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Hey, what's going on everybody.
I'm Trevor Noah.
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On today's episode of the show,
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we catch up
on all things inauguration--
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how Biden came in,
how Trump went out,
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and how Melania stopped
pretending that she's happy.
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Plus, our guest tonight
is the woman many credit
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for Dikembe Mutombo'ing
Mitch McConnell--
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Stacey Abrams. She's gonna
be joining us on the show.
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So let's do this, people.
Welcome to
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The Daily
Social Distancing Show.
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-? ? -ANNOUNCER: From
Trevor's couch in New York City
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to your couch
somewhere in the world, this is
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The Daily Social Distancing Show
with Trevor Noah.
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Today the sun was shining,
the birds were singing
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and McDonald's' share price
in Florida just went way up,
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because America
just got a brand new dad.
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JOHN ROBERTS: Please raise your
right hand and repeat after me.
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I, Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr.,
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do solemnly swear.
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I, Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr.,
do solemnly swear.
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That I will faithfully execute.
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That I will
faithfully execute.
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The office of president
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of the United States.
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Office of president
of the United States.
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And will,
to the best of my ability.
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And will, to the best
of my ability.
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Preserve, protect and defend.
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Preserve, protect
and defend.
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The Constitution of the
United States.
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The Constitution
of the United States.
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-So help you God.
-So help me God.
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-Congratulations, Mr. President.
-(cheering)
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(band playing
"Hail to the Chief")
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I don't know about you,
but this moment
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will stay
in my memory forever.
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Joe Biden's middle name
is Robinette?
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What?
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But that's right--
as of noon Eastern time today,
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America welcomed
the fresh young face
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of Joseph R. Biden
as its 46th president.
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And despite the pandemic,
this inauguration had it all:
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former presidents,
the youngest inaugural poet,
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an amazing singer
wearing her own Etsy store,
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an old man on his way
to the post office,
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and even a lady whose outfit
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just called me a broke bitch.
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Biden was so committed to unity
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that he even invited
enemies of the state.
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No, I'm joking, I'm joking,
guys, I'm joking.
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Ted Cruz didn't try
and overthrow the government,
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he just supported
the people who did.
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Even Mike Pence
attended the inauguration
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to honor the democratic
transition of power.
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Kudos to Mike Pence.
You can see him there,
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with his mask featuring
the vice presidential seal.
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And as tradition dictates,
once Kamala was sworn in,
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he gave that very same
mask for her to put on.
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But before the new president
could walk in,
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the old one
had to be kicked out.
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GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: There
you see Marine One on the lawn
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of the White House.
President Trump's still there
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but is expected
to depart any minute
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for Andrews Air Force Base
and give a final speech
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before heading to Mar-a-Lago.
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And I can tell you that
from the bottom of my heart,
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this has been
an incredible four years.
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-We rebuilt the United States
military. -(sporadic cheers)
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We created a new force
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called Space Force.
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And now the stock market
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is actually substantially higher
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than it was at its higher point
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prior to the pandemic,
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so it's, uh, really,
you could say we built it twice.
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I hope they don't
raise your taxes.
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But if they do, I told you so.
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So just... a goodbye.
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We love you.
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We will be back in some form.
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Have a good life.
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We will see you soon.
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Have a good life?
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That's not what a departing
president is supposed to say.
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That is what you tell
your best friend in high school
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when she starts
dating your ex.
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I hope you two
are very happy together.
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Have a good life!
If he dumps you before prom,
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I told you so!
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Although I do like how he said
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he'll be "back in some form."
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Because my man knows you
got to leave on a cliffhanger.
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I'll be back in some form.
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Maybe I'll come back
as a politician.
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Maybe as a mutant fish monster.
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Or maybe I'll come back as
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one of those old guys
with a ponytail.
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Stay tuned.
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But Trump's last day in office
wasn't all just
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whining and stealing silverware.
No, my friends.
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He also made sure to hand out
some very nice parting gifts
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to all his friends.
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NEWSMAN: President Trump
announces more than
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140 pardons and commutations.
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The list ranges from the
president's political allies
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to nonviolent drug offenders.
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Steve Bannon pleaded not guilty
to defrauding donors
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in a fundraising campaign for
President Trump's border wall,
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but before the trial
could even get underway,
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the president gave him
a preemtive pardon.
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Three former
Republican Congressman
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and commuted the sentence
of Detroit's
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former Democratic mayor
Kwame Kilpatrick,
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who was serving time
on corruption charges.
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The president also pardoned
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rappers Lil' Wayne
and Kodak Black
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on their separate federal
weapons-related offenses.
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That's right people,
Donald Trump pardoned
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a ton of shady people in the
last hours of his presidency.
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Which means those fraudsters
can get back to defrauding
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and Steve Bannon can get back to
selling Mucinex.
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The weird part, though,
was how he kept trying
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to give prison time
to Eric.
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I'm sorry, Eric, the rule
in prison is one in, one out.
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It's just like the nightclubs.
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I'm gonna miss you,
Eric jokes.
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Have a good life.
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Now, what was really crazy
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is that Trump pardoned
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Kodak Black and Lil' Wayne.
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Which sounds like a good thing.
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I mean, it's cool
to pardon anyone, I guess,
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but it's a terrible thing
to do to a rapper.
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'Cause you're taking away
their street cred.
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Now what are they gonna
rap about?
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? Yeah, young Weezy, baby ?
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? I can I get
an office job now ?
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? I can also get a mortgage
at a good rate ?
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? Legally buy a gun
in all states ?
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? Now you see me on the street ?
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? On my way to jury duty, where
the booty that is goody... ?
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(trails off)
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Honestly, if you ask me,
I think it's incredible
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that Trump didn't
pardon himself.
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Because it means that
even President Trump
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looked at Donald Trump's record
and decided,
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man, I can't
let this guy off that easy.
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Then again, some people
are actually speculating
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that Trump secretly
wrote himself a pardon
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that he can use later.
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And, honestly,
I hope that he did.
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Because he's Donald Trump,
so you know he's just gonna
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end up wasting that pardon
on some bullshit.
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Mr. Trump, your car is illegally
parked in a handicap spot
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and you're getting a ticket.
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Well, now's the perfect time
to use my one and only pardon.
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I'll see you when I come back
from my game of golf.
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Now, Trump is not
the first president
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to issue shady pardons
on his way out the door.
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I mean, Bill Clinton
famously pardoned his brother
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and a really dodgy businessman
whose ex-wife
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donated to Clinton's library.
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And, yes, don't get me wrong,
Trump took it
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to a whole new level,
but he's not unique.
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If anything, I think
he should have gone further.
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I'm not gonna lie--
I'm really pissed off
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that of all the people
Trump chose to pardon,
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he didn't pardon Joe Exotic.
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Because I don't know about you,
but I want--
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no, I need--
a second season of that show.
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I need more Tiger King.
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Now the only thing
I can watch on Netflix
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is that Bridgerton show.
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Every day--
Bridgerton, Bridgerton--
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and I'm falling in love
with that duke.
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And I'm sitting there wondering
what our babies would look like
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if we were a couple.
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Probably like us.
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And it wasn't just
last-minute pardons.
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Last night, at literally
1:00 in the morning,
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Donald Trump also did this.
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Breaking overnight:
President Donald Trump signing
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an executive order releasing
current and former members
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of his administration from the
terms of their ethics pledge.
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That pledge: one of Trump's
first executive orders
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back in 2017 when he pledged
to drain the swamp.
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It required Trump's political
appointees to agree to
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the lobbying ban as well as
pledge not to undertake work
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that would require them
to register as a foreign agent
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after leaving government.
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So after all that time,
talking about
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how he's gonna drain the swamp,
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the one rule he actually made
to reduce corruption
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he got rid of right before
he left office.
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But let's be real, though,
people-- electing Trump
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to reduce corruption
is like hiring Hilaria Baldwin
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to handle your PR crisis--
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the results are gonna be
no bueno.
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But on the other hand,
I do get why he's doing this.
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Trump staffers
have to become lobbyists.
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I mean, where else are they
gonna go with their résumés?
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So why do you think you'd be
a good employee for Pets Plus?
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Well, you guys
keep pets in cages
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and, uh, we used to
keep kids in cages.
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Um, okay, we'll be in touch.
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And so, with Trump finally gone,
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it was time
for President Biden
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to get the key
from under the mat
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and settle into the house
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that they'd spent all day
getting ready for him.
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NEWSMAN: Right now
the White House residence staff
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are going around the White House
and boxing up anything
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that the Trump family
may have left behind.
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Trump officials insist that the
place is going to be sanitized
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with particular care
and COVID-19 in mind.
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NEWWOMAN: Part of what
is going to be moved in
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and different
in the White House residence
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is that the Bidens will,
I hear, share a bedroom.
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The Trumps, of course,
had separate bedrooms.
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So this will be switched.
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All the mattresses
will be refreshed.
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NEWSMAN 2: We're so used
to seeing the new president
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walk up the steps
under the north portico
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into the White House
to be greeted
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by the outgoing president
of the United States.
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And there you saw Joe Biden
and the First Lady not greeted
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by anybody outside the
front door of the White House.
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In fact, the previous president
had skipped town
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before the inauguration.
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So Biden left there to sort of
be a self-greeter in many ways,
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and let himself into the White
House, into the front door.
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Yeah. Trump wasn't there to
greet Biden at the White House,
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which is a snub.
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But on the other hand,
I'm not sure that Trump needs
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to be there now because how
would that conversation even go?
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You know, I actually used
to work here
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so you don't need to show me
where the Situation Room is.
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The Situ-what Room?
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Now, I know
it's Inauguration Day,
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and everyone wants
to throw a party,
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but remember,
it's also Wednesday,
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which means
it's still a work day.
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00:10:00,367 --> 00:10:02,536
And so after he got back
to the White House,
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00:10:02,569 --> 00:10:07,140
President Joseph Robinette Biden
went straight to work.
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And let's just say
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00:10:08,475 --> 00:10:09,910
the White House bathrooms
aren't the only place
247
00:10:09,943 --> 00:10:13,080
Biden is looking to wipe out
any trace of Donald Trump.
248
00:10:13,113 --> 00:10:15,582
NEWSMAN: Just hours
after being sworn in,
249
00:10:15,616 --> 00:10:18,485
President Joe Biden
is already putting the pen
250
00:10:18,519 --> 00:10:20,454
to a number
of executive orders.
251
00:10:20,487 --> 00:10:23,790
This is common practice
as presidents enter office.
252
00:10:23,824 --> 00:10:25,125
NEWSWOMAN:
Biden expected to sign
253
00:10:25,158 --> 00:10:26,894
roughly a dozen
executive orders,
254
00:10:26,927 --> 00:10:30,130
undoing some of Donald Trump's
most controversial moves.
255
00:10:30,163 --> 00:10:32,533
He will immediately rejoin
the Paris Climate Accord,
256
00:10:32,566 --> 00:10:35,002
reportedly cancel
the Keystone Pipeline,
257
00:10:35,035 --> 00:10:37,838
and will reverse the so-called
"Muslim travel ban,"
258
00:10:37,871 --> 00:10:40,807
and take the first step
in his fight against COVID,
259
00:10:40,841 --> 00:10:43,110
mandating masks
on federal lands,
260
00:10:43,143 --> 00:10:46,113
and extending the pause
of student loan payments.
261
00:10:46,146 --> 00:10:51,919
Wow. That is a huge reversal
of Trump's legacy.
262
00:10:51,952 --> 00:10:55,989
Rejoining the Paris Accords,
canceling the Keystone Pipeline
263
00:10:56,023 --> 00:10:58,959
and even repealing
the infamous Muslim ban.
264
00:10:58,992 --> 00:11:01,495
Although with America's
COVID rates right now,
265
00:11:01,528 --> 00:11:02,930
I don't actually think
that last one
266
00:11:02,963 --> 00:11:04,364
is gonna make much
of a difference.
267
00:11:04,398 --> 00:11:06,900
Come on over, Muslim countries.
Come on to America.
268
00:11:06,934 --> 00:11:09,636
Actually, we have Zoom now,
so... (laughs)
269
00:11:09,670 --> 00:11:11,638
you guys can keep your coughing.
270
00:11:11,672 --> 00:11:13,507
Now, this is really good news,
and I'm glad
271
00:11:13,540 --> 00:11:16,109
that America is rejoining
the Paris Accord.
272
00:11:16,143 --> 00:11:18,178
But you got to admit,
this back and forth--
273
00:11:18,212 --> 00:11:20,948
this must be so weird
for other countries.
274
00:11:20,981 --> 00:11:24,351
Because under Obama, America
celebrated the Paris Accords.
275
00:11:24,384 --> 00:11:26,053
But then, under Trump,
it was like,
276
00:11:26,086 --> 00:11:27,688
"(bleep) the Paris Accords!
277
00:11:27,721 --> 00:11:29,523
Let the planet burn!"
278
00:11:29,556 --> 00:11:31,592
And then, now under Biden, it's
like, "All right, guys, I'm...
279
00:11:31,625 --> 00:11:33,193
"I'm back in the Paris Accords.
Sorry.
280
00:11:33,227 --> 00:11:34,795
"Yeah, and I'm also back
on my meds. (laughs)
281
00:11:34,828 --> 00:11:36,063
Sorry about that."
282
00:11:36,096 --> 00:11:38,098
So my friends, Donald
283
00:11:38,131 --> 00:11:40,868
Jesus-Christ-That-Was-Crazy
Trump
284
00:11:40,901 --> 00:11:44,238
has officially departed the
White House for the last time.
285
00:11:44,271 --> 00:11:47,574
And I know. I know that
many people are angry right now
286
00:11:47,608 --> 00:11:49,710
at the state
that he left this country in.
287
00:11:49,743 --> 00:11:54,181
But I implore you to try and
look at the few silver linings.
288
00:11:54,214 --> 00:11:57,317
One-- America survived Trump,
289
00:11:57,351 --> 00:12:00,654
and in doing so,
displayed its resilience.
290
00:12:00,687 --> 00:12:06,026
And two-- Trump's term has truly
exposed so many of the flaws
291
00:12:06,059 --> 00:12:08,295
in America's system.
And I know for some,
292
00:12:08,328 --> 00:12:10,531
day one of Joe Biden's
presidency may be too soon
293
00:12:10,564 --> 00:12:12,165
to think about fixing
America's problems,
294
00:12:12,199 --> 00:12:14,868
but you need
to start fixing them now.
295
00:12:14,902 --> 00:12:18,138
Because before you know it,
2024 will be here,
296
00:12:18,172 --> 00:12:20,407
and Donald Trump might be back
297
00:12:20,440 --> 00:12:22,442
in some form.
298
00:12:22,476 --> 00:12:23,911
All right, when we come back,
299
00:12:23,944 --> 00:12:27,414
we'll see how today stacked up
to other inaugurations.
300
00:12:27,447 --> 00:12:30,250
Spoiler alert:
it had a lot less dead birds.
301
00:12:30,284 --> 00:12:32,819
And Stacey Abrams is still
joining us on the show,
302
00:12:32,853 --> 00:12:32,920
so stick around.
303
00:12:35,721 --> 00:12:37,389
Welcome back to The Daily
Social Distancing Show.
304
00:12:37,423 --> 00:12:41,126
Joe Biden's inauguration
did not look like a typical one.
305
00:12:41,160 --> 00:12:42,961
Partly because of the pandemic,
306
00:12:42,995 --> 00:12:45,631
partly because the National
Guard was protecting him
307
00:12:45,664 --> 00:12:47,433
from the previous president.
308
00:12:47,466 --> 00:12:51,036
But what does a typical
Inauguration Day look like?
309
00:12:51,070 --> 00:12:53,572
Well, actually,
there really isn't one.
310
00:12:53,605 --> 00:12:56,575
To find out why, it's time
for another episode of
311
00:12:56,608 --> 00:12:58,744
"If You Don't Know,
Now You Know."
312
00:12:58,777 --> 00:13:01,213
? ?
313
00:13:06,318 --> 00:13:09,521
The first thing to understand
about Inauguration Day is
314
00:13:09,555 --> 00:13:13,058
that there's no reason
it has to be a full day.
315
00:13:13,092 --> 00:13:15,461
There's only one thing
that really has to happen,
316
00:13:15,494 --> 00:13:19,832
and it takes about two minutes
as long as nothing goes wrong.
317
00:13:19,865 --> 00:13:20,999
NEWSWOMAN:
There are speeches...
318
00:13:21,033 --> 00:13:22,601
...what your country must do...
319
00:13:22,634 --> 00:13:25,370
-NEWSOMAN: ...parades and balls.
-? Yesterday's gone ?
320
00:13:25,404 --> 00:13:26,939
? Yesterday's gone..."
321
00:13:26,972 --> 00:13:28,941
But according
to the U.S Constitution,
322
00:13:28,974 --> 00:13:32,444
the only requirement is for
the president to take the oath.
323
00:13:32,478 --> 00:13:36,248
An entire government hands over
baton to the next government.
324
00:13:36,281 --> 00:13:40,619
It does not happen until the
words of the oath are uttered.
325
00:13:40,652 --> 00:13:42,054
And the words matter.
326
00:13:42,087 --> 00:13:44,189
You have
to say the words correctly.
327
00:13:44,223 --> 00:13:45,324
NEWSWOMAN 2:
Barack Obama had to take
328
00:13:45,357 --> 00:13:47,192
the oath of office twice
in 2009.
329
00:13:47,226 --> 00:13:51,997
That's because Chief Justice
John Roberts misspoke,
330
00:13:52,030 --> 00:13:54,032
and one word was
out of sequence.
331
00:13:54,066 --> 00:13:56,468
That I will execute the office
332
00:13:56,502 --> 00:13:59,304
of president to
the United States faithfully.
333
00:13:59,338 --> 00:14:00,506
That I will execute...
334
00:14:00,539 --> 00:14:02,841
...the off...
Faithfully, the pres...
335
00:14:02,875 --> 00:14:04,510
the office of president
of the United States.
336
00:14:04,543 --> 00:14:06,545
...the office of president
of United States faithfully.
337
00:14:06,578 --> 00:14:09,181
NEWSMAN 2: Immediately,
people called it a botched oath.
338
00:14:09,214 --> 00:14:10,482
Some people even questioned,
339
00:14:10,516 --> 00:14:12,751
is President Obama
a real president?
340
00:14:12,785 --> 00:14:15,788
Oh, man.
Did you see Obama's face?
341
00:14:15,821 --> 00:14:18,924
He was so pissed,
and I would be, too.
342
00:14:18,957 --> 00:14:21,527
Imagine spending
two years campaigning
343
00:14:21,560 --> 00:14:23,095
all over the country, and then,
344
00:14:23,128 --> 00:14:24,997
the guy giving you the oath
is like,
345
00:14:25,030 --> 00:14:27,232
"Do you swear to uphold
the dong-stitution?
346
00:14:27,266 --> 00:14:29,301
"I mean the Constitution?
Whoops.
347
00:14:29,334 --> 00:14:31,437
"(laughing): Oh, man.
Well, sorry.
348
00:14:31,470 --> 00:14:33,572
Let's try it again
in four years."
349
00:14:33,605 --> 00:14:34,873
You can see Obama's eyes.
350
00:14:34,907 --> 00:14:36,108
You can see in his eyes,
he's thinking,
351
00:14:36,141 --> 00:14:37,576
"Really, asshole, I didn't move
352
00:14:37,609 --> 00:14:40,045
all the way from Kenya
to have you screw this up now."
353
00:14:40,079 --> 00:14:42,147
And honestly, I kind of agree.
354
00:14:42,181 --> 00:14:43,649
I mean, damn,
I know it's an oath,
355
00:14:43,682 --> 00:14:46,185
but you're not allowed
to say one word wrong?
356
00:14:46,218 --> 00:14:49,621
You're becoming a president,
not summoning a dragon.
357
00:14:49,655 --> 00:14:52,057
I bet Trump didn't know about
this one, because if he had,
358
00:14:52,091 --> 00:14:53,826
he definitely would have gone
to Biden's inauguration
359
00:14:53,859 --> 00:14:55,194
just so he could mess things up.
360
00:14:55,227 --> 00:14:57,563
"I, Joseph R. Biden..."
"Fart."
361
00:14:57,596 --> 00:15:00,065
"...do solemnly... swear to..."
"Fart! Fart."
362
00:15:00,099 --> 00:15:01,700
"Fart, Fart, Fart."
"Come on, man."
363
00:15:01,734 --> 00:15:04,436
Now because the oath
is required,
364
00:15:04,470 --> 00:15:06,305
it's the same
for every president.
365
00:15:06,338 --> 00:15:08,540
But the inaugural speech
is where
366
00:15:08,574 --> 00:15:12,044
each individual president gets
to tell you who they are.
367
00:15:12,077 --> 00:15:14,279
DAN RATHER: Presidents use
their inaugural addresses
368
00:15:14,313 --> 00:15:15,681
to try and set the tone
369
00:15:15,714 --> 00:15:17,449
and lay out the themes
for the next four years.
370
00:15:17,483 --> 00:15:18,951
ALLAN LICHTMAN:
It's a great opportunity
371
00:15:18,984 --> 00:15:22,554
to make a great speech
and encapsulate his vision
372
00:15:22,588 --> 00:15:25,023
in a few telling lines.
373
00:15:25,057 --> 00:15:30,596
The only thing we have
to fear is... fear itself.
374
00:15:30,629 --> 00:15:35,401
Ask not what your country
can do for you.
375
00:15:35,434 --> 00:15:38,237
Ask what you can do
for your country.
376
00:15:38,270 --> 00:15:42,574
NEWSMAN: The shortest inaugural
speech, a mere 135 words,
377
00:15:42,608 --> 00:15:44,243
was delivered
by George Washington
378
00:15:44,276 --> 00:15:47,179
at his second swearing in.
379
00:15:47,212 --> 00:15:49,681
The longest,
William Henry Harrison's,
380
00:15:49,715 --> 00:15:53,752
which ran on for two hours
on a cold March day.
381
00:15:53,786 --> 00:15:56,522
NEWSMAN 2: Harrison died
of pneumonia 31 days later.
382
00:15:56,555 --> 00:15:58,090
Now Harrison
didn't get pneumonia
383
00:15:58,123 --> 00:16:00,926
because he gave a speech
in the cold three weeks earlier,
384
00:16:00,959 --> 00:16:03,495
but it was still a huge mistake
385
00:16:03,529 --> 00:16:06,965
because he was only president
for 31 days,
386
00:16:06,999 --> 00:16:08,934
and he wasted
the first two hours.
387
00:16:08,967 --> 00:16:10,402
I mean, he could have been
like, "No speech.
388
00:16:10,436 --> 00:16:11,837
I got to enjoy this
while it lasts,"
389
00:16:11,870 --> 00:16:13,305
and then went
and spent the whole day
390
00:16:13,338 --> 00:16:14,973
just running around the
White House in his underwear,
391
00:16:15,007 --> 00:16:18,977
because with a two-hour speech,
you know he had a ton of plans.
392
00:16:19,011 --> 00:16:21,613
And then in year two,
we're gonna fix the railways
393
00:16:21,647 --> 00:16:22,915
and add some more states.
394
00:16:22,948 --> 00:16:24,817
And then, year three. Oh, boy.
395
00:16:24,850 --> 00:16:27,719
Year three is gonna be
my favorite year yet!
396
00:16:27,753 --> 00:16:29,822
But you know what surprises me
is George Washington.
397
00:16:29,855 --> 00:16:32,958
135 words is not the length
of a presidential speech.
398
00:16:32,991 --> 00:16:35,027
That's more like
a college student that forgot
399
00:16:35,060 --> 00:16:36,962
that he had an essay due
that day.
400
00:16:36,995 --> 00:16:39,331
On the other hand,
135 words is a lot
401
00:16:39,364 --> 00:16:40,899
when you have wooden teeth.
402
00:16:40,933 --> 00:16:44,069
Ladies and gentlemen, I shall--
aw, shit, a splinter.
403
00:16:44,103 --> 00:16:47,473
All right, I'm out,
I'm out, I'm out. Aw.
404
00:16:47,506 --> 00:16:49,141
Now, once the speech
is out of the way,
405
00:16:49,174 --> 00:16:51,877
the fun parts
of Inauguration Day begin.
406
00:16:51,910 --> 00:16:53,545
The balls, the concerts,
the parades.
407
00:16:53,579 --> 00:16:57,883
It's basically My Super Sweet 16
for men in their 70s.
408
00:16:57,916 --> 00:17:00,452
But like any big party,
there's always the chance
409
00:17:00,486 --> 00:17:03,655
that something will go
horribly wrong.
410
00:17:03,689 --> 00:17:06,458
NEWSWOMAN: Inaugurations
follow a very prescribed order,
411
00:17:06,492 --> 00:17:08,694
and while most inaugurations
have been conducted
412
00:17:08,727 --> 00:17:12,197
with decorum,
some have had their mishaps.
413
00:17:12,231 --> 00:17:14,533
Vice President Andrew Johnson
had too much to drink
414
00:17:14,566 --> 00:17:17,636
the night before Abraham
Lincoln's second inauguration.
415
00:17:17,669 --> 00:17:20,038
Johnson delivered a speech
the next day,
416
00:17:20,072 --> 00:17:23,442
still drunk,
embarrassing the president.
417
00:17:23,475 --> 00:17:25,811
An electrical short caused
John F. Kennedy's podium
418
00:17:25,844 --> 00:17:28,313
to catch fire,
as Cardinal Richard Cushing
419
00:17:28,347 --> 00:17:31,150
gave the invocation
at his inauguration.
420
00:17:31,183 --> 00:17:33,185
NEWSMAN:
In 1873, Ulysses S. Grant
421
00:17:33,218 --> 00:17:35,687
was being inaugurated,
and it was very cold.
422
00:17:35,721 --> 00:17:38,357
So, what happened is that the
champagne turned into slushies,
423
00:17:38,390 --> 00:17:40,926
and they had all these canaries
brought in to sing
424
00:17:40,959 --> 00:17:43,295
as background noise,
and they all froze to death.
425
00:17:43,328 --> 00:17:47,299
Andrew Jackson's 1829 bash
was the rowdiest.
426
00:17:47,332 --> 00:17:51,770
20,000 Jackson supporters
stormed the White House,
427
00:17:51,804 --> 00:17:54,540
pulling down the curtains,
walking on the furniture,
428
00:17:54,573 --> 00:17:57,009
causing massive damage.
429
00:17:57,042 --> 00:17:59,578
The new president
reportedly escaped the crush
430
00:17:59,611 --> 00:18:01,013
through a window.
431
00:18:01,046 --> 00:18:03,415
Goddamn! People
think Trump caused chaos--
432
00:18:03,449 --> 00:18:05,784
imagine if his presidency
started with a riot.
433
00:18:05,818 --> 00:18:08,353
But hey, man, say what you want
about Andrew Jackson,
434
00:18:08,387 --> 00:18:10,155
that dude could throw a party.
435
00:18:10,189 --> 00:18:11,824
I mean,
you know a party's hard-core
436
00:18:11,857 --> 00:18:14,126
when the host is like,
"If I don't get out of here,
437
00:18:14,159 --> 00:18:15,761
I'm gonna die."
438
00:18:15,794 --> 00:18:18,497
It's funny, because we think
of all these historical figures
439
00:18:18,530 --> 00:18:20,532
as being so proper
and respectable,
440
00:18:20,566 --> 00:18:22,401
but damn,
those parties were baller.
441
00:18:22,434 --> 00:18:24,303
I mean,
I've been to some crazy parties,
442
00:18:24,336 --> 00:18:28,040
but I've never been to a party
that got "frozen canary" crazy.
443
00:18:28,073 --> 00:18:30,309
Although, I think
frozen canaries on the floor
444
00:18:30,342 --> 00:18:33,045
can really kill the mood
at any party.
445
00:18:33,078 --> 00:18:34,546
Hey, what's up, girl?
446
00:18:34,580 --> 00:18:36,849
I couldn't help but notice you
standing here by yourself,
447
00:18:36,882 --> 00:18:38,917
-(crunching)
-and I just-- Oh, God.
448
00:18:38,951 --> 00:18:40,853
Shit, I just stepped on...
Oh, I stepped on...
449
00:18:40,886 --> 00:18:43,021
(sobbing):
Oh, man... oh, no...
450
00:18:43,055 --> 00:18:44,823
I felt its bones!
451
00:18:44,857 --> 00:18:46,859
(sobbing)
452
00:18:48,927 --> 00:18:51,163
So, you got a man? Or what?
453
00:18:51,196 --> 00:18:53,399
Now, a lot of the talk this year
is about how President Trump
454
00:18:53,432 --> 00:18:56,001
broke tradition
by refusing to show up
455
00:18:56,034 --> 00:18:57,336
for Joe Biden's big day.
456
00:18:57,369 --> 00:18:59,571
Which clearly was a sign
of respect.
457
00:18:59,605 --> 00:19:01,573
I mean, if there's
one thing Donald Trump
458
00:19:01,607 --> 00:19:04,109
would never want to do,
is draw attention to himself
459
00:19:04,143 --> 00:19:05,744
at somebody else's party.
460
00:19:05,778 --> 00:19:08,981
But the truth is that 2021
isn't the first Inauguration Day
461
00:19:09,014 --> 00:19:11,183
to feature tension
between the new president
462
00:19:11,216 --> 00:19:13,152
and the outgoing one.
463
00:19:13,185 --> 00:19:15,521
NEWSWOMAN:
Since Martin Van Buren
and Andrew Jackson
464
00:19:15,554 --> 00:19:18,457
traveled by carriage in 1837,
465
00:19:18,490 --> 00:19:20,826
it's become tradition
for the president
466
00:19:20,859 --> 00:19:23,529
to escort the president-elect
from the White House
467
00:19:23,562 --> 00:19:26,131
to the Capitol
for the swearing-in ceremony.
468
00:19:26,165 --> 00:19:29,668
Historically, some transitions
have been, well, ugly.
469
00:19:29,701 --> 00:19:31,637
NEWSMAN:
Ulysses S. Grant declined
470
00:19:31,670 --> 00:19:34,773
to give Andrew Johnson
the ride to the Capitol,
471
00:19:34,807 --> 00:19:38,043
and so Johnson declined
to attend the inauguration.
472
00:19:38,077 --> 00:19:41,313
1953, Dwight Eisenhower
rolled up at the White House
473
00:19:41,346 --> 00:19:42,748
to pick up Harry Truman.
474
00:19:42,781 --> 00:19:44,817
The Trumans were inside
with coffee ready.
475
00:19:44,850 --> 00:19:46,752
Someone came in
and said to Truman,
476
00:19:46,785 --> 00:19:48,620
"Eisenhower
won't get out of his car.
477
00:19:48,654 --> 00:19:50,989
He won't come in
and have coffee with you."
478
00:19:51,023 --> 00:19:53,726
The 1933 inauguration of FDR,
479
00:19:53,759 --> 00:19:57,429
Hoover wouldn't look at
or even speak to Roosevelt
480
00:19:57,463 --> 00:20:00,566
on the car ride
over to the swearing-in.
481
00:20:00,599 --> 00:20:02,201
Ooh...
482
00:20:02,234 --> 00:20:03,902
That looked so awkward.
483
00:20:03,936 --> 00:20:06,638
Hoover was acting like
he was in an Uber pool.
484
00:20:06,672 --> 00:20:08,707
Look, man, I'm just trying
to save three bucks.
485
00:20:08,741 --> 00:20:10,242
I'm not here to make a friend.
486
00:20:10,275 --> 00:20:11,610
And to be honest,
487
00:20:11,643 --> 00:20:13,278
I actually understand
where they're coming from.
488
00:20:13,312 --> 00:20:14,947
'Cause look,
I get that it's important
489
00:20:14,980 --> 00:20:17,449
to concede when you lose,
but it does feel a little bit
490
00:20:17,483 --> 00:20:20,686
like it's rubbing it in to make
you give the guy who beat you
491
00:20:20,719 --> 00:20:22,855
a ride to the inauguration.
492
00:20:22,888 --> 00:20:24,790
That never happens
in any other situation.
493
00:20:24,823 --> 00:20:26,392
When you get divorced,
you're not expected
494
00:20:26,425 --> 00:20:28,494
to drive your ex
to their next wedding.
495
00:20:28,527 --> 00:20:30,929
So I can see why some presidents
get a little petty.
496
00:20:30,963 --> 00:20:33,732
And honestly, I think
they could have done worse.
497
00:20:33,766 --> 00:20:35,801
I mean, if Trump wanted
to be really petty,
498
00:20:35,834 --> 00:20:37,136
he wouldn't have skipped town,
499
00:20:37,169 --> 00:20:39,104
he would have offered
to drive Biden
500
00:20:39,138 --> 00:20:40,639
and then show up
on a motorcycle.
501
00:20:40,672 --> 00:20:43,776
Sorry, Biden,
you got to ride bitch...
502
00:20:43,809 --> 00:20:45,210
bitch.
503
00:20:45,244 --> 00:20:49,114
So, that's the big public event
of Inauguration Day.
504
00:20:49,148 --> 00:20:53,085
But there is one final tradition
that takes place in private,
505
00:20:53,118 --> 00:20:55,788
when the new president sits down
in the Oval Office
506
00:20:55,821 --> 00:21:00,592
for the first time and finds
a special note on their desk.
507
00:21:00,626 --> 00:21:02,494
NEWSWOMAN: There is a tradition
where the president
508
00:21:02,528 --> 00:21:05,831
leaves a letter
for the incoming president,
509
00:21:05,864 --> 00:21:07,666
and he leaves it in the desk,
510
00:21:07,699 --> 00:21:09,835
and it is
that private connection
511
00:21:09,868 --> 00:21:12,337
between the two of them
who are now both officially
512
00:21:12,371 --> 00:21:14,740
in what is known
as "The Presidents Club."
513
00:21:14,773 --> 00:21:16,742
NEWSMAN: That's another
very new tradition,
514
00:21:16,775 --> 00:21:19,078
goes back to Ronald Reagan,
who left a letter
515
00:21:19,111 --> 00:21:22,247
for his vice president,
George H.W. Bush,
516
00:21:22,281 --> 00:21:24,983
that said at the top: "Don't let
the turkeys get you down."
517
00:21:25,017 --> 00:21:27,953
After George H.W. Bush lost
his reelection fight
518
00:21:27,986 --> 00:21:30,989
to Bill Clinton, the sitting
president penned a letter
519
00:21:31,023 --> 00:21:32,658
to his opponent saying,
in part...
520
00:21:37,096 --> 00:21:38,764
NEWSWOMAN: The letter
former president, Obama,
521
00:21:38,797 --> 00:21:42,000
left for President Trump-- in
part, President Obama wrote...
522
00:21:57,116 --> 00:21:58,784
(laughs)
523
00:21:58,817 --> 00:22:01,787
Wow, guys. Trump really changed
the game on everything.
524
00:22:01,820 --> 00:22:04,223
Because before him,
all the presidents would leave
525
00:22:04,256 --> 00:22:07,459
little encouraging notes,
you know? "You got this, champ."
526
00:22:07,493 --> 00:22:09,728
"All of America's rooting
for you."
527
00:22:09,762 --> 00:22:12,731
But Obama's letter to Trump
was trying to teach Trump
528
00:22:12,765 --> 00:22:14,099
about America.
529
00:22:14,133 --> 00:22:15,434
(like Obama):
Okay, real quick.
530
00:22:15,467 --> 00:22:17,069
There's a thing called
democracy.
531
00:22:17,102 --> 00:22:18,670
Uh, you've got
the rule of law...
532
00:22:18,704 --> 00:22:21,373
But this is actually one
tradition that Donald Trump
533
00:22:21,407 --> 00:22:22,808
did continue.
534
00:22:22,841 --> 00:22:25,811
And, in fact,
we actually got our hands
535
00:22:25,844 --> 00:22:29,982
on Trump's actual
outgoing letter to Joe Biden
536
00:22:30,015 --> 00:22:32,351
from our White House insiders.
537
00:22:32,384 --> 00:22:34,620
Oh, man,
I'm gonna miss that guy.
538
00:22:34,653 --> 00:22:36,121
So there you have it--
539
00:22:36,155 --> 00:22:38,457
the American
presidential inauguration.
540
00:22:38,490 --> 00:22:40,959
Sometimes it's messy,
sometimes it's awkward,
541
00:22:40,993 --> 00:22:42,728
but even after a month
like this one,
542
00:22:42,761 --> 00:22:44,496
it always happens.
543
00:22:44,530 --> 00:22:47,099
And if you don't know,
now you know.
544
00:22:47,132 --> 00:22:49,368
All right, when we come back,
I'll be talking to the woman
545
00:22:49,401 --> 00:22:51,670
who many credit
with being the person
546
00:22:51,703 --> 00:22:53,739
who helped turn Georgia blue.
547
00:22:53,772 --> 00:22:56,809
That's right, Stacey Abrams
is joining me on the show.
548
00:22:56,842 --> 00:22:56,909
So don't go away.
549
00:22:59,378 --> 00:23:01,013
Welcome back to The Daily
Social Distancing Show.
550
00:23:01,046 --> 00:23:04,183
Earlier today, I spoke with
political leader and activist
551
00:23:04,216 --> 00:23:05,751
Stacey Abrams.
552
00:23:05,784 --> 00:23:08,821
She's the founder of Fair Fight,
the voting rights organization
553
00:23:08,854 --> 00:23:11,623
in Georgia that
helped Joe Biden win Georgia
554
00:23:11,657 --> 00:23:14,927
and Democrats gain control
of the U.S. Senate.
555
00:23:14,960 --> 00:23:18,430
We talked about that
and so much more.
556
00:23:18,464 --> 00:23:20,365
Stacey Abrams, welcome back
557
00:23:20,399 --> 00:23:22,334
to The Daily
Social Distancing Show.
558
00:23:22,367 --> 00:23:24,503
(laughs)
Thank you for having me again.
559
00:23:24,536 --> 00:23:26,972
The last time
you were on the show,
560
00:23:27,005 --> 00:23:31,176
for many Americans it seemed
like everything was lost.
561
00:23:31,210 --> 00:23:34,780
We were at the height
of the George Floyd protests,
562
00:23:34,813 --> 00:23:38,016
Donald Trump was, I mean,
just Donald Trump,
563
00:23:38,050 --> 00:23:40,285
and coronavirus was going up
564
00:23:40,319 --> 00:23:43,155
in a way that we couldn't have
even imagined could get worse.
565
00:23:43,188 --> 00:23:44,623
Speaking to you today,
566
00:23:44,656 --> 00:23:47,526
Joe Biden is now officially
in the White House,
567
00:23:47,559 --> 00:23:49,528
Donald Trump
is back playing golf,
568
00:23:49,561 --> 00:23:51,263
where he was
when he was president,
569
00:23:51,296 --> 00:23:52,664
but not as president,
570
00:23:52,698 --> 00:23:54,666
and coronavirus
is still going up.
571
00:23:54,700 --> 00:23:56,668
So it's, I guess,
one out of three right now.
572
00:23:56,702 --> 00:23:58,804
Are you happy
with how things are going?
573
00:23:58,837 --> 00:24:02,674
-How are you doing today?
-I'm-I'm incredibly grateful
574
00:24:02,708 --> 00:24:04,576
for where we are in two ways.
575
00:24:04,610 --> 00:24:08,547
One, we now have a president
who can actually address
576
00:24:08,580 --> 00:24:12,484
the death toll that coronavirus
is wreaking across the country,
577
00:24:12,518 --> 00:24:14,486
can make certain
that communities
578
00:24:14,520 --> 00:24:16,822
that have been left out of...
579
00:24:16,855 --> 00:24:19,391
just simply getting basics
580
00:24:19,425 --> 00:24:22,294
will suddenly and, I think,
for the first time,
581
00:24:22,327 --> 00:24:25,531
have access to the support
and resources they need.
582
00:24:25,564 --> 00:24:27,566
I am deeply, deeply grateful
583
00:24:27,599 --> 00:24:29,168
that Donald Trump is out
of the White House.
584
00:24:29,201 --> 00:24:32,171
I'm a little annoyed that
he's just south of where I live.
585
00:24:32,204 --> 00:24:34,640
But, you know, we're America.
586
00:24:34,673 --> 00:24:36,041
He gets to live where he wants.
587
00:24:36,075 --> 00:24:37,876
Uh, but I think,
more than anything,
588
00:24:37,910 --> 00:24:39,712
we have an opportunity for hope
589
00:24:39,745 --> 00:24:41,313
that we haven't had
in a very long time,
590
00:24:41,346 --> 00:24:43,482
and I'm just pleased
that Georgia got to be
591
00:24:43,515 --> 00:24:44,817
a part of making it so.
592
00:24:44,850 --> 00:24:46,385
Many people have credited
the work
593
00:24:46,418 --> 00:24:47,986
that you've done in Georgia.
594
00:24:48,020 --> 00:24:50,222
What I've appreciated though
is how,
595
00:24:50,255 --> 00:24:51,690
when Georgia flipped,
596
00:24:51,724 --> 00:24:52,958
the first thing you did
597
00:24:52,991 --> 00:24:56,128
was thank all the other people
who made it possible.
598
00:24:56,161 --> 00:24:58,263
Walk me through that. Is it--
is it very strange for you
599
00:24:58,297 --> 00:25:00,599
to be almost like the "Iron Man"
of this thing?
600
00:25:00,632 --> 00:25:02,267
And then you-you have
to keep telling people,
601
00:25:02,301 --> 00:25:03,936
"Yes, but Spider-Man
also helped
602
00:25:03,969 --> 00:25:05,537
"and so did, uh, Black Panther
603
00:25:05,571 --> 00:25:07,906
"and-and so did
every single other person
604
00:25:07,940 --> 00:25:09,374
in the Marvel universe."
605
00:25:09,408 --> 00:25:11,343
I-I-- I-I'm grateful
606
00:25:11,376 --> 00:25:14,279
for the-the support
and the accolades.
607
00:25:14,313 --> 00:25:18,083
And I understand
just how relieved people feel.
608
00:25:18,117 --> 00:25:21,954
And it's important often
to identify a focal point.
609
00:25:21,987 --> 00:25:24,623
I've been privileged to,
you know,
610
00:25:24,656 --> 00:25:27,860
be a part of building
this apparatus over a decade.
611
00:25:27,893 --> 00:25:30,696
I've been, you know,
pretty good
612
00:25:30,729 --> 00:25:33,699
at, you know, publicly begging
for money for our state
613
00:25:33,732 --> 00:25:35,768
and being the hype man
for Georgia.
614
00:25:35,801 --> 00:25:39,171
And so I appreciate the
attention and the recognition.
615
00:25:39,204 --> 00:25:41,273
But I do think
it's always essential
616
00:25:41,306 --> 00:25:43,976
that you recognize
all of the component pieces.
617
00:25:44,009 --> 00:25:46,145
Because, you know,
grassroots organizing
618
00:25:46,178 --> 00:25:48,881
and political organizing
are two facets
619
00:25:48,914 --> 00:25:51,884
of how you put together
the Infinity Stone
620
00:25:51,917 --> 00:25:53,752
that actually delivers us,
you know,
621
00:25:53,786 --> 00:25:55,487
from, you know,
Thanos into justice.
622
00:25:55,521 --> 00:25:58,223
So this-- I know--
And for all the Marvel,
623
00:25:58,257 --> 00:26:01,293
you know, acolytes, I know
I completely butchered that
624
00:26:01,326 --> 00:26:03,429
a little bit,
but you got what I meant.
625
00:26:03,462 --> 00:26:06,165
(laughs): So, you know,
I'm-I'm so pleased
626
00:26:06,198 --> 00:26:09,868
to be a part of this pantheon
that got good done.
627
00:26:09,902 --> 00:26:12,871
And it is my responsibility
to always lift up
628
00:26:12,905 --> 00:26:14,873
those who have been doing
this work.
629
00:26:14,907 --> 00:26:18,410
Because the minute we start
to believe our own hype,
630
00:26:18,444 --> 00:26:20,946
we believe the accolades,
631
00:26:20,979 --> 00:26:22,848
that they belong solely to us,
632
00:26:22,881 --> 00:26:25,384
that's the beginning
of someone like a Donald Trump,
633
00:26:25,417 --> 00:26:27,753
that's the beginning
of something like
634
00:26:27,786 --> 00:26:29,488
the modern-day Republican Party,
635
00:26:29,521 --> 00:26:31,256
where you lose
the sense of who you are,
636
00:26:31,290 --> 00:26:33,592
trying to be what people say
they think you should be.
637
00:26:33,625 --> 00:26:37,096
What do you think it is
about Black women that, uh...
638
00:26:37,129 --> 00:26:38,697
that people see as magic
639
00:26:38,731 --> 00:26:40,666
but Black women see
as almost a necessity?
640
00:26:40,699 --> 00:26:43,736
Because, you know, I-I look
at South Africa's history.
641
00:26:43,769 --> 00:26:45,604
And, obviously, you had
the likes of Nelson Mandela
642
00:26:45,637 --> 00:26:48,407
that everybody knows about. But
then you had all of the women,
643
00:26:48,440 --> 00:26:50,175
you know, like Winnie Mandela,
et cetera,
644
00:26:50,209 --> 00:26:51,777
who fought for the struggle
645
00:26:51,810 --> 00:26:53,612
and didn't get
as many acc-accolades.
646
00:26:53,645 --> 00:26:54,880
The same thing happened
in America.
647
00:26:54,913 --> 00:26:56,148
You look
at the civil rights movement
648
00:26:56,181 --> 00:26:58,650
and how many women
have either been erased
649
00:26:58,684 --> 00:27:00,486
or overlooked
when talking about the story
650
00:27:00,519 --> 00:27:02,621
of America achieving democracy.
651
00:27:02,654 --> 00:27:05,391
When you look at the-the fight
that is happening right now,
652
00:27:05,424 --> 00:27:07,626
there's no denying that,
everywhere around the country,
653
00:27:07,659 --> 00:27:10,095
Black women are at the forefront
of trying to get America
654
00:27:10,129 --> 00:27:12,364
to be as progressive
as possible.
655
00:27:12,398 --> 00:27:15,234
What do you think
that comes from?
656
00:27:15,267 --> 00:27:19,471
That Black women tend to bear
the brunt of every evil
657
00:27:19,505 --> 00:27:22,341
and bear the responsibility
for every failure.
658
00:27:22,374 --> 00:27:25,077
And so our response,
our only response
659
00:27:25,110 --> 00:27:28,480
has to be that we're gonna
push harder, fight longer,
660
00:27:28,514 --> 00:27:31,383
and recognize
that we will go unrecognized.
661
00:27:31,417 --> 00:27:34,620
But, that said, I-I want to
expand the conversation a bit,
662
00:27:34,653 --> 00:27:36,555
because for communities--
663
00:27:36,588 --> 00:27:38,857
Latino communities
that are, you know,
664
00:27:38,891 --> 00:27:41,360
languishing in spaces
where they are not respected,
665
00:27:41,393 --> 00:27:43,328
-I think it's something
that women do. -Mm-hmm.
666
00:27:43,362 --> 00:27:46,498
I think that we have
communities, A-Asian American,
667
00:27:46,532 --> 00:27:48,767
Pacific Islander communities,
Native American communities,
668
00:27:48,801 --> 00:27:52,171
where women
are often the-the leaders,
669
00:27:52,204 --> 00:27:55,074
the lost leaders.
We are the ones who do the work.
670
00:27:55,107 --> 00:27:57,042
We rarely get the credit,
671
00:27:57,076 --> 00:27:59,378
but we understand
the consequences.
672
00:27:59,411 --> 00:28:01,246
And that's
really what drives us.
673
00:28:01,280 --> 00:28:03,515
And, certainly,
Black women in this moment
674
00:28:03,549 --> 00:28:07,319
deserve every accolade
and every plaudit.
675
00:28:07,352 --> 00:28:09,321
But I also want to make sure
that we think
676
00:28:09,354 --> 00:28:10,956
about all the other women
of color
677
00:28:10,989 --> 00:28:14,059
and white women who have entered
the space where they are
678
00:28:14,093 --> 00:28:16,795
from places of marginalization
and disadvantage,
679
00:28:16,829 --> 00:28:20,032
because men seem to be men
no matter which race they're in.
680
00:28:20,065 --> 00:28:23,035
(chuckles): And so women-- I
think it's just critical for us
681
00:28:23,068 --> 00:28:25,037
to-to not only lift up
Black women,
682
00:28:25,070 --> 00:28:28,073
to lift up women of color, to
lift up women when we do right
683
00:28:28,107 --> 00:28:30,809
but to recognize that
we're also always in coalition
684
00:28:30,843 --> 00:28:32,911
trying to get this done.
685
00:28:32,945 --> 00:28:34,646
So then the big question is,
686
00:28:34,680 --> 00:28:36,315
where does Stacey Abrams
go from here?
687
00:28:36,348 --> 00:28:38,917
What is the job?
Everyone has a job for you.
688
00:28:38,951 --> 00:28:41,787
I mean, some people want you
to run for president.
689
00:28:41,820 --> 00:28:45,190
Some people want you to, uh,
take up the mantle in Georgia.
690
00:28:45,224 --> 00:28:46,925
You know, some people say,
"Stacey Abrams,
691
00:28:46,959 --> 00:28:48,994
"you got to keep going for
Georgia. Georgia is the future,
692
00:28:49,027 --> 00:28:50,662
so you should be the governor."
693
00:28:50,696 --> 00:28:53,499
I know that you've publicly said
that you won't be running.
694
00:28:53,532 --> 00:28:55,667
But my question to you is,
why wouldn't you run
695
00:28:55,701 --> 00:28:57,536
for governor of Georgia?
696
00:28:57,569 --> 00:29:00,072
Well, so my first job's
I need to get people
697
00:29:00,105 --> 00:29:02,040
to buy my last book,
Our Time Is Now,
698
00:29:02,074 --> 00:29:04,576
that tells the story
of how we build these things.
699
00:29:04,610 --> 00:29:08,247
But my job is to f-- I am gonna
continue to focus on Georgia.
700
00:29:08,280 --> 00:29:10,182
Focus on redistricting,
701
00:29:10,215 --> 00:29:13,585
Focus on the fact that already
Brad Raffensperger is agitating
702
00:29:13,619 --> 00:29:16,288
and advocating
for rolling back voting rights.
703
00:29:16,321 --> 00:29:19,224
Focus on the work
we have to still do
704
00:29:19,258 --> 00:29:21,693
to make certain that COVID
recovery actually recognizes
705
00:29:21,727 --> 00:29:24,763
the disproportionate effect
that COVID has had
706
00:29:24,797 --> 00:29:26,598
on a state like Georgia,
where you have
707
00:29:26,632 --> 00:29:28,801
such high populations
of communities of color
708
00:29:28,834 --> 00:29:31,970
and no public health
infrastructure to speak of.
709
00:29:32,004 --> 00:29:33,439
I may run for office again.
710
00:29:33,472 --> 00:29:35,974
I haven't decided what
I'm going to do politically.
711
00:29:36,008 --> 00:29:38,744
But I know that my work is here,
my focus is now,
712
00:29:38,777 --> 00:29:41,313
and my mission
is to help lift the South,
713
00:29:41,346 --> 00:29:42,881
starting here in Georgia.
714
00:29:42,915 --> 00:29:45,150
Donald Trump was a common cause
715
00:29:45,184 --> 00:29:47,352
that people
were fighting against.
716
00:29:47,386 --> 00:29:49,688
Joe Biden is now going to be
the president
717
00:29:49,722 --> 00:29:52,357
who has to answer
and address many of the issues
718
00:29:52,391 --> 00:29:54,960
that many Americans are facing.
719
00:29:54,993 --> 00:29:57,963
You don't agree with everything
that Joe Biden says or does.
720
00:29:57,996 --> 00:30:00,632
And, I mean,
that's-that's part of politics.
721
00:30:00,666 --> 00:30:03,368
What are some of the issues that
you want to see him addressing?
722
00:30:03,402 --> 00:30:04,870
What are some of the things
that you feel
723
00:30:04,903 --> 00:30:08,340
Joe Biden and his administration
need to push for immediately?
724
00:30:08,373 --> 00:30:10,609
I think he's made
the right first steps
725
00:30:10,642 --> 00:30:13,512
by focusing on COVID
and COVID relief.
726
00:30:13,545 --> 00:30:14,780
We have to recognize
727
00:30:14,813 --> 00:30:17,216
that the disproportionate
infection rate,
728
00:30:17,249 --> 00:30:18,650
the disproportionate death rate,
729
00:30:18,684 --> 00:30:21,253
the disproportionate
loss of income
730
00:30:21,286 --> 00:30:24,056
has affected
communities of color and women
731
00:30:24,089 --> 00:30:27,559
in ways that will continue to
reverberate through our economy.
732
00:30:27,593 --> 00:30:29,628
They are starting early
on that issue,
733
00:30:29,661 --> 00:30:31,063
and I think
that's the right start.
734
00:30:31,096 --> 00:30:33,232
Number two, we've got to restore
our democracy.
735
00:30:33,265 --> 00:30:34,333
Defeating Donald Trump
736
00:30:34,366 --> 00:30:36,201
was simply attacking one
of the symptoms.
737
00:30:36,235 --> 00:30:38,137
We've got to fix the disease,
738
00:30:38,170 --> 00:30:39,872
which is
this Republican insistence
739
00:30:39,905 --> 00:30:43,208
that the way to win elections
is to keep citizens from voting.
740
00:30:43,242 --> 00:30:45,110
And that's a solvable problem.
741
00:30:45,144 --> 00:30:47,246
And they know--
We have the bills ready to go.
742
00:30:47,279 --> 00:30:49,048
And then, number three,
climate action.
743
00:30:49,081 --> 00:30:51,450
The fact that he has tapped
John Kerry
744
00:30:51,483 --> 00:30:54,153
to be an emissary
on this issue,
745
00:30:54,186 --> 00:30:56,922
the fact that he has
really populated his cabinet
746
00:30:56,955 --> 00:30:59,024
with people
like Jennifer Granholm,
747
00:30:59,058 --> 00:31:01,894
who understand
how we can take climate action
748
00:31:01,927 --> 00:31:03,495
and turn it into job creation,
749
00:31:03,529 --> 00:31:05,964
turn it
into community opportunity,
750
00:31:05,998 --> 00:31:07,800
turn it
into environmental justice,
751
00:31:07,833 --> 00:31:10,269
those are the first three things
that we focus on.
752
00:31:10,302 --> 00:31:12,337
And I think
overarching all of that
753
00:31:12,371 --> 00:31:15,140
is making certain
that we embed racial justice
754
00:31:15,174 --> 00:31:16,642
in every one
of these conversations,
755
00:31:16,675 --> 00:31:18,243
because racial justice
cuts across
756
00:31:18,277 --> 00:31:19,611
every one of these issues.
757
00:31:19,645 --> 00:31:22,548
And if we do it right,
we can start to finally reckon
758
00:31:22,581 --> 00:31:24,650
with who we are
and what we can become.
759
00:31:24,683 --> 00:31:28,020
After every victory,
there's a moment of celebration.
760
00:31:28,053 --> 00:31:29,421
Uh, after hard work,
761
00:31:29,455 --> 00:31:31,356
there's a moment
where you reap your rewards.
762
00:31:31,390 --> 00:31:33,392
Is Stacey Abrams going on a--
on a vacation?
763
00:31:33,425 --> 00:31:34,760
I know it's hard in a pandemic.
764
00:31:34,793 --> 00:31:36,161
There's not many places
you can go.
765
00:31:36,195 --> 00:31:37,629
But Georgia has, like,
beautiful lakes
766
00:31:37,663 --> 00:31:39,465
and you've got beautiful,
like, areas you can--
767
00:31:39,498 --> 00:31:40,799
Are you gonna take some time off
768
00:31:40,833 --> 00:31:43,602
-or are you just nonstop?
-I am. I am so excited.
769
00:31:43,635 --> 00:31:47,039
My younger sister Leslie
likes to...
770
00:31:47,072 --> 00:31:49,608
bo-bother the dickens out
of me
771
00:31:49,641 --> 00:31:51,643
-because I don't vacation
effectively. -(laughs)
772
00:31:51,677 --> 00:31:55,714
Um, but I am going on vacation,
and I am so excited.
773
00:31:55,748 --> 00:31:57,850
And I need the rest.
774
00:31:57,883 --> 00:31:58,917
-I-I've got a stack of books.
-What do you do--
775
00:31:58,951 --> 00:31:59,918
what do you do on vacation?
776
00:31:59,952 --> 00:32:01,854
What does Stacey Abrams do
on vacation?
777
00:32:01,887 --> 00:32:03,856
Are you one of the-- Are you
the, like, "sit down,
778
00:32:03,889 --> 00:32:06,425
read a book, do nothing" type,
like on a beach type thing?
779
00:32:06,458 --> 00:32:08,494
Or are you the, like,
"kayak on, like, a--
780
00:32:08,527 --> 00:32:10,896
on, like, a river" type person?
Who are you?
781
00:32:10,929 --> 00:32:13,365
I-I-- Kayaking on a river
is what you do
782
00:32:13,399 --> 00:32:14,700
when you're on
an active vacation
783
00:32:14,733 --> 00:32:16,535
with people who know
how to do the balance.
784
00:32:16,568 --> 00:32:18,404
But I'm going on vacation
by myself,
785
00:32:18,437 --> 00:32:19,705
and I will be reading.
786
00:32:19,738 --> 00:32:22,708
I will occasionally roll over
and maybe watch something on TV
787
00:32:22,741 --> 00:32:25,110
and then roll back over
and start the next book.
788
00:32:25,144 --> 00:32:27,413
And I'm going to take
really, really long naps.
789
00:32:27,446 --> 00:32:29,948
I'm so excited about sleeping.
790
00:32:29,982 --> 00:32:32,951
Well, enjoy the naps, uh,
enjoy the reading,
791
00:32:32,985 --> 00:32:35,487
and, um, I'm excited
to see what the...
792
00:32:35,521 --> 00:32:37,089
what the future
of Stacey Abrams holds.
793
00:32:37,122 --> 00:32:38,724
Thank you so much for joining us
again on the show.
794
00:32:38,757 --> 00:32:40,225
Trevor, thank you
for having me again.
795
00:32:40,259 --> 00:32:41,527
You're fantastic.
796
00:32:41,560 --> 00:32:44,463
Don't forget,
Stacey Abrams' latest book,
797
00:32:44,496 --> 00:32:46,832
Our Time Is Now is
currently available.
798
00:32:46,865 --> 00:32:49,935
So if you want to change
your world, go out and get it.
799
00:32:49,968 --> 00:32:51,503
All right, we're gonna take
a quick break.
800
00:32:51,537 --> 00:32:51,603
But we'll be right back
after this.
801
00:32:54,405 --> 00:32:56,340
Well, that's our show
for tonight, but before we go,
802
00:32:56,373 --> 00:33:00,211
the coronavirus pandemic is
as bad as it has ever been.
803
00:33:00,244 --> 00:33:02,947
But luckily our first responders
are still out there
804
00:33:02,980 --> 00:33:04,982
on the frontlines saving lives.
805
00:33:05,015 --> 00:33:07,852
And if you want to help them
out, then please consider
806
00:33:07,885 --> 00:33:10,221
a donation
to First Responders First,
807
00:33:10,254 --> 00:33:13,624
which offers first class medical
and psychological treatment
808
00:33:13,657 --> 00:33:15,025
for first responders.
809
00:33:15,059 --> 00:33:17,394
You can find out more
at the link below.
810
00:33:17,428 --> 00:33:19,530
Until tomorrow though,
stay safe out there,
811
00:33:19,563 --> 00:33:21,699
wear a mask and remember,
812
00:33:21,732 --> 00:33:25,169
from now on, no malarkey.
813
00:33:25,202 --> 00:33:28,005
Now here it is,
Your Moment of Zen.
814
00:33:28,038 --> 00:33:29,874
? ?
815
00:33:29,907 --> 00:33:33,110
(fireworks whistling
and popping)
816
00:33:33,144 --> 00:33:37,615
I will tell you that
the future of this country
817
00:33:37,648 --> 00:33:39,650
has never been better.
818
00:33:39,683 --> 00:33:44,088
I wish the new administration
great luck and great success.
819
00:33:44,121 --> 00:33:46,757
I think they'll have
great success.
820
00:33:46,791 --> 00:33:48,159
(all cheering, clamoring)
821
00:33:48,192 --> 00:33:49,860
-That's what I'm talking about.
-Get out of here.
822
00:33:49,894 --> 00:33:51,295
-It's over.
-See you, loser.
823
00:33:51,328 --> 00:33:52,930
TRUMP:
Again we put it in a position...
824
00:33:52,963 --> 00:33:55,800
Well, what the (bleep)
do we do now?
825
00:33:55,833 --> 00:33:57,568
Our work here is done.
826
00:33:57,601 --> 00:33:59,437
We can go back to heaven.
827
00:33:59,470 --> 00:34:01,906
Except for you, Roosevelt.
828
00:34:01,939 --> 00:34:04,475
Have a good life,
we will see you soon.
829
00:34:04,508 --> 00:34:07,912
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, what
does he mean "see you soon"?
830
00:34:07,945 --> 00:34:08,012
Oh, (bleep).