080 --> 00:05:07,960 Speaker 1: your new book. So I just want to get your thoughts. 76 00:05:08,000 --> 00:05:11,320 Speaker 1: We'll just jump right in with you know. And I 77 00:05:11,360 --> 00:05:15,000 Speaker 1: did this, I actually did this on democracy. Ish and 78 00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:18,720 Speaker 1: Waja Hot and I were talking about you, Jonathan, and 79 00:05:19,680 --> 00:05:21,760 Speaker 1: we said, so we were going back and forth. 80 00:05:21,839 --> 00:05:23,160 Speaker 2: We said, if you had to give. 81 00:05:24,600 --> 00:05:29,200 Speaker 1: Twenty twenty three a word, a word associated with twenty 82 00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:33,039 Speaker 1: twenty three, what would your word be. So I'm going 83 00:05:33,120 --> 00:05:35,320 Speaker 1: to change mind from what it was on democracy. It's 84 00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:40,840 Speaker 1: for folks you have listened a multiple words. Oh what 85 00:05:40,880 --> 00:05:41,680 Speaker 1: did Wash say? 86 00:05:42,279 --> 00:05:43,800 Speaker 3: You were talking about me on the show, like. 87 00:05:43,760 --> 00:05:45,520 Speaker 1: You Yeah, we were talking. Yeah, we were talking about 88 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:49,120 Speaker 1: dying of whiteness. And just like one of our you know, thoughtful, 89 00:05:50,200 --> 00:05:53,240 Speaker 1: thoughtful friends that we rely on. 90 00:05:53,680 --> 00:05:54,800 Speaker 2: What was WASH's word? 91 00:05:54,839 --> 00:05:57,480 Speaker 1: I'm trying to think I remember what mine was, but okay, 92 00:05:57,720 --> 00:05:59,320 Speaker 1: tell you tell me yours first. 93 00:05:59,839 --> 00:06:02,400 Speaker 3: I was worried that like I was the word of 94 00:06:02,440 --> 00:06:09,919 Speaker 3: the year or something like that. It's yeah, well, you know, 95 00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:15,080 Speaker 3: it's funny, but like when I think of twenty twenty three, 96 00:06:15,360 --> 00:06:18,520 Speaker 3: like it's I don't know, there's not one single word 97 00:06:18,560 --> 00:06:21,159 Speaker 3: for it. But like, the stakes of stuff are really 98 00:06:21,320 --> 00:06:24,279 Speaker 3: clear right now, Like the stakes of things are really clear. 99 00:06:24,400 --> 00:06:28,480 Speaker 3: Like it's more like whatever illusion we may have had 100 00:06:28,520 --> 00:06:31,520 Speaker 3: about like what's at stake with everything is just like 101 00:06:31,560 --> 00:06:34,479 Speaker 3: twenty twenty three was a year where like the stakes 102 00:06:34,480 --> 00:06:38,440 Speaker 3: of things are exposed like this. You know, the decisions 103 00:06:38,440 --> 00:06:42,279 Speaker 3: are clear, the implications are clear. There's no mystery about 104 00:06:42,320 --> 00:06:46,480 Speaker 3: anything right now. And so I guess like almost unveiling 105 00:06:46,600 --> 00:06:50,560 Speaker 3: might be a kind of word that I would use. Yeah, yeah, 106 00:06:50,680 --> 00:06:52,599 Speaker 3: it's not like we can ever look back at this 107 00:06:52,760 --> 00:06:56,040 Speaker 3: moment and not know that the implications of the decisions 108 00:06:56,080 --> 00:06:59,240 Speaker 3: we make and the actions we take are just have 109 00:06:59,440 --> 00:07:02,400 Speaker 3: really real consequences. I mean, there, you know, there are 110 00:07:02,400 --> 00:07:06,360 Speaker 3: things to be encouraged about. And it's weird, like on 111 00:07:06,360 --> 00:07:09,920 Speaker 3: one hand, like I don't love the like, look at 112 00:07:09,960 --> 00:07:12,040 Speaker 3: all that Biden has done for you in something right 113 00:07:12,080 --> 00:07:13,840 Speaker 3: right right, But if you add up like some of 114 00:07:13,880 --> 00:07:16,600 Speaker 3: the stuff that the implications of winning the election have 115 00:07:16,680 --> 00:07:21,520 Speaker 3: had about student debt reform, about building infrastructure, about like 116 00:07:21,640 --> 00:07:25,560 Speaker 3: saving the economy, about like at least having like right 117 00:07:25,600 --> 00:07:27,640 Speaker 3: now there's a new COVID variant, and the fact that 118 00:07:27,680 --> 00:07:34,720 Speaker 3: we have a reasonably viable vaccine booster that's not ivermectin 119 00:07:34,920 --> 00:07:39,560 Speaker 3: and kool aid together. You know, those are real things, right. 120 00:07:39,640 --> 00:07:41,360 Speaker 3: Your life would be a lot worse if it wasn't 121 00:07:41,400 --> 00:07:44,280 Speaker 3: for those things. And so I don't want to minimize 122 00:07:44,320 --> 00:07:46,640 Speaker 3: that fact. But I would also say that like it's 123 00:07:46,720 --> 00:07:49,720 Speaker 3: kind of like that was like the preamble of all 124 00:07:49,760 --> 00:07:54,080 Speaker 3: the stuff that's coming. And so it's just there's something 125 00:07:54,080 --> 00:07:57,559 Speaker 3: about like right now where like what we do really 126 00:07:57,600 --> 00:07:59,960 Speaker 3: matters right now, And so that my word would be 127 00:08:01,040 --> 00:08:03,240 Speaker 3: like something about and I really this is a very 128 00:08:03,280 --> 00:08:08,280 Speaker 3: academic ye kind of word, but like unveiling implications, strategy, 129 00:08:08,360 --> 00:08:11,720 Speaker 3: strategy stakes, something like that, which I know is not 130 00:08:12,360 --> 00:08:14,040 Speaker 3: sexy as a word. 131 00:08:13,840 --> 00:08:16,120 Speaker 1: Like I would know, I you know, I would I 132 00:08:16,520 --> 00:08:19,840 Speaker 1: think that unveiling yeah is actually a I think that 133 00:08:19,840 --> 00:08:22,680 Speaker 1: that is a really good word, you know, for for 134 00:08:22,840 --> 00:08:24,200 Speaker 1: the year yeah. 135 00:08:24,280 --> 00:08:26,320 Speaker 3: And so that that's it. I mean, like we are 136 00:08:26,360 --> 00:08:29,800 Speaker 3: in we are in act one of something big, right. 137 00:08:29,840 --> 00:08:33,439 Speaker 3: I made the joke on here before when the pandemic hit. 138 00:08:33,600 --> 00:08:36,400 Speaker 3: I think about thinking about the guy in year two 139 00:08:36,520 --> 00:08:37,920 Speaker 3: of the Hundred Years War. 140 00:08:37,840 --> 00:08:41,040 Speaker 2: And so I used this all the time, like if 141 00:08:41,080 --> 00:08:41,920 Speaker 2: I don't know where we. 142 00:08:41,920 --> 00:08:43,960 Speaker 3: Are, I'm saying, like I can't believe we put up 143 00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:47,840 Speaker 3: with two years this shit. And it's like, actually, historically 144 00:08:47,920 --> 00:08:50,319 Speaker 3: you have ninety eight years ago, and so that's kind 145 00:08:50,320 --> 00:08:52,920 Speaker 3: of where we are right now. And and so I 146 00:08:53,000 --> 00:08:56,960 Speaker 3: just think that that's that's that's kind of what's on 147 00:08:57,000 --> 00:08:59,600 Speaker 3: my mind these days. Like it's like we are, we 148 00:08:59,640 --> 00:09:02,800 Speaker 3: are in the beginning of something big, and what that 149 00:09:03,040 --> 00:09:05,840 Speaker 3: how that plays out, It's just it. You know, who 150 00:09:05,880 --> 00:09:09,240 Speaker 3: we elect, who's in charge the decisions we make about 151 00:09:09,360 --> 00:09:13,640 Speaker 3: You asked about global and we've kind of gone back 152 00:09:13,640 --> 00:09:16,960 Speaker 3: and forth. I mean even in our conversations about Yeah, 153 00:09:16,960 --> 00:09:20,120 Speaker 3: the world is falling apart, our allies really our allies, 154 00:09:20,120 --> 00:09:21,880 Speaker 3: and then we kind of come back together and we're like, Okay, 155 00:09:21,920 --> 00:09:23,080 Speaker 3: what are we going to do? What are we going 156 00:09:23,120 --> 00:09:25,680 Speaker 3: to do? And so I just think that's that's where 157 00:09:25,679 --> 00:09:28,240 Speaker 3: we're at right now. What was your Yeah, I'm curious 158 00:09:28,280 --> 00:09:28,960 Speaker 3: what was your word? 159 00:09:29,280 --> 00:09:32,520 Speaker 1: So my my word and I can't remember Waj's word, 160 00:09:33,360 --> 00:09:38,400 Speaker 1: but my word on democracy ish was nimbleness. 161 00:09:39,040 --> 00:09:43,120 Speaker 2: And it was really talking about the fact that. 162 00:09:43,000 --> 00:09:50,160 Speaker 1: We are learning, right that we need the ability to 163 00:09:50,280 --> 00:09:54,280 Speaker 1: roll with and stretch with whatever is coming our way. 164 00:09:54,760 --> 00:10:00,839 Speaker 1: That this whole idea that we can you know that 165 00:10:00,880 --> 00:10:05,080 Speaker 1: we're going to be stabilized anytime soon, isn't it. So 166 00:10:05,160 --> 00:10:09,440 Speaker 1: you need to learn how to ground and be nimble 167 00:10:09,679 --> 00:10:12,240 Speaker 1: with what is coming at you, otherwise you will break. 168 00:10:13,960 --> 00:10:16,400 Speaker 2: And so you know, when I think about. 169 00:10:16,160 --> 00:10:21,360 Speaker 1: Your word though, unveiled, you know, I really I think 170 00:10:21,400 --> 00:10:26,920 Speaker 1: that my other word to two words pressure cooker, right, Like, 171 00:10:26,960 --> 00:10:30,440 Speaker 1: I think that we are in a pressure cooker, and 172 00:10:31,400 --> 00:10:34,040 Speaker 1: I think that twenty twenty four is going to decide 173 00:10:34,160 --> 00:10:37,360 Speaker 1: whether we are able to safely remove the lid or 174 00:10:37,400 --> 00:10:42,240 Speaker 1: it blows completely off, you know, And so I you know, 175 00:10:42,320 --> 00:10:45,920 Speaker 1: that's what I think about as I'm like, and you know, 176 00:10:45,960 --> 00:10:49,760 Speaker 1: it's also really challenging too because for you, I'm assuming 177 00:10:49,800 --> 00:10:53,520 Speaker 1: as well for me personally, a lot of great things 178 00:10:53,559 --> 00:10:56,520 Speaker 1: have happened, right Like, you know, a lot of great 179 00:10:56,520 --> 00:10:58,920 Speaker 1: things have happened career wise, a lot of great things 180 00:10:58,920 --> 00:11:01,760 Speaker 1: have happened, and you know, in my personal life, and 181 00:11:01,800 --> 00:11:06,520 Speaker 1: so to ux to pose that with like the the 182 00:11:07,040 --> 00:11:11,880 Speaker 1: trauma and like the anxiety that we're collectively experiencing in 183 00:11:11,920 --> 00:11:17,240 Speaker 1: the world is also a kind of really unnerving place 184 00:11:17,320 --> 00:11:20,439 Speaker 1: to be. It's like sometimes it's like should I be happy? 185 00:11:21,120 --> 00:11:25,880 Speaker 1: You know, because all of these things are happening, So 186 00:11:25,920 --> 00:11:29,640 Speaker 1: it's a really it is It is really complex. 187 00:11:31,320 --> 00:11:34,520 Speaker 3: I mean, if we could, I mean the question is like, 188 00:11:35,480 --> 00:11:39,040 Speaker 3: I mean, people are listening to this way around the holidays, 189 00:11:39,240 --> 00:11:41,000 Speaker 3: So I think it's important for you and me and 190 00:11:41,040 --> 00:11:44,600 Speaker 3: everybody to recharge right now because the energy it's going 191 00:11:44,679 --> 00:11:47,840 Speaker 3: to take. Like the first thing you said, what are 192 00:11:47,840 --> 00:11:51,160 Speaker 3: your words? And my first thought was hashtag rufi me. 193 00:11:51,559 --> 00:11:55,720 Speaker 3: I just want to forget, like like like just checking 194 00:11:55,760 --> 00:11:58,960 Speaker 3: out is a natural thing, but we cannot do it 195 00:11:59,040 --> 00:12:01,400 Speaker 3: right now, like the you know, we don't have that 196 00:12:01,480 --> 00:12:04,400 Speaker 3: option right now to kind of just forget about things, 197 00:12:04,440 --> 00:12:06,319 Speaker 3: and so it's going to take a lot of energy. 198 00:12:06,720 --> 00:12:13,920 Speaker 3: I would say, yeah, but you know, I'll tell you why. 199 00:12:13,960 --> 00:12:21,160 Speaker 3: I'm like, I'm thinking about guns a lot, obviously you 200 00:12:21,200 --> 00:12:23,480 Speaker 3: know which is. And let me just say acknowledge first 201 00:12:23,480 --> 00:12:27,679 Speaker 3: that I agree with you. Like personally, personally things are 202 00:12:27,679 --> 00:12:31,280 Speaker 3: a great you know, career, I have two books coming 203 00:12:31,280 --> 00:12:36,440 Speaker 3: out this year. Things are like it's it's weird that 204 00:12:36,480 --> 00:12:39,839 Speaker 3: there's this saying in psychiatry the negative affect gets the 205 00:12:39,880 --> 00:12:42,400 Speaker 3: attention or gets the energy. Like if there's one hundred 206 00:12:42,400 --> 00:12:45,439 Speaker 3: people in a room at a party and ninety nine 207 00:12:45,440 --> 00:12:47,080 Speaker 3: percent of the people are happy and like, I'm so 208 00:12:47,160 --> 00:12:48,680 Speaker 3: nice to be here, and one person comes in and 209 00:12:48,679 --> 00:12:52,079 Speaker 3: starts complaining, all the energy in the room goes toward 210 00:12:52,120 --> 00:12:55,600 Speaker 3: that one person, which is obviously Trump and other people 211 00:12:56,280 --> 00:12:59,720 Speaker 3: have mastered this. But so there's this thing where negative 212 00:12:59,720 --> 00:13:03,120 Speaker 3: apact just because all of a sudden, it's like wired 213 00:13:03,160 --> 00:13:07,200 Speaker 3: into our brains that we want to make that person happier, 214 00:13:07,240 --> 00:13:08,800 Speaker 3: we want to assuage that or something like that. And 215 00:13:08,800 --> 00:13:12,960 Speaker 3: so positive affect it doesn't win elections, it doesn't get clicks, 216 00:13:13,480 --> 00:13:16,600 Speaker 3: it doesn't it's not monetized in a way, and so 217 00:13:16,760 --> 00:13:19,000 Speaker 3: in a way you have to almost apologetically on the 218 00:13:19,040 --> 00:13:21,520 Speaker 3: side say oh, by the way, some good things happened, 219 00:13:22,559 --> 00:13:26,080 Speaker 3: even though like you know, like just misery loves company. 220 00:13:26,160 --> 00:13:28,600 Speaker 3: There's all these sayings about this in you know, going 221 00:13:28,760 --> 00:13:30,880 Speaker 3: over the years, but that is kind of how our 222 00:13:30,960 --> 00:13:35,240 Speaker 3: minds work, is that everything sucks is always going to 223 00:13:35,240 --> 00:13:39,040 Speaker 3: be a more compelling message. Particularly in electoral politics. Scaring 224 00:13:39,080 --> 00:13:42,080 Speaker 3: the shit out of people about other people is always 225 00:13:42,120 --> 00:13:45,000 Speaker 3: going to be a more effective strategy to get people 226 00:13:45,040 --> 00:13:49,960 Speaker 3: to vote than is saying, oh, everything's great. This is 227 00:13:50,080 --> 00:13:51,880 Speaker 3: in part on my mind. I'm writing an op ed 228 00:13:51,960 --> 00:13:56,480 Speaker 3: this morning about the danger that the Democratic approach to 229 00:13:56,559 --> 00:14:00,559 Speaker 3: guns poses to the Democratic platform, in for which you 230 00:14:00,559 --> 00:14:03,640 Speaker 3: would think would be like totally anathetical to like how 231 00:14:03,640 --> 00:14:08,160 Speaker 3: we would think. You know that eighty six percent of 232 00:14:08,240 --> 00:14:12,880 Speaker 3: Americans support background checks, ninety percent of people support banning 233 00:14:12,920 --> 00:14:18,160 Speaker 3: assault weapons. Why do Democrats lose based on policies that 234 00:14:18,200 --> 00:14:21,680 Speaker 3: have ninety percent support? And it's because the Republicans don't 235 00:14:21,760 --> 00:14:25,880 Speaker 3: even mess with the policy. They just say, you know, 236 00:14:26,120 --> 00:14:29,640 Speaker 3: gang bangers are coming to steal your stuff, or you're 237 00:14:29,680 --> 00:14:32,080 Speaker 3: going to be unprotected in a crime, or you need 238 00:14:32,120 --> 00:14:33,880 Speaker 3: a gun, and liberals are going to come take your 239 00:14:33,920 --> 00:14:37,400 Speaker 3: guns in a way, even though those positions don't link 240 00:14:37,440 --> 00:14:40,920 Speaker 3: to any real policy except for like give everybody more guns, 241 00:14:41,160 --> 00:14:45,200 Speaker 3: but they're incredibly powerful at getting people to vote out 242 00:14:45,200 --> 00:14:47,920 Speaker 3: of scaring the crap out of people that things like that. 243 00:14:47,960 --> 00:14:50,920 Speaker 3: And so part of the issue is Democrats are winning 244 00:14:50,920 --> 00:14:55,280 Speaker 3: the popular vote on guns, but they risk losing the 245 00:14:55,320 --> 00:14:57,760 Speaker 3: election on guns even though what they do has ninety 246 00:14:57,800 --> 00:15:02,280 Speaker 3: percent support, because the mess people are coming to take 247 00:15:02,320 --> 00:15:06,120 Speaker 3: your stuff is a much greater driver of getting people 248 00:15:06,160 --> 00:15:09,840 Speaker 3: to actually go to the polls than is ninety percent 249 00:15:09,880 --> 00:15:13,600 Speaker 3: of people support background checks. And so that's this is 250 00:15:13,720 --> 00:15:16,680 Speaker 3: one of many many examples. But the point I try 251 00:15:16,680 --> 00:15:19,160 Speaker 3: to kind of try to make is there are issues 252 00:15:19,200 --> 00:15:23,440 Speaker 3: that are popularly supported, but they don't translate sometimes into 253 00:15:23,520 --> 00:15:26,440 Speaker 3: electoral victories. And we just have to remember that, and 254 00:15:26,480 --> 00:15:28,240 Speaker 3: not that we should scare the crap out of people, 255 00:15:28,560 --> 00:15:29,120 Speaker 3: but I mean. 256 00:15:29,480 --> 00:15:31,800 Speaker 2: Oh I do. I try to do. 257 00:15:30,840 --> 00:15:34,920 Speaker 3: So that's that's that's what we do. So we have 258 00:15:34,920 --> 00:15:37,040 Speaker 3: to remember that, like it's just weird. Our our winter 259 00:15:37,080 --> 00:15:41,480 Speaker 3: take all electoral system rewards exactly the thing we're talking 260 00:15:41,520 --> 00:15:44,040 Speaker 3: about here, which is and then you stop me, You're like, wait, 261 00:15:44,080 --> 00:15:46,480 Speaker 3: a minute. I actually feel pretty safe in my life, 262 00:15:46,520 --> 00:15:49,280 Speaker 3: but there's no room for that. And so that's kind 263 00:15:49,320 --> 00:15:51,080 Speaker 3: of the that's the op ed I'm writing right now 264 00:15:51,240 --> 00:15:55,280 Speaker 3: is like guns are a popular victory and an electoral 265 00:15:55,280 --> 00:16:03,000 Speaker 3: liability for the Democrats. 266 00:16:03,560 --> 00:16:06,760 Speaker 1: While you're examining guns in that piece, I mean, you 267 00:16:06,800 --> 00:16:09,600 Speaker 1: can say the same thing about the economy, right like, 268 00:16:09,920 --> 00:16:12,840 Speaker 1: so you know you had and I can't remember the 269 00:16:12,960 --> 00:16:15,880 Speaker 1: name of the journalists who coined this you know term, 270 00:16:15,920 --> 00:16:19,520 Speaker 1: but he was just like, what Biden is saying in 271 00:16:19,600 --> 00:16:22,960 Speaker 1: terms of biden Omics does not match the vibe that 272 00:16:23,000 --> 00:16:26,920 Speaker 1: people have about the economy. So he's like, two things 273 00:16:26,920 --> 00:16:29,760 Speaker 1: can be true at the same time. The economy can 274 00:16:29,920 --> 00:16:33,200 Speaker 1: in fact be better than it was in you know, 275 00:16:33,440 --> 00:16:39,080 Speaker 1: in in December of twenty twenty than it is now. 276 00:16:39,200 --> 00:16:43,280 Speaker 1: You know then it is better than you know now, 277 00:16:43,760 --> 00:16:47,200 Speaker 1: But like how people are feeling about it is much 278 00:16:47,240 --> 00:16:50,560 Speaker 1: more important than like the facts about it. And I 279 00:16:50,600 --> 00:16:53,640 Speaker 1: think that that too, is what Republicans and the MAGA 280 00:16:53,680 --> 00:16:58,760 Speaker 1: supremacs have been able to use, is that they go 281 00:16:58,840 --> 00:17:01,640 Speaker 1: after people's feelings because they're at the end of the day, 282 00:17:01,720 --> 00:17:04,160 Speaker 1: that's what rules people, not facts. 283 00:17:04,800 --> 00:17:07,200 Speaker 3: And so what should Biden do in that regard. 284 00:17:08,080 --> 00:17:10,080 Speaker 2: You know, you know, I talked to. 285 00:17:12,359 --> 00:17:16,080 Speaker 1: A not shankro Rosadio on this show, who is like 286 00:17:16,600 --> 00:17:20,000 Speaker 1: the queen of messaging, and what she says is that 287 00:17:20,280 --> 00:17:25,320 Speaker 1: you like Democrats as a whole, but politicians in general 288 00:17:25,720 --> 00:17:28,400 Speaker 1: need to not spend time on what they have done 289 00:17:28,520 --> 00:17:31,399 Speaker 1: because no one cares. They need to focus on what 290 00:17:31,440 --> 00:17:34,840 Speaker 1: they are doing or going to do, right like, you 291 00:17:34,960 --> 00:17:38,280 Speaker 1: need to be more future thinking. So great, you know, 292 00:17:38,400 --> 00:17:40,959 Speaker 1: you save the economy from going over a cliff, and 293 00:17:41,320 --> 00:17:43,000 Speaker 1: you know, and there are more jobs that have been 294 00:17:43,000 --> 00:17:45,600 Speaker 1: added and all of those things. That's fine, But what 295 00:17:45,680 --> 00:17:48,600 Speaker 1: you need to talk about is what you are planning 296 00:17:48,640 --> 00:17:51,880 Speaker 1: to do that are going to increase people, like, decrease 297 00:17:51,920 --> 00:17:56,040 Speaker 1: people's anxiety and increase their possibility that like their lives 298 00:17:56,080 --> 00:17:59,639 Speaker 1: can get better. Democrats are too busy always trying to 299 00:18:00,280 --> 00:18:03,320 Speaker 1: remind people what they've done, and the fact is you're 300 00:18:03,359 --> 00:18:06,200 Speaker 1: never going to remind people care about what's happening right now, 301 00:18:06,240 --> 00:18:07,120 Speaker 1: what's in front of them. 302 00:18:07,600 --> 00:18:11,520 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's a good point, and again, I just think 303 00:18:11,560 --> 00:18:18,320 Speaker 3: that's the risk right now, especially because we have a 304 00:18:18,359 --> 00:18:22,160 Speaker 3: somewhat literly candidate heading our ticket, and so the risk 305 00:18:22,240 --> 00:18:25,800 Speaker 3: of basically being nostalgic and saying, oh, look what we 306 00:18:25,840 --> 00:18:28,240 Speaker 3: did and stuff like that, like that's kind of what 307 00:18:28,280 --> 00:18:31,480 Speaker 3: we got right now, you know, And so I think 308 00:18:31,560 --> 00:18:34,160 Speaker 3: fighting out of that is a huge is a huge deal. 309 00:18:34,200 --> 00:18:37,760 Speaker 3: But the question is, like think of all the times, 310 00:18:38,840 --> 00:18:47,520 Speaker 3: like let's talk about Gaza for example, like you know, horrifying, divisive, polarizing, 311 00:18:47,560 --> 00:18:51,480 Speaker 3: as we've talked about on here, and now now's the 312 00:18:51,560 --> 00:18:53,600 Speaker 3: time to like step forward and say here's our peace 313 00:18:53,640 --> 00:18:55,400 Speaker 3: plan or something like that. Like I think you can 314 00:18:55,520 --> 00:18:57,960 Speaker 3: rally people because it feels to me and I don't 315 00:18:58,000 --> 00:18:59,720 Speaker 3: know your sense of this is just one example. I mean, 316 00:19:00,080 --> 00:19:03,240 Speaker 3: I'm dealing with all these bummer topics, but it was 317 00:19:03,320 --> 00:19:05,320 Speaker 3: kind of like it felt like it was ripping our 318 00:19:05,320 --> 00:19:09,200 Speaker 3: coalition apart. And now people are kind of like, man, 319 00:19:09,359 --> 00:19:12,560 Speaker 3: how can we how can we be forward looking in 320 00:19:12,600 --> 00:19:15,720 Speaker 3: this horrible situation and think about like a world that 321 00:19:15,760 --> 00:19:20,359 Speaker 3: comes next that actually brings us back together and promote StageAbility. 322 00:19:20,400 --> 00:19:23,720 Speaker 3: So like there's this vacuum right now of like we 323 00:19:24,119 --> 00:19:26,639 Speaker 3: we kind of need a peace plan right now, it 324 00:19:26,680 --> 00:19:28,879 Speaker 3: feels to me, And this is just one example, like 325 00:19:28,960 --> 00:19:31,080 Speaker 3: there there are there are openings right now to be 326 00:19:31,280 --> 00:19:34,400 Speaker 3: that kind of forward locking and so that's my question 327 00:19:34,480 --> 00:19:37,160 Speaker 3: for you, is like, what is there a risk of that? 328 00:19:37,200 --> 00:19:38,760 Speaker 3: Like then you put all your cards on the table 329 00:19:39,000 --> 00:19:41,920 Speaker 3: and it might not happen. Is it that path? 330 00:19:42,480 --> 00:19:45,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's I mean, yes, yes, it is. Everything is 331 00:19:45,240 --> 00:19:48,359 Speaker 1: a risk right now. So it's like, you know, what, 332 00:19:48,440 --> 00:19:50,119 Speaker 1: how do how do you want? You know, it's like 333 00:19:50,160 --> 00:19:54,480 Speaker 1: when trainers say everything is hard. You know, being overweight 334 00:19:54,520 --> 00:19:57,200 Speaker 1: as hard, losing weight as hard. Choose your hard, right, 335 00:19:57,480 --> 00:20:00,960 Speaker 1: like being in a being single as hard, being married 336 00:20:01,040 --> 00:20:01,360 Speaker 1: is hard. 337 00:20:01,480 --> 00:20:08,320 Speaker 2: Choose your hard like the yeah, your head. Yeah, it's 338 00:20:08,359 --> 00:20:09,840 Speaker 2: like you can't pretend. 339 00:20:10,000 --> 00:20:13,160 Speaker 1: I think that the lie that Americans have believed and 340 00:20:13,200 --> 00:20:16,440 Speaker 1: what we have been afforded through that lie, is that 341 00:20:16,640 --> 00:20:19,920 Speaker 1: like life can be easy, right, and like you're gonna 342 00:20:19,960 --> 00:20:23,000 Speaker 1: have one year that's just gonna be great all twelve months, 343 00:20:23,040 --> 00:20:25,320 Speaker 1: like and you're gonna have a president that's gonna be 344 00:20:25,359 --> 00:20:28,520 Speaker 1: perfect on every single issue and you're gonna get all No, 345 00:20:29,000 --> 00:20:32,160 Speaker 1: it's not. That's not how life fucking works. So it's 346 00:20:32,280 --> 00:20:35,720 Speaker 1: just like, yes, do they have a risk in either 347 00:20:35,800 --> 00:20:38,080 Speaker 1: staying in the past and telling people what they did 348 00:20:38,119 --> 00:20:42,040 Speaker 1: when people currently are still struggling and still feeling hardship, 349 00:20:42,440 --> 00:20:45,640 Speaker 1: or do you tell people how you're gonna continue right 350 00:20:45,720 --> 00:20:49,320 Speaker 1: to decrease their anxiety and like you know, and decrease 351 00:20:49,400 --> 00:20:51,880 Speaker 1: their bills at the same time. Whether or not those 352 00:20:51,920 --> 00:20:55,399 Speaker 1: things actually happen is not the point. The point is 353 00:20:55,440 --> 00:20:59,119 Speaker 1: being able to feed people hope, because in the absence 354 00:20:59,160 --> 00:21:02,160 Speaker 1: of it, they will just gobble up all of the fear. 355 00:21:02,560 --> 00:21:06,320 Speaker 1: And that is what the Republicans and MAGA supremacs are 356 00:21:06,400 --> 00:21:07,240 Speaker 1: good at pedaling. 357 00:21:09,040 --> 00:21:15,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, I like that. I mean again, it's it's it's 358 00:21:15,040 --> 00:21:18,440 Speaker 3: going to be interesting to see, honestly, how this flays out, right, 359 00:21:18,520 --> 00:21:21,520 Speaker 3: because I think every time Trump says like I'm going 360 00:21:21,600 --> 00:21:23,919 Speaker 3: to be a dictator on day one, to me, it 361 00:21:23,960 --> 00:21:26,679 Speaker 3: makes really palpable for people like to me, that just 362 00:21:26,720 --> 00:21:29,040 Speaker 3: seems like, I know, we're far gone, We're not that 363 00:21:29,119 --> 00:21:32,719 Speaker 3: far gone that I feel like somebody saying I'm going 364 00:21:32,760 --> 00:21:35,520 Speaker 3: to be a dictator on day one, even for Trump, 365 00:21:35,600 --> 00:21:37,880 Speaker 3: like I feel like that, it just makes really present 366 00:21:38,200 --> 00:21:38,960 Speaker 3: the risk. 367 00:21:38,800 --> 00:21:41,320 Speaker 1: That But here's the thing. This is the thing that 368 00:21:41,359 --> 00:21:44,560 Speaker 1: pisses me off about Democrats is that every single time 369 00:21:44,600 --> 00:21:46,680 Speaker 1: that Donald Trump does that that. 370 00:21:46,520 --> 00:21:47,320 Speaker 2: Would be pulled. 371 00:21:47,359 --> 00:21:49,280 Speaker 1: It would be a clip and it would be an 372 00:21:49,320 --> 00:21:52,560 Speaker 1: ad and I would be running it all over social media. 373 00:21:52,640 --> 00:21:55,200 Speaker 1: I would be running it over the airwaves. I would 374 00:21:55,240 --> 00:21:57,840 Speaker 1: be running it like it's nobody's business. It would be 375 00:21:57,920 --> 00:22:01,679 Speaker 1: funneling through TikTok. Just pulled, pull it and have the 376 00:22:01,760 --> 00:22:04,280 Speaker 1: tie the date stamp on it, so that you know 377 00:22:04,480 --> 00:22:08,080 Speaker 1: this isn't from you know this is yesterday, right. I 378 00:22:08,160 --> 00:22:10,919 Speaker 1: just feel like that, to me is the energy. I 379 00:22:10,920 --> 00:22:16,320 Speaker 1: don't think that it's gonna decrease people's frustrations with his age, 380 00:22:16,359 --> 00:22:19,600 Speaker 1: the anger at Gaza, the grief and all of those things, 381 00:22:19,800 --> 00:22:22,520 Speaker 1: but it needs you need That's how you jog people's 382 00:22:22,560 --> 00:22:24,320 Speaker 1: memory of who this person is. 383 00:22:25,160 --> 00:22:28,920 Speaker 3: I mean the flip side. I'm gonna admit something personal, 384 00:22:29,400 --> 00:22:33,200 Speaker 3: which is I watch MSNBC like for hours on end. 385 00:22:34,480 --> 00:22:37,520 Speaker 3: I actually just watch the news like I have it 386 00:22:37,560 --> 00:22:41,159 Speaker 3: on in the background or something like that. I know 387 00:22:41,480 --> 00:22:45,560 Speaker 3: that is really nerdy, but the thing is, like, the 388 00:22:45,640 --> 00:22:47,959 Speaker 3: thing is like if you watch MSNBC, which like you 389 00:22:48,000 --> 00:22:52,280 Speaker 3: and I are on every so often, like the number 390 00:22:52,280 --> 00:22:55,439 Speaker 3: of times they show clips from January sixth, it's like 391 00:22:55,640 --> 00:22:59,840 Speaker 3: eighty five percent of every show is Trump and January. 392 00:23:00,480 --> 00:23:02,840 Speaker 3: And I just my fear is that people kind of 393 00:23:02,880 --> 00:23:07,000 Speaker 3: start to zone out about it, and and like it's 394 00:23:07,160 --> 00:23:09,400 Speaker 3: very rarely like, oh, here's a story about something great 395 00:23:09,440 --> 00:23:12,320 Speaker 3: Biden is doing. Here's the story about whatever. It's like 396 00:23:12,440 --> 00:23:16,040 Speaker 3: January sixth on repeat. And I think the danger of 397 00:23:16,119 --> 00:23:19,639 Speaker 3: like continually reminding or something is people start to zone 398 00:23:19,640 --> 00:23:22,120 Speaker 3: out a bit. So you have to kind yeah, either 399 00:23:22,480 --> 00:23:26,080 Speaker 3: the GOP is good to the temperature or flip it. 400 00:23:26,119 --> 00:23:28,480 Speaker 3: I just I think in a way like January six 401 00:23:28,600 --> 00:23:32,280 Speaker 3: is like the worst thing that's happened by far in 402 00:23:32,320 --> 00:23:35,200 Speaker 3: many ways to our you know, the threat it poses 403 00:23:35,200 --> 00:23:37,560 Speaker 3: to our electoral system, but it just feels like if 404 00:23:37,560 --> 00:23:41,359 Speaker 3: you overplay it without like some kind of hook and 405 00:23:41,720 --> 00:23:45,400 Speaker 3: people start to people start to tune out. Yeah, yeah, 406 00:23:45,440 --> 00:23:52,240 Speaker 3: yeah yeah. 407 00:23:52,280 --> 00:23:57,320 Speaker 1: So last question for you, Jonathan and our just looking ahead. 408 00:23:58,119 --> 00:24:01,760 Speaker 1: You know, what are you or how are you? Let 409 00:24:01,760 --> 00:24:04,160 Speaker 1: me ask you this, how are you going to prepare 410 00:24:04,840 --> 00:24:08,240 Speaker 1: for twenty twenty four? What does preparation for twenty twenty 411 00:24:08,240 --> 00:24:09,199 Speaker 1: four look like for you? 412 00:24:09,480 --> 00:24:11,199 Speaker 3: Well, it's interesting for me, right because I have a 413 00:24:11,200 --> 00:24:13,560 Speaker 3: book tour coming up. In fact, I've booked our where 414 00:24:13,560 --> 00:24:17,320 Speaker 3: you and I are going to be speaking live. In fact, 415 00:24:17,359 --> 00:24:18,800 Speaker 3: the link went up today. I'll send it to you, 416 00:24:18,880 --> 00:24:26,159 Speaker 3: so yes, but I'm going to have a you know, 417 00:24:26,160 --> 00:24:27,800 Speaker 3: when you have a book come out, you have a platform. 418 00:24:28,080 --> 00:24:30,800 Speaker 3: And so I'm going to be on the road January 419 00:24:30,800 --> 00:24:34,159 Speaker 3: February March, giving talks and keynotes and talking in towns. 420 00:24:34,200 --> 00:24:36,520 Speaker 3: So in a way it's not like a political campaign, 421 00:24:36,520 --> 00:24:38,680 Speaker 3: but for an academic, this is kind of our version 422 00:24:38,720 --> 00:24:41,320 Speaker 3: of a political campaign. You prepare for it, you're out there. 423 00:24:41,880 --> 00:24:44,600 Speaker 3: And so I really hope to hone my message about 424 00:24:44,600 --> 00:24:47,719 Speaker 3: the relationships between at least for me, guns and voting 425 00:24:47,880 --> 00:24:51,400 Speaker 3: and what the implications are the stakes could not be 426 00:24:51,480 --> 00:24:54,520 Speaker 3: more clear, but that in a way just falling into 427 00:24:54,600 --> 00:24:59,120 Speaker 3: the mistake that democrats fall into that assuming that gun 428 00:24:59,200 --> 00:25:01,520 Speaker 3: safety has common and sense. To me, that's a really 429 00:25:01,520 --> 00:25:04,760 Speaker 3: bad position to be in. And instead really are needing 430 00:25:04,800 --> 00:25:08,720 Speaker 3: to articulate like what that means in really tactile form. 431 00:25:09,200 --> 00:25:10,760 Speaker 3: And so you and I all would be talking a 432 00:25:10,760 --> 00:25:13,720 Speaker 3: lot with me, like in a hotel room in the 433 00:25:13,720 --> 00:25:15,560 Speaker 3: middle of like, oh my god, what town am I 434 00:25:15,600 --> 00:25:17,760 Speaker 3: in today? Or something like that, for our, for our, 435 00:25:18,680 --> 00:25:21,240 Speaker 3: for our at least when I'm on the book tour. Yeah, 436 00:25:21,280 --> 00:25:23,240 Speaker 3: And so for me, I'm going to have a platform, 437 00:25:23,280 --> 00:25:24,840 Speaker 3: and the question for me is like how much can 438 00:25:24,880 --> 00:25:26,760 Speaker 3: I contribute to this? That's kind of how I'm thinking 439 00:25:26,760 --> 00:25:27,160 Speaker 3: about it. 440 00:25:27,600 --> 00:25:30,800 Speaker 1: I love it, and I am so excited for February 441 00:25:30,840 --> 00:25:33,800 Speaker 1: fifth at green Light Books in Brooklyn, which is where 442 00:25:33,880 --> 00:25:36,320 Speaker 1: Jonathan and I will be. That is so one of 443 00:25:36,359 --> 00:25:40,159 Speaker 1: the things that I'm absolutely looking forward to in the 444 00:25:40,200 --> 00:25:44,479 Speaker 1: new year. So super excited about that, and Jonathan, you know, 445 00:25:44,640 --> 00:25:50,919 Speaker 1: I wish you a happy holidays, rest and relaxation, and 446 00:25:50,960 --> 00:25:52,840 Speaker 1: we will see you back here ready to hit the 447 00:25:52,880 --> 00:25:53,520 Speaker 1: ground running. 448 00:25:54,480 --> 00:25:57,119 Speaker 3: Thank you, thank you, thank you, to you to our listeners, 449 00:25:57,160 --> 00:26:01,480 Speaker 3: to everybody on the show. It's again just my consistent 450 00:26:01,560 --> 00:26:03,280 Speaker 3: honor to be part of these conversations. 451 00:26:08,680 --> 00:26:12,280 Speaker 1: That is it for me today, Dear friends on wokef 452 00:26:12,359 --> 00:26:16,840 Speaker 1: as always, power to the people and to all the people. 453 00:26:17,000 --> 00:26:20,200 Speaker 2: Power, get woke and stay woke as fuck.