♪ ♪
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> John: WELCOME, WELCOME,
WELCOME TO "LAST WEEK TONIGHT."
I'M JOHN OLIVER.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US.
IT HAS BEEN A BUSY WEEK.
THE U.S. ENTERED A BEAR MARKET.
THERE WAS HISTORIC FLOODING IN
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK.
AND IN PERU, A HEARING
CONCERNING A CORRUPTION INQUIRY
INTO THEIR PRESIDENT WAS
DISRUPTED IN A TRULY SPECTACULAR
WAY.
>> WHAT THE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR'S
OFFICE IS INVESTIGATING IS --
[SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE]
>> THE GENTLEMAN THERE IS
INTERFERENCE FROM WHAT SEEMS TO
BE THE LAW FIRM SHOWING VERY
SUGGESTIVE IMAGES.
[LAUGHTER]
>> John: WOW, THAT'S A LITTLE
MORE THAN SUGGESTIVE IMAGES.
A SUGGESTIVE IMAGE IS THE
ENTICING HINT OF WHAT LIES
BENEATH.
THAT'S STRAIGHT UP DICK.
THAT'S A WHOLE DICK ON THE TV IN
PERU.
[LAUGHTER]
BUT INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON THAT,
WE'RE GOING TO CONCENTRATE ON
THE U.S., WHERE THE HOUSE
COMMITTEE INVESTIGATING JANUARY
6TH CONTINUED TO UNEARTH NEW
DETAILS REGARDING THE DAYS
LEADING UP TO THE INSURRECTION,
INCLUDING THE SURPRISINGLY LARGE
ROLE OF TRUMP'S LEGAL ADVISER,
JOHN EASTMAN.
AND QUICK SIDENOTE: IF YOU'RE
EVER ACCUSED OF A CRIME AND YOUR
LAWYER SHOWS UP TO COURT DRESSED
LIKE THIS, YOU ARE GOING TO
JAIL.
[LAUGHTER]
EASTMAN WAS THE ONE WHO DEVISED
THE THEORY THAT MIKE PENCE COULD
SINGLE-HANDEDLY NEGATE THE
ELECTION RESULTS, A THEORY THAT
WAS MET WITH AN APPROPRIATE
LEVEL OF SKEPTICISM AT THE TIME
FROM THIS WHITE HOUSE LAWYER.
>> I SAID, HOLD ON A SECOND, I
WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE
SAYING.
YOU'RE SAYING THAT YOU BELIEVE
THE VICE PRESIDENT ACTING AS
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE CAN BE
THE SOLE DECISION MAKER AS TO,
UNDER YOUR THEORY, WHO BECOMES
THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES?
AND HE SAID "YES."
I SAID, ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR
F-ING MIND?
>> John: RIGHT.
ALTHOUGH, I WILL SAY, AT THIS
POINT, YOU CAN JUST SAY "FUCK."
[LAUGHTER]
DEMOCRACY IS HANGING ON BY A
THREAD, AND YOU HAD A FRONT ROW
SEAT.
YOU CAN SAY "FUCK."
YOU SAID IT THEN AND YOU SHOULD
SAY IT NOW.
BECAUSE WHAT HE WAS SUGGESTING
TO YOU THERE WAS BONKERS.
THE IDEA THAT A SINGLE PERSON
COULD DECIDE THE PRESIDENCY IS
COMPLETELY AGAINST THE IDEALS OF
THIS COUNTRY, WHICH IS WHY THE
CONSTITUTION STARTS WITH "WE THE
PEOPLE" AND NOT "MIKE."
[LAUGHTER]
ALSO, I KNOW IT'S NOT THE
IMPORTANT THING, BUT WHAT IS
HAPPENING BEHIND THAT MAN?
[LAUGHTER]
WHY DOES THIS BAT HAVE "JUSTICE"
WRITTEN ON IT?
AND WHAT ARE THESE THREE METAL
WIG THINGS RIGHT BELOW IT?
DO YOU WEAR THEM?
OR DID YOU SEE ONE OF THOSE GUYS
PAINTED SILVER WHO MOVES WHEN
YOU GIVE HIM MONEY AND SCALP
HIM?
ALSO THAT PANDA PAINTING, AND
THIS IS TRUE, WAS APPARENTLY
FEATURED IN THE "FIFTY SHADES OF
GREY" MOVIE.
IT IS ALL VERY WEIRD!
I WOULD SAY IT'S THE MOST
DISTRACTING VISUALS DURING A
TELEVISED GOVERNMENT HEARING,
BUT AS WE ALL KNOW, PERU HAS
SIGNIFICANTLY RAISED THE BAR IN
THAT REGARD.
NOW, OBVIOUSLY, THE POINT OF
THESE HEARINGS IS TO LEARN
LESSONS FROM THE EFFORTS TO
STEAL THE LAST ELECTION, TO
PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN.
BUT FOR MANY REPUBLICANS, IT
SEEMS THE ONLY MISTAKE THEY SEE
IS THAT THEY DIDN'T GO FAR
ENOUGH.
BECAUSE WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF A
MIDTERM ELECTION YEAR RIGHT NOW,
AND ALREADY, MORE THAN A
HUNDRED REPUBLICAN PRIMARY
WINNERS BACK TRUMP'S FALSE
CLAIMS OF ELECTION FRAUD.
AN ESPECIALLY CONCERNING
SUBSET ARE CANDIDATES FOR
SECRETARY OF STATE, BECAUSE THEY
COULD END UP IN A POSITION TO
DIRECTLY INFLUENCE THE NEXT
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
TAKE JIM MARCHANT, WHO LOOKS
LIKE WHAT A CHILD WOULD PRODUCE
IF YOU SIMPLY TOLD THEM TO "DRAW
BUSINESS."
[LAUGHTER]
ON TUESDAY, MARCHANT BECAME THE
REPUBLICAN NOMINEE FOR SECRETARY
OF STATE IN NEVADA.
WHICH IS ALARMING, GIVEN THAT
HE'S A CONSPIRACY THEORIST WHO'S
SAID THINGS LIKE THIS:
>> THE SHAPE THAT OUR COUNTRY IS
IN RIGHT NOW IS BECAUSE OF
ELECTION FRAUD.
THE PEOPLE OF NEVADA HAVE NOT
ELECTED ANYBODY SINCE 2006,
THEY'VE BEEN INSTALLED BY THE
DEEP STATE CABAL.
>> John: WOW.
"THE PEOPLE OF NEVADA HAVEN'T
LEGITIMATELY ELECTED ANYBODY
SINCE 2006."
THAT IS A PRETTY BOLD CLAIM,
ESPECIALLY COMING FROM A GUY WHO
HIMSELF WAS ELECTED TO THE STATE
ASSEMBLY THERE IN 2016.
[LAUGHTER]
ALSO, WHEN MARCHANT WAS ASKED TO
SPECIFY WHO, EXACTLY, HE THOUGHT
WAS STEALING ELECTIONS, HE SAID,
"I DON'T KNOW, ACTUALLY.
I THINK IT'S A GLOBAL THING.
THE PEOPLE IN POWER WANT TO
MAINTAIN THEIR POWER."
WHICH IS HONESTLY PRETTY
REFRESHING COMING FROM A
CONSPIRACY THEORIST.
"LOOK, WE KNOW THERE'S A SECRET
CABAL PULLING THE STRINGS OF
POLITICIANS AROUND THE WORLD,
BUT I'M CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO
WILDLY SPECULATE ABOUT IT.
THAT WOULD BE IRRESPONSIBLE."
[LAUGHTER]
BUT CRUCIALLY, MARCHANT ISN'T
ALONE, HE'S ACTUALLY LEADING A
GROUP OF CANDIDATES CALLED
THE AMERICA FIRST SECRETARY OF
STATE COALITION, WHICH ALSO
INCLUDES NEW MEXICO'S
AUDREY TRUJILLO, WHO'S REFERRED
TO THE 2020 ELECTION AS
"A COUP," MAKING HER EXPLANATION
OF WHY SHE DECIDED TO RUN FOR
OFFICE A BIT WORRISOME.
>> I DECIDED TO RUN FOR
SECRETARY OF STATE WHEN I SAW
THE VERY INCONSISTENCIES IN THIS
LAST ELECTION, YOU KNOW.
I FEEL THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE,
WHETHER WE CAN PROVE IT OR NOT,
FEEL THAT THIS ELECTION WAS
STOLEN.
>> John: WAIT, WAIT, "WHETHER WE
CAN PROVE IT OR NOT?"
BUT THAT'S A PRETTY BIG
LOOPHOLE, ISN'T IT, AUDREY?
WE ALL BELIEVE PLENTY OF THINGS
THAT WE CAN'T PROVE, BUT WE
SHOULDN'T BASE MAJOR LIFE
DECISIONS ON THEM.
FOR INSTANCE, I CAN'T PROVE
THAT, IN HIS DAY, BELOVED
CHILDREN'S AUTHOR OF "THE GIVING
TREE" SHEL SILVERSTEIN WAS
FUCKING NONSTOP.
I BELIEVE IT, THOUGH!
LOOK AT HIM.
NOW YOU BELIEVE IT, TOO!
LOOK AT AMERICA'S FIRST FUCK
BOY, HE KNOWS EXACTLY WHERE THE
SIDEWALK ENDS.
[LAUGHTER]
BUT AGAIN, WE CAN'T PROVE IT,
CAN WE?
SO WE JUST KEEP THAT BELIEF IN
OUR HEARTS, AND TRY NOT TO USE
IT AS MOTIVATION TO COMPLETELY
DISMANTLE DEMOCRACY.
IT'S THE LEAST THAT WE CAN DO!
AND THEN THERE IS KRISTINA
KARAMO, WHO'S RUNNING FOR
SECRETARY OF STATE IN MICHIGAN,
AND WHO IS REALLY SOMETHING.
>> KRISTINA KARAMO HAS NOT BEEN
SHY IN INSISTING THERE WAS
WIDESPREAD CHEATING IN THE 2020
VOTE, TOUTING DEBUNKED CLAIMS
AND SAYING DONALD TRUMP WAS THE
TRUE WINNER IN MICHIGAN.
HER MOST INFLAMMATORY LANGUAGE
IS AIMED AT DEMOCRATS.
>> THEIR PARTY HAS TOTALLY BEEN
TAKEN OVER BY A SATANIC AGENDA.
>> INCLUDING MICHIGAN'S CURRENT
SECRETARY OF STATE.
>> SHE'S AN EVIL WOMAN.
SHE'S A VERY, EVIL, EVIL, EVIL
WOMAN.
>> John: OKAY, OBVIOUSLY,
DEMOCRATS DON'T HAVE A SATANIC
AGENDA, MAINLY BECAUSE THAT
WOULD REQUIRE HAVING AN AGENDA
IN THE FIRST PLACE.
[LAUGHTER]
ALSO, FOR THE RECORD, MICHIGAN'S
CURRENT SECRETARY OF STATE,
JOCELYN BENSON, IS NOT EVIL,
EVIL, EVIL.
IN FACT, JUST GO TO HER
WIKIPEDIA PAGE, AND LOOK FOR THE
SECTION ENTITLED "HORRIBLE ACTS
OF EVIL."
IT IS JUST NOT THERE.
ALTHOUGH YOU WILL FIND THAT "SHE
HAS COMPLETED 23 FULL MARATHONS
SINCE 2005."
BUT THAT'S NOT EVIL, IS IT?
IT'S JUST ANNOYING.
[LAUGHTER]
NO JUDGMENT, BUT THE ONLY REASON
TO RUN THAT MANY MARATHONS IS
BECAUSE YOU LIKE BRAGGING TO
YOUR FRIENDS, OR YOU'RE HORNY
FOR STOPPING TRAFFIC.
THOSE ARE THE ONLY TWO OPTIONS.
[LAUGHTER]
BUT LOOK, EXTREME VIEWS ON
ELECTION FRAUD ARE PAR FOR THE
COURSE FOR THIS COALITION.
THE THING WITH KARAMO IS THAT
SHE HAS A LOT OF OTHER VIEWS,
TOO.
>> SHE SUGGESTED IN A PODCAST
THAT PREMARITAL SEX PAVES THE
WAY FOR SOCIETY CONDONING
PEDOPHILIA.
>> WHEN WE NORMALIZE PEOPLE
FORNICATING, AND WE NORMALIZE
PEOPLE LIVING TOGETHER WITH
THEIR BOYFRIENDS AND
GIRLFRIENDS, ALL THIS STUFF, WE
OPEN A DOOR TO US TO GET TO THE
POINT WHERE WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO
WANT TO NORMALIZE PEDOPHILIA.
>> SHE ALSO REFERRED TO
HERSELF AS AN ANTI-VAXXER BEFORE
THE COVID-19 VACCINES WERE
AUTHORIZED.
>> [WHISPERING]
GUESS WHAT, I'M CRAZY.
I'M AN ANTI-VAXXER.
>> John: OH, COME ON, YOU DON'T
SOUND CRAZY, WHISPERED VOICE ON
THE PHONE.
[LAUGHTER]
AND WHILE THERE'S A LOT TO
OBJECT TO THERE, "WE NORMALIZE
PEOPLE FORNICATING AND LIVING
TOGETHER AS BOYFRIEND AND
GIRLFRIEND" IS LIKE, TEN FAKE
MORAL PANICS AGO.
I'M NOT SAYING SHE'S NOT WRONG,
IT'S JUST SHE'S WRONG IN SUCH AN
OUTDATED WAY, IT'S LIKE FINDING
OUT SOMEONE'S MAD AT
BILL CLINTON FOR TRYING WEED.
YOU'RE UPSET ABOUT THAT?
TODAY?
I MEAN, YOU'RE WRONG FOR BEING
MAD ABOUT THAT BUT EVEN WORSE,
YOU'RE LATE.
LOOK, THESE ARE JUST THREE OF
THE WORRYING CANDIDATES FOR
SECRETARY OF STATE AROUND THE
COUNTRY.
THERE ARE MANY, MANY OTHERS.
WHICH SHOULD FRANKLY GIVE
EVERYONE PAUSE.
BECAUSE THE JANUARY 6TH
COMMITTEE IS REMINDING EVERYONE
JUST HOW CLOSE WE CAME TO
DEMOCRACY BASICALLY COLLAPSING.
IT WAS A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE IN
THE RIGHT POSITION CHOOSING TO
DO THE RIGHT THING THAT SAVED US
FROM A CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS.
BUT THERE ARE MULTIPLE
CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR
CONSEQUENTIAL POSITIONS RIGHT
NOW ON THE PLATFORM OF
BASICALLY, "LET'S DO THE COUP
AGAIN, BUT BETTER NEXT TIME."
AND IF YOU'RE NOT WORRIED ABOUT
THAT, IF I MAY QUOTE A MAN WITH
THE WORLD'S MOST CHAOTIC ZOOM
BACKDROP, YOU'RE OUT OF YOUR
FUCKING MIND.
AND NOW, THIS.
>> Announcer: AND NOW, IN
HONOR OF FATHER'S DAY, ZADDIES.
>> I HEARD YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT A
ZADDY IS!
>> I DON'T.
>> WHAT IS A ZADDY?
>> A ZADDY IS A VERY HOT,
SEXY OLDER MAN OLDER MAN.
>> WHAT DOES THE "Z" STAND FOR?
>> IT'S LIKE DADDY BUT WITH THE
Z.
DEFINED AS AN ATTRACTIVE MAN WHO
IS ALSO CHARMING AND CONFIDENT.
>> ARE YOU A ZADDY?
>> I DON'T THINK SO.
>> ZADDIES STAY OVER THERE.
>> DO WE QUALIFY AS ZADDIES?
>> LET'S TALK ABOUT JEFF BEZOS,
HE HAS ACHIEVED A LOT BUT NOW HE
IS ADDING ZADDY.
>> IS HE A ZADDY?
>> 100% NOT.
>> WHO IS MORE ZADDY?
>> YOU ARE BOTH ZADDY.
>> I WOULD SAY MY HUSBAND IS
ZADDY.
[LAUGHTER]
>> THAT'S WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT
GARY DOWN THE HALLWAY TOO, BUT
WHATEVER.
[LAUGHTER]
>> John: MOVING ON.
OUR MAIN STORY TONIGHT CONCERNS
HOUSING.
THE THING THAT 16-YEAR-OLD
TIKTOK MILLIONAIRES CAN AFFORD,
AND YOU CAN'T.
HOUSING IS SOMETHING TV
AUDIENCES CAN'T SEEM TO GET
ENOUGH OF, WHETHER IT'S WATCHING
ANGRY COUPLES HUNT FOR THE
PERFECT PLACE TO GET DIVORCED
IN, OR WATCHING CELEBRITIES
GIVING ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST
TOURS OF THEIR HOMES, AS THEY
DISCOVER THINGS THAT WERE
CLEARLY PUT THERE BY STYLISTS,
AND OCCASIONALLY CALL IT OUT IN
A GLORIOUSLY PASSIVE-AGGRESSIVE
WAY.
>> I LOVE COOKING.
I COOK A LOT AND I BAKE A LOT.
>> I LOVE LIMES, I LOVE THEM,
THEY'RE GREAT, I LOVE THEM SO
MUCH AND I LIKE TO PRESENT THEM
LIKE THIS IN MY HOUSE.
[LAUGHTER]
>> John: SHE'S SO MAGNIFICENTLY
WEIRD.
REAL DAKOTA-HEADS WILL KNOW THAT
SHE LATER CLAIMED SHE IS, IN
FACT, ACTUALLY ALLERGIC TO
LIMES, SAYING "IT WAS HARD TO
IGNORE THEM, SO I JUST LIED."
BUT SHE MAY WELL HAVE JUST BEEN
LYING ABOUT THAT AS WELL.
SHE'S PURE CHAOS, I LOVE HER,
SHE SHOULD BE THE PRESIDENT.
[LAUGHTER]
BUT THIS STORY ISN'T GOING TO BE
ABOUT PEOPLE WHO OWN THEIR OWN,
LIME-INFESTED HOMES.
IT'S GOING TO BE ABOUT THE MORE
THAN 1/3 OF AMERICAN
HOUSEHOLDS WHO RENT.
AND IF YOU DO RENT, YOU'LL
UNDOUBTEDLY BE AWARE OF WHAT'S
BEEN HAPPENING RECENTLY.
>> TONIGHT, SKYROCKETING RENTS
FORCING A GROWING NUMBER OF
AMERICANS TO THINK TWICE ABOUT
WHERE HOME IS.
>> RENT PRICES ACROSS THE
COUNTRY SKYROCKETING.
>> RENTS ARE RISING NATIONWIDE.
>> RENTS ARE GOING WAY, WAY UP.
>> John: YEAH, RENT IS
SKYROCKETING.
AND THAT IS THE LAST THING YOU
WANT TO HEAR IS ON THE RISE,
ALONG WITH COVID CASES, MURDER
RATES, AND HENRY KISSINGER'S
LIFE EXPECTANCY.
[LAUGHTER]
THE BITCH JUST WON'T QUIT, WILL
HE?
THE MEDIAN MONTHLY ASKING RENT
IN THE U.S. SURPASSED $2,000
FOR THE FIRST TIME LAST MONTH.
THAT'S UP 15% SINCE THE SAME
TIME LAST YEAR, WELL ABOVE THE
RATE OF INFLATION.
AND IT'S UP OVER 30% IN CITIES
LIKE CINCINNATI, SEATTLE, AND
NASHVILLE, AND NEARLY 50% IN
AUSTIN.
YOU, OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW, MIGHT
WELL BE STRUGGLING TO FIND A
PLACE RIGHT NOW, OR ARE BEING
PRICED OUT OF WHERE YOU
CURRENTLY LIVE BY YOUR LANDLORD.
BUT THE FACT IS, RENT
AFFORDABILITY ISN'T A REMOTELY
NEW PROBLEM.
>> IF YOU LIVE IN NEW YORK, YOUR
CITY BECAME UNAFFORDABLE TO RENT
IN IN 2004.
SEE THIS LINE?
THAT LINE IS 30% OF WHAT YOU
MAKE.
GENERALLY, FOR RENT, IT'S
ADVISED YOU DON'T SPEND PAST
THAT LINE.
BUT IF YOU LIVE IN MIAMI, YOU
PROBABLY PASSED THAT LINE IN
2001.
AND IN CHICAGO IN 2012.
LOS ANGELES HAS BEEN PLAIN
UNAFFORDABLE SINCE BEFORE 1979.
RENT IS GROWING FASTER THAN THE
MONEY MOST PEOPLE MAKE TO PAY
IT.
>> John: IT'S TRUE, RENT IS
GROWING FASTER THAN WAGES.
IT'S A PROBLEM WE'VE KNOWN ABOUT
FOR DECADES AND IS ONLY GETTING
WORSE.
WHICH WAS, I BELIEVE, A WORKING
TITLE FOR THIS SHOW.
IT WAS EITHER THAT, OR
"AMERICA'S SADDEST HOME VIDEOS
WITH ADULT McLOVIN."
[LAUGHTER]
YOU'RE LAUGHING TOO HARD AT
THAT.
IN FACT, RIGHT NOW THERE'S NOT A
SINGLE COUNTY IN THE U.S. WHERE
A WORKER EARNING MINIMUM WAGE
CAN AFFORD A MODEST TWO-BEDROOM
RENTAL HOME.
AND LOOK, THERE ARE UNDOUBTEDLY
INDIVIDUAL LANDLORDS OUT THERE
WHO BEHAVE DECENTLY TO THEIR
TENANTS.
BUT OTHERS WILL CONVENIENTLY
BLAME "THE MARKET RATE" FOR
EXTORTIONATE RENT HIKES, AND
IMPLY THAT THE DECISION SIMPLY
ISN'T THEIRS TO MAKE.
JUST WATCH FINANCIAL GURU
DAVE RAMSEY TRY AND REASSURE ONE
LANDLORD WHO SAID HE FELT GUILTY
ABOUT RAISING HIS RENTS ABOVE
WHAT HIS TENANTS COULD AFFORD.
>> IF I RAISE MY RENT TO BE
MARKET RATE, THAT DOES NOT MAKE
ME A BAD CHRISTIAN.
I DID NOT DISPLACE THE PERSON
OUT OF THAT HOUSE IF THEY CAN NO
LONGER AFFORD IT, THE
MARKETPLACE DID.
THE ECONOMY DID.
THE RATIO OF THE INCOME THAT
THEY EARN TO THEIR HOUSING
EXPENSE DISPLACED THEM.
I DIDN'T CAUSE ANY OF THAT.
>> John: OF COURSE, KICKING
SOMEONE OUT OF YOUR HOUSE
DOESN'T MAKE YOU A BAD
CHRISTIAN.
IT'S IN THE BEATITUDES:
"BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT,
FOR THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF
HEAVEN.
FUCKED ARE THE POOR IN MONEY,
FOR THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF
LANDLORDS.
WAZZAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
[LAUGHTER]
SO GIVEN THAT RENTS ARE GOING UP
AND SOME LANDLORDS SEEM TO THINK
THAT'S COMPLETELY UNAVOIDABLE,
WE THOUGHT, TONIGHT, WE'D LOOK
AT RENTAL HOUSING: WHY IT'S
INCREASINGLY EXPENSIVE, HOW
STEEPLY THE SYSTEM IS STACKED
AGAINST RENTERS, AND WHAT WE CAN
DO TO COMBAT THAT.
AND LET'S START WITH
UNDERSTANDING OUR CURRENT
HOUSING SUPPLY.
YOU'LL OFTEN HEAR THAT HIGH
RENTS ARE A SUPPLY AND DEMAND
ISSUE: BASICALLY, TOO MANY
RENTERS, NOT ENOUGH UNITS.
AND THAT IS PARTIALLY TRUE.
BECAUSE THERE CURRENTLY AREN'T
NEARLY ENOUGH AFFORDABLE UNITS
IN THE U.S.
WHICH IS A LITTLE WEIRD TO THINK
ABOUT, BECAUSE IF YOU LIVE IN
ANY CITY, YOU PROBABLY SEE NEW
BUILDINGS CROPPING UP ALL THE
TIME, CALLED THINGS LIKE
"4 EAST" OR "SUMMIT 3ELEVEN,"
WITH TAGLINES LIKE "LUXURY URBAN
DWELLINGS DRIVEN BY DESIGN."
THERE'S ALMOST CERTAINLY A
COFFEE SHOP WITHOUT A BATHROOM
ON THE GROUND FLOOR.
[LAUGHTER]
SO APARTMENTS ARE BEING BUILT.
BUT THE PROBLEM IS, THANKS IN
PART TO LOCAL, NIMBY OPPOSITION
TO MORE AFFORDABLE, MULTI-FAMILY
HOUSING, IT'S MAINLY BEEN AT THE
HIGH END.
IN FACT, IN THE LAST THREE
DECADES, THE NATIONAL STOCK OF
RENTAL UNITS AVAILABLE ACTUALLY
GREW BY MORE THAN 13 MILLION.
BUT, CRUCIALLY, THE NUMBER OF
UNITS AT THE LOWEST END OF THE
MARKET FELL BY NEARLY FOUR
MILLION.
THAT MIGHT BE WHY IF YOU'VE EVER
TRIED TO SEARCH FOR AFFORDABLE
APARTMENTS IN YOUR AREA, GOOGLE
JUST SAYS "NOPE."
[LAUGHTER]
AND THIS SERIOUS LACK OF NEW
AFFORDABLE HOUSING HAS ENABLED
LANDLORDS TO CHARGE HIGHER RENTS
FOR THE UNITS THAT EXIST,
SOMETHING THAT'S INCREASINGLY
ATTRACTED INSTITUTIONAL
INVESTORS: THESE ARE CORPORATE
LANDLORDS, LIKE PRIVATE EQUITY
FIRMS, OR EVEN PUBLICLY TRADED
COMPANIES, THAT POOL THE RENTS
OF THEIR TENANTS AND SELL THEM
AS INVESTMENTS.
THEY'VE LONG BEEN PLAYERS IN
APARTMENT RENTALS, BUT MORE
RECENTLY, AFTER THE 2008 HOUSING
CRASH, COMPANIES LIKE THESE
POPPED UP TO SNAP UP
SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES AND RENT
THEM OUT.
AND BECAUSE INSTITUTIONAL
INVESTORS ARE ALWAYS TRYING TO
MAXIMIZE RETURNS, THEY'LL TAKE
ANY OPPORTUNITY TO PUSH RENTS
HIGHER.
TAKE MONARCH, WHICH HAS BEEN
CALLED MIDDLE AMERICA'S
FASTEST-GROWING LANDLORD.
HERE IS THEIR OWNER LAST YEAR
SALIVATING AT THE PROSPECT OF
RENT HIKES.
>> WE HAVE AN UNPRECEDENTED
OPPORTUNITY, AT LEAST IN MY
WORKING LIFETIME, TO REALLY
PRESS RENTS, PRESS RENTS ON
RENEWALS BECAUSE THE COUNTRY IS
HIGHLY OCCUPIED.
WE'RE 97.5%.
AND SO, WHERE ARE PEOPLE GOING
TO GO?
THEY CAN'T GO ANYWHERE.
THEY WANT TO BE IN APARTMENTS,
OR THEY HAVE TO BE IN
APARTMENTS, AND WE HAVE A
TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY TO PRESS
BOTH ON RENEWING LEASES FOR
EXISTING RESIDENTS, AND TO RESET
MARKET RATES, WHICH WE'VE RESET
NUMEROUS TIMES EVEN THIS YEAR.
>> John: WOW.
"THEY CAN'T GO ANYWHERE, AND FOR
US, THAT'S AN UNPRECEDENTED
OPPORTUNITY TO PRESS THEM."
THAT IS A TERRIBLE WAY TO TALK
ABOUT PEOPLE.
HONESTLY, IT'S BARELY AN
ACCEPTABLE WAY TO TALK ABOUT
PANINIS.
"THOSE SANDWICHES CAN'T GO
ANYWHERE, FUCK IT, PRESS 'EM.
SQUEEZE THOSE FUCKERS!
I WANNA SEE LINES!"
[LAUGHTER]
SO IF YOU'RE WONDERING WHY YOUR
RENT IS GOING UP, IT MAY WELL
BE BECAUSE YOUR LANDLORD SEES
THE CURRENT AFFORDABLE HOUSING
CRISIS AS A CHANCE TO "RESET
MARKET RATES."
AND IN A LOT OF THE COUNTRY,
THERE ARE VERY FEW LEGAL
CONSTRAINTS TO STOP THEM DOING
THAT.
YOU MAY HAVE HEARD OF "RENT
CONTROL," WHICH STRICTLY LIMITS
HOW MUCH A LANDLORD CAN CHARGE
YOU, BUT VANISHINGLY FEW PEOPLE
HAVE ACCESS TO THAT ANYMORE.
MORE COMMONLY, THERE'S RENT
STABILIZATION.
WHICH, IN THEORY, MEANS THAT ON
CERTAIN OLDER PROPERTIES,
LANDLORDS CAN ONLY RAISE THE
RENT BY A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE PER
YEAR.
BUT ONLY TWO STATES AND DC
REQUIRE IT, AND MORE THAN 30
STATES HAVE ACTUALLY PASSED LAWS
BANNING IT.
AND EVEN WHEN PROTECTIONS EXIST,
LANDLORDS CAN FIND WAYS AROUND
THEM.
FOR INSTANCE, THEY MIGHT TRY AND
FORCE RENT-STABILIZED TENANTS
OUT BY ALLOWING A PROPERTY TO
FALL INTO DISREPAIR.
OR BY HARASSING THEM WITH
INCESSANT CONSTRUCTION UNTIL
THEY VOLUNTARILY LEAVE.
TAKE THE RENT-STABILIZED TENANTS
WHO LIVED IN THIS BUILDING IN
NEW YORK.
THEIR LANDLORD CLAIMED HE WAS
SIMPLY UPGRADING IT TO IMPROVE
TENANTS' QUALITY OF LIFE.
BUT THAT IS NOT HOW IT FELT TO
THEM.
>> TENANTS SAY THEY WERE OFFERED
BUYOUTS TO LEAVE, BUT SOME, LIKE
GEORGE MANATOS AND GRETCHEN
MONGRAIN, WHO'VE LIVED HERE FOR
ALMOST TEN YEARS, OPTED TO STAY.
A DECISION THEY SAY CAME WITH A
WARNING.
>> WELL, IF YOU DON'T TAKE THE
BUYOUT, WE ARE GOING TO RENOVATE
THIS AND YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE
TO LIVE THROUGH THE NIGHTMARE OF
RENOVATION.
>> MONGRAIN SAYS THE UNIT NEXT
TO HER WAS DEMOLISHED WITH A
CROWBAR.
WHEN SHE ASKED ABOUT THE NOISE
AND DEBRIS LEFT BEHIND --
>> ALL THE PERSON SAID WAS, "I
JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW
THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF
RATS FROM NOW ON."
>> John: YOU KNOW, IT SAYS A LOT
THAT THEY WOULD ENDURE A
RAT-LITTERED CONSTRUCTION SITE
JUST TO HOLD ONTO A
RENT-STABILIZED UNIT, BECAUSE
THAT'S NOT EXACTLY A WELCOMING
MESSAGE.
IF YOU WENT TO SOMEBODY'S HOME
AND THEIR WELCOME MAT SAID
"THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF
RATS FROM NOW ON," YOU'D DROP
YOUR CASSEROLE DISH THEN AND
THERE AND TURN THE FUCK AROUND.
THEREBY INSTANTLY FALLING RIGHT
INTO THE RATS' TRAP.
[LAUGHTER]
AND IT'S WORTH NOTING: WHEN
RENT-STABILIZED TENANTS DID
LEAVE THAT BUILDING, THE ASKING
RENTS, UNSURPRISINGLY, THEN AS
MUCH AS DOUBLED.
AND I ASSUME THOSE APARTMENTS
WERE THEN SNAPPED UP BY A NICE
YOUNG RAT COUPLE WITH RICH
TASTES AND DISPOSABLE INCOME.
I BELIEVE WE HAVE A PHOTO?
THERE IT IS.
THEY SEEM NICE.
[LAUGHTER]
AND WITH RENTS BEING SQUEEZED
ACROSS THE BOARD, AND
PROTECTIONS FEW AND FAR BETWEEN,
LOWER-INCOME RENTERS ARE,
OBVIOUSLY, THE MOST VULNERABLE.
EVEN BEFORE THE PANDEMIC STRUCK,
23 MILLION PEOPLE LIVED IN
HOUSEHOLDS THAT PAID MORE THAN
HALF THEIR INCOME ON RENT AND
UTILITIES.
WHICH IS JUST NOT SUSTAINABLE
FOR ANYONE.
NOW, IN THEORY, WE HAVE
SOMETHING DESIGNED TO COMBAT
THAT.
FEDERAL HOUSING ASSISTANCE IN
THE FORM OF HOUSING CHOICE
VOUCHERS, COMMONLY KNOWN AS
"SECTION 8."
THE IDEA BEHIND THEM IS THAT A
HOUSEHOLD STILL HAS TO PAY
30% OF ITS MONTHLY INCOME FOR
RENT AND UTILITIES, BUT THE
GOVERNMENT WILL HELP COVER THE
REST.
THE PROBLEM IS, THE PROGRAM IS
MASSIVELY UNDERFUNDED, TO THE
POINT THAT ONLY 1 IN 4
HOUSEHOLDS THAT QUALIFY FOR
ASSISTANCE ACTUALLY RECEIVE IT.
AS WE'VE SHOWN ON THIS SHOW
BEFORE, SOMETIMES PEOPLE HAVE
LITERALLY RACED TO APPLY FOR
VOUCHERS WHEN THEY BECAME
AVAILABLE.
AND EVEN ONCE YOU'VE APPLIED,
THE WAITING PERIOD CAN BE
ABSURD.
TAKE CHICAGO ALDERWOMAN JEANETTE
TAYLOR, WHOSE APPLICATION TOOK A
RIDICULOUSLY LONG TIME TO BE
APPROVED.
>> WHEN DID YOU APPLY FOR THIS
VOUCHER?
>> IN 1993.
>> AND WHEN DID YOU GET IT?
>> 2022.
SO 29 YEARS.
>> WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION WHEN
YOU GOT THAT LETTER?
>> I JUST SAT ON THE SIDE OF THE
BED FOR LIKE AN HOUR IN SHOCK.
AND I WAS LIKE, GOD, YOU GOT A
SICK SENSE OF HUMOR.
>> John: I MEAN, SHE'S RIGHT,
HE DOES.
ALTHOUGH TO BE HONEST, I PREFER
GOD'S EARLY STUFF.
CONVINCING ABRAHAM TO ALMOST
KILL HIS SON AS A PRANK?
VERY FUNNY.
FLOODING THE WORLD AND MAKING
ONE GUY GET EVERY ANIMAL SPECIES
TO FUCK ON A BOAT?
HILARIOUS!
[LAUGHTER]
BUT A HOUSING VOUCHER THAT'S 29
YEARS LATE?
I DUNNO.
THAT DOES START TO FEEL LIKE
GOD'S RUNNING OUT OF IDEAS.
AND EVEN IF YOU'RE LUCKY ENOUGH
TO GET A VOUCHER, YOU STILL THEN
HAVE TO FIND A LANDLORD WILLING
TO ACCEPT IT.
BUT MANY LANDLORDS DON'T, EITHER
BECAUSE THEY SEE IT AS A
BUREAUCRATIC HASSLE, OR BECAUSE
THEY HAVE A STIGMA AGAINST
SECTION 8 RECIPIENTS, ALL OF
WHICH LEADS TO A LOT OF STORIES
LIKE THIS:
>> I WAS BLESSED WITH A HOMING
CHOICE VOUCHER IN APRIL, AND I
HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIND A
SPOT.
I CALLED OVER 200 PLACES THAT
WOULD SUPPOSEDLY TAKE THE
VOUCHER, AND NONE OF THOSE
PLACES WERE ACTUALLY RENTING.
>> HOW MANY PLACES DO YOU THINK
YOU GOT TURNED DOWN FROM?
>> JESUS, AT LEAST 15.
>> 15 PLACES TURNED YOU DOWN?
>> IF NOT MORE.
IT'S LIKE I HAVE A PLAGUE.
IT'S LIKE WE HAVE A PLAGUE.
>> EVERYWHERE YOU TURN, NO
SECTION 8.
I'VE CALLED UP 50 APARTMENT
COMPLEXES IN SACRAMENTO.
THEY DON'T LOOK AT ME AS AN
INDIVIDUAL.
I'M ON SECTION 8, THEREFORE I'M
POOR.
THEREFORE, I'M BAD.
>> John: THAT IS TERRIBLE.
BECAUSE EVEN THE WORST PEOPLE
WILL HONOR VOUCHERS.
TAKE WILLY WONKA.
SURE, HE MAY HAVE RUN A
SWEATSHOP WITH HORRIBLE SAFETY
PROTOCOLS THAT PUT CHILDREN'S
LIVES IN DANGER, BUT EVEN HE HAD
THE DECENCY TO HONOR THE FUCKING
VOUCHERS!
[LAUGHTER]
NOW, DISCRIMINATION AGAINST
THOSE WITH SECTION 8 VOUCHERS IS
ILLEGAL, IN SOME PLACES.
BUT EVEN WHERE THAT'S THE CASE,
LANDLORDS CAN JUST INVENT OTHER
REASONS TO TURN PEOPLE AWAY.
AND WITH HOUSING THIS TIGHT,
RENTS SKYROCKETING, AND
LANDLORDS HOLDING THIS MUCH
POWER, LOW-INCOME RENTERS CAN BE
LEFT VULNERABLE TO THE NIGHTMARE
SCENARIO: EVICTION.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT EVICTIONS ON
THIS SHOW BEFORE.
THEY'RE INVASIVE, TRAUMATIZING,
AND LIKE ALL THE OTHER PERILS OF
RENTING, DISPROPORTIONATELY
AFFECT BLACK PEOPLE.
ONE STUDY OF MORE THAN A
THOUSAND COUNTIES FOUND BLACK
RENTERS MADE UP AROUND 20% OF
ALL ADULT RENTERS, BUT NEARLY A
THIRD OF ALL EVICTION FILING
DEFENDANTS.
AND PERHAPS NOWHERE DEMONSTRATES
THE ENORMOUS POWER IMBALANCE
BETWEEN LANDLORDS AND TENANTS
MORE THAN HOUSING COURT.
STARTING WITH THE FACT THAT, IN
MOST PLACES, TENANTS DON'T HAVE
A RIGHT TO A LAWYER IN EVICTION
PROCEEDINGS.
AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE AN
ATTORNEY TO GUIDE YOU THROUGH
WHAT CAN BE A COMPLEX PROCESS,
NOT ONLY CAN YOU FAIL TO RAISE
LEGITIMATE DEFENSES, YOU CAN
MAKE BASIC MISTAKES WITH HUGE
CONSEQUENCES.
>> GINA COMES ACROSS A TENANT
SITTING DISTRAUGHT.
>> SO SHE CAME TO COURT, SHE
CAME TO COURT EARLY AND AS
HAPPENS SOMETIMES BECAUSE COURT
IS CONFUSING, SHE SAT IN THE
WRONG COURTROOM.
>> WHILE HER CASE WAS HEARD IN A
DIFFERENT COURTROOM.
WHEN SHE REALIZED HER
MISTAKE, SHE DASHED OVER AND
CAUGHT THE LANDLORD OUTSIDE, BUT
HE DOESN'T WANT TO SPEAK WITH
HER.
>> AND THE COURT INFORMED HER
THAT AFTER TEN DAYS, THE SHERIFF
WOULD COME IN AND REMOVE HER AND
HER THREE CHILDREN FROM HER
HOME.
>> John: ONE TINY MISTAKE AND
HER HOUSING WAS GONE.
WHICH IS CLEARLY UNFAIR.
THE ONLY TIME SOMEONE SHOULD BE
PUNISHED FOR GOING INTO THE
WRONG ROOM IS WHEN THEY
ACCIDENTALLY STUMBLE INTO THE
3:30 SHOWING OF "DOWNTON ABBEY:
A NEW ERA."
[LAUGHTER]
GET READY FOR A LONG, BORING
RIDE.
"BUT JOHN, IT'S DELIGHTFUL
BECAUSE THEY'RE BRITISH!"
COUNTERPOINT: IT IS NOT.
[LAUGHTER]
ONE STUDY OF NEARLY 100,000
EVICTION CASES IN DENVER FOUND
THAT NEARLY 90% OF LANDLORDS
WERE REPRESENTED BY A LAWYER,
COMPARED TO LESS THAN 1% OF
TENANTS.
WHICH IS NOT GOOD.
AND YET, SOME ATTORNEYS WHO WORK
FOR LANDLORDS GET VERY ANGRY AT
THE SUGGESTION THAT TENANTS ARE
POORLY PROTECTED.
TAKE THIS GUY, WHO REPRESENTS
MULTIPLE LANDLORDS IN ST. LOUIS.
HE'S A SELF-STYLED GURU FOR THE
REAL ESTATE BAR.
AND JUST LISTEN TO HIM GIVING A
ZOOM SEMINAR ABOUT EVICTIONS,
AND ROLLING HIS EYES AT SOME OF
THE BASIC LEGAL PROTECTIONS
EXTENDED TO RENTERS DURING
COVID.
>> THE ADVOCATES FOR THE TENANTS
ARE LIKE, "YOU KNOW, THESE
PEOPLE STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT'S
AVAILABLE TO THEM AND THEY DON'T
KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE CDC
DECLARATION."
[BLEEP] THEM!
[BLEEP] THEM ALL!
THEY'RE TOO STUPID TO KNOW WHAT
THEIR LEGAL RIGHTS ARE?
THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE SIGNED A
[BLEEP] CONTRACT FOR
$1,000-A-MONTH UNIT FOR A YEAR
IF THEY'RE TOO [BLEEP] STUPID TO
SIGN, TO KNOW ANYTHING, TO READ
THE NEWS, TO HAVE ANY IDEA ABOUT
THEIR RIGHTS!
IF THEY'RE TOO [BLEEP] STUPID,
THEY SHOULDN'T BE SIGNING THE
$12,000 CONTRACT.
>> John: OKAY, FIRST, THAT IS
DEFINITELY THE ANGRIEST I'VE
EVER SEEN ANYONE WEARING A
"RUSH" HAT.
[LAUGHTER]
AND SECOND, THERE IS NO DOUBT
THAT MAN, AT SOME POINT, HAS
BEEN KICKED OUT OF A YOUTH
SOCCER GAME.
HE JUST EXUDES "REF, I'D LIKE A
WORD" ENERGY.
I GUARANTEE THAT IS A MAN WHO
HAS THROWN A LAWN CHAIR, OR AT
THE VERY LEAST, SQUEEZED A
KOOL-AID JAMMER SO TIGHT IN HIS
FISTS, THE OTHER PARENTS THOUGHT
HIS HAND WAS COVERED IN BLOOD.
BESIDES THAT, I WILL SAY, HE
SEEMS LIKE A COOL GUY.
[LAUGHTER]
SO THAT IS WHAT TENANTS CAN BE
UP AGAINST.
AND THE PROBLEM IS, EVICTION
FILINGS CAN BE ON YOUR RECORD
FOR YEARS, JEOPARDIZING YOUR
CHANCE AT FUTURE HOUSING.
JUST WATCH AS THIS WOMAN
CONTACTS A REALTOR ABOUT A HOME
THAT SHE'S INTERESTED IN.
>> DID YOU GET A CHANCE TO DRIVE
BY AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT?
>> YEAH, I'M SITTING IN FRONT OF
THE HOME RIGHT NOW AS WE SPEAK.
>> OKAY.
AND WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
>> MARGARET.
>> OKAY, MARGARET.
AND HOW SOON ARE YOU LOOKING TO
MOVE INTO A HOME?
>> AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
RIGHT NOW.
>> ARE YOU ON A LEASE WHERE
YOU'RE LIVING AT RIGHT NOW?
>> NO, AS A MATTER OF FACT,
WE'RE NOT.
WE'RE ACTUALLY HOMELESS.
>> OKAY, SO WHERE ARE YOU
CURRENTLY LIVING?
>> IN OUR VEHICLE.
>> YEAH, UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN WE
CHECK THE COURT RECORDS AND SEE
AN EVICTION, UNFORTUNATELY, WE
CAN'T HELP YOU.
>> John: LOOK, THERE ARE SOME
THINGS THAT SHOULD PROBABLY STAY
ON YOUR RECORD.
LIKE WAR CRIMES, OR VOTING FOR
TAYLOR HICKS IN THE 2006 SEASON
OF "AMERICAN IDOL."
[LAUGHTER]
YOU SHOULDN'T GET TO COME BACK
FROM THAT SO EASILY.
BUT PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE A CHANCE
TO FIND SAFE AND AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, SINCE THE ALTERNATIVE
IS BEING HOMELESS!
AND THE THING IS, YOU CAN BE
TURNED DOWN FOR HOUSING SIMPLY
BECAUSE AN EVICTION CASE WAS
FILED AGAINST YOU, EVEN IF THAT
CASE WAS LATER DROPPED, OR
INDEED, YOU WON IT.
THE LONG-TERM DAMAGE THAT
EVICTION FILINGS DO TO YOUR
RECORD IS WHY MANY WILL CHOOSE
NOT TO FIGHT WHEN A LANDLORD
TRIES TO KICK THEM OUT.
THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS PEOPLE
CAN WIND UP WITH A SO-CALLED
"INFORMAL" EVICTION.
THAT'S WHERE THEIR LANDLORD DOES
THINGS LIKE CHANGE THE LOCKS,
THREATEN THEM, OR EVEN REMOVE
THE FRONT DOOR.
IT IS HARD TO MEASURE JUST HOW
MANY OF THESE TAKE PLACE EACH
YEAR, BUT A SURVEY OF MILWAUKEE
RENTERS FOUND THAT FOR EVERY
EVICTION EXECUTED THROUGH THE
JUDICIAL SYSTEM, THERE ARE TWO
OTHERS EXECUTED OUTSIDE THE
COURT, WITHOUT ANY FORM OF DUE
PROCESS.
AND GIVEN JUST HOW DEVASTATING
EVICTIONS CAN BE, IT IS
INFURIATING TO HEAR HOW SOME
INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS VIEW IT.
REMEMBER THAT SCREAMING RUSH FAN
FROM EARLIER?
WELL, IT TURNS OUT, HE ACTUALLY
HAS A LITTLE MORE TO SAY.
>> IT'S SAD TO SAY, AND SOME OF
YOU WHO ARE NOT LANDLORDS MIGHT
BE SHOCKED TO HEAR, WE EVICT
GRANDPARENTS WHO ARE POOR.
WE EVICT CANCER-STRICKEN PEOPLE
WHO ARE ATTENDING CHEMO.
IT'S SAD, BUT WHAT'S SADDER IS
THAT SOMEBODY WHO PURCHASES
PROPERTY FOR HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IS GIVEN
THE FINGER BY THE LAW.
>> John: EXCEPT IT'S NOT SADDER.
[LAUGHTER]
IT'S JUST NOT.
ON THE GREAT BIG LIST OF SAD
THINGS: PERSON GETTING EVICTED
DURING CHEMO IS UP THERE WITH
DOG DEATHS AND THE FIRST TEN
MINUTES OF "UP."
WHILE LANDLORD DOESN'T GET
RENT IS AT THE VERY BOTTOM, WITH
CELEBRITY TWEETS ABOUT A SHITTY
AIRLINE EXPERIENCE AND WHITE GUY
NOT ALLOWED TO RAP ALL THE
LYRICS.
IT'S OBJECTIVELY NOT SAD, AT
ALL.
THAT IS THE CORE ISSUE WITH
RENTAL HOUSING IN THIS COUNTRY:
PEOPLE WHO THINK INVESTMENTS
DESERVE MORE RESPECT THAN BASIC
HUMAN NEEDS.
AND IT HAS SET UP A SYSTEM
DESIGNED TO ENSURE THAT SOME
PEOPLE JUST SPIRAL DOWNWARDS:
THEY CAN'T MOVE SOMEWHERE
CHEAPER IF NOWHERE CHEAPER
EXISTS.
THEY CAN'T APPLY FOR FEDERAL
ASSISTANCE IF THERE'S NOWHERE
NEAR ENOUGH.
THEY CAN'T EVEN USE THAT
ASSISTANCE IF NO ONE ACCEPTS IT.
THEY CAN'T TAKE THEIR
LANDLORD TO COURT IF THE COURT
SYSTEM IS SKEWED AGAINST THEM.
AND THEY CAN'T DEPEND ON RENTAL
HOUSING EVER AGAIN IF THEY'RE
EVICTED EVEN JUST ONCE.
IT'S A COMPLETE SHIT SHOW.
SO WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT IT?
WELL, THERE ARE SOME SMALL
THINGS.
WE COULD PASS RENT-STABILIZATION
LAWS, AND LAWS THAT PROHIBIT
DISCRIMINATION AGAINST
RECIPIENTS OF HOUSING CHOICE
VOUCHERS, AND MAKE IT EASIER FOR
LANDLORDS TO ACCEPT THEM.
WE ALSO COULD PASS LAWS
MANDATING THE SEALING OF MOST
EVICTION RECORDS, AND GIVE
PEOPLE A RIGHT TO COUNSEL IN
HOUSING COURT.
THAT ALONE CAN HAVE MASSIVE
IMPACTS.
IN 2017, AFTER SUSTAINED
PRESSURE, NEW YORK CITY BECAME
THE FIRST PLACE IN THE COUNTRY
TO GIVE TENANTS THE RIGHT TO A
LAWYER IN HOUSING COURT.
IT IS A MAJOR REASON WHY, EVEN
BEFORE THE PANDEMIC MORATORIUMS,
RESIDENTIAL EVICTIONS WERE DOWN
40%.
AND LUCKILY, OTHER PLACES ARE
NOW FOLLOWING THAT LEAD.
BUT I WOULD ARGUE WHAT WE REALLY
NEED TO DO IS FUNDAMENTALLY
CHANGE OUR MINDSET AWAY FROM
SIMPLY HOPING THAT WE CAN JUST
TINKER AROUND THE EDGES OF
HOUSING POLICY AND THE PRIVATE
MARKET WILL SORT THE REST OF
THIS SHIT OUT.
BECAUSE WE'VE TRIED THAT FOR
DECADES, AND YET, HERE WE ARE.
INSTEAD, WE NEED TO AGREE:
HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT.
AND THAT IS NOT ACTUALLY JUST
SOME EMPTY SLOGAN LIKE SUBWAY'S
"EAT FRESH", OR GATORADE'S
"IS IT IN YOU?"
WHICH, LOOKING BACK, WAS VERY,
VERY WEIRD.
[LAUGHTER]
THIS CAN ACTUALLY BE POLICY.
MANY COUNTRIES, INCLUDING
FRANCE, SCOTLAND, AND SOUTH
AFRICA HAVE LEGALLY CODIFIED A
RIGHT TO HOUSING.
AND HERE IN THE U.S., 3/4 OF
AMERICANS ALREADY BELIEVE THAT
IT IS A HUMAN RIGHT.
AS FOR WHAT THAT WOULD MEAN, IT
WOULD ENTAIL A MASSIVE FEDERAL
INVESTMENT IN RENTAL ASSISTANCE,
AND THE CREATION OF MUCH MORE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS ACROSS
THE BOARD.
AND BEFORE ANYONE SUGGESTS WE
CAN'T AFFORD THAT: WE ALREADY
SUBSIDIZE CERTAIN PEOPLE'S
HOMES.
THE MORTGAGE INTEREST DEDUCTION
GIVES MASSIVE SUBSIDIES TO
HOMEOWNERS, BY LETTING THEM
DEDUCT THE INTEREST THAT THEY
PAY ON THEIR MORTGAGE ON THEIR
TAXES.
THAT HAS COST THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT MORE THAN
$580 BILLION OVER THE LAST
DECADE.
AND CURRENTLY, NEARLY 2/3 OF THE
DEDUCTION'S BENEFITS ARE GOING
TO THOSE MAKING $200,000 OR MORE
A YEAR.
I AM BENEFITING FROM THIS
PROGRAM AND I DO NOT NEED TO BE!
SO WE ARE CLEARLY WILLING TO
PRIORITIZE HOUSING IN THE
BUDGET, JUST NOT FOR THE PEOPLE
WHO NEED IT THE MOST.
THE POINT HERE IS, FOR A LARGE
PORTION OF THE POPULATION,
SIMPLY HAVING A PLACE TO LIVE IS
AN EVERYDAY BATTLE.
AND FOR FAR TOO LONG, WE'VE
PRIORITIZED THE PROTECTION OF
INVESTMENTS OVER INDIVIDUALS,
AND WE'VE SET UP A SYSTEM WHERE
LANDLORDS CAN "PRESS RENTS AND
RESET MARKET RATES," AND JUSTIFY
THEIR ACTIONS WITH SELF-SERVING
BIBLE READINGS, EVEN AS THEY
SUBJECT TENANTS TO EVERYTHING
FROM TACTICAL RAT ASSAULTS TO
THE INCOHERENT RAGE OF THE
SINGLE MOST FOUL-MOUTHED FAN
ONTARIO'S PREMIERE PROG ROCK
POWER TRIO HAS EVER FUCKING
KNOWN.
[LAUGHTER]
AND NOW, THIS.
>> Announcer: AND NOW, IT'S
ALWAYS HAPPY HOUR ON QVC.
>> I THINK YOU JUST LOOK SO
GREAT IN IT, AMY.
IT'S LIKE CASUAL BUT THERE'S AN
UPDATED ELEGANCE TO IT, AND OF
COURSE, I HAD TO STOP BY WITH
WINE BECAUSE I MISSED YOU GUYS
LAST WEEK!
>> WE LOVE YOU.
>> TRACY, THANKS FOR SWINGING BY
AND I WILL SWING BY AND BRING
YOU SOME MORE WINE LATER ON.
>> IT'S JUST ME, A FEW BOTTLES
OF WINE.
I'M A MOM AND I ENJOY A NICE
GLASS OF MY WINE SOMETIMES.
>> LITERALLY TOOK A SIP OF THE
WINE.
I JUST WANT THAT FOR THE RECORD.
IT'S NOT A PROP.
>> WE ARE GOING TO BRING IN
JACKIE STAFFORD!
>> OH, SHE HAS WINE!
>> OH, MY GOD!
>> AND THEY SAID "WINE?"
AND I SAID, UH, YEAH!
>> I NEED A HAND, I NEED A GLASS
OF WINE.
>> THERE YOU ARE.
>> WE HAVE WINE IN OUR TEACUPS.
>> WE HAVE ONE IN OUR TEACUPS.
WE ARE HAVING A TEA PARTY.
>> IS THERE WINE IN THE TEACUP?
>> LOVE YOU!
>> ALL RIGHT, I LOVE YOU.
>> I LOVE YOU.
>> AND WE ARE GOING TO GO
SHOPPING FOR WINE!
>> LET ME BRING MY OWN BOTTLE OF
WINE AND I WILL BE HERE.
>> RIGHT HERE WITH MY GLASS OF
WINE.
>> IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO BE
HERE.
I THINK I LOST MY WINE.
OH, YOU HAVE YOUR WINE?
>> I LOST MY WINE FOR THE
HUNDREDTH TIME TONIGHT.
>> I HAVE MY COLLEGE TEACHERS, I
HAVE MY DAVE MATTHEWS T-SHIRTS
THAT I LOVE.
DON'T GET ME STARTED.
[SINGING]
>> I'M NUMBER 41 ALL THE WAY.
WE ALMOST HAD DAVE MATTHEWS WINE
ON QVC YEARS AGO.
I THINK WE SHOULD ALL GO TO HIS
INSTAGRAM --
>> OH, MY GOSH!
[LAUGHTER]
>> JOHN: THAT'S OUR SHOW.
THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.
THESE ARE MY LINES, AND I LOVE
THEM, AND I LOVE TO PRESENT THEM
LIKE THIS ON MY DESK.
SEE YOU, GOOD NIGHT!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
♪ ♪