Read Full Transcript EXPAND
> HELLO, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO 'AMANPOUR & COMPANY.'
HERE'S WHAT'S COMING UP.
OUR MAIN GOAL IS TO DEFEND AND KEEP THE SOVEREIGNTY OF UKRAINE FROM THE SEAT.
UKRAINE ON THE EDGE AND ON ALERT.
WE TAKE YOU ON PATROL IN SOME OF THE WORLD'S MOST CONTESTED WATERS AS UKRAINE PREPARES FOR A POSSIBLE RUSSIAN INVASION.
> PLUS, 'JUSTICE ON THE BRINK'? THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT UNDER THE MICROSCOPE LIKE NEVER BEFORE.
PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING JOURNALIST LINDA GREENHOUSE JOINS ME.
> THEN --
WHEN I REALIZED I HAD A CHANCE TO LIVE, I PROMISED THAT IF I DID SURVIVE, I WOULD DEDICATE MY LIFE TO PUBLIC SERVICE.
CONGRESSWOMAN JACKIE SPEIER ON HER REMARKABLE LIFE.
WHY SHE IS LEAVING CONGRESS AND BRIDGING THE POLITICAL DIVIDE.
> AND FINALLY --
WE DON'T HAVE ANYWHERE TO SLEEP.
SO YOU'RE HOMELESS?
I HAD A HOME AND WE LEFT IT.
THE HARSH AND HARROWING REALITY OF LIFE BELOW THE POVERTY LINE BROUGHT TO LIFE IN THE HIT TV SHOW 'MAID.'
I'M JOINED BY SERIES CREATOR MOLLY SMITH METZLER AND ACTRESS ANIKA NONI ROSE.
> 'AMANPOUR & COMPANY' IS MADE POSSIBLE BY -- THE ANDERSON FAMILY FUND.
SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III.
CANDACE KING WEIR.
THE CHERYL AND PHILIP MILSTEIN FAMILY.
THE STRAUS FAMILY FOUNDATION.
JIM ATWOOD AND LESLIE WILLIAMS.
MARK J. BLECHNER.
BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ.
KOO AND PATRICIA YUEN, COMMITTED TO BRIDGING CULTURAL DIFFERENCES IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY THESE FUNDERS, AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.
THANK YOU.
> WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM.
THE EYES OF THE WORLD ARE TRAINED ON RUSSIA'S BORDER WITH UKRAINE RIGHT NOW.
UKRAINE AND ITS ALLIES, INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES, FEAR RUSSIA HAS BEEN BUILDING ITS TRUE PRESENCE ON THE BORDER FOR WEEKS.
ONCE AGAIN RAISING THE SPECTOR OF WAR.
THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS EVEN WEIGHING THE POSSIBILITY OF SENDING MILITARY ADVISORS AND WEAPONS TO UKRAINE.
THE KREMLIN DENIES IT HAS ANY INTENTION OF INVADING, BUT KIEV ISN'T TAKING ANY CHANCES.
THEY ARE ON HIGH ALERT AND UPGRADING A ITS NAVY.
FRED PLEITGEN GOT A RARE LOOK AT THAT WORK AND AT UKRAINIAN VESSELS PATROLLING THE STRATEGIC COASTLINE.
ON PATROL IN SOME OF THE MOST CONTESTED WATERS IN THE WORLD, UKRAINE'S NAVY TOOK US ON AN ARTILLERY BOAT JUST AS TENSIONS WITH RUSSIA HAVE REACHED A BOILING POINT.
OUR MAIN GOAL IS TO DEFEND AND KEEP THE SOVEREIGNTY OF UKRAINE FROM THE DIRECTION OF THE SEA, THE CAPTAIN TELLS ME.
RUSSIA HAS BEEN MASSING TROOPS NEAR UKRAINE'S BORDERS, THE U.S.
SAYS, WARNING ALLIES A LARGE-SCALE INVASION COULD HAPPEN SOON.
THE UKRAINIANS BELIEVE IF RUSSIA LAUNCHES AN ATTACK, THE SEA COULD BE ONE THE MAIN BATTLEGROUNDS.
THE UKRAINIANS ARE MODERNIZING THEIR FLEET AND INFRASTRUCTURE ON LAND AS WELL.
THE COASTLINE HOLDS A STRATEGIC VALUE TO RUSSIA.
IT WOULD ALLOW PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN TO ESTABLISH A MUCH SOUGHT LAND CORRIDOR TO CONNECT RUSSIA TO ANNEXED CRIMEA.
UKRAINE'S DEFENSE MINISTRY GAVE US RARE ACCESS TO THE MASSIVE CONSTRUCTION GOING ON AT THE NAVAL BASE.
KIEV HAS ORDERED THIS BUILDING PROGRAM TO URGENTLY BE ACCELERATED WITH THE RUSSIAN THREAT LOOMING LARGE.
IN ORDER TO COMPLETE THIS PROJECT AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE, THE UKRAINIAN MILITARY TELLS US THEY ARE WORKING SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, AND THEY SAY ONCE IT'S FINISHED IT WILL OFF A FORMIDABLE DETESHT AGAINST ANY RUSSIAN AGGRESSION.
UPGRADES BADLY NEEDED WITH THE PORT IN UTTER DISREPAIR.
UKRAINE SAYS NEW FACILITIES WILL ALLOW THEM TO BASE MORE AND BIGGER SHIPS HERE.
WE ARE READY, THIS OFFICER SAYS.
THAT IS WHY WE ARE HERE SO THAT AT ANY TIME IF THERE IS ANY AGGRESSION IN THE SEA, WE CAN RESIST IT.
UKRAINE'S PRESIDENT SAYS RUSSIA IS POSITIONED CLOSE TO 100,000 TROOPS NEAR THE BORDERS, WHICH THE KREMLIN DENIES.
THESE SATELLITE IMAGES APPEARING TO SHOW DOZENS OF MILITARY VEHICLES NEAR YELNA IN SOUTHWESTERN RUSSIA.
THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS WORND MOSCOW NOT TO ATTACK AND IS MULLING MORE WEAPONS DELIVERIES TO KIEV.
CNN HAS LEARNED RUSSIA'S AIM MAY BE TO CREATE CONFUSION OR GET CONFESSIONS.
THE KREMLIN DISMISSED TALK OF A POSSIBLE INVASION AS HYSTERIA, BUT VLADIMIR PUTIN ALSO ISSUED A CLEAR WARNING.
Translator: WE NEED TO CONSIDER THAT WESTERN PARTNERS WORSEN THE SITUATION BY DELIVERING TO KIEV MODERN LETHAL WEAPONS AND PROVOCATIVE EXERCISES IN THE BLACK SEA, AND NOT ONLY THERE, BUT ALSO OTHER REGIONS CLOSE TO OUR BORDERS.
UKRAINE'S ARMED FORCES SAY THEY ARE ON CONSTANT ALERT, PREPARING FOR AN ARMED CONFRONTATION THEY HOPE CAN BE AVOIDED.
AND PREPARING IN MANY WAYS NOT JUST THERE ON THE SEA.
THE UKRAINIANS SAYING THAT THEY CONDUCTED AIR EXERCISES YESTERDAY WITH THEIR AIR FORCE, AND ALSO THEY SAID YESTERDAY THAT THEY WERE PUTTING IN PLACE A DRAFT LAW THAT WILL ALLOW THEM TO CALL UP RESERVES ON THE SCALE OF AROUND 200,000 IF THIS CONFLICT CONTINUES TO ESCALATE.
IT'S, OBVIOUSLY, SOMETHING THAT THEY SAY THEY DON'T WANT TO DO.
THEY HOPE THEY WILL NOT HAVE TO DO.
CERTAINLY SOMETHING THEY SAY THEY NEED TO BE PREPARED AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
AND, FRED, THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME THAT WE HAVE SEEN RUSSIAN TROOPS AMASS THERE AT THE BORER.
WE SAW IT IN THE SPRING.
IN TIME IT SENDS TO BE SENDING MORE ALARM BELLS THAN PREVIOUSLY AS MANY EXPERTS HAVE NOTED THAT UKRAINE AND IN PUTIN'S EYES IS THE CROWN JEWEL FOR HIS REGIME AS A WHOLE.
IS THERE ANY SENSE WHAT COULD GAIN PERMANENT RESOLUTION TO THIS CONFLICT IF RUSSIA DECIDES NOT TO INVADE NOW, MANY WOULD WORRY WHY NOT DO IT IN THE FUTURE?
THAT IS A BIG QUESTION.
ONE THE THINGS THAT YOU SAID IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.
WE DID SEE SOMETHING SIMILAR, BIG TROOP BUILD-UP IN THE EARLY STAGES IN THE SPRING.
BUT IT FEELS VERY DIFFERENT THIS TIME, ESPECIALLY IF YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE MESSAGING THAT IS COMING OUT OF THE U.S. WHERE THEY ARE ALMOST EVERY DAY WARNING ABOUT A POSSIBLE INVASION, WARNING RUSSIA ABOUT A POSSIBLE INVASION, YOU HAVE THE TOP-LEVEL TALKS GOING ON BETWEEN THE CHIEF OF THE GENERAL STAFF AND THE RUSSIA'S GENERAL STAFF.
AND SO YOU DO SEE THAT THE U.S.
IS DEFINITELY TAKING THIS VERY SERIOUSLY.
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT RUSSIA DOES SEEM TO WANT IN THIS, WANTS TO PROJECT WHAT ITS RED LINES ARE.
YOU HEARD IT FROM VLADIMIR PUTIN.
HE IS SAYING HE BELIEVES THAT NATO HAS NOT, YOU KNOW, TAKEN THE RED LINES THAT RUSSIA HAS INTO ACCOUNT IN MANY WAYS.
SO YOU CAN SEE THAT THE RUSSIANS CLEARLY WANT THE U.S. TO MAKE SOME SORT OF CONCESSION.
IS THAT, FOR INSTANCE, POSSIBLY SAYING, LOOK, UKRAINE IS NOT GOING TO BE A MEMBER OF NATO IN THE NEAR FUTURE?
DOES IT MEAN THERE IS NOT GOING TO BE A FUTURE NATO EXPANSION?
IS THAT WHAT THE ROOURNS WANT?
IT'S UNCLEAR AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
WHETHER OR NOT THERE WILL BE A PERMANENT RESOLUTION IS, OBVIOUSLY, SOMETHING VERY MUCH UP IN THE AIR.
RIGHT NOW WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS THAT THERE IS A LOT OF SOLIDARITY WITH THE UKRAINIANS.
THERE ARE SEVERAL EUROPEAN COUNTRIES WHO HAVE SAID THAT THEY WOULD DEFEND UKRAINE.
FRANCE, FOR INSTANCE.
SWEDEN, FOR INSTANCE, ANOTHER AS WELL.
THE U.S. DRUMMING UP SUPPORT AMONG MARK'S ALLIES TO SAY NOW IS THE TIME TO BE FIRMLY IN UKRAINE'S CORNER.
FRED PLEITGEN IN KIEV AT THIS TUMULTUOUS TIME.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
> TURNING NOW TO THE U.S. AND A DECISION FOR THE SUPREME COURT THAT WILL DETERMINE THE FUTURE OF ABORTION RIGHTS IN AMERICA.
THE COURT WILL HEAR ZBRUMTS ON A MISSISSIPPI LAW THAT RESTRICTS ABORTION NEXT WEEK.
IT COULD BE ONE OF THE MOST CONSEQUENTIAL AND POLARIZING CASES IN YEARS.
A FRIENDER OF THE IMPACT THE SUPREME COURT HAS ON AMERICAN SOCIETY.
MY GUEST HAS BEEN COVERING THE COURTS FOR DECADES.
HER BOOK, 'JUSTICE ON THE BRINK,' LOOKS AT THE INFLUENCE OF THREE CONSERVATIVE NEW JUSTICES AND WHAT THAT MEANS FOR AMERICA'S FATE IN THE INSTITUTION.
LINDA GREENHOUSE JOINS ME NOW.
WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM.
TIMELY TO HAVE YOU ON.
I GUESS WE COULD HAVE BEEN SAYING THAT FOR THE LAST YEAR.
YOU BEGIN THIS BOOK BY COVERING THE NEWLY SWORN-IN JUSTICE AMY CONEY BARRETT AND THE SPEED WITH WHICH SHE WAS NOT ONLY NOMINATED, BUT SWORN IN.
WHAT IMPACT HAS SHE BROUGHT TO THE COURT THUS FAR IN YOUR OPINION, AND WERE YOU SURPRISED HOW SWIFTLY ALL OF THAT TRANSPIRED?
YES, I WAS.
IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE THAT IT'S JUST 14 MONTHS AGO THAT JUSTICE RUTH BADER GINSBURG DIED.
BY THE TIME -- SHE HADN'T EVEN BEEN BURIED BY THE TIME THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP NOMINATE AMY BARRETT.
MILLIONS OF AMERICANS HAD CAST THEIR EARLY BALLOTS.
THE ELECTION HAPPENED.
AMY BARRETT IS SEATED, AND WITHIN A FEW WEEKS WE SEE THE FIRST EVIDENCE OF HER IMPACT WHEN THE COURT OVERTURNED SOME COVID PROTECTIVE MEASURES IN NEW YORK, LIMITING THE FACILITY OF PEOPLE IN COMPARES INDOOR PLACES, INCLUDING HOUSES OF WORSHIP.
BEFORE AMY BARRETT CAME ON THE COURT, THE COURT HAD UPHELD THOSE KINDS OF MEASURES.
SHE IS ON MIDNIGHT, A YEAR AGO, MIDNIGHT, THANKSGIVING EVE.
THE COURT FLIPPED AND BY A PHOTO OF 5-4 CHOSE RELIGION OVER PUBLIC HEALTH.
THAT WAS REALLY AN AMAZING TURNABOUT AND WE GO ON FROM THERE.
YOU DESCRIBE HER NOMINATION AND THE SWIFTNESS WITH WHICH SHE WAS SOUTHERN IN AS SORT OF THE FOURTH WALL BEING BROKE NON THE SYSTEM HERE WHERE THERE HAD AT LEAST BEEN THE ILLUSION THAT THE SUPREME COURT WAS ABOVE POLITICS AND THAT IT WAS JUST FOCUSED ON THE LAW.
AND YOU SAY THAT THAT NOW HAS BEEN SHATTERED, THIS ILLUSION, WITH THE RAPID PACE AND POLITICS INVOLVED.
YOU DON'T NECESSARILY BLAME HER, BUT JUST THE PROCESS ITSELF.
EXPLAIN THAT AND HOW CONSEQUENTIAL THAT IS FOR THE INSTITUTION.
YEAH, THANKS FOR PICKING UP ON THAT IMAGE.
WHAT I MEANT BY SAYING THAT THE FOURTH WALL WAS BROKEN, WE GO TO THEATER AND WE KNOW WE'RE WATCHING A PLAY THAT WE KNOW THE PEOPLE ON STAGE ARE NOT ACTUALLY EXPERIENCING THE LIFE EVENTS THAT THEY ARE DEPICTING.
ONCE IN A WHILE AN ACTOR MAY DELIBERATELY, QUOTE, BREAK THE FOURTH WALL BY DIRECTLY ADDRESSING THE PUBLIC.
SO WITH KIND OF A WINK.
WE KNOW THIS IS JUST A PLAY.
SO AS YOU SAID, THE FOURTH WALL FOR THE COURT HAS BEEN THERE IS NO POLITICS HERE.
IT'S JUST ABOUT LAW.
BUT WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS AS SWIFTLY AS THE ASESSION OF THE THREE TRUMP JUSTICES, BECAUSE JUSTICE GORSUCH, NOMINATED BY DONALD TRUMP IN THE SPRING OF 2017, TOOK THE SEAT THAT MITCH McCONNELL HELD OPEN ALMOST A YEAR IN NOT ALLOWING PRESIDENT OBAMA TO FILL IT.
SO THE THREE ARE ALL, IN MY VIEW, ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WE ARE AND IT'S VERY HARD TO MAINTAIN THAT ILLUSION, THAT ALL WE'RE SEEING IS LAW AND POLITICS ARE NOT ANYWHERE IN VIEW.
WELL, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE YOU HAVE POLITICIANS INCLUDING PRESIDENT TRUMP HIMSELF, BUT MITCH McCONNELL AND OTHERS WHO HAD ALLUDED TO JUST THIS AS BEING THE MOST PERTINENT ISSUE AS TO WHY PRESIDENT TRUMP OR REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT IN GENERAL NEEDED TO BE ELECTED IN THE UNITED STATES BECAUSE ALL EYES HAD BEEN ON THE SUPREME COURT IN THE LASTING LEGACY BEYOND A ONE- OR TWO-TERM PRESIDENCY.
WELL, THAT'S RIGHT.
WHEN DONALD TRUMP WAS ASKED, WHY ARE YOU IN SUCH A RUSH TO FILL THIS SEAT, WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO BE A CLOSE ELECTION AND I WANT FIVE JUSTICES.
I NEED A FULL COURT.
OF COURSE, WHEN THE COURT DID NOT BEND TO HIS WILL AND DIDN'T OVERTURN THE RESULTS OF THE ELECTION, WHICH IN SOME FANTASY HE THOUGHT THE COURT WOULD HELP HIM OUT ON THAT, HE WAS FURIOUS.
BASICALLY, EVERY PUBLIC APPEARANCE SINCE THEN HE HAS DENOUNCED THE SUPREME COURT AND, QUOTE, HIS JUSTICES FOR NOT DOING WHAT THEY WERE PUT THERE TO DO.
IT'S INTERESTING YOU BRING THIS UP BECAUSE YOU ALSO KNOW THAT BECAUSE OF THE ROLE LARGELY FROM 'THE FEDERALIST' SOCIETY WHO HAVE SORT OF VETTED AND A LIST OF JUSTICES THEY WOULD FIND APPROPRIATE AND ACCEPTABLE FOR THE SUPREME COURT, THAT THE QUESTION AS TO WHETHER ONE WOULD BE SURPRISED OR NOT BY A JUDGE'S DECISION, A SUPREME COURT JUDGE'S DECISION, ISN'T THAT QUESTIONABLE, ACTUALLY, NOW?
AND IS RATHER KNOWN GIVEN 'THE FEDERALIST' SOCIETY'S ROLE?
TALK MORE ABOUT THAT.
AND THE PREDICTABILITY.
'THE FEDERALIST' SOCIETY HAS VETTED THE THREE PEOPLE THAT TRUMP PUT ON THE SUPREME COURT, BUT MORE THAN 200 JUDGES HE HAS PUT ON ALL THE COURTS.
I TAKE YOUR QUESTION TO BE DOES THAT MEAN THAT WE CAN EXPECT KIND OF PREDICTABILITY.
NOT IN ALL THINGS, RIGHT.
'THE FEDERALIST' SOCIETY HAS CERTAIN CRITERIA.
BUT, FOR INSTANCE, AMY CONEY BARRETT HAS SURPRISED US A LITTLE BIT.
SO A MONTH OR SO AGO A CASE CAME UP ON THE COURT'S SO-CALLED SHADOW DOCKET, THE EMERGENCY DOCKET, A GROUP OF RELIGIOUS HEALTH CARE WORKERS IN MAINE WANTED A RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION WHICH THE STATE DOES NOT OFFER TO ANYBODY FROM THE VACCINATED THAT WAS ABOUT TO COME IN, AND THREE -- THE THREE MOST CONSERVATIVE JUSTICES WOULD HAVE GRANTED THAT REQUEST TO PUT THE VACCINE MANDATE ON HOLD, AND AMY BARRETT WAS NOT ONE OF THEM.
SHE SAID, YOU KNOW, NOT THIS CASE.
NOT SO SOON.
SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE HAVE TO BE OPEN AND WILLING TO KIND OF TAKE THESE PEOPLE AS THEY CHOOSE TO PRESENT THEMSELVES AND TAKE A VERY CLOSE LOOK AT WATCH WHAT THEY DO, NOT WHAT THEY SAY, NOT WHO BROUGHT THEM THERE.
IT'S REALLY WHAT REALLY MATTERS PEOPLE ARE WATCHING MORE CLOSELY THAN THEIR DECISION ON ABORTION RIGHTS.
WE KNOW THAT THEY HAVE UPHELD THE RECENT TEXAS LAW BANNING ABORTION AT SIX WEEKS.
THOUGH YOU SAY THAT THEY MADE A MISTAKE, IN YOUR OPINION, BY NOT STAYING THAT LAW.
WHY?
WELL, THEY MADE A HUGE MISTAKE.
IT'S NOW MORE THAN TWO MONTHS THAT THE WOMEN IN TEXAS CAN'T GET ABORTIONS.
IT'S A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT.
IT'S STILL A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT.
BUT WHY DIDN'T THEY DO THAT, I GUESS IS MY QUESTION.
I HAVE TO THINK -- WELL, IT TAKES FIVE VOTES TO GRANT A STAY, TO GRANT AN INJUNCTION OR ANY KIND OF EMERGENCY ACTION LIKE THAT.
SO WE SEE FROM THIS THAT THERE WERE NOT FIVE VOTES.
THERE WERE FOUR DISSENTS FROM THE REFUSAL TO INTERVENE, GENEVA CHUSIS ROBERTS AND THE THREE MORE LIBERAL JUSTICES TO HIS LEFT.
BUT THEY COULDN'T GET AMY BARRETT, THEY COULDN'T GET BRETT KAVANAUGH AND, YOU KNOW, IT GOES ON.
EVEN THOUGH THE COURT, AS YOU SAID AT THE TOP, WILL HEAR THE CASE NEXT WEDNESDAY, THE MISSISSIPPI CASE, THE STATE'S DEFENSIBLE LAW THAT BANS ABORTION AT 15 WEEKS.
IN OTHER WORDS, BEFORE THE FETUS IS VIABLE.
BEFORE FETAL VIABILITY, WHICH HAD BEEN THE -- HAS BEEN FOR ALMOST 50 YEARS THE FIREWALL THAT PROTECTS THE RIGHT TO ABORTION.
THE TEXAS CASE PRESENTS THE SAME QUESTION.
SIX WEEKS.
SO, TYPICALLY, WHEN THE COURT HAS ALREADY AGREED TO DECIDE A CASE, THE MISSISSIPPI CASE, AND A NEW CASE COMES IN THAT PRESENTS A QUESTION THAT'S GOING TO BE INFLUENCED OR DECIDED IN LIGHT OF WHAT THE COURT HAS DECIDED IN CASE NUMBER ONE, IT PUTS CASE NUMBER TWO ON HOLD.
IT FREEZES THINGS IN PLACE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN -- THAT WOULD HAVE KEPT THE TEXAS LAW FROM GOING INTO EFFECT UNTIL THEY SORT OUT WHAT THEY ACTUALLY INTEND TO DO DO ABOUT THIS QUESTION OF FETAL VIABILITY, BUT THE COURT DIDN'T DO THAT.
THEY WERE HAPPY TO LET ABORTION GET SHUT DOWN IN THE SECOND MOST POPULOUS STATE IN THE COUNTRY.
IT'S REALLY AN AMAZING SITUATION.
IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE CAN READ OR TAKE AWAY FROM THE CONSERVATIVE JUSTICES' DECISION IN UPHOLDING THE TEXAS CASE AS WE PREVIEW THE MISSISSIPPI CASE, WHICH IS, ARGUABLY, EVEN MORE IMPACTFUL LONGER TERM IN ADDRESSING ROE V. WADE.
BY THE WAY, WE SHOULD NOTE THAT YOU ACKNOWLEDGE IN THE BOOK BACK IN 1973, THE RULING WAS 7-2.
THINGS WEREN'T AS HEATED AND POLITICAL AS THEY ARE SO MANY DECADES LATER.
THAT'S VERY TRUE.
ONE THING TO OBSERVE ABOUT THE MISSISSIPPI CASE IS IT WAS THE NEW COURT.
IT WAS THE TRUMP COURT LAST SPRING THAT DECIDED TO HEAR THAT CASE.
MISSISSIPPI APPEALED THE JUDGMENT THAT THE LAW WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL, BROUGHT IN THEIR APPEAL IN THE SUMMER OF 2020 WHEN RUTH GINSBURG WAS STILL ALIEFBL.
THE COURT TOOK THAT CASE UNDER ADVISEMENT FOR MONTHS AND THEN EVERY WEEK, EVERY WEEK, EVERY WEEK I CHRONICLE THIS IN THE BOOK, UNTIL THE MONTH OF MAY, THIS PAST MAY, WHEN THEY FINALLY AGREED TO HEAR IT.
NOW, WHY DID THEY AGREE TO HEAR IT?
THEY HADN'T HEARD SUCH A CASE EVER.
WHY NOT?
BECAUSE A LAW LIKE THAT IS SO FLATLY UNCONSTITUTIONAL THAT NO LOWER COURT HAS EVER UPHELD A LAW LIKE THAT FOLLOWING THE DICTATES OF ROE V. WADE, AND SO THE COURT NEVER HAD OCCASION TO GRANT SUCH A CASE.
IT ONLY GRANTED IT, WE HAVE TO ASSUME, BECAUSE THEY WANT TO DO SOMETHING TO CHANGE SETTLED LAW, AND THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN UNTIL AMY BARRETT CAME ON THE SUPREME COURT THIS PAST TERM.
YOU MENTIONED THE SHADOW DOCKET.
OBVIOUSLY, THAT'S HOW THE TEXAS RULING CAME ABOUT.
AND YOU DESCRIBE THAT THIS A PROCESS THAT TAKES AWAY SOME OF THE TRANSPARENCY, THAT THE U.S.
PUBLIC, IF INTERESTED, HAS AN OPTION TO TAKE PART IN AND PARTICIPATE IN AND HAVE ACCESS TO.
WHY DO YOU THINK THAT WE HAVE SEEN MORE USE OF THE SHADOW DOCKET, PARTICULARLY IN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION?
YEAH, IT STARTED WITH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION -- WELL, I SHOULD BACK UP A BIT.
THE SHADOW DOCKET, OR MORE NEUTRAL WORLD FOR IT, I GUESS, THE EMERGENCY DOCKET, AND EVERY COURT HAS ONE TO DEAL WITH CASES THAT COME UP WITH THAT NEED SOME KIND OF EMERGENCY INTERVENTION.
IT'S USUALLY A PROCEDURAL THING.
WE WILL GRANT A STAY AND TAKE OUR TIME WITH THE UNDERLYING QUESTION.
WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE TRUMP YEARS IS THE COURT ACTUALLY STARTED MAKING LAW ON THE SHADOW DOCKET, AND THAT CELEBRATED IN THE PAST TERM, THAT TERM THAT MY BOOK IS ABOUT, ESPECIALLY IN THE AREA OF RELIGION.
THEY STARTED MAKING EVER MORE RELIGION-FRIENDLY RULINGS ON THE SHADOW DOCKET AND ENDED UP WITH REALLY A NEW LAW OF GREATLY HEIGHTEN IMPACT FOR THE FREE EXERCISE CLAUSE OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT.
CHOOSING RELIGIOUS EXERCISE OVER, AS I SAID, PUBLIC HEALTH.
THAT ALL HAPPENED ON THE SHADOW DOCKET.
SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT REALLY NEEDS OUR ATTENTION.
IT'S GOTTEN CONGRESS' ATTENTION.
THERE HAVE BEEN HEARINGS HELD IN CONGRESS ABOUT IT.
BUT THE COURT IS KIND OF ITS OWN MASTER IN HOW IT HANDLES ITS WORK, AND THIS HAS BEEN A DISTURBING TREND.
WELL, ANOTHER DISTURBING TREND, JUST LIKE CONGRESS, WE ARE SEEING THE APPROVAL RATING OF THE SUPREME COURT CONTINUE TO DECLINE IN THE UNITED STATES.
IT'S DROPPED MOST RECENTLY POLL NUMBERS FROM SEPTEMBER AT 40%. I AM CURIOUS TO GET YOUR TAKE ON WHETHER YOU THINK POLITICS DOES PLAY A ROLE IN THIS, AND I'D LIKE ARE TO YOU TO RESPOND TO A CONVERSATION THAT CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR HAD WITH JUSTICE BREYER RECENTLY WHEN SHE ASKED HIM A QUESTION ABOUT THIS.
I WANT YOU TO LISTEN TO HIS RESPONSE.
I THINK THE SELECTION PROCESS IS POLITICAL, AND I THINK IT HAULS HAS BEEN, REALLY.
AND THE PERSON SELECTED, HOWEVER, PUTS ON THE ROBES OF THE JUDGE AND ONCE THAT HAPPENS THE MOREYS OF THE JUDICIAL INSTITUTION TAKE OVER AND IT IS A VERY DIFFERENT WORLD.
DO YOU AGREE WITH HIM?
IS IT A VERY DIFFERENT WORLD ONCE THAT ROBE COMES ON?
REALLY, IT IS FOR SOME PEOPLE.
FOR OTHER PEOPLE WHO PUT ON THAT ROBE, YOU KNOW, NOT SO MUCH.
I MEAN, I'LL MENTION JUSTICE SAMUEL ALITO, WHO HAS BEEN JUSTICE BREYER'S COLLEAGUE ON THE COURT SINCE 2006.
HE USES HIS POSITION, ACTUALLY, TO -- AS A STAMPING GROUND TO INVITE CASES, TO ISSUE OPINIONS THAT SAY, WELL, NOT THIS CASE, BUT PLEASE BRING ME A BETTER CASE BECAUSE HERE'S WHAT I REALLY WANT TO DO WITH IT.
THAT'S KIND OF TREADING ON DANGEROUS GROUND.
I THINK JUSTICE BREYER, WHOM I GREATLY RESPECT, I THINK HIS COMMENTS ARE PERHAPS A LITTLE MORE ASPIRATIONAL THAN OBSERVATIONAL.
HE WISHES THE BEST FOR THE SUPREME COURT AND, YOU KNOW, WE CAN JUST HOPE THE COURT CAN FIND A WAY TO LIVE UP TO HIS IDEALS.
WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.
FASCINATING CONVERSATION.
AS WE SAID, VERY TIME SENSITIVE AS WELL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
> WE MOVE FROM THE SUPREME COURT TO CONGRESS AND ONE OF THE MOST VISIBLE MEMBERS.
HOUSE DEMARCUS JACKIE SPEIER ANNOUNCED SHE WON'T SEEK RE-ELECTION AFTER NEARLY 14 YEARS.
DURING THAT TIME SHE BROUGHT ATTENTION TO ISSUES SUCH AS ABORTION RIGHTS AND SEXUAL ASSAULT IN THE MILITARY.
BACK IN 1978 SHE NARROWLY SURVIVED THE INFAMOUS JONESTOWN MASSACRE.
SHE SAYS IT WAS THIS MOMENT THAT INSPIRED HER LIFE IN PUBLIC SERVICE.
HERE SHE IS TALKING TO OUR MICHELE MARTIN.
THANKS.
CONGRESSWOMAN JACKIE SPEIER, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.
I WANT TO START WITH YOUR RECENT NEWS AND I WANT TO TALK MORE BROADLY ABOUT YOUR REMARKABLE LIFE AND CAREER.
BUT YOU HAVE MADE THE DECISION NOT TO RUN FOR RE-ELECTION.
WHY?
NOT AN EASY DECISION.
ACTUALLY, A VERY HARD DECISIONS.
AND AS I SAID WHEN I ANNOUNCED.
I'M COMING HOME TO BE MORE THAN A WEEKEND WIFE, A WEEKEND MOM, AND A WEEKEND FRIEND.
I'VE BEEN IN PUBLIC LIFE NOW 39 YEARS, AND I'M 71 YEARS OLD.
WHILE THAT IS VERY YOUNG, IT MAKES ME REALIZE THAT WITH THE YEARS I HAVE LEFT, ISN'T IT TIME TO SPEND IT WITH MY FAMILY?
ISN'T IT TIME TO BE IN THE COMMUNITY AGAIN AND ISN'T IT TIME TO HAVE A LITTLE FUN.
YOU LIVE IN A PREDOMINANTLY DEMOCRATIC AREA, SO PERHAPS YOUR SEAT IS NOT IN QUESTION.
I MEAN, TO THE DEGREE THAT ANYTHING IS A CERTAINTY THESE DAYS.
BUT ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT DEMOCRATS HOLDING ON TO THE HOUSE?
WELL, HISTORICALLY, THAT HAS BEEN THE CASE, WHERE WE HAVE -- THE PARTY IN POWER LOSES SEATS IN THE MIDTERMS.
SO THAT IS A POSSIBILITY.
BUT WE HAVE A PACKAGE OF BILLS THAT WILL BE SIGNED INTO LAW THAT WILL TRANSFORM THE LIVES OF VIRTUALLY EVERY AMERICAN.
AND IT'S GOING TO BE OUR JOB IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS TO GET THAT WORD OUT, TO SPEAK TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE IN TERMS THAT THEY UNDERSTAND.
AT THE KITCHEN TABLE.
TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT YOU CAN GET THAT HEARING AID AND IT'S NOT GOING TO COST YOU $5,000, THAT YOUR INSULIN ISN'T GOING TO COST YOU $1,000 A MONTH, IT'S ONLY GOING TO BE $35, YOUR KIDS CAN GO TO PRE-K AND YOU ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE TO SCROUNGE AROUND TO GET THE $8,000 OR $10,000 A YEAR TO PUT THEM IN PRE-K, AND ABOUT 50% OF THE KIDS IN THIS COUNTRY ARE NOT IN PRE-K.
SO THAT'S 3 AND 4-YEAR-OLDS.
FOR CHILDCARE, MY GOODNESS, 1.7 MILLION WOMEN HAVE LEFT THE WORK FORCE SINCE COVID FOR PREDOMINANTLY CLIMATE CHANGE-ASSOCIATED REASONS.
IT'S THE LOWEST PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN SINCE 1988.
SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN GET THESE WOMEN BACK INTO THE WORK FORCE SO THAT THEIR FAMILIES HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE GOOD QUALITY OF LIFE.
YOU JUST LAID OUT A SORT OF ALL THESE REASONS WHY WE THINK THAT PEOPLE IN THE PUBLIC WOULD BE APPRECIATIVE AND OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE FUTURE, AND YET THE PRESIDENT'S -- PRESIDENT BIDEN'S APPROVAL RATINGS ARE IN A VERY LOW STATE.
CERTAINLY MEMBERS OF CONGRESS IN RECENT YEARS AS AN INSTITUTION, CONGRESS HAS NOT BEEN HELD IN HIGH REGARD, YOU KNOW, BY THE PUBLIC IN RECENT YEARS.
THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE SORT OF CHANGED.
ARE DEMOCRATS JUST BAD AT THIS?
ARE THEY JUST BAD AT TELLING PEOPLE WHAT THEY DO?
WE ARE BAD AT TELLING PEOPLE WHAT OUR MESSAGE IS.
WE ALWAYS HAVE BEEN.
WE TALK IN TEXTBOOK LANGUAGE.
OUR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES TALK IN BUMPER STRIP LANGUAGE.
SO WE'VE GOT TO LEARN, FRANKLY, FROM OUR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES HOW TO SIMPLIFY AND MAKE OUR MESSAGE CLEAR AND UNDERSTANDABLE TO EVERYBODY.
I MEAN, WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THE PARTY OF THE UNDERDOG, AND YET THERE ARE THOSE WHO FEEL LIKE WE HAVE ABANDONED THEM, AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO SPEAK TO THEM AND HAVE THEM KNOW THAT WE HAVE THEIR BACKS.
WHY IS THAT THOUGH?
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, AS I THINK MANY PEOPLE REMEMBER, IF THEY CHOOSE TO, THE FORMER PRESIDENT, DONALD TRUMP, BRONZE MEDALED AN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL.
HE HAD FOUR YEARS TO DO IT, AND HE DIDN'T.
FOR A PERIOD HE CONTROLLED THE REPUBLICANS, HIS PARTY, CONTROLLED ONE HOUSE OF THE CONGRESS, THEY DIDN'T DO IT.
YOU HAVE DONE IT.
THE DEMOCRATS HAVE DONE IT, AND YET ONLY A HANDFUL OF REPUBLICANS VOTED FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL AND NONE OF THEM VOTED FOR THE SECOND LARGE SPENDING PACKAGE, THE BUILD BACK BETTER PLAN, WHICH YOU CALL THE SECOND JOBS PLAN, NONE OF THEM VOTED FOR THAT.
SO, I MEAN, WHY IS THAT?
IT'S BECAUSE CONSENSUS BUILDING AND COMPROMISE HAS BECOME A SIN IN THE REPUBLICAN HOUSE FOR SURE.
ANYTHING THAT IS -- ANYTHING THAT MOVES THE COUNTRY FORWARD DURING THIS TIMEFRAME IS SEEN AS HELPING PRESIDENT BIDEN AND THEY WANT TO TEAR HIM DOWN.
THE CONGRESS HAS LOST ITS MESSAGE AND MISSION IN TERMS OF TRYING TO ELEVATE THE PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY.
IT'S ALL ABOUT WINNING ELECTIONS NOW.
AND IT'S GOT THE POTENTIAL OF DESTROYING US.
WHY DID THAT HAPPEN, DO YOU THINK?
OBVIOUSLY, CERTAIN MEMBERS OF CONGRESS FEEL LIKE THEY ARE FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT FOR WHAT THEY BELIEVE IN AND THEY THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING, BUT THE REALITY IS THE REPUBLICANS HAVE PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE IN DANGEROUS CONSPIRACY THEORIES.
YOU HAVE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WHO BELIEVE THAT THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN DESPITE ALL EVIDENCE, EVEN A SORT OF A SHAM AUDIT, WHICH WAS FUNDED BY THEIR POLITICAL SUPPORTERS, WHO COULDN'T FIND WHAT THEY WERE LOOKING FOR AND YET THEY INSIST THIS IS THE CASE.
WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS?
WHEN TRUTH DOESN'T MATTER ANYMORE, THEN EVERYONE CAN JUST EMBRACE THEIR PARTICULAR IDEOLOGY.
I MEAN, THERE ARE 32 CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR CONGRESS ON THE REPUBLICAN TICKET THIS CYCLE THAT ARE QANON SUPPORTERS.
I MEAN, THAT SHOULD MAKE US ALL, YOU KNOW, CRINGE.
SO I THINK WHAT'S HAPPENED IS SOCIAL MEDIA HAS ACTUALLY BECOME THE MONSTER THAT WE WERE AFRAID IT WAS GOING TO BECOME.
NOW, I REPRESENT A LOT OF SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES IN MY DISTRICT.
I HAVE FACEBOOK AND YOUTUBE IN MY DISTRICT.
SO THEY EMPLOY LOTS OF PEOPLE.
THEY EMPLOY A FAMILY MEMBER.
BUT I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THE ALGORITHMS THAT HAVE BEEN EMPLOYED HAVE ALLOWED FOR MISOGYNY, THE IDEA THAT YOU CAN OVERTHROW THE GOVERNMENT, THESE CONSPIRACY THEORIES CONTINUE TO FESTER, AND IT FEEDS ON ITSELF.
THAT WOULD SEEM TO SUGGEST THAT THESE ENTITIES WOULD BE RIPE FOR SOME SORT OF REGULATION.
IS THIS A FAILURE OF THE CONGRESS --
YES.
NOT TO HAVE DONE SOMETHING BEFORE NOW?
ABSOLUTELY.
WE ARE ALWAYS LATE TO THE PROCESS.
NO MATTER WHAT IT IS.
WHAT ARE WE DOING ABOUT CHRISTIANE?
WHAT ARE WE DOING ABOUT REGULATING SOCIAL MEDIA?
WE ARE ALWAYS LATE TO THE PROCESS.
IS THIS A FAILURE OF YOURS, SINCE THESE COMPANIES ARE IN YOUR DISTRICT AND YOU HAVE BEEN WELL AWARE OF THEIR GROWTH AND IMPACT OVER THE YEARS?
WOULD YOU SAY THIS IS IN PART A FAILURE OF YOURS?
WELL, WE ALSO OPERATE ON A COMMITTEE SYSTEM.
TO I DON'T SERVE ON THE COMMITTEE OF JURISDICTION.
I HAVE INTRODUCED LEGISLATION, MET WITH COLLEAGUES WHO SERVE ON THAT COMMITTEE, BUT I DON'T HAVE A VOICE ON THAT COMMITTEE.
AND SINCE WE ARE REALLY, YOU KNOW, FOCUSED ON A COMMITTEE SYSTEM, THAT'S WHERE THE WORK GETS DONE.
THE BILL I INTRODUCED ON REVENGE PORN THAT DOES IN FACT PROVIDE REGULATION DID GET INTO THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN'S ACT, AND IT IS ON THE SENATE SIDE NOW.
I AM GOING TO REMIND PEOPLE, FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT AWARE OF YOUR REMARKABLE STORY, YOU WERE JUST 28 YEARS OLD WHEN YOU WERE ACCOMPANYING THEN-CONGRESSMAN LEO RYAN TO GUYANA TO INVESTIGATE REPORTS OF AN ABUSIVE CULT WE NOW KNOW THAT HAD KIND OF ESTABLISHED ITSELF THERE.
I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY, ONE OF THE REASONS HE WANTED TO GO WAS THAT FAMILY MEMBERS OF THESE CULT MEMBERS WERE DEEPLY WORRIED AND WERE GETTING REPORTS THAT THEY WERE BEING ABUSED, PHYSICALLY AND SEXUALLY, THEY WERE BEING STARVED, THEY WERE HELD CAPTIVE THERE.
YOU WENT AS PART OF A DELEGATION.
YOU WERE AMBUSHED.
YOU WERE SHOT FIVE TIMES AND LEFT FOR DEAD.
THE CONGRESSMAN HIMSELF WAS KILLED.
YOU SHOULD HAVE DIED.
THIS IS CALLED THE JONESTOWN, SORT OF, MASS SUICIDE, BUT YOU SAY IT WAS A MASSACRE.
YOU SAID THAT YOU MADE A DECISION THEN AND THERE THAT IF YOU SURVIVED, WHAT YOU WOULD DO.
DO YOU MIND TALKING US THROUGH THAT?
SO THROUGH THE ACT OF CONTRITION, THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIE.
THEN WHEN I REALIZED I HAD A CHANCE TO LIVE, I PROMISED THAT IF I DID SURVIVE, I WOULD DEDICATE MY LIFE TO PUBLIC SERVICE, AND THAT I WOULD NEVER TAKE ANOTHER DAY FOR GRANTED, AND THAT I WOULD LIVE EVERY SINGLE DAY AS FULLY AS POSSIBLE.
SO THAT IS WHAT I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO DO.
IT CERTAINLY HAS PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN MY LIFE.
BUT 14 YEARS LATER, MY HUSBAND WAS KILLED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT WHEN I WAS PREGNANT WITH OUR SECOND CHILD.
I CAN'T BEGIN TO TELL YOU HOW PAINFUL THAT WAS.
AND HOW I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO LIVE ANYMORE.
SO, YOU KNOW, THERE HAVE BEEN EPISODE AFTER EPISODE, AND YET THERE IS ALWAYS A SILVER LINING.
YOU KNOW, THERE IS ALWAYS THAT SWEET RAINBOW OUT THERE, AND YOU HAVE JUST GOT TO HANG IN THERE.
AND MY BOOK WAS REALLY ABOUT THAT.
'UNDAUNTED' WAS A MEMOIR, BUT IT WAS ALSO ABOUT HOW YOU CAN OVERCOME VIRTUALLY EVERYTHING.
AND I REALLY WROTE IT FOR YOUNG WOMEN BECAUSE I WANT THEM TO REALIZE, IF I HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCES, I MEAN, I WAS ENGAGED TO BE MARRIED AND THEN TWO YEARS INTO THE ENGAGEMENT MY FIANCE BREAKS IT OFF.
IT WAS DEVASTATING.
I, YOU KNOW, GET MARRIED, WE HAVE OUR CHILD, AND THEN I HAVE TWO MISCARRIAGES AND THEN WE ADOPT THE BABY AND THE BIRTH MOTHER TAKES THE BABY BACK.
I MEAN, IT JUST KEPT HAPPENING.
BUT GOOD THINGS ALSO KEPT HAPPENING.
ONE THE THINGS THAT I HAVE BEEN KNOWN FOR IS JUST BEING EXTREMELY REAL AND RAW WHEN YOU FEEL -- FELT IT WAS NECESSARY.
I MEAN, YOU ARE ONE OF THE VERY FEW WOMEN IN PUBLIC LIFE EVER TO SPEAK PUBLICLY AND ON THE HOUSE FLOOR ABOUT HAVING AN ABORTION, WHICH YOU DID WHEN YOU WERE LOSING A MUCH WANTED CHILD AT 17 WEEKS.
THAT PROCEDURE THAT YOU JUST TALKED ABOUT WAS A PROCEDURE THAT I ENDURED.
I LOST A BABY.
BUT FOR YOU TO STAND ON THIS FLOOR AND TO SUGGEST, AS YOU HAVE, THAT SOMEHOW THIS IS A PROCEDURE THAT IS EITHER WELCOMED OR DONE CAVALIERLY OR DONE WITHOUT ANY THOUGHT IS PREPOSTEROUS.
OBVIOUSLY, ABORTION RIGHTS, WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS HAVE BEEN VERY IMPORTANT TO YOU THROUGHOUT YOUR TERM IN OFFICE.
WE FACE A MOMENT WHERE -- AND RECOGNIZEK, OF COURSE, THERE ARE VERY DIFFERENT OPINIONS ABOUT THIS.
BUT WE SEE STATES MOVING TO ENACT EXTREMELY RESTRICTIVE MEASURES.
TEXAS HAS ALREADY DONE SO.
MAYBE IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT FOR WOMEN TO OBTAIN ABORTIONS UNDER MOST CIRCUMSTANCES.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT?
I HAVE LOTS OF THOUGHTS ABOUT IT.
WHAT REALLY GETS LOST IN ALL OF THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE IMPREGNATOR?
NO ONE TALKS ABOUT THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR IMPREGNATING THE WOMAN WHO IS NOW SEEKING AN ABORTION.
AND THERE IS PART OF ME THAT THINKS IF A WOMAN HAS TO CARRY A FETUS TO TERM, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE NEED TO PUT A $200,000 BOND ON THE IMPREGNATOR OF EVERY WOMAN WHO WOULD BE FORCED TO CARRY A FETUS TO TERM.
IT IS A MEDICAL PROCEDURE.
IT IS AS SAFE AS GETTING YOUR TOOTH PULLED.
IT'S A MEDICAL PROCEDURE THAT'S LEGAL IN THIS COUNTRY, BUT FOR DECADES NOW THERE HAVE BEEN THOSE ON THE OTHER SIDE THAT BASICALLY HAVE CHIPPED AWAY AT IT.
AND SOMEHOW MADE IT TO BE DASTARDLY.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS DETERMINED BY A WOMAN, HER FAMILY, AND HER PHYSICIAN.
AND I FIND IT SO REMARK NL THAT AT A TIME WHEN PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO WEAR MASKS, IT'S THEIR BODY, THEY DON'T WOULDN'T TO HAVE ANY -- HAVE THE GOVERNMENT TELLING THEM WHAT TO DO WITH THEIR BODY, THEY ARE THE SAME PEOPLE THAT WANT TO GET INTO EVERY WOMAN'S UTERUS IN THIS COUNTRY.
AS YOU LOOK BACK AT YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE, WHAT CONCERNS YOU THE MOST AND WHAT GIVES YOU THE MOST SENSE OF HOPE?
I DO THINK THAT WE HAVE LOST SIGHTFUL OF THE FACT THAT DEMOCRACIES ARE FRAGILE, AND WE HAD AN ATTEMPTED COUP ON JANUARY 6th.
WE HAVE TO -- THAT HAS TO SINK INTO OUR MINDS.
WE ALMOST LOST THE DEMOCRACY.
WE ALMOST BECAMEANNAH TALKSY OVERNIGHT HAD THEY HAD GUNS, MANY OF US WOULD HAVE BEEN ANNIHILATED.
I WAS LYING ON THE FLOOR IN THE GALLERY OF THE HOUSE WHEN THE GUNSHOT RANG OUT THINKING, I CAN'T BELIEVE I SURVIVED GUYANA AND I'M GOING TO LOSE MY LIFE IN THIS TEMPLE OF DEMOCRACY.
SO IT'S FRAGILE.
WE'VE GOT TO PROTECT IT.
WE'VE GOT TO PROTECT THE VOTE.
WE'VE GOT TO STOP ALLOWING THE PROMOTION OF THIS BIG LIE TO HAVE ANY CREDIBILITY.
IT HURTS ALL OF US.
NOT ONE PARTY OR THE OTHER.
IT HURTS ALL OF US.
IF WE CAN'T HAVE SAFE AND FREE ELECTIONS, THEN, YOU KNOW, WELCOME PUTIN INTO THE UNITED STATES.
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE BASICALLY SAYING.
NOW, FOR HOPE, IN TERMS OF HOPE, WE HAVE GREAT TALENT IN THE CONGRESS AMONG YOUNG MEMBERS WHO SERVE.
THEY ARE PASSIONATE, THEY'RE CONCERNED, THEY RECOGNIZE THE ISSUES THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, IMPORTANT TO THE MEERN PEOPLE.
AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE IN GOOD HANDS.
I WANT TO ASK YOU A HARD QUESTION.
AS A PERSON WHO WAS ALMOST MURDERED BY A CULT, AND I SAID BY ALL RIGHTS YOU SHOULDN'T BE HERE, I MEAN, YOU LOST SO MUCH BLOOD, BY THE TIME YOU GOT MEDICAL ATTENTION YOU HEARD THE DOCTORS SAY YOU WERE WITHIN MINUTES OF DYING, AND IT SEEMS IT WAS JUST YOUR WILL TO SURVIVE AND ALSO THE ASSISTANCE OF THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU WHO HAD SURVIVED.
THERE ARE THOSE WHO CALL THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, AT LEAST ELEMENTS OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, A CULT.
AS A PERSON WHO WAS ALMOST KILLED BY A CULT, DO YOU THINK THAT'S FAIR?
I THINK THAT THERE ARE CERTAINLY ELEMENTS WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WHO HAVE LOOKED AT DONALD TRUMP AS A CULT LEADER, A CULT OF PERSONALITY.
JIM JONES WAS A, YOU KNOW, A CULT OF A RELIGION, I GUESS.
IF YOU COULD SAY THAT.
BUT IN BOTH CASES, MEG LOW MANIACS REQUIRE TOTAL LOYALTY, DEMAND IT, ARE CONVINCED THAT THEY ARE RIGHT AND THAT THE WORLD IS OUT TO GET THEM.
THEY ARE VERY ANGUISHED AND VERY PARANOID, AND IT IS -- IT SHOWS IN ALL OF THEIR ACTIONS.
SO WHEN YOU LOSE YOUR INDEPENDENCE, WHEN YOU LOSE YOUR SELF-DETERMINATION, WHEN YOU LOSE THE ABILITY TO MAKE DECISIONS ON YOUR OWN, WHEN MIND CONTROL IS BEING IMPOSED BY THIS PERSON, THEN YOU ARE A MEMBER OF A CULT.
AND I CAN LOOK AT A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE RIGHT NOW IN CONGRESS WHO KNOW THAT WHAT THEY'RE BEING ASKED TO DO IS WRONG, OR THEY DON'T BELIEVE IN WHAT'S BEING PROMOTED, BUT THEY'RE GOING ALONG.
SO WHEN YOU GO ALONG, JUST TO STAY IN OFFICE, WOW.
YOU'VE SOLD YOUR SOUL.
CONGRESSWOMAN JACKIE SPEIER, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TALKING WITH US.
WONDERFUL TO BE WITH YOU.
> AND FINALLY, THE HIT SERIES THAT CAPTURES THE TOUGH TRUTH ABOUT POVERTY AND THE PRECARIOUSNESS OF LIFE.
'MAID' TELLS THE STORY OF ALEX, WHO ESCAPES AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP ONLY TO BE MET WITH THE OBSTACLES AND BUREAUCRACY THAT COME WITH SEEKING HELP IN AMERICA.
HERE IS A CLIP FROM THE TRAILER.
YOU GOT A PROBLEM WITH A BACKGROUND CHECK?
NO.
I AM STARTING TODAY.
GOOD NEWS, AIN'T IT, BROKE GIRL?
WE COMPOST.
THE BIN IS LABELED COMPOST.
SHOULD YOU READ, OR SHOULD I SHOW YOU?
I CAN READ.
I DON'T THINK I CAN DO THIS.
SO QUIT.
I CAN'T QUIT.
I LIVE FOR MY DAUGHTER.
EARLIER THIS MONTH WE BROUGHT YOU OUR CONVERSATION WITH STEPHANIE LAND WHO WROTE THE BOOK WHICH INSPIRED THE NETFLIX HE SERIES.
NOW WE WANT TO DOIF DEEPER.
MOLLY SMITH METZLER IS THE CREATOR OF 'MAID' AND ANIKA NONI ROSE PLAYS REGINA, ONE OF ALEX'S HOUSECLEANING CLIENTS.
WELCOME TO THE SHOW.
I, LIKE MILLIONS OF OTHERS, AM I A HUGE FAN.
I AM NOT QUITE THROUGH WITH IT.
UNFORTUNATELY, I ONLY HAVE A COUPLE OF EPISODES LEFT.
MOLLY, WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO ADAPT THIS BOOK INTO A SERIES?
WELL, IT FELT LIKE THE PERFECT TIME TO TELL THIS STORY THAT WE DON'T GET TO HEAR VERY OFTEN.
WHEN I READ STEPHANIE'SOIR, IT SHOOK ME UP HOW MARRED AMERICA MADE IT FOR HER TO SUPPORT HER YOUNG CHILD ON MINIMUM WAGE WHEN SHE LEFT AN ABUSIVE SITUATION.
I AM A MOM.
IT REALLY FIRED ME UP AND IT FELT LIKE IT'S THE PERFECT POLITICAL MOMENT TO TALK ABOUT THIS SHOW AND, YOU KNOW, I WANTED TO SHARE THE HEARTBREAKING EXPERIENCE I HAD READING IT WITH, YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE WILD WORLD.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO CREATE A FICTIONAL VERSION OF THE STORY WHEN STEPHANIE'S STORY, IN AND OF ITSELF, IS FASCINATING AND GRIPPING AS WELL?
STEPHANIE'S STORY IS BEYOND GRIPPING, YES, BUT IT'S A VERY SOLITARY JOURNEY.
SHE DOESN'T TALK TO ANYONE ELSE IN THE MEMOIR.
I WOULD SAY SHE IS THE LONELIEST CHARACTER IN THE HISTORY OF AMERICAN LITERATURE.
THAT DOESN'T MAKE GOOD TV, SOMEBODY ALONE ON SCREEN ALL THE TIME.
MY JOB IS TO CREATE A WORLD TO ROOT FOR HER AND BE EXCITED ABOUT HER AND HER RELATIONSHIPS HAVE A LOT TO DO WITH THAT.
IT WAS WONDERFUL TO CREATE THE CHARACTER OF HER MOTHER AND REGINA, WHO BECOMES SORT OF AN UNLIKELY FRIEND IN THE SHOW, HER FATHER, SEAN.
THESE ARE DEEPLY FICTIONALIZED FROM THE BOOK TO MAKE IT A RICHER STORY.
ANIKA, YOUR CHARACTER, REGINA, WOW, WHAT AN ARC WE SEE HER GO THROUGH.
WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO THIS CHARACTER AND FROM START TO FINISH EMOTIONALLY FOR YOU AS AN ACTRESS, WHAT WAS THIS EXPERIENCE LIKE?
FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.
WHAT ATTRACTED ME MOST WAS THE WRITING.
I THOUGHT THAT THE WRITING WAS PHENOMENAL WHEN I GOT THE SCRIPT.
I THOUGHT, OKAY, WELL, THIS IS THE BEST SCRIPT I HAVE READ THIS YEAR REALLY.
AND THAT WAS EXCITING.
AND THEN I ALSO REALLY LIKED THAT THIS WOMAN WASN'T NICE.
I THINK THAT SO OFTEN WOMEN SPEND TIME TRYING TO BE NICE AND BEING EXPECTED TO BE NICE.
I'M A BIG PROPONENT OF BEING KIND, BUT I THINK THAT WE ARE ALWAYS EXPECTED TO BE NICE, AND IT'S A LOT OF FUN TO PLAY SOMEBODY WHO IS NOT NICE.
AND THIS WOMAN, NEITHER NICE NOR KIND.
BUT I THOUGHT WHAT A CHALLENGE TO GIVE THIS WOMAN A FULL AND THOROUGH HUMANITY WHEN WE MEET HER IN SUCH A TOUGH, TOUGH SPACE, BUT THEN WE FIGURE OUT THAT, YOU KNOW, LIFE AFFECTS EVERYBODY, AND BECAUSE SHE IS HIGHLY PRIVILEGED DOESN'T MEAN THAT LIFE HAS NOT DEALT HER SOME DEVASTATING BLOWS.
AND WE REALLY GET TO LEARN WHO SHE IS, AND SHE IS A WOMAN THAT HAS A VERY GOOD AND STRONG HEART.
IT JUST TAKES A MINUTE TO GET TO THAT INSIDE.
WHAT YOU DO MASTERFULLY, ANIKA, IS YOU MAKE AN UNLIKABLE PERSON SOMEBODY WHO YOU CONTINUE TO WANT TO KNOW AND GET TO KNOW BECAUSE IT'S VERY EASY TO MEET A CRUEL PERSON, WHETHER IT'S IN A BOOK OR IN A FILM, AND SAY, I'M DONE WITH THEM, I DON'T CARE ABOUT THEM, YET YOU BROUGHT SOMETHING FROM THE MINUTE I SAW YOU THAT WANTED US TO KNOW MORE ABOUT YOU.
LET'S BEGIN WITH THE START OF THE RELATIONSHIP WITH ALEX.
I WANT TO PLAY THIS CLIP FOR OUR VIEWERS.
WE'LL JUST HAVE TO RESCHEDULE.
I CAN BE DONE BY 4:00, MA'AM.
I'M FAST AND FOOD.
I'D RATHER YOU COME BACK ANOTHER TIME AND DO A SHODDY JOB AND THROW A BUNCH OF CLEANING PRODUCTS AROUND.
I UNDERSTAND.
I WON'T DISAPPOINT YOU.
WE'RE IN NYC THIS WEEKEND.
CLEAN THE FRIDGE.
I GOT IT.
WE COMPOST.
THE BIN IS LABELED COMPOST.
CAN YOU READ OR SHOULD I SHOW YOU?
I CAN READ.
ISN'T IT CRAZY I WANTED TO LIKE YOU EVEN AFTER THAT SCENE WHERE YOU WERE JUST SO MEAN AND JUST DISRESPECTFUL TO ALEX?
I AM CURIOUS FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE NOW WATCHING THAT AGAIN, WHAT GOES THROUGH YOUR MIND?
I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN SAY THE WORD THAT GOES THROUGH MY MIND.
DOES IT START WITH A 'B'?
YOU THINK WHAT A 'B,' YOU KNOW.
BUT I THINK THAT WHEN YOU SEE SOMEONE LIKE THAT, WHAT I WAS HOPING TO PUT FORTH IS THAT THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE THERE, YOU KNOW, THAT THERE IS -- I AM HOPING THAT YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT MAKES THIS WOMAN ACT LIKE THAT.
WHY WOULD YOU JUST MEET SOMEONE AND BE THAT NASTY?
IT'S SORT OF STUNNING.
SO I'M REALLY GLAD THAT PEOPLE WANTED TO SEE MORE OF HER BECAUSE, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, AS AN ACTOR, IT'S A VERY DANGEROUS TRAP IF YOU ARE FALLING INTO -- TO NEVERMIND BEING A WOMAN, A PERSON, AS AN ACTOR, FALLING IN THE TRAP OF WANTING YOUR CHARACTER TO BE LIEKTD, IT'S NOT A GOOD THING AND IT DOESN'T ALLOW YOU TO REALLY PORTRAY HUMANITY IN ITS FULL SPACE.
SO I'M REALLY GLAD THAT WHAT WAS THERE WAS ENOUGH OF SOMETHING BENEATH FOR PEOPLE TO SAY, LET ME -- LET ME FIGURE OUT WHO THIS B IS BECAUSE THIS IS PHENOMENAL THAT SOMEONE WOULD ACT LIKE THAT TOWARDS A PERSON, CLEARLY NOT IN A GREAT SITUATION.
YEAH, AND, MOLLY, IT'S NOT JUST EENL A'S CHARACTER THAT YOU BRING THE DEPTH TO.
IT'S ALL OF THEM.
SOME OF THE THEMES THROUGHOUT THIS SERIES ARE JUST THE STIGMAS ASSOCIATED WITH MONEY, WITH HOMELESSNESS, WITH TIMES OF DESPERATION, WITH BEING IN AN ABUSIVE SITUATION.
WHY WAS THIS SO IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO HIGHLIGHT CONSISTENTLY THROUGHOUT THE SERIES?
WELL, I THINK ONE OF THE GOALS OF THE SHOW IS TO ASK THE AUDIENCE TO LOOK DOWN NEXT TIME THEY'RE IN A FERRY STATION OR TRAIN STATION OR A BUS STATION AND ALEX AND MADDY ARE SITTING ON THE GROUND.
ONE THE GOALS TO THE SHOW IS TO ENCOURAGE THE AUDIENCE TO NOTICE THE WOMEN NEXT TIME AND REALIZE THAT PEOPLE ARE MORE THAN THE COVER OF THEIR BOOK.
WITH ALEX, IT LOOKS A CERTAIN WAY, THE SITUATION TEAMS A CERTAIN THING, BUT IT'S A RESULT OF A GENERATIONAL TRAUMA SHE HAS, SEAN HAS, REGINA HAS.
WE ARE ALL A PRODUCT OF WHERE WE COME FROM AND WHAT WE LEARN EMOTIONALLY IN OUR SPINE ABOUT HOW TO FEEL ABOUT OURSELVES.
SO I REALLY WANTED TO DEEPEN ALL OF THESE RELATIONSHIPS AND JUST SHOW THE HUMANITY THAT NOBODY'S A BAD GUY.
EVEN SOMEONE WHO IS SUCH A 'B' IN THE PILOT LIKE REGINA IS, SHE IS NOT BAD OTHER.
WE ARE ALL MANY, MANY SHADES OF THE RAINBOW.
AND RACE AND CLASS PLAY THEIR OWN ROLE IN THIS SERIES, AND IT'S HARD NOT TO HIT ON THAT, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE ENVIRONMENT THAT WE ARE IN AS A NATION.
I'M JUST CURIOUS, MOLLY, WHY WAS IT IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO CREATE THE CHARACTER OF REGINA AS A WEALTHY BLACK WOMAN WHO, AS WE HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED, IS A 'B' AT THE BEGINNING TO HER WHITE MAID.
WELL, PART OF IT IS I KNEW WELL IN ADVANCE THAT ANIKA WAS GOING TO PLAY THIS ROLE AND REGINA IS NOT A 'B,' ACTUALLY.
HER ARC IS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT A WONDERFUL HUMAN SHE S BUT I REALLY WANTED 'MAID' TO REFLECT THE WORLD IN AMERICA RIGHT NOW.
SO, IN OTHER WORDS, I THINK THERE ARE WOMEN LIKE REGINA AND THERE ARE WOMEN OF COLOR AND THEY ARE POWERFUL AND SUCCESSFUL AND HAVE THEIR OWN DEPTH AND THEY HAVE THEIR OWN FLAWS AND I WANTED TO TREAT REGINA LIKE A WELL DEVELOPED CHARACTER AND ONCE WE FOUND OUT THAT ANIKA WAS PLAYING HER IN THE WRITER'S ROOM WE WENT TO TOWN.
WHAT ELSE CAN WE GIVE HER?
I WANTED HER TO BE A FULLY DIMENSIONAL, ALIVE CHARACTER.
SO I THINK ANIKA MADE THAT FOR US.
SHE CLEARLY DID.
I WANT TO PLAY SOUND FROM STEPHANIE'S INTERVIEW EARLIER ON THE PROGRAM ABOUT JUST THE STRUGGLE AND THE STRESS ASSOCIATED WITH BEING CONSTANTLY IN PURSUIT OF THAT EXTRA DOLLAR AND WORKING THROUGH POVERTY AND HOMELESSNESS AND NOT HAVING MUCH STABILITY AT ALL.
LET'S PLAY THAT.
WHEN YOU'RE THAT CLOSE ALL THE TIME, EVERY DECISION IS HUGE.
YOU KNOW, NOT EVEN BEING -- LIKE YOUR CAR NOT STARTING, OR A FLAT TIRE COULD MEAN THAT YOU DON'T PAY RENT THAT MONTH.
AND IT'S SUCH A PRECARIOUSNESS.
AND IT'S STRESSFUL.
HOW DO YOU MAKE -- MOLLY, HOW DO YOU MAKE THAT PRECARIOUSNESS SO EASILY ADAPTABLE FOR VIEWERS?
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, GOING TO BACK TO THE STEREO SOMETIMES AND STIGMAS ASSOCIATED WITH POVERTY, ONE THE QUESTIONS YOU ALWAYS HEAR IS, OH, WHY CAN'T YOU BALANCE YOUR BUDGET BETTER?
AND WHAT YOU DO BEAUTIFULLY THROUGHOUT THE SERIES IS YOU -- SHE BALANCES HER BUDGET IN HER HEAD IN THE MOMENT WHILE SHE IS IN A GROCERY STORE DEBATING WHETHER SHE CAN BUY A SPONGE OR A TOY FOR HER DAUGHTER.
THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT BECAUSE IT WAS SO IMPORTANT TO ME TO GET INSIDE ALEX'S HEAD AND TO EXPERIENCE THE STRESS THAT STEPHANIE IS TALKING ABOUT FIRSTHAND.
I THINK WE START IN THE BEGINNING IN THE PILOT WHERE THOSE NUMBERS ARE TICKING DOWN AND HAS NOWHERE TO GO AND SHE CAN'T AFFORD GAS.
I WANT THE AUDIENCE TO BE INSIDE ALEX'S BODY WITH HER AND FEELING THE HORROR, THE NIGHTMARE IT IS TO RUN OUT OF MONEY WHEN YOU HAVE A YOUNG CHILD TO TAKE KIR OF.
I FEEL LIKE IT SHOWS UP IN LITTLE WAYS WITH REG EENL A.
REGINA.
ALEX IS RUNNING OUT OF PHONE MINUTES AND ANIKA, HER PERFORMANCE IS BEAUTIFUL.
SHE IS LIKE, MINUTES?
CELLPHONE?
OUT OF MINUTES?
HOW IS THAT A THING?
WE REALLY TRIED TO FULLY EMBRACE HER POINT OF VIEW, ALEX'S POINT OF VIEW, WHEN IT COMES TO ECONOMICS.
THIS SORT OF CHARACTER ARC OF PULLING YOURSELF UP BY THE BOOT STRAPS, ANIKA, IS SOMETHING YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH GIVEN YOUR ROLE AS A DISNEY PRINCESS, THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG, RIGHT, AS TIANNA, AND I'M CURIOUS WHETHER THAT EVER CROSSED YOUR MIND HERE.
YOU PLAY A CHARACTER LIKE ALEX, A WAITRESS WORKING DOUBLE SHIFTS TRYING TO SAVE MONEY TO OPEN A RESTAURANT.
IN THIS SORT OF ONLY MADE IN AMERICA SUCCESS STORY, DOES THAT MAKE YOU RE-EVALUATE HOW WE PERCEIVE SUCCESS ASSOCIATING IT ONLY WITH HARD WORK?
WELL, THAT'S A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD, ISN'T IT, BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE FOUND SUCCESS SOLELY BECAUSE OF THEIR HARD WORK.
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WOULD LIKE YOU TO THINK THEY FOUND SUCCESS SOILLY BECAUSE OF THEIR HARD WORK, BUT THE HARD WORK WAS CASHING THE CHECK THAT THEIR DAD GAVE THEM.
THIS COUNTRY REALLY LIKES TO PRETEND WE ARE A MERITOCRACY, AND SOMETIMES IT IS, BUT VERY OFTEN, DEPENDING WHERE YOU'RE FROM, WHAT YOU GREW UP WITH, WHAT YOUR SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS IS, WHAT YOUR ECOLOGICAL SURROUNDINGS ARE, SOMETIMES PEOPLE CAN'T MAKE IT.
AND I THINK THAT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT SOMETIMES THERE ARE PEOPLE FOR WHOM THE DECK IS STACKED AGAINST THEM, AND IT'S IMPORTANT WHEN WE SEE PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING AND ABLE TO WORK AND WANT TO STRIVE THAT WE DON'T DISCOUNT THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE POOR, THINKING THEY ARE UNINTELLIGENT, UNABLE, UNWILLING, BUT THAT WE ARE ABLE TO FIND A WAY TO GIVE THOSE PEOPLE A HAND.
YOU KNOW, I THINK ABOUT IT A LOT BECAUSE THE HOMELESSNESS SITUATION IN THIS COUNTRY HAS BECOME SO INSANE, AND I LIVED IN SAN FRANCISCO FOR A LONG TIME.
I THOUGHT I HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT, AND IT'S GOTTEN WORSE AND WORSE AND WORSE.
AND I THINK THAT AS IT BECOMES WORSE, PEOPLE BECOME MORE NUMBED TO IT.
AND I THINK THAT WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AS WE LOOK AT PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO REMEMBER THAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO NOT HAVE.
MOST PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO BE HUNGRY.
MOST PEOPLE DON'T CARE TO BE DIRTY MOST PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO NOT BE ABLE TO LAY DOWN IN A BED AND CLOSE A DOOR THAT MAKES THEM SAFE AT NIGHT.
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO REMEMBER THAT WHILE WE ARE LOOKING AT PEOPLE WHO ARE LESS FORTUNATE THAN WE ARE.
AND I THINK THAT THAT'S ONE THING THAT THIS SHOW DEFINITELY FOCUSES IN ON, IS THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT EACH OTHER.
WE REALLY HAVE TO SEE EACH OTHER.
AND EVEN WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT TIANNA, A GIRL FROM A SMALL TOWN DURING A TIME PERIOD EVERYTHING WAS STACKED AGAINST HER, ESPECIALLY BEING A WOMAN, BEING BLACK, BEING NOT FROM SOMEBODY SPECIAL, SHE HAD THE LOVE OF HER FAMILY, WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT.
IF WE ARE TO MAKE IT IN THIS WORLD, WE MUST HAVE PEOPLE WHO LOVE AND PROTECT AND CHERISH AND HOLD US, SUPPORT US.
SHE HAD A VERY STRONG WILL, AND SHE REALLY WORKED EXTRAORDINARILY HARD.
AND EVEN THEN SHE STILL NEEDED SOME HELP.
AND THAT'S OKAY.
BUT SHE WAS WILLING TO PUT THE WORK IN TO DO TO HERSELF.
AND I THINK THAT SOMETIMES WE NEED TO LOOK AT PEOPLE AND DECIDE, WELL, PERHAPS IF GIVEN A CHANCE THIS PERSON WOULD BE ABLE TO FLY INSTEAD OF DECIDING THAT THE DOLLAR IN OUR POCKET IS JUST FOR US, WE DON'T NEED TO GIVE THAT PERSON A DOLLAR.
WHAT IS A DOLLAR DOING AT THIS POINT?
LOOK, I COULDN'T HAVE SAID THAT BETTER.
EVERYONE DESERVES A CHANCE.
AS YOU SAID, WHEN YOU GROW NUMB, WE LOSE OUR HUMANITY.
I THINK YOU EXPLAIN THAT THOROUGHLY THROUGHOUT THIS SERIES BEAUTIFULLY, I WOULD ADD.
MOLLY AND ANIKA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.
CONGRATULATIONS ON A SPECTACULAR SHOW.
AND THAT'S IT FOR OUR PROGRAM TONIGHT.
REMEMBER YOU CAN FOLLOW ME AND THE SHOW ON TWITTER.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING 'AMANPOUR & COMPANY' ON PBS.
JOIN US AGAIN TOMORROW NIGHT.
> 'AMANPOUR & COMPANY' IS MADE POSSIBLE BY -- THE ANDERSON FAMILY FUND.
SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III.
CANDACE KING WEIR.
THE CHERYL AND PHILIP MILSTEIN FAMILY.
THE STRAUS FAMILY FOUNDATION.
JIM ATWOOD AND LESLIE WILLIAMS.
MARK J. BLECHNER.
BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ.
KOO AND PATRICIA YUEN, COMMITTED TO BRIDGING CULTURAL DIFFERENCES IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY THESE FUNDERS, AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.
THANK YOU.