1 00:00:06,256 --> 00:00:08,967 [light-hearted music plays] 2 00:00:16,391 --> 00:00:20,645 [phone ringing] 3 00:00:31,614 --> 00:00:32,824 I'm gonna be honest, 4 00:00:33,324 --> 00:00:35,035 you know as a TV host, 5 00:00:35,118 --> 00:00:38,955 there's this expectation that you're supposed to be authoritative. 6 00:00:39,039 --> 00:00:42,333 Ask a big weighty question then beam into your living room 7 00:00:42,417 --> 00:00:44,794 or your bathroom while you're on your phone 8 00:00:44,878 --> 00:00:48,965 and deliver a nice neat answer in 27 to 34 minutes. 9 00:00:49,048 --> 00:00:50,925 Whatever the algorithm prefers. 10 00:00:51,509 --> 00:00:53,219 With this topic though, 11 00:00:53,303 --> 00:00:57,265 the more I learn about the government the more questions I have. 12 00:00:57,348 --> 00:01:00,518 Like okay, the obvious message to end on would be... 13 00:01:00,602 --> 00:01:03,396 "We're all a part of the government. So, if it's not working, 14 00:01:03,480 --> 00:01:06,566 pitch in and raise your voice and help make it better!" 15 00:01:06,649 --> 00:01:07,859 And I believe that. 16 00:01:08,735 --> 00:01:09,903 Most of the time. 17 00:01:10,487 --> 00:01:14,074 But there's also times when I wonder if it's maybe 18 00:01:14,157 --> 00:01:15,825 kind of bullshit. 19 00:01:16,534 --> 00:01:19,245 Like, okay in our money episode, 20 00:01:19,329 --> 00:01:22,373 we talked about how the government needs to help average Americans 21 00:01:22,457 --> 00:01:25,251 instead of just bailing out big corporations. 22 00:01:25,335 --> 00:01:26,687 - But let's be real, - [man 1 rejoicing] 23 00:01:26,711 --> 00:01:31,966 the public has been raising our voices about that since at least 2008. 24 00:01:32,634 --> 00:01:34,260 And sure, in our weather episode, 25 00:01:34,344 --> 00:01:38,932 we tried to expose the deep structural issues that have made FEMA so ineffective, 26 00:01:39,015 --> 00:01:42,894 but, is exposing them really going to change anything? 27 00:01:42,977 --> 00:01:44,813 I mean hell, I've known FEMA was messed up 28 00:01:44,896 --> 00:01:47,607 ever since Hurricane Andrew hit Florida in '92 29 00:01:47,690 --> 00:01:49,901 and my grandmother went without clean water for a week. 30 00:01:49,984 --> 00:01:54,030 My grandma pooped in a bucket because of FEMA! A lot of grandmas did! 31 00:01:54,114 --> 00:01:56,866 We were pissed about it then, we're pissed about it now 32 00:01:56,950 --> 00:01:59,577 and yet FEMA is still out there FEMAing. 33 00:01:59,661 --> 00:02:00,912 [grunting] 34 00:02:00,995 --> 00:02:05,834 And what about the real concrete harm our government does? 35 00:02:05,917 --> 00:02:07,085 [scoffs] 36 00:02:07,168 --> 00:02:10,421 You know what we haven't even talked about on this show yet? 37 00:02:10,505 --> 00:02:13,800 The fact that every day, as we speak, 38 00:02:13,883 --> 00:02:17,178 Americans are being hurt or killed 39 00:02:17,262 --> 00:02:20,974 by the same Criminal Justice System that's supposed to be protecting us 40 00:02:21,057 --> 00:02:24,144 and yet after literal decades of protests... 41 00:02:24,227 --> 00:02:27,355 [prostesters] No peace! No justice! No peace! 42 00:02:27,438 --> 00:02:32,026 [prostesters] No justice! No peace! 43 00:02:33,027 --> 00:02:34,279 ...little has changed. 44 00:02:34,821 --> 00:02:38,658 So yeah, I know it's my government and I need to pitch in. 45 00:02:38,741 --> 00:02:40,952 That's why I voted, I've protested, 46 00:02:41,035 --> 00:02:44,789 I've tweeted and hashtagged and written so many emails to my Senator 47 00:02:44,873 --> 00:02:47,458 that last week they just replied unsubscribe. 48 00:02:48,751 --> 00:02:51,004 And it doesn't seem to be doing the trick. 49 00:02:51,087 --> 00:02:54,465 So what I want to know is this, 50 00:02:54,549 --> 00:02:59,178 how can we change our government when it is so big, 51 00:02:59,262 --> 00:03:02,056 [voice echoing] and we're so small? 52 00:03:02,140 --> 00:03:08,187 How are we supposed to have any hope that things can actually change? 53 00:03:09,272 --> 00:03:13,568 Wait a second. Hope, change, wasn't there somebody who... 54 00:03:13,651 --> 00:03:14,651 Of course! 55 00:03:15,278 --> 00:03:17,280 How do I get in touch with Gerald Ford? 56 00:03:18,698 --> 00:03:20,700 Adam what are you doing here? It's 1:00 a.m. 57 00:03:21,326 --> 00:03:23,870 Wow. Are you still working on your taxes? 58 00:03:23,953 --> 00:03:24,871 [Obama] Actually I'm almost done. 59 00:03:24,954 --> 00:03:29,125 I'm just missing uh... W-2's, some 10-99s. 60 00:03:29,208 --> 00:03:32,712 And I did this form in green ink, so I have to start over. 61 00:03:33,838 --> 00:03:37,342 Hate to tell you this, but if you don't earn money from paddle boarding, 62 00:03:37,425 --> 00:03:39,677 it's a hobby, not a small business. 63 00:03:41,054 --> 00:03:42,847 Secret Service! Intruder! 64 00:03:42,931 --> 00:03:44,807 Okay, get audited if you want. 65 00:03:45,391 --> 00:03:47,769 Hey, you know, something's been weighing on me. 66 00:03:47,852 --> 00:03:49,354 Maybe we talk about it. 67 00:03:50,188 --> 00:03:53,650 Fine. But I have to get a snack. Do you like peanut butter? 68 00:03:54,484 --> 00:03:55,610 Yeah. 69 00:03:56,694 --> 00:03:59,989 [Obama] I'm very particular about how you make a PB&J. 70 00:04:00,073 --> 00:04:02,617 Oh yeah, do you still make your own sandwiches a lot? 71 00:04:02,700 --> 00:04:03,743 No. 72 00:04:03,826 --> 00:04:05,954 [Adam] That's an extremely precise spread. 73 00:04:06,037 --> 00:04:07,789 You have to get every corner. 74 00:04:07,872 --> 00:04:11,709 When you do slice, horizontal or diagonal, or... 75 00:04:11,793 --> 00:04:15,171 You gotta maximize surface area, so diagonal is best. 76 00:04:15,255 --> 00:04:17,048 Okay. You don't cut the crust away, do you? 77 00:04:17,131 --> 00:04:19,676 - No! God no! What are you talking about? - I'm just saying. 78 00:04:19,759 --> 00:04:21,261 - Are you kidding? - Look at that. 79 00:04:21,344 --> 00:04:23,221 I... I mean, that's a pretty... 80 00:04:23,304 --> 00:04:25,682 - well-constructed sandwich. - [Adam] Okay, now why am I... 81 00:04:25,765 --> 00:04:27,743 [Adam laughs] Yeah, I'm a mess, you're doing great. 82 00:04:27,767 --> 00:04:29,727 - [Obama] Yeah. - Do you have a napkin? I'm sorry. 83 00:04:29,769 --> 00:04:30,770 Dude, look at you, man. 84 00:04:30,853 --> 00:04:33,022 That's cause you put too much jelly on it. 85 00:04:34,232 --> 00:04:35,751 - There you go. - This is what... Thank you. 86 00:04:35,775 --> 00:04:37,777 - Grab a seat man. Hold on a second. - Great. 87 00:04:39,612 --> 00:04:42,031 Michelle gets really mad when I leave the... 88 00:04:42,115 --> 00:04:43,217 You gotta put the little twist tie back on. 89 00:04:43,241 --> 00:04:44,075 ...little twist thing. 90 00:04:44,158 --> 00:04:47,036 Alright, so how did everything go? 91 00:04:47,120 --> 00:04:49,497 - [chuckles] With the show? - With the show! 92 00:04:49,580 --> 00:04:52,375 I'll be honest with you, we have found all of these ways 93 00:04:52,458 --> 00:04:56,713 in which the government improves our lives, saves our lives. 94 00:04:56,796 --> 00:04:59,132 - Right. - We've also seen a lot of ways in which 95 00:04:59,215 --> 00:05:01,301 it is working on behalf of other interests 96 00:05:01,384 --> 00:05:04,554 other than the American people, or even that it's hurting people. 97 00:05:04,637 --> 00:05:05,471 Right. 98 00:05:05,555 --> 00:05:09,100 How are we supposed to feel like the government represents us in that case? 99 00:05:09,183 --> 00:05:10,601 [Obama] Well look, first of all, 100 00:05:10,685 --> 00:05:14,772 we have to remind ourselves that it's a human institution, 101 00:05:14,856 --> 00:05:18,568 like every other one, which means there are going to be screw-ups, 102 00:05:18,651 --> 00:05:23,114 there are going to be people who are doing things for the wrong reasons. 103 00:05:23,197 --> 00:05:25,575 The second thing about government is, 104 00:05:26,117 --> 00:05:27,869 it's an ocean liner and not a speedboat. 105 00:05:28,619 --> 00:05:32,957 So for you to change direction on anything 106 00:05:33,583 --> 00:05:35,418 means it's going to take some time. 107 00:05:35,501 --> 00:05:39,422 But there's also issues that you know, we're talking about on the show that we... 108 00:05:39,964 --> 00:05:42,884 uh... people have been demanding change on for a really long time. 109 00:05:42,967 --> 00:05:46,429 Criminal justice, police violence. It's hard to take, 110 00:05:46,512 --> 00:05:48,765 "Hey change... Hey change is sl... Long arc of history." 111 00:05:48,848 --> 00:05:49,867 - I've heard it, you know. - I know. 112 00:05:49,891 --> 00:05:52,852 I have heard it and I believe it. But then sometimes, 113 00:05:52,935 --> 00:05:54,496 - I'm still frustrated by it. - Yeah. Well but... 114 00:05:54,520 --> 00:05:56,022 Are you... Do you ever feel that way? 115 00:05:56,105 --> 00:05:58,125 Of course you're frustrated by it and you should be. 116 00:05:58,149 --> 00:06:02,320 And the reason it gets better is because people are impatient. 117 00:06:02,403 --> 00:06:05,948 The only thing we can't do is lapse into cynicism, 118 00:06:06,032 --> 00:06:11,454 and say, "Well, because this hasn't changed at the pace that it should, 119 00:06:11,537 --> 00:06:12,413 there's nothing we can do about it." 120 00:06:12,497 --> 00:06:16,000 Because each time we vote 121 00:06:16,084 --> 00:06:19,045 and elect people who are more responsive, 122 00:06:19,128 --> 00:06:22,131 there's a window of opportunity for us to make some changes 123 00:06:22,215 --> 00:06:26,594 and typically it's not gonna be a 100% of what we want. 124 00:06:26,677 --> 00:06:30,098 But you know what? If we make things 10% better... 125 00:06:30,181 --> 00:06:33,434 Yeah, but 10% for climate change isn't enough. 126 00:06:33,518 --> 00:06:36,270 When you ran in '08, you were the change guy. 127 00:06:36,354 --> 00:06:38,373 - I, you know I was... - I'm the hopeful change guy. 128 00:06:38,397 --> 00:06:39,899 And you didn't run on, 129 00:06:39,982 --> 00:06:43,528 "Hey if we make things 10% better", you know? You ran on and I'm not... 130 00:06:43,611 --> 00:06:45,331 - [Obama] No, - I get it. Once you're there... 131 00:06:45,363 --> 00:06:46,614 that's completely fair. 132 00:06:46,697 --> 00:06:48,825 I picture you there in the White House going, 133 00:06:48,908 --> 00:06:50,094 "Yeah, this is pretty fucked up, right? 134 00:06:50,118 --> 00:06:52,846 Like this is fucked up. It's fucked up what that department is doing." 135 00:06:52,870 --> 00:06:56,749 And yet we didn't see change despite that being in my lifetime, 136 00:06:56,833 --> 00:06:59,836 the biggest mass movement for change that we've seen in the country. 137 00:06:59,919 --> 00:07:02,046 Except it turns out Mitch McConnell was elected too. 138 00:07:03,089 --> 00:07:04,090 Right? 139 00:07:04,173 --> 00:07:09,220 Precisely because the country is a big diverse complicated place. 140 00:07:09,303 --> 00:07:12,473 Look, here's the thing that we have to remind ourselves. 141 00:07:12,557 --> 00:07:14,142 By design... 142 00:07:15,726 --> 00:07:17,353 - change is hard in this country. - Yeah. 143 00:07:17,437 --> 00:07:20,273 [Obama] I guarantee you that there's no president 144 00:07:21,482 --> 00:07:24,610 who was ever elected, who doesn't at some point think, 145 00:07:24,694 --> 00:07:28,156 "Ah, you... make me, you know, king for a day 146 00:07:28,239 --> 00:07:32,368 "and I can just... you know, issue my edicts." 147 00:07:33,035 --> 00:07:38,124 We don't want a situation where an all-powerful, all-knowing 148 00:07:38,916 --> 00:07:41,752 individual or small set of individuals 149 00:07:41,836 --> 00:07:43,588 are able to make decisions for everybody. 150 00:07:43,671 --> 00:07:45,673 - Yeah. - So we're going to disperse power. 151 00:07:45,756 --> 00:07:47,550 Which means things happen slower, 152 00:07:47,633 --> 00:07:49,760 which means that people have to compromise. 153 00:07:49,844 --> 00:07:52,346 The alternative is, we opt-out. 154 00:07:52,930 --> 00:07:56,434 That's when the selfish, the greedy, the mean, 155 00:07:57,101 --> 00:07:58,478 that's when they fill the void. 156 00:07:58,561 --> 00:08:00,354 And I tell you, 157 00:08:01,063 --> 00:08:04,484 they thrive in that kind of environment. 158 00:08:04,567 --> 00:08:07,612 I read your book uh, and non-fiction, right? 159 00:08:08,905 --> 00:08:11,574 You say, uh... You know, activists 160 00:08:11,657 --> 00:08:14,577 might have wanted me to say push for a public option or 161 00:08:14,660 --> 00:08:16,260 - push for single-payer. - [Obama] Right. 162 00:08:16,329 --> 00:08:18,807 But you know, when you're sitting in the chair there are constraints. 163 00:08:18,831 --> 00:08:20,333 - Right. - And I get that. 164 00:08:20,416 --> 00:08:22,877 But, then part of me always asks, 165 00:08:23,377 --> 00:08:25,546 "Well, why should we accept those constraints?" 166 00:08:25,630 --> 00:08:29,300 Like you started your career as an activist. 167 00:08:29,383 --> 00:08:30,384 Yes. 168 00:08:30,468 --> 00:08:32,929 Activists get to be uncompromising. 169 00:08:33,012 --> 00:08:35,598 Is there a part of you ever that regrets 170 00:08:35,681 --> 00:08:39,227 going into politics as opposed to activism 171 00:08:39,310 --> 00:08:42,021 because of that lack of freedom that politicians have? 172 00:08:42,104 --> 00:08:45,858 Absolutely. Look there... there's... 173 00:08:48,819 --> 00:08:52,615 There's a prophetic voice in each of us 174 00:08:53,115 --> 00:08:57,537 that just wants to speak the truth as we know it. 175 00:08:58,329 --> 00:09:03,459 And so every movement involves at some point 176 00:09:03,543 --> 00:09:06,754 confronting the fact that not everybody agrees with you, 177 00:09:06,837 --> 00:09:10,758 and it's navigating that space between the world as it is 178 00:09:10,841 --> 00:09:13,135 and the world as it should be. 179 00:09:13,636 --> 00:09:17,223 That's the province of all of us who want to get something done, 180 00:09:17,306 --> 00:09:19,183 whether we're activists or politicians. 181 00:09:19,267 --> 00:09:21,811 Now what is true is you have different roles. 182 00:09:21,894 --> 00:09:24,021 And so I'm sitting here as a comic, 183 00:09:24,105 --> 00:09:25,905 - Alright. Right. - I've identified a problem. 184 00:09:25,982 --> 00:09:29,735 I'm yelling about it on national television for everybody to hear. 185 00:09:29,819 --> 00:09:32,029 How the hell do we start fixing? 186 00:09:32,530 --> 00:09:34,508 - When it's that big? - [Obama] Well then, look I mean you... 187 00:09:34,532 --> 00:09:38,077 find the thing that you're passionate about, that angers you, that... 188 00:09:39,161 --> 00:09:42,582 frustrates you and then you try to get some like-minded citizens 189 00:09:42,665 --> 00:09:43,791 to start changing it. 190 00:09:43,874 --> 00:09:47,086 And you also have to remind yourself that 191 00:09:47,753 --> 00:09:50,089 government isn't just the federal government. 192 00:09:50,172 --> 00:09:53,259 Government is State government, government is City government, 193 00:09:53,342 --> 00:09:54,570 government is County government. 194 00:09:54,594 --> 00:09:58,639 So, a whole bunch of decisions that are being made 195 00:09:59,140 --> 00:10:00,891 aren't being made by the president. 196 00:10:00,975 --> 00:10:06,147 They're being made by somebody who's probably elected by... 197 00:10:06,897 --> 00:10:08,774 a thousand, ten thousand voters. 198 00:10:08,858 --> 00:10:11,861 This is a very obvious thought now that you're saying it. 199 00:10:11,944 --> 00:10:14,071 Thank you very much. 200 00:10:14,614 --> 00:10:16,407 - Can we eat our sandwiches now? - Come on. 201 00:10:16,490 --> 00:10:20,703 [pensive music plays] 202 00:10:20,786 --> 00:10:23,039 - That's delicious. - Mine is terrible. 203 00:10:23,122 --> 00:10:25,225 - Thank you for the sandwich. - What's wrong with the peanut butter? 204 00:10:25,249 --> 00:10:26,852 Have a great day. Thank you so much for your time. 205 00:10:26,876 --> 00:10:28,210 Good luck with the taxes man. 206 00:10:28,294 --> 00:10:29,503 I'll see you later. 207 00:10:32,923 --> 00:10:33,966 [Adam] Hmm. 208 00:10:34,050 --> 00:10:37,386 Can peanut butter like spoil? I don't get it. 209 00:10:37,470 --> 00:10:40,973 Look, I've spent this entire series hammering home 210 00:10:41,057 --> 00:10:43,517 how important the federal government is. 211 00:10:43,601 --> 00:10:48,230 And it is, but it's also so big and so resistant to change. 212 00:10:48,731 --> 00:10:50,775 But, there's another form of government 213 00:10:50,858 --> 00:10:53,653 that you and I can have a much greater impact on. 214 00:10:53,736 --> 00:10:56,614 And that has immense power over every waking moment 215 00:10:56,697 --> 00:10:58,949 of our daily lives. 216 00:11:01,661 --> 00:11:04,705 This meeting of the Ci... uh, City Council will be called to order. 217 00:11:04,789 --> 00:11:06,082 [gavel thuds] 218 00:11:07,249 --> 00:11:08,584 I'd like to have the clerk note 219 00:11:08,668 --> 00:11:11,545 that we have broken our attendance record of two. 220 00:11:12,129 --> 00:11:15,007 Okay, I know it doesn't seem that impressive. 221 00:11:15,091 --> 00:11:19,303 But in reality, local politicians wield some serious power. 222 00:11:19,387 --> 00:11:21,347 [Council President] Item one: The water you drink. 223 00:11:21,430 --> 00:11:24,850 All in favor of switching from city water to river water to save money. 224 00:11:26,811 --> 00:11:29,313 [comical music plays] 225 00:11:31,232 --> 00:11:32,232 What the... 226 00:11:33,859 --> 00:11:36,779 Item two: The roads you drive on. 227 00:11:36,862 --> 00:11:39,073 All in favor of lowering the infrastructure budget. 228 00:11:40,157 --> 00:11:41,700 [woman 1 coughs] 229 00:11:45,704 --> 00:11:47,623 [car crashes] 230 00:11:47,706 --> 00:11:50,668 Come on, who's in charge of this? 231 00:11:50,751 --> 00:11:52,878 Item three: What buildings get built. 232 00:11:53,629 --> 00:11:56,109 All in favor of replacing affordable housing with a strip mall. 233 00:12:00,344 --> 00:12:01,470 The yawns have it. 234 00:12:02,471 --> 00:12:03,305 Re-zoned. 235 00:12:03,389 --> 00:12:04,640 [comical music plays] 236 00:12:06,475 --> 00:12:09,478 Okay! I gotta start going to these meetings! 237 00:12:10,062 --> 00:12:12,773 In a second, I am kinda hungry. 238 00:12:12,857 --> 00:12:14,650 [fanfare music plays] 239 00:12:16,694 --> 00:12:17,820 But it doesn't end there. 240 00:12:17,903 --> 00:12:20,906 Some local politicians wield an enormous amount of power. 241 00:12:20,990 --> 00:12:23,200 Take the Clark County Commission in Nevada. 242 00:12:23,284 --> 00:12:27,788 Myself and my six little-known associates oversee the entire Las Vegas strip. 243 00:12:28,372 --> 00:12:33,419 In 2019, our County's casinos generated 22 billion dollars in revenue. 244 00:12:33,502 --> 00:12:36,922 That makes us little nobodies arguably the most powerful politicians 245 00:12:37,006 --> 00:12:38,006 in the state of Nevada. 246 00:12:38,048 --> 00:12:42,386 It's my pleasure to inform you that your new casino permit is... 247 00:12:42,470 --> 00:12:43,846 approved! 248 00:12:43,929 --> 00:12:45,764 [cheering] 249 00:12:46,432 --> 00:12:49,643 That just happened. The system works people. 250 00:12:51,103 --> 00:12:54,565 Some local officials have so much power, 251 00:12:54,648 --> 00:12:56,609 it affects the entire world. 252 00:12:57,109 --> 00:13:00,279 Like us, the Texas Railroad Commission. 253 00:13:00,362 --> 00:13:01,864 [suspenseful music plays] 254 00:13:01,947 --> 00:13:05,034 Except I'm not a railroad man, I'm an oilman! 255 00:13:05,826 --> 00:13:06,906 That's why despite our name 256 00:13:06,952 --> 00:13:10,080 we three Commissioners actually oversee Texas' enormous oil 257 00:13:10,164 --> 00:13:12,208 and natural gas industry. 258 00:13:12,291 --> 00:13:18,172 Which accounts for about 5% of the entire world's crude oil production. 259 00:13:19,173 --> 00:13:20,299 Now let's see, 260 00:13:20,799 --> 00:13:25,221 should we cut back on drilling, and fight climate change? 261 00:13:27,223 --> 00:13:28,474 Nay. 262 00:13:28,557 --> 00:13:31,143 [slurping] 263 00:13:32,228 --> 00:13:34,396 [tense music plays] 264 00:13:34,480 --> 00:13:36,148 How wild is that? 265 00:13:36,232 --> 00:13:40,569 I mean, these are elected politicians who have massive power. 266 00:13:40,653 --> 00:13:43,489 Yet most of us have no idea they even exist. 267 00:13:43,989 --> 00:13:47,785 I can literally name more members of the 2004 Red Sox 268 00:13:47,868 --> 00:13:50,704 than I can council members of the city I live in. 269 00:13:50,788 --> 00:13:54,625 I mean, Jason Varitek, great catcher but the dude does not affect my life. 270 00:13:54,708 --> 00:13:56,460 These officials though, ugh, 271 00:13:56,961 --> 00:14:01,674 they're the cause of and possible solution to some of our biggest problems. 272 00:14:01,757 --> 00:14:06,136 Especially our broken and discriminatory Criminal Justice System. 273 00:14:06,220 --> 00:14:08,681 Hey. What do you got in the bag? 274 00:14:10,099 --> 00:14:12,268 - Wings. - Did you say weapons? 275 00:14:12,351 --> 00:14:15,479 What, no. How did you even get that from what I just said? 276 00:14:16,438 --> 00:14:21,026 America imprisons more people than any other nation on Earth. 277 00:14:21,110 --> 00:14:23,904 We have just 4% of the world's population, 278 00:14:23,988 --> 00:14:27,533 but close to 20% of its prison population. 279 00:14:27,616 --> 00:14:32,204 Mass incarceration on that scale just makes no sense. 280 00:14:32,288 --> 00:14:34,081 So who's responsible for it? 281 00:14:35,416 --> 00:14:39,295 Well, it turns out that almost 90% of incarcerated people 282 00:14:39,378 --> 00:14:42,798 are held in state and local jails and prisons. 283 00:14:42,882 --> 00:14:46,176 That means that the politician most responsible for mass incarceration 284 00:14:46,260 --> 00:14:49,889 isn't the president, or your Senator, or your congress person. 285 00:14:50,973 --> 00:14:54,101 It's me, your local district attorney. 286 00:14:54,602 --> 00:14:56,520 [male voice 1] In the criminal justice system, 287 00:14:56,604 --> 00:15:00,524 District Attorneys have incredible power to decide who gets charged 288 00:15:00,608 --> 00:15:02,484 and what they get charged with. 289 00:15:02,568 --> 00:15:04,153 This is their story. 290 00:15:04,236 --> 00:15:08,782 [gate locks] 291 00:15:09,950 --> 00:15:12,995 This kid is 18 years old, first-time offender. 292 00:15:13,495 --> 00:15:15,372 We could send him to counseling with a warning 293 00:15:15,456 --> 00:15:17,458 or charge him with a life-ruining felony. 294 00:15:18,125 --> 00:15:20,836 You're the DA, it's completely up to you. 295 00:15:22,338 --> 00:15:23,338 [sighs] 296 00:15:23,964 --> 00:15:25,549 Quite the moral quandary. 297 00:15:26,675 --> 00:15:28,886 - Just kidding. No it isn't. - [lively music plays] 298 00:15:28,969 --> 00:15:30,930 I ran on being tough on crime. 299 00:15:32,681 --> 00:15:35,100 And that means that the best way for me to get reelected 300 00:15:35,184 --> 00:15:37,811 or become governor as my Pappy wanted, 301 00:15:37,895 --> 00:15:39,813 is to throw the book at everyone I see. 302 00:15:39,897 --> 00:15:41,774 [book thuds] 303 00:15:41,857 --> 00:15:44,818 See? He's jumpy. It's a clear sign of guilt. 304 00:15:47,446 --> 00:15:49,114 I'm gonna give it to you straight, kid. 305 00:15:50,074 --> 00:15:52,868 Around 95% of criminal cases 306 00:15:53,577 --> 00:15:55,287 don't even get to trial. 307 00:15:55,371 --> 00:15:57,831 They're determined through plea bargains. 308 00:15:58,666 --> 00:16:02,503 Effectively making DAs like me judge and jury. 309 00:16:03,504 --> 00:16:05,506 Now, you were accused of 310 00:16:05,589 --> 00:16:08,467 robbing a liquor store with a deadly weapon. 311 00:16:08,550 --> 00:16:11,512 But I wasn't even there! I was buying wings! 312 00:16:11,595 --> 00:16:14,974 See? I got wing sauce on my face and it is spicy. 313 00:16:15,057 --> 00:16:16,266 Can I get a napkin or... 314 00:16:16,350 --> 00:16:17,726 Yeah it looks like blood to me. 315 00:16:18,644 --> 00:16:21,438 You eat your victims. 316 00:16:21,522 --> 00:16:24,608 Oh my God, you're dumb. 317 00:16:24,692 --> 00:16:29,405 Well, the mandatory minimum is 20 years. 318 00:16:29,488 --> 00:16:32,616 So you could take a risk at trial with your little alibi, 319 00:16:33,242 --> 00:16:35,661 or you can plead guilty 320 00:16:35,744 --> 00:16:38,205 [gleefully] and make a deal! 321 00:16:38,288 --> 00:16:41,458 - [crowd cheering] - [lively music plays] 322 00:16:42,334 --> 00:16:43,544 Seven years. 323 00:16:51,969 --> 00:16:52,969 [scoffs] 324 00:16:53,554 --> 00:16:55,305 This blows my mind. 325 00:16:55,806 --> 00:16:58,308 You know, researchers believe that since the 90s 326 00:16:58,392 --> 00:17:00,769 one of the biggest drivers of mass incarceration 327 00:17:00,853 --> 00:17:04,440 has been the power District Attorneys have to impose harsh sentences. 328 00:17:04,523 --> 00:17:07,776 And we the voters have been voting for it. 329 00:17:10,195 --> 00:17:14,366 But, that also means we have the ability to change it 330 00:17:14,450 --> 00:17:17,703 just by voting differently in local elections. 331 00:17:18,203 --> 00:17:22,332 There's just one problem though, almost none of us actually vote in them. 332 00:17:22,416 --> 00:17:23,584 You know every four years 333 00:17:23,667 --> 00:17:26,587 the presidential election gets massive media attention 334 00:17:26,670 --> 00:17:29,423 while local elections get almost none. 335 00:17:30,007 --> 00:17:32,247 [male voice 1] Live from Rutherford B. Hayes High School, 336 00:17:32,301 --> 00:17:37,181 it's Public Access television with this year's local election debate. 337 00:17:37,765 --> 00:17:41,018 Good evening. I'm Madison, vice-chair of the journalism club, 338 00:17:41,101 --> 00:17:44,438 and the only reporter left in this town since Facebook killed our local newspaper. 339 00:17:46,440 --> 00:17:48,567 First question, Council member Appleton, 340 00:17:48,650 --> 00:17:50,736 why should voters vote for you? 341 00:17:51,236 --> 00:17:53,405 Honestly, most of them don't. 342 00:17:53,489 --> 00:17:56,742 A recent study found that only 15% of eligible voters 343 00:17:56,825 --> 00:18:00,996 cast a ballot in local elections and cause media barely covers our races, 344 00:18:01,080 --> 00:18:02,831 most of them don't know anything about us. 345 00:18:03,707 --> 00:18:07,503 For instance, I'm openly having an affair with my secretary's horse 346 00:18:07,586 --> 00:18:09,880 and no one's even written a blog post about it, so. 347 00:18:10,839 --> 00:18:13,467 I don't know, vote for me because my name comes first. 348 00:18:14,134 --> 00:18:15,886 - Ow. - [male voice 1] Sorry. 349 00:18:15,969 --> 00:18:17,471 [DA] Uh... 350 00:18:17,554 --> 00:18:21,350 Why am I even here? My election is just a formality. 351 00:18:21,934 --> 00:18:23,352 Interest in these races are so low 352 00:18:23,435 --> 00:18:25,115 that in cities fewer than a million people, 353 00:18:25,145 --> 00:18:28,982 the majority of district attorney races have a single unopposed candidate. 354 00:18:29,483 --> 00:18:32,736 So vote for me for DA, or don't. 355 00:18:32,820 --> 00:18:36,573 It doesn't matter, I'm literally the only choice. 356 00:18:37,366 --> 00:18:40,577 We done here? Yeah? Okay. Alright. 357 00:18:41,578 --> 00:18:44,206 There you go. Peace. 358 00:18:47,042 --> 00:18:48,042 She's great. 359 00:18:48,085 --> 00:18:49,086 Uh... 360 00:18:49,169 --> 00:18:51,463 Turning now to the subject of young people. 361 00:18:52,005 --> 00:18:54,883 Young people are an essential part of the electorate, 362 00:18:54,967 --> 00:18:59,012 yet we are even less likely to show up for local elections than for National ones. 363 00:18:59,096 --> 00:19:01,515 [woman 2 ] Hello is it question time? 364 00:19:02,391 --> 00:19:04,309 Not... Not yet ma'am. I'm... It's... 365 00:19:04,393 --> 00:19:05,811 Stuff it, Zoomer! 366 00:19:05,894 --> 00:19:08,480 People over 65 are seven times 367 00:19:08,564 --> 00:19:11,733 more likely to vote in local elections than those under 35. 368 00:19:12,359 --> 00:19:15,904 So what we want matters more than what you want. 369 00:19:15,988 --> 00:19:19,825 And what we want is less rap music 370 00:19:19,908 --> 00:19:22,452 and more fudge. 371 00:19:25,914 --> 00:19:27,541 We'll get right on that ma'am. 372 00:19:27,624 --> 00:19:29,501 Well that's all the time we have. 373 00:19:29,585 --> 00:19:34,006 The polls are open. Go vote. And remember, E pluribus unum. 374 00:19:39,011 --> 00:19:40,762 How depressing is this? 375 00:19:40,846 --> 00:19:42,472 You know there is a bright side though. 376 00:19:42,556 --> 00:19:46,935 Turnout in these races is so low, that makes our votes incredibly powerful. 377 00:19:47,019 --> 00:19:51,023 Well, if no one else is going to, I guess I'm voting for myself. 378 00:19:52,274 --> 00:19:53,150 [twinkling sound plays] 379 00:19:53,233 --> 00:19:54,651 [Appleton] Hey I win! 380 00:19:55,444 --> 00:19:57,237 But look, I get it, 381 00:19:57,321 --> 00:19:59,948 local politics is confusing and boring 382 00:20:00,032 --> 00:20:02,701 and following it requires free time and resources 383 00:20:02,784 --> 00:20:04,912 that a lot of people just don't have. 384 00:20:04,995 --> 00:20:07,289 This stuff is hard to give a shit about. 385 00:20:08,207 --> 00:20:10,834 But what would happen if we did? 386 00:20:10,918 --> 00:20:14,213 How would our cities, towns, and country change 387 00:20:14,296 --> 00:20:17,007 if we all started participating in a system 388 00:20:17,090 --> 00:20:20,427 those in power are counting on us to ignore? 389 00:20:20,510 --> 00:20:24,348 [lively music plays] 390 00:20:32,731 --> 00:20:37,819 [man 2] I believe that we will win! 391 00:20:37,903 --> 00:20:42,824 - [crowd] I believe that we will win! - I believe that we will win! 392 00:20:42,908 --> 00:20:45,094 - Hey how's it going? I'm Adam. - Hey Adam, how're you doing? 393 00:20:45,118 --> 00:20:49,289 Rick Krajewski, State Representative for 188th district in west, southwest Philly. 394 00:20:49,373 --> 00:20:52,542 Nikil Saval, I'm the State Senator for the first Senate district, 395 00:20:52,626 --> 00:20:54,336 which is Center City and South Philly. 396 00:20:54,419 --> 00:20:57,422 Nikil is a co-founder and I was actually an early member 397 00:20:57,506 --> 00:20:58,924 of Reclaim Philadelphia. 398 00:20:59,007 --> 00:21:03,303 Did Reclaim get founded to get a progressive DA elected? 399 00:21:03,387 --> 00:21:05,013 Was that the reason for it or... 400 00:21:05,097 --> 00:21:09,643 A lot of us came out of the Bernie Sanders campaign in Philadelphia in 2016, 401 00:21:09,726 --> 00:21:13,480 and we wanted to root ourselves in our neighborhoods. 402 00:21:13,563 --> 00:21:16,024 - Yeah. - Yeah. We did analysis to really be like 403 00:21:16,108 --> 00:21:20,195 okay like, what is an election that we can zero in on 404 00:21:20,279 --> 00:21:22,781 that will have a significant impact for Philadelphia? 405 00:21:23,365 --> 00:21:25,218 And we realized like, okay the District Attorney's race. 406 00:21:25,242 --> 00:21:27,035 You know like, this is the most impoverished 407 00:21:27,119 --> 00:21:29,121 and most incarcerated big city in the country. 408 00:21:29,204 --> 00:21:33,959 So if we wanna you know, really make a statement like this is our opportunity. 409 00:21:34,042 --> 00:21:35,210 [Nikil] Four years ago, 410 00:21:35,294 --> 00:21:38,922 I was proud to stand as a volunteer to knock hundreds of doors 411 00:21:39,006 --> 00:21:42,884 and recruit dozens of canvassers to knock thousands more 412 00:21:42,968 --> 00:21:45,178 for then Candidate Larry Krasner for District Attorney. 413 00:21:45,887 --> 00:21:46,930 Four years later, 414 00:21:47,014 --> 00:21:50,225 Krasner and we with him have moved mountains. 415 00:21:50,309 --> 00:21:52,602 We demanded limits to cash bail, 416 00:21:52,686 --> 00:21:57,274 an end to the war on drugs, an end to unaccountable policing. 417 00:21:57,357 --> 00:22:00,068 And Larry Krasner has delivered. 418 00:22:00,152 --> 00:22:01,528 [crowd cheering] 419 00:22:01,611 --> 00:22:05,157 [Adam] You guys like... changed the city that you live in. 420 00:22:05,240 --> 00:22:09,036 But none of you guys are professional politician-like type people, right? 421 00:22:09,119 --> 00:22:10,221 - Now. - [Nikil] Until recently. 422 00:22:10,245 --> 00:22:13,081 Not until you became elected to office yourselves, 423 00:22:13,165 --> 00:22:16,376 but like, Ricky you told me before you were a software engineer, and... 424 00:22:16,460 --> 00:22:17,669 I was a journalist. 425 00:22:17,753 --> 00:22:18,837 What did that feel like? 426 00:22:18,920 --> 00:22:20,213 I may have leapt into your arms. 427 00:22:20,297 --> 00:22:21,983 - [Nikil] Yeah, really, yeah. - Yeah I know, like I really... 428 00:22:22,007 --> 00:22:24,176 Cause it wasn't just that we won, 429 00:22:24,259 --> 00:22:27,304 we got twice as much as the runner-ups. So like... 430 00:22:27,387 --> 00:22:29,014 we kicked their ass, like you know? 431 00:22:29,097 --> 00:22:29,931 - Yeah! - [laughs] 432 00:22:30,015 --> 00:22:34,227 [Ricky] We beat them up and that was so powerful for us because it meant like, 433 00:22:34,311 --> 00:22:36,313 oh, we're on to something. You know? 434 00:22:36,396 --> 00:22:38,273 - Yeah. - Like it is mind-blowing, 435 00:22:38,356 --> 00:22:40,516 - cause it gives... it gives you hope. - Yeah. Amazing. 436 00:22:40,567 --> 00:22:43,570 We are clear with the work that's required 437 00:22:43,653 --> 00:22:49,743 and the last five decades worth of useless, fake-ass politicians. 438 00:22:50,744 --> 00:22:53,121 - [woman 3] Come on! - [Tonya Bah] You are on notice! 439 00:22:53,205 --> 00:22:54,915 And we're coming for you. 440 00:22:55,540 --> 00:22:58,960 Half of this crowd is gonna end up running for election someday. 441 00:23:00,087 --> 00:23:03,006 [Adam] This is so inspiring to watch, to see people come out, 442 00:23:03,090 --> 00:23:06,176 and like really work to make this change. 443 00:23:06,259 --> 00:23:09,137 - Do you feel that way about it? - [Lorraine] Oh, most definitely. 444 00:23:09,221 --> 00:23:12,682 This system, what people keep calling a broken system, 445 00:23:12,766 --> 00:23:14,726 it's not a broken system. 446 00:23:14,810 --> 00:23:17,395 It's been built to do what it's been doing all these years. 447 00:23:17,479 --> 00:23:19,397 - Yeah. - All these decades. 448 00:23:19,481 --> 00:23:23,235 - Is to put our people behind cages. - Yeah. 449 00:23:23,318 --> 00:23:26,863 So what we need to do is start breaking the system down 450 00:23:26,947 --> 00:23:28,031 and by doing that, 451 00:23:28,115 --> 00:23:30,909 we have to start putting the right people in the right places. 452 00:23:30,992 --> 00:23:33,328 - Yeah. - People that's for us. 453 00:23:33,411 --> 00:23:35,122 People that's for the people 454 00:23:35,205 --> 00:23:39,417 and if God is willing, I plan to run for... I'ma start low. Yeah. 455 00:23:39,501 --> 00:23:40,418 - You're gonna run? - Yeah. 456 00:23:40,502 --> 00:23:43,380 I wanna run for some'n because we need people like us. 457 00:23:43,463 --> 00:23:46,716 Somebody that's been through what I've been through can talk to me. 458 00:23:47,300 --> 00:23:49,302 - [Lorraine] What do we want? - [crowd] Justice! 459 00:23:49,386 --> 00:23:51,346 - When do we want it? - [crowd] Now! 460 00:23:51,429 --> 00:23:53,223 - What do we need? - [crowd] Justice! 461 00:23:53,306 --> 00:23:55,308 - [Lorraine] When do we need it? So - [crowd] Now! 462 00:23:55,392 --> 00:23:59,521 please, get everybody out and let's go bang on some doors. 463 00:24:00,230 --> 00:24:01,398 - [crowd cheering] - Peace! 464 00:24:02,482 --> 00:24:04,985 [Adam] So, tell me about canvassing, is this like... 465 00:24:05,068 --> 00:24:07,463 This is how you do your work. Like what's so important about it? 466 00:24:07,487 --> 00:24:11,116 You know, people get tons of political mail, they get TV, 467 00:24:11,199 --> 00:24:14,077 all of that stuff that really connecting... You know, 468 00:24:14,161 --> 00:24:17,205 it's not just about ideology, not all of us share those ideologies, 469 00:24:17,289 --> 00:24:20,667 but a lot of us share interests, a lot of us share stories. 470 00:24:20,750 --> 00:24:23,336 We share that we have kids in the school district. 471 00:24:23,420 --> 00:24:25,314 [Nikil] All of that is where you connect with people. 472 00:24:25,338 --> 00:24:28,717 And then at that point, we move to the larger political picture. 473 00:24:28,800 --> 00:24:31,845 And this really works to like create change? Like 474 00:24:31,928 --> 00:24:33,823 all you're doing is like talking to your neighbors? 475 00:24:33,847 --> 00:24:37,350 Yeah. Dozens of people knocking hundreds to a thousand of doors 476 00:24:37,434 --> 00:24:39,227 over the course of months. 477 00:24:39,311 --> 00:24:41,396 It's a transformative thing in a big city. 478 00:24:41,479 --> 00:24:43,940 [engine revving] 479 00:24:44,024 --> 00:24:45,400 [Adam] The Philly Parade is here. 480 00:24:45,483 --> 00:24:47,444 This I love about the city. 481 00:24:49,487 --> 00:24:53,033 [lively music plays] 482 00:25:01,374 --> 00:25:02,500 Ah shit! 483 00:25:04,753 --> 00:25:06,171 - Ahh! - [Ricky] Woo! 484 00:25:07,047 --> 00:25:09,233 - What's going on? How is your cheesesteak? - That's a pretty good cheesesteak. 485 00:25:09,257 --> 00:25:10,091 - Yeah? - Yeah. 486 00:25:10,175 --> 00:25:12,055 - Do you wanna play some basketball? - No, okay. 487 00:25:12,093 --> 00:25:14,053 - [Nikil] You sure? - Yeah, I'm really bad, but... 488 00:25:14,304 --> 00:25:15,304 Okay. 489 00:25:17,974 --> 00:25:18,850 Close enough for me. 490 00:25:18,934 --> 00:25:21,144 - So uh... Can I ask you guys a question? - Sure. 491 00:25:21,228 --> 00:25:23,980 So I open this episode by asking like, 492 00:25:24,064 --> 00:25:27,317 how do we make change in the government when the government is so big 493 00:25:27,400 --> 00:25:28,235 and we're so small? 494 00:25:28,318 --> 00:25:30,654 People get fixated on national politics. 495 00:25:30,737 --> 00:25:34,032 And of course, understandably, it's very consequential. 496 00:25:34,115 --> 00:25:35,593 But actually the things you can impact, 497 00:25:35,617 --> 00:25:39,162 and the things you're impacted by are often local. 498 00:25:39,246 --> 00:25:42,374 That government is smaller, it is us, it looks like this. 499 00:25:42,457 --> 00:25:46,002 [Adam] And like all of these things ripple across the country, 500 00:25:46,086 --> 00:25:48,421 these local races, these local changes. 501 00:25:48,505 --> 00:25:50,173 [Ricky] And all of that is grassroots. 502 00:25:50,257 --> 00:25:54,386 That's like, that is literally the definition of grassroots change. 503 00:25:54,469 --> 00:25:56,304 And so that allows us to think about 504 00:25:56,388 --> 00:25:59,140 okay, now what do we have to do on the congressional level, 505 00:25:59,224 --> 00:26:00,100 senatorial level. 506 00:26:00,183 --> 00:26:05,313 Those are necessary ingredients for thinking about the large-scale picture. 507 00:26:05,397 --> 00:26:07,148 - Incredible, amazing. - Yeah. 508 00:26:07,232 --> 00:26:08,501 [Nikil] Why don't you take one last shot? 509 00:26:08,525 --> 00:26:09,525 Okay. Okay. 510 00:26:10,527 --> 00:26:11,569 How's my form? 511 00:26:11,653 --> 00:26:13,363 You got it. Arc, remember the arc. 512 00:26:13,446 --> 00:26:15,073 Arc. Arc! 513 00:26:15,156 --> 00:26:17,575 [Nikil and Ricky groan] 514 00:26:17,659 --> 00:26:21,496 Okay, obviously I didn't really hit that. It was an editing trick. 515 00:26:21,579 --> 00:26:24,499 But how incredible are those folks? 516 00:26:24,582 --> 00:26:28,003 I mean, not only did Reclaim help elect a new District Attorney 517 00:26:28,086 --> 00:26:31,006 who's fixing criminal justice in their city, 518 00:26:31,089 --> 00:26:34,801 they inspired a nationwide movement of people doing the same. 519 00:26:34,884 --> 00:26:37,053 Including where I live, in Los Angeles. 520 00:26:37,137 --> 00:26:39,848 Yeah no, it's not just a backdrop for reality shows. 521 00:26:39,931 --> 00:26:42,225 It's a real place with real problems. 522 00:26:42,309 --> 00:26:45,478 Now in 2020, I got so sick 523 00:26:45,562 --> 00:26:49,816 of obsessing over the national politics I saw in cable news, 524 00:26:49,899 --> 00:26:52,652 I decided to focus on my own community instead. 525 00:26:52,736 --> 00:26:55,697 I started calling into boring-ass City Council meetings 526 00:26:55,780 --> 00:26:57,115 to give public comment. 527 00:26:57,198 --> 00:26:59,159 I joined a neighborhood group on homelessness, 528 00:26:59,242 --> 00:27:01,703 an issue I really care about, 529 00:27:01,786 --> 00:27:04,497 and I volunteered for a city council candidate 530 00:27:04,581 --> 00:27:08,001 who pledged to fight police violence, the housing crisis, 531 00:27:08,084 --> 00:27:12,088 and climate change at home, in our city. 532 00:27:12,172 --> 00:27:17,010 Seeing that I could have a real impact on the government of my city 533 00:27:17,093 --> 00:27:20,263 made me realize we are not helpless. 534 00:27:20,347 --> 00:27:24,934 We actually can create big change if we start small. 535 00:27:26,102 --> 00:27:30,565 You know what the problem is with the G word: Government? 536 00:27:30,648 --> 00:27:36,029 It sounds so big. So monolithic, so far away. 537 00:27:36,112 --> 00:27:39,324 When in reality, it's right here at home. 538 00:27:40,033 --> 00:27:42,202 [door opens] 539 00:27:48,375 --> 00:27:51,419 [uplifting music plays] 540 00:27:53,421 --> 00:27:57,550 And, just like Soylent Green, it's made of people. 541 00:27:59,344 --> 00:28:02,389 [Adam] People who wake up every day and go to work 542 00:28:02,472 --> 00:28:05,100 for no other reason than it's their job. 543 00:28:05,183 --> 00:28:06,643 And it's a job that needs doing. 544 00:28:07,977 --> 00:28:12,524 People who go to absolutely nauseating lengths to keep others safe. 545 00:28:13,024 --> 00:28:15,568 People who never stop trying to serve their community, 546 00:28:15,652 --> 00:28:18,238 no matter how badly the system is rigged against them. 547 00:28:18,822 --> 00:28:23,284 People who dive in and work to change that system for the better. 548 00:28:23,368 --> 00:28:24,494 People like us. 549 00:28:25,620 --> 00:28:27,205 People like you. 550 00:28:28,581 --> 00:28:31,418 And you know, people aren't perfect. 551 00:28:31,501 --> 00:28:33,962 I mean I for one am an idiot and I'm not the only one. 552 00:28:34,045 --> 00:28:38,091 So, our government is far from perfect too. 553 00:28:40,009 --> 00:28:41,386 You know I've really struggled 554 00:28:41,469 --> 00:28:45,265 with how to summarize everything I've learned making this show. 555 00:28:45,765 --> 00:28:51,896 Our government is powerful and democratic and caring and destructive 556 00:28:51,980 --> 00:28:55,024 and discriminatory and cruel. 557 00:28:55,108 --> 00:28:57,026 It's everything all at once. 558 00:28:57,110 --> 00:29:00,905 Because we the people are all those things too. 559 00:29:01,489 --> 00:29:06,786 But a better world is possible and on its best days 560 00:29:06,870 --> 00:29:10,290 our government is a tool that we can use together 561 00:29:10,373 --> 00:29:14,085 to build that better world for ourselves and each other. 562 00:29:14,586 --> 00:29:16,212 Should we choose to. 563 00:29:16,921 --> 00:29:20,425 And for that reason, it's worth fighting for. 564 00:29:31,561 --> 00:29:33,354 And, done. 565 00:29:36,441 --> 00:29:38,067 You know folks, on this show 566 00:29:38,151 --> 00:29:41,362 we've had a lot of fun with the idea that I struggle to do my taxes, 567 00:29:41,446 --> 00:29:43,823 but, that was just acting. 568 00:29:44,324 --> 00:29:47,952 In real life, I'm amazing at them. And you can be too. 569 00:29:48,036 --> 00:29:52,499 If you use the helpful tools found at IRS.gov 570 00:29:52,582 --> 00:29:54,709 They can even help you file for free. 571 00:29:54,793 --> 00:29:57,045 FOPOTUS out. 572 00:30:01,090 --> 00:30:05,178 [light-hearted music plays] 573 00:31:41,649 --> 00:31:44,235 Subtitle translation by: Anu Akiyode