♪ ♪
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> John: WELCOME, WELCOME,
WELCOME TO "LAST WEEK TONIGHT!"
I'M JOHN OLIVER.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US.
IT'S BEEN A BUSY WEEK.
THE MANHATTAN DA SIGNALED TRUMP
MAY SOON BE CHARGED OVER THE
STORMY DANIELS PAYMENTS AND
SILICON VALLEY BANK COLLAPSED,
IN ONE OF THE LARGEST BANK
FAILURES IN U.S. HISTORY.
BUT IF I MAY QUOTE GOD ON
JUDGMENT DAY, I'D LIKE TO START
WITH FOX NEWS.
THE NETWORK THAT ANSWERS THE
QUESTION, "WHAT WAS ON TV WHEN
GRAMPA DIED?"
WE TALKED A FEW WEEKS AGO ABOUT
THE FACT THAT DOMINION VOTING
SYSTEMS IS SUING FOX OVER ITS
FALSE CLAIMS THAT DOMINION'S
MACHINES HELPED SWING THE
ELECTION FOR BIDEN.
THANKS TO THAT LAWSUIT, THIS
WEEK, WE LEARNED THAT EVEN
RUPERT MURDOCH WAS CONCERNED
ABOUT THE TONE SOME OF HIS
ANCHORS WERE TAKING.
>> IN AN EMAIL TO CEO SUZANNE
SCOTT, MURDOCH WROTE, "MAYBE
SEAN HANNITY AND LAURA INGRAHAM
WENT TOO FAR."
AND WHEN DOMINION LAWYERS ASKED
DURING HIS JANUARY DEPOSITION,
"HAVE YOU EVER BELIEVED DOMINION
WAS ENGAGED IN A MASSIVE AND
COORDINATED EFFORT TO STEAL THE
2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION?"
MURDOCH REPLIED, "NO."
>> John: WOW, JUST A STRAIGHT UP
"NO" FROM MURDOCH.
ALTHOUGH HE'S AUSTRALIAN, SO IT
WAS PROBABLY MORE OF A "NAH."
AND I WILL SAY, OF COURSE SEAN
HANNITY AND LAURA INGRAHAM WENT
TOO FAR.
THAT'S THEIR WHOLE THING.
LAURA DELIVERS EVERY MONOLOGUE
WITH THE ENERGY OF A CONCUSSED
PTA PARENT AND HANNITY SPEWS
BULLSHIT WHILE LOOKING LIKE ONE
BIG NECK.
YOU MADE THESE MONSTERS.
YOU DON'T GET TO ACT SURPRISED,
RUPERT.
AND IT'S NOT JUST MURDOCH.
TEXTS FROM TUCKER CARLSON SHOW
THAT, FOR ALL HIS ON-AIR
DEFENSES OF TRUMP, PRIVATELY, HE
WAS TELLING A VERY DIFFERENT
STORY.
>> FOX HOSTS, INCLUDING TUCKER
CARLSON, WERE INCREASINGLY
UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE WAY THAT
TRUMP WAS LYING ABOUT THE 2020
ELECTION.
"WE ARE VERY, VERY CLOSE TO
BEING ABLE TO IGNORE TRUMP MOST
NIGHTS.
I TRULY CAN'T WAIT," CARLSON
TEXTED AN UNKNOWN PERSON ON
JANUARY 4TH, 2021, ADDING, "I
HATE HIM PASSIONATELY."
>> John: OKAY, FIRST?
I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M SAYING THIS.
BUT GIRL, SAME.
BUT ALSO, THAT'S SO HARSH, I'D
ALMOST FEEL BAD FOR TRUMP IF I
WASN'T SO SURE HE'S INCAPABLE OF
FEELING ANYTHING BESIDES ANGER,
HUNGER, AND THE LOWER BACK OF
THE NEAREST BLONDE WOMAN.
AND IT GETS EVEN WORSE.
BECAUSE TUCKER GOES ON TO SAY,
OF TRUMP'S TIME IN OFFICE,
"WE'RE ALL PRETENDING WE'VE GOT
A LOT TO SHOW FOR IT BECAUSE
ADMITTING WHAT A DISASTER IT'S
BEEN IS TOO TOUGH TO DIGEST.
BUT COME ON, THERE ISN'T REALLY
AN UPSIDE TO TRUMP."
AND WOW.
A MAN ON A "NEWS NETWORK" CAN'T
BE AFRAID TO TELL THE TRUTH
BECAUSE IT'S "TOO TOUGH TO
DIGEST."
THAT IS WHAT THE NEWS IS.
IF ANCHORS DIDN'T REPORT WHAT
WAS TOO TOUGH TO DIGEST,
WALTER CRONKITE WOULD HAVE
OPENED HIS MOST FAMOUS BROADCAST
WITH, "THE PRESIDENT HAD A
LOVELY CAR RIDE IN DALLAS TODAY.
HIS HEAD FEELS BETTER THAN
EVER!"
AND I'M SURE MORE DETAILS WILL
SPILL OUT OF THIS CASE IN THE
MONTHS AHEAD.
SO FOR NOW, WE'RE GOING TO TURN
TO TENNESSEE, WHERE THIS WEEK,
THE STATE LEGISLATURE MADE THE
WORST KIND OF HISTORY.
>> THIS WEEK TENNESSEE BECAME
THE FIRST STATE TO PASS A LAW
THAT WILL RESTRICT DRAG
PERFORMANCES ON PUBLIC PROPERTY
OR ANYWHERE A CHILD COULD SEE
THEM.
CONSERVATIVES SAY DRAG SHOWS
EXPOSE CHILDREN TO SEXUALLY
SUGGESTIVE CONTENT, WHILE
PERFORMERS HERE SAY THE LAW IS
DISCRIMINATORY, AND FEELS
DESIGNED TO PUSH THEM BACK INTO
THE CLOSET.
>> John: YEAH, CONSERVATIVES
HAVE SINGLED OUT DRAG SHOWS AS
EXPOSING CHILDREN TO SEXUALLY
SUGGESTIVE CONTENT.
WHICH FEELS LIKE A VERY
SELECTIVE APPLICATION OF
OUTRAGE.
I'M JUST SAYING, UNLESS THEY'VE
ALSO CALLED OUT CARL'S JR.
ADS, THIS ENTIRE RESTAURANT
CHAIN, AND GLORIA'S RELENTLESS
BUTT IN THE "MADAGASCAR" FILMS,
THAT FEELS PRETTY TARGETED.
THIS COMES ON THE BACK OF A
NUMBER OF ANTI-LGBTQ BILLS, ALL
DONE UNDER SENATE LEADER AND
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
RANDY McNally.
A MAN WITH A HISTORY OF
SUPPORTING ANTI-GAY LEGISLATION,
INCLUDING RESTRICTING MARRIAGE
TO BETWEEN A MAN AND A WOMAN.
ALL OF WHICH MAKES WHAT EMERGED
ABOUT McNally THIS WEEK
ESPECIALLY HARD TO TAKE.
>> OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS,
THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR HAS BEEN
REGULARLY COMMENTING ON THESE
EXTREMELY RACY PICTURES OF AN
INFLUENCER.
EVERYTHING FROM TYPING OUT FIRE
EMOJIS WHERE THE MALE USER HAD
POSTED HIS BACKSIDE TO
COMMENTING THAT HE HAS QUOTE "A
SUPER LOOK" AND THAT HE LOVES
HIS CONTENT.
>> John: OKAY, FIRST, THERE'S
NOTHING WRONG WITH COMMENTING ON
A 20-YEAR OLD GAY MODEL'S THIRST
TRAPS.
BUT THERE IS A PROBLEM IF
YOU'RE, A, 79 YEARS OLD.
B, ARE A SITTING MEMBER OF
GOVERNMENT THAT HELPED PASS
ANTI-GAY LEGISLATION.
AND C, LEAVE COMMENTS LIKE "YOU
ARE HAVING A GRAND TIME MY
FRIEND."
BECAUSE YES, HE CLEARLY IS
HAVING A GRAND TIME, BUT THAT'S
FRANKLY NO THANKS TO PEOPLE LIKE
YOU, RANDY!
MCNALLY'S OFFICE RUSHED OUT A
STATEMENT, SAYING, "AS ANYONE IN
TENNESSEE POLITICS KNOWS,
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR McNally IS A
PROLIFIC SOCIAL MEDIA
COMMENTER," "DOES HE ALWAYS USE
THE PROPER EMOJI AT THE PROPER
TIME?
MAYBE NOT.
BUT HE ENJOYS INTERACTING WITH
CONSTITUENTS AND TENNESSEANS OF
ALL RELIGIONS, BACKGROUNDS, AND
ORIENTATIONS ON SOCIAL MEDIA."
ADDING, "HE HAS NO INTENTION OF
STOPPING."
WHICH, IF IT CAME FROM ANYONE
ELSE, WOULD BE AN ICONIC
RESPONSE.
"I AM HORNY ON MAIN, AND WILL
STAY THAT WAY TILL THE DAY I
DIE?"
IT'S EXQUISITE.
BUT THE BEST RESPONSE TO THAT
STATEMENT CAME FROM FRANKLYN,
THE YOUNG MAN AT THE CENTER OF
ALL THIS.
BECAUSE THE OUTLET THAT
INITIALLY BROKE THE STORY
INTERVIEWED FRANKLYN TO GET HIS
REACTION.
>> I LIKE THAT HE HAS NO
INTENTIONS OF STOPPING, I THINK
THAT'S NICE, BUT YOU KNOW, I
WOULD STILL, I WOULD JUST SAY,
WHY BE KIND TO ONE GAY PERSON
AND NOT EVERYONE?
>> THE IDEA THAT RANDY'S NOW
GONNA HIDE BEHIND, "OH, I'M JUST
A GREAT-GRANDFATHER, I DON'T
KNOW ABOUT EMOJIS."
I MEAN, YOU KNOW WHEN YOU'RE
LOOKING AT A BUTT,
GOVERNOR McNally.
AND YOU KNEW WHOSE BUTT IT WAS.
>> BUT MAYBE HE LIKED THE LIME
GREEN COLOR!
>> John: YEAH, MAYBE, FRANKLYN!
I'VE GOTTA SAY, McNally IS LUCKY
HE WAS COMMENTING ON THE PHOTOS
OF SOMEONE SO KIND.
FRANKLYN EVEN RESPONDED TO
McNALLY'S THREE HEARTS AND FIRE
EMOJIS WITH "YOU ARE LITERALLY
ALWAYS SO NICE KING," WHEN HE'D
HAVE BEEN WELL WITHIN HIS RIGHTS
TO SAY, "YOU ARE 59 YEARS OLDER
THAN ME AND YOU'RE
SYSTEMATICALLY TRAMPLING MY
RIGHTS.
BLOCKED, REPORTED, AND I'M
THROWING MY PHONE INTO THE SEA."
INCREDIBLY, McNally ACTUALLY SAT
DOWN FOR AN INTERVIEW AMID ALL
THIS, SAYING, "I, YOU KNOW, TRY
TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE WITH POSTS."
WHICH IS CERTAINLY A NICE THING
TO DO!
BUT DOESN'T SEEM TO CAPTURE ALL
OF WHAT WAS GOING ON, ESPECIALLY
WHEN YOU CONSIDER SOME OF THE
POSTS IN QUESTION.
>> THERE WAS ALSO THIS POST
WHERE THE MAN SAID HE WAS,
QUOTE, "NOT A WHORE BUT A HOE,
ONE IS A SLUT, THE OTHER IS A
PROSTITUTE," ADDING I'M THE ONE
THAT GETS FREE WEED FOR GIVING,
THEN A REFERENCE TO A SEXUAL
ACT.
>> AND IT WAS LIKED BY
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR McNally.
>> YEAH, I DON'T KNOW THAT --
YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES ON SOME
PEOPLE'S POSTS YOU SEE THE NAME
AND YOU SEE WHAT THEY'VE
WRITTEN, AND YOU JUST PRESS THE
BUTTON THAT SAYS "LIKE."
>> SO YOU DIDN'T READ THAT POST?
>> I DON'T RECALL READING THE
PART ABOUT THE, THE UH, WEED.
I KNOW THAT.
>> BUT WHAT ABOUT THE
"PROSTITUTE"?
>> I MIGHT HAVE, I MIGHT HAVE
READ THAT.
>> John: RANDY!
RANDY!
DID A WITCH PUT A SPELL ON YOU?
I GENUINELY APPRECIATE THE
TRANSPARENCY, BUT YOU KNOW YOU
COULD JUST SAY NO, RIGHT?
NOBODY WOULD BELIEVE YOU ANY
MORE OR LESS THAN THEY ALREADY
DO.
ALSO, FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, THE
WEED PART IS JUST NOT WHAT
ANYONE IS INTERESTED IN HERE.
AND LOOK, I CAN'T SAY FOR
CERTAIN WHAT'S GOING ON WITH
THAT GUY, BUT I WILL SAY
WHENEVER STORIES LIKE THIS COME
UP, AND THEY DO SEEM TO COME UP
A LOT, OF REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS
CHAMPIONING ANTI-GAY
LEGISLATION, ONLY FOR IT TO
EMERGE THEY MAY HAVE, LET'S CALL
THEM, "GAY-ADJACENT
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES,"
IT'S HARD NOT TO FEEL A MIXTURE
OF EMOTIONS.
FIRST, HILARITY AT THE
HYPOCRISY.
THEN, ANGER.
THEN, A SLIGHT SENSE OF SADNESS.
BECAUSE THESE ARE MEN WHO, YOU
FEEL, COULD'VE HAD HAPPIER LIVES
IF THEY'D GROWN UP IN A
DIFFERENT WORLD.
BUT INSTEAD OF HELPING CREATE
THAT DIFFERENT WORLD, THEY'VE
COURTED THE APPROVAL OF
HOMOPHOBES WHO ARE INTENT ON
HOLDING IT BACK.
AND IF THAT IS THE CASE FOR
McNally, IT ALL FEELS LIKE SUCH
A WASTE, INCLUDING THE FACT THAT
"RANDY McNally" IS JUST AN A+
DRAG QUEEN NAME.
AND HONESTLY, IN THE END, IT
DOESN'T REALLY MATTER WHAT
McNALLY'S DEAL IS, IF HE'S
PUSHING FOR LAWS THAT HURT
PEOPLE.
RANDY, IF YOU'D INVEST HALF THE
ENERGY YOU SPEND COMMENTING ON
PHOTOS OF QUEER PEOPLE BEING
HAPPY, INTO MAKING A WORLD WHERE
THAT HAPPINESS IS NOT UNDER
CONSTANT THREAT, THAT WOULD
LITERALLY BE SO NICE, KING.
AND NOW THIS.
>> Announcer: AND NOW,
HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY
FROM THE MEN OF LOCAL NEWS.
>> HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S
DAY TO YOU AND TO METEOROLOGIST
STEPHANIE WHO IS WITH US.
MY FAVORITE GIRL.
>> IT'S INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S
DAY.
>> I'M PATRICK LYTLE, LET'S
CHECK IN WITH THE OTHER WOMEN ON
THE STAFF.
>> EVERY DAY IS INTERNATIONAL
WOMEN'S DAY AS FAR AS I'M
CONCERNED.
>> SHOUT OUT TO ALL THE WOMAN IN
MY LIFE, MY WIFE, TWO STEP
GIRLS, THE TWO FEMALE DOGS AS
WELL.
MY MOTHER.
>> NOT ONLY IS IT INTERNATIONAL
WOMEN'S DAY.
>> YOU HAVEN'T SAID ANYTHING
YET.
>> WHAT?
>> FOR WOMEN'S DAY.
>> OH, AM I SUPPOSED TO?
IS THERE AN INTERNATIONAL MAN'S
DAY?
>> HAPPY WOMEN'S DAY.
>> NATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY.
>> YEAH, WE TOO.
>> WE ARE WOMEN.
>> OKAY.
MY FAVORITE WOMEN.
I AM SORRY, I AM SORRY.
HEY, GIRLS, MY GIRLS, BUT YOU
KNOW, WE ARE FRIENDS, MY PEEPS,
MY -- YOU KNOW.
>> WELL.
>> John: MOVING ON.
OUR MAIN STORY TONIGHT CONCERNS
TANF.
IT'S A COMMONLY USED ACRONYM
THAT IN BRITAIN STANDS FOR "THAT
ASSHOLE NIGEL FARAGE."
BUT IN THIS COUNTRY, IT STANDS
FOR TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR
NEEDY FAMILIES, A FEDERAL
PROGRAM DESIGNED TO HELP
FAMILIES WITH LITTLE TO NO
INCOME.
TANF IS AN ABSOLUTELY VITAL
RESOURCE, AND ALSO THE PROGRAM
UNDERNEATH MISSISSIPPI'S
SPECTACULAR ONGOING SCANDALS
INVOLVING FORMER QUARTERBACK
BRETT FAVRE.
>> NFL HALL OF FAMER BRETT FAVRE
IS UNDER GROWING PRESSURE
TONIGHT.
AS A NEW COURT FILING SAYS THE
FORMER FOOTBALL STAR WAGED A
CAMPAIGN TO AGGRESSIVELY LOBBY,
FOR MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM THE
STATE WELFARE AGENCY, TO FINISH
BUILDING A VOLLEYBALL FACILITY
AT HIS ALMA MATER, THE
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN
MISSISSIPPI, WHERE HIS DAUGHTER
PLAYED THE SPORT.
>> John: THAT'S RIGHT, BRETT
FAVRE WAS INVOLVED IN GETTING $5
MILLION DOLLARS IN TANF FUNDS
FUNNELED INTO BUILDING THIS
VOLLEYBALL STADIUM.
AND I'M A LITTLE SURPRISED YOU
EVEN NEED A STADIUM TO PLAY
VOLLEYBALL IN.
I THOUGHT IT WAS A SPORT MAINLY
PLAYED OUTDOORS BY SEXUALLY
FRUSTRATED MEN WHO AREN'T
WEARING SHIRTS AND SPORTY DOGS
WHO UNEXPECTEDLY ARE.
BUT CLEARLY, I WAS WRONG ABOUT
THAT.
BUT FAVRE'S ROLE IN THIS SCANDAL
WENT FAR BEYOND VOLLEYBALL.
HE'S ALSO ALLEGED TO HAVE HELPED
GET AROUND $2 MILLION OF TANF
DOLLARS ROUTED TO A
PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY THAT HE
INVESTED IN, AND PERSONALLY
RECEIVED OVER A MILLION MORE FOR
THE PROMISE HE'D MAKE PUBLIC
APPEARANCES OR RECORD PSA'S.
AND IN HIS TEXT MESSAGES TO A
CENTRAL FIGURE IN THE SCHEME, A
WOMAN NAMED NANCY NEW, FAVRE
SEEMED EAGER TO KEEP THE DETAILS
OF THIS DEAL PRIVATE.
>> TEXTS SHOW FAVRE WAS WORRIED
ABOUT HOW IT MIGHT LOOK.
HE WROTE, "IF YOU WERE TO PAY
ME, IS THERE ANY WAY THE MEDIA
CAN FIND OUT WHERE IT CAME FROM
AND HOW MUCH?"
NEW REPLIED, "NO."
BUT ADDED, "I UNDERSTAND YOU
BEING UNEASY ABOUT THAT."
>> John: YEAH, ME TOO!
BUT, BRETT, I HAVE SOME TERRIBLE
NEWS FOR YOU.
THE MEDIA DID FIND OUT.
THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT
NOW.
BUT THE FAVRE PART OF THE STORY
IS JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG
HERE.
BECAUSE AMAZINGLY, FROM 2016 TO
2019, AT LEAST $77 MILLION
DOLLARS IN FEDERAL WELFARE MONEY
WAS STOLEN OR MISSPENT IN
MISSISSIPPI.
SIX PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CRIMINALLY
CHARGED SO FAR, WITH MOST
PLEADING GUILTY, INCLUDING THE
FORMER DIRECTOR OF THE STATE'S
WELFARE AGENCY.
THIS SCANDAL IS FULL OF BOTH
BIZARRE DETAILS, AND A WEIRD
NUMBER OF FORMER ATHLETES,
INCLUDING RETIRED WWE WRESTLER
TED "THE MILLION DOLLAR MAN"
DIBIASE, SEEN HERE IN HIS
HEYDAY, LOOKING VERY COOL.
DIBIASE AND HIS MINISTRY
APPARENTLY RECEIVED NEARLY
$2 MILLION DOLLARS TO, AMONG
OTHER THINGS, CREATE A PHONE APP
TO REACH TROUBLED TEENS AND SEND
THEM BIBLE VERSES, SOMETHING
THAT APPARENTLY NEVER HAPPENED.
WHICH IS PROBABLY JUST AS WELL,
GIVEN THAT IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE
THIS MAN HELPING ANY TEEN WHO'S
IN TROUBLE.
UNLESS THE THING THEY'RE HAVING
TROUBLE WITH IS FIGURING OUT
WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE IF
STEVEN SEAGAL SOMEHOW AGED EVEN
WORSE.
AND LOOK, LEGALLY, I HAVE TO
TELL YOU THAT BOTH FAVRE AND
DIBIASE MAINTAIN THEY DID
NOTHING WRONG, AND HAVE NOT BEEN
CRIMINALLY CHARGED.
AND FAVRE WANTS US TO TELL YOU
THAT HE RETURNED THE $1.1
MILLION HE WAS PERSONALLY PAID,
AND SAYS HE DIDN'T KNOW ANY OF
THE MONEY WAS COMING FROM
WELFARE FUNDS.
ALTHOUGH, IT'S NOT CLEAR EXACTLY
WHERE HE THOUGHT THE MONEY WAS
COMING FROM.
PERHAPS HE THINKS THERE'S SOME
POT OF TAXPAYER MONEY THAT HE
CAN JUST DIP HIS SAUSAGE FINGERS
INTO WHENEVER HE NEEDS
SOMETHING.
I DON'T KNOW.
HE'S BEEN HIT IN THE HEAD A LOT.
NOT ENOUGH, BUT A LOT.
BUT WHAT'S NOT IN DISPUTE HERE
IS THAT, FOR YEARS, THERE WERE
PEOPLE IN MISSISSIPPI IN DIRE
NEED OF HELP, WHO JUST COULDN'T
GET IT.
>> TAMARA EDWARDS RAISED FOUR
CHILDREN ON HER OWN IN
MISSISSIPPI, APPLYING FOR
WELFARE BENEFITS JUST ONCE, FOR
CHILDCARE WHILE SHE WORKED.
>> WHEN I REAPPLIED, I WAS NOT
ABLE TO BE ON IT AGAIN BECAUSE
THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY DIDN'T
HAVE THE FUNDINGS FOR IT.
>> John: THAT'S PRETTY
INFURIATING TO HEAR.
AND IT GETS EVEN WORSE WHEN YOU
LEARN THAT, IN MISSISSIPPI LAST
YEAR, OF ROUGHLY 190,000
CHILDREN LIVING IN POVERTY, JUST
2,600 WERE RECEIVING MONEY FROM
TANF, WHILE, REMEMBER, OF THE
ROUGHLY ONE BRETT FAVRES IN
MISSISSIPPI, 100% OF THEM
MANAGED TO GET $5 MILLION FOR
THIS FUCKING VOLLEYBALL STADIUM.
IT'S ENOUGH TO MAKE YOU WANT TO
SEE BRETT FAVRE HIT IN THE NUTS
WITH A FOOTBALL, AND THE GOOD
NEWS IS, I CAN ACTUALLY HELP
YOU THERE.
>> HE WAS ON THE PRACTICE FIELD
THIS WEEK AND GOT HIT IN THE
NOT-SO-FRIENDLY AREA.
OH!
IT TAKES HIM ALL THE WAY DOWN.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> John: GOOD.
I'M GLAD THAT HAPPENED.
AND BY THE WAY, KUDOS TO THE
LOCAL NEWS TEAM FOR ADDING THE
"BOING" SOUND EFFECT.
EXCELLENT JOURNALISM.
BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT
WHILE WHAT HAPPENED IN
MISSISSIPPI ROSE TO CRIMINAL
CHARGES, IN STATES ALL OVER THE
COUNTRY, THE TANF PROGRAM HAS
BEEN ABUSED FOR DECADES, AND
COMPLETELY LEGALLY.
IN FACT, NATIONWIDE, FOR EVERY
100 FAMILIES IN POVERTY, ONLY 21
RECEIVED TANF CASH ASSISTANCE.
MEANING WE HAVE A PROGRAM THAT'S
SUPPOSED TO GIVE MONEY TO
FAMILIES IN DESPERATE NEED, AND
FOUR OUT OF FIVE OF THEM JUST
AREN'T GETTING IT.
SO TONIGHT, LET'S TALK ABOUT
TANF, AND LET'S START WITH WHY
IT'S SO IMPORTANT.
TANF IS THE ONLY FEDERAL
ANTI-POVERTY PROGRAM THAT
PROVIDES MONTHLY CASH
ASSISTANCE.
THAT MAKES IT VERY DIFFERENT
FROM SAY, SNAP, FORMERLY KNOWN
AS "FOOD STAMPS," BECAUSE THAT
CAN ONLY BE USED TO PAY FOR
FOOD, WHEREAS TANF FUNDS, BY
CONTRAST, CAN BE USED FOR ALL
SORTS OF OTHER NECESSITIES, FROM
DIAPERS, TO TOOTHPASTE, TO
UTILITY BILLS.
SO IT CAN BE AN ABSOLUTE
LIFELINE FOR FAMILIES.
AND THE TRUTH IS, WE'VE LONG
KNOWN JUST HOW IMPORTANT CASH
ASSISTANCE CAN BE.
IN 1935, FDR PUSHED FOR THE AID
TO DEPENDENT CHILDREN PROGRAM.
AND BACK THEN, THE IDEA HAD
BROAD SUPPORT.
>> THE WELFARE OF THE NATION
DEPENDS UPON THE WELFARE OF ITS
CHILDREN!
TO PROVIDE FOR CHILDREN WHO HAVE
LOST THEIR BREADWINNERS, THE
STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
PROVIDE MONTHLY CASH PAYMENTS SO
THAT THESE CHILDREN MAY GROW UP
AT HOME WITH THEIR OWN FAMILIES.
AID FOR CHILDREN WHO, AS
CITIZENS OF TOMORROW, NEED THE
SECURITY OF HOME TODAY!
>> John: WOW!
IT'S GENUINELY REFRESHING TO
HEAR THAT KIND OF VOICE SAYING
SUCH NICE THINGS.
ALTHOUGH GIVEN THE TIME, I'M
GUESSING IF HE'D KEPT TALKING,
HE WOULD'VE SAID SOMETHING LIKE,
"ALSO, NOTHING CALMS A
HYSTERICAL CHILD LIKE A GOOD
SMACK WITH A STICK."
THAT PROGRAM CONTINUED TO HAVE
SUPPORT FOR YEARS, WHILE --
PERHAPS NOT COINCIDENTALLY -- IT
WAS PRIMARILY WHITE FAMILIES,
LIKE THOSE YOU JUST SAW, WHO
WERE THE ONES USING IT.
BUT AS BARRIERS PREVENTING BLACK
FAMILIES FROM PARTICIPATING
BEGAN TO FALL, PEOPLE SUDDENLY
BEGAN TO PANIC ABOUT WHETHER
THESE PROGRAMS MIGHT ACTUALLY
ENCOURAGE LAZINESS AND
DEPENDENCY.
AND, TO USE AMERICA'S OFFICIAL
SLOGAN, RONALD REAGAN MADE IT
WORSE!
BECAUSE CONSERVATIVES IN THE
'70S AND '80S, LED BY REAGAN,
PUSHED LARGELY BULLSHIT OR
CHERRY-PICKED NARRATIVES OF
FRAUD AND ABUSE.
IT GOT TO THE POINT WHERE, BY
THE MID-'90S, ONE FLORIDA
REPRESENTATIVE FOUND THIS A
COMPLETELY ACCEPTABLE WAY TO
TALK ABOUT WELFARE RECIPIENTS.
>> WE POST THESE SIGNS FOR
SEVERAL REASONS.
FIRST, BECAUSE IF LEFT IN A
NATURAL STATE, ALLIGATORS CAN
FEND FOR THEMSELVES.
THEY WORK, GATHER FOOD, AND CARE
FOR THEIR YOUNG.
SECONDLY, WE POST THESE WARNINGS
BECAUSE UNNATURAL FEEDING AND
ARTIFICIAL CARE CREATES
DEPENDENCY.
WHEN DEPENDENCY SETS IN, THESE
OTHERWISE ABLED ALLIGATORS CAN
NO LONGER SURVIVE ON THEIR OWN.
NOW I KNOW PEOPLE ARE NOT
ALLIGATORS, BUT I SUBMIT TO YOU
THAT WITH OUR CURRENT HANDOUT,
NON-WORK WELFARE SYSTEM, WE'VE
UPSET THE NATURAL ORDER.
>> John: OKAY.
THERE IS A LOT TO UNPACK THERE.
FROM CASUALLY COMPARING POOR
PEOPLE TO ANIMALS, TO CLAIMING
THAT ALLIGATORS WORK, WHICH BEGS
THE QUESTION, THE FUCK ARE YOU
TALKING ABOUT?
ALLIGATORS DON'T HAVE JOBS!
UNLESS YOU CONSIDER "LOOKING
LIKE SOMEONE PUT A DRAGON BABY
INTO A PANINI PRESS" TO BE A
JOB, IN WHICH CASE, YES, THEY'RE
INDEED WORKING 24/7.
NOW AT THE TIME THAT ASSHOLE WAS
SPEAKING, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
HAD ALREADY BEGUN ALLOWING, AND
ENCOURAGING, STATES TO
EXPERIMENT WITH VARIOUS
SO-CALLED "WELFARE-TO-WORK"
APPROACHES, WITH THE AIM BEING
TO GET AS MANY PEOPLE OFF
GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE AS
POSSIBLE, AND INTO THE
WORKFORCE.
AND BACK THEN, BOTH DEMOCRATS
AND REPUBLICANS SEIZED ON WHAT
APPEARED TO BE A SUCCESSFUL
PROGRAM IN RIVERSIDE COUNTY,
CALIFORNIA, THAT EMPHASIZED
GETTING A JOB ABOVE ALL ELSE,
AND WAS SAID TO HAVE INCREASED
PARTICIPANTS' EARNINGS BY NEARLY
50%.
THE MAN OVERSEEING THAT PROGRAM,
LARRY TOWNSEND, WAS CELEBRATED
AT THE TIME.
EVEN DUBBED "THE MAGIC
BUREAUCRAT," AND WAS BROUGHT
BEFORE CONGRESS TO SHARE THE
SECRETS TO HIS SUCCESS.
>> IF YOU CALL RIVERSIDE COUNTY,
AND NOBODY ANSWERS THE PHONE,
YOU'LL GET A WORK ETHIC MESSAGE.
WE HAVE POSTERS IN THE WAITING
ROOM.
WE HAVE PRODUCED A COMPACT DISC
WITH WORK ETHIC MUSIC.
ONE OF THE -- THE PIECES OF
MUSIC IS WELFARE IS TEMPORARY,
NOT A WAY OF LIFE, AND IT'S A
BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF MUSIC.
>> John: NOW, THAT'S ACTUALLY
TRUE!
LARRY OVERSAW THE PRODUCTION OF
THIS ALBUM OF "WORK ETHIC MUSIC"
THEY'D PLAY IN THE OFFICE, AND
TO PEOPLE WHO WERE PUT ON HOLD.
NOW, IS HE RIGHT TO CLAIM IT WAS
"A BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF MUSIC?"
WELL, WHY DON'T YOU BE THE
JUDGE?
HERE'S A TASTE.
>> ♪ WELFARE'S TEMPORARY, NOT A
WAY OF LIFE ♪
♪ BE PROUD OF HONEST LABOR ♪
♪ HAVE DIGNITY AND PRIDE ♪
♪ MAKE THE DIFFERENCE ♪
♪ START A CAREER ♪
♪ SUCCESS DEPENDS ON YOU ♪
♪ GET INTO GEAR ♪
>> John: YOU KNOW, FINALLY, WE
HAVE A RECORDING THAT ANSWERS
THE QUESTION: "WHAT IF "WE ARE
THE WORLD" FUCKED A CHEAP
MOTIVATIONAL POSTER?"
AND IF YOU THINK EVERY TRACK ON
THE ALBUM WAS CONFINED TO THE
GENRE OF "POP SOUL BALLAD,"
YOU'RE WRONG.
BECAUSE THEY ALSO DID A DANCE
NUMBER THAT, FAIR WARNING,
REALLY PUTS THE "NO" IN
"TECHNO."
>> ♪ WELFARE IS TEMPORARY ♪
♪ IT'S NOT A WAY OF LIFE ♪
♪ WELFARE, MAKE IT SECONDARY ♪
♪ HAVE DIGNITY AND PRIDE ♪
>> John: I HATE IT SO MUCH.
THAT SONG SOUNDS LIKE DAFT PUNK
IF IT TURNED OUT THE PEOPLE
UNDER THE MASKS WERE
KEVIN O'LEARY AND MARK CUBAN.
IT'S GENUINELY DIFFICULT TO STOP
TALKING ABOUT THIS ALBUM.
BECAUSE WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO
HERE?
JUST MOVE ON TO THE REST OF THIS
STORY AND NOT PLAY YOU THE HIP
HOP TRACK?
THAT'D BE RIDICULOUS.
HERE IT IS!
>> ♪ WORK FOR IT, WORK FOR IT ♪
♪ TURN YOUR DREAMS INTO
REALITY ♪
♪ WORK FOR IT, WORK FOR IT ♪
♪ BECOME A MONEY SAVER ♪
♪ WORK FOR IT, WORK FOR IT ♪
♪ CAUSE YOU CAN GET A JOB ♪
>> John: ADMIT IT, ADMIT IT, YOU
THOUGHT YOU KNEW HOW BAD THAT
WAS GOING TO BE, THEN YOU GET TO
THAT LAST "CAUSE YOU CAN GET A
JOB," BIT AND IT SOMEHOW GETS
WORSE.
NOW, INTERESTINGLY, AND
IMPORTANTLY, LATER STUDIES FOUND
THAT MAN'S PROGRAM DIDN'T, IN
FACT, SUCCEED BECAUSE OF THAT
ALBUM.
OR, INDEED, ANYTHING ELSE HE'D
DONE.
INSTEAD, RESEARCH SUGGESTED ITS
SUCCESS WAS A FLUKE, AND
ACTUALLY THE PRODUCT OF AN
ALREADY STRONGER LOCAL ECONOMY
RATHER THAN ANY REFORMS.
BUT THE PROBLEM WAS, THE WHOLE
CONCEPT OF "WELFARE-TO-WORK" HAD
CAUGHT ON IN A BIG WAY.
BILL CLINTON CAMPAIGNED
AGGRESSIVELY ON WELFARE REFORM,
AND ONCE IN OFFICE, WORKED WITH
REPUBLICANS TO CRAFT A BILL
THAT, HE BRAGGED WHEN SIGNING
IT, WOULD MOVE MILLIONS INTO THE
WORKFORCE.
>> TODAY WE ARE ENDING WELFARE
AS WE KNOW IT.
BUT I HOPE THIS DAY WILL BE
REMEMBERED NOT FOR WHAT IT ENDED
BUT FOR WHAT IT BEGAN.
>> John: SPOILER ALERT, IT'S
REMEMBERED FOR WHAT IT ENDED,
NOT WHAT IT BEGAN.
IT'S GENUINELY HARD TO THINK OF
A CLIP FROM THE CLINTON ERA
THAT'S AGED WORSE, OTHER THAN,
OF COURSE, THIS ONE FROM HIS
INAUGURAL BALL.
>> WE'LL BE THERE FOR YOU, WE
LOVE YOU, THANK YOU, GOD BLESS
YOU ALL, THANK YOU.
AND THANK YOU, KEVIN SPACEY!
>> John: YEAH, YEAH.
YEAH.
PRETTY REMARKABLE, RIGHT?
THAT THEY LET THAT SEXUAL
PREDATOR ANYWHERE NEAR KEVIN
SPACEY?
[LAUGHTER]
THE POINT IS THAT CLINTON'S
WELFARE REFORM CREATED THE TANF
PROGRAM.
AND IN DOING SO, IT BROUGHT
ABOUT SOME MAJOR, AND
CATASTROPHIC CHANGES.
FIRST, IT SHIFTED THE FUNDING TO
A BLOCK GRANT.
BASICALLY, INSTEAD OF THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAVING
OVERSIGHT AND SHARING THE COSTS
OF THE PROGRAM, EACH YEAR, IT
WOULD JUST GIVE STATES A LUMP
SUM OF MONEY.
BUT IN DOING SO, IT CRUCIALLY
DIDN'T ESTABLISH ANY MECHANISM
TO INCREASE THAT SUM OVER TIME,
MEANING THE AMOUNT EACH STATE
GETS HAS NOT INCREASED SINCE
1996.
AND BECAUSE IT HASN'T BEEN
ADJUSTED FOR INFLATION OR
POPULATION CHANGES, THE REAL
VALUE OF THE FUNDING HAS
ACTUALLY FALLEN BY 40% SINCE
THEN.
SO IT WASN'T WORTH MUCH IN THE
MID-'90S, AND IT'S WORTH EVEN
LESS NOW.
THINK OF IT LIKE A CASSINGLE OF
CHUMBAWUMBA'S TUBTHUMPING.
AND I KNOW IF YOU'RE UNDER 30
YOU THINK I'M HAVING A STROKE,
BUT I SWEAR EVERYTHING I JUST
SAID IS A REAL WORD.
THE BIG PROMISE OF THESE BLOCK
GRANTS WAS THAT THEY'D GIVE
STATES THE FLEXIBILITY TO SPEND
IT HOWEVER THEY FELT WORKED BEST
FOR THEM.
THE ONLY REAL REQUIREMENT WAS
THAT IT HAD TO BE USED FOR AT
LEAST ONE OF FOUR INCREDIBLY
BROAD PURPOSES.
PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO NEEDY
FAMILIES SO THAT CHILDREN CAN BE
CARED FOR IN THEIR OWN HOMES OR
IN THE HOMES OF RELATIVES.
FINE.
PROMOTING JOB PREPARATION, WORK,
AND MARRIAGE.
OKAY.
PREVENTING AND REDUCING THE
INCIDENCE OF OUT-OF-WEDLOCK
PREGNANCIES.
SEEMS A BIT WEIRD!
AND ENCOURAGING THE FORMATION
AND MAINTENANCE OF TWO-PARENT
FAMILIES.
SO IMMEDIATELY, YOU CAN SEE THAT
NOT ONLY IS SOME OF THAT
INCREDIBLY MORALISTIC, IT'S,
CRUCIALLY, A PRETTY BROAD
MANDATE.
AND STATES HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE
OF THAT LATITUDE.
FOR INSTANCE, SOME HAVE
APPROPRIATED TANF MONEY FOR
COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS THAT CAN
END UP GOING TO MIDDLE-CLASS
STUDENTS.
SINCE 2007, MICHIGAN HAS SPENT
AROUND $100 MILLION DOLLARS EACH
YEAR IN WELFARE MONEY ON COLLEGE
AID, MUCH OF IT BENEFITING
FAMILIES WELL ABOVE THE POVERTY
LINE.
AND THE STATE HAS JUSTIFIED THIS
BY SAYING THAT COLLEGE AID HELPS
PREVENT OUT-OF-WEDLOCK
PREGNANCIES, WHICH OF COURSE
MAKES SENSE.
COLLEGE IS FAMOUSLY A PLACE
WHERE NO ONE FUCKS.
[LAUGHTER]
MEANWHILE, OKLAHOMA WAS, AT ONE
POINT, SPENDING MILLIONS IN TANF
DOLLARS ON MARRIAGE COUNSELING
CLASSES, INCLUDING ONE CALLED
"FOREVER.
FOR REAL."
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE AN AD FOR
IT?
WELL, TOO BAD, HERE IT IS!
>> IT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT
DECISION YOU CAN MAKE IN YOUR
LIFE, TO MARRY SOMEBODY.
SO, YOU KNOW, WHO WOULDN'T WANT
A CLOSER AND STRONGER
RELATIONSHIP?
>> ONCE WE DECIDED THAT WE WERE
READY TO MOVE FORWARD IN OUR
RELATIONSHIP, WE WANTED TO
PROTECT WHAT WE HAD.
AND SO, WE DECIDED TO GO TO
"FOREVER.
FOR REAL."
FOR AN INVESTMENT IN US.
>> WE KNOW THAT OUR RELATIONSHIP
WON'T ALWAYS BE EASY, BUT IT
WILL BE FOREVER.
>> "FOREVER.
FOR REAL."
NOW RELATIONSHIPS COME WITH
INSTRUCTIONS.
>> John: WOW.
FIRST, THE CHEMISTRY BETWEEN
THAT COUPLE IS VERY MUCH ON THE
CHARTS.
AND IT DOESN'T HELP THAT THEY
TRIED TO SET THE MOOD BY
LIGHTING CANDLES WHEN THE REST
OF THE ROOM IS LIT LIKE THE
FREEZER AISLE AT A KROGER.
ONE REPORTER WHO ATTENDED ONE OF
THOSE CLASSES FOUND PARTICIPANTS
WERE SHOCKED TO LEARN THEY'D
BEEN PAID FOR WITH WELFARE
DOLLARS, BECAUSE THEY CONSIDERED
THEMSELVES, "PRETTY GOOD" AND
"FINANCIALLY STABLE."
BUT BECAUSE, REMEMBER,
SUPPORTING A TWO-PARENT
HOUSEHOLD IS ONE OF THE FOUR
PURPOSES TANF FUNDS CAN BE USED
FOR, WHAT OKLAHOMA DID IS
COMPLETELY LEGAL.
AND WHILE THEY EVENTUALLY ENDED
THAT PROGRAM IN 2016, THAT WAS
ONLY AFTER 17 YEARS OF SPENDING
TANF DOLLARS ON IT.
AND AT ITS ABSOLUTE WORST, TANF
MONEY CAN BE USED IN ACTIVELY
HARMFUL WAYS, LIKE FUNDING
CRISIS PREGNANCY CENTERS.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THEM BEFORE
ON THIS SHOW.
THEY'RE BASICALLY FAKE ABORTION
CLINICS DESIGNED TO PERSUADE
PEOPLE TO SEE PREGNANCIES
THROUGH TO TERM, OFTEN BY
PROPAGATING MISINFORMATION.
AND YET, AT LEAST 10 STATES HAVE
SIPHONED MILLIONS OF TANF
DOLLARS TO PAY FOR THEM.
UP UNTIL LAST YEAR, TEXAS HAD
DIRECTED $45 MILLION IN TANF
FUNDS TO THESE CLINICS.
AND JUST LISTEN TO SOME OF THE
MISINFORMATION ONE OF THEM WAS
TELLING PEOPLE.
>> AT A CENTER IN THE DALLAS
AREA, A VOLUNTEER TOLD OUR
PRODUCER THEY DON'T OFFER
ABORTIONS, ADDING, "ABORTIONS
CAN CAUSE INFERTILITY."
WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE ABORTION
PILL, THE VOLUNTEER SAID, "MY
JOB IS NOT TO SCARE YOU.
YOU NEVER GET OVER SEEING THAT
BABY."
SHE THEN POINTED TO A SMALL
PLASTIC MODEL LIKE THIS SAYING,
"CAN YOU IMAGINE ONE OF THESE IN
YOUR PANTIES?"
>> John: HOLY SHIT!
YOUR TAX DOLLARS, WHICH WERE
MEANT TO HELP POOR FAMILIES,
INSTEAD WENT TO SOMEONE UTTERING
THE SINGLE GROSSEST SENTENCE IN
THE HISTORY OF WORDS, THE ONLY
PROPER RESPONSE TO WHICH IS,
"CAN YOU IMAGINE HOW MUCH OF A
WEIRDO YOU'D HAVE TO BE TO SAY
THE WORD PANTIES TO A STRANGER
WHILE SHOWING THEM YOUR
COLLECTION OF RUSSIAN NESTING
FETUSES?"
AND LOOK, I'M NOT SAYING STATES
DON'T GIVE ANY TANF FUNDS TO
NEEDY FAMILIES.
BUT IN MANY CASES, THEY SEEM
PRETTY FAR DOWN THE LIST OF
PRIORITIES.
IN OKLAHOMA, SITE OF THOSE
STERILE MARRIAGE CLASSES, THE
STATE WAS SPENDING JUST 9% OF
ITS TANF BLOCK GRANT ON CASH
ASSISTANCE.
AND ONE WAY STATES MANAGE TO
KEEP THEIR TANF ROLLS INCREDIBLY
LEAN IS TO SET THE BARRIER TO
ACCESS THEM INSURMOUNTABLY HIGH.
IN MORE THAN 25 STATES, A FAMILY
OF THREE LIVING AT HALF THE
FEDERAL POVERTY LINE EARNS TOO
MUCH TO QUALIFY FOR TANF.
WHICH IS ABSURD.
JUST LISTEN TO THESE WOMEN IN
MISSISSIPPI, WHO WERE TOLD THEY
WERE TOO RICH TO QUALIFY.
>> WE ARE THE PEOPLE.
WE ARE WHO THOSE PROGRAMS ARE
SUPPOSED TO HELP.
AND THEY'RE NOT HELPING US.
>> WHEN YOU WERE REJECTED FOR
TANF FOR MAKING TOO MUCH MONEY,
HOW MUCH WERE YOU MAKING?"
>> IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN ANY
MORE THAN $11 AN HOUR.
>> I WAS ACTUALLY MAKING $9 AND
I WAS DENIED -- HOW DO I MAKE
TOO MUCH MONEY WITH THREE KIDS,
RENT, UTILITIES, TRANSPORTATION,
LIKE, HOW DO I MAKE TOO MUCH
MONEY?
>> John: YEAH, THAT'S A GREAT
QUESTION.
BECAUSE IT'S RIDICULOUS THAT A
PARENT OF THREE STRUGGLING TO
MAKE ENDS MEET HAS "TOO MUCH
MONEY" TO RECEIVE TANF
ASSISTANCE, WHILE THE STATE WAS
MORE THAN HAPPY TO
SHOVEL CASH TOWARD BOTH BRETT
FAVRE AND TED DIBIASE, A
WRESTLER WHOSE SIGNATURE POSE IS
"HEY, EVERYONE!
I JUST ROBBED AN ATM."
BUT IT'S NOT JUST THAT THE
INCOME THRESHOLD CAN BE
PROHIBITIVELY LOW.
IT'S THAT THE APPLICATION
PROCESS ITSELF CAN BE DEEPLY
INVASIVE.
FOR INSTANCE, STATES ARE
REQUIRED TO OFFSET ANY TANF
MONEY THEY GIVE TO SINGLE
MOTHERS BY CHASING DOWN THE
BIOLOGICAL FATHERS FOR CHILD
SUPPORT.
MONEY THE GOVERNMENT THEN OFTEN
KEEPS FOR ITSELF.
SO IN SOME STATES, SINGLE
MOTHERS APPLYING FOR PUBLIC
ASSISTANCE ARE FORCED TO
IDENTIFY THE FATHER OF THEIR
CHILD, HIS EYE COLOR, HIS
LICENSE PLATE NUMBER, AND THE
EXACT DATE WHEN THEY GOT
PREGNANT, OFTEN UNDER PENALTY OF
PERJURY.
WHICH IS THE MOST HUMILIATING
WAY TO IDENTIFY THE FATHER OF
YOUR CHILD THAT DOESN'T INVOLVE
MAURY FUCKING POVICH.
BUT THERE'S ONE MORE TWIST HERE.
BECAUSE EVEN IF YOU QUALIFY AND
ARE ABLE TO GET ASSISTANCE, IT
CAN BE EXTREMELY EASY TO THEN
LOSE IT.
NOT ONLY DO SOME STATES SET TIME
LIMITS FOR HOW LONG YOU CAN GET
TANF, ARIZONA KICKS YOU OFF
AFTER JUST A YEAR.
THE MONEY COMES WITH AN
OBLIGATION TO PERFORM "WORK
ACTIVITIES", LIKE JOB SEARCHING
AND TRAINING, THAT RECIPIENTS
HAVE TO ENGAGE IN FOR A CERTAIN
NUMBER OF HOURS EACH WEEK.
BUT FOR STRUGGLING PARENTS --
WHICH THIS PROGRAM IS FOR --
REMEMBER, THAT CAN BE VERY
DIFFICULT, ESPECIALLY IF THEY
DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO CHILDCARE.
>> I'VE LOST THE CASH ASSISTANCE
THREE OR FOUR TIMES DUE TO THE
FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, NO
TRANSPORTATION, NOBODY TO WATCH
MY SON, THEY -- THEY WANT YOU TO
GO LOOKING FOR WORK.
HOW DO YOU TAKE A KID INTO A JOB
AND ASK FOR AN APPLICATION?
>> John: RIGHT, IT'S NOT EASY TO
TAKE YOUR KID ALONG INTO A JOB
INTERVIEW.
THAT'S WHY MOST JOB APPLICATIONS
DON'T COME WITH A BONUS BIG MAZE
AND A CRAYON.
AND IT'S NOT LIKE
HER STATE WELFARE OFFICE IS
UNAWARE THAT SHE HAS A CHILD.
THEY KNOW THAT.
THEY MAY EVEN KNOW THE EXACT
DATE HE WAS CONCEIVED FOR SOME
FUCKING REASON.
AND IF YOU FAIL TO MEET YOUR
OBLIGATIONS, STATES CAN BE
PRETTY UNFORGIVING IN CUTTING
YOU OFF.
JUST LISTEN TO ONE WOMAN WHO WAS
KICKED OFF ASSISTANCE, DESPITE
HAVING AN OBJECTIVELY SOLID
EXCUSE.
>> KIMBERLY THOMPSON SPENT TWO
AND A HALF MONTHS IN THE
HOSPITAL LAST SUMMER, AFTER AN
INFECTION RAVAGED HER BODY.
NEARLY HALF OF THAT TIME, SHE
WAS IN A COMA.
ADDING INSULT TO INJURY, THOUGH,
WHILE SHE WAS COMATOSE, THE
COUNTY KICKED HER OFF GOVERNMENT
ASSISTANCE.
>> WELL I WAS IN A COMA AND I
DIDN'T REPORT IN, AND I WAS
SUPPOSED TO REPORT IN ONCE A
WEEK -- SO, SINCE I DIDN'T
REPORT IN, THEY JUST CUT IT ALL
OFF.
>> John: WOW, FINDING OUT YOU'VE
LOST YOUR GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE
HAS GOT TO BE ONE OF THE WORST
THINGS YOU COULD POSSIBLY HEAR
WHEN WAKING UP FROM A COMA ALONG
WITH "ACTUALLY, WE CALL HIM
PRESIDENT TRUMP NOW," AND "MOST
OF THE DOGS YOU KNEW ARE DEAD."
AND THE THING IS, ALL OF THIS --
THE MULTIPLE HOOPS YOU HAVE TO
JUMP THROUGH BEFORE GETTING
ASSISTANCE, AND THE REQUIREMENTS
YOU HAVE TO MEET TO KEEP IT --
IS FOR AN ABYSMALLY SMALL AMOUNT
OF MONEY.
IN 15 STATES, CASH BENEFIT
LEVELS DON'T EVEN REACH 20% OF
THE POVERTY LINE, WHICH IS ABOUT
$386 FOR A FAMILY OF THREE PER
MONTH.
AND IF YOU'RE THINKING, "WELL,
MAYBE STATES JUST DON'T HAVE THE
MONEY," NOT ONLY HAVE YOU SEEN
THE BULLSHIT SOME OF THEM SPEND
IT ON INSTEAD, BUT YOU SHOULD
KNOW.
PERHAPS THE MOST SHOCKING THING
SOME STATES SPEND TANF MONEY ON
IS "ABSOLUTELY NOTHING AT ALL."
AS OF LAST YEAR, STATES WERE
SITTING ON $5.2 BILLION DOLLARS
IN UNSPENT TANF FUNDS.
TENNESSEE ALONE WAS HOARDING
$790 MILLION, THE LARGEST POOL
OF UNSPENT WELFARE FUNDS IN THE
COUNTRY.
YOU KNOW, LIKE THE FAMOUS SAYING
GOES, "EVERYTHING'S BIGGER IN
TENNESSEE, NO WAIT, FUCK, THAT'S
TEXAS.
OH NO, WHY IS SOMEONE WRITING
DOWN EVERYTHING I'M SAYING?
SCRATCH THAT FROM THE RECORD I
SOUND LIKE AN IDIOT.
WHY ARE YOU STILL WRITING?
STOP.
I'M SERIOUS.
STOP.
IF YOU DON'T STOP WRITING I'LL
FUCK YOU UP SO SILLY YOU'LL BE
HOLDING PENS IN YOUR MOUTH,
BITCH!"
RUTH BADER GINSBURG.
AND WHEN YOU PUT ALL THIS
TOGETHER, IT'S NO WONDER THAT
MOST PEOPLE ON TANF DON'T, IN
FACT, GO FROM WELFARE TO WORK.
IN 2018, ONLY 1 IN 4 TANF CASES
CLOSED BECAUSE CLIENTS FOUND
JOBS.
BY AND LARGE, THE REST WERE
KICKED OFF FOR ONE OF THE MANY
BULLSHIT REASONS WE'VE
MENTIONED TONIGHT.
BASICALLY, TANF LIFTS PEOPLE OUT
OF POVERTY THE SAME WAY ONE OF
THOSE ARCADE CLAW GAMES LIFTS
STUFFED ANIMALS OUT OF THE
MACHINE, WHICH IS TO SAY, IT
USUALLY JUST DROPS THEM RIGHT
BACK WHERE THEY STARTED, AND IN
MANY WAYS, THE WHOLE PROCESS IS
A GIANT "FUCK YOU" TO KIDS.
NOW, THE GOOD NEWS IS, THERE ARE
THINGS WE COULD DO HERE, IF WE
WANTED TO.
WE'VE TALKED BEFORE ABOUT SOME
OF THE BIG, BROADER CHANGES THAT
WOULD HELP ALLEVIATE THE PAIN OF
POVERTY.
BUT EVEN WHEN IT JUST COMES TO
TANF, THERE ARE OPTIONS.
WE COULD SET A MINIMUM BENEFIT
LEVEL, AND LOOSEN SOME OF THE
REQUIREMENTS THAT MAKE IT SO
EASY TO LOSE ASSISTANCE.
AND IF WE'RE GOING TO KEEP DOING
BLOCK GRANTS -- WHICH I WOULD
ARGUE WE ABSOLUTELY SHOULDN'T --
THEY SHOULD AT LEAST BE ADJUSTED
FOR INFLATION AND POPULATION
GROWTH, WITH A CERTAIN AMOUNT
REQUIRED TO BE SPENT ON DIRECT
CASH ASSISTANCE.
LOOK, THE WILD THING IS, OUR
CURRENT SYSTEM WAS CREATED UNDER
THE ASSUMPTION THAT POOR
FAMILIES SIMPLY COULDN'T BE
TRUSTED TO COLLECT WELFARE
HONESTLY.
BUT THE PAST COUPLE OF DECADES
HAVE PROVEN THAT'S IT'S ACTUALLY
POLITICIANS AND GOVERNMENT
OFFICIALS WHO'VE BEEN
RELENTLESSLY ABUSING THE SYSTEM.
TO BORROW A PHRASE, WE'VE BEEN
FEEDING THE ALLIGATORS IN STATE
GOVERNMENT, AND THAT HAS BRED
DEPENDENCY.
SO WE NEED TO FUNDAMENTALLY
REWORK THINGS, SO THIS MONEY AND
IDEALLY MUCH MORE CAN GO WHERE
IT'S BADLY NEEDED.
AND IF ANY LAWMAKERS THINK THAT
SOUNDS TOO HARD, AND ARE TEMPTED
TO TAKE A PASS ON THAT, I HAVE A
SONG WITH A POWERFUL MESSAGE
THAT I'M PRETTY SURE WILL
INSPIRE YOU.
♪ WORK FOR IT, WORK FOR IT ♪ ♪
TURN YOUR DREAMS INTO
REALITY ♪
♪ WORK FOR IT, WORK FOR IT ♪
EXACTLY.
AND NOW THIS.
>> Announcer: AND NOW,
THE HUMBLE BEGINNINGS OF
RACHAEL RAY.
>> WHEN I WAS A GIRL, I WAS A
FOUNTAIN GIRL AT HOWARD
JOHNSON'S.
BACK IN THE DAY I WAS A HOTEL
FOUNTAIN GIRL.
I WAS A FOUNTAIN GIRL AT HOWARD
JOHNSON'S.
WHEN I WAS A KID I USED TO WORK
AT HOJO'S, HOWARD JOHNSON'S.
OH, MY GOD, I FEEL LIKE I WAS
WORKING IN HOJO'S BACK IN THE
DAY.
LIKE A BIG OLD ICE CREAM SCOOP.
WHEN I WAS A KID I USED TO WORK
AT HOJO'S.
WHEN I WAS PROMOTED TO THE
FOUNTAIN, I THOUGHT MY LIFE
WOULD BE AMAZING.
IT WAS LIKE CINDERELLA, IT WAS
SO EXCITING.
AND THEN I REALIZED I WAS TOO
SHORT TO SCOOP THE ICE CREAM.
AND THERE WAS A LITTLE FAUCET
THAT WOULD CLEAN THE SCOOPS SO
IT WAS A CONSTANT STREAM OF
LEFTOVER ICE CREAM ON THE SIDE
OF THE ICE CREAM IN COLOR.
SO WHEN I PUSHED MYSELF AND
THROW MYSELF INTO THE ICE CREAM
COOLER TO GET THE ICE CREAM, I
ENDED UP WITH A LINE OF MELTED
SOUR EVERY FLAVOR HOWARD
JOHNSON'S SERVED ICE CREAM
ACROSS MY BOOTS.
SO I BECAME THE GIRL WITH THE
ICE CREAM BOOTS.
[LAUGHTER]
>> John: THAT'S OUR SHOW.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR
WATCHING.
WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK!
GOOD NIGHT!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
♪ WORK FOR IT, WORK FOR IT ♪
♪ BECOME A MONEY SAVER ♪
♪ WORK FOR IT, WORK FOR IT ♪
♪ TURN YOUR DREAMS INTO
REALITY ♪
♪ WORK FOR IT, WORK FOR IT ♪
♪ BECOME A MONEY SAVER ♪
♪ WORK FOR IT, WORK FOR IT ♪