Read Full Transcript EXPAND
> HELLO, EVERYONE.
WELCOME TO 'AMANPOUR & CO.'
HERE'S WHAT'S COMING UP.
PENNSYLVANIA HAS LITERALLY BEEN THIS ELECTION'S KEYSTONE.
THE KEY SENATOR BOB CASEY JOINS US.
THEN AS PRESIDENT TRUMP PRESIDENT LEGAL WARFARE, PART OF A GROUP TREVOR POTTER TELLS US WHAT'S NEXT.
THE SOUTH SIDE OF CHICAGO.
THEY'RE BOUND TOGETHER ON THE GUN ISSUE.
THE STORY BEHIND THE MARCH FOR OUR LIVES.
HARI SREENIVASAN TALKS TO ALEX KING AND DAVID HOGG.
AND FINALLY, THE ANXIETY OF WAITING.
LORI GOTTLIEB TELLS US HOW WE CAN PROTECT OUR OWN MENTAL HEALTH AS THE ELECTION WINDS ON.
> 'AMANPOUR & CO.' 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, BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ.
CHARLES ROSENBLUM, JEFFREY KATZ AND BETH ROGERS.
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY THESE FUNDERS.
AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.
THANK YOU.
WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM, EVERYONE.
ALL ALONG WE WERE TOLD THAT PENNSYLVANIA COULD BE DECISIVE IN THE AMERICAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND INDEED IT IS.
WE WERE ALSO TOLD THE PICTURE COULD CHANGE IN MANY STATES AFTER DAY OF BALLOTS WERE COUNTED AND THEY HEAVILY FAVORED PRESIDENT TRUMP.
AND INDEED, WHEN MAIL-IN BALLOTS STARTED BEING COUNTED, THEY CONSISTENTLY BROKE FOR BIDEN PROMPTING TRUMP AND HIS TEAM TO CLAIM FRAUD WITH ZERO EVIDENCE.
BIDEN'S FRIENDS AND SUPPORTER PENNSYLVANIA SENIOR SENATOR BOB CASEY KNOWS THE COMMONWEALTH INSIDE AND OUT.
HE JOINS ME FROM SCRANTON FROM WHERE AND HE JOE BIDEN WERE BORN.
GREAT TO BE WITH YOU.
GREAT TO HAVE YOU.
YOU'VE BEEN DOING AN AMAZING JOB ANALYZING AND TELLING THE WORLD WHAT'S GOING ON.
YOU HAVE YOUR OWN WALL MAP BEHIND YOU.
AND HAVE YOU BEEN IN TOUCH?
YOU'RE VERY CLOSE TO VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN.
WHAT IS THE CAMPAIGN TELLING YOU, THE LATEST, HOW ARE THEY FEELING?
PARTICULARLY ABOUT YOUR STATE.
THEY'RE FEELING STRONG, POSITIVE, WHERE THEY ARE IN A STATE LIKE OURS.
ESPECIALLY BECAUSE YOU CAN TELL A LOT BY THE BY VIRTUE OF HAVING MAIL-IN BALLOTS OUTSTANDING AND THE RATIO OF SUPPORT YOU GET AS THEY'RE COMING IN.
THEY FEEL GOOD.
THEY ALSO WANT TO RESPECT THE PROCESS.
I WISH PRESIDENT TRUMP WOULD DO LIKEWISE.
BUT THEY'RE WATCHING THE PROCESS UNFOLD.
NOW THAT WE'RE DOWN TO A SMALLER NUMBER OF VOTES IN A FEW STATES.
I THINK THEY WANT THAT TO TRANSPIRE.
WHAT I'M NOT SURE OF IN TERMS OF WHERE PENNSYLVANIA WILL BE, HOW MUCH OF A MARGIN JOE BIDEN WILL HAVE SAY BY THE END OF THE DAY.
BY THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS TODAY.
BUT WE'LL SEE.
AND I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT HE WILL WIN THE STATE.
WHAT DO YOU WISH PRESIDENT TRUMP WOULD BE DOING NOW?
I MEAN, I KNOW THAT WE'VE HEARD HIM A COUPLE OF TIMES.
WE'VE HEARD AND REPORTED THAT HIS CLAIMS OF FRAUD AND THEFT AND GENERAL STEALING OF THE ELECTION ARE COMPLETELY BASELESS AND THERE'S NO EVIDENCE THAT THEY'VE PRESENTED.
WHAT TO YOU IS THE BIGGEST THREAT?
THE BIGGEST RISK TO THE COUNTRY BY THESE KINDS OF ALLEGATIONS AND ACCUSATIONS FROM THE PRESIDENT?
IT WOULD BE ONE THING, IT WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE TO MOST AMERICANS IF THE PRESIDENT, I'LL JUST NOT EVEN ADDRESS WHAT HE SAID LEADING UP TO ELECTION DAY WHERE HE WAS FORESHADOWING THIS KIND OF LIE ABOUT MAIL-IN BALLOTS AND THE PROCESS.
BUT LET'S SAY THAT AFTER THE ELECTION, HE BELIEVES THAT THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF SOME PROBLEMS THAT HE WANTED TO HAVE A COURT MAKE A JUDGMENT ABOUT.
IF HE DID THAT, BUT ENCAPSULATED THAT IN A BROADER STATEMENT ABOUT RESPECTING THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE, EMBRACING, OR COMPLYING WITH THE PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POWER, LANGUAGE LIKE THAT BURKS SAID I WANT TO THAT PURSUE THES ISSUES, OKAY.
BUT WHEN YOU HAVE NO EVIDENCE FOR THE, EITHER THE LAWSUIT YOU'RE BRINGING OR MULTIPLE LAWSUITS OR THE STATEMENTS YOU'RE MAKING, YOU'RE JUST UNDERMIGHT KNOW NOT JUST OUR SYSTEM OF VOTING BUT DEMOCRACY.
AND ULTIMATELY, NATIONAL SECURITY.
THE ONLY ONE WHO BENEFITS FROM THIS KIND OF CONDUCT BY THE PRESIDENT IS VLADIMIR PUTIN AND OTHERS LIKE HIM AROUND THE WORLD.
HE APPARENTLY, ACCORDING TO REPORTERS WHO ARE COVERING THE WHITE HOUSE, HAS NO PLANS TO CONCEDE.
MAYBE HE'LL HAVE TO IN THE END.
WE'LL SEE HOW IT TURNS OUT.
THE WORLD WAS RIVETED IN 2000.
HOW DO YOU ASSESS VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN'S CONSISTENT DAILY APPEARANCES IN PUBLIC TO GIVE HIS MESSAGES?
DO YOU THINK HE SORT OF IS CLAIMING THE REAL ESTATE?
NOT IN A SORT OF A, I GUESS, DO YOU THINK HE IS PUTTING HIMSELF THERE AND NOT LETTING ANOTHER NARRATIVE TAKE OVER?
I THINK THAT IS PART OF IT.
MY ASSESSMENT AS I WALK THROUGH THIS WITH HIM.
THAT'S MY ASSESSMENT OF HIM.
DURING THE CAMPAIGN, HE DEMONSTRATED EVEN AS A CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT, THE WAY A PRESIDENT SHOULD CONDUCT THEMSELVES.
NOW IN THE AFTERMATH OF ACTUAL VOTING, HE IS DEMONSTRATING HOW AT LEAST A PRESIDENT-ELECT SHOULD ACT, LET ALONE A PRESIDENT.
AND IT IS REALLY JARRING FOR PEOPLE, I THINK, WHEN THEY SEE THAT CONTRAST.
AND IN LARGE MEASURE, I THINK IT IS ONE OF THE MAJOR REASONS WHY HE WILL BE THE PRESIDENT-ELECT AND PRESIDENT TRUMP WILL BE AT THE END OF HIS TERM AS PRESIDENT.
ON THE GRAVE CRISIS, DOUBLE CRISIS AND THE ECONOMIC CALAMITY, ON A DAILY BASIS, THE COUNTRY SAW ONE CANDIDATE LEADING AND ARTICULATING HOW HE WOULD LEAD WERE HE TO WIN AND THAT WAS JOE BIDEN.
VERY DETAILED ECONOMIC PLAN.
WENT BACK TO IT.
YOU SEE WEEK AFTER WEEK, MONTH AFTER MONTH, AND AT A VERY DETAILED, CREDIBLE PLAN FOR THE VIRUS WITH THE APPROPRIATE COMMUNICATION THAT YOU NEED IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC.
SO I THINK A BOTH A CANDIDATE AND NOW TANTAMOUNT TO BREEKT.
AS PEOPLE WOULD EXPECT THE LEADER OF THE FREE WORLD TO ACT.
I WANT TO ASK TO YOU COMMENT ON WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID IN HIS LAST INTERVENTION OVERNIGHT.
HE SAID DETROIT AND PHILADELPHIA KNOWN AS TWO OF THE MOST CORRUPT POLITICAL PLACES ANYWHERE IN OUR COUNTRY EASILY, CANNOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENGINEERING THE OUTCOME OF A PRESIDENTIAL RACE.
AND SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM DOUBLED DOWN AND HE PILED ON SAYING, PHILADELPHIA ELECTIONS ARE CROOKED AS A SNAKE SAYING YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF DEAD PEOPLE VOTING.
WHAT IS YOUR REACTION?
THIS IS YOUR STATE.
WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THAT IS AT BEST, HOT AIR.
ON ANOTHER LEVEL, IN A VERY REAL WAY, IT'S RACIST.
PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS A LONG TRACK RECORD OF ATTACKING AMERICAN CITIES.
HE USES THE WORD DEMOCRAT BUT IT IS REALLY RACIST.
THIS IS AN ATTACK ON PEOPLE OF COLOR.
AND NUMBER TWO, IT IS EXCEEDINGLY DESPERATE.
THIS IS ACTS OF A DESPERATE CANDIDATE WHO IS LOSING POWER BECAUSE HE WON'T BE PRESIDENT ANY LONGER.
SO I THINK WE SHOULD EXPECT MORE BUT ULTIMATELY, THE CONSTITUTION WILL DETERMINE WHAT HAPPENS BETWEEN NOW AND NOT JUST NOW BUT BETWEEN NOW AND JANUARY OF 2021, BUT THERE AFTER.
IT'S CLEAR, TRUMP'S SUCCESS IN 2016 AND EVEN IN SOME OF THE STATES THAT HE'S WON, IS ABOUT REALLY BEING SORT OF CONSIDERED THE SAVIOR OF THE WORKING CLASS.
HE REALLY MADE THEN BELIEVE THAT HE WAS THEIR HERO AND THEY LOVE HIM.
WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT BIDEN, VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN, HAS DONE TO PULL AT LEAST, IT LOOKS LIKE, THE WAY THE TREND IS GOING, PENNSYLVANIA BACK.
IS IT WORKING CLASS?
WOMEN, AFRICAN-AMERICANS?
WHAT DO YOU THINK IT IS?
WELL, I THINK HE ASSEMBLED A BROAD COALITION.
FOR EXAMPLE, IN OUR STATE, JUST LOOKING AT IT GEOGRAPHICALLY, IN ORDER TO BE SUCCESSFUL, HE HAD TO GET A SUBSTANTIAL VOTE IN PHILADELPHIA AND THE FOUR SUBURBAN COUNTIES AROUND IT.
THEY'RE ABOUT A THIFRTD VOTE.
ABOUT 33% OF THE VOTE OR SO.
AND THEN THE OTHER BIG COMPONENT PART TO THAT VICTORY IS ALLEGHANY COUNTY WHERE PITTSBURGH IS, RIGHT OVER MY RIGHT SHOULDER.
THAT COUNTY ALONE IS IS ANOTHER 10% OR 11%. AND THAT IS A WINNING COALITION.
AND IT DOES HAVE A BROAD CROSS SECTION WHEN IT COMES TO THE MAKE-UP OF IT.
THEN YOU HAVE TO COMBINE THAT WITH A STRATEGY TO REDUCE MARGINS IN RURAL AREAS.
JOE BIDEN DID THAT IN A NUMBER OF RURAL AREAS.
NOT AS MUCH AS I WOULD HAVE HOPED TO MAKE IT STAY WIDER THAN IT LOOKS LIKE IT WOULD BE.
BUT HE TOOK SOME COUNTIES, VOTING FOR DONALD TRUMP IN 16.
HE WAS ABLE TO REDUCE THEM IN A LOT OF COUNTIES.
SO IT IS A WIN.
IT IS A TOUGH STATE TO WIN GENERALLY.
MUCH NOR DIFFICULT IN A PRESIDENTIAL RACE.
ARE YOU CONFIDENT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY CAN BE SEEN AS THE PARTY OF THE WORKING CLASS?
OR THE WAY PRESIDENT TRUMP AND HIS VOTERS BELIEVE, IS THAT IT IS A PARTY FOR THE ELITE, THE URBAN, FOR THE POLITICALLY CORRECT.
YOU HEAR WHAT THEY SAY.
DO YOU ACCEPT THAT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY NEEDS TO DO A LOT MORE WORK TO SHORE UP THEIR TRADITIONAL PROMISE AS A POLITICAL PARTY?
NO QUESTION.
I'VE TALKED TO MY COLLEAGUES ABOUT THIS.
BASICALLY, AFTER THE 2016 DEFEAT, A LOT OF PEOPLE WANTED TO IMPUTE TO THE CLINTON CAMPAIGN THIS PROBLEM OR THAT PROBLEM.
I THINK TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, WE LEARNED SOME GOOD LESSONS, HAS NOT LISTENED TO THE VOICE OF WORKING MEN AND WOMEN ENOUGH.
HASN'T PROPOSED POLICY OR ADVOCATED ON THEIR BEHALF ENOUGH.
I THINK WE GOT BETTER AT MAKING SURE THAT CONNECTION WAS THERE.
WE'RE USUALLY ON THEIR SIDE.
ALSO I THINK WE CAN SAY CLEARLY, I HOPE THIS GOT THROUGH CLEARLY.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PRESIDENT'S RECORD.
A TAX BILL, THE MULTINATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND RICH PEOPLE TO THE DETRIMENT OF WORKING FOLKS, AND ALSO, POLICIES ON THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD, APPOINTING A CORPORATE MAJORITY.
APPOINTING CORPORATE JUSTICES TO THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT.
IT COULD LITERALLY AT SOME POINT IN THE NEAR FUTURE TAKE AWAY THE RIGHT TO ORGANIZE.
SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MAKING THE CASE AGAINST WHAT THEY'RE DOING BUT ALSO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE LISTENING TO AND EMBRACING THE CONCERNS OF WORKING MEN AND WOMEN.
SO LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT A HEALING PROCESS.
THE WHOLE WORLD IS FOCUSING ON ONE THING.
AND THAT IS THE EVIDENCE DIVISION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
AND YOU KNOW, CAN A PRESIDENT DO ANYTHING, PARTICULARLY IF HE DOESN'T HAVE THE SENATE.
YOU KNOW THE SENATE REALLY, REALLY WELL.
YOU KNOW MITCH McCONNELL REALLY, REALLY WELL.
YOU KNOW BIDEN REALLY, REALLY WELL.
HE'S A CONSENSUS BUILDER.
IS HE GOING TO GET A HEARING FROM PEOPLE LIKE MITCH McCONNELL?
OR IS IT GOING TO BE A ONE-TERM PRESIDENT LIKE THEY DID WHEN OBAMA WAS ELECTED?
WELL, TO ANALYZE MY HEART OR MY GUT.
I HOPE THE MAJORITY THAT HE WOULD GIVE HIM THE HEARING.
I THINK IT IS MORE LIKE REPLY JOE BIDEN WOULD GIVE HIM A HEARING THAN SOME OTHER CANDIDATES WHO ARE RUNNING BUT IT WILL BE DIFFICULT.
AND MITCH McCONNELL PUT UP A BLOCKADE LAST TIME.
AT SOME POINT WE'LL HAVE TO ENGAGE IN A HAD CONSENSUS AND JUST GET THE VOTES AND ROLL OVER THEM.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
THE WRITING MAY BE ON THE WALL.
THE TRUMP TEAM AS WE'VE SAID IS NOT WILLING TO SEMIIT YET.
THEY'RE WAGING LEGAL WARFARE, CITING BASELESS CLAIMS OF FRAUD.
WE THINK WE WILL WIN THE ELECTION EASILY.
WE THINK THERE WILL BE A LOT OF LITIGATION.
WE HAVE SO MUCH EVIDENCE.
SO MUCH PROOF.
AND IT WILL ENDS UP PERHAPS AT THE HIGHEST COURT IN THE LAND.
ONE OF THE FOREMOST ELECTION LAW EXPERTS.
HE'S THE FORMER HEAD OF THE FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION AND HE NOW RUNS CAMPAIGN LEGAL CENTER WHICH SUPPORTS VOTERS' RIGHTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
HE JOINS US FROM MARSHALL, VIRGINIA.
WELCOME BACK TO THE PROGRAM.
WE SPOKE TO YOU BEFORE THE ELECTION ABOUT THIS.
NOW WE HEAR WHAT IS HAPPENING IN REAL-TIME.
ALL THESE THREATS OF LITIGATION WILL BE A LOT OF LITIGATION.
MAYBE TO THE SUPREME COURT.
BASED ON WHAT YOU SEE NOW, WHAT YOU'VE HEARD FROM ALL THE RELEVANT STATES OFFICIALS.
WHERE DO YOU THINK THIS HAS A CHANCE OF GOING?
WELL, I THINK MAYBE THE BEST ANALOGY AT THIS STAGE IS THAT THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN FEES THE WALLS CLOSING IN ON THEM.
THE OPPORTUNITIES TO WIN STATES ARE SLIPPING AWAY.
BIDEN IS ON THE VERGE OF AN ELECTORAL COLLEGE MAJORITY WHICH I THINK WE WILL SEE THE PRESS WILL DECLARE WITHIN THE NEXT DAY.
SO THEY'RE TRYING EVERY DOOR, EVERY WINDOW, TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY EXITS FROM THIS BOX.
THEY'RE DOING WHAT ANY GOOD CAMPAIGN LAWYER WOULD DO.
TRYING TO LOOK FOR PROBLEMS IN THE STATES WHERE THE VOTE COUNTS ARE NOW FAVORING BIDEN.
NONE OF THESE ARE WHAT I WOULD CALL MAJOR ISSUES.
I THINK THE HOPE IS THAT AS THEY TRY ONE AND THEN ANOTHER, THEY'LL FIND SOMETHING MIGHT WORK.
THE CLOCK IS AGAINST THEM.
IT IS ONE THING TO SLOW THE COUNT DOWN OR TO STOP THE COUNT BY SAYING WE NOTED MORE OBSERVERS IN THE ROOMS THAN THERE ARE.
BUT THAT TACTIC HASN'T WORKED.
THEY'VE TRIED THAT AND BEEN REJECTED BY A NUMBER OF JUDGES.
AND THEY'RE GOING TO RUN OUT OF TIE.
ONCE THE FINAL BALLOT IS COUNTED, IT IS MUCH HARDER TO UNSCRAP BL THOSE EGGS.
SO LET ME PUT THIS TO YOU.
THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN LAWYER SAID, ROBERT BECAUER.
THIS IS PART OF A BROADER MISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN.
IT IS LIKE A TACTIC TO KEEP SHAKING THE FOUNDATION OF THE CREDIBILITY AND THE FACE IN THE ELECTION SYSTEM.
DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT?
DO YOU THINK THAT'S AN UNDERLYING REASON?
PERHAPS LAYING THE TABLE FOR A PUT TO TRUMPISM?
ONE OF THEM IS THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID HE WOULD BE IN THE SUPREME COURT THE NEXT MORNING WHICH WAS NOT POSSIBLE.
I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF LOYAL TRUMP WORKERS WHO ARE TRYING TO DO THEIR BEST TO SHOW THE PRESIDENT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO SOMETHING.
THEY'RE TRYING TO PRODUCE THOSE LAWSUITS.
THEY'RE NOT GOING ON CHANGE THE ELECTION.
BUT I THINK THEY'RE DOING IT BECAUSE IT WILL PLEASE THEIR BOSS.
IT FEEDS HIS NARRATIVE THAT THERE IS FRAUD AND CORRUPTION AND HE CAN'T POSSIBLY HAVE LOST IN ANY RATIONAL WAY, SO THERE MUST BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE ELECTION PROCESS.
AND THAT GOES TO WHAT BOB BAUER IS TALKING ABOUT.
I TILL BELIEVE THEY'RE LUOOKING.
BUT BEYOND THAT, BOB BAUER IS RIGHT.
THEY'RE LOOKING TO DELEGITIMIZE A BIDEN VICTORY.
THEY'RE LOOKING TO FURTHER THE TRUMP CLAIM THAT HE REALLY WAS THE CHOICE OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, WHICH WOULD PRESUMABLY PUT HIM IN A BETTER POSITION POST ELECTION TO REMAIN A VOICE IN AMERICAN POLITICS.
IF HE'S BEEN SOUNDLY REPUTE '80, HE NEEDS A NARRATIVE THAT SAYS I WASN'T REPUDIATED BY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
JUST BY SOMETHING THAT WENT WRONG IN THE COUNTING PROCESS.
HE WASN'T ACTUALLY TOTALLY REPUDIATED ANYWAY.
EVEN NOW, IT'S STILL CLOSE.
OBVIOUSLY BIDEN STILL HAS MANY MILLIONS MORE OF THE POPULAR VOTE RIGHT NOW AND MAY GET MORE.
NONETHELESS, WITH THE ECONOMY, SKYROCKETING DEATHS WITH CORONAVIRUS, HE STILL HAS A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR HIM SO.
I WANT TO ASK WHAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY'S POSITION SHOULD BE.
YOU SAID HIS LAWYERS, HIS PEOPLE.
THEY WANT TO FLATTER HIM.
CALM HIM DOWN.
TRY TO MAKE THE BOSS PLEASED WITH HIM.
SOME ARE PUSHING BACK AGAINST THE TIKE DEMOCRACY.
HE HASN'T DIRECTLY SPOKEN OUT.
HE HAS SAID A FEW THINGS.
EVERY LEGAL VOTE SHOULD BE COUNTED.
ANY ILLEGALLY SUBMITTED BALLOTS MUST BE.
ALL SIDES MUST GET TO OBSERVE THE PROCESS AND THE COURTS ARE HERE TO APPLY THE LAW AND RESOLVE DISPUTES.
THAT'S HOW AMERICANS DECIDE.
IS THAT ENOUGH?
ARE THERE ENOUGH, I WANT TO SAY GROWN-UPS, I SHOULD NOT, EXPERIENCED, PATRIOTIC REPUBLICANS WHO ARE COMING OUT, DO YOU THINK?
WELL, I THINK THE NEXT STEP WILL COME AFTER THE FINAL VOTES ARE COUNTED IN ARIZONA, NEVADA, GEORGIA, PENNSYLVANIA, AND IF IT APPEARS AS THE CURRENT TREND LINES THAT BIDEN HAS WON NOT JUST A MAJORITY OF 270 IN THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE, BUT IF ALL THOSE STATES IN WHICH HE'S LEADING STILL REMAIN IN HIS COLUMN, HE'LL BE OVER 300.
HE MAY HAVE MORE VOTES THAN TRUMP DID LAST TIME IN THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE.
AND AS YOU POINTED OUT, HE'S CURRENTLY AT 6 MILLION POPULAR VOTES AHEAD OF TRUMP AND THAT WILL GROW BECAUSE A LOT OF THE CALIFORNIA VOTES WHICH ARE NOT DEMOCRATIC ARE NOT YET IN.
SO IN THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES, YOU WILL SEE A REAL CHANGE ONCE THE PRESS IS RUNNING HEADLINES SAYING, BIDEN WINS ELECTORAL COLLEGE.
THAT'S A SOLID MAJORITY.
EVEN IF SOME OF THOSE STATES ARE VERY CLOSE AND WILL BE SUBJECT TO LEGAL RECOUNTS.
SO THERE WILL STILL BE SOME DOUBT AS TO WHETHER RECOUNTS WOULD CHANGE ANYTHING.
BUT THEY USUALLY DON'T.
THEY'RE JUST RUNNING THE BALLOTS THROUGH MACHINE AGAIN.
WISCONSIN LAST TIME.
CLINTON HAD A RECOUNT AND SHE GAINED 200 VOTES.
SHE WAS BEHIND 20,000.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT TRUMP IS BEHIND NOW.
SO I WOULDN'T EXPECT THE RECOUNTS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
WHAT I THINK YOU WILL SEE ONCE THERE IS A CONSENSUS THAT BIDEN IS GOING TO WIN THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE, IS THEN A CHANGE IN TONE FROM REPUBLICAN WHO'S WILL BEGIN TO TURN THE CORNER AND LOOK TO THE FUTURE.
THEY'RE NEVER GOING TO ATTACK TRUMP.
BECAUSE HIS VOTERS ARE THE BASE OF THE PARTY NOW.
AND THEY ARE NSENATORS' VOTERS, TOO.
THEY WILL SAY WE NEED TO LET THE RECOUNT PROCESS CONTINUE BUST WE'LL HAVE A TRANSITION, AN ORDERLY TRANSFER OF GOVERNMENT.
I DON'T THINK YOU'LL HAVE PEOPLE ESSENTIALLY SAYING, WE DON'T TRUST THE ELECTION RESULTS AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO ABIDE BY THEM.
LET ME ASK BUT THE ORDERLY TRANSITION.
IT IS NOT WRITTEN DOWN BUT THERE IS TRADITIONALLY A CONCESSION SPEECH BY THE LOSER AND IT HAS BEEN DONE VERY GRACEFULLY BY MANY PRESIDENTS IN THE PAST.
SENATOR McCAIN GAVE A CONCESSION SPEECH WHEN HE LOST TO PRESIDENT OBAMA THAT TIME AROUND.
AND THIS IS WHAT HE SAID.
A LITTLE WHILE AGO, I HAD THE HONOR OF CALLING SENATOR BARACK OBAMA TO CONGRATULATE HIM.
PLEASE.
TO CONGRATULATE HIM BEING ELECTED THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE COUNTRY THAT WE BOTH LOVE.
SENATOR OBAMA AND I HAVE HAD AND ARGUED OUR DIFFERENCES AND HE HAS PREVAILED.
NO DOUBT MANY OF THOSE DIFFERENCES REMAIN.
THESE ARE DIFFICULT TIMES FOR OUR COUNTRY.
AND I PLEDGE TO HIM TONIGHT TO DO ALL IN MY POWER TO HELP HIM LEAD US THROUGH THE MANY CHALLENGES WE FACE.
SO OVER THAT STATEMENT, YOU SAW PICTURES OF HIS VOTERS.
AND I WAS FASCINATED ABOUT HOW THEY WERE LISTENING TO HIM GIVE THOSE WORDS.
YOU WERE HIS CHIEF COUNSEL.
DO YOU ENVISION THE TONE, THE REALITY WHEN IT SETS IN, NO MATTER WHO LOSES, WILL MAKE A SPEECH?
LET'S SAY IF PRESIDENT TRUMP LOSES.
WILL MAKE THAT KIND OF NECESSARY SPEECH INDICATING THE PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POWER?
SO I WAS ACTUALLY ABOUT 20 FEET AWAY FROM SENATOR McCAIN WHEN HE GAVE THAT SPEECH.
HIS DAUGHTER MEGHAN McCAIN TWEETED IT, RETWEETED IT YESTERDAY.
AND I WATCHED IT AGAIN.
AND I HAD A TEAR IN MY EYE.
AND I'M NOT THAT SENTIMENTAL.
2 A BEAUTIFUL SPEECH PULLING THE COUNTRY TOGETHER.
AND YOU CORRECTLY NOTE THAT IS THE AMERICAN TRADITION.
BUT IT IS NOT REQUIRED BY LAW IN ANY MEANS.
WE ARE TOLD THAT WHEN HERBERT HOOVER WAS TURNING OVER THE COUNTRY TO FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT, HOOVER WAS SO ANGRY WITH ROOSEVELT THAT HE DIDN'T SAY A WORD FOR THE ENTIRE 20-MINUTE RIDE IN THE CAR TO THE CAPITOL WHEN THEY RODE TOGETHER.
SO WE'VE HAD IT BOTH WAYS.
IT'S NOT LEGALLY REQUIRED.
I GUESS TRUMP HAS BROKEN A LOT OF TRADITIONS IN THIS PRESIDENCY AND I WOULD BE SURPRISED IF HE GAVE ANYTHING LIKE A GRACE HAVE WILL CONCESSION SPEECH WISHING VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN WELL.
BUT THAT ISN'T WHAT A TRANSITION NEED BE.
THE TRANSITION AT THAT LEVEL, OBVIOUSLY, IS THE SWEARING IN OF THE NEW PRESIDENT ON JANUARY 20.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, THOUGH, IT IS THE ORDERLY TRANSFER OF THE BUSINESS OF GOVERNMENT IN ALL OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH DEPARTMENT.
SO THE NEW PEOPLE WHEN THEY COME IN KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING.
PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT IN THE NATIONAL SECURITY SIDE OF THINGS, THAT THEY CAN SEAMLESSLY STEP IN.
AND THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION DID ALL OF THAT FOR THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND OFFERED THEM BRIEFINGS.
AND HE DID EVERYTHING THEY COULD TO MAKE SURE THERE WERE NO GAPS, AS ONE GROUP LEFT GOVERNMENT AND THE OTHER CAME IN.
IT IS THE WHOLE SENIOR END OF THE ADMINISTRATION.
NOT JUST THE CABINET BUT THE UNITED STATES, AS YOU KNOW.
SOME DOWN FOUR AND FIVE LEVELS WILL LEAVE.
SO I HOPE THE CABINET THAT'S THE UNDERSTAND THAT HOWEVER UNHAPPY THEIR BOSS IS WITH THE ELECTION OUTCOME, THEY HAVE A DUTY TO THE COUNTRY TO ENSURE THAT THE TRANSITION IS SMOOTH AND THAT THERE IS NO SORT OF BURNING OF THE BRIDGES, AS THEY LEAVE.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE VERY DAMAGING TO THE COUNTRY AS A WHOLE.
TO BOTH PARTIES.
INDEED.
TREVOR POTTER, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.
THE YOUTH VOTE IS PROVING CRUCIAL IN THIS YEAR'S ELECTION AND THIS COPS AS AMERICA'S YOUNG ARE LEADING A NEW WAVE OF POLITICAL ACTIVISM.
MOST FAMOUSLY BRINGING MORE THAN A MILLION PEOPLE TO THE STREETS DEMANDING GUN REFORM IN THE 2018 MARCH FOR OUR LIVES.
I WAS THINKING ABOUT HOW WE'LL GET OUT, IF HE WAS GOING TO COULD THAT BACK.
WAS I GOING TO DIE.
I REMEMBER LOOKING UP.
I'M GOING TO DO THAT.
THE STUDENTS ARE BOUND TO WORK TOGETHER ON THE GUN ISSUE.
THAT'S ALL WE EVER WANTED IN THE FIRST PLACE, TO BE LISTENED TO.
SO STRANGE.
WHAT IF WE GOT TO CHANGE IT?
YOU TELL ME THAT YOU WILL NOT ACCEPT A SINGLE DONATION.
THE NATIONWIDE WALKOUT INSPIRED.
TALK ABOUT IT.
ANOTHER THING TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
WE'RE SEEING A REAL MOVEMENT HERE.
THERE ARE 800 EVENTS ON EVERY CONTINENT EXCEPT ANTARCTICA TODAY.
IT IS MY OBLIGATION TO TELL PEOPLE WHAT THE YOUNG POPULATION CARES ABOUT.
> A NEW DOCUMENTARY US KIDS TELLS THE STORY.
OUR NEXT GUESTS ARE TWO STARS OF THE MOVIE AND THE MOVEMENT.
ALEX KING WHO LOST HIS NEPHEW TO GUN VIOLENCE, AND DAVID HOGG, A SURVIVOR OF THE PARKLAND SHOOTING AT STONEMAN DOUGLAS HIGH SCHOOL IN FEBRUARY 2018.
AND HERE THEY ARE, SPEAKING TO HARI SREENIVASAN ABOUT THE FUTURE OF YOUTH ACTIVISM.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.
FIRST, FOR PEOPLE WHO MIGHT NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH HOW YOU TWO ARE CONNECTED, DIFFERENT STORIES HERE.
PEOPLE MIGHT BE FAMILIAR WITH YOUR FACE OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS.
ALEX, HOW ARE YOU INVOLVED?
WELL, I WAS AT THE PARK WHERE IT HAPPENED.
TWO TO THREE WEEKS AFTER THE PEACE WARRIORS THAT I WORK IN MY SCHOOL, THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT I'M WITH, WENT DOWN THERE TO JUST BASICALLY, UNDERSTANDING, COMING WITH THE UNDERSTANDING, COMING FROM CHICAGO.
WE ENDURE.
WE SEE GUN VIOLENCE AT A HIGHER RATE.
JUST STARTING LIKE THAT.
COMING OFF, EXPERIENCING, WE UNDERSTAND.
THIS HAPPENS TO US DAILY.
HOW CAN WE COME TOGETHER AND MAKE SURE THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN?
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU SET OUT TO DO.
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE THIS SOMETHING BEYOND A SINGULAR MOMENT.
YEAH.
I THINK THE WAY WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT WAS BY REACHING OUT TO PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
WE REALIZED THERE IS NO COMMUNITY OTHER THAN PARKLAND.
BY RECEIVING OUT TO THE COMMUNITIES, THE PEOPLE LIKE ALEX, RIGHT THERE.
IT IS ENCOURAGING TO US.
HOPEFULLY SHARE THE SPOTLIGHT.
IT IS AN ISSUE AROUND INJUSTICE.
AND IT IS AN ISSUE WHEN THIS HAPPENED.
IT HAPPENS EVERY DAY IN PLACES LIKE CHICAGO THAT DON'T GET COVERED AS MASS SHOOTINGS.
THERE'S NOT MUCH MORE THERE.
SO I THINK THE WAY WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO TURN THIS IN FROM A MOMENT INTO A MOVEMENT, WORKING WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR DECADES BUT RARELY GET ANY OF THE CREDIT.
ESPECIALLY THE BLACK AND BROWN WOMEN THAT STARTED THE MOVEMENT DECADES AGO.
AND THAT'S WHY IT HAS TURNED INTO A MOVEMENT.
THE GROUNDWORK THEY'VE LAID.
WE'RE JUST WORKING WITH THEM.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR STORY.
WHAT MADE THIS SO PRO FOUND THAT YOU DEDICATED SO MUCH OF YOUR LIFE TO THIS?
SO I WAS WITH PEACE WARRIORS SINCE LIKE MY SOPHOMORE YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL.
THAT WAS BACK, OH, TAKING ME BACK DOWN MEMORY LANE.
THEN I LOST MY NEPHEW AND THAT PUSHED ME DEEP ENTIRE MY WORK.
BECAUSE IT HIT HOME FOR ME.
A LOT OF PEOPLE, I NOTICED PEOPLE DON'T REACT UNTIL IT HITS HOME.
ME KNOWING I WAS DOING THIS, THAN TO HAVE THIS IN FLORIDA.
ON VALENTINE'S DAY.
ONE OF THE MOST LOVING DAYS IN THE WORLD.
NOTHING BUT LOVE SHOULD BE HAPPENING.
IT WAS INSANE.
JUST THINKING ABOUT THAT.
THINKING ABOUT MY EMOTIONS DURING THAT TIME.
I WASN'T EVEN THERE.
I WAS TRYING TO PUT MYSELF INSIDE EVERYBODY'S SHOES.
HOW COULD YOU LET THIS HAPPEN AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.
I KNOW THAT THERE WAS PAIN EVERYWHERE.
ESPECIALLY CLOSER TO THE SITUATION.
SO HOW I COULD HELP WAS THAT WAS MY MIND SET.
HOW DID YOU ORGANIZE THIS?
THE MOVIE IN SOME WAYS, IT'S A BIT LIKE A ROADY MOVIE GOING ON TOUR WITH A BAND.
IT WAS YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS.
IT WASN'T A CELEBRATORY EVENT BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
HOW DID YOU DECIDE TO SAY, GET ON THE BUS.
IN THOSE CITIES, DECIDING FROM THERE AND ASKING IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO GO ON TOUR WITH US.
IT WAS LIKE TWO DAYS.
IT ENDED UP BEING LIKE TWO MONTHS.
BUT YEAH.
WE INVITED THEM ON.
IT WAS VERY, IT WAS VERY SPUR OF THE MOMENT, I GUESS YOU COULD SAY.
BUT YEAH.
IT WAS AN INTERESTING THING.
THE PEOPLE IN POWER TODAY WANT NOTHING MORE THAN FOR US TO BE DIVIDED.
OUR UNITY IS THEIR GREATEST FEAR.
BECAUSE THE WHEN THE BLACK INNER CITY FROM MILWAUKEE COPS WELL A KID FROM MARYLAND STAND TOGETHER IN UNITY.
WHEN THEY JOIN UP WITH KIDS FROM CHICAGO, HOUSTON, PARKLAND.
WHEN YOUNG PEOPLE FROM EVERY RACE WE HAVE TO BE ISOLATED FROM EACH OTHER AND AFRAID OF EACH OTHER --
YOU KNOW THERE IS A NEW AND UNSETTLING FORCE FOR CHANGE IN THIS COUNTRY.
YOU KNOW WE'RE GOING TO WIN.
THANK IN A WAY, I WAS WATCHING THE FILM.
IT OCCURRED TO ME THAT I HAVE NOT SEEN IN SUCH A WAY THE MENTAL HEALTH IMPACT ON CHILDREN THE WAY THAT I SAW IT PLAY OUT BETWEEN THIS GROUP OF CHILDREN.
I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THIS IS HAPPENING TO THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN.
IN THE CASE OF CHICAGO, LOST FRIENDS ON THE STREETS.
I DON'T THINK THAT MOST OF THE AUDIENCE UNDERSTANDS THE LEVEL OF PAIN THAT, THE TRAUMA THAT YOU'RE DEALING WITH TRYING TO BE THE PUBLIC FACE.
PEOPLE WHO DISAGREE VEHEMENTLY WITH YOU AND IN SOME CASES, WANT TO DO YOU HARM.
AT THE SAME TIME YOU LOST YOUR FRIENDS.
I TALKED TO THEM ABOUT THIS.
OUR ENTIRE GENERATION IS TRAUMATIZED.
GUN VIOLENCE IN THE SHORT TERM OR CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE LONG TERM.
THAT'S WHY WE'VE SEEN A RESURGENCE IN YOUTH VOTING AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.
IT IS NOT A GOOD TIME IN OUR COUNTRY WHEN YOUNG PEOPLE ARE VOTING IN MASSIVE NUMBERS.
IT MEANS THINGS HAVE GOTTEN REALLY BAD AND THEY'RE TERRIFIED FOR THEIR FUTURES.
I LOVE YOUNG PEOPLE VOTING AND I THINK IT IS GREAT.
I DON'T THINK IT IS A GOOD SIGN A LOT OF THE TIME.
ELECTED OFFICIALS HAVE FAILED TO PROTECT OUR MOST VALUABLE RESOURCE AS A NATION.
OUR CHILDREN.
AND OUR CHILDREN THEMSELVES ARE HAVING TO MOBILIZE.
THIS IS CRAZY.
DON'T FORGET A PANDEMIC.
YEAH.
EVEN IF I HAD ZERO HOME, I STILL WON'T STOP.
THIS IN ITSELF, ACTIVISM IN ITS OWN WAY CAN BE ITS OWN FORM OF HEALING.
IF DONE IMPROPERLY, IT CAN BE A FORM OF TRAUMA IN SOME WAYS.
IT IS INCREDIBLY HELPFUL TO KNOW I'M NOT ALONE.
ESPECIALLY WHEN WE WENT ON TOUR.
WHERE WE SAW A SURGERY IN YOUTH VOTER TURNOUT.
ESPECIALLY FOR BLACK AND BROWN YOUTH.
NONE OF US WERE ALONE IN THIS.
AND OUR GENERATION HAS GONE THROUGH A LOT AND WE'LL FACE A LOT FROM HAVING TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE, GUN VIOLENCE TO RACIAL INJUSTICE.
WE HAVE SHOWN THAT WE DO KNOW HOW TO COME TOGETHER AND REALIZE THAT EVEN IF THERE IS AN ISSUE THAT IMPACTS US IN THE SAME WAY, WE CARE ABOUT EACH OTHER BECAUSE WE'RE HUMAN BEINGS.
WE'RE ALL AMERICANS AT THE END OF THE DAY.
SO I GUESS IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT GIVES ME HOPE, OVER THE PAST YEAR, TALKING TO OTHERS, AND I FEEL LIKE, I HOPE IT IS NOT NECESSARY.
I'M READY TO BE IN THIS FOR THE LONG HAUL.
HOW DO YOU STAY OPTIMISTIC?
IN CHICAGO, ABCTS OF GUN VIOLENE ARE UP ALMOST 60%. HERE YOU ARE YEAR AFTER YEAR, WORKING ON THIS.
HOW DO WE GET THE MESSAGE THAT YOU ARE TRYING TO WORK FOR EVERY DAY OUT?
I HONESTLY, THINGS LIKE THIS, CONTINUING TO SHARE THE SPOTLIGHT.
LOCATING, TALKING ABOUT THE PIECES, THE GROUPS INSIDE YOUR COMMUNITIES, STUFF LIKE THAT.
A LOT OF COMMUNITIES INSIDE CHICAGO THAT PEOPLE MAY NOT CARE ABOUT THAT ARE DOING GOOD.
IT IS ONE OF THE ORGANIZATIONS I'M WITH FOCUS ON GOING TO SCHOOLS, TEACHING OTHERS TO MAKE VIOLENCE THE LAST RESOURCE, IF NOT ANY RESOURCE.
ANOTHER ONE, GOOD KIDS, MAD CITY, IS ANOTHER ORGANIZATION THAT I'M A PART OF.
BASICALLY, THAT GOES INSIDE THE COMMUNITY.
TRYING TO BUILD RESOURCES INSIDE THE COMMUNITY.
DEFUNDING POLICE.
TAKING THOSE FUNDS FROM POLICE AND BRINGING THEM INTO OUR COMMUNITY.
A LOT OF ABANDONED BUILDINGS THAT I WALK PAST DAILY.
IT'S A LOT OF TENTS THAT I SEE DAILY OF HOMELESS.
THESE BUILDINGS COULD BE SHELTERS.
THEY COULD BE WORKING.
A LOT OF THINGS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT COULD BE CHANGED.
AND I STAY HOPEFUL AND OPTIMISTIC.
WE HAVE ALREADY OVERCOME SO MUCH.
THERE WAS A POINT IN TIME WHERE WE HAD CHANGE WRAPPED AROUND OUR FEET, OUR ARMS.
BUT NOW, WE HAVE THE FREEDOM TO GET TO VOTE.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MY BLACK AND BROWN YOUTH.
YOUTH ALONE ARE MORE CRAZY WHEN THE BALLOTS VOTE AND EVERYTHING.
BLACK AND BROWN YOUTH, THE NUMBERS ARE SPIKED.
I LIKE THE FEELING THAT OUR VOICE MATTERS.
A LOT OF US FEEL LIKE OUR VOICE DIDN'T MATTER.
THAT OUR VOTE DIDN'T COUNT.
BUT NOW COMING UP, WE SEE THAT WE DO MATTER.
WE DO COUNT.
WE GO CREATE CHANGE.
WE'RE TALKING NOW AND PERHAPS BY THE TIME THIS AIRS LATER, WE WILL HAVE AN ELECTION RESULT.
WHEN YOU SEE THIS POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT THAT WE'RE IN, WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT YOU LOOK AT AS THE ACHIEVEMENT THAT'S YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO CAPTURE AND SAY, THIS IS FUEL THAT WILL KEEP US GOING FURTHER?
YEAH.
FIRST WE MET A WOMAN ON TOUR WHO WAS RUNNING ON STATE LEGISLATURE.
SHE DECIDED TO RUN FOR CONGRESS.
SHE WAS RUNNING BECAUSE SHE LOST SOMEONE IN THE HORRIFIC ACT OF GUN VIOLENCE.
AND SHE WON IN A HIGHLY COMPETITIVE DISTRICT IN GEORGIA.
HER DISTRICT, THE CONGRESSWOMAN, SHE JUST GOT REELECTED.
IT WAS $100,000 OVER THE COURSE OF A WEEK.
I WAS ABLE TO DO IT BECAUSE OF THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ONLINE THAT CHIPPED IN.
AND I THINK WHAT WE'RE DOING THROUGH PEOPLE LIKE HER, THROUGH PEOPLE LIKE MARK KELLY WHO ARE JUST ABOUT TO GET ELECTED.
I THINK THEY WILL.
AND JOHN HICKENLOOPER AND OTHERS.
GUN VIOLENCE IS A WINNING ISSUE.
THIS IS NO LONGER AN ISSUE THAT YOU'LL LOSE OVER.
IF YOU LOSE, IT'S BECAUSE OF SOMETHING ELSE.
NOT GUN PREVENTION.
WE'VE REALLY BUILT UP A MAJOR MOVEMENT BEHIND IT.
THE OTHER THING THAT MADE ME REALLY PROUD.
WE'VE GOT A LOT MORE FUNDING.
GETTING FUNDING FOR NIH RESEARCH.
IT IS A BIG STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
I THINK THE LAST TIME I COUNTED, THERE'S SOMETHING LIKE EIGHT FULL TIME RESEARCHERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
AND THAT'S CRAZY.
FOR PEOPLE WHO DIE EVERY YEAR IN CAR CRASHES, MORE THAN THAT, THEY HAVE THEIR OWN GOVERNMENT, THE TRANSPORTATION ADMINISTRATION.
THEY VOTED ON THIS ISSUE.
AND I'VE PEN REALLY EXCITED TO SEE YOUNG PEOPLE TURN OUT ONCE AGAIN.
I'M EXCITED TO SEE WAYS OF FOCUSING ON PREVENTION.
THEY'RE FOCUSED ON GETTING COMMUNITIES AND RESOURCES THEY NEED TO STOP YOUNG PEOPLE FROM PICKING UP A GUN IN THE FIRST POLICE.
ALEX, WHAT IS ODD IS THAT IN WAYS WE'RE PUTTING THIS ON YOUR GENERATION TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT OUR GENERATION DIDN'T DEAL WITH.
WE'RE LOOKING TO YOUR GENERATION TO BRING THE COUNTRY TOGETHER AFTER WE DIVIDED IT WORSE THAN IT HAS EVER BEEN.
CAN YOU DO IT?
I FEEL LIKE WE CAN PUT IT IN A BETTER, LEAVE IT FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.
WE CAN LEAVE IT BETTER THAN IT IS NOW.
AND I FEEL LIKE THAT'S HOW IT ALWAYS SHOULD HAVE BEEN.
I FEEL LIKE, WE WON'T GET 100% OF THE WORK DONE.
YOU'LL NEVER HAVE 100% OF THE WORLD ON YOUR SIDE.
THE WAY WE LEAVE IT SHOULD BE BETTER THAN THE WAY WE STARTED IT.
WHEN WE PASS IT DOWN TO THE NEXT GENERATION, THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE TO DO AS MUCH WORK AS WE HAD TO DO WEST SHOULDN'T HAVE HAD TO DO AS MUCH WORK BECAUSE THE GENERATION BEFORE US SHOULD HAVE TAKEN THE STEPS.
TO WHERE WE, US KIDS, WE WERE 17, 18 WHEN THIS WAS GOING ON.
WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PUT ON THE BIG BOOTS, PUT ON THE PANTS.
WE SHOULD HAVE HAD THE TIME TO ENJOY OUR CHILDHOOD WEST ALWAYS TALK ABOUT GROWING UP FAST.
WE WERE PUT IN A PREDICTAMENT T GROW UP FAST.
THEN THE TABLES TURN AND WE'RE TOLD TO STAY IN OUR PLACE.
HOW CAN YOU EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE ME AS A CHILD WHEN YOU SHOW ME AS A PUBLIC FIGURE, NOTHING ABOUT ACTIVISM SAYS KID.
NOTHING.
SO TO WHERE WE'RE DOING A GREAT JOB.
BUT IT'S STILL, WE'RE STILL GOING TO HAVE WORK TO DO.
REGARDLESS OF WHO THE PRESIDENT IS.
WHO HE WILL BE IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.
IT WILL STILL BE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
WE'LL DO IT.
THE NEXT GENERATION WON'T HAVE TO WORK AS HARD AS WE HAD TO.
ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.
THE FILM IS CALLED US KIDS.
THANKS.
THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
AND THE US KIDS DOCUMENTARY IS AVAILABLE NATIONWIDE NOW ON VIRTUAL CINEMA.
AND FINALLY AS WE GO THROUGH WHAT IS ARGUABLY ONE OF THE MOST GRIPPING AND UNSETTLING ELECTIONS IN AMERICAN HISTORY.
THE UNCERTAINTY AND THE UNPRECEDENTED AMOUNT OF TIME IT HAS TAKEN FOR FINAL RESULTS HAS SENT STRESS LEVELS ROCKETING UP.
THERE IS AN ACTUAL FIELD AROUND THE PSYCHOLOGY OF WAITING AND HOW TO PROTECT OUR MENTAL HEALTH IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES.
AND LORI GOTTLIEB IS THE EXPERT.
PSYCHO THERAPYIST AND BEST SELLING AUTHOR, SHE JOINS ME NOW.
I AM REALLY FASCINATED.
I KNOW THERE IS THERAPY FOR EVERYTHING.
FOR THE STRESS OF WAITING, THAT'S NEW TO ME.
TELL ME HOW SIGNIFICANT THAT IS AND WHAT YOU'RE HEARING FROM PATIENTS IN THE LAST FEW DAYS.
RIGHT.
I THINK THE DIFFICULTY WITH WAITING IS THAT IT BRINGS UP A LOT OF ANXIETY.
AND THERE ARE TWO TIMES.
PRODUCTIVE ANXIETY WHICH IS WHEN WE'RE MOTIVATED TO TAKE ACTION.
AND THEN UNPRODUCTIVE ANXIETY WHICH IS WHAT HAPPENS IN WAITING.
THE OBSESSIVE ROOM NATION.
WORRYING ABOUT THING THAT HAVEN'T HAPPENED AND MAY NOT HAPPEN AND YOU JUST KEEP SPINNING IN YOUR THOUGHTS.
WHAT DO YOU ADVISE PATIENTS?
I'M NOT ASKING TO YOU SPEAK OUT OF TURN BUT PEOPLE KNEW THIS WOULD HAPPEN.
IT WAS BEING TELEGRAPHED FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.
THERE WILL BE THIS COUNT AND THEN SEVERAL DAYS OR MAYBE WEEKS LATER THERE WILL BE THE FINAL COUNT.
WHAT DO YOU TELL PEOPLE IN ORDER FOR THEM TO PROTECT THEMSELVES?
AND KEEP THEMSELVES HEALTHY AND SANE.
YEAH.
I THINK THERE ARE A FEW THINGS THEY CAN DO.
I REALLY SUGGEST TO PEOPLE THAT THEY SCHEDULE A TIME TO WORRY.
THAT SOUNDS COUNTER INTUITIVE.
WE THINK, I DON'T WANT TO WORRY.
WHEN YOU KNOW THAT YOU HAVE A TIME.
I WOULDN'T DO IT FIRST THING IN THE MORNING WHEN YOU FIRST WAKE UP OR LAST THING WHEN YOU GO TO BED.
MAYBE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY.
WHEN THOSE THOUGHTS START CREEPING UP, WHEN YOU START WORRYING ABOUT THE WAIT AND WHAT WILL HAPPEN, YOU CAN SAY, AT 1:00 I GET FOOD BUT RIGHT NOW I NOTED TO STAY FOCUSED ON WHAT I'M DOING.
THAT CHEERS YOUR MIND SO YOU CAN KEEP DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
THEN AT 1:00 P.M., YOU HAVE 30 MINUTES TO JUST WORRY.
WHAT MY PATIENTS ARE FINDING, WHEN THEY SCHEDULE THE TIME.
WHEN THEY GET TO THAT 1:00 P.M., BY WOUL1:15, THEY'RE BORED.
THEY'RE DONE.
IT REDUCES IT.
WHEN IT IS ALL IN ONE TIME LIKE, THAT YOU START TO REALIZE, OH, I'VE DONE MY WORRYING.
THAT'S ENOUGH AND I'M MOVING ON TO SOMETHING ELSE.
THAT'S PRETTY AMAZING.
I'M GOING TO TROY TO SCHEDULE MOY WORRYING.
IT JUST CREEPS IN ALL THE TIME.
WHAT ABOUT THE VERY REAL ISSUES?
THIS IS A VERY DIVIDED COUNTRY.
WE'RE HEARING PEOPLE SAY, WE'RE JUST TRYING TO VOTE.
IT FEELS LIKE WE'RE IN A STATE OF PITCHED BATTLE.
YET.
I DO.
WHAT I WANT PEOPLE TO DO IS TO REMEMBER NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE OUTCOME OF THE ELECTION, THAT THERE IS STILL A LOT OF WORK TO DO IN THIS COUNTRY.
AND SO PEOPLE FEEL HELPLESS.
AND I WANT THEM TO FEEL EMPOWERED.
BECAUSE NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS WITH THIS ELECTION, THERE IS A LOT THAT PEOPLE CAN DO TO CREATE THE KIND OF CHANGE THAT WE WANT.
WHETHER IT IS SYSTEMIC RACISM, CLOIMT CHANGE, THERE ARE WAYS WE CAN TURN OUR WORRY INTO ACTION.
YOU KNOW, I AM ACTUALLY FASCINATED BY THAT.
I'VE SEEN, AND REALLY BEEN AMAZED BY THE LAST FOUR YEARS.
YOU'VE SEEN WOMEN'S GROUPS, KIDS AS WE'VE SEEN IN THE PROGRAM WHO HAVE MOBILIZED AGAINST GUN VIOLENCE AND BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENTS, CLIMATE MOVEMENTS.
IT IS FAST THE LAST FOUR YEARS HAVE GENERAL RATED AN UNPARALLELED ACTACTIVISM.
NOT JUST THE YOUTH BUT ALL AGES.
DO YOU SEE THAT HE?
WHEN PEOPLE COME TO TALK TO YOU, IS THAT IDEA BEING ABLE TO GET OUT ON THE STREETS AND FOCUS THE ENERGY SOMEWHERE CONSTRUCTIVE HAPPENING?
ABSOLUTELY.
AND I THINK PEOPLE ARE REALIZING THAT THEY HAVE TO BE DOING THIS.
IT GIVES PEOPLE A SENSE OF NOT FEELING HELPLESS.
FEELING LIKE, I NEED TO BE A PART OF THIS AND I WAS VERY PASSIVE BEFORE.
AND NOW PEOPLE ARE REALIZING THEY CANNOT BE PASSIVE ANYMORE.
I THINK IT HAS MOTIVATED OUR YOUTH.
I'M THE MOTHER OF A TEENAGER AND I'VE SEEN MY SON GET VERY INVOLVED IN CAUSES THAT HE FEELS PASSIONATE ABOUT.
I'VE SEEN THE YOUNGER GENERATION GET EXTREMELY INVOLVED AND BECOME MUCH MORE INFORMED.
AND PEOPLE OF ALL AGES.
PAYMENT WHO CAME OUT TO VOTE BECAUSE THEY SAID THEY NEED TO HAVE A VOICE IN IT.
AND I THINK AROUND THE WORLD, PEOPLE ARE QUITE PLEASANTLY SURPRISED AT THIS RECORD TURNOUT.
IT IS THE BIGGEST IN MORE THAN 100 YEARS.
AMERICA'S ELECTIONS ARE TRADITIONALLY QUITE LOW TURNOUT COMPARED TO ELSEWHERE AROUND THE WORLD.
SO I THINK THAT'S REALLY INTERESTING.
AND I WANTED TO ASK YOU.
YOU MENTIONED COVID.
YOU KNOW, THE ELECTION IS UNSETTLING.
SO IS THE VERY REAL LIFE AND DEATH ISSUE OF CORONAVIRUS.
AND SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN YOUR COUNTRY.
AND RODE.
AND WE'RE HEARING ABOUT THESE WAVES, THESE ROLLING WAVES, COLLECTIVE GROVE, ALMOST LIKE A PANDEMIC OF GRIEF AROUND YOUR COUNTRY AND MANY PARTS OF THE WORLD.
WHAT IS THE WAY TO BE ABLE TO COME TO TERMS WITH THAT?
THERE IS SO MUCH GRIEF AND LOSS ASSOCIATED WITH COVID.
AND I'M NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT LOSS OF LIFE.
OF COURSE, WE ASSOCIATE GRIEF WITH THAT.
I'M TALKING ABOUT ALL THAT WE'VE LOST AS HUMANS.
JUST THE DAY TO DAY, THE NORMALCY, THE ILLUSION OF SAFETY.
AND I THINK THAT IF THERE IS ANYTHING POSITIVE THAT HAS COME OUT OF THIS, PITS WE ARE REALIZING THAT WE NOTED TO PRIORITIZE OUR HEALTH.
WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE OUR COMMUNITIES.
WE ARE ALL PART OF A SYSTEM.
WE NEED TO HELP ONE ANOTHER.
AND IT SEEMS SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED WHERE PEOPLE ARE REACHING OUT.
THEY'RE TRYING TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE.
THEY'RE MAKING SURE THAT THEY STAY SAFE TO KEEP THEIR COMMUNITY SAFE.
SO THERE IS THIS SENSE OF NOT JUST THE INDIVIDUAL BUT SOCIETY AT LARGE.
AND I THINK THAT WILL BE A POSITIVE OUTCOME FOR WHEN WE EMERGE FROM THIS.
I'M JUST SEEING MY NOTES.
IT SAYS EXPERTS SAY FOR EACH COVID DEATH, THERE ARE NINE PEOPLE WHO ARE PRO FOUNDLY IMPACTED IN TERMS OF GRIEF AND RISK OF PSYCHIATRIC COMPLICATIONS.
THAT'S A HUGE RIPPLE EFFECT.
WHAT DO YOU SAY TO PEOPLE WHO COME TO YOU ABOUT THIS NOW?
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO PROCESS THEIR GRIEF.
THERE'S PROFOUND LOSS HAPPENING NOW.
THE SENSE THAT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN.
IT IS THIS ALMOST AMBIGUOUS GRIEF.
HOW LONG WILL THIS GO ON?
HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO LIVE IN THIS SENSE OF FEAR AND LACK OF NORMALCY?
SO I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF WHAT THEY'RE FEELING.
SO MANY PEOPLE FEEL LIKE, I DON'T HAVE A RIGHT TO FEEL THIS WAY BECAUSE SOMEBODY IN MY FAMILY HASN'T DIED.
OR I HAVEN'T GOTTEN THE CORONAVIRUS.
BUT THERE ARE SO MANY LOSSES.
THE WHOLE RANGE THAT PEOPLE NEED TO BE ABLE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND TALK ABOUT.
SO I REALLY ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU CONNECT WITH PEOPLE.
GO SEE A THERAPIST VIRTUALLY IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOU NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE.
EVERYBODY IS EXPERIENCING SOME KIND OF LOSS ON SOME LEVEL.
AND JUST ON THE ELECTIONS.
THERE ARE STUDIES BEING DONE ON ACTUALLY THE HAPPINESS THAT ELECTIONS CAN BRING.
AND BY FLIPPING THE COIN, ALSO, THE POST ELECTION ANXIETY, MAYBE DEPRESSION IF IT GOES A WAY YOU DON'T WANT IT TO GO.
ARE YOU SEEING BOTH OF THOSE THINGS?
AND I GUESS, TIPS IS A BANAL WORD TO USE.
YOU TALK ABOUT THE WORRY MOMENTS OF THE DAY.
WHAT OTHER METHODS ARE THERE?
WELL, I THINK WHEN YOU'RE THINKING YOUR THOUGHTS, YOU'RE NOT FEELING YOUR FEELINGS.
AND I WANT PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO FEEL THEIR FEELINGS.
IF YOU ARE FEELING ANXIETY OR SADNESS, IT TELLS YOU SOMETHING ISN'T WORKING AND YOU NEED TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
SO IT HELPS YOU TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF INSTEAD OF DOING THINGS MORE MALADAPTIVE LIKE TOO MUCH FOOD, TOO MUCH ALCOHOL, SHORT TEMPEREDNESS.
THAT'S HOW THE FEELINGS COME OUT.
SO MAKE SURE YOU'RE FEELING YOUR FEELINGS AND NOT JUST THINKING YOUR THOUGHTS.
DURING THE DAY, WHEN ALL OF THIS INCOMING EMAILS AND NEWS IS ON YOUR SCREEN, TO STEP AWAY FROM YOUR SCREEN FOR TWO MINUTES PERIODICALLY DURING THE DAY AND GO INTO A DIFFERENT ROOM.
MAYBE GO OUTSIDE FOR A MINUTE.
TAKE TEN BREATHS IN, TEN BREATHS OUT.
THAT GIVES YOU A RESET.
THEN WHEN YOU GO BACK, YOU'RE FEELING A LITTLE BETTER.
I'M ON IT.
LORI GOTTLIEB, THANK YOU.
THAT IS IT FOR OUR PROGRAM.
REMEMBER, YOU CAN FOLLOW ME AND THE SHOW ON TWITTER.
THANK YOU FOR WOOCHING PBS AND DO JOIN US NEXT TIME.