December 14, 2020

> HELLO, EVERYONE.

WELCOME TO 'AMANPOUR & CO.'

HERE'S WHAT'S COMING UP.

I WILL PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE JOSEPH BIDEN HAS RECEIVED 16 VOTES FOR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE FORMAL DECLARATION ON THE 2020 ELECTION TAKES ON ADD SIGNIFICANCE.

MICHAEL BESCHLOSS AND REPUBLICAN VOTERS AGAINST TRUMP SARAH LONGWELL JOINS ME.

♪ I'M HOPING THESE WORDS DON'T RING SO HOLLOW WHEN YOU HEAR ME SAY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR ♪

MUSICAL SHAPE SHIFTER ANDREW BIRD.

AND INSPIRATION IN THE PANDEMIC.

IF WE CARE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE A MASSIVE INVESTMENT IN THE COMMUNITIES BEING DISPROPORTIONATELY HIT BY COVID.

SPEAKING TO HARLEM CHILDREN'S PRESIDENT GEOFFREY CANADA AND KWAME OWUSU-KESSE ABOUT BREAKING THE CYCLE OF POVERTY.

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THANK YOU.

WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM, EVERYONE.

I'M CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR IN LONDON.

A ROUTINE EXERCISE IN DEMOCRACY TOOK PLACE TODAY IN THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE.

AND YET FROM POLICE ESCORTS TO UNDISCLOSED LOCATIONS, ELECTORS FACE UNPRECEDENTED MEASURES TO ENSURE THAT THEY CAN DO THEIR JOB SAFELY.

THAT IS, RUBBER STAMPING THEIR STATE'S ELECTION RESULTS.

THIS AS PRESIDENT TRUMP CONTINUES TO CALL IT, QUOTE, THE MOST CORRUPT ELECTION IN U.S.

HISTORY.

PROVIDING NO EVIDENCE OF WIDESPREAD VOTER FRAUD AFTER FIVE WEEKS OF LAWSUITS AND RECOUNTS THAT IN FACT LED NOWHERE.

AND HE HAS YET TO CONCEDE TO PRESIDENT-ELECT JOE BIDEN.

MANY HOPE TODAY'S VOTE WILL BRING AN END TO THAT POLITICAL SAGA JUST AS THEY HOPE FOR AN END TO THE WORST SYMPTOMS OF THE PANDEMIC AS THE FIRST VACCINES ARE ADMINISTERED IN THE COUNTRY.

AS AMERICANS TRY TO BUILD IMMUNITY AGAINST THE VIRUS, PERHAPS IT IS THE HEALTH OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY THAT IS AT STAKE TODAY.

TO DISCUSS THIS, I AM JOINED BY STRATEGIST AND REPUBLICAN VOTERS AGAINST TRUMP CO-FOUNDER SARAH LONGWELL AND BY PRESIDENTIAL HISTORIAN AND BEST SELLING AUTHOR, MICHAEL BESCHLOSS.

WELCOME BOTH OF YOU FROM WASHINGTON, D.C.

IT IS GOOD TO HAVE YOU OF THIS HAS CAPTIVATED THE WORLD'S ATTENTION.

A LITTLE NOTICED EVENT IN THE PAST.

SO SARAH LONGWELL, DO YOU THINK ONCE THEY ESTABLISH WHAT THE ELECTION ACTUALLY DID, WILL THIS BRING IT BACK INTO LINE?

UNFORTUNATELY, I DON'T THINK SO.

I THINK IT RUNS PRETTY DEEP NOW.

WHEN DONALD TRUMP BECAME PRESIDENT, EVERYBODY WAS UNDERSTANDABLY ALARMED.

I ALWAYS SAID TO THEM, IT WOULD BE OKAY.

REPUBLICANS, ELECTED REPUBLICANS, THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE PEOPLE.

THEY'LL BE GUARDRAILS ON THIS PRESIDENT.

MY FAITH IN THAT HAS BEEN ERODED OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS, AND IT HAS CULMINATED IN THIS 126 CONGRESSMEN SIGNING ON TO THIS TEXAS LAWSUIT WHICH WAS JUST GOING TO THROW OUT MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF PEOPLE'S VOTES.

THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS ENTIRELY CAPTURED BY DONALD TRUMP.

A FULL 77% OF REPUBLICAN VOTERS DON'T BELIEVE THE ELECTION RESULTS.

SO THIS IS THE KIND OF THING THAT IS TRAGIC FOR DEMOCRACY.

IT IS REALLY UNDERMINING OUR FAITHFUL THERE IS BUY-IN NOW FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS, FROM ELECTED REPUBLICANS, FROM THE PARTY THAT I HAD LONG BELONGED TO.

SO WHEN YOU HAVE THE PEOPLE IN POWER ACTIVELY UNDERMINING THE ELECTION PROCESS, WHAT, THAT SENDS A TERRIBLE SIGNAL TO VOTERS AND IT IS THE REASON THERE'S SO LITTLE CONFIDENCE IN THESE ELECTION RESULTS.

SO MIKE BESCHLOSS, SIT BACK A LITTLE AND TAKE THE BIG PICTURE OF HISTORY.

HAS THERE EVER BEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS UNDERMINING OF CONFIDENCE?

WE READ THAT BACK IN THE, I GUESS THE 1960 ELECTION, THERE WAS SOME BACK AND FORTH DURING THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE PROCESS BETWEEN KENNEDY AND NIXON.

THIS BUY-IN THAT SARAH TALKS ABOUT BY THE AUTHORITIES, IN REPUBLICAN PARTIES OF DONALD TRUMP'S MISINFORMATION, DISINFORMATION, AND LIES, WALK US THROUGH THAT.

IT USED TO BE CONSERVATIVES WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT AMERICANS A LOT OF CONFIDENCE IN THEIR INSTITUTIONS, RATHER THAN LYING ABOUT THEM AND TRYING ON UNDERMINE FAITH THAT A FREE ELECTION IS ACTUALLY A FREE ELECTION WITH REAL RESULTS.

AND WHAT SARAH MENTIONED IS TOTALLY RIGHT.

THAT WE'RE NOW IN ANOTHER UNIVERSE WHERE A MAJORITY ACCORDING TO THE POLLS OF REPUBLICANS WHO VOTED FOR DONALD TRUMP NOW BELIEVE THAT THE ELECTION HAS BEEN STOLEN FROM THEM, FROM HIM.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH REALITY.

AND HE HAS BEEN MAKING A BIG EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY BELIEVE THIS AND ALSO, TO TRY TO IN FACT, TAKE AN ELECTION THAT HE DID NOT WIN.

FOR INSTANCE, TODAY, YOU'RE QUITE RIGHT IN SAYING THAT THESE MEETINGS IN THE 50 STATES OF ELECTORAL COLLEGE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS, IT IS USUALLY SO UNEXCEPTIONAL THAT WE'RE NOT EVEN AWARE IT IS HAPPENING.

IN THIS CASE, THERE ARE DEATH THREATS AGAINST ELECTORS.

THERE ARE RUMOR THAT'S SOME ARE BEING THREATENED, THAT SOME ARE BEING BRIBED.

I HOPE NONE OF THAT HAPPENS.

I THINK IT IS UNLIKELY THAT IT WILL.

BUT ETERNAL VIGILANCE IS ALWAYS THE PRICE OF LIBERTY.

THEN MOVE UP TO THE FIRST WEEK OF JANUARY WHEN THESE VOTES ARE COUNTED IN CONGRESS.

YOU'VE GOT POSSIBLY A REPUBLICAN MAJORITY IN THE SENATE.

A LARGER NUMBER OF REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE THAN THERE WERE A YEAR AGO.

WHO KNOWS WHAT TROUBLE THEY MIGHT MAKE ON THE DAY THAT THESE VOTES ARE SUPPOSED TO BE COUNTED, AND THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, MIKE PENCE IS SUPPOSED TO DECLARE THAT JOE BIDEN HAS BEEN ELECTED PRESIDENT.

AND FINALLY, THE 20th OF JANUARY.

IN ALMOST EVERY OTHER CASE IN AMERICAN HISTORY, THE OUTGOING PRESIDENT, EVEN IF HE'S BEEN DEFEATED BY THE GUY WHO WON, GOES UP WITH HIM IN THE CAR UP TO THE CAPITOL, WATCHES THE NEW GUY TAKE THE HE THINK ON, SHAKES HANDS AND GIVES AMERICANS THE SENSE THAT THERE IS BEEN A PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POWER.

WHAT THE TRUMP PEOPLE ARE NOW DISCUSSING IS A COUNTER INAUGURAL.

WHERE TRUMP DOESN'T SHOW UP.

TRUMP SAYS BIDEN STOLE THE ELECTION.

DOESN'T DESERVE TO BE SWORN IN TODAY.

MAYBE THEY'LL HAVE A CEREMONY IN A TENT ACROSS THE POTOMAC AND MAYBE THEY'LL DO IT PAY-PER-VIEW SO THAT THE TRUMP PEOPLE CAN EARN SOME MONEY OFF THIS.

I'M NOT KIDDING.

MAYBE THEY'LL GET RUDY GIULIANI TO SWEAR HIM IN AS IF HE'S BEING SWORN IN FOR A REAL SECOND TERM.

I HOPE NONE OF THIS HAPPENS.

PROBABLY IT WON'T.

BUT THIS IS ATMOSPHERE OF THE SURREAL THAT WE'RE NOW BEING PUSHED INTO.

WHEN YOU LAY IT OUT LIKE THAT, IT IS REALLY JUST, IT BEGS BELIEF.

I WANT TO PUT TO YOU WHAT KARL ROVE, SORT OF SHY SHRINKING VIOLET, HE'S A VERY, VERY TOUGH SUPPORTER OF CONSERVATISM.

WAS THERE FOR PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH.

THIS IS WHAT HE SAID ABOUT TRUMP'S ANTICS RIGHT NOW.

IF HIS GOAL IS TO LAY THE PREDICATE TO COME BACK IN 2024 AND RUN AGAIN, HE'S HELPING HIMSELF AT LEAST GAIN THE WILL NONE NATION.

IN THE LONG RUN HE'S NOT HELPING HIMSELF OR THE COUNTRY.

AMERICA LIKES COMEBACKS BUT THEY DONAL LIKE SORE LOSERS AND HE IS ON THE END OF LOOKING LIKE A SORE LOSER.

YOU GALVANIZED REPUBLICANS AGAINST TRUMP AND YOU SUCCEEDED.

YOU AND EVERYBODY ELSE.

DO YOU THINK THAT THIS WILL LAST BEYOND THE LAST BREATH?

BEYOND JANUARY 20TH?

UNFORTUNATELY, YES.

THE REASON KARL ROVE IS OUT THERE, THERE ARE A LOT OF ESTABLISHED REPUBLICAN WHO'S ARE TRYING TO FIGHT FOR TWO SENATE SEATS IN GEORGIA AND THEY'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE PRESIDENT AND HIS ALLIES, PEOPLE LIKE LYNN WOOD IN GEORGIA, WHO ARE SAYING THINGS LIKE BURN DOWN THE GOP.

OR DON'T SHOW UP AND VOTE FOR THESE ESTABLISHMENT REPUBLICANS.

THEY'RE NOT FIGHTING HARD ENOUGH TO STEAL THE ELECTION FOR DONALD TRUMP.

SO THERE'S THIS WEIRD DANCE GOING ON.

THEY DON'T WANT TO BUCK HIM.

THEY'LL DO THINGS LIKE SIGN ON TO CRAZY ATTICUS BRIEFS.

YOU HAVE LINDSEY GRAHAM AND TED CRUZ SAYING, YES, THIS WAS FRAUDULENT.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME THEY NEED PEOPLE TO TURN OUT IN GEORGIA.

A LOT OF REPUBLICAN WHO'S WANT TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT IN 2024 WHO ARE NOT NAMED DONALD TRUMP.

THEY'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW YOU NUDGE HIM OFF THE STAGE AND RESET THE PARTY.

UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE HE HAS SUCH A GRIP, THEY'RE ALSO AFRAID.

JUST LOOK AT WHAT HE IS DOING.

GOING AFTER PEOPLE LIKE GOVERNOR KEMP OR GOVERNOR BUSEY.

THE WAY HE IS STIRRING UP PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTING VIOLENT OR THREATENING THE MICHIGAN LEGISLATURE.

PEOPLE WANT AND NEED HIS SUPPORT BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THEY ALSO REALLY NEED HIM TO GO.

AND THAT'S THE WAY DONALD TRUMP HAS REALLY BOXED IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

AND WHY THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE SUCH A DIFFICULT TIME SHAKING HIM LOOSE.

AND I WILL SAY, YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHAT THEY GET FOR THEIR BARGAIN.

NOW THEY HAVE TO RIDE THIS TIGER.

THEY HELPED GIN THESE VOTERS UP AND SAY YEAH, THERE'S THIS FRAUD.

AND NOW THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH VOTERS SAYING TO THEM, WHY AREN'T YOU WORKING HARD ENOUGH TO STOP THIS?

I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, MAYBE WE CAN'T ANSWER THIS QUESTION NOW, ABOUT WHETHER TRUMP HAS ESTABLISH AD NEW THRESHOLD FOR ANY NUMBER OF ANTICS THAT MIGHT TAKE PLACE AFTER FUTURE AMERICAN ELECTIONS.

TIM WOO WROTE A COME YOU WILL, A COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY LAW PROFESSOR, YOU MUST HAVE SEEN IT.

HE TALKED ABOUT WHAT ACTUALLY SAVED AMERICAN DEMOCRACY.

NOT THE CHECKS AND BALANCES THAT MADISON HOPED THE CONGRESS WOULD PLAY THE BIGGEST PART, BUT THE INDIVIDUALS, AND I'LL READ WHAT HE SAID, HE BASICALLY SAYS, WHAT REALLY SAVED THE REPUBLIC FROM MR. TRUMP WAS A DIFFERENT SET OF LIMITS ON THE EXECUTIVE.

HELD UP BY FEDERAL PROSECUTORS AND STATE ELECTIONS OFFICIALS.

YOU MIGHT CALL THEM OUR UNWRITTEN CONSTITUTION.

WHATEVER YOU CALL THEM, THEY WERE THE DECISIVE FACTOR.

MICHAEL BESCHLOSS, DO YOU BUY INTO THAT?

I WISH I COULD.

IT WOULD MAKE ME FEEL BETTER BUT I DON'T.

I WISH COULD I SAY THAT THE SYSTEM HAS WORKED AND THAT'S WHY DONALD TRUMP IS GOING OUT OF OFFICE.

INSTEAD, HISTORIANS MAY VERY WELL SAY IT WILL TAKE DECADES TO KNOW.

THEY MAY SAY DONALD TRUMP COULD HAVE LIES WON A SECOND TERM WITH A GREAT ECONOMY, BUT FOR THE TRAGEDY OF THIS PANDEMIC AND THE ECONOMIC SUFFERING, AND THE RACIAL JUSTICE ISSUES THAT WERE BROUGHT UP LAST SUMMER.

THAT'S NOT THE SYSTEM SAVING THE COUNTRY'S DEMOCRACY FROM A PRESIDENT WITH CONTEMPT FOR IT AND WITH A LUST FOR POWER.

THAT'S BASICALLY BIBLICAL OF I WISH I COULD SAY IT WAS THE SYSTEM.

I THINK WHAT THE LAST FOUR YEARS HAVE SHOWN, WE'RE SEEING IT RIGHT NOW.

THAT THE FOUNDERS NEVER IMAGINE THAT HAD SOMEONE EVER COULD GET TO BE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES WHO HAS THIS KIND OF DISRESPECT FOR DEMOCRACY.

SO EAGER TO GRAB POWER WHENEVER HE CAN.

THEY ASSUME THAT THE FIRST PRESIDENT WOULD BE GEORGE WASHINGTON.

THEY ASSUME THAT FUTURE PRESIDENTS WOULD BE LYING GEORGE WASHINGTON IN THEIR CHARACTER.

AND I THINK THE ONE THING THE LAST FOUR YEARS HAVE SHOWN US IS, HOW MANY, HOW MUCH OF OUR DEMOCRACY REALLY DEPENDS ON TRADITIONS AND NOT STRICT LAW.

DONALD TRUMP HAS BEEN ABLE TO APPOINT THREE PEOPLE TO THE SUPREME COURT.

AT LEAST TWO OF THOSE SLOTS HE CREATED WITH THE CONGRESS HE'S BEEN ABLE TO DEFY SUBPOENAS.

WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT, THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, HE'S PUT IN POLITICAL PEOPLE TO DO HIS BIDDING.

OUR LAWS ARE NOT STRICT ENOUGH TO PREVENT THAT.

LET ME PUT IT TO YOU SARAH IN A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT WAY.

ON THE FLIP SIDE OF THAT COIN.

YOU GATHERED REPUBLICANS TO VOTE AGAINST TRUMP.

IN OTHER WORDS, DISAFFECTED REPUBLICANS.

ORDINARY PEOPLE WHO ARE REPUBLICANS WHO YOU WANTED THEM NOT TO VOTE.

TO AN EXTENT, THAT SUCCEEDED, RIGHT?

AND YOU SAW HOW THAT POTENTIALLY WORKED GIVEN WHO WON THE ACTUAL PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION DESPITE THE FACT THAT MANY REPUBLICANS WERE VOTED FOR DOWN BALLOT.

YES.

SO I THINK THE REASON THAT OUR CAMPAIGN WAS SUCCESSFUL IS BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZED THAT DONALD TRUMP FOR A SEGMENT OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, THAT HE WAS JUST TOO FAR.

SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE RESULTS, ESPECIALLY IN THESE SWING STATES, YOU WILL SEE THE MARGIN OF VICTORY IS PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR JOE BIDEN AND THEN VOTED FOR REPUBLICANS DOWN TICKET.

WHICH SUGGESTS THAT, AND THIS IS SOMETHING I'VE KNOWN FROM A LOT OF RESEARCH I'VE DONE, BEING PART OF REPUBLICAN PARTY.

THAT THERE IS A REAL DANGER IN HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE GONE ALL IN ON TRUMPISM.

THEN THERE IS THIS OTHER SECTION OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THAT ARE STILL TRADITIONAL REPUBLICANS.

THEY BELIEVE IN FREE MARKETS AND LIMITED GOVERNMENT AND THEY DON'T REALLY LIKE TRUMP.

AND I THINK THE QUESTION IS WHETHER THERE IS A WAY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, WHETHER THERE'S A WAY TO RECALIBRATE THE PARTY AROUND, YOU KNOW, A VISION OF ITSELF THAT IS FORWARD LOOKING AND NOT ROOTED IN TRUMPISM.

I WISH I HAD MORE OPTIMISM ABOUT THAT.

OR CAN THE DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM UNDER SOMEONE LIKE JOE BIDEN BE OFFERED A PLACE FOR SOME OF THE REPUBLICANS TO GO.

A LOT OF SUBURBAN VOTERS WHO ARE CENTER RIGHT IN THEIR ORIENTATION BUT REALLY DON'T LIKE THE CONSPIRACY MONGERING AND ALL THE HATRED AND SO MUCH THAT COMES ALONG WITH THE MAGA RIGHT.

I THINK IF THE DEMOCRATS CAN OFFER REPUBLICANS A HOME, THAT COULD BE A NEW REALIGNMENT THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE GOOD FOR THEY WILL.

JUST TO GO TO SOMETHING MICHAEL WAS SAYING, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS TO HAPPEN IMMEDIATELY, YOU COULD GET AT LEAST HE SOME REPUBLICANS ON BOARD.

THERE WAS A SERIES OF REFORM THAT THEY PASSED LAWS SO THINGS HIS TORII NORMS WERE NOW LAWS.

HEY, YOU CAN'T PUT YOUR KIDS IN THE WHITE HOUSE AND LET THEM RUN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.

YOU HAVE TO RELEASE YOUR TAX RETURNS.

THERE SHOULD BE A BUNCH OF THESE REFORMS THAT REPUBLICANS COULD GET BEHIND.

IT DOES REIN IT IN AND SOME OF THAT WOULD PREVENT WHAT HAPPENED WITH DONALD TRUMP.

I WANT TO ASK YOU THE SAME QUESTION.

IT WAS -- JUSTICES REPUBLICAN-POINTED.

IT WAS THE MILITARY WHO REFUSED TO TO GO HAVE THE EXTRA MILE AND ENFORCE TRUMP'S UNCONSTITUTIONAL ORDERS.

IT WAS THE STATE OFFICIALS, REPUBLICAN STATE OFFICIALS, WHO STOOD UP AND SAID, NO.

THERE ISN'T FRAUD.

DO YOU TAKE HOPE FROM THE ORDINARY PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT IN THE TOP RANK OF ELECTED OFFICE, WHO ACTUALLY STOOD THEIR GROUND.

REPUBLICANS, ORDINARY REPUBLICANS.

ABSOLUTELY.

THERE HAVE BEEN TREMENDOUS PROFILES IN COURAGE.

PEOPLE LIKE BRAD RAPPENSBURG HERE HAVE DONE THE RIGHT THING AND PEOPLE YOU'VE NEVER HEARD OF.

PEOPLE THERE TO ESSENTIALLY RUBBER STAMP THINGS.

PART OF CANVASSING COMMUNITIES IN MICHIGAN.

WHO TREMENDOUS PRESSURE WAS BROUGHT TO BEAR AND THEN TO DO THE WRONG THING.

AND THEY FOLLOWED THE LAW.

WHILE THAT IS GOOD AND IT GIVES US REASON TO HOME THE INSTITUTIONS HAVE SEEN THIS STRESS TEST GREW, IT SHOULDN'T COME DOWN TO CANVASSERS IN MICHIGAN.

I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO START THINKING ABOUT HOW TO STRENGTHEN SOME OF OUR INSTITUTIONS BEYOND SIMPLY NORMS.

THERE ARE PEOPLE LIKE DONALD TRUMP WHO WANT TO TEST THEM.

AND NOW MICHAEL BESCHLOSS, I WANT TO ASK YOU THE QUESTION THAT SEEMS TO BE RUMBLING RIGHT NOW.

THE IDEA OF SPECIAL PROSECUTOR, INDEPENDENT COUNCIL.

THEY'RE SAYING MAYBE PRESIDENT BIDEN MIGHT HAVE TO APPOINT A SPECIAL COUNSEL.

TO LOOK INTO ANY ALLEGATIONS OF HIS SON HUNTER.

DO YOU THINK HE SHOULD?

YOU SAW WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE FIRST YEARS OF THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION.

TRUMP WITH THE RUSSIA INVESTIGATION.

ARE WE GOING TO HAVE YET ANOTHER ADMINISTRATION START WITH THAT KIND OF ISSUE?

I THINK PRESIDENT BIDEN SHOULD TURN IT OVER INTO AN INDEPENDENT DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WITH A REALLY TOUGH ATTORNEY GENERAL WHO WILL MAKE HIS OR HER OWN DECISIONS.

THAT'S WHAT WE LACKED FOR FOUR YEARS.

IT IS ESPECIALLY WHAT WE'VE LACKED FROM ATTORNEY GENERAL BARR FOR THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF.

I AGREE IT WOULD BE NICE TO SEE CONGRESS PASS LAWS BUT IT WAS YEARS AWAY FROM 2020.

THE DEMOCRATS WON ABOUT FOUR DOZEN SEATS IN THE HOUSE.

EVEN AMONG REPUBLICANS, THERE WAS A BIG MANDATE TO CLEAN UP POLITICS AND NIXON HAD BEEN A BAD PRESIDENT.

EVEN IF DONALD TRUMP DOES NOT GET A SECOND TERM, WHICH I THINK IS UNLIKELY, ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE, BUT NOT ENTIRELY IMPOSSIBLE, GIVEN EVERYTHING WE'RE SEEING.

MAYBE A TINY, TINY CHANCE IF EVERYTHING GOES COMPLETELY OFF THE RAILS.

THERE ISN'T THAT CONSENSUS IN CONGRESS RIGHT NOW.

EVEN IF DONALD TRUMP IS GONE, TRUMPISM LIVES.

IF HE HAD BEEN ABLE TO SERVE A SECOND TERM WITH LEADERS INTIMIDATED BY HIM.

THERE WERE 14 OR 17, AT LEAST MORE THAN A DOZEN ATTORNEYS GENERAL WHO SUPPORTED THESE RIDICULOUS LAWSUITS ALLEGING VOTER FRAUD.

THOSE ARE ATTORNEYS GENERAL ELECTED IN VARIOUS STATES.

USUALLY PEOPLE TRY TO BE ABOVE POLITICS.

WE'RE IN A DIFFERENT DIMENSION RIGHT NOW.

THE MOST DANGEROUS THING OF ALL TO WILL COULD THAT BACK FULL CIRCLE, THE NUMBER OF MAINLY REPUBLICANS BUT NOT ALL, RIGHT NOW, WHO TELL POLLSTERS THAT THEY THINK THE ELECTION HAS BEEN STOLEN FROM DONALD TRUMP.

YOU KNOW CHRISTIANE, IN 2004, A LOT OF AMERICANS THOUGHT SADDAM HUSSEIN WAS WRONGLY, IT WAS THOUGHT THAT HE WAS BEHIND 9/11.

IN THE OBAMA YEARS, PEOPLE WHO SUPPORTED THE QUESTIONING OF WHAT BARACK OBAMA SAID ABOUT HIS RELIGIOUS AFFILIATIONS.

ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE AN INCUMBENT PRESIDENT AT THE MOMENT COMMITTING A FRONT ATTACK ON THOSE FACTS.

IT IS A WORRY.

WE ALL HAVE TO BE VIGILANT.

AND ALL OF THIS SPEAKS TO AMERICA'S CREDIBILITY ABROAD.

THE DAY AFTER THE ELECTION, THE IVORY COAST IN WEST AFRICA TO RESPECT THEIR DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.

AND RULE OF LAW THERE.

THE PRESIDENT THERE WON A THIRD TERM IN OFFICE DESPITE A TWO-TERM LIMIT.

AND HE WAS SWORN IN TODAY IN A CEREMONY IN THE CAPITAL.

THE CORRESPONDENT SCOTT McLANE HAS MORE OF THIS EXCLUSIVE STORY AND A WARNING ABOUT THIS REPORT INCLUDES SOME GRAPHIC IMAGES.

> THIS VIDEO SHOWS PEOPLE IN IVORY COAST BLOCKING A MAJOR HIGHWAY LAST MONTH TO PROTEST THE RE-ELECTION OF THE COUNTRY'S PRESIDENT.

SOMETIME AFTER THE VIDEO ENDS, SHOTS ARE FIRED.

THIS WAS THE AFTERMATH OF WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A PEACEFUL PROTEST.

VICTIMS LYING MOTIONLESS ON THE PAVEMENT.

WITNESSES TOLD THERE WERE THREE PEOPLE KILLED AFTER THE SECURITY FORCES OPEN FIRED.

THE GOVERNMENT SAYS INVESTIGATIONS ARE UNDERWAY.

THIS IS A LIE.

I HAVE GIVEN STRICT INSTRUCTIONS TO THE DEFENSE FORCES.

NOT TO USE FIRE.

GUNS.

NO ONE SHOT AMONG DEFENSE FORCES.

IT IS PRE MATURE TO CALL IT A LIE.

? THE SHOOTING CAPPED OFF A STRING OF PRE AND POST ELECTION PROTESTS AND VIOLENCE.

85 PEOPLE HAD BEEN KILLED ON BOTH SIDES.

HUNDREDS MORE INJURED.

AND CIVIL WAR VIOLENCE THAT BROUGHT THE PRESIDENT TO POWER.

OPPOSITION SUPPORTERS SAY HE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO RUN FOR A THIRD TERM SINCE THE CONSTITUTION LIMITS PRESIDENTS TO JUST TWO.

IT IS A POSITION I'M GLAD I TOOK TODAY.

BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN A MESS IF I HAD NOT BEEN A CANDIDATE.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHY SOME OF YOUR OPPONENTS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE IN YOUR COUNTRY WERE UPSET BY YOUR DECISION?

NO.

THEY COULD NOT WIN IF THEY WANT TO GRAB POWER.

THEY'RE NOT DEMOCRATS.

WHILE THE SUPREME COURT ALLOWED THEM TO RUN, THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION BARRED 40 OTHERS FROM CHALLENGING IT.

DOES THAT SOUND LIKE DEMOCRACY TO YOU?

LET ME TELL YOU.

DEMOCRACY DOES NOT BRING BACK ANYONE.

WE ARE A YOUNG COUNTRY, FRAGILE COUNTRY, CANDIDATES SHOULD BE ABLE TO SAY WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO FOR PEOPLE AND FOR THE COUNTRY.

Reporter: THOSE CANDIDATES WHO WERE ALLOWED TO RUN BOYCOTTED THE ELECTION BEFORE THE VOTE.

AND AFTERWARDS, SET UP A NEW GOVERNMENT.

SUPPOSE TRUMP DECIDE, BECAUSE BIDEN HAS WON RE-ELECTION.

HE WOULD BE SENT TO JAIL RIGHT AWAY.

THIS IS WHAT WE'RE DOING.

ELECTION OFFICIALS FOUND SERIOUS RESTRICTIONS ON FREEDOM OF ELECTION, THE RIGHT TO VOTE AND BE ELECTED.

WHICH THREATENED TO UNDO DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS.

BUT IT SEEMS THE REST OF THE WORLD IS UNWILLING TO MAKE A FUSS.

NOT EVEN FRANCE WHICH HAS STRONG TIES TOTS FORMER COLONY.

WITH THE RELATIVELY RECENT INCIDENCE OF CIVIL WAR, AND A REAL POSSIBILITY OF RETURNING TO THAT.

I THINK IT WAS KIND OF SEEN AS BETTER TO JUST ACCEPT WHAT IS AND WHAT PEOPLE KNOW.

DEMOCRACY HAS BEEN SACRIFICED.

YES.

OPPOSITION CANDIDATES FACE CHARGES OF TERRORISM UP TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR DENOUNCING THE VOTE AND CREATING THAT RIVAL GOVERNMENT.

WE WILL MONITOR THIS STORY ON THE IVORY COAST VERY CLOSELY.

NOW WE TURN TO A MUSICIAN.

HIS NEW FESTIVE ALBUM 'HARK!'

FEATURES A COLLECTION OF CHRISTMAS SONGS WHICH HE WROTE DURING LOCKDOWN.

HE IS ALSO BRANCHING OUT FROM MUSIC THIS YEAR MAKING HIS ACTING DEBUT IN THE NEW SERIES OF THE HIT TV SHOW 'FARGO.'

AND HE JOINS US FROM OJAI, CALIFORNIA.

WELCOME TO THE WILL PERHAPS.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

SO OKAY.

TALK TO ME ABOUT 'HARK!.' ESPECIALLY, I THINK YOU STARTED THIS IN APRIL.

THAT WAS LAST SPRING.

AND YOU CONTEMPLATED PRODUCING A HOLIDAY ALBUM.

TELL ME HOW THAT WORKS.

MOST ARE IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS.

THIS IS BEGINNING OF LOCKDOWN.

I WASN'T FEELING ESPECIALLY INSPIRED TO WRITE THE NEXT ANDREW BIRD RECORD.

SO I THOUGHT I WOULD TRY TO WRITE A COMFORTING HOLIDAY ALBUM.

I DIDN'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT YOU.

I WONDERED WHEN YOU WERE WRITING AND DOING THE ALBUM IN APRIL AND THOSE MONTHS, DID YOU EXPECT US TO BE WHERE WE ARE TODAY?

I WAS JUST GETTING THE NOTION THAT WHEN THE HOLIDAYS COME AROUND, WE MIGHT STILL BE IN A CRITICAL SITUATION AND NOT BE ABLE TO SEE OUR LOVED ONES.

IT WAS JUST STARTING, WE WERE ALL GOING THROUGH STAGES OF IT.

IT WAS JUST STARTING TO OCCUR TO ME THAT WE MIGHT BE IN THAT BOAT.

SO I STARTED WRITING ABOUT IT.

WELL, LISTEN.

WE ARE VERY LUCKY.

YOU'VE AGREED TO PLAY A LITTLE FOR US.

I SEE YOU HAVE YOUR VIOLIN THERE.

PLAY POTENTIALLY A MINUTE OF WHATEVER YOU WOULD LIKE TO PLAY.

YEAH.

THIS ONE IS, ABOUT WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, CHRISTMAS IN APRIL.

♪♪♪ YOU'RE MY DARLING ♪ ♪ I WANT YOU ♪ ♪ I WANTED TO WHISPER SWEET WORDS OF COMFORT IN YOUR EAR ♪ ♪ NO MORE SORROW OR FEAR ♪ ♪ O MY LOVE ♪ ♪ UNDER THE MISTLETOE ♪ ♪ I'M WRITING A SONG ABOUT CHRISTMAS IN APRIL THIS YEAR ♪ ♪ YOU KNOW, FOLKS, THAT'S KIND OF MESSED UP ♪ ♪ I'M HOPING THESE WORDS DON'T RING SO HOLLOW IN YOUR EAR ♪ ♪ YOU SAY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR ♪ ♪ MAYBE THE WIND IS BLOWING ALL YOUR FEARS ♪ ♪ I SAID MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR ♪ ♪♪♪

THAT'S LOVELY.

THANK YOU VERY, VERY, VERY MUCH.

I'M GOING TO ASK YOU, ACTUALLY.

I HEARD THE INTERVIEW YOU DID WITH THE SURGEON AND WRITER.

AND HE WAS ASKING BUT HOW YOU CAME TO MUSIC AND YOU TOLD HIM THAT ACTUALLY, AT ONE POINT, YOU WANTED TO BE A DOCTOR, A PSYCHIATRIST, BECAUSE YOU WERE FASCINATED BY BODY LANGUAGE AND PEOPLE'S BEHAVIOR.

HOW HAS THAT PLAYED INTO YOUR PARTICULARLY UNIQUE STYLE OF MUSIC MAKING?

WELL, IT IS MOSTLY WITH RESPECT TO MY MUSIC MAKING AND CURIOSITY.

A LOT OF MY SONGS DEAL WITH HOW WE BEHAVE AS INDIVIDUALS AND HOW WE BEHAVE IN A GROUP.

KIND OF LIKE MOB RULE, ARE CHILDHOOD AND MENTAL ILLNESS, ALL OF THESE THINGS I'M DRAWN TO AS SUBJECT MATTER.

I HAVEN'T REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT HOW IT AFFECTS THE PLAYING ASPECT.

HOW DID YOU COPE WITH LOCKDOWN?

WELL, YOU KNOW, I'M A PERFORMER.

AND I REALLY, YOU KNOW, I'M ON THE ROAD FOR THE LAST 24 YEARS.

SO TO SUDDENLY HAVE A LIFE WITH NO EVENTS IS, I WOULD BASICALLY GET UP AND RECORD A SONG AND PUT IT OUT ON INSTAGRAM TO GET SOME SORT OF SATISFACTION.

I WANT TO PLAY A CLIP FROM 'NIGHT IS FALLING' AND THEN WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT.

♪ NIGHT IS FALLING BUT YOU'RE NOT ALONE ♪ ♪ TAKE COURAGE, YOU'RE NOT ALONE, YOU'RE NOT ALONE ♪

THE MUSIC IS LOVELY, THE IMAGES ARE ALSO LOVELY.

AND THAT'S YOUR MOTHER, ISN'T IT?

BED BIRD, THE ARTIST.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE COLLABORATING WITH HER ON THIS?

WELL, I'VE COLLABORATED WITH HER ONCE BEFORE ON THE PROJECT, THE RED SHOES.

SHE'S VERY KEY TO MY DEVELOPMENT AS AN ARTIST.

SHE STARTED MOW VIOLIN WHEN I WAS 4.

WE JUST ALWAYS HAD REALLY GOOD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ART AND MUSIC AND PSYCHOLOGY.

SHE HAS A PSYCHOLOGY DEGREE.

TO COLLABORATE WITH HER WAS A NICE COMPENSATION WITH HER FOR NOT SEEING HER.

IT WAS A NICE THING FOR BOTH OF US.

IT MUST HAVE BEEN.

I WONDER WHETHER YOU CONSIDER YOUR SONGS, PARTICULARLY THESE, COMFORTING.

ARE YOU TRYING TO REACH OUT TO PEOPLE SUCH AS JUST WHO HAVEN'T SEEN YOUR PARENTS FOR SO LONG, AND SO MANY OTHERS ARE IN THE SAME AND WORSE CIRCUMSTANCES.

ARE YOU TRYING TO GIVE SOMETHING AS WELL?

SOME COMFORT?

ABSOLUTELY.

I MEAN, NOT JUST IN THE AMBIENCE OF THE RECORD AND THE MELODIES, WHICH I'M DRAWN TO THE DARKER, MORE MINOR KEY.

I FIND THE DARK TO BE COMFORTING.

THEY'RE DEALING WITH PEOPLE ON THE OUTSIDE.

MAYBE WITHOUT FAMILY SUPPORT OR LIVING ON THE EDGE THAT HAVE BEEN PUSHED OH THE EDGE BY THE PANDEMIC.

THINKING ABOUT PEOPLE LIVING ALONE AND ON LOCKDOWN.

AND NEEDING COMFORT.

AND LAST NIGHT, AT A PERFORMANCE, YOU PLAYED A SONG.

I THINK IT IS SOUVENIRS FROM JOHN PRIDE, HE HIMSELF THE SONGWRITER, DIED OF COMPLICATIONS FROM CORONAVIRUS IN APRIL.

I WANT TO PLAY A HIM?

ETT OF THAT SONG.

♪ THE SNOW HAS TURNED TO WATER ♪ ♪ CHRISTMAS DAY HAS COME AND GONE ♪ ♪ FADED COLORS ♪ ♪ ALL THAT'S LEFT TO LINGER ON ♪ ♪ GRAVEYARDS ♪ ♪ THEY ALWAYS BRING ME TEARS ♪ ♪ I CAN'T FORGET THE WAY THEY ROBBED ME OF APPLY CHILDHOOD SOUVENIR ♪ ♪

OF COURSE THAT WAS FROM PERFORMANCE FROM BEFORE.

DID HIS PASSING, THAT WAS THE SPECIFIC REASON?

OR WOULD YOU HAVE DONE IT ANYWAY?

I'VE BEEN COVERING THAT SONG FOR YEARS.

I THINK THAT MUST HAVE ENCOURAGED ME TO HONOR HIM WITH THAT COVER ON THE ALBUM.

AND IT IS A CHRISTMAS SONG.

SORT OF A POST CHRISTMAS CRASH.

IT CAPTURES BEAUTIFULLY THE NOSTALGIA AND THE MEMORY AND HOW THAT CAN BE A TRICKY THING.

WHERE DID THE WHISTLING COME FROM?

YOU DID A TINY BIT WHEN YOU BEGAN.

WHEN YOU PLAYED THE FIRST SONG FOR US.

I MEAN, YOU'RE A VIRTUOSO WHISTLER.

CAN YOU DO A LITTLE FOR US?

SURE.

PEOPLE HAVE -- THERE ARE ALL SORTS OF TECHNIQUES TO WHISTLING.

MINE IS MORE OF A FULL ON THAT RATTIC STYLE.

♪♪♪

I DIDN'T REALIZE WHAT A POWERFUL INSTRUMENT IT WAS BECAUSE I SPENT MY WHOLE LIFE PLAYING THIS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT ONE.

TO THINK SOMETHING SO CASUAL AS WHISTLING THAT I DO WHEN I'M DOING THE DISHES WOULD BE WORTHY OF YOUR ATTENTION.

SO IT TOOK MAY WHILE TO REALIZE, IT WAS ACTUALLY, A VERY POWERFUL WAY TO GET PEOPLE TO LISTEN.

WHEN I WAS TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO STOP TALKING, THE WHISTLING, TO GET PEOPLE, WHAT'S THAT?

IS THAT A SMOKE ALARM?

THE BUT YEAH.

A LOT OF TIMES I'M LOOPING THE VIOLIN AND THESE CERTAIN WAYS, THE WHISTLE IS LIKE GLASS.

IT CUTS RIGHT THROUGH IT.

COULD I LISTEN TO IT FOR A LONG TIME.

I LOVE THE WHISTLE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

> MUSIC IS CONSIDERED A CRUCIAL EDUCATIONAL TOOL FROM THE VERY YOUNGEST OF AGES AND ESPECIALLY AS A BARRIER BREAKER FOR LESS ADVANTAGED CHILDREN.

THE HARLEM CHILDREN'S ZONE IS A RENOWNED NONPROFIT THAT DEPLOYS TOOLS NECESSARY TO HELP KIDS IN POVERTY.

GEOFFREY CANADA WHO IS KNOWN FOR HIS PIONEERING WORK WITH CHILDREN, AND GAME OWUSU-KESSE IS CEO.

TOGETHER THEY'RE PROVIDING LOW INCOME FAMILIES WITH CRITICAL SOCIAL AND ACADEMIC SERVICES SO KIDS CAN KEEP LEARNING DURING THIS PANDEMIC.

NOW THEIR COMMUNITY IS BEING SCALED UP NATIONWIDE.

HERE THEY ARE EXPLAINING IT.

THANKS.

GAME OWUSU-KESSE AND GEOFFREY CANADA, KWAME, I WANT TO START WITH YOU.

THIS IS A TIME WHERE THE COMMUNITY AROUND THE HARLEM CHILDREN'S ZONE, THE REST OF THE COUNTRY, REALLY, HAS BEEN DEALING WITH THESE DUAL PANDEMICS, DUAL CRISES ABOUT, THE VIRUS BUT ALSO RACIAL JUSTICE?

RACIAL INJUSTICE HAPPENING ON THE STREETS.

FIRST JUST GIVE AS YOU SNAP SHOT OF THE AVERAGE CHILD COMING THROUGH THE SCHOOLS, THE AVERAGE CHILD AVAILING THEMSELVES OF THESE SERVICES.

WELL, IT IS SITUATED IN CENTRAL HARLEM.

WE'RE WHAT WE CALL THE DEEP END OF THE POOL.

THE CHILDREN MOST IN NEED OF OUR SERVICES.

WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.

THE AVERAGE FAMILY OF FOUR MAKES $18,100 A YEAR.

4,000 RESIDENTS.

OVER HALF DONAL HAVE ADULTS WHO ARE WORKING.

SO WE'RE WORKING A COMMUNITY WHERE THERE ARE QUITE DIRE CIRCUMSTANCES.

A COMMUNITY THAT WE BELIEVE IN AND WE KNOW THAT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE FULL OF PROMISE AND POTENTIAL.

SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO OFFER THESE SERVICES.

TOO OFTEN THE COMMON MISPERCEPTION IS THAT WE'RE JUST A CHARTER SCHOOL.

WE OFFER A WHOLE HOST OF PROGRAMS FROM BIRTH THROUGH COLLEGE THAT FOCUS EDUCATION, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, HEALTH AND WELLNESS AND COMMUNITY BUILDING.

GIVE ME AN IDEA OF WHAT YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT IS OUTSIDE WHAT WE WOULD TRADITIONALLY CALL A SCHOOL'S RESPONSIBILITY.

ESPECIALLY IN THE CONTEXT OF THE PANDEMIC.

WHAT KINDS OF SERVICES?

WHAT KINDS OF NEEDS ARE YOU STARTING TO FILL?

IN MANY WAYS, WE VIEW OURSELVES AS FIRST RESPONDERS.

AS GEOFF AND I TALK ABOUT THE DEVASTATING IMPACTS IN HARD ELM, IMMEDIATELY IN MARCH WE SURVEYED OUR FAMILY.

ONE OF THE BENEFITS HAVING PROXIMITY TO OUR COMMUNITY, WE CAN HAVE REAL-TIME DATA TO INFORM THE DECISIONS THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE.

WE SENT OUT A SURVEY WHERE WE HAD OVER 33,000 FAMILIES RESPOND.

WE WERE TRACKING THE CLIPS ON OUR RESOURCE PAGE.

AND WE WERE ABLE TO TRIANGULATE AND DEVELOP A FIVE-POUND APPROACH.

THERE WERE MULTIELEMENTS.

SO ONE FOR EMERGENCY RELIEF FUNDS.

TWO, THE IDEA OF PROTECT OUR MOST VULNERABLE.

PROVIDING MASKS AND LAUNCHING A PUBLIC HEALTH CAMPAIGN.

THE THIRD, THE DIGITAL DIVIDE AND PROVIDING LAP TOPS.

THE FOURTH WAS PREVENT GO LEARNING LOSS.

SO NOT ONLY HIGH QUALITY VIRTUAL ENGAGEMENT BUT FOR SAFE REENTRY.

AND WE HAVE CONVERTED TO RAPID TESTING FACILITIES.

AND FINALLY MITIGATING THE PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS.

MAKING SURE OUR PRACTICES HELP.

TODAY WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE AND DISTRIBUTE OVER 35,000 MASKS, 1,400 LAP TOPS, 2,200 THERMOMETERS.

NOT TO MENTION BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE INSTRUCTION FOR OUR STUDENTS EVERY DAY.

BEING ABLE TO HAVE TEACH ORDERS LIVE AND BEING ABLE TO WORK DIRECTLY WITH OUR STUDENTS HAS BEEN A VERY UNIQUE ASPECT OF THE ORGANIZATION.

YOU RAN THIS SCHOOL FOR YEARS.

YOU'RE ACUTELY AWARE OF THE EXISTING STRUGGLES THAT ARE THERE, THE DISPARITY HEALTH IMPACTS, THE STRUCTURAL EFFECTS OF POVERTY.

IN MANY WAYS, EVEN THOUGH THEY MIGHT BE INCREDIBLY LOW PAYING JOBS, THESE ARE SOME OF THE MOST ESSENTIAL OF ESSENTIAL WORKERS.

I THINK WE HAVE TOTALLY UNDERESTIMATED THE IMPORTANCE OF PEOPLE WHO EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN.

TEACH THEM EVERY DAY, SUPPORT THEM AFTER SCHOOL.

I THINK WE'RE FACING A CRISIS DM EDUCATION.

WE ALREADY HAD A CRISIS.

UNDERPAYING TEACHERS.

TEACHERS NOT STAYING IN THE FIELD BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES.

NOW WE HAVE THIS.

CLOSED FOR SIX, SEVEN MONTHS.

FOR POOR CHILDREN, THIS IS DEVASTATING.

THIS IS A TIME WHEN KWAME AND I ARE SAYING TO OUR COUNTRY, IF WE VALUE EFFORT, IF WE CARE ABOUT BLACK AND BROWN LIVES, WE'LL HAVE TO MAKE A MASSIVE INVESTMENT IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE BEING DISPROPORTIONATELY HIT BY COVID.

THESE ARE THE SAME COMMUNITIES THAT WE'RE LEARNING HAVE SUFFERED FOR THE LAST 50 YEARS BY STRUCTURAL RACISM, BY DISINVESTMENT IN THOSE COMMUNITIES.

YOU LAY ON TOP OF THAT WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH FOOD AND JOBS AND HOUSING AND WE SEE A CRISIS THAT WE FEEL LIKE THE COUNTRY HAS NOT RESPONDED TO.

WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT THE KIDS THAT ARE HARDEST TO REACH THAT MIGHT BE IN MOST DIFFICULT SITUATIONS PAT HOME, WHETHER THEY HAVE BAND WIDTH NASA BROAD BAND OR TIME OR SPACE, AS IN A SUPPORT NETWORK, IN THEIR PARENTS, WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED DURING THE PANDEMIC CAN HELP OTHER SCHOOLS LEARN HOW TO REACH THESE KIDS.

WHAT WE WERE TRANSPARENT ABOUT, WE CAN'T PREVENT COVID FROM SHOWING UP ON OUR DOORSTEP.

WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MITIGATING AGAINST ANY POTENTIAL FOR MASSIVE SPREAD.

SO HAVING WELL TAILORED SYSTEMS IN PLACE AS FAR AS, IF SOMEONE IS SYMPTOMATIC, TO HAVE ONSITE TESTING, TO MAKE TIMELY DECISIONS.

SCHOOL DESIGN AND SCHEDULING TO ALLOW FOLKS TO BE IN PODS.

SO IF THERE WAS AN INCIDENT OF COVID, IT IS LIMITED.

SO UNDERSTANDING PROGRAMMING.

WHO IS YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE AND HOW CAN YOU REIMAGINE THE PROGRAM TO OFFER BOTH, HAVING A VIRTUAL OPTION IN THE EVENT TO MITIGATE THE DISRUPTIONS, INHE HAVE, INEVITABLY THERE'S A SKAFRLT HOW CAN YOU LEAST IMPACT STUDENTS.

THAT'S BEEN INFORMING OUR APPROACH DURING THIS TIME AND SOME OF THE MAJOR LESSONS WE'VE LEARNED.

GEOFFREY, YOU CAME OUT OF RETIREMENT HELP SCALE SOME OF THIS.

TO THINK ABOUT EDUCATION WHOLE ISTICLY.

YOU'RE NOW WORKING WITH SIX DIFFERENT CITIES.

WHY WAS THIS IMPORTANT?

FIRST, I SMILE BECAUSE I WAS HAPPY IN RETIREMENT.

FOLKS TOLD ME I WOULD HATE IT BUT I DIDN'T HATE IT AT ALL.

WHEN KWAME CAME TO ME AND SAID THAT HIS JOB AS THE NEW CEO WAS TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO SAVE ANOTHER MILLION CHILDREN BY GETTING THEM ON THE ROAD TO SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC MOBILITY IN THIS COUNTRY, I JUST FOUND THAT TOO TANTALIZING TO RESIST.

WHAT WE DISCOVERED, THERE ARE COMMUNITY GROUPS AROUND THE COUNTRY ALREADY DOING HIGH QUALITY WORK.

AND THIS IS WHAT I DON'T THINK PEOPLE UNDERSTAND.

PEOPLE THINK, WE'RE OUT TRYING TO SIMPLY RE-CREATE THE HARLEM CHILDREN'S ZONE.

NOW, THERE ARE A SET OF PRINCIPLES, ABOUT PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR THEIR HEALTH, THEIR MENTAL HEALTH, THEIR PHYSICAL HEALTH, THEIR SPIRITUAL HEALTH, AND HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION THAT WE THINK WORKS WITH CHILDREN NO MATTER WHERE THEY ARE.

POOR CHILDREN IN PARTICULAR NEED THIS.

SO WE SAID LET'S FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN HELP TURBO CHARGE THESE EFFORTS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

LET'S FIND THE BEST PLACES DOING THIS WORK AND LET'S BRING THE RESOURCES AND SUPPORT TO HELP SCALE THE EFFORTS SO WE CAN IMPACT AS MANY CHILDREN AS HUMANS POSSIBLE OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT TEN YEARS.

KWAME, YOU GREW UP IN CHALLENGING CIRCUMSTANCES.

WHAT WAS THE KEY TO GET YOU FROM WHERE YOU STARTED TO GETTING THROUGH HARVARD AND RUNNING THIS INSTITUTION NOW?

I WOULD SAY DESPITE THE CHALLENGES THAT I GREW UP IN, I THINK THOSE CHALLENGES ARE WHAT DEFINE ME.

AND I THINK SOME OF THE KEY ASPECTS OF WHAT LED TO THE SUCCESS THAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACHIEVE EXIST IN OUR MODEL HERE.

SO THAT'S THE IDEA OF THE CORE.

I WAS GIVEN A FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A FANTASTIC EDUCATION AT A LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

BECAUSE THE NUNS FELL IN LOVE WITH MY MOM WHO PLAYED BINGO AT THAT SCHOOL, THEY GAVE ME A SCHOLARSHIP THAT CHANGED MY LIFE AND TRAJECTORY.

IN ADDITION TO HAVING A HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION, THERE WERE SERVICES IN TERMS OF ATHLETICS AND THE ARTS AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS.

ONE OF THE MOST IMPACTFUL THINGS WAS HAVING ADULTS THAT BELIEVED IN MY POTENTIAL.

THEY WOULD ALWAYS SAY TO ME YOU'LL BE THE FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

I HAD NO POLITICAL ASPIRATIONS BUT THE FACT THEY BELIEVED PUT A BATTERY IN MY BACK THAT SAID, HEY, IF I CAN FOCUS ON SOMETHING AND SET MY MIND TO ACHIEVING A GOAL, ANYTHING IS IF POSSIBLE.

I HAVE SOCIAL CAPITAL TO PROVIDE ME THE RESOURCES, THE EXPERTISE, THE KNOW HOW, THE LOVE, THE GUIDANCE, THE KNOWLEDGE, TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS AND BETTER MY SITUATION.

SO I THINK THOSE WERE SOME OF THE KEY ELEMENTS IF MY PERSONAL STORY THAT LED TO A PATH FOR ME TO GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE, TO GO WITH MORGAN STANLEY AND ULTIMATELY END UP IN MY DREAM JOB.

YOU'VE WATCHED KIDS LIKE KWAME GO THROUGH THE HARLEM CHILDREN ZONE SCHOOLS, WHETHER THEY STARTED AS KINDERGARTNERS AND NOW SOME OF THEM IN COLLEGE.

THE IDEA OF COLLEGE WAS PROBABLY DRILLED INTO THESE KIDS, THE IMPORTANCE OF IT, THE GRAND YOU'RE OF IT.

AND HERE THEY ARE COME FALL AND THEY'RE DOING IT OVER ZOOM.

THIS IS TO ME ONE OF THE CONTINUING TRAGEDIES OF WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING IN OUR COUNTRY.

WHAT WE FOUND IS THERE ARE A GROUP OF KIDS WHO ACTUALLY NEED TO GET AWAY TO COLLEGE TO BE SUCCESS WILL.

AND I WAS ONE OF THOSE KIDS.

THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO WAY I COULD HAVE STAYED IN THE SOUTH BRONX AND DID COLLEGE WORK BY ZOOM.

MY LIFE WAS TOO CHAOTIC.

THERE WAS TOO MUCH PRESSURE ON ME.

I NEEDED TO GET AWAY AND FOCUS AND TO GO A LIBRARY AND HAVE THAT WHOLE ENVIRONMENT CHANGED.

SO I AM WORRIED ABOUT EVEN OUR KIDS WHO ARE SUCCESSFUL, EVEN THE ONES IN COLLEGE RIGHT NOW.

I WORRY THAT THEY STRUGGLE.

THEY'RE OFTEN THE STRONGEST ONE IN THEIR FAMILY.

EVERYONE SOW TALKING ABOUT PAYING THE BILLS.

WE'VE BEEN PREPARING THEY WILL TO GO TO COLLEGE.

WE'LL DO EVERYTHING HUMANS POSSIBLE.

I AM TELLING YOU, UP AND DOWN THE WHOLE CRADLE TO CAREER PIPELINE, WE HAVE A GENERATION OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN TRAUMATIZED BY THIS EXPERIENCE.

IT WON'T TAKE SIX OR SEVEN MONTHS TO MAKE UP FOR THIS.

WE'LL BE WORKING ON THIS PROBLEM FOR THE NEXT DECADE.

TRYING TO MAKE UP FOR WHAT IS HAPPENING IN 2020, 2021, TO POOR CHILDREN IN THIS COUNTRY.

KWAME, ONE OF THE MORE ACUTE NEEDS THAT YOUR SCHOOL FEELS IS SCHOOL LUNCHES.

BREAKFASTS.

PLAIN OLD FOOD.

HOW HAVE YOU GOTTEN AROUND THAT?

CONSIDERING HOW IMPORTANT THAT NUTRITION IS FOR EVERYTHING ELSE, AND SOME OF THESE FAMILIES MIGHT BE REALLY RELIGHTNING ON THE SCHOOL LUNCH.

A GREAT QUESTION.

PARTICULARLY IN A YEAR, WE HAVE A SET THAT PRODUCES OVER A MILLION MEALS A YEAR FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

AND THE ROLE THAT THE SCHOOL PLAYS FOR FEEDING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.

MAKE GO SURE THEY HAVE A HEALTHY AND WARM MEAL.

IT IS SO CRITICAL.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO.

JUST BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE A NUMBER OF SUPPORTS FOR OUR COMMUNITY GIVEN THE FOOD INSECURITIES.

WE'VE HANDED OUT FOR YOU,000 PACK ANS OF TWO WEEK SUPPLIES OF NONPERISHABLE ITEMS.

AND MONTHLY WE HAVE HARVESTS.

TODAY WE'VE DISTRIBUTED OH 30,000 POUNDS.

MORE SPECIFICALLY TO OUR SCHOOLS.

WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE A DELIVERY SEVTS THAT IS ABLE TO PROVIDE MEALS EVERY SINGLE DAY TO OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO ENSURE THAT FOOD INSECURITY IS NOT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WILL IMPEDE THEIR ABILITY TO LEARN.

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT HERE.

AND WHERE HAS IT DONE WELL, AND WHERE HAS IT FALLEN SHORT?

YEAH.

HERE'S WHERE OUR GOVERNMENT REALLY DID WELL.

THE FIRST CARES ACT, THE ABILITY TO INCREASE THE UNEMPLOYMENT PAYMENTS TO FOLKS, A HUGE NUMBER OF AMERICANS WERE OUT OF WORK FOR NO REASON OF THEIR OWN.

I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW MANY PEOPLE I KNOW, THAT LIFE LINE LITERALLY SAVED THEM DURING THIS PERIOD OF TIME WE'VE HAD TO SHUT DOWN THE COUNTRY TO TRY TO DEAL WITH THIS PANDEMIC.

BUT THAT ALSO IS WHERE WE'RE FAILING OUR CITIZENS RIGHT NOW.

THE FACT THAT OUR CONGRESS COULD NOT GET TOGETHER WITH THE PRESIDENT AND PASS A NEW SERIES OF SUPPORTS FOR FAMILIES AND THE UNEMPLOYED IN THIS COUNTRY IS AN ABSOLUTE DISASTER.

AND I THINK IT IS CRIMINAL.

I'M NOT EXAGGERATING.

PEOPLE ARE GOING TO DIE BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE BASIC NECESSITIES.

THEY CANNOT BUY MEDICINE.

THEY CANNOT BUY FOOD.

THERE IS NO WAY TO PAY THEIR RENT AND THEY FEEL LIKE THEY'RE ABANDONED BY THE GOV WHO IS SAYING, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DEAL WITH AMERICANS RIGHT NOW.

IN THE MIDST OF A HEALTH PANDEMIC, I THINK THIS IS A SHAME.

I'M ASHAMED OF OUR COUNTRY.

FOR FAILING TO AID ITS CITIZENS IN THEIR TIME OF NEED.

YOU LOOK AT ALL THE PEOPLE DYING IN THIS COUNTRY.

WE'RE LOSE GO MORE PEOPLE IN A DAY THAN WE LOST IN PEARL HARBOR AND THE GOVERNMENT SAYS WE WON'T HELP?

I THINK THAT'S AN ABSOLUTE DISGRACE WEST NEED TO HOLD OUR GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR FAILURE.

I WOULD AGREE.

WE'RE AT A UNIQUE MOMENT WHERE THE COLLECTIVE CONSCIOUSNESS IS PRIMED FOR ACTION.

IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HAVING A MEANINGFUL IMPACT AT SCALE, THERE MUST BE A RESPONSE FROM THE GOVERNMENT TO BE ABLE TO BRING AND MARSHAL THE RESOURCES THAT ARE NECESSARY IN ORDER TO FIGHT ON THE FRONT LINES OF THIS WAR.

SO WHETHER IT IS PPE SUPPORT, FINANCIAL SUPPORT, IN THE MOST DEVASTATED COMMUNITIES, SO THERE CAN BE A MULTIFACETED THREAT IN THE SOCIAL JUSTICE ENVIRONMENT.

AND IT IS IMPERATIVE FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO STEP UP TO THE LEADERSHIP MANTLE.

IT CAN'T JUST BE DONE ON PHILANTHROPIC DOLLARS OR CORPORATE DOLLARS.

THERE NEEDS TO BE A CORPORATE RESPONSE AND THAT LEADERSHIP HAS TO COME FROM THE GOVERNMENT.

KWAME OWUSU-KESSE AND GEOFFREY CANADA.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

SUCH AN IMPORTANT PROGRAM THERE.

AND FINALLY, SPEAKING OF SCHOOLS, WE REMEMBER A MAN WHO EDUCATED GENERATIONS OF LEADERS ON THE GRITTY WORLD OF COLD WAR SPY GAMES.

BEST SELLING NOVELIST, WHOSE REAL NAME WAS DAVID CORNWELL, HAS DIED AT THE AGE OF 89.

HIS FAMILY SAYS THE CAUSE WAS PNEUMONIA.

HIS CAREER PANEL ISSED MORE THAN 50 YEARS, RELYING IN PART ON HIS OWN WORK IN ESPIONAGE.

MANY OF HIS GRIPPING BOOKS WERE TURNED INTO GRIPPING FILMS INCLUDING THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD.

THE CHARACTER WAS SO WELL KNOWN TO BE ALMOST REAL.

AND HE EVEN HAD A SMALL CAMEO ROLE IN THE 2016 VERSION.

AND A GIANT OF LITERATURE WHO LEFT HIS MOORK MI 6 THROUGH HIS EVOCATIVE BRILLIANT NOVELS.

THAT'S SOME ENDORSEMENT.

THAT'S IT FOR OUR PROGRAM TONIGHT.

REMEMBER YOU CAN FOLLOW ME AND THE SHOW ON TWITTER.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING ON PBS.