1 00:00:04,559 --> 00:00:07,920 Speaker 1: On this episode of Newtsworld. My daughter Jackie is a 2 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:12,000 Speaker 1: huge fan of our guest today, John and Rossik of 3 00:00:12,119 --> 00:00:15,760 Speaker 1: five for Fighting been together with John before. He was 4 00:00:15,760 --> 00:00:18,959 Speaker 1: the first professional musician I had on NEWTS World. He 5 00:00:19,079 --> 00:00:21,759 Speaker 1: joined me last October when he released his song and 6 00:00:21,880 --> 00:00:26,000 Speaker 1: video entitled Blood on My Hands about the tragic US 7 00:00:26,079 --> 00:00:30,080 Speaker 1: withdraw from Afghanistan and the terrible human consequences of the 8 00:00:30,120 --> 00:00:33,080 Speaker 1: way that was done. And he's joining me again today 9 00:00:33,120 --> 00:00:35,479 Speaker 1: to talk about his new single and video, and I 10 00:00:35,600 --> 00:00:39,640 Speaker 1: urge everybody to watch this and share it with your friends. 11 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:44,879 Speaker 1: It is an amazingly impressive achievement. The entitled can One 12 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:48,479 Speaker 1: Man Save the World? The song is inspired by the 13 00:00:48,520 --> 00:00:52,920 Speaker 1: courage of President Zelenski and the people of Ukraine and 14 00:00:53,080 --> 00:00:55,960 Speaker 1: ask the country and the world to stand up for 15 00:00:56,000 --> 00:00:58,360 Speaker 1: the core values of freedom and justice. And I just 16 00:00:58,480 --> 00:01:02,080 Speaker 1: have to say the video is amazing. We're gonna talk 17 00:01:02,120 --> 00:01:05,760 Speaker 1: with him about it. Filmed on location on a Ukrainian 18 00:01:05,800 --> 00:01:11,200 Speaker 1: battlefield and with the backup of the Ukrainian Orchestra, John 19 00:01:11,319 --> 00:01:16,039 Speaker 1: was aided by the nonprofit Save Our Allies. So I'm 20 00:01:16,040 --> 00:01:20,959 Speaker 1: really pleased to welcome my guests. Grammy nominated singer songwriter 21 00:01:21,440 --> 00:01:25,200 Speaker 1: John and Rossik of five for fighting and Sarah Vardo, 22 00:01:25,480 --> 00:01:32,880 Speaker 1: one of the founders of Save Our Allies. Who is 23 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:41,560 Speaker 1: this comedian, his ardious mamaskan men, this superman Ukrainian? I 24 00:01:41,800 --> 00:01:46,480 Speaker 1: don't know. John, Once again, you cut right to the 25 00:01:46,480 --> 00:01:49,560 Speaker 1: heart of the moment. What led you to writing Can 26 00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:52,040 Speaker 1: One Man Save the World? Well? I think so many 27 00:01:52,080 --> 00:01:55,520 Speaker 1: of us were inspired by President Zelinski when he turned 28 00:01:55,560 --> 00:01:58,520 Speaker 1: down our plane ticket and said send me some stingers. 29 00:01:59,200 --> 00:02:01,400 Speaker 1: I don't think we'd seen that kind of spine and 30 00:02:01,520 --> 00:02:05,800 Speaker 1: fortitude in Western leaders in a generation. And it wasn't 31 00:02:05,840 --> 00:02:08,520 Speaker 1: just his life he was risking. It was his wife 32 00:02:08,560 --> 00:02:12,840 Speaker 1: and his children. You probably remember, mister speaker, most governments 33 00:02:12,880 --> 00:02:16,799 Speaker 1: are National Security Council basically gave Ukraine three or four 34 00:02:16,919 --> 00:02:21,320 Speaker 1: days in this war. But as we saw with Winston Churchill, 35 00:02:21,400 --> 00:02:23,760 Speaker 1: one person's will can pull the rest to the right 36 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:27,200 Speaker 1: side of history. So watching him do that certainly was 37 00:02:27,320 --> 00:02:29,600 Speaker 1: easy to be inspired to write this song. Of course, 38 00:02:29,600 --> 00:02:31,560 Speaker 1: it's called can one man say of the world? Not 39 00:02:31,639 --> 00:02:34,520 Speaker 1: one man can? So the question is for the rest 40 00:02:34,520 --> 00:02:36,840 Speaker 1: of us, are we going to stand with Ukraine or 41 00:02:36,880 --> 00:02:39,920 Speaker 1: are we going to slowly watch Hooton devour their country. 42 00:02:40,120 --> 00:02:45,040 Speaker 1: It's doubly interesting because of course he was a professional comedian. Yeah, 43 00:02:45,280 --> 00:02:49,880 Speaker 1: you wouldn't have picked this moment the way it's evolved. No, Look, 44 00:02:49,919 --> 00:02:53,119 Speaker 1: Reagan was an actor, right. Maybe there's something about these 45 00:02:53,160 --> 00:02:56,960 Speaker 1: people that you know, they're not career politicians, so every 46 00:02:57,000 --> 00:03:00,280 Speaker 1: calculation is not political. Maybe there is a certain oral 47 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:04,680 Speaker 1: spine that just transcends the typical political attitude of how 48 00:03:04,680 --> 00:03:06,720 Speaker 1: does this affect my long term career. Of course, his 49 00:03:06,800 --> 00:03:10,119 Speaker 1: country's been invaded by a tyrant. But I did find 50 00:03:10,160 --> 00:03:13,280 Speaker 1: it very interesting that, yes, you have an artist who 51 00:03:13,440 --> 00:03:16,680 Speaker 1: is leading a country kind of like Reagan did. Of 52 00:03:16,680 --> 00:03:19,079 Speaker 1: course you would pick up on that, sir, You get 53 00:03:19,120 --> 00:03:22,240 Speaker 1: those things. It was doubly interesting because I was in 54 00:03:22,400 --> 00:03:27,840 Speaker 1: Ukraine before this election, and Zelenski was a real reformer 55 00:03:28,040 --> 00:03:30,760 Speaker 1: and the country was sick of the corruption, sick of 56 00:03:30,800 --> 00:03:34,560 Speaker 1: the politicians who are the traditional political class. And so 57 00:03:35,280 --> 00:03:37,680 Speaker 1: he had actually done a series about a comedian who 58 00:03:37,720 --> 00:03:41,040 Speaker 1: gets elected as president. Reagan never actually did a movie 59 00:03:41,040 --> 00:03:44,240 Speaker 1: about being president. He just became president. But there was 60 00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:48,560 Speaker 1: a certain pattern here, And you're exactly right. I thought 61 00:03:48,600 --> 00:03:53,240 Speaker 1: one of them were following on the disasters withdrawal from Afghanistan, 62 00:03:53,320 --> 00:03:57,440 Speaker 1: which you responded to so powerfully with blood on my hands. 63 00:03:58,080 --> 00:04:01,839 Speaker 1: Somehow typical of the current system that they would say 64 00:04:01,840 --> 00:04:04,360 Speaker 1: to him, you will be glad to get you out 65 00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:06,640 Speaker 1: of there, And he had to say to them, I'm 66 00:04:06,640 --> 00:04:09,240 Speaker 1: not leaving, why don't you send me the weapons to 67 00:04:09,280 --> 00:04:12,600 Speaker 1: win with, which I'm sure was an enormous shock to 68 00:04:12,640 --> 00:04:16,960 Speaker 1: the American State Department and the American Defense Department, and frankly, 69 00:04:17,080 --> 00:04:21,280 Speaker 1: the same woke Defense department that was so wrong in Afghanistan. 70 00:04:21,680 --> 00:04:24,760 Speaker 1: General Milly, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, said, oh, 71 00:04:24,839 --> 00:04:28,240 Speaker 1: the Russians will be in Kiev in three days. Well, 72 00:04:28,279 --> 00:04:30,560 Speaker 1: I mean, nobody has yet gotten up to say, if 73 00:04:30,560 --> 00:04:33,520 Speaker 1: these guys are that incompetent and that out of touch 74 00:04:33,520 --> 00:04:36,200 Speaker 1: with the real world, why are they still working in 75 00:04:36,200 --> 00:04:39,120 Speaker 1: the Pentagon? And what does that tell you about Taiwan 76 00:04:39,200 --> 00:04:41,919 Speaker 1: and about other kinds of problems. So let me go 77 00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:45,560 Speaker 1: to the basics. You're a very passionate, very moral person. 78 00:04:46,040 --> 00:04:49,839 Speaker 1: Your songs have a cultural meaning that's very deep. What 79 00:04:49,920 --> 00:04:54,120 Speaker 1: did you hope to accomplish by doing this particular song? 80 00:04:54,200 --> 00:04:56,760 Speaker 1: Can one man save the world? You know, it really 81 00:04:56,880 --> 00:04:59,880 Speaker 1: was just a burst of emotion, kind of like blood 82 00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:02,920 Speaker 1: my hands. You never really know what songs are gonna do. 83 00:05:03,640 --> 00:05:06,640 Speaker 1: I was hoping that a thousand songwriters would write songs 84 00:05:06,640 --> 00:05:11,760 Speaker 1: about Zelinski, you know, standing for freedom and the Ukrainian people. Certainly, 85 00:05:12,040 --> 00:05:15,039 Speaker 1: music has a way of putting the spotlight back where 86 00:05:15,040 --> 00:05:17,720 Speaker 1: it belongs. You know, we saw with Afghanistan our attentions 87 00:05:17,720 --> 00:05:19,920 Speaker 1: start to drift. The song brought it back a little bit. 88 00:05:20,440 --> 00:05:24,440 Speaker 1: Ukraine similarly, you know, our attensions bands drifting. But I 89 00:05:24,520 --> 00:05:28,440 Speaker 1: certainly had no idea that two months later I would 90 00:05:28,480 --> 00:05:33,120 Speaker 1: be standing in a battlefield in Ukraine recording this song 91 00:05:33,160 --> 00:05:36,080 Speaker 1: with the orchestra. But it was the same intent. It 92 00:05:36,160 --> 00:05:40,400 Speaker 1: was to keep the focus on Ukraine and the consequences 93 00:05:40,440 --> 00:05:43,640 Speaker 1: if we allow Ukraine to be taken by Putin. You 94 00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:47,960 Speaker 1: mentioned Taiwan. We talked in October about Ukraine being the 95 00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:51,560 Speaker 1: next Domino after Afghanistan, and I think Taiwan's likely the 96 00:05:51,600 --> 00:05:54,960 Speaker 1: next domino after Ukraine if we allow Putin to achieve 97 00:05:55,120 --> 00:05:59,200 Speaker 1: his ambitions. So it's great to raise money for save 98 00:05:59,240 --> 00:06:02,080 Speaker 1: our allies, these incredible people that made this video happen, 99 00:06:02,360 --> 00:06:05,160 Speaker 1: but also it's important for the Russian people to see 100 00:06:05,360 --> 00:06:10,240 Speaker 1: that Americans are collaborating artistically with Ukrainians. Music can permeate 101 00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:13,920 Speaker 1: borders in ways other mediums can't. We need to get 102 00:06:13,960 --> 00:06:16,720 Speaker 1: to the Russian people and let them know that they 103 00:06:16,760 --> 00:06:20,159 Speaker 1: have a choice. They can topple their tyrant and rejoin 104 00:06:20,200 --> 00:06:22,839 Speaker 1: the free world, or they can go down the dark 105 00:06:22,839 --> 00:06:24,960 Speaker 1: side of history. So music has a unique way. We 106 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:27,120 Speaker 1: saw it with Live Aid, we saw it with Sun City, 107 00:06:27,200 --> 00:06:29,279 Speaker 1: we saw it with the concert part New York. So 108 00:06:29,320 --> 00:06:33,120 Speaker 1: hopefully this video leads to bigger things. And Sarah and 109 00:06:33,160 --> 00:06:36,040 Speaker 1: I and others are calling for a concert for Ukraine, 110 00:06:36,120 --> 00:06:39,080 Speaker 1: a global concert, which I think again there needs to 111 00:06:39,080 --> 00:06:41,480 Speaker 1: be a culture front on this war. We have a 112 00:06:41,520 --> 00:06:44,440 Speaker 1: political front and economic front. Neither of them worked very 113 00:06:44,480 --> 00:06:47,000 Speaker 1: well so far. So we're really trying to build this 114 00:06:47,040 --> 00:06:49,320 Speaker 1: into a culture front on this war. And hopefully this 115 00:06:49,360 --> 00:06:54,600 Speaker 1: song and this video is the first step. So first 116 00:06:54,720 --> 00:06:57,640 Speaker 1: write the song and then decide to do the video 117 00:06:57,720 --> 00:06:59,760 Speaker 1: or did you always know it was going to be 118 00:07:00,160 --> 00:07:03,400 Speaker 1: into a video? Oh, no idea. And this is where 119 00:07:03,440 --> 00:07:05,719 Speaker 1: Sarah and Save our Allies come in. I'd written the 120 00:07:05,760 --> 00:07:09,000 Speaker 1: song and I was going on tour with my string quartet, 121 00:07:09,120 --> 00:07:11,000 Speaker 1: and of course I wanted to play can One Man's 122 00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:13,960 Speaker 1: Say of the World on tour, so I arranged some 123 00:07:14,000 --> 00:07:16,720 Speaker 1: string parts, and in doing so, in the back of 124 00:07:16,760 --> 00:07:19,600 Speaker 1: the van, I had a thought of why don't I 125 00:07:19,600 --> 00:07:22,640 Speaker 1: go to Poland and play the song with a Polish orchestra, 126 00:07:22,720 --> 00:07:25,600 Speaker 1: because Poland, as you know, has been so incredible in 127 00:07:25,640 --> 00:07:29,720 Speaker 1: this war, taking four million refugees, literally the first president 128 00:07:29,760 --> 00:07:33,560 Speaker 1: to go stand with Zelinski and Kiev. So I asked 129 00:07:33,920 --> 00:07:36,040 Speaker 1: one of Sarah's colleagues to say, of our allies who 130 00:07:36,080 --> 00:07:38,560 Speaker 1: had relationships in Poland, why don't you reach out to 131 00:07:38,600 --> 00:07:41,000 Speaker 1: them and see if we can do this? And she said, 132 00:07:41,120 --> 00:07:43,960 Speaker 1: let me call you back. And three or four days 133 00:07:44,040 --> 00:07:45,920 Speaker 1: later she called me back and said, how would you 134 00:07:45,960 --> 00:07:50,840 Speaker 1: like to do this with Ukrainian orchestra? And I didn't 135 00:07:50,840 --> 00:07:52,680 Speaker 1: know what to say. I thought she was kidding. I 136 00:07:52,720 --> 00:07:56,680 Speaker 1: didn't know did they exist? But only save our allies 137 00:07:56,680 --> 00:08:00,680 Speaker 1: and their relationships with Zelinski and the Ukraine In military 138 00:08:00,680 --> 00:08:03,640 Speaker 1: could make this happen. And a month later I found 139 00:08:03,680 --> 00:08:06,520 Speaker 1: myself in Kiev, you know, preparing to film this video 140 00:08:06,560 --> 00:08:09,480 Speaker 1: in front of the Maria, the destroyed Maria, the symbol 141 00:08:09,480 --> 00:08:12,680 Speaker 1: of Ukrainian independence. It was surreal, it was humbling. To 142 00:08:12,800 --> 00:08:15,680 Speaker 1: this day, I still can't believe it happened. You're in 143 00:08:15,720 --> 00:08:19,080 Speaker 1: a war zone. Yeah, you're not on a TV set 144 00:08:19,400 --> 00:08:21,960 Speaker 1: with a green screen behind you looking like a war zone. 145 00:08:22,160 --> 00:08:23,960 Speaker 1: You're in the war zone. What was it like to 146 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:26,600 Speaker 1: be in Kiev and to be in Ukraine in the 147 00:08:26,640 --> 00:08:29,480 Speaker 1: middle of this war. Look, we didn't sleep very much. 148 00:08:29,720 --> 00:08:32,480 Speaker 1: Certainly we were not near the front. The fighting in 149 00:08:32,600 --> 00:08:35,600 Speaker 1: Kiev had abated. When we first crossed the border and 150 00:08:35,640 --> 00:08:38,360 Speaker 1: went to Leviv, you wouldn't really get a sense of 151 00:08:38,400 --> 00:08:41,120 Speaker 1: war was going on. People were out kind of shopping, 152 00:08:41,160 --> 00:08:43,080 Speaker 1: the kids were playing. But when you got to Kiev 153 00:08:43,160 --> 00:08:45,040 Speaker 1: you certainly felt the weight. A lot of the stores 154 00:08:45,040 --> 00:08:47,600 Speaker 1: were closed. There was a tension in the air, there 155 00:08:47,600 --> 00:08:50,920 Speaker 1: were air raids, and we slept maybe two hours a night. 156 00:08:51,559 --> 00:08:55,960 Speaker 1: But it was anxiety written but we weren't dreading every moment. 157 00:08:56,040 --> 00:08:59,160 Speaker 1: We were focused. Were busy the save our allies folks. 158 00:08:59,160 --> 00:09:04,120 Speaker 1: They're all Special Forces green berets, so we had an 159 00:09:04,240 --> 00:09:07,760 Speaker 1: entourage of rambos and superheroes. But yeah, does that stop 160 00:09:07,760 --> 00:09:11,000 Speaker 1: a missile? Know? So, yeah, we were concerned, but we 161 00:09:11,160 --> 00:09:13,280 Speaker 1: thought it was worth a risk. And I had a 162 00:09:13,320 --> 00:09:15,959 Speaker 1: long talk with my wife before we went, and I'm 163 00:09:16,080 --> 00:09:20,520 Speaker 1: very grateful to her that she let me go, because understandably, 164 00:09:20,559 --> 00:09:22,800 Speaker 1: you are you're walking to war zone, and we see 165 00:09:23,160 --> 00:09:27,960 Speaker 1: that there's no discretion with Putin in civilian and military targets. 166 00:09:28,040 --> 00:09:30,640 Speaker 1: There's no difference. He's happy to bomb a mall as 167 00:09:30,720 --> 00:09:32,920 Speaker 1: much as he is to bomb an airport. When we 168 00:09:32,960 --> 00:09:35,440 Speaker 1: got back to Poland, I did take a deep breath, 169 00:09:35,480 --> 00:09:38,160 Speaker 1: I'll tell you that much. Because the Russians have an 170 00:09:38,160 --> 00:09:43,280 Speaker 1: engaged in random missile firings. You really are at risk 171 00:09:43,400 --> 00:09:47,040 Speaker 1: virtually anywhere in Ukraine. It may not be a giant risk, 172 00:09:47,360 --> 00:09:52,240 Speaker 1: but there is some statistical possibility of danger everywhere you went. Well, 173 00:09:52,240 --> 00:09:55,600 Speaker 1: that's true, as we've seen. We see every day civilians, 174 00:09:55,760 --> 00:10:01,360 Speaker 1: children being killed by this iront this monster in my 175 00:10:01,480 --> 00:10:03,719 Speaker 1: mind and you recognize it. And when when we were 176 00:10:03,720 --> 00:10:07,160 Speaker 1: filming at this airport, we were literally in the rubble 177 00:10:07,800 --> 00:10:11,800 Speaker 1: and I was surrounded by destroyed Russian tanks. My piano 178 00:10:11,880 --> 00:10:14,360 Speaker 1: was in jet fuel. The hangar had these big pieces 179 00:10:14,400 --> 00:10:16,560 Speaker 1: of metal that were swaying in the wind. I actually 180 00:10:16,559 --> 00:10:19,080 Speaker 1: had a spotter who was watching and said, all right, 181 00:10:19,080 --> 00:10:21,600 Speaker 1: if the roof starts to collapse, duck under your piano. 182 00:10:21,640 --> 00:10:23,800 Speaker 1: I'll give you a heads up. It was surreal. You 183 00:10:23,800 --> 00:10:26,000 Speaker 1: could not have gotten a permit for this in California, 184 00:10:26,120 --> 00:10:27,480 Speaker 1: let me tell you that much. But you had an 185 00:10:27,520 --> 00:10:31,360 Speaker 1: American production crew there filming this, right, We brought an 186 00:10:31,400 --> 00:10:35,280 Speaker 1: amazing American production crew led by Hollywood heard Nick Palmericiano. 187 00:10:35,800 --> 00:10:41,520 Speaker 1: They were brave, they were professional, they were invested emotionally 188 00:10:41,600 --> 00:10:45,080 Speaker 1: like we were, mister Speaker. There were still human remains 189 00:10:45,120 --> 00:10:48,040 Speaker 1: on site. We were literally in a war zone that 190 00:10:48,600 --> 00:10:51,960 Speaker 1: weeks before had seen combat. In front of the Maria 191 00:10:52,040 --> 00:10:55,079 Speaker 1: that had been destroyed by Putin. It was hollowed ground 192 00:10:55,440 --> 00:10:58,040 Speaker 1: and still this hollow ground to Ukrainians. And I think 193 00:10:58,400 --> 00:11:01,520 Speaker 1: filming the video there was important because it's not about me. 194 00:11:01,760 --> 00:11:05,080 Speaker 1: It's not even about my song. It's about them and 195 00:11:05,200 --> 00:11:08,600 Speaker 1: the Ukrainian orchestra. These human beings. When you watch the video, 196 00:11:09,400 --> 00:11:12,880 Speaker 1: you see their fortitude, you see why they are standing 197 00:11:12,920 --> 00:11:18,400 Speaker 1: up to this goliath, and to watch them perform was moving. 198 00:11:18,400 --> 00:11:20,520 Speaker 1: There was a moment when the general came by who 199 00:11:20,600 --> 00:11:24,400 Speaker 1: permitted us to film there, and he wanted to thank me, 200 00:11:24,440 --> 00:11:27,080 Speaker 1: and we spoke through a translator. He said, President Zlyinsky 201 00:11:27,160 --> 00:11:30,480 Speaker 1: has approved this, and then he said, let me hear 202 00:11:30,520 --> 00:11:34,480 Speaker 1: the song, and you could see the orchestra stiffen and 203 00:11:34,600 --> 00:11:38,360 Speaker 1: their spines hardened, and they started to play with vigor 204 00:11:38,720 --> 00:11:41,560 Speaker 1: and passion, and they took flight, and halfway through the 205 00:11:41,640 --> 00:11:45,920 Speaker 1: General took out his phone and started playing. There were tears, 206 00:11:45,960 --> 00:11:48,760 Speaker 1: there was silence, There's a forty person entourage, and when 207 00:11:48,800 --> 00:11:54,120 Speaker 1: we finished, you understood what was happening where we were, 208 00:11:54,280 --> 00:11:56,840 Speaker 1: that these people are fighting for their survival, that virtually 209 00:11:56,840 --> 00:11:59,440 Speaker 1: every person in that orchestra had a loved one who's 210 00:11:59,440 --> 00:12:02,520 Speaker 1: either been killed or missing or on the front. So 211 00:12:02,559 --> 00:12:05,400 Speaker 1: it really kind of hit home with US Americans, and 212 00:12:05,640 --> 00:12:09,280 Speaker 1: we felt pride that we were there supporting these people. 213 00:12:09,360 --> 00:12:12,120 Speaker 1: Like America, should we stand up for freedom? We stand 214 00:12:12,160 --> 00:12:15,160 Speaker 1: up for people fighting for freedom. And hopefully this video 215 00:12:15,240 --> 00:12:18,120 Speaker 1: was first of many for many artistic expressions. But I 216 00:12:18,240 --> 00:12:21,440 Speaker 1: have to give thanks to save our allies, Sarah Verado, 217 00:12:21,720 --> 00:12:25,560 Speaker 1: Sea Spray, Tim Kennedy. It does not happen without them. 218 00:12:25,640 --> 00:12:29,640 Speaker 1: They're doing heroic work a save Benjamin Hall's life. Sea 219 00:12:29,640 --> 00:12:34,000 Speaker 1: Spray just saved another American reporter. I could talk hours 220 00:12:34,040 --> 00:12:37,720 Speaker 1: about their organization, So any good we're doing with this 221 00:12:37,840 --> 00:12:41,880 Speaker 1: video starts with them. And I met them in Afghanistan, 222 00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:44,520 Speaker 1: and it wasn't for Afghanistan doing that whole thing, we 223 00:12:44,520 --> 00:12:47,720 Speaker 1: wouldn't be here. So all kudos to Sarah and her team. 224 00:12:48,200 --> 00:12:51,360 Speaker 1: They're amazing people and should make every American proud. Let 225 00:12:51,360 --> 00:12:54,440 Speaker 1: me ask Sarah two things. One, why did Save Our 226 00:12:54,480 --> 00:12:57,480 Speaker 1: Allies work with John and going to Ukraine to film 227 00:12:57,520 --> 00:13:00,120 Speaker 1: the music video? What was the impact you were hoping for? 228 00:13:00,720 --> 00:13:04,240 Speaker 1: The thing that I just hope others Americans can learn 229 00:13:04,280 --> 00:13:07,400 Speaker 1: about someone like John is he has used his celebrity 230 00:13:07,480 --> 00:13:10,280 Speaker 1: in his platform for so much good. I mean, we 231 00:13:10,360 --> 00:13:14,120 Speaker 1: see so many people that talk about it, but when 232 00:13:14,200 --> 00:13:17,600 Speaker 1: Afghanistan collapsed and there was this urgent cry from the 233 00:13:17,679 --> 00:13:22,400 Speaker 1: veteran community that twenty years of sacrifice, it felt like 234 00:13:22,480 --> 00:13:25,319 Speaker 1: it went up in flames. It was the most devastating 235 00:13:25,360 --> 00:13:28,920 Speaker 1: thing we could imagine. John did more than just make 236 00:13:28,960 --> 00:13:32,680 Speaker 1: a social media video or say how horrific it was 237 00:13:32,720 --> 00:13:36,559 Speaker 1: while staring at his television. He jumped in to the 238 00:13:36,720 --> 00:13:41,000 Speaker 1: Afghan evacuation space and he walked with us through horror 239 00:13:41,040 --> 00:13:43,439 Speaker 1: and pain, and he read the messages and he got 240 00:13:43,480 --> 00:13:47,520 Speaker 1: the phone calls and he heard that firsthand devastation. And 241 00:13:48,480 --> 00:13:51,600 Speaker 1: we knew John's heart, We knew he is someone who 242 00:13:51,679 --> 00:13:55,920 Speaker 1: walks the walk. It's so rare. And when Ukraine kicked 243 00:13:55,920 --> 00:13:58,160 Speaker 1: off Save our Allies, we were on the ground in 244 00:13:58,240 --> 00:14:02,440 Speaker 1: Ukraine starting on February tenth. It did not surprise any 245 00:14:02,520 --> 00:14:06,000 Speaker 1: of us that John, yet again was at the forefront 246 00:14:06,040 --> 00:14:08,800 Speaker 1: of doing right by the military and veteran community, the 247 00:14:08,880 --> 00:14:12,080 Speaker 1: backbone of America. And when his song came out, which 248 00:14:12,120 --> 00:14:16,360 Speaker 1: was so powerful, we could not move quickly enough to 249 00:14:16,400 --> 00:14:19,280 Speaker 1: make sure it had the platform, the audience, and the 250 00:14:19,440 --> 00:14:23,600 Speaker 1: environment to help inspire Americans and others to do the 251 00:14:23,680 --> 00:14:27,160 Speaker 1: right thing and to tell Ukraine that we stand with them. 252 00:14:27,200 --> 00:14:29,920 Speaker 1: I mean, what an honor for our team to be 253 00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:53,640 Speaker 1: able to work with John. Where can one man save 254 00:14:53,760 --> 00:15:00,840 Speaker 1: the world? Will save our allies? Founded over the Afghanistan disaster, Yes, sir, 255 00:15:00,920 --> 00:15:04,680 Speaker 1: it was. We watched the devastation and my husband is 256 00:15:04,720 --> 00:15:09,120 Speaker 1: one of the country's most severely injured warriors, and he's 257 00:15:09,200 --> 00:15:12,040 Speaker 1: of course had the honor of meeting you to survive 258 00:15:12,160 --> 00:15:16,640 Speaker 1: his injuries from Afghanistan. One hundred and twenty surgeries later, 259 00:15:17,040 --> 00:15:19,480 Speaker 1: thirty percent of his body is burned, his arm and 260 00:15:19,600 --> 00:15:22,960 Speaker 1: leg blown off, and his medical declines are so significant. 261 00:15:23,440 --> 00:15:26,320 Speaker 1: And we have three young daughters. Unfortunately, my husband now 262 00:15:26,360 --> 00:15:28,960 Speaker 1: requires full time care from a grown up to get 263 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:34,200 Speaker 1: through his day. When Afghanistan collapsed, I can't begin to 264 00:15:34,240 --> 00:15:38,000 Speaker 1: tell you. I felt sick. I felt absolutely sick, and 265 00:15:38,080 --> 00:15:41,280 Speaker 1: I had to tell my husband because he doesn't understand 266 00:15:41,400 --> 00:15:44,240 Speaker 1: things the way an adult would of his age, and 267 00:15:44,280 --> 00:15:46,800 Speaker 1: I had to tell him. And as he sleeps in 268 00:15:46,800 --> 00:15:48,800 Speaker 1: a hospital bed in our home, and as I walked 269 00:15:48,800 --> 00:15:53,760 Speaker 1: away after I heard him wailing, and I thought, we 270 00:15:53,880 --> 00:15:56,360 Speaker 1: have to do something. And we put this team together. 271 00:15:56,560 --> 00:15:58,920 Speaker 1: It was me and Chad Robshaw, and we put it 272 00:15:58,920 --> 00:16:00,800 Speaker 1: called it Save our Ally, and we asked our friends 273 00:16:00,920 --> 00:16:04,080 Speaker 1: Nick Pomishano and Tim Kennedy to go be part of 274 00:16:04,080 --> 00:16:08,800 Speaker 1: this ragtag team of people with experience that wanted to 275 00:16:08,800 --> 00:16:13,680 Speaker 1: do the right thing. And we had ten days to 276 00:16:13,800 --> 00:16:15,160 Speaker 1: do the right thing. We of course, thought we had 277 00:16:15,240 --> 00:16:18,240 Speaker 1: more time in this administration. It was a stain. It 278 00:16:18,320 --> 00:16:20,720 Speaker 1: was a state on our nation, the message they sent 279 00:16:20,800 --> 00:16:23,440 Speaker 1: to our allies, to our own citizens. And so we 280 00:16:23,480 --> 00:16:25,880 Speaker 1: did the work the government couldn't. We did have really 281 00:16:25,880 --> 00:16:29,080 Speaker 1: good partners in the government, but our team did the work. 282 00:16:29,160 --> 00:16:31,560 Speaker 1: So over a ten day period, there were twelve men 283 00:16:31,600 --> 00:16:34,080 Speaker 1: in the Middle East, and then I ran the operations 284 00:16:34,120 --> 00:16:37,600 Speaker 1: center here in the US and cleared everything through State 285 00:16:37,640 --> 00:16:42,400 Speaker 1: and DoD We evacuated twelve thousand people, and we met 286 00:16:42,440 --> 00:16:45,560 Speaker 1: people like John who were willing to jump in and 287 00:16:45,600 --> 00:16:48,400 Speaker 1: be part of it with us, and then you made 288 00:16:48,400 --> 00:16:52,640 Speaker 1: the decision to help him go to Ukraine as part 289 00:16:52,680 --> 00:16:55,720 Speaker 1: of this what do you really want to see happen? 290 00:16:56,840 --> 00:17:01,280 Speaker 1: Coming out of his video? We are soul that others 291 00:17:01,280 --> 00:17:04,520 Speaker 1: will follow John's example and that we can do a 292 00:17:04,560 --> 00:17:08,600 Speaker 1: live aid type concert for Ukraine. We believe as Americans 293 00:17:08,600 --> 00:17:10,760 Speaker 1: we have such an obligation. If you can help someone, 294 00:17:10,800 --> 00:17:13,119 Speaker 1: you help someone, and we should all use whatever powers 295 00:17:13,160 --> 00:17:15,200 Speaker 1: we have for good, and so we want to see 296 00:17:15,240 --> 00:17:17,960 Speaker 1: that come together. We want to show the Ukrainian people, 297 00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:21,320 Speaker 1: and frankly for people that say that what's happening in 298 00:17:21,400 --> 00:17:25,159 Speaker 1: Ukraine doesn't matter and doesn't affect us, we are knocking 299 00:17:25,160 --> 00:17:27,960 Speaker 1: at the door of World War three, and every single 300 00:17:28,000 --> 00:17:31,280 Speaker 1: American if they don't care, they're not paying attention. And 301 00:17:31,400 --> 00:17:34,960 Speaker 1: what John has led by example here is something that 302 00:17:35,000 --> 00:17:38,399 Speaker 1: we are just prayerful that others will understand the urgent 303 00:17:38,520 --> 00:17:42,760 Speaker 1: need to stand and support those that are fighting for themselves. John. 304 00:17:42,920 --> 00:17:45,840 Speaker 1: I was impressed when I watched the video. The ant 305 00:17:45,880 --> 00:17:48,840 Speaker 1: and Off was the largest cargo plane in the world, 306 00:17:49,160 --> 00:17:52,000 Speaker 1: bigger than anything the US ever produced, and I think 307 00:17:52,040 --> 00:17:55,000 Speaker 1: it was deliberately hit by the Russians because they knew 308 00:17:55,000 --> 00:17:58,880 Speaker 1: that it was a source of real pride to Ukraine. 309 00:17:59,240 --> 00:18:03,400 Speaker 1: You're standing there next to the ruins of this gigantic aircraft. 310 00:18:04,119 --> 00:18:08,680 Speaker 1: What was that like? It was surreal. We couldn't believe 311 00:18:08,720 --> 00:18:10,720 Speaker 1: it was even an option when we got there and 312 00:18:10,920 --> 00:18:13,359 Speaker 1: they mentioned we might be able to film on this 313 00:18:13,480 --> 00:18:16,320 Speaker 1: hollow ground and we actually sat outside the guard gate 314 00:18:16,400 --> 00:18:19,200 Speaker 1: for two hours to get permission. We never thought we 315 00:18:19,280 --> 00:18:21,399 Speaker 1: got in. And when we came around one of the 316 00:18:21,400 --> 00:18:24,600 Speaker 1: big hangars and saw for the first time the blown 317 00:18:24,680 --> 00:18:28,200 Speaker 1: up hangar and the Mario at the antonof airport. There 318 00:18:28,720 --> 00:18:31,200 Speaker 1: you get hit by two competing motions. One is just 319 00:18:32,119 --> 00:18:37,320 Speaker 1: awe of this playing the site in the war zone, 320 00:18:38,080 --> 00:18:43,600 Speaker 1: and also just terrible sadness that this is happening. You're right, 321 00:18:43,680 --> 00:18:47,320 Speaker 1: Putin basically destroyed this symbol of independence as trying to 322 00:18:47,640 --> 00:18:50,840 Speaker 1: gut the Ukrainian will and just shows how cynical he is, 323 00:18:51,160 --> 00:18:54,159 Speaker 1: and you realize that people had just died there fighting 324 00:18:54,200 --> 00:18:56,560 Speaker 1: for freedom. I remember when I went down to Cuba 325 00:18:56,680 --> 00:18:59,240 Speaker 1: to Guantanamo and played there and you look across the 326 00:19:00,160 --> 00:19:03,600 Speaker 1: and you see the guard post with Cuban soldiers with 327 00:19:03,640 --> 00:19:06,159 Speaker 1: their aks and you're like, okay, on that side of 328 00:19:06,200 --> 00:19:10,199 Speaker 1: the fence, there's no freedom. And I felt similar in Ukraine, 329 00:19:10,280 --> 00:19:14,040 Speaker 1: but exponentially it's like here a couple of weeks ago, 330 00:19:15,119 --> 00:19:19,040 Speaker 1: men and women were dying for freedom that we take 331 00:19:19,080 --> 00:19:22,080 Speaker 1: for granted. So it was a lot of competing emotions, 332 00:19:22,200 --> 00:19:26,159 Speaker 1: very emotional. We also realize this is the perfect place 333 00:19:26,240 --> 00:19:29,760 Speaker 1: to symbolize the fortitude of Ukrainian people, and putting that 334 00:19:29,880 --> 00:19:33,159 Speaker 1: orchestra in front of that plane, I think says in 335 00:19:33,240 --> 00:19:36,960 Speaker 1: one shot what we've seen for three months. But it 336 00:19:37,000 --> 00:19:41,080 Speaker 1: also shows that this war is not over and Russia 337 00:19:41,200 --> 00:19:44,399 Speaker 1: is slowly devouring Ukraine. They now have gotten twenty percent 338 00:19:44,440 --> 00:19:47,520 Speaker 1: of Ukraine, and it seems like we're playing for a 339 00:19:47,600 --> 00:19:51,080 Speaker 1: tie or for a loss, and so every moment matters, 340 00:19:51,160 --> 00:19:54,040 Speaker 1: and the sense of urgency I think we don't feel 341 00:19:54,080 --> 00:19:57,240 Speaker 1: in this country. So hopefully this video can spare a 342 00:19:57,240 --> 00:20:01,879 Speaker 1: little action, because it seems to be just dragging and dragging, 343 00:20:01,920 --> 00:20:05,160 Speaker 1: and with every day that goes by, I think that's 344 00:20:05,200 --> 00:20:08,760 Speaker 1: steputin its advantage, especially with winter coming, so the time 345 00:20:08,840 --> 00:20:12,040 Speaker 1: is now, we can't wait, and if we wait, then 346 00:20:12,080 --> 00:20:14,359 Speaker 1: it's going to be our soldiers fighting in Eastern Europe, 347 00:20:14,359 --> 00:20:17,159 Speaker 1: as Sarah said, in an actual World War three. And 348 00:20:17,240 --> 00:20:19,800 Speaker 1: that's why I think all of us are so passionate 349 00:20:19,840 --> 00:20:23,439 Speaker 1: about moving now and supporting these people and trying to 350 00:20:23,560 --> 00:20:26,639 Speaker 1: end this war. I have to confess, in addition to 351 00:20:26,640 --> 00:20:28,000 Speaker 1: the fact that if somebody who does a lot of 352 00:20:28,000 --> 00:20:30,600 Speaker 1: TV with a green screen, I'm watching you do a 353 00:20:30,720 --> 00:20:34,040 Speaker 1: video where you really are in the airport next to 354 00:20:34,080 --> 00:20:37,080 Speaker 1: this gigantic airplane that's been wrecked. But the other thing 355 00:20:37,119 --> 00:20:41,960 Speaker 1: that's equally amazing is you have the Ukrainian orchestra. How 356 00:20:42,000 --> 00:20:43,480 Speaker 1: are you able to find them in the middle of 357 00:20:43,520 --> 00:20:46,720 Speaker 1: a war? Great question. We were trying to get a 358 00:20:46,760 --> 00:20:49,320 Speaker 1: hold of them. First we had to record the song, 359 00:20:49,680 --> 00:20:53,119 Speaker 1: so I was literally flying from Amsterdam to Krakow. We 360 00:20:53,160 --> 00:20:56,199 Speaker 1: had a six hour window to gather the orchestra. They 361 00:20:56,240 --> 00:21:00,320 Speaker 1: came from all around Ukraine. Of course, there's no const sets, 362 00:21:00,359 --> 00:21:04,320 Speaker 1: there's no shows, so they filtered in from around the 363 00:21:04,520 --> 00:21:09,000 Speaker 1: surrounding one hundred miles. They got to the studio. I 364 00:21:09,080 --> 00:21:12,600 Speaker 1: was on zoom on a call heading to the border 365 00:21:12,680 --> 00:21:16,320 Speaker 1: trying to record them. They did an amazing job. And 366 00:21:16,359 --> 00:21:20,800 Speaker 1: then to get them on a bus to the Antonof airport. 367 00:21:20,960 --> 00:21:23,640 Speaker 1: Of course, mister speaker. It was pouring rain and they're 368 00:21:23,680 --> 00:21:25,480 Speaker 1: not going to play in the rain, so we had 369 00:21:25,520 --> 00:21:28,320 Speaker 1: to deal with orchestra members. I'm not sorry. You can't 370 00:21:28,400 --> 00:21:31,000 Speaker 1: do that with strings, can you. He just doesn't work. 371 00:21:31,160 --> 00:21:33,040 Speaker 1: Even for the war. They're not going to do that, 372 00:21:33,119 --> 00:21:36,320 Speaker 1: and thank god the sun came out. They were so 373 00:21:36,400 --> 00:21:41,199 Speaker 1: I think, just grateful to play, to express themselves. You know, 374 00:21:41,240 --> 00:21:45,159 Speaker 1: they're not soldiers, but they are equally passionate, and to 375 00:21:45,200 --> 00:21:49,840 Speaker 1: express themselves musically for their country was I think very 376 00:21:49,840 --> 00:21:53,040 Speaker 1: powerful for them. So it was a series of minor 377 00:21:53,119 --> 00:21:55,800 Speaker 1: miracles to make this happen. And when I look at it, 378 00:21:55,840 --> 00:21:58,360 Speaker 1: I can't believe we did it. But as you'll see, 379 00:21:58,560 --> 00:22:01,800 Speaker 1: the star of the video is Ukrainian Orchestra because they 380 00:22:01,880 --> 00:22:05,320 Speaker 1: represent the Ukrainian people. And that's what this is all about. 381 00:22:15,080 --> 00:22:22,000 Speaker 1: Who is this comedian, this steal that is Ukrainian? We die, 382 00:22:22,040 --> 00:22:37,920 Speaker 1: but maybe live again? The woman say the Sarah. Because 383 00:22:37,960 --> 00:22:40,960 Speaker 1: you have so many connections with so many contacts. What's 384 00:22:41,000 --> 00:22:45,200 Speaker 1: the situation in Afghanistan now, oh, sir, mister speaker. The 385 00:22:45,240 --> 00:22:48,280 Speaker 1: situation is dire. Our friends are dying and that is 386 00:22:48,359 --> 00:22:50,359 Speaker 1: the plainest way that I can put that. Our friends 387 00:22:50,359 --> 00:22:53,440 Speaker 1: are being slaughtered and they are being hunted, and their 388 00:22:53,520 --> 00:22:58,520 Speaker 1: crime is that they supported American troops. It is sinful 389 00:22:58,640 --> 00:23:02,200 Speaker 1: what has happened the people left behind, the urgent cries 390 00:23:02,240 --> 00:23:05,480 Speaker 1: we're getting girls have not been in school for about 391 00:23:05,480 --> 00:23:08,879 Speaker 1: three hundred and fourteen days now. Tens of thousands of 392 00:23:08,960 --> 00:23:12,360 Speaker 1: people are just waiting for the US to fulfill their 393 00:23:12,400 --> 00:23:15,959 Speaker 1: promise that upon good and faithful service to America, we 394 00:23:15,960 --> 00:23:18,919 Speaker 1: would bring them here. And not only stir does that impact, 395 00:23:18,960 --> 00:23:21,880 Speaker 1: of course morale around the world, and that Americans will 396 00:23:21,960 --> 00:23:26,040 Speaker 1: keep their promise. It actually really compromises our own national 397 00:23:26,080 --> 00:23:29,440 Speaker 1: security because when we have a future conflict and we will. 398 00:23:29,520 --> 00:23:32,600 Speaker 1: I wish we wouldn't, but God knows we will. Who 399 00:23:32,680 --> 00:23:35,320 Speaker 1: will want to be our allies when we abandon them 400 00:23:35,359 --> 00:23:38,280 Speaker 1: and we just do not keep our moral obligation and 401 00:23:38,320 --> 00:23:41,920 Speaker 1: our promise. So the situation there is dire. It is 402 00:23:42,000 --> 00:23:46,280 Speaker 1: Taliban controlled Afghanistan. That being said, our group has moved 403 00:23:46,359 --> 00:23:49,440 Speaker 1: five thousand people, bringing our total to more than seventeen 404 00:23:49,520 --> 00:23:54,199 Speaker 1: thousand rescued since the incidents at h Kaya, and it 405 00:23:54,359 --> 00:23:58,600 Speaker 1: is very slow because no country, particularly the US government, 406 00:23:59,040 --> 00:24:02,480 Speaker 1: wants to take our Afghan allies. And it's very disappointing. 407 00:24:02,480 --> 00:24:05,400 Speaker 1: I know this administration would love to pretend it never happened, 408 00:24:05,800 --> 00:24:09,359 Speaker 1: so they are doubling down that everything has gone to 409 00:24:09,440 --> 00:24:12,800 Speaker 1: a complete halt of trying to get our allies out. 410 00:24:13,280 --> 00:24:15,440 Speaker 1: Let me make this clear, sir. So if you are 411 00:24:16,119 --> 00:24:19,080 Speaker 1: an illegal immigrant coming from almost anywhere in the world, 412 00:24:19,119 --> 00:24:21,760 Speaker 1: you can walk across the Rio grand But if you 413 00:24:21,800 --> 00:24:24,760 Speaker 1: are an Afghan ally of the United States, you have 414 00:24:24,800 --> 00:24:27,680 Speaker 1: a state department that is simply not helping. Not only 415 00:24:27,720 --> 00:24:30,520 Speaker 1: are they not helping, sir, they are hindering. And I 416 00:24:30,640 --> 00:24:33,879 Speaker 1: say that because we have the airplanes, we have the 417 00:24:33,880 --> 00:24:37,960 Speaker 1: ground team. Right now, we have two hundred people in Pakistan, 418 00:24:38,480 --> 00:24:44,040 Speaker 1: people who serve, bled, fought, slept beside American troops, and 419 00:24:44,119 --> 00:24:47,680 Speaker 1: our government is just slow rolling them in a just 420 00:24:47,720 --> 00:24:51,400 Speaker 1: a haze of red tape. And they are being killed 421 00:24:51,520 --> 00:24:54,560 Speaker 1: every single day for this crime of supporting America. If 422 00:24:54,600 --> 00:24:56,960 Speaker 1: Kanas just adopt a law that says you have to 423 00:24:57,000 --> 00:25:00,200 Speaker 1: be as welcoming to Afghans who are our allies as 424 00:25:00,200 --> 00:25:02,600 Speaker 1: you are a strange as we've never met, you could 425 00:25:02,840 --> 00:25:07,160 Speaker 1: automatically improve things overnight. I have a friend and he 426 00:25:07,240 --> 00:25:10,000 Speaker 1: has several planes that he's given for this effort and 427 00:25:10,040 --> 00:25:12,040 Speaker 1: he said, Sarah, why can't we just fly them to 428 00:25:12,119 --> 00:25:15,240 Speaker 1: Mexico and they can just walk across. I mean, really, 429 00:25:15,320 --> 00:25:18,040 Speaker 1: at this point, I don't know. No, it's that bad. 430 00:25:18,080 --> 00:25:20,199 Speaker 1: I hate to say it, but in fact that might 431 00:25:20,240 --> 00:25:23,320 Speaker 1: be the most practical solution. Right If you can't get 432 00:25:23,400 --> 00:25:25,800 Speaker 1: Joe Biden to fit into your world, maybe there's a 433 00:25:25,800 --> 00:25:28,520 Speaker 1: way to have seventeen thousand Afghans fit into his world. 434 00:25:28,920 --> 00:25:32,600 Speaker 1: They'll suddenly be welcomed with Oakland Arms. It's just truly, 435 00:25:32,720 --> 00:25:35,520 Speaker 1: truly bizarre. Let me go on here for a second 436 00:25:35,520 --> 00:25:38,720 Speaker 1: because I'm not quite sure what our next John and 437 00:25:38,920 --> 00:25:42,600 Speaker 1: Rossik podcast will be, but I'm confident will be highly interesting. 438 00:25:42,640 --> 00:25:45,000 Speaker 1: So John, what's next for you? What are your plans? 439 00:25:45,440 --> 00:25:47,880 Speaker 1: Well up on tour? Talking to you from the back 440 00:25:47,880 --> 00:25:50,680 Speaker 1: of the tour bus here, I'm touring the next few 441 00:25:50,680 --> 00:25:52,720 Speaker 1: weeks out playing with the rock band and playing the 442 00:25:52,760 --> 00:25:55,360 Speaker 1: song every night with audio from the orchestra. It's very 443 00:25:55,400 --> 00:25:58,440 Speaker 1: moving and Sarah and I are really focused on this 444 00:25:58,480 --> 00:26:02,000 Speaker 1: concert for Ukraine. I think it needs to happen. We're 445 00:26:02,040 --> 00:26:05,080 Speaker 1: starting to see it go global. Richard Branson just tweeted 446 00:26:05,080 --> 00:26:08,160 Speaker 1: out our video today, so we're seeing it start moving 447 00:26:08,200 --> 00:26:10,880 Speaker 1: around the world and we need the big guns. So 448 00:26:11,400 --> 00:26:14,679 Speaker 1: we're working in Ukraine. We spoke to some folks today 449 00:26:14,840 --> 00:26:18,120 Speaker 1: in the ministry. We're working in Poland, and our big 450 00:26:18,119 --> 00:26:20,560 Speaker 1: goal is to have this concert in October and let 451 00:26:20,560 --> 00:26:23,040 Speaker 1: the Russian people see it for themselves. I think the 452 00:26:23,080 --> 00:26:25,320 Speaker 1: greatest thing about this video is that it will get 453 00:26:25,320 --> 00:26:28,680 Speaker 1: into Russia and the people of Russia will see this 454 00:26:28,800 --> 00:26:31,680 Speaker 1: orchestra in front of the Maria that Putin destroyed with 455 00:26:31,720 --> 00:26:35,439 Speaker 1: an American singer songwriter, and I think that speaks to 456 00:26:35,480 --> 00:26:38,000 Speaker 1: the fact that we are not going to let Ukraine 457 00:26:38,040 --> 00:26:41,000 Speaker 1: go down as much as our government seems to want 458 00:26:41,040 --> 00:26:44,359 Speaker 1: to slow play it. And music we've seen can have 459 00:26:44,400 --> 00:26:47,720 Speaker 1: a big effect on world events. So we may be dreaming, 460 00:26:47,920 --> 00:26:51,400 Speaker 1: we may be naive, but that's how we've gotten here 461 00:26:51,440 --> 00:26:54,720 Speaker 1: so far, and we leave with our hearts. And thanks 462 00:26:54,720 --> 00:26:57,720 Speaker 1: to Sarah and c Spray and Tim and Nick, I've 463 00:26:57,720 --> 00:27:00,600 Speaker 1: been inspired to be a better version of myself. So 464 00:27:00,640 --> 00:27:03,160 Speaker 1: whatever we do, I give a lot of credit to them. 465 00:27:03,200 --> 00:27:05,800 Speaker 1: And in my mind, we're just starting and the video 466 00:27:05,920 --> 00:27:08,159 Speaker 1: is just the first step. Sarah, why don't you just 467 00:27:08,160 --> 00:27:11,680 Speaker 1: want to tell us what's next for save our allies? Well, sir, 468 00:27:11,800 --> 00:27:14,240 Speaker 1: thanks for having us and for helping us spread the word. 469 00:27:14,680 --> 00:27:18,679 Speaker 1: We are now a global rescue organization, and so we 470 00:27:18,800 --> 00:27:22,159 Speaker 1: have this view that wherever Americans and our allies, and 471 00:27:22,200 --> 00:27:25,560 Speaker 1: those include our journalists and our wartime allies, and really 472 00:27:25,600 --> 00:27:27,960 Speaker 1: whoever needs help in that time of need, if they 473 00:27:28,000 --> 00:27:31,040 Speaker 1: are in contested areas, we are going to get them 474 00:27:31,040 --> 00:27:35,240 Speaker 1: to safety. And we are looking quite frankly at probably 475 00:27:35,280 --> 00:27:38,639 Speaker 1: Taiwan as the next theater that we may be forced 476 00:27:38,680 --> 00:27:41,520 Speaker 1: to operate in, because as an American I would not 477 00:27:41,640 --> 00:27:44,359 Speaker 1: feel safe being another country that the US government is 478 00:27:44,359 --> 00:27:46,840 Speaker 1: going to help me. And that's why groups like Save 479 00:27:46,840 --> 00:27:50,199 Speaker 1: Our Allies exist now to really help and go that 480 00:27:50,280 --> 00:27:53,879 Speaker 1: last mile. There's a fellow citizen. I feel that we 481 00:27:53,960 --> 00:27:57,240 Speaker 1: owe both of you a real debt of gratitude and 482 00:27:57,320 --> 00:27:59,959 Speaker 1: a very strong thank you, And we're going to live 483 00:28:00,200 --> 00:28:03,760 Speaker 1: to both Save our Allies and to the new single 484 00:28:03,800 --> 00:28:06,439 Speaker 1: and video, Can One Man Save the World. And I 485 00:28:06,440 --> 00:28:09,159 Speaker 1: am confident it's a sad comment on the way the 486 00:28:09,200 --> 00:28:12,800 Speaker 1: world is currently decaying, but I am confident that we'll 487 00:28:12,840 --> 00:28:15,000 Speaker 1: have an excuse John and sometime in the next six 488 00:28:15,080 --> 00:28:17,760 Speaker 1: or eight months to once again be together. I'm confident 489 00:28:17,800 --> 00:28:21,440 Speaker 1: that it will be remarkably creativil on your part. Now 490 00:28:21,480 --> 00:28:24,480 Speaker 1: that we have Sarah as a great ally of yours, 491 00:28:24,720 --> 00:28:27,720 Speaker 1: I really hope people will be aware that working will 492 00:28:27,760 --> 00:28:31,560 Speaker 1: save our allies is really important and it's tragic that 493 00:28:31,640 --> 00:28:34,439 Speaker 1: we can't expect the most powerful government in the world, 494 00:28:34,760 --> 00:28:37,800 Speaker 1: the most powerful military in the world, to do its job, 495 00:28:38,280 --> 00:28:42,800 Speaker 1: and therefore we have to rely on individual citizens, on artists, 496 00:28:43,160 --> 00:28:46,240 Speaker 1: and on charitable organizations. But that's where we are, and 497 00:28:46,360 --> 00:28:49,080 Speaker 1: the two of you, I think are an inspiration to 498 00:28:49,240 --> 00:28:52,840 Speaker 1: me and I hope an inspiration to most Americans that 499 00:28:52,960 --> 00:28:55,960 Speaker 1: the American spirit is still alive and well. So thank 500 00:28:56,000 --> 00:29:00,720 Speaker 1: you for a remarkable conversation. Oh yeah, you've been such 501 00:29:00,760 --> 00:29:04,480 Speaker 1: an advocate. You wrote an article after the twenty seventeen 502 00:29:04,880 --> 00:29:07,600 Speaker 1: VA accountability and you met my husband there. You're just 503 00:29:07,680 --> 00:29:10,000 Speaker 1: amazing to kind of profile what his journey has been like. 504 00:29:10,040 --> 00:29:12,320 Speaker 1: He was in much better health and he was more 505 00:29:12,400 --> 00:29:15,600 Speaker 1: verbal when you met him. But we're so grateful you've 506 00:29:15,600 --> 00:29:18,680 Speaker 1: been a champion for families like ours for so many years. 507 00:29:22,880 --> 00:29:25,960 Speaker 1: Thank you to my guests John and Rassak and Sarah Verardo. 508 00:29:26,320 --> 00:29:28,640 Speaker 1: You can get a link to the new video Can 509 00:29:28,760 --> 00:29:32,000 Speaker 1: One Man Save the World on our show page. At 510 00:29:32,120 --> 00:29:34,840 Speaker 1: newtworld dot com and you can get a link to 511 00:29:34,880 --> 00:29:38,480 Speaker 1: Sarah Verardo's organization which is so important to all of us. 512 00:29:38,840 --> 00:29:42,680 Speaker 1: News World is produced by Gingwish three sixty and iHeartMedia. 513 00:29:43,200 --> 00:29:47,720 Speaker 1: Our executive producer is Garnsey Sloane, our producer is Rebecca Hall, 514 00:29:48,160 --> 00:29:51,680 Speaker 1: and our researcher is Rachel Peterson. The artwork for the 515 00:29:51,720 --> 00:29:55,640 Speaker 1: show was created by Steve Penley. Special thanks to the 516 00:29:55,680 --> 00:29:59,280 Speaker 1: team at Gingwish three sixty. If you've been enjoying news World, 517 00:29:59,560 --> 00:30:02,640 Speaker 1: I hope people go to Apple Podcasts and both rate 518 00:30:02,720 --> 00:30:05,640 Speaker 1: us with five stars and give us a review so 519 00:30:05,760 --> 00:30:09,120 Speaker 1: others can learn what it's all about. Right now, listeners 520 00:30:09,120 --> 00:30:12,760 Speaker 1: of Newtsworld can sign up from my three free weekly 521 00:30:12,800 --> 00:30:17,240 Speaker 1: columns at Gingrich three sixty dot com slash newsletter. I'm 522 00:30:17,320 --> 00:30:19,320 Speaker 1: newt Gingrich and this is news World