>>> WISCONSIN. RIGHT NOW AS WE SIT HERE,
ABORTION.
>> YEAH.
>> BANNED. NO EXCEPTIONS FOR RAPE OR
INCEST. IF YOU'RE AN ABORTION PROVIDER
AND YOU GET CAUGHT, YOU GO PRISON FOR SIX YEARS.
CAN YOU BELIEVE WHERE WE ARE?
>> THE HIGHEST COURT OF OUR LAND JUST TOOK A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT
THAT HAD BEEN RECOGNIZED FROM THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA, FROM THE
WOMEN OF AMERICA. MOST OF US BELIEVED IN THE
IMPORTANCE OF THE JOURNEY OF AMERICA, WHICH HAS ALWAYS BEEN
ABOUT THE EXPANSION OF RIGHTS, NOT THE RESTRICTION OF RIGHTS.
IT'S ABOUT THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF FREEDOM AND
LIBERTY. AND ALL OF THAT HAS BEEN,
FRANKLY, BLOWN UP BY THE DOBBS DECISION.
THAT CONCERNS ME DEEPLY. AND, YES, I WOULD HAVE NEVER
THOUGHT THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN.
>> LOVE LIFE?
>> CHOOSE LIFE!
>> LOVE LIFE.
>> CHOOSE LIFE.
>> ROE V. WADE HAS BEEN OVERTURNED.
22 STATES ARE BANNING ABORTIONS, AND MORE COULD ANNOUNCE BANS IN
THE COMING WEEKS.
>> MY BODY!
>> MY CHOICE!
>> I AM SPITTING MAD OVER THIS. WE ARE GOING TO FIGHT BACK.
>> ABORTION HAS BECOME FRONT AND CENTER ON EVERYONE'S MIND.
IT HAS BECOME A HUGE MOTIVATING FACTOR.
>> ABORTION IS OKAY, ABORTION IS OKAY.
>> FROM AN EXPECTED RED WAVE TO WHO KNOWS WHAT'S GOING TO
HAPPEN.
>> WITH A THIRD OF VOTER REGISTRATIONS BY WOMEN.
>> THEY DON'T CARE IF PEOPLE DIE.
>> GOP POLITICIANS ARE RESHAPING THE STANCES ON ABORTION RIGHTS.
>> LINDSEY GRAHAM PUSHING FOR A NATIONAL ABORTION BAN.
>> REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES, RATHER UNCOMFORTABLE.
>> I LEAVE IT UP TO THE CANDIDATES TO DETERMINE WHAT
THEIR RESPONSE IS.
>> I SUPPORT GOING OUT TO THE STATES AND LAYING WE THE PEOPLE
SIGN.
>> DEMOCRATS MIXED MESSAGES.
>> HOW CAN DEMOCRATS KEEP UP THIS MOMENTUM?
>> THIS IS A BATTLE FOR THE IDENTITY OF THESE TWO PARTIES.
>> EXPECT THE RACES TO BE REALLY TIGHT.
>> 50 DAYS UNTIL THE MIDTERMS. SO FASTEN YOUR SEAT BELT,
EVERYONE.
>> REPUBLICANS DON'T HAVE A CLUE ABOUT THE POWER OF WOMEN.
LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING. THEY'RE ABOUT TO FIND OUT.
>> MY BODY!
>> MY CHOICE!
>> OH MY GOD, THIS IS SO GREAT.
>> MY DEAR.
>> WHAT DID YOU ORDER?
>> I GOT A TSUNAMI DOG.
>> I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT HAVE GOTTEN THE SPICY REDNECK CAT.
>> HOT DOGS. THIS IS MY FAVORITE, AND I'LL
TELL YOU WHY. DESPITE ALL APPEARANCES, THIS
ONE ALSO IS A SPEAKEASY. AND IF YOU KNOW THE SECRET
PASSAGEWAY YOU ENTER ONE OF THE BEST BARS IN THE WORLD.
>> WHOA -- OH. OH MY GOD!
>> TAXIDERMY.
>> WOW.
>> LOOK AT THIS.
>> THIS IS THE NEW "CIRCUS" HQ, I THINK.
>> TWO THINGS ARE TRUE. THERE HAVE BEEN TWO LOSSES WE'VE
ALL SUFFERED. ONE, THE QUEEN.
BURIED TODAY. AND TWO, ANOTHER QUEEN, ALEX
WAGNER, WHO HAS LEFT US.
>> THE QUEEN OF THE ROUND TABLE.
>> ALEX WAGNER IS AN IRREPLACEABLE PRESENCE, RIGHT?
BUT FOR THIS NEXT EIGHT EPISODES, WE'RE GOING BRING IN
SOME PINCH-HIT.
>> SPECIAL FRIENDS.
>> FRIENDS AND FAMILY. AS WE SIT HERE TODAY ON MONDAY,
SEVEN WEEKS FROM TOMORROW WE HAVE MIDTERM ELECTIONS.
AND ONE THING HAS BEEN TRUE FROM LAST NOVEMBER UNTIL THIS JUNE.
IT LOOKED LIKE EVERY OTHER MIDTERM ELECTION WE'VE EVER
COVERED. DEMOCRATS WERE FUCKED,
REPUBLICANS WERE IN THEIR GLORY. INFLATION HIGH.
JOE BIDEN'S APPROVAL RATING IN THE TOILET.
>> HE HAD THE LOWEST APPROVAL RATING OF ANY PRESIDENT.
IN THIS TIME PERIOD, LOWER THAN EVEN DONALD TRUMP DID.
>> THE REPUBLICAN IS RED WAVE, RED WAVE.
AND THEN EVERYTHING CHANGED.
>> THE HIGH COURT JUST RELEASING ITS OPINION IN DOBBS VERY
JACKSON WOMEN'S HEALTH.
>> ROE V. WADE IS HISTORY.
>> AFTER THE DOBBS DECISION, THERE WAS A VERY INTENSE
BACKLASH. WOMEN WERE INCENSED.
>> EVERYONE HAD THEIR EYE ON KANSAS, RIGHT?
WHICH WAS GOING TO BE THE FIRST LEGISLATIVE TEST.
A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT SAYS WE'RE GOING STRIP AWAY THE
EXISTING PROTECTIONS IN THE STATE CONSTITUTION SO THE STATE
LEGISLATURE COULD PASS A LAW BANNING ABORTION THIS THE STATE.
A PRETTY CONSERVATIVE STATE.
>> THERE IS ALL THESE REASONS TO THINK THAT THE PRO-CHOICE IS
GOING TO GET KILLED, AND THERE IS THIS STUNNING OVERWHELMING
VICTORY.
>> IT WAS LIKE OKAY, YOU KNOW, IF YOU GUYS DO THE WORK,
ENERGIZE, GO ORGANIZE, YOU CAN GO WIN ANYWHERE.
IF YOU CAN WIN AN ABORTION VOTE IN KANSAS, YOU CAN WIN AN
ABORTION VOTE ANYWHERE.
>> AND THE NEXT DAY, WHO STARTS SCRUBBING THEIR WEBSITES?
>> EVERYBODY IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
>> THIS IS A CLASSIC CASE WHERE THE REPUBLICANS CAUGHT THE CAR,
YOU KNOW. AND THE THING ABOUT THIS ISSUE
FOR REPUBLICANS THAT HAS ALWAYS PERPLEXED ME IS AN INNATE
HYPOCRISY TO SAY WE'RE THE PARTY OF WOMEN AND GOVERNMENT AND THEN
TO SAY OH, NO, WAIT A MINUTE, WE'RE GOING TO TELL WOMEN WHAT
THEY CAN DO AND WHEN THEY CAN DO IT.
AND THEN AFTER THE DECISION, YOU HAVE REPUBLICANS SCREAMING
STATES RIGHTS, STATES RIGHTS. AND LINDSEY GRAHAM SAYING --
>> WE SHOULD HAVE A LAW AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL THAT WOULD SAY
AFTER 15 WEEKS, NO ABORTION ON DEMAND.
>> REPUBLICANS IN THE DITCH AND LINDSEY GRAHAM DECIDED TO DIG
DEEPER.
>> BOTH SIDES ARE SEEING THE LESSONS OF THIS, RIGHT?
AND THERE IS A BUNCH OF PLACES WHERE IT'S CENTER STAGE IN RACES
OF GREAT CONSEQUENCE. NOT JUST SENATE.
>> GRETCHEN WHITMER, GOVERNOR OF MICHIGAN, BIG RISING DEMOCRATIC
STAR. A FEW MONTHS AGO IT LOOKED LIKE
GRETCHEN WHITMER WAS GOING TO LOSE.
BUT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WHITMER MADE ABORTION THE CENTERPIECE OF
HER CAMPAIGN, SHE IS PRETTY FAR AHEAD OF HER REPUBLICAN
OPPONENT, THIS WOMAN, TUDOR DIXON.
>> TUDOR DIXON.
>> SHE WOULD HAVE WOMEN WHO WERE RAPED FORCED TO HAVE THOSE
BABIES.
>> THE OTHER RACE, THIS NORTH CAROLINA SENATE RACE.
>> TED BUDD.
>> TRUMP-ENDORSED CANDIDATE, CLASSIC MAGA CANDIDATE.
>> HE IS RUNNING AGAINST CHERI BEASLEY, WHO WAS A JUDICIAL
SUPERSTAR IN THE STATE. SHE IS OUT THERE BANGING THE
DRUM ON THE ABORTION THING.
>> THIS BAN WON'T JUST TAKE AWAY OUR FREEDOMS.
WOMEN WILL DIE.
>> BUT THAT RACE IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF AT THE VERY LEAST
THIS ISSUE HAS MADE RACES THAT WERE OTHERWISE COMPLETELY
UNCOMPETITIVE, NOT ON THE RADAR SCREENS, OH, SOMETHING IS
HAPPENING HERE.
>> LOOK, IT'S CLEAR THE BIDEN PEOPLE THINK IF THERE IS
ANYTHING THAT'S GOING TO HELP DEMOCRATS FIGHT THE HISTORICAL
ODDS, THIS IS IT.
>> JOE BIDEN HAS DEPLOYED KAMALA HARRIS ON THIS ISSUE AROUND THE
COUNTRY.
>> BUT NO ONE'S LIKE OH, DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO BE A BLUE
WAVE, RIGHT? SO THE QUESTION, IS IT ENOUGH?
>> IT WILL BE A BATTLE TO HOLD ON TO THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE.
AS MUCH AS A BOOST AS ROE HAS BEEN, THIS IS GOING TO BE REALLY
HARD.
>> THE DEMOCRATS HAVE CAUGHT UP WITH REPUBLICANS IN ENTHUSIASM.
REPUBLICAN ENTHUSIASM IS STILL OFF THE CHARTS.
>> THAT HASN'T CHANGED. SO YOU'RE LIKE OH, YOU KNOW,
DON'T GET AHEAD OF YOURSELVES HERE ON WHAT THE OUTCOME HERE IS
GOING TO BE. DEMOCRATS NOW HAVE A FIGHTING
CHANCE.
>> YEAH. AND WE DIDN'T REALLY KNOW THAT
UNTIL KANSAS.
>> WHO HAD ON THEIR BINGO CARD THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT STATE IN
AMERICAN POLITICS IN 2022 WOULD BE KANSAS?
BUT WE'RE NOT IN KANSAS ANYMORE.
>> FROM ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE ON AIR FORCE TWO, LANDING HERE
IN MILWAUKEE WITH THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
KAMALA HARRIS, WHO IS HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE ISSUE THAT'S
CONSUMED A LOT OF HER TIME SINCE ROE V. WADE WAS OVERTURNED, THE
DOBBS DECISION CAME DOWN IN JUNE.
AT ISSUE IS REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, WOMEN'S HEALTH CARE, AND
ABORTION. WISCONSIN IS A STATE THAT'S BEEN
REALLY DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THE OVERTURNING OF ROE.
THE LAW OF THE LAND IN THE STATE NOW IS AN ANTI-ABORTION LAW
PASSED IN 1849 THAT MAKES ABORTION IN THIS STATE ILLEGAL
ACROSS THE BOARD. A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE THOUGHT
THAT THE VICE PRESIDENT HAS STRUGGLED TO FIND HER FOOTING.
AND THEN THIS ISSUE CAME ALONG. IT HAS GIVEN A HUGE STAGE TO THE
VICE PRESIDENT TO TAKE THE LEAD ON THIS ISSUE FOR THE
ADMINISTRATION. VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS GIVING A
SPEECH TO DEMOCRATIC STATE ATTORNEYS GENERAL WHO ARE
MEETING HERE.
>> HI! THE WHOLE CREW.
GENERAL, GENERAL, HOW ARE YOU?
>> TO INSTALL A CHAMPION FOR REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM, JUST AS
SHE IS TODAY. I REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME I MET
HER. I WAS NERVOUS.
SHE WALKED IN AND SHE CALMED MY NERVES, WE HAD A GREAT
CONVERSATION.
>> I REMEMBER THAT.
>> BUT IT'S MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA
HARRIS. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> AS ATTORNEYS GENERAL, YOU ARE FIGHTING ON THE FRONT LINES TO
DEFEND OUR RIGHTS. YOU ARE ALSO, OF COURSE, LEADING
THE FIGHT TO PROTECT THE FREEDOM OF WOMEN TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT
THEIR OWN BODIES. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> AAAH!
>> I WAS GOING SNEAK UP ON YOU.
>> YOU MOVE FAST IS THE THING. YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN STEALTHY.
>> WHO HAS TIME TO MOVE SLOW THESE DAYS?
COME ON. COME SIT DOWN AND TALK TO ME.
>> GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
>> YOU KNOW, THE WAY THE ABORTION RIGHTS, THE PRO-CHOICE
THE WAY THEY TALK IS WOMEN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE AND REPRODUCTIVE
HEALTH AND ALL THAT YOU TALK ABOUT THAT, BUT YOU ALSO CONNECT
THOSE THINGS TO THESE KIND OF NOTIONS OF FREEDOM, LIBERTY,
THESE LARGER PRINCIPLES AND IDEAS.
WHEN THE SUPREME COURT OPINION WAS LEAKED, YOU WENT AND GAVE
THAT SPEECH AT EMILY'S LIST.
>> IF THE COURT OVERTURNS ROE V. WADE, IT WILL BE A DIRECT
ASSAULT ON THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF SELF-DETERMINATION TO
WHICH ALL AMERICANS ARE ENTITLED.
>> I HAVE ALWAYS THOUGHT OF THE FIGHT FOR CIVIL RIGHTS, EQUAL
RIGHTS AS A FIGHT FOR FREEDOMS. THE RIGHT OF PEOPLE IN OUR
COUNTRY TO HAVE THE FREEDOM TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT WHETHER
THEY START A FAMILY, ABOUT THEIR OWN BODY, ABOUT WHO THEY LOVE.
ALL HUMANS ARE ENTITLED TO CERTAIN FREEDOMS, AND THEY
SHOULD BE PROTECTED.
>> THERE IS A BACKLASH FOR THE STRIPPING AWAY OF ROE V. WADE,
AND WE SAW IT IN KANSAS. A POLITICAL EARTHQUAKE, RIGHT?
DEMOCRATS, THEY WANT TO MAKE AN ARGUMENT ABOUT REPUBLICANS BEING
EXTREME PARTY IN GENERAL. WHAT IT FEELS LIKE IS PART OF
YOUR RHETORIC HAS BEEN KIND OF TO STITCH ALL THAT TOGETHER,
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH REALLY MATTERS, BUT THIS IS ACTUALLY A
PERFECT WINDOW INTO A REPUBLICAN PARTY THAT'S EXTREME ACROSS THE
BOARD.
>> WE'RE SEEING A PATTERN HERE. YOU CAN SEE THAT FROM THE SAME
STATES AND PLACES WHERE YOU'RE SEEING AN ATTACK ON WOMEN'S
REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOMS, AN ATTACK ON VOTING RIGHTS, LGBTQ RIGHTS.
WE'RE GOING BACKWARDS. REPUBLICAN LEADERS ARE TRYING TO
GET A NATIONAL BEEN ON ABORTION, WHICH INCLUDES CRIMINALIZING
DOCTORS, NURSES WITH UP TO FIVE YEARS IN PRISON.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
>> THEY WON THIS ENORMOUS VICTORY, AND I GOT TO SAY IF I
WERE A MACHIAVELLIAN, HEY, GUYS, GO CRAZY HERE.
INSTEAD ALL THE TRIGGER LAWS KICKED IN.
THE STATE LEGISLATURE IS GOING TO TRY TO BAN ABORTION TOTALLY.
>> A 10-YEAR-OLD OHIO GIRL RAPED, AND UNDER THE STATE'S NEW
ABORTION BAN, FORCED TO GO ACROSS STATE LINES TO INDIANA TO
GET THE PROCEDURE.
>> LIKE HAD A HUGE AFFECT ON PEOPLE WHO WERE WAIT A MINUTE.
THIS IS WHERE WE'RE GOING?
>> IN APPROACH BY THESE REPUBLICAN PARTY LEADERS HAS
BEEN PATERNALISTIC. IT HAS BEEN CALLOUS,
SHORTSIGHTED, AND I DO BELIEVE THAT AT SOME POINT, THEY'RE
GOING HEAR FROM THEIR MOTHERS AND SISTERS AND DAUGHTERS THAT
IT IS NOT WHAT THEY WANT FROM THEIR LEADERS.
THEY WANT THEIR LEADERS TO RESPECT THEM AND TO TRUST THEM
AND NOT PUSH FOR LAWS TO CRIMINALIZE AND PUNISH THEM.
>> YEAH. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE KIND OF
LIKE, YOU KNOW, WHAT HAPPENED TO KAMALA HARRIS IN THE FIRST YEAR
OR SO OF THE ADMINISTRATION. SAME PEOPLE RIGHT NOW ARE LIKE
SHE'S LIKE ON FIRE ALL OF THE SUDDEN, RIGHT?
BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND AS A LAWYER, A WOMAN,
A MINORITY. SO I GUESS MY QUESTION IS
WHETHER YOU FEEL LIKE VICE PRESIDENCY IS HARD FIGURING IT
OUT HOW TO GET GOOD AT IT. SO DO YOU FEEL YOU'VE HIT YOUR
STRIDE NOW IN A WAY YOU HADN'T BEFORE?
. THERE IS A LOT TO UNPACK THERE,
BUT LET ME START WITH THIS. LET ME START WITH THIS.
I CARE PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS ISSUE, FOR SO MANY REASONS.
I WAS AN ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR TWO TERMS, AND MY LIFE'S WORK,
FRANKLY, HAS BEEN AS A PROSECUTOR AND AS AN ATTORNEY
DEFENDING THE CONSTITUTION. I WAS INSPIRED BY THURGOOD
MARSHALL. I BENEFITTED FROM THE WORK OF
EARL WARREN. I HAVE ALWAYS HELD IN SUCH HIGH
ESTEEM THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT IN TERMS OF UNDERSTANDING
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF WHAT IT DOES TO REAL PEOPLE.
WHEN THIS DOBBS DECISION CAME DOWN, IT WAS -- IT COMPLETELY IN
MY WHEEL HOUSE IN TERMS OF ALL THOSE FUNDAMENTAL EXPERIENCES
AND THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING IS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT EQUITY IS
A GUIDING PRINCIPLE IN EVERYTHING THAT WE DO.
>> WHEN I WAS A MAYOR, I WAS KIND OF KNOWN AS MODERATE PAT.
THEN WHEN I BECAME GOVERNOR, BECAUSE OF THE GENDER IDENTITY
ISSUE, I WAS KNOWN AS THE RADICAL RIGHT-WINGER.
>> YEAH.
>> AND THEN WHEN I RAN FOR SENATE, ALL OF THE SUDDEN MY
BRAND WENT TO RINO, A LEFT-WING RINO.
>> WHOA!
>> HEY WE GOT TO GET THIS.
>> GOOD JOB.
>> GOOD JOB, GOVERNOR. YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I OWE YOU
FOR THAT.
>> THAT WILL BE GOOD ON CAMERA.
>> IT WILL.
>> LET ME TALK ABOUT ABORTION. SO THAT'S AN EQUATION THAT'S
CHANGED OVER THE SUMMER, BUT IT'S TAKEN A PRETTY EXTREME
POSITION ON THIS AS I UNDERSTAND IT.
FIRST OF ALL, HE IS FOR THE LINDSEY GRAHAM FEDERAL VERSION.
>> ACTUALLY, BEFORE THAT HE WAS AGAINST ALL ABORTIONS, INCLUDING
RAPE AND INCEST.
>> RIGHT.
>> IN THE PRIMARY.
>> HAS HE MADE HIMSELF VULNERABLE?
>> YES.
>> BUDD HAS MADE HIMSELF VULNERABLE AND BEASLEY IS TRYING
TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT. HER OWN ADS ARE ATTACKING BUDD
ON BEING EXTREME ON ABORTION.
>> BUDD WANTS ABORTION OUTLAWED WITH NO EXCEPTIONS FOR RAPE OR
INCEST.
>> THAT COULD TIP THE BALANCE IN THIS RACE.
>> I THINK THE ISSUE IS THE TURNOUT.
WILL ABORTION BRING MORE DEMOCRATS OR INDEPENDENTS OUT TO
VOTE? NORTH CAROLINA NOW, THE
INDEPENDENT PARTY IS 35% OF THE REGISTERED VOTERS.
>> SURE.
>> WHICH IS GREATER THAN BOTH THE DEMOCRATS AND THE
REPUBLICANS INDIVIDUALLY. IF THE DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO
WIN THIS STATE, THEY'RE GOING HAVE TO JENNY UP THE TURNOUT.
>> AND THEY BELIEVE PROBABLY DO IT ON THAT ISSUE, DON'T YOU
THINK?
>> I WOULD THINK THAT WILL BE ONE OF THE ISSUES THEY WILL TRY
DO IT ON.
>> ON THIS ISSUE, YOU'RE A STATES RIGHTS GUY, RIGHT?
>> YEAH.
I THINK WE AS REPUBLICANS HAVE
BEEN RATHER HYPOCRITICAL.
>> RIGHT. WHAT STRUCK ME ABOUT THE LINDSEY
GRAHAM DECISION, IT'S SO CONTRARY TO REPUBLICAN IDEOLOGY.
>> YOU'VE CAUGHT US.
>> RIGHT?
>> FOR 40 YEARS, WE'VE BEEN SAYING THIS IS NOT A FEDERAL
ISSUE, THIS ISSUE BELONGS TO THE STATE.
THE DAY AFTER ROE, EVEN McCONNELL SAID WE MAY CONSIDER
IT FOR LEGISLATION.
>> GIVEN WHAT'S GOING ON HERE, GOVERNOR, IN YOUR BACKYARD, WE
MAY BE BACK HERE ELECTION NIGHT TO SEE IF THIS TIPS THE BALANCE
IN THE SENATE.
>> I THINK NORTH CAROLINA WILL BE THE BELLWETHER STATE.
>> THE NATIONAL DEBATE OVER ABORTION IS AT THE HEART OF THE
MIDTERMS IN MICHIGAN.
>> NEW POLLING SHOWS A GROWING LEAP FOR GOVERNOR GRETCHEN
WHITMER AHEAD OF NOVEMBER'S ELECTION.
>> IT TERRIFIES ME TO THINK THAT RIGHTS THAT I'VE HAD MY WHOLE
LIFE ARE NOW VERY MUCH IN JEOPARDY FOR ALL WOMEN AND
FAMILIES IN THIS COUNTRY.
>> I'LL SHARE WITH YOU A PERSONAL STORY THAT I SHARED ON
THE SENATE FLOOR. I WAS RAPED WHEN I WAS IN
COLLEGE, AND IN THE AFTERMATH, IT DAWNED ON ME I COULD HAVE
BEEN IMPREGNATED BY THE PERSON THAT ATTACKED ME.
IT WAS IN THAT MOMENT THAT I THOUGHT IF THAT'S THE CASE, I'M
GOING TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS WHAT I NEED TO ACCESS TO TAKE CARE OF
MYSELF AND TO DO WHAT I NEED TO DO.
>> IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR US TO REALIZE WHAT WOMEN HAVE BEEN
SUFFERING THROUGH WHEN ABORTION WAS NOT LEGAL.
>> AGREED.
>> I MEAN, IT'S SCARY. IT IS VERY, VERY SCARY.
HOW CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT TO DO WITH MY BODY?
IT'S THAT BASIC.
>> GOVERNOR GRETCHEN WHITMER WAS IN A PRETTY PRECARIOUS POSITION
IN THE SPRING. VERY CLOSE RACE FOR REELECTION.
SINCE THEN, SHE HAS FOUGHT TO GET AN INITIATIVE ON THE STATE
BALLOT FOR THE FALL ELECTIONS THAT WOULD ENSHRINE WOMEN'S
RIGHT TO AN ABORTION IN THE STATE CONSTITUTION.
SINCE TAKING ON THIS ABORTION FIGHT, SOME POLLS NOW HAVE HER
WITH AS MUCH AS A 10-POINT LEAD. AND THE QUESTION IS ABORTION
GOING TO DELIVER THIS MARGIN OF VICTORY FOR GRETCHEN WHITMER?
>> HI.
>> HOW YOU?
>> I'M GREAT.
>> I'M GLAD WE WRAPPED UP THE PRESS CONFERENCE WHEN WE DID.
IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE ABOUT TO GET SOME WEATHER.
>> I KNOW.
>> YOU ARE A WOMAN, A MOM, GOVERNOR CANDIDATE.
IS THERE ONE OF THESE ROLES THAT JUST COMES TO THE FORE WHEN
YOU'RE THINKING AND TALKING ABOUT ABORTION?
>> WELL, LIKE EVERY AMERICAN WOMAN, I WEAR A LOT OF HATS.
BUT I TELL YOU, I'M IN THIS FIGHT FOR MY DAUGHTER, FOR ALL
THE WOMEN AND GIRLS AND FAMILIES IN MICHIGAN.
I'M IN THIS FIGHT AS THE LEADER OF THE MICHIGAN ECONOMY, KNOWING
WHAT THIS WILL MEAN FOR OUR ABILITY TO DRAW TALENT.
SO I WEAR ALL THOSE HATS. BUT WHEN I SAY I'M FIGHTING LIKE
HELL, I'M THINKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT THEY COULD LIVE IN A
MICHIGAN WHERE THEY'VE GOT FEWER RIGHTS THAN I'VE HAD MY WHOLE
LIFE. IT'S UNACCEPTABLE, AND WE'VE GOT
WIN THIS FIGHT.
>> LAST SPRING IN APRIL, YOU FILED THIS LAWSUIT CHALLENGING
THIS ZOMBIE LAW YOU HAVE FROM MICHIGAN FROM 1931 THAT OUTLAWS
ABORTION. THE CONCERN WAS THAT MIGHT TAKE
EFFECT IF ROE WAS OVERTURNED. SO EVEN BEFORE THE DOBBS LEAK,
YOU FILED THAT LAWSUIT. AND SOME PEOPLE THOUGHT IT WAS
RISKY. SOME PEOPLE THOUGHT IT WAS
ALARMIST. MAYBE YOU MIGHT EVEN TRIGGER THE
LAW. WHAT WAS YOUR THOUGHT PROCESS
LEADING UP TO THAT DECISION?
>> WHEN RUTH BADER GINSBURG PASSED AND WE SAW WHO THE FORMER
PRESIDENT WAS GOING TO BE NOMINATING, IT SET OFF ALL THE
ALARM BELLS. THAT'S WHEN WE STARTED
RESEARCHING WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IN MICHIGAN IF ROE WERE TO FALL,
THE 1931 LAW AND WHAT CAN WE DO. IT WAS AN EARNEST ATTEMPT TO
ENSURE THAT WE WERE USING EVERY TOOL AT OUR DISPOSAL TO PROTECT
REPRODUCTIVE RIGHT HERE IS IN MICHIGAN.
>> IN THE SPRING, POLLING SHOWED THAT YOU WERE IN A REAL
DOGFIGHT. IT IS A TOUGH ENVIRONMENT FOR
DEMOCRATS. IT'S TOUGH EVERYWHERE.
AND NOW YOU'RE IN A MUCH BETTER POSITION.
DO YOU FEEL LIKE IT'S THAT FIGHT, ABORTION, THAT PICKING
THAT FIGHT MADE THE DIFFERENCE?
>> WITHOUT QUESTION. WE'RE SEEING NOT JUST WOMEN
MOBILIZING, BUT DADS OF DAUGHTERS, RIGHT.
WE'RE SEEING ALLIES OF WOMEN MOBILIZING.
AND SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CROSSES THE TRADITIONAL PARTISAN
LINES. ONE PERSON'S BELIEFS SHOULDN'T
RIPAWAY EVERYONE ELSE'S RIGHTS, AND THAT'S WHAT'S ON THE LINE
HERE.
>> TUDOR DIXON, YOUR OPPONENT HAS SAID YOU CAN VOTE FOR THIS
BALLOT INITIATIVE THAT WILL ENSHRINE THE RIGHT TO ABORTION
AND VOTE FOR ME FOR GOVERNOR.
>> YOU CAN VOTE FOR GRETCHEN WHITMER'S POSITION WITHOUT
HAVING TO VOTE FOR GRETCHEN WHITMER AGAIN.
>> EVEN THOUGH SHE'S STAUNCHLY PRO-LIFE AND THINKS THAT HOME
WITH ARE RAPED IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF A PREGNANCY THAT
SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO TERM. THERE ANY CHANCE HERE THAT BY
ARGUING FOR THIS BALLOT, FOR THIS INITIATIVE BEYOND THE
BALLOT, YOU'VE CREATED A DYNAMIC WHERE THIS FALLS AWAY FROM A
RACE WHERE ABORTION IS REALLY THE CENTER TO BEING A REFERENDUM
ON LIKE THE STATE OF THE WORLD, JUST LESS FAVORABLE TERRAIN FOR
DEMOCRATS?
>> WHOMEVER IS GOVERNOR IS ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT
ON WHETHER OR NOT WOMEN CAN ACCESS THE HEALTH CARE THAT THEY
NEED. BALLOT INITIATIVE PASSES OR
FAILS. AND IF SHE IS IN OFFICE, SHE
WILL DO EVERYTHING TO CIRCUMVENT THE BALLOT INITIATIVE IF IT'S
PASSED, TO UNDERMINE IT. THAT WILL ALWAYS BE TRUE.
AND WHEN SOMEONE TELLS YOU WHO THEY ARE, YOU BETTER BELIEVE
THEM.
>> DON'T LET GRETCHEN WHITMER USE YOU AS A STEPPING STONE
AGAIN FOR HER AMBITIONS. YOU DESERVE A GOVERNOR WHO IS
GOING TO WORK IN AND FOR MICHIGAN.
TUDOR DIXON IS A BONA FIDE BAD ASS.
SHE IS A BAD ASS. AND YOUR CURRENT GOVERNOR IS
JUST BAD.
>> WE ARE AT A RALLY FOR TUDOR DIXON WHO WON HER RALLY BECAUSE
DONALD TRUMP ENDORSED HER, AND THAT'S WHY KELLYANNE CONWAY AND
DONALD TRUMP JR. ARE GOING TO BE HERE TO SUPPORT HER.
>> YOUR GOVERNOR IS ON THE LEADING EDGE OF THE LUNATIC
FRINGE OF THE RADICAL LEFT. ELECT TUDOR DIXON AND A GREAT
LINE OF CONSERVATIVE PEOPLE WHO CAN BRING COMMON SENSE BACK TO
MICHIGAN.
>> READY TO SAY GOODBYE TO GRETCHEN WHITMER?
SHE'S BAD FOR BUSINESS. SHE'S BAD FOR STUDENTS.
SHE'S BAD FOR OUR SENIORS. NEVER FORGET WHAT SHE ROBBED
FROM YOU IN THIS STATE. AND MAKE SURE SHE NEVER HAS THE
CHANCE TO DO IT AGAIN.
>> SHE IS GOING TO TAKE QUESTIONS.
>> YOU HAVE MORE COURAGE TO SAY WHAT'S ON YOUR CARD THE SPEAK
THE TRUTH.
>> THANK YOU, GUYS. IF I COULD HAVE YOU FOR A COUPLE
OF QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME.
CLOSING IN THE RACE NOW. SIX, SEVEN WEEKS LEFT, HOW DO
YOU FEEL?
>> WE FEEL GOOD. WE FEEL STRONG.
YOU SEE CROWDS LIKE THIS THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE STEPPING OUT
AND SAYING WE WANT TO BE LOUD. WE WANT TO COME OUT AND NOT HIDE
ANYMORE.
>> YOU WOULD LIKE THIS TO BE A REFERENDUM ON JOE BIDEN AND
GRETCHEN WHITMER'S STANCE ON THE ECONOMY.
A POLL CAME OUT THAT SAID PEOPLE IN MICHIGAN CARE AS MUCH ABOUT
THE ABORTION ISSUE AS THEY DO THE ECONOMY.
SO HOW DO YOU SQUARE THAT?
>> PEOPLE CAN CHOOSE TO VOTE ON THE ABORTION ISSUE SIMPLY.
THIS GOVERNOR'S RACE IS ABOUT MAKING SURE OUR KIDS GET GREAT
EDUCATION, MAKING SURE OUR CITIES ARE SAFE, AND MAKING SURE
OUR BUSINESSES HAVE A PARTNER IN GOVERNMENT INSTEAD OF AN ENEMY.
>> SO YOU HAVE SAID IF PEOPLE CARE STRONGLY ABOUT THE
PRO-CHOICE POSITION, THEY CAN SUPPORT THE SAFE BALLOT
INITIATIVE AND VOTE FOR YOU. BUT GRETCHEN WHITMER SAYS IF
YOU'RE GOVERNOR, YOU WILL WORK VERY HARD, DESPITE THE BALLOT --
>> A CHANGE IN THE CONSTITUTION. I WOULD HOPE THAT PEOPLE
WOULDN'T VOTE FOR THAT, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, BECAUSE THE
ONLY OTHER PEOPLE THAT CARRY THE POSITION OF THAT CONSTITUTIONAL
AMENDMENT THAT SHE WANTS ON THE BALLOT ARE CHINA AND NORTH
KOREA. THAT'S HOW RADICAL THIS IS.
>> I MEAN, YOU OPPOSE ABORTION, EVEN IN CASES OF RAPE OR INCEST.
THAT'S NOT A POSITION SUPPORTED BY EVEN --
>> THIS IS SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE SHOULD GO TO THE LEGISLATORS.
THE GOVERNOR DOESN'T MAKE LAW IN THE STATE OF MICHIGAN.
THIS GOVERNOR IS PUSHING A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT IS
THE MOST RADICAL CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT IN THE WORLD.
>> CLEARLY, IT'S AN ISSUE THAT HAS POPPED UP SINCE THE DOBBS --
>> ONLY BECAUSE SHE CONTINUES TO PUSH IT.
I NEVER HEAR IT, AND I'VE TRAVELED ALL AROUND THE STATE.
GRETCHEN WHITMER HASN'T. SHE IS HAVING EVENTS THAT ARE
INVITE ONLY. SHE HASN'T TALKED TO THE PEOPLE
ON THE GROUND. THIS IS ALL BECAUSE SHE IS NOT
RUNNING ON ANYTHING. WHAT IS SHE RUNNING ON?
WHAT ARE HER ADS THAT SAY WHAT SHE IS GOING TO DO FOR THE
STATE? NOTHING.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. APPRECIATE IT.
>> GOD BLESS.
>> WE'RE PRAYING FOR YOU EVERY DAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AFTER THE DOBBS RULING AND THE SUPREME COURT THAT STRUCK
DOWN ROE V. WADE, THE EYES OF THE COUNTRY FOCUSED ON KANSAS.
THE STATE BECAME THE FIRST BIG TEST CASE.
AND I WILL SAY THAT PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY ASSUMED THAT KANSAS
WAS GOING TO PASS THIS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND
THEN BAN ABORTION. KANSAS IS VERY REPUBLICAN, AND
YET IT'S HAD DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS.
AND ONE OF THEM, MAYBE THE BEST KNOWN, KATHLEEN SEBELIUS BEFORE
BARACK OBAMA MADE HER HEAD OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.
>> THERE IS NO DOUBT AT ALL THE DOBBS DECISION ABSOLUTELY LIT A
FIRE. WE HAD THE FIRST UP OR DOWN VOTE
ON THIS ISSUE IN THE COUNTRY.
>> RIGHT.
>> IF WE LOSE IN KANSAS, IT WILL BE DISAPPOINTING, BUT NOT HUGE
BECAUSE PEOPLE EXPECT. IF WE CAN WIN THIS IN KANSAS,
THIS WILL CHANGE THE POLITICAL CONVERSATION.
>> THE NO VOTE WON, ACCORDING TO OUR NBC PROJECTION, WHICH MEANS
KANSAS VOTERS DECIDED TO PROTECT THE RIGHT TO AN ABORTION.
>> WHAT WE SAW EARLY ON WAS THIS MASSIVE TURNOUT.
THE BIG WIN IN KANSAS FOR A DEMOCRATIC CAUSE.
>> HUGE.
>> IS FOUR OR FIVE POINTS. THAT'S LIKE A LANDSLIDE.
ROUGHLY 60-40 VICTORY WAS SHOCKING, BUT ALSO REAFFIRMING.
>> DEMOCRATS ARE VERY NOW SUDDENLY VERY OPTIMISTIC.
I WOULD SAY THE CONSENSUS VIEW IS THEY THINK THEY'RE GOING TO
HOLD THE SENATE, AND SOME THINK THERE IS A CHANCE THEY COULD
HOLD THE HOUSE. DO YOU THINK THAT'S OVERLY
OPTIMISTIC, OR DO YOU THINK THAT'S REASONABLE?
>> EVERY STATE IS DIFFERENT. EVERY RACE IS DIFFERENT.
THERE IS NO ONE MAGIC BULLET. DEMOCRATS NEED TO EMBRACE THIS
ISSUE AND NOT RUNAWAY FROM IT. WHAT KANSAS SHOWS YOU IS YOU
DON'T KNOW WHAT CAN HAPPEN. IF PEOPLE PARTICIPATE AND HAVE
THEIR VOICES HEARD, EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE.
I
I AM
I AM HERE
I AM HERE TO
I AM HERE TO LIVE
I AM HERE TO LIVE IT
I AM HERE TO LIVE IT UP