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> HELLO, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO 'AMANPOUR AND COMPANY.'
HERE'S WHAT'S COMING UP.
24, GET THAT ONE.
AS INFLATION STARTS TO BITE AROUND THE WORLD, WE TAKE A WIDE RANGING LOOK AT JOBS AND THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY PLAN WITH FORMER OBAMA LABOR CHIEF ECONOMIST BETSY STEVENSON.
THEN.
THE INVESTMENTS HERE WILL BE GAME CHANGING.
IT WON'T ADD A TO INFLATION.
IF ANYTHING, IT WILL BRING INFLATION DOWN.
U.S. LABOR SECRETARY MARTY WALSH TELLS WALTER ISAACSON WHY THE BUILD BACK BETTER AGENDA WILL RELEASE PRESSURE ON WORKING AMERICA.
> FROM WARSAW WITH LOVE.
I SPEAK TO FORMER 'WASHINGTON POST' REPORTER ABOUT HIS NEW BOOK ON THE CIA'S UNLIKELY ALLIANCE WITH POLISH SPIES.
THEN.
BUCKET LIST ADVENTURE.
MOTHER AND SON BEHIND JOIN US.
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WELCOME TO 'AMANPOUR,' I'M BIANA GOLDRYGA.
> SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI COULDN'T CONTAIN HER EXCITEMENT ON THE HOUSE FLOOR.
THE YEAS ARE 220.
THE NAYS ARE 213.
PASSED.
THE SWEEPING $1.9 TRILLION SOCIAL SAFETY NET IS HEADED TO THE SENATE WHERE IT'S BOUND TO FACE OBSTACLES.
THE COST OF LIVING IN THE UNITED STATES CONTINUES TO RISE.
HIGHER PRICES AT GROCERY STORES AND GAS PUMPS HITTING AMERICANS' WALLETS IN WAYS NOT SEEN IN DECADES.
IT'S NOT JUST IN THE UNITED STATES.
THE UK IS SEEING PRICES SURGE AT THE FASTEST RATE FOR NEARLY TEN YEARS.
AND INFLATION IN THE EURO ZONE IS ALSO UP.
SO WHAT'S GOING ON?
LET'S ASK PROFESSOR BETSY STEVENSON WHO SERVED AS A TOP ECONOMIC ADVISER UNDER PRESIDENT OBAMA.
BETSY, WELCOME BACK TO THE PROGRAM.
SO FINALLY, WE HAVE THE HOUSE PASSING THE BUILD BACK BETTER LEGISLATION.
NOW IT GOES TO THE SENATE WHERE THERE WILL BE SOME CHANGES.
THOUGH THE HOUSE SPEAKER SAID THAT THEY HAD BEEN WORKING WITH THE SENATE IN THE WHITE HOUSE ON THIS BILL.
SO PRESUMABLY, THERE WON'T BE MUCH DIFFERENCE HERE BUT FROM AN ECONOMIC STANDPOINT, WHAT IN THIS BILL DO YOU THINK IS CRUCIAL AS FAR AS PERTAINING TO AMERICAN HOUSEHOLDS AND WHAT DO YOU THINK SHOULD NOT BE CUT OUT?
WELL, THERE IS JUST ABSOLUTE HISTORIC INVESTMENT IN CHILDCARE THAT'S GOING TO BENEFIT SO MANY FAMILIES THAT HAVE REALLY STRUGGLED OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF WITH COVID, WHERE THEY LOST ACCESS TO CHILDCARE, THEY'VE BEEN SCRAMBLING ON THEIR OWN TO GET KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL TO FIND CHILDCARE, BUT LONG BEFORE COVID, FAMILIES STRUGGLED TO PAY FOR QUALITY CHILDCARE.
AND THIS BILL IS GOING TO MAKE HIGH QUALITY AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE IN THE REACH OF EVERY FAMILY IN AMERICA.
AND I THINK FOR ALL THE PARENTS OUT THERE, THIS IS JUST SUCH A BIG DEAL.
OF COURSE, BETSY, YOU KNOW THERE IS GOING TO BE SOME PUSHBACK.
PERHAPS IN THE SENATE, WE SHOULD WAIT BEFORE PASSING THIS LEGISLATION BECAUSE OF FEARS OF INFLATION.
IS HE RIGHT TO WORRY?
WELL, I THINK IT WOULD BE A MISTAKE TO WAIT.
IF WE THINK ABOUT WHAT'S CAUSING INFLATION, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF FACTORS OUT THERE.
CHIP SHORTAGES, COVID AROUND THE GLOBE, RISING SHIPPING COSTS.
OBVIOUSLY NOTHING IN BUILD BACK BETTER WILL IMPACT THAT BUT ANOTHER FACTOR THAT COULD IMPACT INFLATION IS THE TIGHT LABOR MARKET IN THE UNITED STATES.
GIVEN RISING DEMAND FOR GOODS AND SERVICES.
PART OF CHILDCARE, MAKING CHILDCARE AFFORDABLE AND THAT'S ACTUALLY WHAT'S GOING TO KEEP INFLATION DOWN.
INSTEAD OF BEING WORRIED THIS BILL WILL EXACERBATE INFLATION, I THINK YOU SHOULD BE LOOKING AT THINGS IN THIS BILL THAT ARE GOING TO HELP GET THE ECONOMY BACK ON TRACK.
IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE REPUBLICANS ARE CITING SOME PROMINENT DEMOCRATS LIKE LARRY SUMMERS AND STEVE BRADNER WITH A PIECE OUT THIS WEEK SAYING ONE OF THE REASONS WE HAVE THIS BUSINESS LABOR CRISIS AND THE DISCONNECT THERE IS BECAUSE OF THE STIMULUS CHECKS THAT WENT OUT IN THE SPRING AND THAT THEY WERE TOO BIG.
AND THAT'S LED TO THE INFLATIONARY ISSUES THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH RIGHT NOW.
IN FACT, SENATOR McCONNELL ADDRESSED THIS EARLIER.
LET'S LISTEN.
WELL, THERE'S NO UNCERTAINTY ABOUT WHAT THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE IN THE COUNTRY IS, AND IT'S INFLATION.
BUT 90% OF AMERICANS ARE EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT INFLATION OR SOMEWHAT CONCERNED ABOUT INFLATION.
WE ALREADY KNOW THAT SOME OF THE MOST REPUTABLE ECONOMISTS IN THE COUNTRY HAVE SAID IF THE BILL PASSED BACK IN MARCH, PRINCIPLE REASON FOR THE RAGING INFLATION WE HAVE AND NOW WE HAVE REPUTABLE ECONOMISTS WHO ACTUALLY SUPPORT BBB.
THE $1.9 TRILLION STIMULUS PACKAGE SOMETHING STEVE CALLED THE ORIGINAL SIN.
YOUR TAKE ON THAT AND HOW IT MAKES SENSE GIVEN THAT WE SEE INFLATION POP UP NOT JUST IN THE U.S. BUT AROUND THE WORLD?
WELL, WHAT'S HAPPENED COMING OUT OF COVID, WE'VE SEEN A BIG INCREASE IN DEMAND AND WE HAVEN'T SEEN AS BIG OF AN INCREASE IN SUPPLY.
SO DEMAND IS OUTSTRIPPING SLY.
MORE PEOPLE WANT CARS THAN THERE ARE CARS TO HAVE.
HOW ARE WE GOING TO ALLOCATE THE CARS IF THE DEMAND EXCEEDS SUPPLY?
THAT'S HOW WE END UP SEEING THE PRICE GET PUSHED UP AND SOME PEOPLE AREN'T ABLE TO AFFORD A CAR ANYMORE.
THAT IS SORT OF THE CHALLENGE.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IS, WELL, PEOPLE WOULDN'T DEMAND SO MANY CARS IF WE HADN'T GIVEN THEM MONEY A YEAR AGO BECAUSE PEOPLE WOULD BE BROKE AND IF THEY'RE BROKE, THEY WOULDN'T BE DEMANDING CARS AND THEREFORE, WE WOULDN'T SEE A PRICE INCREASE.
I THINK THE THING TO KEEP IN MIND, NONE OF THAT IS GOING TO GET ANYBODY ANY MORE CARS.
THAT WILL KEEP THE PRICE DOWN FOR THOSE WHO CAN AFFORD CARS.
YES, WE HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT GIVING PEOPLE CASH WHEN WE DON'T, IF THERE'S NOT STUFF OUT THERE FOR THEM TO BUY.
BUT I THINK AT THE TIME THAT WE WERE TRYING TO GET CASH IN THE HANDS OF FAMILIES, WE DIDN'T REALLY KNOW WHO WAS SUFFERING AND UNABLE TO BUY THINGS LIKE FOOD OR PAY THEIR RENT.
WE WANTED TO GET CASH IN THEIR HANDS AND MAKE SURE PEOPLE CAN BUY THE ESSENTIALS.
I REALLY BELIEVE SUPPLY IS GOING TO CATCH UP WITH DEMAND AND A LOT OF THESE PRICE INCREASES ARE REALLY TEMPORARY.
I THINK THE BIGGEST THREAT WE HAVE OUT THERE IS THAT PEOPLE DON'T RETURN TO WORK AND THEY MIGHT NOT RETURN TO WORK IF THEY'VE LOST AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF SKILLS AND IF THEY BECOME SO DESPONDENT ABOUT THEIR SITUATION OR IF THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO CHILDCARE OR CAREGIVING OR THEIR ELDERLY FAMILY MEMBERS.
BUILD BACK BETTER HAS EXPANDED FUNDING FOR HOME HEALTH CARE AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE.
A LOT OF ADULTS WILL CARE FOR OTHER ADULTS WHO HAVE SERIOUS ILLNESS AND IT KEEPS THEM OUT OF THE LABOR FORCE.
IF WE WANT TO GET INFLATION UNDER CONTROL, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE CAN DO IS NOT TAKE MONEY AWAY FROM PEOPLE SO THEY DON'T WANT STUFF ANYMORE BUT INCREASE THE SUPPLY AND OUR CAPACITY TO MEET THAT DEMAND AND THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT IS TO HELP PEOPLE GET BACK INTO THE WORKFORCE.
JUST TO BE CLEAR, DO YOU DISAGREE THEN WITH STEVE RATNER'S CASE THAT THE STIMULUS CHECKS AND EXTRA CASH THAT WENT OUT TO MILLIONS OF HOUSEHOLDS WAS THE ORIGINAL SIN AND AGAIN, FOR OUR INTERNATIONAL VIEWERS WHO ARE ALSO FEELING INFLATION, THEY DIDN'T RECEIVE STIMULUS CHECKS FROM THE U.S. GOVERNMENT.
YEAH, SO I DON'T THINK THAT THAT IS THE PRIMARY THING CAUSING INFLATION RIGHT NOW.
YES, PEOPLE HAD A LOT MORE CASH IN HAND.
IT WASN'T JUST FROM STIMULUS CHECKS.
A LOT OF PEOPLE CUT BACK SPENDING BECAUSE THEY WERE SCARED OR DIDN'T HAVE STUFF TO SPEND THEIR MONEY ON.
FOR HIGHER INCOME PEOPLE WHO FELT THEY HAD TO STAY AT HOME TO PROTECT THEMSELVES TO CUT TRAVEL, CUT DINING OUT AND ALL THAT MONEY BUILT UP IN SAVINGS ACCOUNTS.
THAT'S WHY PEOPLE ARE FLUSHED WITH CASH, TRYING TO GET OUT THERE AND START SPENDING AGAIN.
THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE MANUFACTURERS HAVE GOT TO BE ABLE TO HIRE, BUILD NEW FACTORIES AND CHIP SHORTAGE.
THE PROBLEM IS THEY'RE VERY SLOW TO INVEST, BUILD MORE CAPACITY.
THEY'RE STARTING TO BELIEVE, OH, YEAH, WE REALLY NEED MORE CAPACITY BUT IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO TAKE ANOTHER SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR TO SEE SUPPLY INCREASE BUT I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE CHIPS BEING AS EXPENSIVE AS THEY ARE RIGHT NOW FOR VERY LONG.
THESE ARE PROBLEMS THAT ARE GOING TO WORK THEIR WAY OUT.
WHAT COULD HAPPEN IS WE COULD SEE WORKERS PERMANENTLY SHUT OUT OF THE LABOR FORCE AND THAT'S WHY I THINK, FOR POLICY MAKERS, THEIR NUMBER ONE CONCERN NEEDS TO NOT ONLY GET PEOPLE BACK INTO THE LABOR FORCE BUT KEEP PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE LABOR FORCE WORKING.
EVERY SINGLE DAY, SOMEBODY EXITS THE LABOR FORCE BECAUSE THEY HAVE A CAREGIVING PROBLEM.
SOMEBODY IN THEIR FAMILY DEVELOPS AN ILLNESS AND STEP DOWN FROM THEIR JOB TO LOOK AFTER THEIR HUSBAND OR MOTHER OR CHILDCARE CENTER CLOSES OR THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO ACCESS CHILDCARE ANYMORE, SO THEY LEAVE THEIR JOB.
PEOPLE WHO LEAVE THEIR JOB BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO MATERNITY LEAVE.
WE SEE THAT EVERY SINGLE DAY.
SO ALL OF THESE THINGS BUILD OUR LABOR SUPPLY.
IT'S SORT OF A FINE LINE TO WALK HERE BECAUSE WHILE YOU'RE NOT SAYING THAT THIS IS A FIVE ALARM FIRE IN TERMS OF INFLATION AND YOU'RE NOT THAT CONCERNED ABOUT IT, FAMILIES ARE DEALING WITH IT ON A DAILY BASIS.
WHETHER IT'S FILLING THE TANK IN THEIR CAR OR PRICES AT THE GROCERY STORE OR I EVEN REMEMBER AN INTERVIEW YOU GAVE ANECDOTALLY ABOUT YOUR MOM WHO TALKED ABOUT CONCERNS OF GETTING A TURKEY IN TIME FOR THANKSGIVING AND SAID THAT YOU SHOULD GO OUT AND BUY ONE EARLY AND YOU LED FROM THAT INTO THIS IDEA OF INFLATION BECOMING A SELF-FULFILLING PROPHESY IF PEOPLE WORRY ABOUT INFLATION BEING A FACTOR IN THE FUTURE, THAT COULD IN RETURN SPIRAL INTO A REAL SITUATION THAT TURNS INTO A CRISIS FOR THE COUNTRY, NO?
YEAH, I MEAN, IT IS THE CASE THAT WE NEED TO WORRY A LOT ABOUT PEOPLE'S INFLATION EXPECTATIONS.
AND IT'S TOUGH WHEN DEMAND OUTSTRIPS SUPPLY, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH OUT THERE FOR EVERYBODY WHO WANTS SOMETHING.
AND WHAT DO PEOPLE DO WHEN THEY SEE SHORTAGES?
THEY TRY TO STOCKPILE AND WHAT THAT DOES IS CREATE FURTHER SHORTAGES.
WE DO NEED TO MAKE SURE DURING THIS PERIOD WHEN WE HAVE DEMAND SO MUCH HIGHER THAN SUPPLIES THAT WE DON'T EXACERBATE IT BY OVERBUYING AND THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT WHAT POLICY MAKERS CAN DO TO TRY TO BRING COSTS DOWN.
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE US REDUCE TARIFFS.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT COULD BE DONE RIGHT NOW, THE COST OF INTERNATIONAL GOODS DOWN WHEN THEY'VE RISEN BECAUSE OF THE SHIPPING COSTS.
WE COULD THINK ABOUT RELEASING EMERGENCY STOCKPILES.
WE NEED TO BE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT OIL PRICES, BUT NOT PASSING THE BUILD BACK BETTER IS NOT GOING TO BRING THE PRICE OF GAS DOWN.
AND THAT'S JUST A DIFFERENT PHENOMENON.
LASTLY, I WANT TO ASK YOU SINCE YOU MENTIONED POLICY MAKERS.
ONE OF THE POLICY MAKERS HAPPENS TO BE THE FED CHAIRMAN AND WE KNOW THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN SAID THAT HE WILL MAKE HIS DECISION ON WHETHER OR NOT HE WILL REAPPOINT JAY POWELL OR NOMINATE SOMEBODY ELSE FOR THAT POSITION.
THERE ARE QUITE A FEW GROWING LISTS OF DEMOCRATS, PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS IN THE SENATE VOICING THEIR OPPOSITION TO THE RENOMINATION OF JAY POWELL.
WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THAT AND GIVEN THAT MANDATE INCLUDES KEEPING INFLATION IN CHECK AND UNEMPLOYMENT LOW?
HOW IMPORTANT IS IT FOR THE PRESIDENT TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION AND WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT DECISION SHOULD BE?
WELL, I THINK IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT HE MAKES THE RIGHT DECISION RIGHT NOW.
I DO THINK THE FED HAS TO PAY ATTENTION TO BOTH INFLATION AND UNEMPLOYMENT AND PAYING ATTENTION TO HOW MUCH HIGHER INFLATION IS ABOVE WHAT THEY'RE TARGETING AND HOW MUCH, HOW FAR BELOW MAXIMUM EMPLOYMENT, HOW MUCH FAR BELOW EMPLOYMENT IS FROM THEIR TARGET TO MAXIMUM EMPLOYMENT, AND THEN MAKE SOME GOOD DECISIONS.
THE FED IS STEERING US THROUGH SOME PRETTY ROCKY WATERS RIGHT NOW.
I AM, BY NATURE, SOMEBODY WHO SORT OF THINKS THAT IF YOU'RE GOING THROUGH ROCKY WATERS, IT'S NOT A GREAT TIME TO MAKE A CHANGE AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT I'VE BEEN REALLY IMPRESSED WITH THE WAY THAT POWELL HAS STEERED THE SHIP SO FAR.
I KNOW THAT HE'S TAKEN A RISK TO GET US ALL BACK TO WORK.
AND THAT'S COME WITH A RISK OF HIGHER INFLATION.
WE ARE SEEING INFLATION RISING A LITTLE BIT, SEE THAT RISK.
PROMISE TO STEER US TO THE OTHER SIDE WHERE WE HAVE MAXIMUM EMPLOYMENT AND INFLATION WILL BE BACK DOWN AND SO FAR, I DON'T HAVE ANY REASON TO DOUBT HIS ABILITY TO DO THAT AND I THINK THERE'S A BUNCH OF NOMINEES OUT THERE I'D BE A LITTLE BIT MORE CONCERNED ABOUT.
STEVENSON, ALWAYS GREAT TO TALK TO YOU.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING.
I HOPE YOUR MOTHER WAITED A LITTLE BIT TO GET THAT TURKEY SO WE DIDN'T HAVE A RUSH.
I HOPE SHE GOT IT AND I HOPE GOT YOURS AS WELL.
THANK YOU.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS.
> WE CONTINUE OUR CONVERSATION ON JOBS AND THE IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC WITH U.S. LABOR SECRETARY MARTY WALSH.
HERE HE IS SPEAKING WITH WALTER ISAACSON TO SEE WHAT IT WILL TAKE FOR AMERICA'S JOB MARKET TO BOUNCE BACK.
THANK YOU, BIANA AND SECRETARY MARTY WALSH FOR BEING WITH US.
THANK YOU.
WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF WHAT'S BEING CALLED THE GREAT RESIGNATION.
4.4 MILLION PEOPLE IN SEPTEMBER DROPPED OUT OF THE LABOR MARKET.
WHAT'S CAUSING THAT?
CLEARLY THE PANDEMIC.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT WE'VE BEEN THROUGH AS A COUNTRY, WHAT WE'VE BEEN THROUGH AS A WORLD, FROM MARCH OF 2020 FOR THE MOST PART HERE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WITH LIVING AND TRYING TO ADJUST TO TIMES, LIVING IN A PANDEMIC AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE FELT BY NOW WE'D BE BEYOND THIS POINT.
AMERICA, AT LEAST FOR 100 YEARS, NEVER DEALT WITH A PANDEMIC.
AS A KID GROWING UP IN BOSTON AND BEING A STATE REP AND MAYOR, NEVER IN MY WILDEST IMAGINATION THINK I'D SHUT EVERYTHING DOWN AND THEN TRY TO LIVE THROUGH THIS.
I THINK THE UNDERLYING CAUSE FOR A LOT OF THIS, THE UNEASE IN THE PUBLIC, THE JOB MARKET, THE ECONOMY, EVERYTHING IS PANDEMIC.
YEAH, BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING MORE BASIC COMING OUT OF THIS PANDEMIC.
A GULF BETWEEN WHAT EMPLOYERS ARE WILLING TO PAY AND WHAT EMPLOYEES WANT TO DO WITH THEIR LIVES.
HOW DO YOU BRIDGE THAT GULF?
I WAS TALKING TO A BUSINESSMAN THE OTHER NIGHT IN BOSTON.
WHAT THEY SAID TO ME WAS INTERESTING.
EVEN AFTER THE LAST PANDEMIC AND GENERALLY PANDEMICS AROUND THE WORLD, THERE'S ALWAYS AN INCREASE IN WAGES AND ALWAYS A CONCERN ABOUT THE PARTICIPATION IN THE WORKFORCE.
MAYBE NOT SPOKEN THAT WAY IN THE PAST, BUT DEFINITELY BEEN A CORRELATION THERE AND I THINK WE'RE EXPERIENCING SOME OF THAT, AND I THINK THAT WHEN YOU SAY GREAT RESIGNATION, I THINK PEOPLE WHO WORK IN RESTAURANTS BUT PEOPLE WHO ARE A YEAR OR TWO YEARS AWAY IN RETIREMENT AND THEY'VE BEEN WORKING FROM HOME REMOTELY SAYING TO THEMSELVES THAT I'M NOT GOING TO GO BACK IN, WHETHER IT'S PANDEMIC RELATED OR WHETHER THEY'RE USED TO A CERTAIN LIFESTYLE.
I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE AREAS WE'VE LOST A LOT OF PEOPLE TO RETIREMENT.
QUITE HONESTLY, TWO OR THREE YEARS LEFT.
DO YOU THINK SOME OF THE BENEFITS, THE COVID BENEFITS, THE EXTENDED UNEMPLOYMENT, THAT SORT OF LAID THE MINDSET FOR THIS?
HONESTLY I THINK IT'S PEOPLE HAVING TIME TO THINK ABOUT WHERE THEY ARE IN THEIR LIFE AND CAREER, AND LISTEN, I WAS WORKING IN A JOB THAT PAID ME SUBPAR WAGES OR SOMETHING THAT WASN'T FULFILLING AND PEOPLE ARE SAYING, WAIT A SECOND, I HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
I THINK THAT'S PART OF IT.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE ECONOMY, WITH WORKERS, WE LOST 745,000 PEOPLE TO COVID-19.
THERE'S A GOOD PORTION OF THOSE FOLKS THAT DIED WERE IN THE WORKFORCE.
PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND NOT NECESSARILY DIAGNOSED BUT CONCERNS ABOUT THE PANDEMIC, AND NOW WE SEE RATES AND RISES AGAIN.
NOT TALKED ABOUT MUCH BUT WE LOST 100,000 PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY THROUGH OPIOIDS AND A LOT OF THOSE FOLKS, MULTIPLY THAT NUMBER, FIVE OR SIX OR TEN PEOPLE, THAT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT QUITE HONESTLY AREN'T READY TO COME INTO THE WORKFORCE.
THE OPIOID CRISIS, 100,000 DEATHS, I THINK, IN A YEAR.
YOU YOURSELF WENT THROUGH A BATTLE WITH ALCOHOLISM.
TELL ME ABOUT THAT AND THE ROLE OF THE WORKPLACE, WHAT THAT DID TO YOU IN UNDERSTANDING HOW YOU WOULD DEAL WITH THIS AS A LABOR SECRETARY.
WELL, YOU KNOW, YOU THINK ABOUT GOING THROUGH ALCOHOLISM OR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER.
IT'S A DISEASE, NUMBER ONE, AND IF YOU'RE NOT READY OR WILLING TO GO FOR HELP, IT'S GOING TO IMPACT YOU AS A HUMAN BEING AND YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR ABILITY TO BE A PRODUCTIVE WORKER AT WORK.
WHEN I WENT INTO TREATMENT, I WENT TO WORK EVERY DAY, I WAS A FUNCTIONING ALCOHOLIC.
THE DEFINITION OF IT, BUT WHEN I GOT INTO RECOVERY, MY WHOLE OUTLOOK ON LIFE CHANGED, MY OUTLOOK ON WORK CHANGED AND I BECAME A BETTER EMPLOYEE.
EVENTUALLY, I GOT A CHANCE TO RUN FOR OFFICE AND I THINK RECOVERY HELPED ME TO BE A GOOD STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND GOOD MAYOR AND NOW LABOR SECRETARY, BUT I'LL TELL YOU, DURING THE PANDEMIC WHEN I WAS THE MAYOR OF BOSTON, WE WOULD DO A PRESS CONFERENCE EVERY DAY AND I DID THE PRESS CONFERENCE, I WOULD MAKE A NOTE TO TALK TO PEOPLE INDIRECTLY ABOUT PEOPLE THAT ARE STRUGGLING WITH ALCOHOL OR OPIOIDS OR MENTAL HEALTH TO SAY YOU NEED TO GO GET HELP.
BECAUSE THOSE ILLNESSES ARE DISEASES OF ISOLATION AND HERE WE HAVE A PANDEMIC WHERE WE ARE TELLING PEOPLE BASICALLY TO ISOLATE.
STAY SIX FEET AWAY FROM EACH OTHER.
NO BIG GATHERINGS AND IT WAS A PERFECT SCENARIO.
I THINK THAT HAD A BIG IMPACT AS WELL IN US MOVING FORWARD.
SO, YOU KNOW, I JUST THINK THAT THERE'S A BIG PIECE.
WHAT RECOVERY HAS DONE FOR ME AS WELL DURING THE PANDEMIC, I HAD THE ABILITY TO KIND OF WORK ON MYSELF AND STILL STAY KICKED TO THE RECOVERY COMMUNITY ON A NIGHTLY BASIS THROUGH ZOOM.
I HAD THAT OUTLET.
MANY PEOPLE IN AMERICA DON'T HAVE AN OUTLET TO TALK ABOUT THE PROBLEMS THEY HAVE.
YOU GAVE A VERY GOOD EXPLANATION AS TO WHY PEOPLE AREN'T IN THE WORKFORCE OR DROPPED OUT OF THE WORKFORCE, RESIGNED, WHETHER THEY BE PEOPLE NEAR THE END OF THEIR CAREERS, PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES, BUT ISN'T THAT A REALLY BAD THING?
DON'T WE NEED THESE PEOPLE BACK INTO THE WORKFORCE AND HOW DO YOU THINK THE ADMINISTRATION CAN SOLVE THAT?
WELL, I THINK THAT CERTAINLY, I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO ANNOUNCE ON MY JOB DAYS OR THE FIRST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH THESE RECORD NUMBERS AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, THEY ARE RECORD NUMBERS FROM WHEN PRESIDENT BIDEN TOOK OVER IN JANUARY UNTIL TODAY.
5.6 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE RETURNED TO THE WORKFORCE AND MILLIONS OF JOBS IN OUR COUNTRY.
I THINK THERE'S A COUPLE OF PIECES TO WORK ON.
FIRST, THE RESCUE PLAN WHEN WE FIRST GOT ELECTED AND A LOT OF MONEY WENT INTO CHILDCARE AND IT WAS A BIG VOID THERE WITH CHILDCARE.
A LOT OF THESE FACILITIES EITHER SHUT DOWN OR WERE CLOSED.
A LOT OF PARENTS, AND LAST WEEK, THE PRESIDENT SIGNED THE BILL, THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL WHICH WAS A BIG INVESTMENT INTO OPPORTUNITY FOR EMPLOYEES.
I THINK SOME OF THE BIGGEST PARTS ARE JOB CREATION IN THE PHYSICAL CONSTRUCTION BUT ALSO, WE CAN'T TAKE FOR GRANTED THE BROADBAND CONNECTIVITY AND CONNECTED RURAL AMERICA TO THE BROADBAND AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO HELP MORE PEOPLE AS WELL REENTER THE JOB FORCE OR ENTER THE JOB FORCE OR HELP THEM CHANGE CAREERS.
THE BUILD BACK BETTER RECONCILIATION PACKAGE IS BEING DEBATED RIGHT NOW.
TENS OF BILLIONS FOR JOB TRAINING AND PRE-APPRENTICE PROGRAMS AND REIMAGINE HOW WE DO JOB TRAINING, AND PART OF THAT.
BUILD BACK BETTER HAS A LOT OF SPENDING.
WHY WOULD THAT NOT BE INFLATIONARY WHEN WE'RE IN A TIME OF WORKER SHORTAGES, SUPPLY THIS COULD REALLY ADD TO THE HORRIBLE INFLATION WE'RE EXPERIENCING.
THE WAY I LOOK AT IT, I DON'T LOOK AT SOCIAL SPENDING BUT SOCIAL INVEST M.
I'LL GO THROUGH QUICK THINGS.
NUMBER ONE, CHILDCARE.
FAMILIES EARNING UNDER $300,000 A YEAR.
NO MORE THAN 7% OF THEIR SALARIES TO CHILDCARE.
THAT WOULD ALLOW MORE FAMILIES TO SPEND MONEY AND THE OPPORTUNITY MORE DOLLARS IN THEIR POCKET TO SPEND MORE ON THEIR FAMILIES AND BE ABLE TO LIVE A GOOD LIFE AND NOT STRUGGLING FROM DAY TO DAY.
MONEY IN THE UNITED STATES WE CAN THINK ABOUT, WE HAVE A WORKER SHORTAGE AND WE REALLY HAVE A JOB QUALITY SHORTAGE.
PEOPLE GOING INTO DIFFERENT JOBS.
SO WE'RE ABLE TO LOOK AND TRAIN FOLKS INTO THOSE DIFFERENT AREAS TO MOVE FORWARD.
WE ALSO HAVE UNIVERSAL A SYSTEM, IT DEPENDS WHAT ZIP CODE YOU LIVE IN, YOU MIGHT NOT GET A GOOD EDUCATION BUT A GAME CHANGER, WHATEVER ZIP CODE YOU LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, YOU CAN GET INTO PRE-KINDERGARTEN AT THE AGE OF 3 YEARS OLD OR 4 YEARS OLD, THEN THE OUTCOMES, THE STUDIES SHOW THAT YOUR PRODUCTIVITY AND YOUR OPPORTUNITY FOR GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE OR A PROGRAM GO OFF THE CHARTS.
WE'VE NEVER SEEN THIS TYPE OF INVESTMENT IN AMERICAN PEOPLE.
THE INVESTMENTS HERE WILL BE GAME CHANGING.
IT WON'T ADD TO INFLATION.
IF ANYTHING, IT WILL HELP BRING INFLATION DOWN.
IT WILL GIVE PEOPLE MORE OPPORTUNITIES IN THEIR POCKET TO BE ABLE TO PURCHASE MORE AND THE PURCHASING POWER WILL BRING THE COST DOWN.
ONE OF THE OBJECTIONS THAT SENATOR MANCHIN AND A COUPLE OF OTHERS NOW HAVE WAS TO PLAN WITH RECONCILIATION, THINGS PROBABLY NEAR AND DEAR TO YOUR HEART, SOMEBODY CAME UP IN A LABOR UNION, WHICH IS, SAY, FOR A VARIETY OF THINGS, INCLUDING THE CREDITS FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES.
THEY HAVE TO BE MADE BY UNION WORKERS.
WHAT'S THE JUSTIFICATION FOR THAT?
THE BEAUTY OF THAT IS WE KEEP JOBS IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND WE KEEP MANUFACTURING IN THE AREAS.
YESTERDAY, I WAS AT THE GM FACILITY IN MICHIGAN WHERE THEY'RE MAKING ELECTRIC VEHICLES AND ELECTRIC VOLTS AND TO BE ABLE TO HIRE MORE WORKERS THERE.
IN THE NEXT BREATH, THE PRESIDENT SAID SOME OF THESE COMPANIES HAVE TO PAY MORE IN TAXES.
THE BIG COMPANY THAT THIS WILL HELP PAY FOR THE BILL.
IT DOESN'T ADD ANY MONEY TO THE BOTTOM LINE.
IT DOESN'T ADD MONEY TO THE DEBT.
THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES THERE TO BE ABLE TO KEEP JOBS HERE BUT ALSO REQUEST THESE COMPANIES PAY MORE IN TAXES SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO INVEST IN AMERICA.
THEY SHOULD BE UNION JOBS, YOU THINK?
I GUESS THAT'S A TOUGH ONE.
I THINK THAT CERTAINLY, I'M GOING TO ADVOCATE FOR UNION JOBS ALL ACROSS AS BEST I CAN BUT A PROVISION TO BUY AMERICAN AND DOESN'T SPECIFY IN BUY AMERICAN IT'S ALL UNION PRODUCT.
IT'S ABOUT MANUFACTURING AND TRYING TO BRING MORE MANUFACTURING TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
THE OTHER ASPECTS OF THE BIDEN/HARRIS ADMINISTRATION THAT DOESN'T TALK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT IT.
STOPPED OSHA FROM ENFORCING THE VACCINE MANDATES ON BUSINESSES.
I THINK YOU NOW SUSPENDED TRYING TO HAVE OSHA DO THAT.
WAS THAT A MISTAKE TO TRY TO DO IT THROUGH OSHA AND DID YOU THINK OF OTHER WAYS THAT MAYBE IT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE?
NO, ABSOLUTELY THE RIGHT WAY TO DO IT.
NOW TO FIX THE COURT OF APPEALS, CIRCUIT COURT, I SHOULD SAY, TAKE IT UP AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO GET TO THE END OF A PANDEMIC.
THIS IS ONE TOOL THAT CAN HELP US WITH THAT.
WE'RE SEEING RISING RATES RIGHT NOW.
IN THE NORTHEAST, WE SEE SPIKES IN COVID-19 AGAIN.
THIS IS THE FIFTH OR SIXTH TIME WE SEE THESE SPIKES.
IF WE DON'T GET TO THE END OF THE PANDEMIC AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE HERE AND WE DON'T GET IT UNDER CONTROL, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH OUR WORKFORCE AND WITH PEOPLE'S MENTAL HEALTH.
AND I THINK WHAT WE DID HERE AT OSHA, WHAT OSHA DID WAS THE RIGHT THING.
IT'S NOT A MANDATE.
IT WAS A TEST, VACCINE TESTING.
QUITE HONESTLY, I HEARD MORE POSITIVES FROM COMPANIES THAT MIGHT BE A LITTLE AFRAID TO SAY SOMETHING RIGHT NOW BUT THANKING FOR DOING THAT BECAUSE I WANT TO GET MY WORKFORCE OPEN AGAIN AND TO BE ABLE TO SAY TO WORKERS AFRAID TO COME BACK TO WORK THAT THE PEOPLE INSIDE OF THIS, WHATEVER IT IS BUSINESS, ARE EITHER VACCINATED OR TESTING EVERY WEEK, THAT WILL MAKE PEOPLE FEEL COMFORTABLE AND SAFE.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHY SOME PEOPLE MIGHT JUST FEEL THAT THE GOVERNMENT, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULDN'T TELL THEM THEY HAVE TO GET A VACCINE IN ORDER TO GO TO WORK?
YOU KNOW, THE UNFORTUNATE THING ABOUT VACCINES, I THINK, IN WHAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW, INCLUDING MASKS IN SOME PLACES, IT'S BECOME POLITICAL.
IT'S REALLY UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE I REMEMBER NOT THAT LONG AGO, I'LL TAKE YOU BACK TO MAY OF 2020 IN THE CITY OF BOSTON, WE HAD EMERGENCY ROOMS BUSTING WITH PEOPLE THAT HAD THE COVID-19 INFECTION AND THEY WERE ON VENTILATORS AND AT THAT POINT, A LOT OF PEOPLE SAYING WE CAN'T WAIT FOR A VACCINE TO HAPPEN AND UNFORTUNATELY, IT BECAME POLITICAL.
IT'S NOT ABOUT POLITICS.
IT'S KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE, HEALTHY AND ALIVE.
OVER 5 MILLION PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD DUE TO THE PANDEMIC AND THOSE ARE 5 MILLION PEOPLE THAT WON'T BE AT THE TABLE AT THE HOLIDAYS THIS YEAR AND THEY WEREN'T AT THE TABLE LAST YEAR.
WE HAVE TO BE CREATIVE ON HOW DO WE DO THINGS TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE AND I DON'T THINK ANYBODY, ANY GOVERNMENT, WHETHER IT'S STATE, LOCAL OR FEDERAL WANTS VACCINES MANDATE BUT WE HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE.
ONE OF THE COMPONENTS OF THE BUILD BACK BETTER BILL OR RECONCILIATION IS THE CHILDCARE.
WHAT THE COUNTRY SHOULD BE DOING TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF HIGH QUALITY CHILDCARE BUT DO IT IN A WAY TO NOT EXCLUDE RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHERS AND GIVING THEM TOO MANY REQUIREMENTS AND REGULATIONS.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, I THINK WHEN WE THINK ABOUT CHILDCARE, WE CAN'T AFFORD NOT TO HAVE THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN CHILD CARE INVOLVED IN CHILD CARE IN THE FUTURE.
SO WE NEED TO KEEP ALL THOSE DOORS OPEN BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH SEATS FOR THE KIDS IN THE COUNTRY, NUMBER ONE.
NUMBER TWO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT CHILD CARE, MANY FAMILIES PAYING 30%, 40%, ONE FAMILY.
IF ONLY WORKING OF THE SALARY TO KEEP KIDS IN CHILD CARE WHILE THEY WORK TO BE ABLE TO KEEP FOOD ON THE TABLE, THIS WOULD ALLOW THE FAMILY TO ONLY HAVE TO PAY UP TO 7% OF THEIR SALARY TO AFFORD CHILD CARE.
GOOD QUALITY CHILD CARE, NUMBER ONE.
NUMBER TWO, IT'S ALSO ABOUT, THE HARDEST HIT, ONE OF THE HARDEST HIT GROUPS IN THE PANDEMIC WERE WOMEN PUSHED OUT OF THE WORKFORCE AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THE WOMEN ARE BACK IN THE ECONOMY.
WE CAN'T HAVE A STRONG ECONOMY WITH JUST WHITE MEN WORKING, BUT WOMEN IN THE ECONOMY AND PEOPLE OF COLOR IN THE ECONOMY AND PEOPLE OPPORTUNITIES OF GOOD PAYING JOBS AND BY HAVING GOOD STRONG CHILD CARE WILL BE ABLE TO HELP.
ONE THING WITH CONSTRUCTION, WE'RE NOT AS GREAT ON IN CONSTRUCTION IS HAVING WOMEN IN THE TRADE.
THERE ARE WOMEN IN THE TRADE BUT NOT A LARGE NUMBER OF WOMEN IN TRADE.
THE BIGGEST SINGLE FACTOR IS A LACK OF CHILD CARE AT 7:00 IN THE MORNING.
SO WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF REIMAGINE CHILD CARE.
THERE ISN'T ONE PERSON TO WATCH THIS SHOW THAT HAS A CHILD TO SAY, WELL, THAT'S A MISTAKE.
WE NEED TO INVEST IN CHILD CARE AND WE'RE PROBABLY 20 YEARS BEHIND IT, SO WE SHOULD START NOW.
ONE OF THE MOST TRAVELED CABINET SECRETARIES SO FAR.
27 STATES.
ONE OF THOSE WITH THE KELLOGG STRIKERS.
WHAT MESSAGE WERE YOU TRYING TO SEND?
I WAS TRYING TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT I WAS ENCOURAGING BOTH SIDES TO GO TO THE TABLE TO TALK ABOUT IT.
I'VE BEEN PART OF STRIKES IN THE PAST.
THEY'VE NEGOTIATED STRIKES AND SECRETARY OF LABOR, I WANT TO BE ABLE TO DO THE SAME THING.
BOTH SIDES, WANT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION.
I CAN BE IMPARTIAL.
PEOPLE SAY YOU CAN'T BE IMPARTIAL, I CAN BE VERY IMPARTIAL.
ASKED ABOUT ME BEING IMPARTIAL AND ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO SUPPORT WORKERS AND SUPPORT COMPANIES, YOU THINK OF THAT STRIKE ALONE.
YOU THINK OF WORKERS MAKING AN IMPORTANT PRODUCE FOR AMERICA AND A LONG STANDING AMERICAN COMPANY.
THE BEST THING TO DO IS TO GET TO A QUICK RESOLUTION AS POSSIBLE IN THE PARTICULAR CASE IF WE CAN.
WILL WE EVER GET BACK TO FULL EMPLOYMENT AND HIGH PARTICIPATION IN THE WORKFORCE OR HAVE THINGS SORT OF FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGED AFTER THE PANDEMIC?
I THINK WE DEFINITELY GET BACK TO WHATEVER THE DEFINITION FOR EMPLOYMENT IS IN THE COUNTRY BECAUSE IT'S ALWAYS CHANGING.
THE ONE THING WE'RE CURIOUS RIGHT NOW, 30% OF NEW ENTREPRENEURSHIPS IN AMERICA.
WE'VE NEVER REALLY SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT BEFORE WHERE PEOPLE SAY, I TRY SOMETHING NEW MYSELF AND SO THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE.
WE'RE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S THE WORKPLACE GOING TO LOOK LIKE AFTER THE PANDEMIC?
IS IT GOING TO BE MORE REMOTE OR IN PERSON?
I THINK PEOPLE HAVE TO GO BACK TO WORK OR WILL GO BACK TO WORK BUT I THINK IT WILL LOOK A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
I THINK IT COULD BE GOOD FOR US.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE LOOK BACK ON THIS PERIOD OF TIME, IT COULD BE GREAT FOR THE AMERICAN WORKER.
NOT WHAT HAPPENED BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO SAY A PANDEMIC IS GREAT BUT THE AMERICAN COMPANY.
SECRETARY MARTY WELSH, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY, IT WAS GREAT.
OPTIMISTIC TAKE THERE FROM THE LABOR SECRETARY.
> WE TURN NOW TO A TRUE STORY OF ENEMY SPIES COMING TOGETHER.
THE TWILIGHT OF THE COLD WAR FROM WARSAW WITH LOVE IS THE NEW BOOK BY AWARD WINNING AUTHOR ABOUT HOW THE CIA FORCED AN UNLIKELY ALLIANCE WITH POLISH INTELLIGENCE.
IT'S THE RESULT OF DOZENS OF INTERVIEWS WITH CURRENT AND FORMER GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND JOINING ME NOW FROM BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA.
WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM.
CONGRATULATIONS ON THE BOOK.
IT'S FASCINATING.
WOULD IMAGINE MANY PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THIS RELATIONSHIP U.S. AND POLISH INTELLIGENCE.
TELL US WHAT LED YOU TO THIS STORY.
THANKS FOR HAVING ME, BIANA.
I SORT OF STUMBLED IT WITH 'THE WASHINGTON POST' BUREAU CHIEF IN EASTERN EUROPE AND I HEARD RUMORS THAT POLISH INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS SAVED SIX AMERICANS FROM IRAQ IN 1990.
SO I PURSUED THE STORY AND ULTIMATELY GOT THE STORY, MET THE INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS WHO ACTUALLY GOT THE AMERICANS FROM IRAQ.
THE IDEA OF THE BASIS FOR A BOOK, PERHAPS, AND THIS FROM WARSAW WITH LOVE IS THE PRODUCT.
REMINDS ME OF THE STORY IN THE FILM OF ARGO.
THIS HAPPENED IN 1990, RIGHT, WHEN THE U.S. GOES TO WAR WITH IRAQ AND THE U.S. HAD SIX INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS WHO ARE TRAPPED THERE.
WHY, OUT OF ALL INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS, IN TERMS OF INTERNATIONAL ALLIES, WOULD THE U.S. HAVE TURNED TO POLAND?
SO DURING THE COLD WAR, THE CIA ACTUALLY DEVELOPED A GREAT RESPECT FOR POLISH INTELLIGENCE TRADE DRAFT.
THERE WERE SEVERAL POLISH OFFICERS WHO ROBBED AMERICA BEHIND OF A LOT OF BOTH INDUSTRIAL SECRETS AND MILITARY SECRETS.
SO THE CIA KNEW THE POLS WERE GOOD, AND THEN IN 1989 AND 1990 HAPPENED, BERLIN WALL FALLS AND WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY THROUGH PEOPLE LIKE CIA OFFICER JOHN PALOVIC WHO REACHED OUT TO THE POLS TO EXPLORE THE IDEA OF INSTEAD BECOMING FOES, WE BECOME FRIENDS.
THE CIA SET UP SECRET MEETINGS WITH POLISH COUNTERPARTS IN MARCH OF 1990 AND THEN IN MAY OF 1990 TO OPEN UP IN POLAND, THE IDEA THEIR EXCOMMUNIST OFFICERS COULD BE WORKING NOT AGAINST THEM BUT FOR US AND THOSE MEETINGS BASICALLY LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR REMARKABLE ARGO-LIKE EXILTRATION.
GAVE THEM FAKE POLISH PASS PORTS AND NAMES, UNFORTUNATELY THEY HAD TROUBLE PRONOUNCING THE NAMES BUT ULTIMATELY DROVE OUT OF IRAQ AND HAIR RAISING ESCAPE INTO WARSAW WHERE THEY HANDED THEM BACK.
DESCRIBED AS A TOM SELLECK LOOK ALIKE.
THE POLISH OFFICER WHO HELPED THESE AMERICANS ESCAPE AND ON THAT SUBJECT OF THE SORT OF STRANGE BEDFELLOWS HERE, AMONG THOSE, SIX AMERICANS, THEY TOO WERE CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON SAYING THAT WHY ON EARTH WOULD WE WORK WITH FORMER COMMUNISTS.
THIS ISN'T LIKE THE CANADIENS WHO HELPED IN ARGO IN IRAN, THIS IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT STORY BUT SAID YOU'RE GOING TO TRUST ME BECAUSE YOU'LL BE ON YOUR OWN IF YOU DON'T.
EXACTLY.
THE CIA STATION CHIEF IN KUWAIT AT THE TIME WAS A LITTLE UPSET THAT SUDDENLY HE HAD TO BE WORKING WITH A WARSAW PACKED OFFICER BUT TWO AMERICAN MILITARY OFFICERS AMONG THE GROUP AND THEY ACTUALLY JUST LISTENING TO THE WAY THIS GUY TALKED, THEY GOT THE SENSE HE KNEW WHAT HE WAS DOING AND THEN ULTIMATELY SUCCEEDED AND GOT THEM TO SAFETY.
YOU ALSO TALK IN THE BOOK ABOUT OTHER WAYS IN WHICH POLAND CAME TO THE AID OF U.S.
INTELLIGENCE AND IN COUNTRIES WHERE WE DIDN'T HAVE A RELATIONSHIP AND THAT OBVIOUSLY INCLUDED CUBA AND NORTH KOREA AND IRAN AND EVEN WITH RUSSIA, BUT THIS RELATIONSHIP TOOK A SORT OF DARKER TURN AFTER 9/11 AND THE BLACK SITES THAT POLISH ACTUALLY HOUSED PEOPLE LIKE MOHAMMED AND HAD TO PAY FINES.
HOW DID IT IMPACT THE RELATIONSHIP AND WHAT WAS THE TAKEAWAY FROM POLISH OFFICIALS?
THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
THE EXFILTRATION OPERATION CREATED BETWEEN THE POLISH SERVICES AND THE POLS BEGAN TO SPY ON THE UNITED STATES AROUND THE WORLD BUT ONE CIA OFFICER EARLY INTO THE PROCESS PREDICTED TO POLISH COUNTERPARTS, WE'VE GOT A GREAT RELATIONSHIP NOW BUT AT A CERTAIN POINT, WE'LL ASK FOR TOO MUCH AND YOU SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR THAT DAY WHEN IT HAPPENS BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
AFTER 9/11, WE ASK THE POLS WHETHER WE COULD INTERROGATE TERRORIST SUBJECTS IN POLISH TERRITORY.
THE BLACK SITE IN POLAND WHERE MOHAMMED WAS INTERROGATED BUT THE POLS WANTED TO KEEP IT SECRET.
THE CIA BEGAN, OFFICERS AND OTHER PEOPLE IN THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION BEGAN TO LEAK ON IT WHICH WAS PROBABLY GOOD ALL IN ALL FOR THE REST OF THE PUBLIC TO KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING, BUT THE POLS GOT STUCK HOLDING THIS BAG.
AND THEY REALLY FELT GOING FORWARD A LOT MORE, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER YOU SAY RELUCTANT BUT JUST WORRIED THAT THE AGENCY AND THE U.S. GOVERNMENT COULD NO LONGER BE TRUSTED.
THAT SAID, POLAND HAD MADE A DECISION JOINING NATO IN 1999 TO FIRMLY PUT SECURITY INTERESTS IN WASHINGTON.
THEY COULDN'T GO BACK TO MOSCOW.
CLEARLY, AS WE SEE IN THE CURRENT CRISIS WITH BELARUS.
SO THEY BASICALLY CONTINUED BEING LOYAL TO THE UNITED STATES AND EVEN AFTER THE BLACK SITE EXPLODED, THE POLS CONTINUE TO SPY ON BEHALF OF AMERICA, IN FOR EXAMPLE, PLACES LIKE IRAN.
THAT HELPED SET UP AN EXCHANGE THAT YOU DESCRIBE BETWEEN AN AMERICAN SOURCE AND HIS POLISH COUNTERPART WHERE HE SAID PERHAPS NOT WITH ILL INTENT BUT THE U.S. TENDS TO ALWAYS F UP A RELATIONSHIP WITH A SMALLER COUNTRY.
I CAN'T USE THAT EXPLETIVE BUT I THINK OUR AUDIENCE KNOWS WHAT THAT WORD IS.
IN TERMS OF THE LONGER TERM IMPACT OF THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH SMALLER COUNTRIES THAT ARE LOOKING TO MAINTAIN GOOD RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE UNITED STATES.
PERHAPS NOT INTENTIONAL, BUT THINGS DO SEEM TO TAKE A TURN.
WHAT MESSAGE THOUGH DOES THAT SEND TO OTHER SMALLER COUNTRIES THAT WANT TO DEVELOP THESE?
THAT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION, BIANA.
ONE OF THE REASONS I WAS INTERESTED IN WRITING THIS BOOK IS I WANTED TO SEE WHAT IT FELT LIKE FOR A SMALLER COUNTRY TO HAVE AN ALLIANCE WITH AMERICA.
AND THIS BOOK REALLY GAVE ME A CLEAR IDEA.
AS ONE POLISH POLITICIAN TOLD ME, HE SAID, YOU KNOW, HAVING AN ALLIANCE WITH AMERICA IS LIKE MARRYING A HIPPOPOTAMUS.
IN THE BEGINNING, IT'S WARM AND CUDDLY BUT THEN THE HIPPO CRUSHES YOU AND YOU DON'T EVEN NOTICE.
I GOT THE SENSE OF THAT METAPHOR, IF YOU WILL, IN WRITING 'FROM WARSAW WITH LOVE.'
THAT WAS FORMER MINISTER WHO GAVE YOU THE DESCRIPTION THERE.
CAN'T GET IT OUT OF MY HEAD.
BUT MOVING FORWARD TO YOU BRIEFLY MENTIONED THE CURRENT CRISIS THERE ON THE BORDER WITH BELARUS AND CURRENT POLISH GOVERNMENT.
A NATIONALIST RIGHT-WING GOVERNMENT WITH A BIT OF AN ICIER RELATIONSHIP WITH THE WEST, WITH THE EU AND WITH THE UNITED STATES IN PARTICULAR.
IS THERE A THROUGH LINE YOU SEE WITH YOUR RESEARCH THAT GOT TO THIS POINT OR ARE THERE LARGER FACTORS THAT LED TO THE CURRENT STATE OF RELATION?
I THINK THE POPULIST LURKS WE SEE IN POLAND IS SOMETHING WE SEE BASICALLY AROUND IN WESTERN DEMOCRACIES AROUND THE WORLD.
I THINK IT'S CHALLENGING FOR POLAND, I THINK IT'S CHALLENGING FOR THE UNITED STATES.
BUT THE REALITY IS THEY ARE A NATO ALLY.
FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE, WE NEED TO STICK BY THEM BUT ALSO NEED AS WE SHOULD WITH ALL OF OUR ALLIES TO KEEP THE DIALOGUE OPEN AND WHEN THE POLS GO TOO FAR IN THEIR POPULIST PUSH AND ANTI-U RHETORIC, THE UNITED STATES, BECAUSE POLAND IS AN ALLY, KIND OF HAD THE DUTY TO STEP IN AND SAY, HEY GUYS.
I THINK THE BELARUS CRISIS PERHAPS OPENS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR AMERICA TO HAVE A DEEPER ENGAGEMENT WITH POLAND ON SOME POLITICAL ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN SORT OF SHOVED INTO THE SIDE FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS.
WHAT IS THE BIGGEST TAKEAWAY YOU WANT READERS TO HAVE FROM THIS BOOK?
I WAS SURPRISED TO THE LEARN THAT THE U.S. VIEWED THE POLS AS GREAT SPIES BUT WHAT ELSE IS THERE?
I THINK SORT OF THE MAJOR TAKEAWAY IN A WAY IS AMERICA IS IS A SUPER POWER, NOT IN SPITE OF THE ALLIANCES BUT ACTUALLY BECAUSE OF THE ALLIANCES.
AND OUR ALLIES, WHETHER THEY BE THE UK OR FRANCE EVEN OR AUSTRALIA BUT PLACES LIKE POLAND AND EVEN ISRAEL DO THINGS ON OUR BEHALF ON A REGULAR BASIS THAT IMPROVE OUR SECURITY.
AND SO WE SHOULD REALLY LOOK AT THESE ALLIANCES NOT AS SOMETHING SORT OF AN OBLIGATION, BUT ALSO SOMETHING THAT REALLY BENEFITS THE UNITED STATES AS WELL.
FASCINATING BOOK, JOHN, AND WE JUST SCRATCHED THE SURFACE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.
WE APPRECIATE IT.
THANKS FOR HAVING ME, BIANA.
> AND FINALLY TONIGHT, EARLIER, WE TALKED ABOUT THE COST OF LIVING.
NOW WHAT ABOUT THE COST OF NOT LIVING?
AT LEAST NOT LIVING TO THE FULLEST.
IT'S EASY TO FORGET HOW TO KICK OFF YOUR BUCKET LIST WHEN PAYING THE BILLS BUT NEVER TOO LATE TO START.
THIS IS WHY 75-YEAR-OLD REBECCA DANNY HAS TO TEACH US IN DUTY FREE DIRECTED BY HER SON.
JOB LOSS AND AGEISM, EMBARKING ON A BUCKET LIST ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME.
TAKE A LOOK.
THIS IS MY MOM, REBECCA.
SHE RAISED ME AND MY BROTHER IN A TINY APARTMENT.
TO MAKE ENDS MEET, SPENT 50 YEARS AS A HOTEL HOUSEKEEPER AND ALWAYS ASSUMED SHE'D HAVE A JOB.
WHEN I WENT TO COLLEGE, SHE CAST OUT HER SAVINGS TO PUT ME THROUGH SCHOOL AND HER STORY TOOK A TURN.
I JUST GOT FIRED.
THEY WOKE ME UP.
I SEEN IT HAPPEN TO OTHER PEOPLE IN MY AGE GROUP.
HER STORY MORE UNIVERSAL THAN ANY COULD IMAGINE.
JOINING ME NOW, I HAVE TO SAY, BOTH OF YOU, I WAS SO TOUCHED.
I THINK I WENT THROUGH SO MANY EMOTIONS IN THIS HOUR WATCHING THIS FILM OF THE TWO OF YOU AND YOUR CLOSE BOND AND SOME OF THE HIGHS AND LOWS THAT YOU EXPERIENCED OVER THE YEARS.
REBECCA, LOSING YOUR JOB AT 75.
I GUESS MY FIRST QUESTION TO YOU IS, WHEN THAT HAPPENED, SORT OF EARTH SHATTERING EVENT, WHAT WAS YOUR RESPONSE WHEN YOUR SON'S REACTION WAS, LET'S FILM A BUCKET LIST TOGETHER.
MY EXACT RESPONSE WAS, WHO'S GOING TO PAY FOR IT?
THAT WAS IT.
AND SO YOU START THIS GOFUNDME SITE AND YOU CHRONICLE EVERYTHING THAT YOU WANTED TO KICK OFF AND WE'LL GET TO THAT IN A MINUTE BUT JEAN PIERRE WHEN YOU HEARD THAT AND GOT THE VOICE MAIL FROM YOUR MOM, I WOULD IMAGINE THAT A LOT OF CHILDREN IN THIS COUNTRY, MAYBE YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED THAT SAME THING, WHY WAS YOUR FIRST REACTION TO TAKE CARE OF HER IN TERMS OF GOING DOWN A LIST OF THINGS SHE NEVER EXPERIENCED INSTEAD OF, LETT FIND ANOTHER ONE RIGHT AWAY?
YOU KNOW, BIANA, WHEN I GOT THE VOICE MAIL FROM MY MOM, MY KNEES FELL OUT.
THE WOMAN WHO WORKED EVERY DAY OF HER LIFE FOR HER TWO KIDS AND ALL OF HER WAS TIED UP IN HER JOB.
BY WAY OF LOSING HER JOB, SHE LOST HER SENSE OF SELF.
AND THE ONLY THING THAT I COULD THINK OF TO PULL HER OUT OF THE MISERY THAT SHE WAS IN WAS, YOU KNOW, THE MOST FAN THAT'S FANTASTICAL, HOW TO SHOW YOU EVERYTHING YOU MISSED OUT WHILE WORKING AND THANKFUL WE GOT TO PULL IF IT OFF.
VERY BRIEFLY, WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO TAKE YOUR MOM ON THIS ADVENTURE, NEEDS A JOB AND A FRIEND OF MINE RESPONDED, WHY CAN'T POOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCE JOY AND THAT TO ME WAS THE CRUX OF MY RECTION WAS THAT SHE HAD DONE EVERYTHING TO RAISE US RIGHT AND NO FAULT OF HER OWN, LET GO, AND I WANTED TO SHOW HER JOY.
ONE OF THE ITEMS ON THE BUCKET LIST TO START AN INSTAGRAM PAGE AND LO AND BEHOLD, YOU'VE BECOME SORT OF AN INTERNATIONAL OR NATIONAL PHENOMENON HERE AND I THINK YOU TOUCHED SO MANY PEOPLE NOT ONLY BECAUSE YOU'RE SO COMPELLING IN THIS STORY OF YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR SON SO SWEET AND EMOTIONAL, BUT I WOULD IMAGINE THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT YOU'VE HEARD FROM THAT FOUND THEMSELVES IN SIMILAR POSITIONS.
WHAT WAS THAT LIKE?
IF I HAVE EVERY CORNER OF THE GLOBE PEOPLE WRITING TO ME, THIS HAPPENED TO ME, THIS HAPPENED TO MY MOM, WORKED ALL HIS LIFE.
JUST, WHERE DO I GO?
WHAT DO I DO?
I TRY TO APPLY FOR A JOB.
NOBODY IS HIRING ME.
ALL THOSE STORIES.
ALL OVER THE WORLD.
WE SHOW THAT ON THE FILM.
OTHER PEOPLE ARE DISCARDED IN THIS COUNTRY.
THE ENTIRE GLOBE.
IT'S A VERY AMERICAN PROBLEM.
SO IT SEEMS THAT OLDER PEOPLE BECOMING MORE AND MORE INVISIBLE AS THEY GET OLDER IS SEEPING INTO OTHER COUNTRIES AND WE'VE HEARD FROM, AS YOU SAY, ALL AROUND THE GLOBE OF PEOPLE WHOSE STORIES REALLY REFLECT MY MOM'S AND THAT'S ALL IN THE FILM.
OBVIOUSLY, AND I DON'T WANT TO SAY CLICHE, YOU COME ACROSS AS YOUNG AT HEART IN THIS FILM, NO DOUBT.
BUT YOU CAN TELL THAT THERE IS A STIGMA THAT YOU FEEL ABOUT YOUR AGE AND GOING OUT THERE AND APPLYING FOR ANOTHER JOB GIVEN THAT YOU HAD WORKED ONE JOB FOR SO MANY YEARS.
I WANT TO PLAY A CLIP FOR OUR VIEWERS OF WHAT THAT PROCESS WAS LIKE FOR YOU WHEN YOU WENT OUT THERE AND ENGAGED WITH YOUNGER JOB APPLICANTS.
YOU SEND YOUR RESUME IN AND THEN GRADUATE IN 1964 OR WHATEVER.
YOU DON'T EVEN GET THE INTERVIEW AND THAT'S THE AGE BARRIER, THE PHYSICAL AGE BARRIER.
I NEED HELP WITH A NEW CAREER, ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS.
WORKING 24 HOURS A DAY.
WHEN YOU GET TO MY AGE, SEND OUT A RESUME AND VISIBLE.
THEY HAVE OPINION IN THEIR HEADS.
SO IT'S GREAT TO HAVE A ROOM SEE WHO YOU ARE AND WALKING, TALKING, BREATHING.
REBECCA, WHAT WAS THAT EXPERIENCE LIKE FOR YOU?
I THINK, I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU COULD HAVE PHRASED IT ANY BETTER THAN YOU DID AND YOU COULD SEE BY THE FACES OF THOSE WHO WERE SITTING THERE WITH YOU THAT IT HIT THEM TOO.
AS YOU KNOW, I NEVER CONSIDERED AGEISM AND OLD PEOPLE MYSELF GETTING A JOB BUT WHEN I WENT TO APPLY FOR JOBS, GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL, YOU KNOW, SCROLL DOWN AND IT STOPS AT SOMETHING LIKE 1979.
AND YOU THINK, WELL, I CAN'T SEND IT IN.
A RED BOX FROM 1950s.
AND THEN JOB APPLICATION, INCOMPLETE AND JOB APPLICATION REJECTED.
THE WAY OF FINDING HOW OLD YOU ARE.
HOW DOES IT MAKE YOU FEEL, LET'S JUST THROW OUT PRESIDENT BIDEN, RIGHT, THE OLDEST PRESIDENT IN U.S. HISTORY AND IT SEEMS EVERY TIME, LISTEN, I'M LOST FOR WORDS SOMETIMES ON AIR, I'M 43 YEARS OLD BUT IT SEEMS ANY TIME ANYBODY HAS A MOMENT WHEN THEY'RE NOT 100%, IT'S ATTRIBUTED TO THEIR AGE.
DO YOU FIND THAT YOU WERE ON THE RECEIVING END OF THAT AND WHAT CAN YOU TELL OUR VIEWERS ABOUT WHAT THAT FEELS LIKE?
IT FEELS LIKE YOU'RE USELESS, YOU'RE OVER THE HILL, AS THEY SAY.
I MEAN, YOU GET CALLED HELLO, HON.
LET ME SHOW YOU THIS.
VERY, VERY, JUST LITTLE HINTS THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NOT ONE OF THEM, YOU'RE NOT WITH THE CLIQUE AND IT HURTS.
AS I SAY A MILLION TIMES, THE OLD ONES KNOW ALL THE, SO TRY TO GET AS MANY OLD PEOPLE INTO A COMPANY IF YOU CAN BECAUSE THEY CAN TEACH THE YOUNGER ONES.
MY MOM WORKED WITH A CONGRESSWOMAN SYLVIA GARCIA HERE IN THE STATE TO HELP PASS PROTECT JOB APPLICANTS BILL WHICH WAS JUST SIGNED BY PRESIDENT BIDEN UNDER THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL AND WHAT THAT DOES IS IT STRENGTHENS LAWS AROUND WHAT YOU CAN ASK AND WHAT YOU CAN'T ASK APPLICANTS IN THE JOB APPLICATION PROCESS.
WE HEARD FROM SOME FOLLOWERS OF OURS THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, ONE WOMAN WENT TO APPLY FOR A JOB AT A LOCAL HOSPITAL AND THEY DIDN'T ASK HER AGE BUT ASKED WHETHER SHE WAS OLDER THAN 40 OR YOUNGER THAN 40.
SO THINGS LIKE THAT THE BILL WOULD STOP BECAUSE THE AGE DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT ACT HERE IN THE STATE ONLY IF YOU'RE IN COURT WHILE EMPLOYED BUT WHAT ABOUT ALL OF THESE OLDER AMERICANS AND WE HAVE 10,000 AMERICANS TURNING 65 PLUS EVERY DAY HERE IN THIS COUNTRY.
WHAT ARE THEY NEED TO DO WHEN THEY NEED A JOB AND LET GO?
HOW DO THEY FIND THAT?
HOW ARE THEY SORT OF SEEN AS A MALLEABLE AND BRIGHT AND USEFUL IN THE INDUSTRY WHICH THEY ARE?
WHAT WAS THE EXPERIENCE LIKE FOR YOU?
YOU HAD TO PUT YOUR CAREER ON HOLD TO FILM THIS PROCESS AND TO BE THERE FOR YOUR MOM.
YOU GUYS LIVED TOGETHER FOR A WHILE.
I DON'T WANT TO GIVE TOO MUCH AWAY BUT YOU TRAVELED TO THE UNITED KINGDOM, MET OTHER FAMILY.
THIS HAS BEEN A WORLD WIND FOR YOU BUT POINT OF ORIGIN, WHAT HAS THIS EXPERIENCE BEEN LIKE?
TO BE A PROXY FOR MY MOM.
AS YOUNG PEOPLE, EVERYTHING FOR US.
TO WATCH MY MOM STRUGGLE TO GET A JOB AND WATCH HER SUFFER AS SORT OF NOT ONLY THE ORGANIZATION THAT SHE WAS WORKING FOR BUT SOCIETY TRIED TO DISCARD HER WAS REALLY, REALLY A WAKE-UP CALL FOR ME AND SO THERE WAS A LOT OF EMOTIONS THAT WERE ATTACHED TO THE MAKING OF THIS FILM, BUT WE BOTH GOT OUT ON THE OTHER SIDE STRONGER AND ONE THING THAT I GOT TO DO WAS TO SEE MY MOM AS A MOM.
AS BEYOND A MOM, A HUMAN.
WE DON'T ALWAYS GET TO ASK EVERY QUESTION OF YOUR PARENTS WHILE HERE AND I GOT TO DO THAT MAKING THIS FILM AND I GOT TO SEE MY MOM WAS COMPLEX AND TEXTURED AND BEAUTIFUL IN WAYS THAT MOST YOUNG PEOPLE DON'T GET TO AND SO I FEEL INCREDIBLY BLESSED THAT THIS IS A LEGACY STORY FOR MY MOM AND ALSO HOPEFULLY A WAKE-UP CALL FOR THIS COUNTRY THAT WE NEED TO EMBRACE OLDER PEOPLE BECAUSE WE ARE ONLY HARMING OUR FUTURE SELVES.
GOT TO SEE YOUR MOM HAD SOME MOVES TOO, RIGHT?
A REALLY TOUCHING MOMENT.
A BIRACIAL RELATIONSHIP AND YOUR MOM EXPRESSED TO YOU ONE OF THE THINGS YOU WANTED TO DO ON THE BUCKET LIST WAS TO MOVE AND FEEL SOME OF THE MUSIC THAT I GUESS SHE WITNESSED YOU AND YOUR BROTHER GROW UP WITH AND TAKE HIP-HOP LESSONS.
WE HAVE VIDEO OF THAT, BUT LET'S PLAY THAT CLIP FOR YOU QUICKLY.
HIP-HOP DANCING, I LOVED IT BUT I WAS SURPRISED THAT WAS THE ONE THING TO DO.
THE THING WITH HAVING BIRACIAL, YOU CAN SHOW THEM THINGS FROM WHEN YOU WERE BROUGHT UP BUT YOU CAN'T BE INSIDE THEM, DANCING AND DOING DIFFERENT VIDEOS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
SO NATURAL, ALMOST LIKE THE BONGO AND WANT TO SHARE THAT FEELING.
THAT WAS SO DEEP AND UNEXPECTED, REBECCA.
I MEAN, ON THE ONE HAND, SURE, HOW CUTE IT IS YOU WANTED TO LEARN A HIP-HOP DANCE BUT THE REASON BEHIND IT, THE STORY BEHIND IT IS JUST SO COMPELLING AND I THINK THAT IT REALLY BRINGS OUT WHO YOU ARE AS A MOTHER AND YOUR RELATIONSHIP.
WAS THAT A FUN PROCESS?
ARE YOU STILL DANCING?
OCCASIONALLY WHEN NOBODY IS LOOKING.
WE GOT TO LEARN THAT DANCE FROM A DANCER FORMERLY IN 'HAMILTON' IN THE OPENING CAST.
SO IT WAS REALLY BLESSED TO BE WITH THE HIP-HOP DANCER AND IF I CAN SAY SO MYSELF, MY MOM HAS DEFINITELY GOT LIKE, THE GROOVE.
SHE'S GOT THE JELLY.
GOT THE JELLY.
GOT THE FEELING EVEN IF IT DOESN'T SHOW.
YOU'VE GOT TO MILK A COW IN VERMONT.
YOU GOT AN INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT THAT HAS A TON OF FOLLOWERS.
YOU WENT SKY DIVING IN HAWAII.
REUNITED WITH FAMILY.
BUT I WOULD SAY MOST IMPORTANTLY, YOU FOUND A JOB BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU FOUND YOURSELF AND YOU FOUND SOMETHING FOR PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD TO CONNECT WITH AS WELL.
IT'S SUCH A TOUCHING STORY.
I WISH I COULD GIVE YOU BOTH A HUG IN PERSON NEC TIME WE MEET, I HOPE THAT HAPPENS BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE TO BRING THIS FILM TOGETHER.
IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE WHY IT'S TOUCHED SO MANY PEOPLE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH AND HOPE EVERYBODY CAN WATCH IT ON PBS NOVEMBER 22nd.
KEEP THAT DANCING UP.
THE JELLY.
YOU GOT IT.
AND YOU CAN WATCH DUTY FREE NEXT MONDAY AS PART OF THE PBS INDEPENDENT LENS SERIES OR ON THE PBS VIDEO APP.
AND THAT IS IT FOR OUR PROGRAM TONIGHT.
REMEMBER YOU CAN FOLLOW ME AND THE SHOW ON TWITTER.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING 'AMANPOUR AND COMPANY' ON PBS.
> 'AMANPOUR & COMPANY' IS MADE POSSIBLE BY -- THE ANDERSON FAMILY FUND.
SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III.
THE CHERYL AND PHILIP MILSTEIN FAMILY.
CANDACE KING WEIR.
THE STRAUS FAMILY FOUNDATION.
JIM ATWOOD AND LESLIE WILLIAMS.
BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ.
COMMITTED TO BRIDGING CULTURAL DIFFERENCES IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY THESE FUNDERS AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATIONS FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.
THANK YOU.