1
00:00:01,433 --> 00:00:02,366
- [Announcer] Support for 
"Overheard with Evan Smith"

2
00:00:02,366 --> 00:00:03,600
comes from: HillCo Partners,

3
00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:05,700
a Texas government 
affairs consultancy,

4
00:00:05,700 --> 00:00:07,300
Claire and Carl Stuart,

5
00:00:07,300 --> 00:00:08,866
Christine and Philip Dial,

6
00:00:08,866 --> 00:00:10,166
and the Eller Group,

7
00:00:10,166 --> 00:00:12,066
specializing in crisis 
management, litigation,

8
00:00:12,066 --> 00:00:13,800
and public affairs 
communication.

9
00:00:13,800 --> 00:00:15,366
Ellergroup.com.

10
00:00:15,366 --> 00:00:16,600
- I'm Evan Smith.

11
00:00:16,600 --> 00:00:18,633
She's a two-term 
congresswoman from Dallas

12
00:00:18,633 --> 00:00:22,700
who's emerged as the raised 
voice and clenched fist

13
00:00:22,700 --> 00:00:26,233
of the opposition to Donald 
Trump, Elon Musk, and their ilk.

14
00:00:26,233 --> 00:00:28,200
She's Jasmine Crockett.

15
00:00:28,200 --> 00:00:30,066
This is "Overheard."

16
00:00:30,066 --> 00:00:33,400
A platform and a voice 
is a powerful thing.

17
00:00:33,400 --> 00:00:35,366
You really turned the 
conversation around

18
00:00:35,366 --> 00:00:37,366
about what leadership 
should be about.

19
00:00:37,366 --> 00:00:38,733
Are we blowing this?

20
00:00:38,733 --> 00:00:40,600
Are we doing the thing 
we shouldn't be doing

21
00:00:40,600 --> 00:00:42,633
by giving in to the 
attention junkie?

22
00:00:42,633 --> 00:00:45,033
As an industry, we have an 
obligation to hold ourselves

23
00:00:45,033 --> 00:00:46,666
to the same standards that 
we hold everybody else.

24
00:00:46,666 --> 00:00:48,000
- [Automated Countdown] Two.

25
00:00:48,000 --> 00:00:51,566
- This is "Overheard." 
(audience applauds)

26
00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:56,433
Congresswoman, great to see you.

27
00:00:56,433 --> 00:00:57,566
Thank you so much.

28
00:00:57,566 --> 00:00:58,400
- It's great to 
be here with you.

29
00:00:58,400 --> 00:01:00,133
- For being here.

30
00:01:00,133 --> 00:01:03,000
How's it going? 
(audience laughs)

31
00:01:03,000 --> 00:01:04,633
That's kind of an 
existential question,

32
00:01:04,633 --> 00:01:06,033
but like in a literal sense.

33
00:01:06,033 --> 00:01:08,233
You're in the middle 
of everything.

34
00:01:08,233 --> 00:01:09,833
We only get to watch 
from the outside.

35
00:01:09,833 --> 00:01:10,666
You're on the inside.

36
00:01:10,666 --> 00:01:12,100
How's it going?

37
00:01:12,100 --> 00:01:14,100
- It's not going well. 
- Yeah? Say more about that.

38
00:01:14,100 --> 00:01:16,166
- Yeah, and I think 
that, first of all,

39
00:01:16,166 --> 00:01:18,066
let me thank 
everyone that's here.

40
00:01:19,566 --> 00:01:22,566
The reason that I do the work 
that I do is because of you,

41
00:01:22,566 --> 00:01:25,433
and I try to do everything 
that I can to make sure

42
00:01:25,433 --> 00:01:27,133
that I'm continuously focused

43
00:01:27,133 --> 00:01:28,933
on the people that 
are back home,

44
00:01:28,933 --> 00:01:30,433
the people that 
are relying on me

45
00:01:30,433 --> 00:01:34,133
to be an authentic and 
unwielding voice for them.

46
00:01:34,133 --> 00:01:38,133
And so I just wanna say thank 
you again to each of you.

47
00:01:38,133 --> 00:01:41,100
I am going to say 
that it's really bad

48
00:01:41,100 --> 00:01:44,300
because not only are 
we enduring something

49
00:01:44,300 --> 00:01:45,900
we've never experienced before.

50
00:01:45,900 --> 00:01:48,100
As we came up on the State 
of the Union address,

51
00:01:48,100 --> 00:01:52,133
we started to look through 
history and figure out,

52
00:01:52,133 --> 00:01:55,233
what does one do when a 
dictator is coming through?

53
00:01:55,233 --> 00:01:57,033
I mean, like we were 
trying to figure out,

54
00:01:57,033 --> 00:01:58,300
like what are the options?

55
00:01:58,300 --> 00:02:01,566
And it is true that 
we are in a time

56
00:02:01,566 --> 00:02:03,366
that we've never seen before.

57
00:02:03,366 --> 00:02:06,100
We have someone that 
does not believe

58
00:02:06,100 --> 00:02:07,733
in co-equal branches 
of government,

59
00:02:07,733 --> 00:02:10,933
and then we have 
people that are party

60
00:02:10,933 --> 00:02:13,433
to those other co-equal branches

61
00:02:13,433 --> 00:02:15,333
that have decided 
that they would cede

62
00:02:15,333 --> 00:02:19,300
their constitutional 
oaths and responsibilities

63
00:02:19,300 --> 00:02:22,266
to kneel to, I don't even 
know if it's Trump, right?

64
00:02:22,266 --> 00:02:24,600
Like, it feels as if Elon

65
00:02:24,600 --> 00:02:26,400
is really like 
running everything

66
00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:28,966
and Trump is just hanging out,

67
00:02:28,966 --> 00:02:30,466
signing whatever executive order

68
00:02:30,466 --> 00:02:32,100
somebody puts in front of him.

69
00:02:32,100 --> 00:02:33,533
And when he is not doing that,

70
00:02:33,533 --> 00:02:35,733
he's just posted 
up at Mar-a-Lago,

71
00:02:36,900 --> 00:02:38,900
you know, playing golf, right?

72
00:02:38,900 --> 00:02:41,766
And so Elon hasn't 
seen all the waste

73
00:02:41,766 --> 00:02:43,266
'cause we've, you know,

74
00:02:43,266 --> 00:02:47,600
spent a whopping more 
than $10 million already

75
00:02:47,600 --> 00:02:50,266
on Trump and golfing 
at Mar-a-Lago.

76
00:02:50,266 --> 00:02:51,933
I'm sure there's a 
few things we could do

77
00:02:51,933 --> 00:02:55,500
with that $10 million that 
would be more productive.

78
00:02:55,500 --> 00:02:58,266
And what's most 
concerning to me,

79
00:02:58,266 --> 00:02:59,833
and it's why I am so happy

80
00:02:59,833 --> 00:03:02,233
that I'm specifically 
here with this platform,

81
00:03:02,233 --> 00:03:06,466
is that there is not only an 
attack on us as Americans.

82
00:03:06,466 --> 00:03:09,100
And when I say us, 
it's not Democrats.

83
00:03:09,100 --> 00:03:11,000
I specifically say 
us as Americans

84
00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:13,800
because there were those 
that really thought

85
00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:16,200
that Donald Trump was gonna 
make their lives better,

86
00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:18,300
and they went out 
and voted for him

87
00:03:18,300 --> 00:03:20,033
because of that, right? 
- Right.

88
00:03:20,033 --> 00:03:21,733
- But right now they're 
like, "Well, wait a minute.

89
00:03:21,733 --> 00:03:23,066
"Veterans are being fired,

90
00:03:23,066 --> 00:03:25,966
"and, you know, what's 
gonna happen to the VA?"

91
00:03:25,966 --> 00:03:27,300
Because they're talking about

92
00:03:27,300 --> 00:03:30,900
they wanna get rid of 
80,000 jobs at the VA.

93
00:03:30,900 --> 00:03:32,333
And if you know 
anything about the VA,

94
00:03:32,333 --> 00:03:35,000
people been telling us 
more and more is needed.

95
00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:37,233
Not less, right? 
- Not less, less, yeah.

96
00:03:37,233 --> 00:03:38,733
- Or the people that 
don't understand

97
00:03:38,733 --> 00:03:39,933
that when you're 
looking at something

98
00:03:39,933 --> 00:03:42,866
like the Consumer 
Protection Bureau,

99
00:03:42,866 --> 00:03:46,666
that they actually have 
fees that they charge,

100
00:03:46,666 --> 00:03:48,000
and a lot of those fees go

101
00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:50,033
to take care of a 
lot of the salaries.

102
00:03:50,033 --> 00:03:52,366
Like there are no 
savings, really,

103
00:03:52,366 --> 00:03:55,566
that we will see 
by firing people.

104
00:03:55,566 --> 00:03:58,233
But I can tell you 
that by firing people

105
00:03:58,233 --> 00:04:00,533
and with costs going up

106
00:04:00,533 --> 00:04:03,633
that a recession is upon us.

107
00:04:03,633 --> 00:04:04,766
And that's not good for anyone.

108
00:04:04,766 --> 00:04:06,133
- Do you think that 
the economy is,

109
00:04:06,133 --> 00:04:07,766
I mean, there've been signs

110
00:04:07,766 --> 00:04:09,500
that people are 
becoming concerned

111
00:04:09,500 --> 00:04:10,900
about the state of the economy.

112
00:04:10,900 --> 00:04:13,100
I'll come back to the 
people who voted for this

113
00:04:13,100 --> 00:04:14,566
and what they think 
about this in a second.

114
00:04:14,566 --> 00:04:16,000
But you're worried 
about the economy.

115
00:04:16,000 --> 00:04:17,233
- Oh, I absolutely am. 
- Yeah.

116
00:04:17,233 --> 00:04:19,133
- And it didn't 
have to be this way.

117
00:04:19,133 --> 00:04:22,766
And I understood that we 
went through hyperinflation

118
00:04:22,766 --> 00:04:24,466
as it relates to COVID-19.

119
00:04:24,466 --> 00:04:26,366
Like literally it's 
like, wait a minute,

120
00:04:26,366 --> 00:04:29,466
one day we're paying this, 
and then it ballooned.

121
00:04:29,466 --> 00:04:32,333
But then that inflation 
started to slow, right?

122
00:04:32,333 --> 00:04:34,300
And then, you know, we 
had an administration

123
00:04:34,300 --> 00:04:35,866
that was looking into the greed.

124
00:04:35,866 --> 00:04:38,500
We even had an 
admission from Kroger

125
00:04:38,500 --> 00:04:40,133
that they were price 
gouging, right?

126
00:04:40,133 --> 00:04:41,633
They were taking advantage.

127
00:04:41,633 --> 00:04:44,266
And so, you know, instead 
of having an administration

128
00:04:44,266 --> 00:04:45,966
that's looking 
into price gouging,

129
00:04:45,966 --> 00:04:48,300
we have an administration 
that, you know,

130
00:04:48,300 --> 00:04:49,966
when we were getting 
rid of junk fees

131
00:04:49,966 --> 00:04:51,866
or when we were 
getting rid of things

132
00:04:51,866 --> 00:04:54,000
such as the overdraft 
fees, right?

133
00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:57,666
Like, you know, you'd end up 
paying $35 per overdraft fee.

134
00:04:57,666 --> 00:05:00,133
They were like, "That 
is extortion," right?

135
00:05:00,133 --> 00:05:01,600
So they were capped at $5.

136
00:05:02,866 --> 00:05:04,700
Now, please explain to 
me why it makes sense

137
00:05:04,700 --> 00:05:06,466
that Republicans are 
like, "No, no, no, no.

138
00:05:06,466 --> 00:05:10,266
"We want the banks to go back 
to extorting people", right?

139
00:05:10,266 --> 00:05:11,600
- Yeah, let me come back 
to the point you made.

140
00:05:11,600 --> 00:05:12,900
So we had an election.

141
00:05:12,900 --> 00:05:15,000
We believe the election 
was conducted fairly

142
00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:18,433
unlike some have alleged 
previous elections.

143
00:05:18,433 --> 00:05:20,333
- Unless and until, I'm 
hearing the audience,

144
00:05:20,333 --> 00:05:22,433
unless and until I have 
evidence otherwise, yes.

145
00:05:22,433 --> 00:05:24,733
- Yes, right, okay. 
(audience laughs)

146
00:05:24,733 --> 00:05:25,633
Right.

147
00:05:25,633 --> 00:05:27,066
- I am still data-driven.

148
00:05:27,066 --> 00:05:28,233
I'm a data-driven person.

149
00:05:28,233 --> 00:05:29,333
- This will be a 
different conversation

150
00:05:29,333 --> 00:05:30,900
if we're gonna go 
down that path.

151
00:05:30,900 --> 00:05:32,700
Okay, so we assume that the 
election was conducted fairly,

152
00:05:32,700 --> 00:05:36,366
and the president won not 
just the Electoral College,

153
00:05:36,366 --> 00:05:38,733
but he won by a 
significant margin.

154
00:05:38,733 --> 00:05:39,966
- Yeah.

155
00:05:39,966 --> 00:05:41,266
- The popular vote, 
didn't get to 50%,

156
00:05:41,266 --> 00:05:43,566
but he won the popular 
vote by $7 million.

157
00:05:43,566 --> 00:05:46,166
The point is, people 
voted for him.

158
00:05:46,166 --> 00:05:47,566
- Yes.

159
00:05:47,566 --> 00:05:49,200
- The question is whether 
people voted for this.

160
00:05:49,200 --> 00:05:50,133
- [Jasmine] Yes.

161
00:05:50,133 --> 00:05:51,066
- So then what do we think about

162
00:05:51,066 --> 00:05:52,300
how the people who voted for him

163
00:05:52,300 --> 00:05:53,766
are viewing the moment we're in?

164
00:05:53,766 --> 00:05:55,833
- I think that there's 
a lot of regret.

165
00:05:55,833 --> 00:05:57,666
I think that the sycophants,

166
00:05:57,666 --> 00:05:59,866
there's nothing that 
you can say about them.

167
00:05:59,866 --> 00:06:03,300
Like there is a real cult 
that is taking place,

168
00:06:03,300 --> 00:06:04,800
and they follow their leader,

169
00:06:04,800 --> 00:06:06,300
and they believe 
whatever he says,

170
00:06:06,300 --> 00:06:08,200
and they're just 
gonna get in line.

171
00:06:08,200 --> 00:06:09,533
And then there are those

172
00:06:09,533 --> 00:06:11,266
that are like, 
"Well, wait a minute.

173
00:06:11,266 --> 00:06:14,033
"Like why is it that I 
don't have healthcare,

174
00:06:15,166 --> 00:06:16,700
"but the billionaires 
are still having

175
00:06:16,700 --> 00:06:18,766
"like multimillion-dollar 
weddings?

176
00:06:18,766 --> 00:06:20,333
"Like why is it

177
00:06:20,333 --> 00:06:22,800
"that I'm not going to 
be able to go to college,

178
00:06:22,800 --> 00:06:24,900
"or my kid isn't gonna 
be able to go to college,

179
00:06:24,900 --> 00:06:27,000
"or I'm not gonna be able to eat

180
00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:28,566
"because they're getting like...

181
00:06:28,566 --> 00:06:30,133
"Wait a minute, what 
is the point of this?

182
00:06:30,133 --> 00:06:31,500
"Like what is happening?"

183
00:06:31,500 --> 00:06:32,766
- But of course these are 
effects, congresswoman,

184
00:06:32,766 --> 00:06:35,066
these are things 
that may be felt,

185
00:06:35,066 --> 00:06:36,700
may happen as a 
consequence of it.

186
00:06:36,700 --> 00:06:38,400
I mean, he's only been 
in the White House

187
00:06:38,400 --> 00:06:39,900
for a couple months.

188
00:06:39,900 --> 00:06:41,200
- Imagine that. 
- As we sit here.

189
00:06:41,200 --> 00:06:43,300
(audience laughs) 
As we sit here.

190
00:06:43,300 --> 00:06:45,333
I mean, really, in the end,

191
00:06:45,333 --> 00:06:47,500
the oldest saw in 
the world is true:

192
00:06:47,500 --> 00:06:48,866
elections have consequences.

193
00:06:48,866 --> 00:06:50,133
- [Jasmine] Yes. 
- Good consequences and bad.

194
00:06:50,133 --> 00:06:52,866
And the country voted 
for Donald Trump.

195
00:06:52,866 --> 00:06:56,100
We'll see what the products 
of that decision are.

196
00:06:56,100 --> 00:06:57,900
- We are already seeing. 
- Yeah.

197
00:06:57,900 --> 00:06:59,400
- And they are not good.

198
00:06:59,400 --> 00:07:01,800
There's no one that is 
yelling and screaming

199
00:07:01,800 --> 00:07:03,866
that, "Oh, yes, we're so happy

200
00:07:03,866 --> 00:07:06,733
"you fired all these 
people at the VA."

201
00:07:08,566 --> 00:07:09,833
- Stay with that

202
00:07:09,833 --> 00:07:12,000
and the role that 
Elon Musk is playing.

203
00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:15,233
What do you think 
is the goal here?

204
00:07:15,233 --> 00:07:16,766
I mean, it may seem 
obvious to you,

205
00:07:16,766 --> 00:07:18,833
it may seem obvious to 
some people watching this,

206
00:07:18,833 --> 00:07:22,666
but, in the end, what 
are they working toward

207
00:07:22,666 --> 00:07:24,433
with everything that 
we've seen so far?

208
00:07:24,433 --> 00:07:28,133
- Making us Russia Junior.

209
00:07:28,133 --> 00:07:30,566
I mean, I don't really 
know what to say.

210
00:07:30,566 --> 00:07:32,700
Because, you know, 
one of the things

211
00:07:32,700 --> 00:07:36,600
that we benefit 
from as Americans is 
really our ignorance.

212
00:07:36,600 --> 00:07:40,200
And I'm gonna say that 
with all love, right?

213
00:07:40,200 --> 00:07:42,166
Because we've had so 
much privilege, right?

214
00:07:42,166 --> 00:07:45,366
Like to the north and the 
south of us, we have friends,

215
00:07:45,366 --> 00:07:46,766
or at least they 
used to be friends.

216
00:07:46,766 --> 00:07:48,000
I don't know how friendly

217
00:07:48,000 --> 00:07:49,533
they wanna be with 
us nowadays, right?

218
00:07:49,533 --> 00:07:52,300
But like we've shared like a 
very friendly relationship,

219
00:07:52,300 --> 00:07:54,266
and in the east and the 
west we've had water.

220
00:07:54,266 --> 00:07:56,700
And so we've not 
had to worry about

221
00:07:56,700 --> 00:07:58,933
having kind of hostile neighbors

222
00:07:58,933 --> 00:08:01,066
that are right there at the 
border and that kind of stuff.

223
00:08:01,066 --> 00:08:03,566
That is a privilege of 
living in this country.

224
00:08:03,566 --> 00:08:06,000
That cannot necessarily be said

225
00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:08,633
when you are living in certain 
parts of the Middle East

226
00:08:08,633 --> 00:08:10,400
or when you're living in Europe.

227
00:08:10,400 --> 00:08:12,200
Like you may have 
friends over here

228
00:08:12,200 --> 00:08:13,766
and then enemies right here.

229
00:08:13,766 --> 00:08:15,466
It's a lot different, okay?

230
00:08:15,466 --> 00:08:18,166
And so we've enjoyed 
that privilege.

231
00:08:18,166 --> 00:08:19,833
And right now to have someone

232
00:08:19,833 --> 00:08:22,000
that is literally picking fights

233
00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:24,633
with our friends for no reason?

234
00:08:24,633 --> 00:08:26,933
Like why are we in a trade war?

235
00:08:26,933 --> 00:08:28,800
Like what exactly happened?

236
00:08:28,800 --> 00:08:31,000
Like who is this helping?

237
00:08:31,000 --> 00:08:32,133
Like it's just crazy.

238
00:08:32,133 --> 00:08:33,800
Like why, why, why?

239
00:08:33,800 --> 00:08:36,166
I can tell you though, 
that housing costs,

240
00:08:36,166 --> 00:08:40,000
if we continue to play 
this game with Canada,

241
00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:41,733
our housing costs 
are gonna go up.

242
00:08:41,733 --> 00:08:44,166
Like that is something that 
people absolutely said,

243
00:08:44,166 --> 00:08:46,166
housing costs were 
already too high.

244
00:08:46,166 --> 00:08:47,466
But this is where we get

245
00:08:47,466 --> 00:08:49,200
a lot of our steel 
and lumber from.

246
00:08:49,200 --> 00:08:50,133
- Right.

247
00:08:50,133 --> 00:08:51,533
And the tariffs, let's just say,

248
00:08:51,533 --> 00:08:52,600
something that seems obvious,

249
00:08:52,600 --> 00:08:54,000
that the tariffs

250
00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:55,800
are not only gonna affect 
Democratic households.

251
00:08:55,800 --> 00:08:57,766
- [Jasmine] Correct. 
- Or the households of people

252
00:08:57,766 --> 00:08:59,300
who did not support 
this president.

253
00:08:59,300 --> 00:09:01,133
- Correct. 
- That will be indiscriminate.

254
00:09:01,133 --> 00:09:03,000
It'll affect everybody. 
- Absolutely.

255
00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:04,800
And that was one 
of the things that,

256
00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:06,500
you know, I think 
really got lost.

257
00:09:06,500 --> 00:09:09,966
I will say that we've allowed 
ourselves to be distracted.

258
00:09:09,966 --> 00:09:12,300
During that election, 
we got distracted.

259
00:09:12,300 --> 00:09:16,466
When I was traveling the 
country on behalf of VP Harris,

260
00:09:16,466 --> 00:09:18,133
I would hear people 
saying things like,

261
00:09:18,133 --> 00:09:20,133
"Well, the Democrats 
have emasculated us."

262
00:09:20,133 --> 00:09:22,466
And I was like, "Well, what 
exactly does that mean?

263
00:09:22,466 --> 00:09:24,066
"Is it 'cause it's a woman?"

264
00:09:24,066 --> 00:09:26,966
Or, you know, I would hear 
some of them felt that way

265
00:09:26,966 --> 00:09:28,833
because there were 
all the conversations

266
00:09:28,833 --> 00:09:30,633
around reproductive rights.

267
00:09:30,633 --> 00:09:32,766
And I'm like, "Here's the deal.

268
00:09:32,766 --> 00:09:35,833
"If she got in office 
and she decided

269
00:09:35,833 --> 00:09:39,866
"that women should have 
bodily autonomy, great.

270
00:09:39,866 --> 00:09:42,066
"I don't know how that makes 
you any less of a man."

271
00:09:42,066 --> 00:09:44,700
Like, I mean, I'm just like, 
"What is happening," right?

272
00:09:44,700 --> 00:09:47,566
But they were seeping them 
kind of with this information.

273
00:09:47,566 --> 00:09:50,100
"It's a woman and she's looking 
out for women's rights."

274
00:09:50,100 --> 00:09:51,433
Okay, but it doesn't mean

275
00:09:51,433 --> 00:09:52,700
that she's not looking 
out for anybody else.

276
00:09:52,700 --> 00:09:55,366
Like, you know, and 
what we've got right now

277
00:09:55,366 --> 00:09:57,100
is a guy that lied.

278
00:09:57,100 --> 00:09:59,533
And I'm like, the fact 
that we believed him,

279
00:09:59,533 --> 00:10:02,600
I'm kind of confused 'cause 
he's like a known liar.

280
00:10:02,600 --> 00:10:05,533
And so why we believed 
him, I don't know.

281
00:10:05,533 --> 00:10:08,666
But he said, "I know 
nothing about Project 2025."

282
00:10:08,666 --> 00:10:11,166
And so every time I 
would get, you know...

283
00:10:11,166 --> 00:10:13,600
I remember doing 
a hearing one time

284
00:10:13,600 --> 00:10:16,266
because I was trying to 
educate people through hearings

285
00:10:16,266 --> 00:10:18,000
about Project 2025.

286
00:10:18,000 --> 00:10:20,800
And I had a witness that I 
knew from Democracy Forward

287
00:10:20,800 --> 00:10:23,133
that I knew knew 
the answer, right?

288
00:10:23,133 --> 00:10:26,233
Actually because we had been 
in Austin here on a panel.

289
00:10:26,233 --> 00:10:27,866
So I knew that she knew.

290
00:10:27,866 --> 00:10:29,666
So I said, you know,

291
00:10:29,666 --> 00:10:31,700
'cause as a lawyer you're not 
supposed to ask a question...

292
00:10:31,700 --> 00:10:33,366
- Unless you know the answer. 
- Unless you know the answer.

293
00:10:33,366 --> 00:10:34,633
- That's it, right, 
exactly, yeah.

294
00:10:34,633 --> 00:10:36,300
- I knew she knew. 
- I know that part.

295
00:10:36,300 --> 00:10:37,600
All right, yeah.

296
00:10:37,600 --> 00:10:40,433
- So I'm like, "So 
is Donald Trump name,

297
00:10:40,433 --> 00:10:43,333
"is his name mentioned 
at all in Project 2025?"

298
00:10:43,333 --> 00:10:44,766
And then she wanted 
to go into this.

299
00:10:44,766 --> 00:10:45,900
I was like, "Girl, we 
ain't got time for that."

300
00:10:45,900 --> 00:10:47,233
'Cause you only 
get five minutes.

301
00:10:47,233 --> 00:10:49,500
So it was like, I was 
like, "Just yes or no?"

302
00:10:49,500 --> 00:10:50,933
And so she's like, "Yes."

303
00:10:50,933 --> 00:10:53,100
And I was like, "Is it 
mentioned more than once?"

304
00:10:53,100 --> 00:10:54,100
"Yes."

305
00:10:54,100 --> 00:10:55,533
"Is it mentioned more than..."

306
00:10:55,533 --> 00:10:58,400
And then I finally said, 
"It's mentioned 312 times."

307
00:10:58,400 --> 00:10:59,766
So it's very interesting

308
00:10:59,766 --> 00:11:01,766
that he's saying that 
he has no idea about it,

309
00:11:01,766 --> 00:11:04,233
and he's like all 
through it, right?

310
00:11:04,233 --> 00:11:06,200
And so now what we see

311
00:11:06,200 --> 00:11:08,866
is that he did not want 
to embrace Project 2025

312
00:11:08,866 --> 00:11:10,500
because it was clear

313
00:11:10,500 --> 00:11:13,533
that the American people 
were rejecting Project 2025.

314
00:11:13,533 --> 00:11:15,300
That was getting rid of 
Department of Education,

315
00:11:15,300 --> 00:11:18,500
that was consolidating power 
with the executive branch,

316
00:11:18,500 --> 00:11:22,333
that was getting rid 
of things such as...

317
00:11:22,333 --> 00:11:24,766
Well, we see what's happening 
to our farmers, right?

318
00:11:24,766 --> 00:11:26,233
It was getting rid of NOAA

319
00:11:26,233 --> 00:11:28,100
so that we would not know,

320
00:11:28,100 --> 00:11:29,966
"Oh, there's weather 
issues", right?

321
00:11:29,966 --> 00:11:33,800
It was really putting forth

322
00:11:33,800 --> 00:11:36,100
a fight against the 
free press, right?

323
00:11:36,100 --> 00:11:37,800
And we're seeing 
that in real time.

324
00:11:37,800 --> 00:11:40,766
Like who kicks the Associated 
Press out of anything?

325
00:11:40,766 --> 00:11:42,166
Like what are we doing, right?

326
00:11:42,166 --> 00:11:46,466
All because they refuse 
to call the Gulf of Mexico

327
00:11:46,466 --> 00:11:47,833
Gulf of America. 
- Gulf of America.

328
00:11:47,833 --> 00:11:49,766
So you're saying 
that basically he's,

329
00:11:49,766 --> 00:11:51,033
and I think this is something

330
00:11:51,033 --> 00:11:52,533
that you and others have said,

331
00:11:52,533 --> 00:11:55,533
that he campaigned one 
way, told us one thing,

332
00:11:55,533 --> 00:11:57,366
and then has come into office 
and is doing something else.

333
00:11:57,366 --> 00:11:58,800
- Correct.

334
00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:00,933
- So let me ask you about 
your fellow Democrats

335
00:12:00,933 --> 00:12:03,900
and the place of 
Democrats in Congress

336
00:12:03,900 --> 00:12:05,000
and around the country

337
00:12:05,000 --> 00:12:06,833
in pushing back 
and opposing this

338
00:12:06,833 --> 00:12:08,633
in ways that are meaningful.

339
00:12:08,633 --> 00:12:12,366
Is the party, are the 
opponents up to the task?

340
00:12:12,366 --> 00:12:14,133
Because at least for 
the first two months,

341
00:12:14,133 --> 00:12:16,300
it's felt like he and 
the administration

342
00:12:16,300 --> 00:12:18,333
have pretty much done 
whatever they want.

343
00:12:18,333 --> 00:12:21,900
And it's largely been without 
anything in their way.

344
00:12:21,900 --> 00:12:24,000
So tell me about how you feel

345
00:12:24,000 --> 00:12:25,700
about the opposition 
at this point.

346
00:12:25,700 --> 00:12:26,833
- Yeah.

347
00:12:27,900 --> 00:12:29,300
Okay, all right.

348
00:12:29,300 --> 00:12:32,366
So I will say we are 
a big tent party.

349
00:12:33,466 --> 00:12:35,700
Start there, level set. 
- Okay, yeah.

350
00:12:35,700 --> 00:12:37,000
- And I'm going to say

351
00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:39,600
that I think resistance 
means different things

352
00:12:39,600 --> 00:12:42,300
to different members 
of the caucus.

353
00:12:42,300 --> 00:12:45,800
For me, it's to 
get a little rowdy.

354
00:12:45,800 --> 00:12:46,766
Just saying.

355
00:12:46,766 --> 00:12:49,333
- You know how to make a fist.

356
00:12:49,333 --> 00:12:52,233
- I do, I do. 
(audience applauds)

357
00:12:52,233 --> 00:12:56,133
I will also say that 
I enjoy privileges

358
00:12:56,133 --> 00:12:58,133
that other members 
of my caucus don't.

359
00:12:58,133 --> 00:12:59,533
- [Evan] Why?

360
00:12:59,533 --> 00:13:01,700
- I have the most Democratic 
seat in the state.

361
00:13:01,700 --> 00:13:03,133
- You're not at 
risk electorally.

362
00:13:03,133 --> 00:13:05,066
- I'm not at risk at all. 
- Yeah.

363
00:13:05,066 --> 00:13:10,033
- I also will say that I also 
don't wanna be in a place

364
00:13:10,033 --> 00:13:12,266
in which I don't feel 
like I can represent

365
00:13:12,266 --> 00:13:14,100
the way that I wanna represent.

366
00:13:14,100 --> 00:13:15,366
And I believe in democracy.

367
00:13:15,366 --> 00:13:18,333
So I believe that my 
district should fire me

368
00:13:18,333 --> 00:13:20,666
if they take issue 
with how I fight.

369
00:13:20,666 --> 00:13:22,066
I believe that that 
is their right.

370
00:13:22,066 --> 00:13:24,300
I believe that that's 
what they should do.

371
00:13:24,300 --> 00:13:28,033
So I don't go into everything 
scared about my next election

372
00:13:28,033 --> 00:13:30,233
because I feel like 
it paralyzes you.

373
00:13:30,233 --> 00:13:31,533
- Yeah.

374
00:13:31,533 --> 00:13:33,466
- And I think... 
- And is that what's going on?

375
00:13:33,466 --> 00:13:35,033
- Yes, in my opinion.

376
00:13:35,033 --> 00:13:36,866
- So where you have 
Democrats not fighting,

377
00:13:36,866 --> 00:13:38,900
you think it's because 
they're concerned about...

378
00:13:38,900 --> 00:13:40,066
- They're concerned about 
their next election.

379
00:13:40,066 --> 00:13:41,433
- What happens in two years.

380
00:13:41,433 --> 00:13:42,600
- Yeah, they're concerned 
about the next election.

381
00:13:42,600 --> 00:13:43,933
And I think...

382
00:13:43,933 --> 00:13:45,800
I personally see it 
a little differently.

383
00:13:45,800 --> 00:13:49,033
I think that we 
have to be willing

384
00:13:49,033 --> 00:13:51,833
to put it all on the 
line in this moment

385
00:13:51,833 --> 00:13:54,633
because I don't know 
what's on the other side

386
00:13:54,633 --> 00:13:56,133
if there is another side, right?

387
00:13:56,133 --> 00:13:59,300
Like I think my level of 
fear about this moment

388
00:13:59,300 --> 00:14:00,866
may be more heightened 
than others.

389
00:14:00,866 --> 00:14:03,633
I think that some people are 
still kind of functioning

390
00:14:03,633 --> 00:14:08,000
like there's no way that 
he can destroy everything.

391
00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:09,400
And I'm like, "Have y'all seen

392
00:14:09,400 --> 00:14:11,333
"what he's done in 
the last few days?"

393
00:14:11,333 --> 00:14:13,033
- Yeah, yeah. 
- You know, so I think

394
00:14:13,033 --> 00:14:15,300
that there's also 
kind of those people

395
00:14:15,300 --> 00:14:16,700
that are institutionalists

396
00:14:16,700 --> 00:14:18,233
that believe that the 
institution will survive.

397
00:14:18,233 --> 00:14:20,200
And I'm like, "It's real weak.

398
00:14:20,200 --> 00:14:21,700
"It's on life 
support right now."

399
00:14:21,700 --> 00:14:23,966
- So does the party then 
need to be more like you

400
00:14:23,966 --> 00:14:25,533
or more like the people 
who are operating

401
00:14:25,533 --> 00:14:27,766
out of either fear or concern 
for their own situation?

402
00:14:27,766 --> 00:14:29,033
I mean, I wanna stay with this.

403
00:14:29,033 --> 00:14:30,966
Because what I hear over 
and over from people

404
00:14:30,966 --> 00:14:33,066
who are frustrated 
with, to say the least,

405
00:14:33,066 --> 00:14:35,000
frustrated with what they've 
seen over the last two months

406
00:14:35,000 --> 00:14:36,300
is, "Where are the people

407
00:14:36,300 --> 00:14:37,533
"who are supposed to be 
pushing back on this?

408
00:14:37,533 --> 00:14:38,833
"Why are they not 
pushing back hard?"

409
00:14:38,833 --> 00:14:41,766
- I think that our 
approach should be

410
00:14:41,766 --> 00:14:43,133
that we have a quarterback.

411
00:14:44,133 --> 00:14:45,300
- Who's your quarterback?

412
00:14:45,300 --> 00:14:46,533
- It's Hakeem. 
- Hakeem Jeffries?

413
00:14:46,533 --> 00:14:47,800
- Yes.

414
00:14:47,800 --> 00:14:49,033
So I think that we 
should approach it...

415
00:14:49,033 --> 00:14:49,900
- How's he doing?

416
00:14:50,933 --> 00:14:52,300
- That's for the 
people to decide.

417
00:14:52,300 --> 00:14:55,533
- No, I'm asking you though. 
(audience laughs)

418
00:14:55,533 --> 00:14:57,233
- I mean, the people 
look at it one way,

419
00:14:57,233 --> 00:14:58,866
the caucus looks 
at it another way.

420
00:14:58,866 --> 00:15:03,033
His job is to keep every 
faction of the caucus together.

421
00:15:03,033 --> 00:15:04,433
And...

422
00:15:04,433 --> 00:15:06,833
- But isn't his job to 
lead the effort to oppose,

423
00:15:06,833 --> 00:15:08,300
in a respectful but firm way,

424
00:15:08,300 --> 00:15:10,933
what he does not think 
is right for the country?

425
00:15:10,933 --> 00:15:15,933
- I think that he's leading 
in that way, according to him.

426
00:15:17,100 --> 00:15:19,133
- Right, you're hedging. 
(audience laughs)

427
00:15:19,133 --> 00:15:21,500
I have never known you 
to hedge in your life.

428
00:15:21,500 --> 00:15:23,933
- I know! But like, listen. 
- Why are you hedging?

429
00:15:23,933 --> 00:15:25,833
- You know, it's complicated!

430
00:15:25,833 --> 00:15:29,200
But, listen, just let me... 
(audience laughs)

431
00:15:29,200 --> 00:15:30,300
I mean, read between the lines.

432
00:15:30,300 --> 00:15:31,566
I don't really know what to say.

433
00:15:31,566 --> 00:15:34,266
But I will say this... 
(audience laughs)

434
00:15:34,266 --> 00:15:36,400
- You may think you 
didn't say, but you said.

435
00:15:36,400 --> 00:15:38,500
- Eh, I'm doing my best.

436
00:15:38,500 --> 00:15:43,200
I think, because we're in 
Texas and we love football,

437
00:15:43,200 --> 00:15:45,666
I think if we look at 
this like a football team.

438
00:15:45,666 --> 00:15:49,133
Because everything is about 
being a team in the legislature.

439
00:15:49,133 --> 00:15:50,333
Like we're not the 
executive branch.

440
00:15:50,333 --> 00:15:51,833
Like you've gotta 
have teammates.

441
00:15:51,833 --> 00:15:53,000
So I'm trying to make sure 
I still got teammates, okay?

442
00:15:53,000 --> 00:15:55,433
- Right. 
- So you gotta have teammates.

443
00:15:55,433 --> 00:15:57,300
And I think that we 
need to understand

444
00:15:57,300 --> 00:15:58,433
that, if you're the quarterback,

445
00:15:58,433 --> 00:16:00,200
you're also not 
the wide receiver,

446
00:16:02,133 --> 00:16:03,466
the running man. 
- Running back, yes, yes.

447
00:16:03,466 --> 00:16:06,466
- Yeah, the running back. 
(audience laughs)

448
00:16:06,466 --> 00:16:09,000
- That was very Texas of you. 
(audience laughs)

449
00:16:09,000 --> 00:16:10,300
The running man.

450
00:16:10,300 --> 00:16:12,466
- Yeah, you know, you're 
not playing the line.

451
00:16:12,466 --> 00:16:15,133
And I think that what 
we need to embrace

452
00:16:15,133 --> 00:16:16,900
is that everybody 
has their role.

453
00:16:16,900 --> 00:16:18,500
And I think what's 
happening right now

454
00:16:18,500 --> 00:16:22,233
is everybody wants everybody 
to hit the same note.

455
00:16:22,233 --> 00:16:23,633
And it's just not gonna happen.

456
00:16:23,633 --> 00:16:25,266
- It's not realistic. 
- It's not realistic.

457
00:16:25,266 --> 00:16:27,633
Because of the type of 
districts that people come from

458
00:16:27,633 --> 00:16:30,266
or because of 
literally who they are.

459
00:16:30,266 --> 00:16:31,933
Not everybody can do a podcast,

460
00:16:31,933 --> 00:16:33,400
so let's stop with it, right?

461
00:16:33,400 --> 00:16:35,633
Like some things are 
real awkward, right?

462
00:16:35,633 --> 00:16:37,566
Like some people just 
should not do it.

463
00:16:38,800 --> 00:16:40,466
And, I mean, this is real.

464
00:16:40,466 --> 00:16:44,466
And then when you 
think about like,

465
00:16:44,466 --> 00:16:45,700
like right now we're like,

466
00:16:45,700 --> 00:16:47,400
"Oh, Dems gotta do 
more communicating,

467
00:16:47,400 --> 00:16:48,700
"and what does that look like?"

468
00:16:48,700 --> 00:16:50,233
Like it's kind of like...

469
00:16:51,300 --> 00:16:52,800
Love you Chuck Schumer, I do.

470
00:16:54,533 --> 00:16:56,266
That means that 
something's coming.

471
00:16:57,166 --> 00:16:58,400
- Yes.

472
00:16:58,400 --> 00:17:01,233
- So when we went 
out and we protested

473
00:17:01,233 --> 00:17:04,833
with so many of our amazing 
grassroots organizations

474
00:17:04,833 --> 00:17:07,333
in front of Treasury, 
it was great.

475
00:17:07,333 --> 00:17:09,066
This was like the 
largest one that we had

476
00:17:09,066 --> 00:17:11,766
as it relates to House 
members and Senate members

477
00:17:11,766 --> 00:17:13,033
that were participating.

478
00:17:13,033 --> 00:17:14,366
And all I kept 
hearing about was,

479
00:17:14,366 --> 00:17:16,300
"Y'all should have 
left Chuck at home."

480
00:17:17,733 --> 00:17:21,200
Not everybody can go out and 
get there in the streets.

481
00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:24,300
Like so I think we need to 
understand that, embrace that,

482
00:17:24,300 --> 00:17:28,800
and encourage every 
portion of our team

483
00:17:28,800 --> 00:17:30,866
to just be great in their lane.

484
00:17:30,866 --> 00:17:32,966
And I think the idea... 
- And be authentic.

485
00:17:32,966 --> 00:17:34,633
- And be authentic, exactly.

486
00:17:34,633 --> 00:17:36,600
So I think where 
we're going wrong

487
00:17:36,600 --> 00:17:40,466
is that we want everybody 
to do the same thing.

488
00:17:40,466 --> 00:17:41,600
- [Evan] Right.

489
00:17:41,600 --> 00:17:42,866
- And no one can 
get on the same page

490
00:17:42,866 --> 00:17:44,100
about what that thing is.

491
00:17:44,100 --> 00:17:45,066
- [Evan] About what 
the same thing is.

492
00:17:45,066 --> 00:17:46,400
- Exactly. 
- Right, right.

493
00:17:46,400 --> 00:17:47,966
Do you reject the idea 
that there are things

494
00:17:47,966 --> 00:17:49,966
to learn from the 
success of the other side

495
00:17:49,966 --> 00:17:52,866
as the party looks to strategize

496
00:17:52,866 --> 00:17:54,266
for the next couple of months?

497
00:17:54,266 --> 00:17:55,833
- I don't reject it at all. 
- [Evan] You don't?

498
00:17:55,833 --> 00:17:58,200
- And I think that if 
there are those people

499
00:17:58,200 --> 00:18:01,400
that can punch and 
are willing to punch,

500
00:18:01,400 --> 00:18:03,033
then we should be 
allowed to punch.

501
00:18:03,033 --> 00:18:04,333
- Yeah.

502
00:18:04,333 --> 00:18:05,900
- I mean, there was a 
headline that came out,

503
00:18:05,900 --> 00:18:07,500
so I'm not disclosing anything,

504
00:18:07,500 --> 00:18:10,066
even though I was actually 
being very cautious

505
00:18:10,066 --> 00:18:12,366
about disclosing things. 
- Yeah.

506
00:18:12,366 --> 00:18:15,000
- About the fact 
that a number of us

507
00:18:15,000 --> 00:18:19,500
were pulled into an office.

508
00:18:19,500 --> 00:18:20,566
- Right.

509
00:18:20,566 --> 00:18:22,400
Not saying whose office it was.

510
00:18:22,400 --> 00:18:25,066
- No, but if you Google, 
you'll find the article.

511
00:18:25,066 --> 00:18:28,166
You know, and saying like 
that we were, and I'm like...

512
00:18:29,633 --> 00:18:31,700
I need the freedom to... 
- What was the message?

513
00:18:31,700 --> 00:18:33,000
You were too much off the leash?

514
00:18:33,000 --> 00:18:34,500
Is that what the message was?

515
00:18:34,500 --> 00:18:35,866
- Pretty much. 
- Yeah.

516
00:18:35,866 --> 00:18:37,833
- With the State of the Union. 
- Right.

517
00:18:37,833 --> 00:18:39,400
- But nobody remembers anything

518
00:18:39,400 --> 00:18:41,300
from the State of the 
Union but Al Green.

519
00:18:41,300 --> 00:18:43,266
So I'm like... 
- Right.

520
00:18:43,266 --> 00:18:47,766
What did you, by the way... 
(audience applauds)

521
00:18:47,766 --> 00:18:49,066
We are sitting here

522
00:18:49,066 --> 00:18:50,433
a couple days after 
the State of the Union

523
00:18:50,433 --> 00:18:52,500
where Al Green did protest 
and was escorted out

524
00:18:52,500 --> 00:18:55,200
and now has been 
censured by the House.

525
00:18:55,200 --> 00:18:58,533
What'd you think about 
Congressman Green's approach?

526
00:18:58,533 --> 00:19:00,566
- I loved it. 
- You did?

527
00:19:00,566 --> 00:19:05,266
- I did, I did, I loved it. 
(audience applauds)

528
00:19:06,500 --> 00:19:09,566
And if I felt like 
I could, I would've.

529
00:19:09,566 --> 00:19:10,933
I'll say that. 
- If you felt like

530
00:19:10,933 --> 00:19:12,000
you could have done the 
same thing, you would've?

531
00:19:12,000 --> 00:19:13,866
- Oh, absolutely, absolutely.

532
00:19:13,866 --> 00:19:15,300
- I mean, I think 
it's so interesting

533
00:19:15,300 --> 00:19:17,233
that people are standing 
on ceremony about that.

534
00:19:17,233 --> 00:19:19,100
Oh, we're gonna do decorum now?

535
00:19:19,100 --> 00:19:20,633
Is that happening, right, yeah?

536
00:19:21,733 --> 00:19:22,666
People don't remember 
the last couple

537
00:19:22,666 --> 00:19:23,933
of States of the Union,

538
00:19:23,933 --> 00:19:25,600
including one during 
President Obama's term,

539
00:19:25,600 --> 00:19:27,300
when somebody yelled, 
"You lie," at him.

540
00:19:27,300 --> 00:19:28,700
- Yeah, yeah, yeah.

541
00:19:28,700 --> 00:19:31,300
I will say that, for me,

542
00:19:31,300 --> 00:19:34,300
I understand that we 
are literally at war,

543
00:19:34,300 --> 00:19:37,133
and so I have to evaluate 
each battle as it comes.

544
00:19:37,133 --> 00:19:38,033
- [Evan] Right.

545
00:19:38,033 --> 00:19:41,100
- And Al Green, love him,

546
00:19:41,100 --> 00:19:43,466
have loved him for 
a very long time,

547
00:19:44,833 --> 00:19:47,766
and Al Green is in a 
different position than I am.

548
00:19:47,766 --> 00:19:51,533
Al Green is an 
80-year-old Black man,

549
00:19:51,533 --> 00:19:55,400
and I'm sure that what this 
administration is doing

550
00:19:55,400 --> 00:19:57,300
is hitting him differently 
than it hits me.

551
00:19:57,300 --> 00:19:58,233
- Right.

552
00:19:58,233 --> 00:19:59,033
- This is a man who grew up,

553
00:19:59,033 --> 00:20:00,266
we're about to celebrate

554
00:20:00,266 --> 00:20:02,166
the 60th anniversary 
of Bloody Sunday,

555
00:20:02,166 --> 00:20:03,700
this is somebody

556
00:20:03,700 --> 00:20:08,200
who actually saw like people 
be bloodied and bludgeoned.

557
00:20:08,200 --> 00:20:12,533
So I do believe that he 
understands the history

558
00:20:12,533 --> 00:20:15,200
and connects to the history 
completely differently

559
00:20:15,200 --> 00:20:17,066
as it relates to how he was able

560
00:20:17,066 --> 00:20:19,833
to be able to even 
sit in the chamber.

561
00:20:19,833 --> 00:20:21,400
- Yeah. 
- And forget all this decorum.

562
00:20:21,400 --> 00:20:24,500
'Cause I don't understand 
how we say he's a dictator

563
00:20:24,500 --> 00:20:26,066
and he's this and he's that

564
00:20:26,066 --> 00:20:28,666
and he's a fascist 
and the oligarchy,

565
00:20:28,666 --> 00:20:29,933
and then we say, "But 
we're gonna go in

566
00:20:29,933 --> 00:20:30,966
"and we're gonna sit.

567
00:20:32,066 --> 00:20:33,466
"We're gonna be in decorum."

568
00:20:34,800 --> 00:20:36,100
- You said something earlier

569
00:20:36,100 --> 00:20:37,833
about institutions 
and institutionalists.

570
00:20:37,833 --> 00:20:39,533
I mean, there is this 
real tension at the moment

571
00:20:39,533 --> 00:20:41,300
about norms and institutions

572
00:20:41,300 --> 00:20:44,233
and if there's an 
asymmetrical view of this.

573
00:20:44,233 --> 00:20:47,333
Like one side is protecting 
norms and institutions.

574
00:20:47,333 --> 00:20:48,966
Are both sides? 
- No.

575
00:20:48,966 --> 00:20:51,633
- I was busting your 
chops, Democrats,

576
00:20:51,633 --> 00:20:53,233
about how you responded.

577
00:20:53,233 --> 00:20:56,100
Let me bust my chops and the 
chops of people in the media.

578
00:20:56,100 --> 00:20:58,100
I asked you if Democrats 
were up to the task.

579
00:20:58,100 --> 00:21:00,766
Is the media up to the 
task in this moment?

580
00:21:00,766 --> 00:21:01,833
- No. 
- No.

581
00:21:01,833 --> 00:21:03,866
Say more about that, pile on.

582
00:21:03,866 --> 00:21:06,300
- I think that that goes to 
the freedom of the press thing.

583
00:21:06,300 --> 00:21:08,833
I think that people 
are consistently being

584
00:21:08,833 --> 00:21:13,100
intimidated and paralyzed.

585
00:21:13,100 --> 00:21:15,333
And so, you know, 
there is a question

586
00:21:15,333 --> 00:21:18,666
about whether or not if 
you have anything ugly

587
00:21:18,666 --> 00:21:22,266
or truthful to say 
about Donald Trump,

588
00:21:22,266 --> 00:21:23,633
what will happen? 
- [Evan] Yeah.

589
00:21:23,633 --> 00:21:25,700
- What will that 
retribution look like?

590
00:21:25,700 --> 00:21:30,333
And I think that what we 
saw on State of the Union,

591
00:21:30,333 --> 00:21:32,433
kind of bringing in 
the Al situation,

592
00:21:32,433 --> 00:21:35,366
is, if everyone stands together,

593
00:21:35,366 --> 00:21:38,000
then it's hard to 
go after everybody.

594
00:21:38,000 --> 00:21:41,933
But if everybody falls, then 
it's easy enough, right?

595
00:21:41,933 --> 00:21:43,433
And so I think that 
that's the problem.

596
00:21:43,433 --> 00:21:45,733
I think that even 
though you compete

597
00:21:45,733 --> 00:21:47,533
in whatever ways you compete,

598
00:21:47,533 --> 00:21:49,466
I think that the media 
needs to stand together.

599
00:21:49,466 --> 00:21:51,933
I think that as he 
decided he wanted

600
00:21:51,933 --> 00:21:54,366
to kick out the 
Associated Press,

601
00:21:54,366 --> 00:21:57,066
everybody else should have 
left and said, "You know what?

602
00:21:57,066 --> 00:22:00,733
"Nobody's gonna cover you." 
(audience applauds)

603
00:22:00,733 --> 00:22:02,800
- Congresswoman, we have 
just a couple minutes.

604
00:22:02,800 --> 00:22:04,633
There are presumably 
some people watching

605
00:22:04,633 --> 00:22:05,766
who don't agree with you.

606
00:22:05,766 --> 00:22:07,733
But there are people 
watching who do

607
00:22:07,733 --> 00:22:09,500
and who may think,

608
00:22:09,500 --> 00:22:13,066
"I want to do something 
in my community for myself

609
00:22:13,066 --> 00:22:15,933
"to try to demonstrate 
that we can have impact."

610
00:22:15,933 --> 00:22:17,466
- Yeah.

611
00:22:17,466 --> 00:22:18,700
- So what would you recommend 
to people who are watching

612
00:22:18,700 --> 00:22:20,466
who want to figure 
out how they can be

613
00:22:20,466 --> 00:22:23,666
important and impactful in their 
communities in this moment?

614
00:22:23,666 --> 00:22:24,500
What would you 
recommend people do?

615
00:22:24,500 --> 00:22:25,900
- So I'm gonna say,

616
00:22:25,900 --> 00:22:28,000
whether you associate yourself

617
00:22:28,000 --> 00:22:30,633
as a Democrat, Republican, 
or independent,

618
00:22:30,633 --> 00:22:33,100
the things that 
I'm fighting for,

619
00:22:33,100 --> 00:22:35,233
they have nothing to 
do with partisanship.

620
00:22:35,233 --> 00:22:38,866
They have everything to do 
with me caring about people.

621
00:22:38,866 --> 00:22:42,900
When we pass legislation 
that funds and helps

622
00:22:42,900 --> 00:22:45,033
those that are 
struggling the most,

623
00:22:45,033 --> 00:22:47,233
that makes for a 
stronger America.

624
00:22:47,233 --> 00:22:49,000
And I'm not looking and saying,

625
00:22:49,000 --> 00:22:51,366
"Check their voter 
registration first."

626
00:22:51,366 --> 00:22:53,833
What I am looking at what 
is right versus wrong.

627
00:22:53,833 --> 00:22:55,133
I am the child of a preacher.

628
00:22:55,133 --> 00:22:58,766
So I actually don't just 
say I'm a Christian,

629
00:22:58,766 --> 00:23:01,500
I do it in the way 
that I pass policy

630
00:23:01,500 --> 00:23:02,700
or try to pass policy.

631
00:23:02,700 --> 00:23:04,800
And so what I will say is that,

632
00:23:04,800 --> 00:23:07,600
so long as we are a 
democratic republic,

633
00:23:07,600 --> 00:23:09,200
recognize your power.

634
00:23:09,200 --> 00:23:11,466
The power in a 
democratic republic,

635
00:23:11,466 --> 00:23:13,333
it resides with the people.

636
00:23:13,333 --> 00:23:16,833
And once the people start to 
feel as if they are powerless,

637
00:23:16,833 --> 00:23:19,733
then people like Trump win.

638
00:23:19,733 --> 00:23:22,566
What we've seen is we've 
seen the town halls

639
00:23:22,566 --> 00:23:23,833
all over the country,

640
00:23:23,833 --> 00:23:26,200
and we've seen the 
power of the people.

641
00:23:26,200 --> 00:23:27,233
People have shown up,

642
00:23:27,233 --> 00:23:28,400
and they are trying to hold

643
00:23:28,400 --> 00:23:29,733
their representatives 
accountable.

644
00:23:29,733 --> 00:23:31,233
And I think that 
you need to do that

645
00:23:31,233 --> 00:23:32,300
whether your representative

646
00:23:32,300 --> 00:23:33,566
is a Democrat or a Republican.

647
00:23:33,566 --> 00:23:35,333
- Are you doing town 
halls in your district?

648
00:23:35,333 --> 00:23:36,666
- Well, I'm kind of busy.

649
00:23:36,666 --> 00:23:37,966
But! 
- Right.

650
00:23:37,966 --> 00:23:39,600
But, see, congresswoman, 
you understand

651
00:23:39,600 --> 00:23:40,766
that what's good for the goose

652
00:23:40,766 --> 00:23:41,800
is good for the gander, right?

653
00:23:41,800 --> 00:23:42,900
- No, no, no.

654
00:23:42,900 --> 00:23:45,433
And don't get it 
twisted now, okay?

655
00:23:45,433 --> 00:23:48,700
I do wanna say that I've 
always done town halls.

656
00:23:48,700 --> 00:23:50,000
- Right.

657
00:23:50,000 --> 00:23:51,566
- Because we actually 
do quarterly town halls.

658
00:23:51,566 --> 00:23:53,100
They are tele-town halls.

659
00:23:53,100 --> 00:23:55,733
And that is more so because, 
when I first came in,

660
00:23:55,733 --> 00:23:58,533
it was still kind of COVID-ish 
and that kind of stuff.

661
00:23:58,533 --> 00:24:00,366
But, also, we usually have

662
00:24:00,366 --> 00:24:02,166
no less than 7,000 
people on there.

663
00:24:02,166 --> 00:24:05,000
I can't fit 7,000 people. 
- In one room.

664
00:24:05,000 --> 00:24:06,400
- Exactly.

665
00:24:06,400 --> 00:24:07,666
- So you think everybody 
should be subjecting themselves

666
00:24:07,666 --> 00:24:08,766
to this kind of accountability

667
00:24:08,766 --> 00:24:10,266
from the public they represent?

668
00:24:10,266 --> 00:24:11,800
- Absolutely.

669
00:24:11,800 --> 00:24:14,166
And I am going to be having 
my tele-town hall next week.

670
00:24:15,300 --> 00:24:16,600
You know, I absolutely 
believe that.

671
00:24:16,600 --> 00:24:17,966
But I'm also like 
traveling the country

672
00:24:17,966 --> 00:24:19,366
and doing a lot of things.

673
00:24:19,366 --> 00:24:22,166
So, you know, thankfully 
my district gives me grace.

674
00:24:22,166 --> 00:24:25,200
But one of the things that 
I'm actually working on

675
00:24:25,200 --> 00:24:27,666
is actually going into 
Republican districts

676
00:24:27,666 --> 00:24:29,700
where they don't wanna show up.

677
00:24:29,700 --> 00:24:31,100
(audience applauds)

678
00:24:31,100 --> 00:24:33,400
- They won't show 
up, but you will.

679
00:24:33,400 --> 00:24:34,466
Yeah, missed it.

680
00:24:34,466 --> 00:24:36,000
Making them miss it.

681
00:24:36,000 --> 00:24:40,033
- Right now, Eric 
Swalwell is in, Boise?

682
00:24:40,033 --> 00:24:43,466
I think he's in Boise, 
Idaho right now.

683
00:24:43,466 --> 00:24:44,866
And he's doing a town hall.

684
00:24:44,866 --> 00:24:46,700
Because the thing is,

685
00:24:46,700 --> 00:24:49,033
we've pushed for legislation

686
00:24:49,033 --> 00:24:52,533
that really is impactful 
and helpful to everyone.

687
00:24:52,533 --> 00:24:53,800
- Yeah.

688
00:24:53,800 --> 00:24:55,200
- And I think that 
it's easier for people

689
00:24:55,200 --> 00:24:58,066
to understand that 
I'm a real person

690
00:24:58,066 --> 00:25:00,866
who really is not 
trying to inflict harm,

691
00:25:00,866 --> 00:25:02,500
but I actually want to help

692
00:25:02,500 --> 00:25:04,766
if we can sit down and 
have conversations.

693
00:25:04,766 --> 00:25:07,133
So I wanna show up, 
I wanna let them know

694
00:25:07,133 --> 00:25:09,066
that I lived in East Texas,

695
00:25:09,066 --> 00:25:11,633
so I know what it is to 
live in rural America.

696
00:25:11,633 --> 00:25:13,466
I know what it is to be nervous

697
00:25:13,466 --> 00:25:15,366
that the tire plant 
is gonna close

698
00:25:15,366 --> 00:25:17,100
or International 
Paper is gonna close,

699
00:25:17,100 --> 00:25:20,400
or the chicken plant and how 
that impacts the community.

700
00:25:20,400 --> 00:25:21,700
I know this.

701
00:25:21,700 --> 00:25:24,066
I also served on the 
Agriculture Committee,

702
00:25:24,066 --> 00:25:26,400
so I've consistently 
talked to farmers,

703
00:25:26,400 --> 00:25:27,866
and I know their challenges.

704
00:25:27,866 --> 00:25:29,866
And I also know what it's like

705
00:25:29,866 --> 00:25:32,066
when your hospitals 
are closing, right?

706
00:25:32,066 --> 00:25:33,666
So I know these things.

707
00:25:33,666 --> 00:25:34,933
And so when I legislate,

708
00:25:34,933 --> 00:25:37,500
I legislate to, yes, 
help my district,

709
00:25:37,500 --> 00:25:39,766
but the help that 
goes to my district,

710
00:25:39,766 --> 00:25:41,433
it goes far beyond my district.

711
00:25:41,433 --> 00:25:44,333
And so I wanna have these very 
real conversations with them.

712
00:25:44,333 --> 00:25:46,500
- Okay, we're gonna 
leave it right there.

713
00:25:46,500 --> 00:25:48,533
Congresswoman, thank you 
very much for coming.

714
00:25:48,533 --> 00:25:49,966
It's good to see you. 
- Thank you.

715
00:25:49,966 --> 00:25:51,233
- [Evan] Thank you 
for your service.

716
00:25:51,233 --> 00:25:54,733
- It's good to see you. 
(audience applauds)

717
00:25:56,400 --> 00:25:58,900
- [Evan] We'd love to have 
you join us in the studio.

718
00:25:58,900 --> 00:26:02,633
Visit our website at 
austinpbs.org/overheard

719
00:26:02,633 --> 00:26:04,666
to find invitations 
to interviews,

720
00:26:04,666 --> 00:26:06,900
Q&As with our 
audience and guests,

721
00:26:06,900 --> 00:26:09,133
and an archive of past episodes.

722
00:26:09,133 --> 00:26:11,100
- They want the 
debt ceiling raised.

723
00:26:11,100 --> 00:26:12,833
So why are people 
losing their jobs,

724
00:26:12,833 --> 00:26:14,533
why are people losing 
their healthcare

725
00:26:14,533 --> 00:26:16,800
And we still have to 
raise the debt ceiling?

726
00:26:16,800 --> 00:26:21,333
Because they have decided that 
they want these deep tax cuts

727
00:26:21,333 --> 00:26:25,000
for the billionaires who 
already are enjoying tax cuts.

728
00:26:25,000 --> 00:26:26,533
- [Announcer] Support for 
"Overheard with Evan Smith"

729
00:26:26,533 --> 00:26:28,266
comes from: HillCo Partners,

730
00:26:28,266 --> 00:26:30,533
a Texas government 
affairs consultancy,

731
00:26:30,533 --> 00:26:32,166
Claire and Carl Stuart,

732
00:26:32,166 --> 00:26:33,700
Christine and Philip Dial,

733
00:26:33,700 --> 00:26:35,000
and the Eller Group,

734
00:26:35,000 --> 00:26:36,900
specializing in crisis 
management, litigation,

735
00:26:36,900 --> 00:26:38,666
and public affairs 
communication.

736
00:26:38,666 --> 00:26:40,100
Ellergroup.com.

737
00:26:40,100 --> 00:26:43,000
(soft flute music)