>> AT LAST NIGHT'S PENNSYLVANIA SENATE DEBATE, G.O.P. CANDIDATE
DR. OZ REVEALED WHO HE THINKS SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN MEDICAL
DECISIONS.
>> AS A PHYSICIAN, I'VE BEEN IN THE ROOM WHEN THERE ARE SOME
DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS HAPPENING.
I DON'T WANT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INVOLVED WITH THAT AT
ALL.
I WANT WOMEN, DOCTORS, LOCAL POLITICAL LEADERS, LETTING THE
DEMOCRACY THAT'S ALWAYS ALLOWED OUR NATION TO THRIVE TO PUT THE
BEST IDEAS FORWARD.
♪ ♪ ♪ >> TONIGHT ON "LOCAL POLITICAL
LEADER HOSPITAL": >> WE'RE LOSING HIM!
>> WOW, WHAT A MESS.
THAT LOOKS MORE TANGLED THAN THAT DOWNTOWN INTERSECTION
BEFORE WE PUT IN THAT FOUR-WAY STOP-- MY IDEA.
>> NEXT WEEK ON "LOCAL POLITICAL LEADER HOSPITAL."
( DING ) >> YOU GUYS MIND IF I JOIN IN?
I HAVE ALL THE PROPER PERMITS.
>> Announcer: IT'S "THE LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT."
TONIGHT: CAN BE AND SWITCH.
PLUS, STEPHEN WELCOMES: AUBREY PLAZA
AND NIKOLE HANNAH-JONES
FEATURING LOUIS CATO AND THE LATE SHOW BAND.
AND NOW, LIVE ON TAPE FROM THE ED SULLIVAN THEATER IN NEW YORK
CITY, IT'S STEPHEN COLBERT!
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ).
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
THAT'S RIGHT.
THAT'S THE MAN RIGHT THERE.
>> Audience: STEPHEN!
STEPHEN!
>> Stephen: HEY, EVERYBODY!
UP THERE...
♪ ♪ ♪ WOOO-OOO!
THERE YOU GO.
THERE IT IS.
THERE IT IS!
RIGHT THERE.
PLEASE, HAVE A SEAT, EVERYBODY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
DOWN HERE, UP THERE, OUT THERE, ALL AROUND THE WORLD.
WELCOME TO "THE LATE SHOW."
I AM YOUR HOST, STEPHEN COLBERT.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN-- ( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
WE ARE LESS-- IS THIS TRUE?
WHAT IS THIS?
THIS IS WEDNESDAY.
SO WE ARE LESS THAN TWO WEEKS FROM THE MOST IMPORTANT MIDTERMS
THIS YEAR.
AND IF THERE'S ONE THING WE KNOW, IT'S THAT NO ONE CAN TELL
YOU WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
HERE'S WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
FOR THE NEXT 13 DAYS: THE NEWS MEDIA'S GOING TO YANK OUR CHAIN
LIKE THEY'RE TRYING TO START A LEAF BLOWER.
CASE IN POINT: AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MONTH, DEMOCRATS HELD A
THREE-POINT ADVANTAGE ON THE GENERIC CONGRESSIONAL BALLOT.
THEN, SUDDENLY, REPUBLICANS HELD A FOUR-POINT ADVANTAGE OVER
DEMOCRATS.
NOW TODAY, POLLS SAY DEMOCRATS ARE UP FIVE POINTS.
AND IF THESE POLLS-- ( APPLAUSE )
AND IF THESE POLL RESULTS KEEP UP, EXPECT "ANYTHING" ON
ELECTION NIGHT.
OH, THANK YOU, "NEW YORK TIMES."
( LAUGHTER ) YOU'RE LIKE GOING TO A FORTUNE
TELLER WHO SAYS I SEE, OH, YES, I SEE YOUR FUTURE VERY CLEARLY.
YOU WILL MEET A TALL, DARK OR SHORT, BLONDE STRANGER, OR OLD
FRIEND, OR NO ONE.
OR GET HIT BY A BUS.
WAIT!
SOMETHING'S COMING THROUGH!
YOU ARE GOING TO PAY ME $200.
I ACCEPT VENMOOO."
NOW, WITH THE POLLS THIS POSSIBLY CLOSE-- OR NOT-- LAST
NIGHT WAS A BIG NIGHT, BECAUSE THERE WERE A LOT OF DEBATES,
NONE BIGGER THAN THE ONE IN PENNSYLVANIA, WHERE THERE WAS A
SENATE FACE-OFF BETWEEN REPUBLICAN NOMINEE AND SPOCK'S
DEADBEAT COUSIN, MEHMET OZ, AND DEMOCRATIC LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
AND BOSS ELF FROM RUDOLPH, JOHN FETTERMAN.
( LAUGHTER ) ( APPLAUSE )
A DENTIST!
NOW, IF YOU HAVEN'T HEARD, THIS PAST SPRING, FETTERMAN SUFFERED
A STROKE.
DOCTORS SAY HE'S DOING VERY WELL IN HIS RECOVERY, BUT IT HAS
AFFECTED HIS AUDITORY PROCESSING, AND THAT LEAD TO
SOME STUMBLES.
FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN FETTERMAN MADE HIS OPENING STATEMENT:
>> LET'S GET STARTED.
MR. FETTERMAN, WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN WITH YOU.
WHAT QUALIFIES YOU TO BE A U.S.
SENATOR?
YOU HAVE 60 SECONDS.
>> HI!
GOOD NIGHT, EVERYBODY.
>> Stephen: OKAY.
( LAUGHTER ) ADMITTEDLY A BIT OF AN ODD WAY
TO START BY SAYING, HI, GOOD NIGHT.
BUT IT'S A VERY COMMON PHRASE I USE ALL THE TIME, LIKE WHEN I
GT TO A PARTY AND HEAR THE WORD "CRYPTO.
THE.
HI, GOOD NIGHT.
GOT TO GO.
DR. OZ HAS HAD HIS PROBLEMS RUNNING FOR SENATE IN
PENNSYLVANIA.
FOR ONE THING, HE LIVES IN NEW JERSEY.
ALSO, HE CAME OUT SUPER ANTI-CHOICE IN THE PRIMARY, AND
WHEN ASKED ABOUT THAT LAST NIGHT, HE ACCIDENTALLY SAID WHAT
HE MEANT.
HERE'S WHO OZ THINKS SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN MAKING MEDICAL
DECISIONS FOR WOMEN: >> AS A PHYSICIAN, I'VE BEEN
IN THE ROOM WHEN THERE'S SOME DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS
HAPPENING.
I DON'T WANT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INVOLVED WITH THAT AT
ALL.
I WANT WOMEN DOCTORS, LOCAL POLITICAL LEADERS...
>> Stephen: OH, SO CLOSE!
NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO DISCUSS HEALTH CARE WITH THEIR LOCAL
POLITICAL LEADERS, ESPECIALLY IF YOU LIVE IN ONE OF THOSE
REALLY SMALL TOWNS WHERE THE LOCAL MAYOR IS A DOG:
"MAKING THIS DECISION WAS RUFF, BUT I BELIEVE LIFE BEGINS AT--
SQUIRREL!" ( LAUGHTER )
( APPLAUSE ) ♪ ♪ ♪
OZ ALSO MADE SOME VERY DUMB COMMENTS ABOUT HIS SUPPORT FOR
THE FORMER PRESIDENT.
>> I WOULD SUPPORT DONALD TRUMP IF HE DECIDED TO RUN FOR
PRESIDENT.
>> ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT THE ONGOING LEGAL INVESTIGATIONS
INVOLVING THE FORMER PRESIDENT?
>> I HAVEN'T FOLLOWED THEM VERY CAREFULLY.
I'VE BEEN CAMPAIGNING PRETTY AGGRESSIVELY.
THEY'LL WORK THEMSELVES OUT.
>> Stephen: THEY'LL WORK THEMSELVES OUT?
HE'S A PRESIDENT BEING ACCUSED OF TREASON, NOT A CAT WHO
SWALLOWED SOME TINSEL!
( LAUGHTER ) AND-- A LITTLE TAIL.
THERE YOU GO.
LET ME POINT OUT, HE HASN'T BEEN WATCHING, BUT HE HAS AN OPINION
ANYWAY.
THAT'S LIKE A COACH SAYING, "HERE'S THE PLAY: GET THE BALL
TO MICHAELS, THEN ZAG LEFT, HIS LEFT.
NO, YOUR LEFT, DOESN'T MATTER.
I'VE NEVER LOOKED AT THIS FIELD BEFORE.
I'VE BEEN BUSY.
WHAT'S PIG SKIN, AND DOES IT COME WITH DIP?!
ALSO, WHICH ONE OF YOU IS MICHAELS?
DON'T ANSWER THAT.
I WANT TO BE SURPRISED.
'HOPE-FOR-THE-BEST' ON THREE!
YAHTZEE!" ( APPLAUSE )
YESTERDAY THERE WAS ALSO A DEBATE NIGHT FOR MICHIGAN
GOVERNOR GRETCHEN WHITMER AND HER OPPONENT, KIRKLAND BRAND
GRETCHEN WHITMER, TUDOR DIXON.
DIXON IS ANOTHER ANTI-CHOICE MAGA REPUBLICAN.
WELL, TURNS OUT, THAT'S VERY UNPOPULAR IN MICHIGAN, SO SHE'S
FOCUSED HER CAMPAIGN ON ANOTHER ISSUE ENTIRELY, AND IT CAME UP
AGAIN LAST NIGHT >> WHAT I'VE HEARD FROM PARENTS
ACROSS THE STATE IS INAPPROPRIATE CONTENT IN SCHOOL
LIBRARIES.
IF YOU HAVE MATERIAL IN YOUR SCHOOL THAT IS SOMETHING THAT
YOU CAN'T READ TO A CHILD AT A BUS STOP BECAUSE YOU WOULD BE
ARRESTED BECAUSE IT IS PORNOGRAPHIC, THEN IT SHOULD NOT
BE IN OUR CLASSROOMS.
>> AH, YES, CHILDHOOD.
WE ALL HAVE HAPPY MEMORIES OF BEDTIME, WHEN YOU'D GET IN YOUR
P.J.s, GRAB A GLASS OF WATER, THEN HEAD ON DOWN TO THE BUS
STOP FOR A BEDTIME STORY FROM A DRIFTER NAMED "SHAMBLES."
HE DOESN'T JUST DO THE VOICES; HE HEARS THEM.
( LAUGHTER ) ( APPLAUSE )
AND TUDOR-- SURE, HAPPY MEMORIES.
HAPPY MEMORIES.
AND DIXON'S NOT THE ONLY ONE WORRIED ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
SO IS THIS GUY SHE TOTALLY MADE UP.
>> I HAD A GENTLEMAN COME UP TO ME JUST A FEW NIGHTS AGO, AND
HE SAID, "I FOUND CONTENT IN MY SCHOOL LIBRARY DESCRIBING HOW TO
HAVE SEX TO MY SON.
I WENT TO THE DEMOCRATS, AND I SAID, "I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS IS
IN THERE."
>> Stephen: OKAY.
( LAUGHTER ) FINE.
THAT HAPPENED.
BUT EVEN IF IT DID, IF SOMEONE FOUND A BOOK THEY
DIDN'T LIKE AT A SCHOOL LIBRARY, WHY WOULD THEY GO TO THE
DEMOCRATS?
THAT'S LIKE SAYING, "EXCUSE ME, IS THIS CHUCK SCHUMER'S OFFICE?
I DIDN'T LIKE THE FINALE OF 'HOUSE OF THE DRAGON.'
ALSO, THIS NATURAL PEANUT BUTTER IS TOO OILY WHEN IT'S IN THE
CUPBOARD BUT TOO HARD WHEN IT'S IN THE FRIDGE.
I'M VOTING REPUBLICAN!
GOOD DAY, SIR!
I SAID GOOD DAY!" ( APPLAUSE )
THEN, FOR REASONS ALL HER OWN, DIXON CONTINUED:
>> WHAT THESE PARENTS ARE TALKING ABOUT ARE NOT TEXTBOOKS
THAT WILL HELP CHILDREN LEARN ABOUT THEMSELVES.
THESE ARE BOOKS THAT ARE DESCRIBING TO CHILDREN HOW TO
HAVE SEX.
>> Stephen: SHE'S RIGHT.
WE LOOKED IT UP, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF CLASSIC CHILDREN'S BOOKS
TEACHING KIDS ABOUT DOIN' IT.
THERE'S "WHERE THE WILD THINGS BONE," "IF YOU GIVE A MOUSE SOME
NOOKIE," AND "GREEN EGGS AND BUTT STUFF."
( LAUGHTER ) ( APPLAUSE )
THERE'S ONE-- OH!
OH!
WOULD YOU?
COULD YOU?
WOULD YOU, COULD YOU, IN A BOX?
THERE'S ONE GUY WHO COULD'VE USED A LITTLE MORE SEX EDUCATION
WHEN HE WAS YOUNGER.
YOU SEE, DOWN IN GEORGIA, WE'RE GETTING MORE DAMNING NEWS ABOUT
REPUBLICAN SENATE NOMINEE HERSCHEL WALKER, SEEN HERE
YELLING, "HIT ME WITH A GUMMY BEAR.
I'M OPEN!" ( LAUGHTER )
WALKER HAS BEEN CAMPAIGNING ON A HARD-LINE ANTI-ABORTION STANCE.
AND EARLIER TODAY, A WOMAN CAME FORWARD ALLEGING THAT SHE WAS IN
A RELATIONSHIP WITH HERSCHEL WALKER, AND THAT HE HELPED HER
HAE AN ABORTION.
WAIT A SECOND.
DIDN'T WE DO THIS STORY ALREADY?
AM I IN A RERUN RIGHT NOW?
NO?
"LATE SHOW, ALL NEW."
NOT A RERUN.
OKAY.
SO-- ( APPLAUSE )
WE'RE RECORDING ME, RIGHT?
ARE WE RECORDING ME RIGHT NOW?
OKAY, GREAT.
SO IT'S ANOTHER WOMAN, AND TODAY, SHE HELD A PRESS
CONFERENCE WITH HER LAWYER, GLORIA ALLRED.
AND THEY HAD A PRETTY CONVINCING AMOUNT OF EVIDENCE THAT WALKER
HAD A LONG RELATIONSHIP WITH THIS WOMAN, INCLUDING LETTERS,
PHOTOS, RECEIPTS, AND EVEN A VOICEMAIL WALKER LEFT FOR THE
WOMAN WHEN HE WAS IN FRANCE COMPETING AS A BOBSLEDDER IN THE
1992 WINTER OLYMPICS.
OF COURSE, EVEN BEFORE JANE DOE'S PRESS CONFERENCE BEGAN,
HERSCHEL WALKER BEGAN TO PUSH BACK.
HERE'S WHAT HE SAID AT A CAMPAIGN STOP THIS AFTERNOON.
>> WELL, I'LL JUST SAY RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, GUYS, I'M DONE
WITH THIS FOOLISHNESS.
I'VE ALREADY TOLD PEOPLE THIS IS A LIE AND I'M NOT GOING TO
ENTERTAIN AND CONTINUE TO CARRY A LIE ALONE.
AND I ALSO WANT TO LET YOU KNOW I DIDN'T KILL J.F.K., EITHER.
>> Stephen: MAKING THAT THE FIRST JOB WALKER DIDN'T CLAIM
TO HAVE DONE.
( LAUGHTER ) WE'VE GOT A GREAT SHOW FOR YOU
TONIGHT.
MY GUESTS ARE AUBREY PLAZA AND THE CREATOR OF "THE 1619
PROJECT," NIKOLE HANNAH-JONES.
BUT WHEN WE RETURN, "MEANWHILE!" JOIN US, WON'T YOU?
( APPLAUSE ) >> Stephen: GIVE IT UP FOR THE
BAND.
LOUIS CATO AND THE LATE SHOW BAND.
TODAY, WE GOT A LOVELY GUEST.
IN JUST A MOMENT, JUST ONE OF MY FAVORITE GUESTS TO TALK TO, JUST
A DELIGHTFUL, INCREDIBLY TALENTED AND REALLY BEAUTIFULLY
STRANGE IN HER OWN WAY, AUBREY PLAZA BEEN OF WILL BE OUT HERE
IN JUST A MOMENT.
SHE'S IN THE NEW "THE WHITE LOTUS" BEAUTIFULLY STRANGE.
"THE WHITE LOTUS."
AND THE FOUNDER OF THE "THE 1619 PROJECT," NIKOLE HANNAH-JONES
WILL BE OUT HERE.
THAT'S A GOOD CONVERSATION.
WE HAVE TO KEEP GOING HERE BECAUSE WE RECORDED THIS THING--
WE'RE TALKING 6:00 RIGHT NOW.
I HAVE TO GET OVER FOR THE NEW GAFFIN HALL AT LINCOLN CENTER.
I'M INTRODUCING SOMEBODY ON STAGE.
>> Louis: I HEARD.
>> Stephen: LIN-MANUEL, SOMEBODY.
FOLKS, I SPEND MOST OF MY TIME RIGHT OVER THERE, RUMINATING ON
THE DAY'S BIGGEST STORIES, COLLECTING MY THOUGHTS INTO THE
MOST TOPICAL PASSAGES THAT EXPLORE THE LANDSCAPE OF HUMAN
RELATIONSHIPS IN THE MODERN ERA, WITH INFLUENCES FROM
DOSTOYEVSKY, TURGENEV, AND THOREAU, TO COMPOSE FOR YOU THE
PITHY, YET TIMELESS, VIRGINIA WOOLF MASTERPIECE THAT IS MY
NIGHTLY MONOLOGUE.
BUT SOMETIMES, JUST SOMETIMES, FOLKS, I EMERGE FROM A SEWER
GRATE UNDER AN ABANDONED NEWS STAND, LICK A GLUE STICK, AND
RIP WHICHEVER WORDS ANGER ME MOST OUT OF SOME DISCARDED
ISSUES OF "CONSUMER REPORTS" THEN SLAP 'EM TOGETHER ON A
GARBAGE LID TO PRESENT THE TUNNEL-DWELLER'S RANSOM NOTE OF
NEWS THAT IS MY SEGMENT: >> MEANWHILE!
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) >> Stephen: RIGHT THERE!
THAT IS-- THAT'S AMERICAN HISTORY RIGHT THERE.
MEANWHILE, EARLIER THIS WEEK "APPLE'S iMESSAGE AND FACETIME
WERE DOWN FOR SOME USERS," WHO "COMPLAINED ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE
TO SEND AND RECEIVE TEXT MESSAGES OR PLACE FACETIME
CALLS."
OH, NO.
WITHOUT TEXT OR FACETIME, HOW WERE THEY SUPPOSED TO
COMMUNICATE USING THEIR PHONE?
( LAUGHTER ) MEANWHILE--
( APPLAUSE ) MEANWHILE, A NEW STUDY FOUND
THAT "YOUR CAT RECOGNIZES THE SPECIAL WAY YOU TALK TO IT."
SO, CAT OWNERS, WHEN YOU TELL YOUR CAT TO STOP SCRATCHING THE
NEW SILK PILLOWS BUT HE KEEPS DOING IT, IT'S NOT BECAUSE HE
( CUTE VOICE ) IT'S BECAUSE HE HATES YOU.
HE'S GONNA EAT YOUR EYEBALLS WHEN YOU DIE.
MEANWHILE, "A STUDY FOUND THAT PEOPLE HAVE BETTER THINGS TO DO
THAN COMMUTE."
( LAUGHTER ) ( APPLAUSE )
( CHEERING ) MOST PARTICIPANTS SAID THEY
WOULD RATHER BE "SPENDING TIME WITH FAMILY" OR "EXERCISING,"
WHILE THE MOST HONEST PARTICIPANTS SAID THEY'D RATHER
SPEND THEIR DAYS SAYING THEY'RE GONNA EXERCISE THEN SIT ON THE
COUCH WATCHING "BELOW DECK MED" IN RUNNING SHORTS.
MEANWHILE, IN SPREADABLE NEWS, DESPITE THE LOOMING BUTTER
SHORTAGE, "THE USAGE OF FANCY BUTTER BOARDS IS SOARING," WHICH
IS "TAKING A STICK OF BUTTER AND SPREADING IT ON A CHARCUTERIE
BOARD AND THEN ADDING WHATEVER YOU WANT."
NOTE TO MY LOVED ONES: IF YOU EVER SEE ME SPREADING AN ENTIRE
STICK OF BUTTER ON A BOARD AND I'M ABOUT TO EAT IT, WHAT I WANT
IS PROZAC.
( APPLAUSE ) MEANWHILE, WE JUST GOT THE
PICTURES FROM NIKON'S ANNUAL "SMALL WORLD" COMPETITION, A
CONTEST FOR TINY PICTURES OF TINY THINGS, AND THIS YEAR'S
BATCH IS PRETTY WILD.
HERE'S A ZEBRAFISH, PHOTOGRAPHED A MERE 72 HOURS INTO ITS
DEVELOPMENT, CAPTURING THE EXACT MOMENT THAT IT REALIZED ITS
WHOLE FAMILY WENT TO PARIS WITHOUT IT.
( LAUGHTER ) ( APPLAUSE )
MEANWHILE, "A SWEDISH ZOO CLOSED WHEN A KING COBRA ESCAPED ITS
EXHIBIT."
I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE HEARD THAT ANNOUNCEMENT:
"OKAY, FOLKS, NO REASON TO PANIC, BUT THE ZOO IS CLOSING.
JUST SOME ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, REPAIRS, THERE'S A KING COBRA ON
THE LOOSE, CLEANING, INVENTORY, CATCHING THE COBRA, SERVICING
EQUIPMENT.
NOW, ONCE IN A WHILE, THERE'S A BIT OF A STORY BEHIND HOW WE
HANDLE A STORY HERE AT "THE LATE SHOW."
WHEN THAT HAPPENS, I LIKE TO TELL YOU ABOUT IT IN MY
MEANWHILE SUB-SEGMENT: "BEHIND-THE-SCENES-WHILE."
YOU SEE, THAT STORY ABOUT THE SNAKE LOOSE IN SWEDEN?
INITIALLY, MY WRITER/PRODUCER, MIKE BRUMM, HAD THE IDEA THAT WE
TAKE A SONG BY SWEDISH BAND ABBA AND CHANGE THEIR LYRICS TO BE
ABOUT THIS ESCAPED SNAKE.
SO MIKE DID, LIKE, A TRIAL VERSION OF A VIDEO WHERE HE USES
HIS OWN VOICE FOR A SCRATCH TRACK, A PROOF OF CONCEPT.
SOMETIMES IT WORKS, AND THE BAND OVER THERE THEN DOES A BEAUTIFUL
VERSION OF IT.
AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T WORK, AND YOU NEVER SEE IT.
BUT THIS TIME, IT SO VERY DID NOT WORK THAT, WITH MIKE'S
PERMISSION, I'M GONNA SHOW IT TO YOU NOW.
JIM?
( "DANCING QUEEN" PLAYING )
♪ IT CAN BITE YOU CAN DIE
♪ OH, SEE THAT SNAKE TAKE COVER
♪ PUT IN THE COBRA SNAKE
>> Stephen: WE DIDN'T CUT AWAY FROM THAT SONG IN THE MIDDLE.
( APPLAUSE ) WE DID NOT CUT AWAY FROM THAT
SONG IN THE MIDDLE.
THAT'S AS FAR AS HE GOT.
HE SAID, "YOU WANT ME TO FINISH IT?"
I SAID-- I SAID NO.
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH AUBREY PLAZA.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MY FIRST GUEST IS AN ACTOR, AUTHOR, AND
PRODUCER YOU KNOW FROM "PARKS AND RECREATION," "INGRID GOES
WEST," AND "EMILY THE CRIMINAL."
SHE NOW STARS IN SEASON 2 OF "THE WHITE LOTUS."
>> SO YOU DO PLOIMENT LAW.
SO INTERESTING.
WHAT IS THAT EXACTLY?
>> WE, YOU KNOW, WE TAKE ON CLIENTS THAT ARE SUING THEIR
EMPLOYERS FOR DISCRIMINATION, SEXUAL HARASSMENT, WRONGFUL
TERMINATION, STUFF LIKE THAT.
>> WHAT?
WHAT IS THAT FACE?
>> NO, NO, NOTHING, JUST...
I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH A BUNCH OF BOGUS CLAIMS LATELY.
EVERYONE HAS EVEN WHEN THEY HAVE ZERO MERIT AND THEY GET THROWN
OUT IN SUMMARY JUDGMENT, YOU STILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL THE
DEPOTS AND THE INTERNAL INVESTIGATION.
IT'S A HUGE TIME SUCK, NOT TO MENTION A WASTE OF MONEY.
>> WELL, THEY'RE NOT ALL BOGUS.
>> NO.
>> GOD NO.
( BLEEP ), OF COURSING THEY'RE NOT.
NO, OF COURSE THEY'RE NOT.
>> NO, NO, NO, IT'S FINE.
>> SORRY.
>> ALL GOOD.
>> Stephen: PLEASE WELCOME BACK TO "THE LATE SHOW," AUBREY
PLAZA!
♪ ♪ ♪ ( APPLAUSE )
>> Stephen: THERE YOU GO!
>> HELLO.
>> Stephen: THAT'S WHAT YOU CALL YOUR BASIC AUBREY PLAZA
RIGHT THERE.
NICE TO SEE YOU.
>> NICE TO SEE YOU, TOO.
>> Stephen: IT'S ALWAYS JUST A PLEASURE, A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU
HERE EVERY TIME.
>> I MISS YOU!
>> Stephen: HEY, CONGRATULATIONS.
I JUST FOUND OUT YOU JUST GOT NOMINATED FOR A GOTHAM AWARD FOR
"EMILY THE CRIMINAL."
>> I DID.
>> Stephen: THAT'S MARVELOUS.
THAT FEELS GOOD, RIGHT?
>> YOU KNOW WHAT, IT REALLY DOES FEEL GOOD.
IT'S A REALLY SMALL MOVIE AND IT JUST-- IT FEELS GOOD WHEN THOSE
SMALLER MOVIES, LIKE, BREAK THROUGH THE NOISE, YOU KNOW.
IT'S AWESOME.
>> Stephen: SO YOU'RE STARRING IN THE NEW "THE WHITE LOTUS,"
SEASON TWO OF "THE WHITE LOTUS."
CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT.
>> THANK YOU.
( APPLAUSE ) >> Stephen: NOW, MIKE WHITE,
THE CREATOR OF THE SHOW, SAYS THAT HE WROTE THE PART WITH YOU
IN MIND.
HE WROTE IT FOR YOU.
IS THIS TRUE?
>> HE DID, I THINK.
NORMALLY WHEN PEOPLE SAY THEY WRITE A PART FOR ME, IT'S LIKE
I'M A MURDERER OR I'M A SERIAL KILLER.
>> Stephen: THE DEVIL.
>> I'M LIKE A DEVIL.
>> Stephen: EXACTLY.
>> LIKE, LITERALLY.
BUT IN THIS SHOW, I'M JUST A LAWYER.
I'M JUST A LAWYER.
JUST A NORMAL PERSON, WHICH I CAN TO AS WELL.
( LAUGHTER ).
>> Stephen: HAVE OTHER PEOPLE JUST WRITTEN A PART JUST FOR YOU
BEFORE?
>> UM...
>> Stephen: HAVE YOU BEEN TOLD THAT BEFORE?
>> I MEAN, YEAH, KIND OF.
I MEAN "PARKS AND REC," KIND OF.
BUT THAT WAS A LONG TIME AGO.
I WAS A BABY.
KIND OF.
BUT THIS IS DIFFERENT.
HE KNOWS THE ME-ME MORE INTIMATELY SO I FEEL LIKE I GOT
TO KIND OF, YEAH, SHOW A KIND OF MORE NONEVIL SIDE OF ME.
WHICH IS NICE.
>> Stephen: SURE, IT IS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING IT.
>> YEAH, YEAH.
>> Stephen: THESE THINGS TAKE PLACE AT REALLY NICE RESORTS.
THE FIRST "THE WHITE LOTUS."
AND I ASSUME THIS IS JUST AS NICE.
A REALLY LOVELY RESORT.
>> OH, YEAH.
>> Stephen: DO YOU ACTUALLY GET TO STAY IN A NICE RESORT
WHILE YOU'RE DOING IT?
>> YEAH, WE WERE LIVING IN THE FOUR SEASONS IN SICILY.
>> Stephen: THAT MUST SUCK.
>> IT DID NOT SUCK.
WE WERE LIVING THERE FOR MONTHS AND SHOOTING AT THE HOTEL WE
WERE LIVING AT IT AND THERE IS A PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECT IT HAS ON
YOU AFTER A WHILE, KIND OF LIKE "THE SHINING" KIND OF VIBE.
>> Stephen: GO ON.
>> IT WAS FUN.
>> Stephen: WERE YOU RIDING A TRICYCLE AROUND THE HALLWAYS?
>> YEAH, YEAH.
NO, BUT IT'S JUST WEIRD PAUSE YOU'RE, LIKE LINK IN ONE HOTEL
ROOM, AND THEN IT'S TIME TO GO TO WORK, SO YOU LEAVE YOUR HOTEL
ROOM AND WALK DOWN THE HALL AND GO INTO YOUR OTHER ROOM WHICH IS
YOUR DRESSING PROOM AND YOU JUST CAN'T ESCAPE.
YOU CAN'T ESCAPE IT FOR MONTHS.
WE WERE FLIFG THIS REALLY SMALL TOWN IN SICILY.
WE OVERRAN THAT TOWN, THE CAST.
IT WAS THE OFF SEASON THERE SO THEY WERE JUST LIKE--
> Stephen: WERE THEY HAPPY TO HAVE YOU THERE?
WERE THEY WELCOME TO HAVE THE BUSINESS OR WERE THEY LIKE,
"PLEASE GO AWAY."
>> NO I THINK THEY WERE HAPPY TO HAVE US.
IT'S WEIRD WHEN YOU LIVE IN A LITTLE TOWN LIKE THAT FOR TOO
LONG, THINGS KIND OF HAPPEN.
YOU INTEGRATE.
I GOT IN A WEIRD FOOD WITH THE LOCAL BAKKER-- LOCAL BASICALLY.
>> Stephen: A FEUD WITH A BAKKER.
GO AHEAD.
>> I HAD A LOT OF DAYS OFF -- >> Stephen: IDLE HANDS AND THE
DEVIL A WORKSHOP.
>> I GOT OBSESSED WITH THE PISTACHIO COOKIES THIS GUY WAS
MAKING AND I DON'T KNOW WHY IT BUGGED HIM THAT I KEPT COMING
BACK.
AND I WAS TELLING EVERYBODY YOU HAVE TO COME FOR THE PISTACHIO
COOKIES.
AND ONE DAY HE STOPPED SELLING THEM.
AND I WAS LIKE, DUDE, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
YOU KNOW WE WANT THE COOKIES."
AND HE SAID, YOU WANT THE COOKIES?
I'LL BRING YOU 50 COOKIES TOMORROW," AND HE DID, AND THEY
WERE OVERCOOKED.
>> Stephen: HE BURNED THE SPECIAL ODOR.
>> THIS COULD BE I'M CRAZY, PSYCHOLOGICALLY, I MADE IT UP IN
MY HEAD OR SOMETHING, THIS NARRATIVE.
BUT I'M PRETTY SURE IT HAPPENED.
AND I GOT REALLY KIND OF-- IT TURNED INTO KIND OF LIKE A
"SEINFELD" EPISODE OR SOMETHING WHERE I KEPT GOING EVERY DAY AND
DEMANDING THESE COOKIES AND DEMANDING THAT THEY NOT BURN THE
COOKIES.
AND AT ONE POINT I ACTUALLY STARTED FILMING AND I DID LIKE A
"20/20" INVESTIGATIVE REPORT KIND OF THING.
>> Stephen: WILL WE EVENTUALLY BE OF GET TO SEE THIS?
>> I HAVE IT ON MY PHONE.
I SENT IT TO YOU GUYS BUT THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T SHOW IT FOR
SOME REASON.
IT'S SHOCKING.
IT'S SHOCKING, THE INTERVIEW.
I TRIED TO GET HIM ON CAMERA.
AND HE SAID, "GET THAT CAMERA OUT OF HERE."
>> Stephen: DO YOU SPEAK ITALIAN?
( SPEAKING ITALIAN ) IS THERE I WAS THINKING IF YOU
DON'T SPEAK ITALIAN, HE COULD HAVE BEEN SAYING ANYTHING TO
YOU.
>> IT WAS ALL ENGLISH.
HE HATED ME.
BUT WE MADE UP.
WE MADE UP.
>> Stephen: YOU ALSO ARE DOING-- THIS IS A PASSION
PROJECT OF FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA, "MEGALOP LIS."
I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE PROCESS.
DOES AN AUBREY PLAZA, DO YOU HAVE TO AUDITION FOR FRANCIS
FORD COPPOLA?
>> I DEFINITELY AUDITIONED FOR SURE, FOR SURE.
>> Stephen: YOU CALL HIM "FRANK?"
>> I CALL HIM FRANNIE.
NO.
ME AND FRANNIE-- WHAT.
NO I HAVEN'T MET NIM PERSON YET.
>> Stephen: YOU HAVEN'T MET HIM.
>> I CAN'T GET FIRED BEFORE I START.
PLEASE DON'T MAKE ME SAY ANYTHING STUPID.
>> Stephen: HIS WINE IS DELICIOUS.
>> I KNOW, THE WINE IS GOOD.
I ACTUALLY AUDITIONED FOR HIM ON ZOOM WHEN I WAS IN SICILY.
IN FACT, I WAS STAYING IN THE SAN DOMENICO, WHICH I COULD BE
WRONG, BUT I'M PRETTY SURE HE STAYED THERE WHEN HE SHOT "THE
GODFATHER" AND IN THAT TOWN THERE'S A LITERAL GODFATHER
AMERICA RCH STORE -- >> Stephen: YOU CAN BUY A
HORSE HEAD OR SOMETHING?
>> I WENT THERE ALL THE TIME.
I BOUGHT HORSE HEADS, PENCILS, GUNS-- NOT GUN S.
>> Stephen: CANNOLIS.
>> SURE, CANNOLIS.
AND THEN, YEAH, SO I WAS ON ZOOM WITH HIM.
AND IT WAS-- IT WAS REALLY WEIRD BECAUSE IT'S, LIKE HIM-- YOU
KNOW, I WAS SO EXCITED TO MEET HIM.
AND HE WAS WEARING A TUXEDO.
>> Stephen: HE WORE A TUXEDO FOR YOUR AUDITION?
>> THEN I FOUND OUT HE WAS GOING TO THE ACADEMY AWARDS THAT DAY.
HE WAS ACTUALLY JUST SQUEEZING ME IN.
BUT I SQUEEZED MYSELF RIGHT IN, TOO, IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN
( APPLAUSE ) >> Stephen: WE HAVE TO TAKE A
QUICK BREAK, AUBREY PLAZA, BUT WHEN WE COME BACK, AUBREY IS
GOING TO SPILL DATE ON HER COSTARS.
STICK AROUND.
>> Stephen: WE'RE BACK WITH STAR OF "THE WHITE LOTUS," AUBREY
PLAZA.
AUBREY, ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> Stephen: NOT ONLY ARE YOU A GREAT GUEST AND A WONDERFUL
SPARKLING PERSONALITY AND UNIQUELY YOURSELF.
YOU ALSO ALWAYS COME WITH GREAT STORIES.
YOU ARE WILLING TO ABSOLUTELY SPIT THE TRUTH ABOUT SOME OF
YOUR COSTARS.
>> I HAVE TO.
>> Stephen: AND, YOU KNOW, A FEW TIMES WE'VE HAD THE PLEASURE
OF CHATTING, YOU HAVE BEEN SO CANDID ABOUT YOUR COSTARS.
AND WE'D LIKE TO DO SOMETHING WE'VE DONE BEFORE, AND IT'S
CALLED "TEA AT THE PLAZA."
AND THAT'S WHERE AUBREY PLAZA SPILLS THE TEA ABOUT HER
COSTARS.
I GIVE YOU A NAME, AND YOU GREASE US.
OKAY?
>> OH, I WILL GREET YOU UP.
>> Stephen: ALL RIGHT.
>> MMM!
AND WHAT KIND OF TEA IS IT TODAY?
>> Stephen: I HAVE NO IDEA.
( LAUGHTER ) MMM.
>> NETTLES.
>> Stephen: YES, ALL RIGHT.
>> GOOD FOR THE JOINTS.
GOOD FOR THE JOINTS, STEPHEN.
>> Stephen: IT IS?
ALL RIGHT, I TRY NOT TO MOVE MY JOINTS ANYMORE.
>> NO YOU DON'T...
>> Stephen: P AUBREY PLAZA, M GOING TO GIVE YOU A NAME, YOU
GIVE US THE GOSSIP.
COSTAR IN "LOTUS 2022," JENNIFER COOLIDGE.
>> JENNIFER COOLIDGE REFUSES TO TRAVEL BY PLANE, TRAIN, OR CAR.
IN FACT, SHE ONLY TRAVELS BY SLEIGHING, LED BY SNOW WOLVES.
>> Stephen: WOW.
HOLLYWOOD PEOPLE HAVE SUCH STRANGE DEMANDS IN THEIR
CONTRACTS.
>> I KNOW.
SHE'LL ONLY TRAVEL BY SLEIGH.
>> Stephen: I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE WORKED WITH THIS PERSON
BEFORE BUT I UNDERSTAND YúU WOWORKED WITH JOY BEHAR.
>> JOY BEHAR HAS SEX WITH GHOSTS AND SHE'S PROUT OF IT.
LOOK IT UP.
LOOK IT-- LOOK IT UP.
GOOGLE IT RIGHT NOW.
>> Stephen: WOW, WOW.
THAT'S NOT SO MUCH GOSSIP.
THAT'S JUST WELL KNOWN.
>> THAT'S JUST SOMETHING I HEARD ABOUT.
( LAUGHTER ).
>> Stephen: IN "INGRID GOES WEST" YOU COSTARRED WITH
ELIZABETH OLSON.
TELL US A LITTLE BIT HER.
>> SHE IS SICK, STEPHEN.
SHE IS SICK.
>> Stephen: GO ON.
>> ELIZABETH OLSON HAS HANDS INSTEAD OF FEET AND FEET INSTEAD
OF HANDS.
>> Stephen: I HAVE SEEN HER IN MOVIES AND SHE LOOKS LIKE SHE
HAS HANDS.
>> HONE, LOOK CLOSER.
ZOOM IN.
>> Stephen: WOW.
>> ANY TIME SHE MEETS SOMEONE, SHE KICKS THEM IN THE FACE.
( LAUGHTER ) >> Stephen: WOW!
>> WITH HER FEET-HANDS.
>> Stephen: THE THINGS THEY CAN DO WITH CGIs THESE DAYS.
>> SHE IS DISGUSTING.
>> Stephen: I FEEL ALMOST SAD FOR HER, THOUGH.
>> SHE IS SICK.
>> Stephen: DANNY DeVITO, YOUR COSTAR IN "LITTLE DEMON."
>> GIVE ME A BREAK.
>> Stephen: OKAY.
>> DANNY DEVITO DOES SO MUCH VOICEOVER WORK.
IN FACT YOU KNOW THE SOUND THE RAIDATOR MAKES, THE HISS SOUND?
THAT'S HIM.
AND ANOTHER THING ABOUT DANNY DEVITO, HE PLAYS THE VOICE OF
SSATAN ON FX'S "LITTLE DEMON" OPPOSITE ME, ALL EPISODES
STREAMING ON HULU.
SEE WHAT I DID THERE?
>> Stephen: SEASON 2 OF "THE WHITE LOTUS" PREMIERES SUNDAY ON
HBO.
AUBREY PLAZA, EVERYBODY!
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING
JOURNALIST NIKOLE HANNAH-JONES.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MY NEXT GUEST TONIGHT IS THE PULITZER
PRIZE-WINNING "NEW YORK TIMES" REPORTER WHO CREATED "THE
1619 PROJECT."
PLEASE WELCOME TO "THE LATE SHOW," NIKOLE HANNAH-JONES!
♪ ♪ ♪ ( APPLAUSE )
♪ TURN ME AROUND TURN ME AROUND
AIN'T GOING TO LET NOBODY TURN ME AROUND ♪
>> Stephen: HOW YOU DOING?
NICE TO HAVE YOU ON.
>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON.
>> Stephen: NOW, THREE YEARS AGO, YOU CREATED THE "THE 1619
PROJECT," ORIGINALLY WITH A SPECIALIST ""THE NEW YORK TIMES"
MAGAZINE.
NOW IT'S A CHILDREN'S BOOK.
IT'SA A PODCAST SEZ AN UPCOMING DOCU-SERIES, A DESSERT TOPPING,
AND A BOOK "THE 1619 PROJECT: A NEW ORIGIN STORY."
( APPLAUSE ) NOW, LET'S JUST START WITH
BASICS FOR A SECOND.
SOME OF THE PEOPLE WATCHING RIGHT NOW MAY NOT BE AWARE OF
WHAT THAT DATE, 1619, WHAT ITS SIGNIFICANCE IS.
THERE ARE A LOT OF DATES WE HAVE OUT THERE IN OUR HEAD.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
>> 1619 IS THE YEAR THE FIRST AFRICANS WERE SOLD INTO THE
BRITISH COLONY OF VIRGINIA.
SO WE REALLY MARK THAT AS THE BEGINNING OF AMERICAN SLAVERY,
AND OF COURSE WHAT "THE 1619 PROJECT" ARGUES, SINCE SLAVERY
IS ONE OF THE OLDEST INSTITUTIONS IN THE LAND THAT
WOULD BECOME THE UNITED STATES, THAT IS FOUNDATIONAL TO SO MUCH
OF THE SOCIETY WE HAVE TODAY.
>> Stephen: LITERALLY-- WHAT'S THE NAME OF THE SHIP?
>> "THE WHITE WITH LION."
>> Stephen: THE "WHITE LION PULLED INTO THE JAMESTOWN
HOW MANY AFRICANS-- DO WE KNOW HOW MANY WERE SOLD INTO BONDAGE?
>> WHAT WE KNOW FROM THE RECORD THEY SAID, "20 AND ODD."
SO BETWEEN 20 AND 30.
THEY WERE FROM AN DOLIA, AND THEY WERE ORIGINALLY ON A
PORTUGUESE SHIP BOUND FOR MEXICO, STOLEN BY PILOTS AND
WERE TRADED TO HUMAN BEINGS FOR PROVISION S.
>> Stephen: WHEN DID YOU FIRST LEARN OF THIS?
WHEN DID YOU FIRST BECOME INTERESTED IN THIS?
>> I FIRST CAME ACROSS THE DATE 1619, WHEN I WAS 16 YEARS OLD,
WHICH WAS TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO.
AND I WAS A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT.
AND I HAD A ONE-SEMESTER BLACK STUDIES ELECTIVE TAUGHT BY A
GREAT EDUCATOR NAMED MR. DIAL.
AND NERDY NIKOLE BECAME OBSESSED WITH LEARNING THE HISTORY AND I
WOULD ASK MR. DIAL TO GIVE ME BOOKS TO READ, AND ONE OF THE
BOOKS WAS "BEFORE THE MAYFLOWER," AND ABOUT 30 PAGES
IS IS WHEN I READ ABOUT THE "WHITE LION."
NO ONE TAUGHT US THAT DATE.
OF COURSE EVERY AMERICAN CHILD LEARNS ABOUT THE "MAYFLOWER" BUT
"THE WHITE LION" HAD BEEN COMPLETELY ERASED.
AND AS A BLACK GIRL KNOWING AFRICAN PEOPLE HAD BEEN HERE
LONGER THAN THE PEOPLE WHO DISEMBARKED THE "MAYFLOWER" WAS
VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.
>> Stephen: SO THE 20-ODD, THE 20, 30 ANGOLANS THAT CAME OWN,
IN THE EARLY COLONISTS WERE THERE ANY AFRICANS WHO CAME OR
BROUGHT TO THE UNITED STATES NOT AS ENSLAVED PEOPLE?
OR DID THEY ALL COME AS ENSLAVED PEOPLE?
>> IN THE EARLY COLONIES PEOPLE WERE COMING AS ENSLAVED WORKERS.
BUT YOU DID START TO HAVE, AFTER THE KIND OF MIDDLE 1600s,
THERE WERE SOME FREE OR INDENTURED LABORERS FROM EUROPE
BUT A VERY SMALL NUMBER.
WHAT IS INTERESTING, WE HADN'T QUITE CREATED WHAT SLAVERY WOULD
LOOK LIKE IN THE YUT.
OF COURSE WE CREATE LAWS TO DEAL WITH THINGS THAT ARE ALREADY
HAPPENING.
SO THE STATUS OF THEM WAS NOT WHAT WE WOULD COME TO KNOW AS
CATTLE SLAVERY.
THEY COULD BECOME FREE.
THEY COULD OWN PROPERTY.
IT WASN'T A SLAVERY THAT WAS INHERITED OR LIFE LONG.
BUT WITHIN 30 YEARS OF THEM LANDING, WE WOULD BEGIN TO
CREATE THAT SORT OF LIFELONG SLAVERY.
>> Stephen: IN SOME WAYS-- CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG HERE--
THE BRITISH THERE THEIR COLONIES IN THE UNITED STATES, WHAT WOULD
BECOME THE UNITED STATES, CREATED A NEW FORM OF SLAVERY.
THERE HAD BEEN A LONG HISTORY OF SLAVERY IN THE WORLD.
BUT THIS WAS A RACE-BASED SLAVERY THAT HADN'T EXISTED
BEFORE.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
UP UNTIL REALLY THE INSTITUTION OF CATTLE SLAVERY, PEOPLE BECAME
SLAVES SOMETIMES BECAUSE OF WAR OR BECAUSE OF DEBT.
SO IT WAS CONDITIONAL.
BUT WHAT WAS CREATED BY THE EUROPEAN POWERS DURING THE
TRANSATLANTIC, WAS RACE-BASED SLAVERY.
IT WAS A SLAVERY INHERITED.
PRIOR TO THAT, WHEN YOU HEAD CHILDREN, CHILDREN WEREN'T BORN
INTO SLAVERY, BUT OF COURSE HERE EVERY PERSON-- EVERY WOMAN WHO
WAS ENSLAVED WOULD GIVE BIRTH TO AN ENSLAVED CHILD, AND IT WAS A
LIFELONG SLAVERY.
SO YOU WOULD NEVER HAVE A CHANCE OF BECOMING FREE.
>> Stephen: IT SEEMS LIKE THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING TO
KNOW.
>> IT IS.
>> Stephen: ABOUT YOUR COUNTRY.
AND YET 14 STATES, 14 STATES OF THE UNITED STATES, HAVE
ATTEMPTED TO BAN OR BANNED THE "THE 1619 PROJECT" FROM BEING
TAUGHT IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
WHAT'S YOUR THEORY ON WHY THERE HAS BEEN SUCH A STRONG BACKLASH
IN SOME PARTS OF THE COUNTRY?
>> I THINK WE ARE IN, OBVIOUSLY, A DEEPLY POLARIZED SOCIETY AND
THAT CONSERVATIVES HAVE REALLY UNDERSTOOD THE OLDEST DIVIDE IN
AMERICA IS THE RACE DIVIDE.
SO IF YOU WANT TO STOKE DIVISION, IF YOU WANT TO WIN
POLITICALLY, SCARING PEOPLE INTO THINKING THAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE
LEARNING A HISTORY THAT'S TEACHING THEM THAT THEY'RE THE
OPPRESSOR, THAT YOU CAN'T HAVE HEROES IF THEY'RE WHITE, I THINK
HAS BEEN A VERY EFFECTIVE PROPAGANDA CAMPAIGN.
BUT I THINK IT SHOULD GO WITHOUT SAYING THAT REGARDLESS OF HOW
ANYONE FEELS ABOUT "THE 1619 PROJECT--" AND TRUST ME MOST OF
THE PEOPLE TRYING TO BAN IT HAVE NEVER READ IT.
IT'S VERY CLEAR-- THAT NO MATTER HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT IT, A FREE
SOCIETY DOESN'T BAN BOOKS.
A FREE SOCIETY DOES NOT DO THAT.
( APPLAUSE ) ( CHEERING )
>> Stephen: ALONGSIDE-- ALONGSIGHT ANALYTICAL ESSAYS IN
THE BOOK ARE POEMS AND MONOLOGUES AND PHOTOGRAPHS,
INCLUDING THIS PHOTO RIGHT HERE I'D LIKE YOU TO TALK ABOUT.
WHO IS THIS IN THIS PHOTOGRAPH RIGHT HERE?
>> THIS IS MY FATHER, MILTON HANNA, WHO WAS BORN--
( APPLAUSE ) THANK YOU.
>> Stephen: MAO DOES HIS STORY FIT INTO YOUR LARGER STORY?
>> IT'S SORT OF EMOTIONAL TO SEE HIM IN THIS WAY.
MY FATHER WAS BORN ON A SHARECROPPING FARM IN GREENWOOD,
MISSISSIPPI, IN 1945 WHEN BLACK PEOPLE HAD NO RIGHTS OF
CITIZENSHIP IN THAT STATE.
HE CERTAINLY COULDN'T IMAGINE ONE DAY HE WOULD BE THE FIRST
IMAGE YOU SEE IN A BOOK LIKE THIS.
I OPENED THE DEMOCRACY ESSAY WHICH REALLY ARGUES BLACK
AMERICANS HAVE BEEN THE GREATEST DEMOCRATIZING FORCE IN THE
HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES.
AND I OPEN WITH MY FATHER, A VETERAN, WHO LOVED HIS COUNTRY,
WHO SERVED HIS COUNTRY, AND WHO FLEW THIS GIGANTIC AMERICAN FLAG
IN OUR YARD.
AND THE ESSAY GRAPPLES WITH HOW I CAME TO UNDERSTAND WHY A MAN
WHO WAS BORN INTO A COUNTRY THAT WOULD NOT TREAT HIM AS AN EQUAL
CITIZEN BECAUSE HE WAS BLACK COULD HAVE THAT MUCH LOVE FOR
HIS COUNTRY.
HE EXHIBITED THE HIGHEST CALLING OF PATRIOTISM, TO SEE THE WAY
YOUR COUNTRY IS FAILING,s TO SEE THE HYPOCRISY OF YOUR
COUNTRY, AND NOT LIVING UP TO ITS HIGHEST IDEALS BUT STILL
BELIEVING YOUR COUNTRY CAN BECOME THE THING WE ALL DREAM IT
TO BE.
AND THAT'S WHAT MY FATHER REALLY STANDS FOR IN THIS BOOK.
>> Stephen: NIKOLE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> Stephen: THE BOOK, "THE 1619 PROJECT: A NEW ORIGIN STORY" IS
AVAILABLE NOW.
NIKOLE HANNAH-JONES, EVERYBODY.
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
>> Stephen: THAT'S IT FOR "THE LATE SHOW."
TUNE IN TOMORROW WHEN MY GUEST WILL BE KERRY WASHINGTON.
STICK AROUND FOR JAMES CORDEN.
GOOD NIGHT.