Abdul El-Sayed’s Progressive Policy Prescription | The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart

[music]. >> Hey everybody, welcome to the weekly. show podcast. My name is Jon Stewart. I. will be your host and guide throughout. this. podcast. It is Tuesday, October 20th. The elections are in two weeks. Two. weeks from today, we will learn can you. hear the people sing? Singing all right. Uh. I I am not a prayer. But I cannot take this anymore. I must.

be able to believe I live in a country. that can see the disaster that our wagon. has been hitched to and can make uh. corrective moves that can get us to. not a better place even immediately, just the hope of getting to a better. place. I truly want to believe that. These. These will be very anxious. couple of weeks. Now ultimately, look, we'll deal with what we deal with.

Whatever happens happens. Continue to. still work hard no matter what. But the. hope is that some measure of relief and. understanding will be delivered on that. day. And I really hope that people uh. are fired up and ready to get out there. and and vote. and and send a message that this is all. entirely. unacceptable. And to that end, you know, we're lucky.

today. We've been talking to different. candidates in different swing states and. things like that. And we're going to do. it again today. We're going to have on. ourselves It's one of the most I think. talked about races in the entire country. given that it's a swing state, Michigan, and that the Democratic candidate is a. I don't know if we have scary music. Muslim. Did I don't Did we have a sound effect. there? Most likely we did not because we. we are not a morning radio show. But we're going to talk to this.

gentleman today was a Democratic Senate. candidate. So let's get right to it. >> [music]. >> So we are delighted to be joined this. morning by Dr. Abdul El-Sayed. He is the. Democratic. nominee for the United States Senate in. Michigan. How are you, sir? >> I am I'm well all things considered. Existentially tired, but but grateful to. get to do this and honored. >> How long is the run? What's what's the. because you've been through a bruising.

primary and now you're in the final run. of the the general election. How long is. this process been for you? >> Believe it or not, we kicked off in. April of 2025. >> Oh for God's sake. Let me get a pen. Hold on. Let me let me start doing the. calculations here. >> 14 days left. >> What does the final run-up feel like? Do. you feel present in this? Are you just. sort of. like a buoy in an ocean being dragged. through? How what what's what's the. feeling? >> I mean honestly, the day-to-day is just. you're constantly being moved from one.

thing to another, but you're constantly. being greeted mainly by people who are. really excited about what. what they are part of. And you know, I'll be honest with you, my family. immigrated from a place where there is. no democracy. There's no chance to run. for office and I've constantly lived. >> Did you come came from Egypt? >> Yeah, my family immigrated from Egypt. and there is no democracy. There's no. running for office and you know, I ran. before. in 2018. And when it was all over, I realized I. really loved this work, but it's not the.

kind of work you can just do. And for 8. years, I I didn't get the opportunity to. do it. I was working in public health. doing other work that I loved. But you know, I've been doing this for. 18 months and. right now with 14 days left, I'm just so. grateful to have been able to do this. and I want to do it the best I can for. the next 14 days. And at its best, what. you're doing is you're having a. conversation about who we are and who we. want to be and what that means for the. future we want to build. And it's a it's. a real it's a real privilege and a. moment of a lot of gratitude, honestly.

And I don't know how it's all going to. end up on election day. But I'm honored that, you know, this. many people have been so inspired by. what we're doing and how we're doing it. Um and I try to live in that, right? Just a just a space of gratitude for the. for the ability to do it cuz I don't. take it for granted. In action in of. history, I get to be born in the United. States. I get to participate in. democracy at all. I get to participate. in democracy in the greatest country in. the history of the world. Like I'm just. really grateful. So, um you know, as. tiring as it gets and as. >> Are you resigning, sir? That sounds like.

No, you're you're ready to rock this. thing. >> You know, you are, but like, you know, there's a moment when you're when you. you think about it like a race, like you. see the checkered flag. And you're. racing as hard as you can and and you. don't know how it's all going to end up. and you're focused, of course, on on. talking to every last person. But the. thing about democracy is like we focus. on the competition of this thing, but. it's not a competition. It it really is. about trying to reach to people and talk. about what they need in their lives and. what you can do to deliver that. Like. that's a real privilege. And, you know, I trained in medicine and the thing I.

love about about medicine, you know, in. the in the moments, people will give you. the worst information. about about their life on the on the. worst day of their life because they. think you can help. And you're out there with armed with the. information you have and knowledge and. your empathy and your ear and the. ability to like be that person who. people trust with that to try to do. something about it. That's a gift. And. politics is the same way when you let it. be. And so, I just take this as the same. kind of work on a larger um on a larger. platform and at a at a larger scale. And.

so, at its best, you're you're really. locking in. on [clears throat] the the challenges. people face. and what we can do to solve them. together. And that's what I try to stay. locked in on. >> You know, as you go here, what what have. been the best environments? Cuz I'm always curious, you know, there's a there's a wide array of events. that people do when they're campaigning. and then there's also obviously the more. kind of conflict-oriented. uh interactions that you have with. people that might disagree with you or. with the candidate that you're running. against. But what forums have you been.

in where you feel like you're able to. to actually connect to people. in what they're going through and where. they can be revelatory. about those issues and and can inform. you best. Like as someone who is. trying to get to maybe the core of the. issues that people are struggling with. Where have Where have you found those. moments to be most. revealing? >> There are two.

Um. One, anytime anybody invites you into. their home, that's their space. >> Oh. >> And just the fact that they invited you. in says a lot and. often, you know, there are kids in the. home and. when they look at you, they're looking. at you and then looking at their kid and. looking at you. And every time they look. at their kid, it's like they're. remembering the purpose of the question. they ask. And those are the moments that I find. the most meaningful. And then. in a question and answer at a town hall, right? Because, you know, town halls are.

as old as democracy and people come, they bring their questions and they ask. them in front of their neighbors. And there's a moment where we. collectively get to talk about the. challenge. I mean, we're still doing. town halls. They're a lot bigger than. they used to be, but we still take open. questions. >> Right. >> But like it takes me back to the. beginning of the campaign when the rooms. were like 25 and 30 people deep. And. we'd have these really intimate moments. And the thing about it, somebody would. ask a question. And then as they ask the. question, you look into the audience and. you see everybody's health else's head.

nodding. because they just touched on a nerve. And I think great politics. is about being able to surface a pain. that is collective but that people. thought they were holding on their own. >> Right. >> and you see that moment unlock. And if. you can speak to the core of the problem. and what could be done about it, it's. almost like you get to do a certain kind. of like civic chiropractics. >> Like healing. Yeah. >> Yeah, it's like it's like you have a. little adjustment. You know, you ever. seen one of those videos on Instagram or.

TikTok where like the chiropractor like. does this little thing and all of a. sudden you see this look on this. patient's face they're like, "Oh my god, you just unlocked all my pain. Everything feels better.". >> Right. >> Like there's there's a moment to be. where you can. >> their neck. I mean, that's that's the. other side of it. >> Yeah, God willing we don't do that. Like. no, we don't want to do I mean, this is. not a Trump show, okay? Like. >> [laughter]. >> um. >> What what have been the issues when you. say like you you somebody expresses a. pain in their life and you watch it. resonate in the room? Are there certain. issues that you have found. uh. specifically that that you found those.

moments and is it affordability is has. it been a story about health care? Is it. cycle of life stuff? You know, I'm. trying to take care of my parents like. where where have been those moments of. of resonance? >> It's three things. The first one is. anything having to do with care. Health. care, child care, senior care. You hear. all the time. Somebody says, "You know, I had I had a woman come up to me. She's. like, "I had an emergency appendectomy. and my insurance only covered $395 of. it.". And like whenever those stories get.

shared in a town hall, yeah. No, that that that happened to me. >> Um or. I'm worried about my parent. They're. getting older and they're needing care. and I can't offer it and I'm. I'm losing hours at work because I got. to stay home with my parent. I don't. know what happens next. In fact, the. problem is I actually know what happens. next and I don't know what I'm going to. do about it. >> Right. >> And then the third one where this often. comes up is just this dread about AI. And it shows up in they're going to put. a data center in my backyard or my kids. never going to have a job despite the.

fact that they took $60,000 in debt to. go to school to get a degree and and. I've told them their whole life prepared. them for this and they're going to. graduate into an economy where there's. there's like no job for them because of. AI, or I heard about this thing called. hugging face. I didn't know such a thing. called hugging face existed. What does. that mean for me? >> So now you're literally doing town halls. with people in Michigan, and people are. like, "What about these agentics that. are going into hugging face and doing. Yeah, no, I can imagine. It's. terrifying.". >> No, you be the middle Michigan people. are like, "Hey, recursive self. self-improvement, go." And you're like,

"Okay, um. >> Yeah, how long's it going to be before. it's recursive and then it can. self-improve and then the hugging face. is going to Yeah, it's terrifying. >> Like I don't want my face hugged. Like I. want my face caressed but not hugged. >> Right. Now, how do you make changes, you. know, is the process of running for. office. it it is it the kind of thing that you. have to make adjustments then to the. policy prescriptions that you're making? Like how does this all come together cuz. you know, I imagine the schedule is so. busy and so much of it is uh. reactive to whatever they think the.

moments are. How are you able to take those stories. and then turn them into what look like. affirmative policy choices that you. could make cuz I imagine that changes. the more you hear. >> Well, it changes how you talk about it. But a lot of times, I mean, this is the. thing, right? It's like this is why the. parallel of the medicine works so well. People will tell you, "Oh, I've got this. pain." And you're like, "Uh, okay. Based. on my knowledge of anatomy and. physiology and pathophysiology, what. might be causing that pain?" And you.

have sort of a differential diagnosis, and then there's, you know, exams that. you do to try to figure out which of the. diagnoses are or which of several it is. >> So you're triaging it as a political. candidate. You're you're kind of. triaging a society of what's the most. urgent care needed. >> Exactly. And then the policy. prescription though is like, how do you. you know, how do you treat ap-. appendicitis? Well, there's a treatment. for appendicitis. It's appendectomy, right? And you want to be able to. demonstrate to somebody, "Hey, look, like I This is your the manifestation of.

this particular societal illness that. you are feeling. Here is the solution. set based on an understanding of public. policy that we think can address it. Now, the hard part about it is like, you. know, there is no one set decision. We. have to go and work that decision. through the political process. And the. tough part about it is like, this is. where the analogy crumbles. It's like. there are like like a set of like Wario. doctors out there, namely MAGA. >> You're going to go Mario Kart on this? You're going I mean, you're running for. Senate and you're going Mario Kart on.

me? All right. >> But you you you know what I'm talking. about, right? You're like Of course. Exactly. So, I mean, but this is the. This is the thing about it is that I. think too often I we don't campaign like. like most campaigns because I I you. know, I've done the work of listening. I've been out there for 18 months. I. mean, in the early days, we were really. listening before we had proposed, you. know, all of the specifics around all of. our policy solutions. And so, you hear. it and then you sort of map it to the. policy and then from there you're. talking about the policy that you need. to pass, but you know, the thing about. me, I think most people have probably.

interacted with our campaign at some. point on something. TikTok reels, you. saw me on a you know, getting a. colonoscopy on CNN or something. >> Wait, did you really get a colonoscopy. on CNN or is that a joke? >> It's more like a political colonoscopy. on CNN. >> Fair enough. There we go. A metaphor. It's a. metaphor. >> metaphorical colonoscopy. Uh. I I you know, so but the thing is like I. just say the same thing because I'm not. I don't take money from corporations. I'm not out here trying to triangulate. between what my donors and my what my. what my um voters think. I'm I'm here. for voters. I want to work for working.

people. And so, maybe it makes it easier. for me because at the end of the day I. don't have to worry about like, uh is. this thing that I said going to piss off. some donor over there, some special. interest? Like, you know, special. interests, they are dead set to make. sure to beat me. They've spent a. historic uh. amount of money to do so. But in my. case, I'm like, look, the only thing I. got is I'm going to tell you what I. think. I'm going to say it everywhere. I'm going to say it the best I can. And, you know, God willing, um people support. me. And if they don't, that's okay, but. I'd rather not be in the United States. Senate out here.

without the ability to actually solve. the problem because I've, you know, lied. through my teeth all the way up. >> [music]. >> Yo, these guys, I I I wish this thing. exploded. I wish this was the thing that. everybody talked about about news. Ground News, it compares coverage on. stories across news outlets, compares. them across international coverage. We're not getting the information that. the world is necessarily getting. We. live in a a bit of a a kind of a I don't.

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you. Again, that's ground dot news. {slash} js. >> [music]. >> You know, you've reflected a lot on how. what you like about politics. is somewhat what you like about medicine. in that it's kind of prescriptive. You're getting People are telling you. the symptoms of the difficulties they're. having. You're diagnosing what it might. be and giving them a prescriptive or a. remedy that they might. be able to use to ease that pain, which.

makes me think to myself, what why. didn't you then. become a doctor? Is it because it sounds. like something that is very much a. process embedded in the way you think. So, what was the why did you make the. decision to pivot from that? >> So, you know, when I graduated medical. school. >> Yeah. >> I had done a PhD in public health and. finished medical school. and I'm in my final year of medical. school and I'm starting to realize. that. so many of the challenges I'm trying to. face sit downstream of a set of systems.

that make people sick in the first place. and keep us from actually healing them. >> Mhm. >> And it's not to say that you can't get. good health care in the health care. system. It's just that you have to be a. very particular kind of person to get. good uncomplicated health care. And you know, I really I went to medical. school in large part cuz I could go 15. hours to my family's native Egypt for 15. minutes from where I grew up and I. crossed 10 years difference in life. expectancy. And in order to solve those problems, I. realized that you needed to be the kind. of doctor that worked on the system and. not just in the system.

And so, a lot of what I've tried to do. has been around, you know, addressing the circumstances in society. that keep people ill or stop them from. getting the health care they need. I. went into public health, rebuilt. Detroit's health department, led Wayne. County's Department of Health, Human and. Veteran Services. We guaranteed glasses. for kids. We took on corporate. polluters. We made prescription drugs. less expensive. We eliminated uh a. hundred million dollars up to seven. hundred million dollars when the. program's all over of medical debt. Uh. we um.

made sure that after Flint kids weren't. drinking lead in their schools. That's. the kind of work that my career has been. about. I wrote the book on Medicare for. all. So, in some respects, it's like. saying, well, you know, do I treat the. problem one patient at a time. frustratingly. >> Right. >> or do I try to go upstream as folks in. public health talk about it to try to. understand why the system is so broken. and how to fix it. And then the other. thing about it is, you know, my whole. life all of my mentors had told me I'm. going to run for office. I'm like, that's some crazy. >> really? >> I mean, so my college graduation I was.

like I was the the valedictorian of my. class at Michigan and I got to give the. student commencement speech. >> All right, there's no now there's no. need to go valedictorian no need to go. valedictorian on me. All right. That's hurtful. That's just hurtful. >> But look look I I nobody I'll tell you. this. I'm a child of immigrants, okay? So so so I I'm I'm here feeling pretty. good about myself and my parents make a. make it very clear. They're like, "Look, we're not going to hear you. We're going. to hear Bill Clinton who is the actual. speaker.". >> Oh, Bill Clinton was the speaker at your. graduation? >> Yes, so so I give my speech. President.

Clinton gives his speech. He he like. praises me in his speech. It was a real. honor. Gets my dad to clap for me for. the first time. I didn't even see it. He. was in the audience. My parents told me. like my my siblings told me about it. afterwards. But after the speech President Clinton. comes up to me. He's like, "Son, you. know, why are you going to medical. school?" Which is not a question people. ask you when you're going to medical. school. I'm like, "Uh brown and Muslim. so what we do. Um but also I I love. people. I love science. I want to. serve.". And he said, "That's great, but you got. a gift for communicating and maybe. someday you'll run for office.". I was like, "Really nice of you to say. I've got an 11-letter first name. Got.

sounds that come out of parts of. people's throats most people don't know. they have. People like me don't get to. run for office.". And it's funny cuz he he thought about. it for a second. and then he chuckled and walked away. This was 2007, right? 2008 President. Barack Hussein Obama. >> Right. >> runs and wins. >> Was Obama's victory. a clarion call for you? Was it Wait a. second. If if that name can make it cuz. it's clearly something you had a little. bit of an interest in. Was that. was that the moment that you thought it. becomes a possibility?

>> Honestly, it was 2004 watching him give. that DNC speech. >> Really? The we're we're not we're not blue, we're not red, we're purple. >> Yeah, and but it It it was also just. like I'd never seen politics look like. him. >> Huh. >> Or sound like him. And implicitly look like me at all. >> Right. >> And. you just I mean I was it was I was doing. dishes. I literally I like stopped when. he started to give that speech. And I. was like watching, you know how you have. the TV on, I was doing dishes at my. parents' house. And I just stopped. I'm like suds are.

falling from my hands. I'm just watching. this man give this speech. And then when he won in 2008 when he. ran, right, the way he ran when he won. in 2008, I still didn't expect that I. was ever going to run for office. You. know, at that point I was on my way to. Oxford to do a PhD. I I I was in medical. school when he [laughter]. >> What? >> Um. >> So you valedictorian and then you're on. your way to Oxford to do a PhD. You're. annoying me now. Now I'm annoyed. >> Listen, man. Look, look, look. I'm just. I'm just a brown kid. who's a child of immigrants with a.

gigantic chip on my shoulder. who who who had to prove it. I just I. just I studied way too much in my life. Um but uh yeah, look, I I mean and I'm. really grateful like I I Yeah, I I'm. grateful that he was a president of my. 20s, but I still didn't think it was the. right thing for me. I I wanted to be a. physician scientist. I thought I was. going to be a neurosurgeon. My dad's. still annoying me annoyingly re- reminds. me. He's like, "Hey, you could have been. a surgeon." I'm like, "I could have been. a surgeon.". >> Oh, wow. Are you surprised, Abdul, because it's, you know, the way you describe the. mechanism of like.

the immigrant experience and why, cuz I. hear this a lot in first generation, second generation immigrant uh families. And my parents had that experience. Uh. that the expectation was. this isn't about you. This is about the sacrifice that we made. to get you here, and you will not. squander that opportunity, young man. You know, there's a real pressure. that is put on those children uh of, you. know, first generation, second.

generation to not squander the sacrifice. to get to this place of opportunity. >> I think that's part of it. I'll. crystallize it for you. Like in the. mechanism day-to-day, I love playing. sports, right? Um I played football, wrestled, played lacrosse. Like but my. dad's rule is no A, no play. Like you. know, if you if if you don't get. straight A's, like if you get a single. B, you don't play. >> You Wow. >> Yeah, you will not play. I'll pull you. from the team. >> I I would not have played. >> Yeah. >> [laughter].

>> I really enjoyed playing. So like for. me, I was just like, all right. Um. >> Right. >> But the other part of it was this. Like. in my middle school years, my parents. would ship me off to Egypt. And I'd. spend my time with my teta, my. grandmother. Smartest person I ever met. Best storyteller you've ever heard. Like really, never got to go to school. She was illiterate. Nine to 14, grew up. in Alexandria, Egypt. Had eight babies. of her own. Two of them died before. their first birthday. My dad was her. eldest. He watched his two siblings pass. before he turned five.

And it was recognizing the accident of. history. I mean, my dad was an amazing. student. There was a reason no A, no. play was a thing because like he. literally studied my life into. existence. I I'll never be able to repay. that. And. he gets to come to America to do a PhD. in engineering and gets to make cars in. Michigan, which is the dream for this. kid. >> So that's how you ended up in Michigan. He was engineering the cars. Okay. >> Exactly. And he worked for GM. Um but. but in some respects, it's also. realizing that I'm like, man, you know, when I was a kid, I'd have teachers be.

like, oh, you're smart and you work. hard. I'm like, my grandmother was smart and worked. hard. She got nothing. And it's not about smart and work hard. It's smart and work hard if you're lucky. enough to have the opportunity for it. >> So you you recognize this. You you never. resented the kind of grind that you had. to do because you looked at it as it. wasn't an obligation, it was a a a. privilege and that you had family. members that you were looking at like, no, those people struggled. I'm I'm. living the dream. >> John, I'll tell you like on my worst. day, I have a nicer life than most of my.

cousins could ever dream of. Right. like I got people I'm amazing. >> Are Are there a lot of your family still. there? >> Almost my whole family still there. Right? I think there's one other um. family member that immigrated to Canada. But like, you know, I I just So it's. it's one of those things where you're. like, wait a second, wait a second. I get this incredible gift and I get a a. front row seat to the life I should have. had. Right. But for the opportunity to. be born and raised in America. And so in. some respects, like as I matured and I. got older, you realize you owe that. something. And my grandmother, I. remember.

I remember um I was 13 years old. It was. one of the first trips I'd I'd gone on. by myself. And [snorts] you know, when. you when you go back to your family's. homeland, they you you I had two suitcases. One. with my stuff and one with all the. gifts. So now I'm like I'm just like. giving out all the gifts to all my. cousins. I'm feeling myself. >> You're the messenger that has to bring. all the back and forth and. >> Yeah, but like but like I'm I'm feeling. like the man, right? And my my my. grandmother pulls me aside. She's like, Habibi, come sit down. So I'm sitting down with her. She says, points to one of my cousins, that one's. smarter than you are.

>> Damn. Right off the bat. >> Points to the next one, that one. taller and better looking. That one is. nicer than you. That one But she told me. every one of my cousins. And but she was. making a really important point. Cuz I. asked her at the end of this, I'm like. I'm like, you know, like she's torn me. down to size. And and I asked her, I was. like, well, tell tell like what do I. have going for me? She's like, you have the best thing of. all. I was like, okay. All right. She's. like, you get to go home at the end of. the summer to America. The rest of your. cousins stay here. And then like it's a reminder. You're. like, I have opportunity that my cousins. don't have. And not everybody has that.

And the crazy thing about it is this. My. grandmother's understanding of America. was like the 1950s movies that were. translated on TV in Egypt. >> Right. Happy days. >> Yes. Like she couldn't have imagined. that I could go 15 minutes from where I. grew up and there were kids whose. opportunities had looked a lot more like. my cousins than mine. And. >> Oh, that's interesting. >> You know, like I I growing up really, it. was one of those things where I'm like, no, no, no. I want whatever I got, I want to be able. to use it to make sure that other folks. get the opportunity I got. And so it's. it's been the sort of through line of my.

career and you know, it's a reason I. went to medical school. It's a reason I. decided not to train clinically, went. into public health. It's the reason I. went into public service. It's the. reason I'm running now. And so a lot of. folks will look at me and they say, "Oh, well, that guy's got like a chip on his. shoulder and doesn't back down." Like I. don't back down because I also know that. like what are you going to take from me? Honestly, like I had a better life than. most of my cousins anyway. What are you. going to take from me? You know, like I I I don't have to be a. United States Senator, but I do not want. to be a United States Senator who plays. this game to get to where everybody. thinks you actually have some power only. to be hamstrung to do the thing with.

power that you were supposed to do in. the first place. So, I'm going to tell. you what I think and if I don't win this. seat, okay, but I'm not going to lie to. you and I'm not going to tell you that I. am okay with a certain series of. bipartisan consensus that have been. manufactured by a few folks with a lot. of money. I'm not okay with that. Right. So, >> And when you see that, that you know, that's surprising cuz I think people in. other you know, they always talk about. well, there's the third world and then. there's America. And not understanding that in America, in the way that we have it, there. [clears throat] are. millions and millions of people.

suffering through the same kinds of. economic deprivation and the same kind. of difficulties that those in these. other countries are feeling like, well, that that would never happen in America. W- Was that surprising to your family to. see that? >> I think for my dad, definitely. You. know, my dad immigrates here, he goes to. Detroit to Wayne State and his dad sold. vegetables in the fish market. So, he. never trusted the. you know, the stuff at Kroger. And he. would go we have this amazing outdoor. market called the Eastern Market. So, we.

would go to the Eastern Market and it. was it was a eye-opening experience for. him because immediately, he comes to. America and is struck by American. poverty. In you know, like like. minutes walk from the Eastern Market, you have a deep amount of poverty. And. I'll just say this, the poverty that we have in America that. afflicts predominantly black folk in. this country and rural folk in this. country. is categorically worse because if you. think about it, happens in a context in. which we assume it doesn't exist. Or the.

broader public doesn't talk about it. >> And it also doesn't have to exist. That. it it is, you know, when they talk about. it's one thing I I always say is, you. know, they say there's an affordability. crisis. I say, "Well, it's not a crisis. It's the inevitable result of a system. that is rigged towards these outcomes. There is a certain underclass that our. system requires to function in the. manner that it functions. >> This this is the end result of it. This. is exactly the choice. When we make a. choice where an economy is more.

interested in making it easier for a. billionaire to make a second billion. than anybody out there to make to make. their first 100,000. >> Right. >> This is what happens. >> First 10,000. First 5,000. >> I mean, look, you can go to communities. in Detroit, median income is $14,000. a year. >> Right. Right. >> And their schools look like they did 50. years ago. And meanwhile, we're out here. right? Creating all these tax gaps, right? The one big ugly bill, is cutting. health care for those folks while it's. it's creating tax loopholes for the. richest people to make a second billion. under the argument that somehow this is.

good for our economy. It's insane. We're. we're you know, we how much how many. billions do we spend buying bombs and. tanks for other people's countries that. go and kill other kids when we should be. spending on schools and health care for. our own kids. It doesn't make any sense. >> These are the types of messages that I. would imagine would resonate. You know, and as I'm reading up on it, they're. saying, "Well, uh Elissa Slotkin is is. struggling a bit in Detroit and he lost. Detroit uh to Haley Stevens when he was. doing it." That seems like the kind of. message that would resonate.

completely and totally in communities. that have been suffering. So, is your message resonating there? Are. you surprised that there's still this. conversation about well, jeez, Mike. Rogers is going to do great. Mike Rogers. is the opponent that uh. you're running against uh is is going to. do better in Detroit than people thought. he would. What what's going on there. that that. makes this message maybe not resonating. in the same way? >> Let me say three things about that. First, it's easy to manufacture a.

narrative online if you want to. And. >> There you go. >> that's the easy to manufacture narrative. for somebody like Mike Rogers. He opened. up uh what, 16 days left in the. election, opens up a Detroit office, invites a whole bunch of suburbanites to. come and open it for him. Okay. >> Are you suggesting, sir, that the. narrative I've been reading about in the. papers may not be accurate? >> I am intimating that it may, in fact, not be accurate. >> What? Well, that is it. >> The second thing is, you know, in my. primary, we got outspent 11 to 1. $70 million spent against us. That is a. record spent.

>> in the primary This is This is two This. is two Democrat This is Democrat on. Democrat violence. $70 million spent. against another Democrat. >> $70 million. >> So, why do they spend that money? It's. not just like, you know, shits and. giggles. It's not like they're just. having fun spending that money. They. spend that money because it's effective. If you look at the ads that they ran, it. was an ad arguing that President Obama. had endorsed against me and took an. op-ed that I wrote 15 years ago about. the Let's Move campaign from the first. lady intimating that somehow I'm. disrespectful to women because I wrote. an op-ed with a few critiques about that.

program saying it's a good program, but. here's some limits on the program. So, it was it was $70 million spent. specifically to break my relationship. with the community. And I was up 20. points in on July 4th headed into a. month before the primary and then they. spent that much money. And I still took. 40% of the black vote. Now, here's the. thing about it. If you look at dollars. per vote spent, right? And if you take. the argument that advertising works, well, I think our narrative is pretty. good. The problem is is that far fewer. people heard that than they heard the.

miss- and disinformation about me in. attack ads. >> Let me ask you a question, though, because that I hear this sometimes a. lot. Is there anything, though, that you. did or that you said that you thought. actually that was a mistake and it did. it did cause some conflict or friction. with between the black community cuz. there are real issues there between the. Arab community and the black community. Things that you might have said that you. know might have rubbed them the wrong.

way. Like the spends and those things I. I understand it can be tough but what. are some of the things that you think. could have gone could have gone better. that you would done? >> Look, I've been leading with black folk. in the city of Detroit almost my whole. public service career. City of Detroit, rebuilt the health department there. Wayne County, served. in the county and. my work I hope speaks to what my. intentions in my work is about. That. being said, right? There are a lot of.

sources of tension. Too often, if you're. in the city of Detroit and you interact. with somebody who looks like me, it's. not a good experience. It's behind. bullet proof glass in a gas station or a. party store. You're being cat-called, you're being denied a bathroom, you're. being sold goods that nobody should be. eating. >> You're saying in terms of like. small business owners. >> Yeah. >> I mean there's always tension in. communities between small business. owners that don't look like the. community and the community that is is. going there. >> It is even bigger. Like I I would argue. that you know a lot of these business. owners.

have not done what they needed to do to. build relationships and have been deeply. disrespectful if not racist in these. communities. And I've tried to be on the. right side of those issues. You know, when I was health director both in. Detroit and Wayne County, I worked to. hold a lot of these folks accountable. And at the same time, right? Like most. folks haven't interacted with me but. they probably have interacted with one. of those folks. The other thing I'll. tell you is is that, you know, in the. 2024 election, the question of. uncommitted became a serious issue. It. became a serious issue because.

>> It break that down a bit. So for people. that are listening that that don't. understand, there was in the 2024. election, uh a large portion of uh the community. in Michigan that uh felt that Gaza was. not being addressed. >> Right. And And it was about the primary, right? It was about an uncontested. primary where President Biden. frankly, shamefully, boxed up the. genocide in Gaza. >> Mhm. >> And folks wanted to send a message. And. frankly, they borrowed from the. political tactics of the community of. the black community when it came to.

apartheid in South Africa. They said, "Look, we are not going to abide this, watching our tax dollars go to kill, for. some people, their cousins, literally.". And so, the community said, "Look, we're. going to vote uncommitted in the. primary." And at that point, it was an. open It was a closed primary. Nobody. else was running against the the. president. And then, you know, I supported uncommitted for a. reason, because I wanted to send a. message to my own party. I'd run for. governor in 2018. It's not my first. time. I wanted to send a message to the. party. Now, after Vice Pres- after.

President Biden dropped and Vice. President Harris became the nominee, I. endorsed her the next day. I was the. first Arab Muslim leader to do it. And I. endorsed her because I knew whether you. saw this from the eyes of a child in. Gaza or the eyes of a child in Detroit, that Trump would be worse. And I spent a. very, very frustrating 106 days, both on. the phone with Arab and Muslim leaders. trying to be like, "Guys, don't you. remember the first thing he did when he. got elected last time? It was a whole on. Muslim ban.". And then, also on the phone with the. Harris administration being like, "Hey, there needs to be some daylight between.

the president's policies and this. campaign's policies." And in the end, there was no budging, and we saw what. happened. But, I tried to be on the. right side of that both times. Both. times. >> So, you're balancing that. So, the idea. is. they feel like by by putting. uncommitted, you might have hurt Kamala. Harris's chances there. And so, the. black community might feel like, "All. right, that guy. that guy wasn't a good soldier for us. when we needed him. That his issue was. more important.".

>> Except for except for I personally was, whereas a lot of folks who look like me. were not, right? And I again, I endorsed. the Vice President. In fact, the Vice. President endorsed me. She came and. campaigned with me in in this general. election just about a month ago. >> And then all that flips around and now. you've got a problem with the Jewish. vote in Michigan. It's it's a very. complex. little dance that everybody has to do. >> And the thing that you'll get with me is. in the end I'll always side on. principle, right? On principle I. endorsed uncommitted. On principle I.

endorsed. the Vice President when she ran and on. principle I oppose our. our unconditional foreign military aid. to foreign governments generally. Like. and it's not just Israel, it's Egypt, it's Saudi Arabia, it's Pakistan, it's. Jordan. >> It's also the autocracies. Like not you. know, these are all military obligations. in places where democracy does not live. >> That and and you know, it's like we are. so incoherent and so hypercritical when.

it comes to our foreign policy. Right? Even just take the the question of. Israel on its own terms. Every single president has said that. they support a two-state solution. And we are out here aiding, arming, and. abetting the very government that wants. to foreclose on the second state. telling us that we are supporting a. two-state solution. I'm like, no we're. not. We are actually actively not. There. was a full-on genocide in Gaza, there's. full-on apartheid in the West Bank. Our.

tax dollars subsidize it. >> When you when you speak with that and I. appreciate the candor obviously and you. know, so much is made of the semantics. of this, but when does principle that. you stand on and and moral courage. get in the way of. empathy or understanding of. different communities that you have to. balance in your home state of Michigan. because your passion for it is so clear, but if I'm from Michigan, I might think,

why do I give a about that anyway? >> Well, John. >> Bring it. >> Bring it. Detroit public schools. >> Yes, sir. >> Just had $700 million invested invested. in their buildings. >> Now we're getting somewhere. Come on. Bring it home. >> They still, right, are behind $1.8. billion. We just authorized. $2.8 billion of. of 2,000-lb bombs. for a foreign government. And a 2,000-lb bomb never gave a kid an. education. It never fed somebody. It.

never provided health care. So, you know, people are like, oh, well, Abdul cares more about the West Bank. I'm like, no, I don't. The money that we. are spending to subsidize apartheid in. the West Bank is money that should be. used on the West Side. That's our money. It should be spent. here. >> We got a $1.5 trillion. defense budget that we're working on. >> And and wars we shouldn't be fighting. Why? Right, because because our ostensible. ally came and lobbied for a war that. they had clear warnings in. It's like, if you're walking with your friend in. the woods and there's a bear and your. friend pokes the bear and now you're. running from the bear,

you're like, yeah, well, who's more. dangerous, the bear or my friend? I'm. like, you know, like I'm just like, and what. kind of friend put you in a position. where you're now fighting a bear? >> Well, your friend is kind of an idiot. That's right. >> [music]. >> You've you've you've heard me. talk about fast-growing trees, right? They've they've advertised on the show a. couple times. And I'm you know how. how I feel about trees. I'm a I'm a fan. I find them to be most pleasing. visually. I like what they're about in terms of.

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Let's grow together. Use TWS to save. today. Offer is valid for a limited. time. Terms and conditions may apply. >> [music]. >> Your opponent, Mike Rogers, holds a. special place of disdain in in my life. >> You and me both. >> Well, I'll I'll I'll I'll tell you why, and it it goes along with this. It's. this paper patriotism of guys that claim. the mantle of I love the troops, I. respect the never forget the heroes in.

9/11. This guy, Mike Rogers, was a real. pain in our ass in 2010. We were trying. to get the Zadroga Act, which was for. first 9/11 first responders and their. health care through Congress. And he was a particularly. uh obstinate "Oh, that's just a New York. problem." He voted against it all while. talking about how much he respects and. we owe it to the heroes of 9/11 and I'm. a patriot and all that and it was all.

And I cannot tell you he holds. a special place along with like Senator. Mike Lee, the same kind of of. "Never forget the heroes of 9/11 and. this country was attacked. We got to. stand up and we're the patriots and. we're the patriotic party." And he stood. in the way of these. uh individuals that he called heroes. getting the health care that they needed. based on the selfless heroism that they. displayed down at 9/11. So, I and and I. apologize for the rant on that, but man.

does that hold a special contemptuous. place in my heart for individuals like. that, truly. >> And John, I got to I got to credit you. for your incredible activism in standing. with the. >> Oh, no credit to me, believe me. It was. all these other guys, but I'm telling. you. >> are a lot of folks, but you helped lead. the fight. But, yeah. >> He was a problem. in that fight. >> this is who he is though. He He is. He lacks the moral ability. to hold himself accountable for his own.

positions. Right. And so, he can both lie to you. and say. that he is a real patriot and he would. never ever ever. fail our first responders and then. literally look at an a a a a first. responder who had. part of a limb amputated because of his. heroism on 9/11 and tell them that I'm. actually going to actively vote against. your health care because it's a New York. problem. >> The individual you're talking about, his. name is John Feal and he he runs a.

foundation for first responders in New. York and and he was the guy whose, you. know, kind of heroic efforts pushed this. thing through to its limits. So, uh yeah, I am very familiar with your. opponent and. uh. boy do I hope that. and it's it's interesting to me because. so much of the campaign. if we're being honest. you know, you're talking a lot about. your background and how it informed your. desire for public service.

They're talking about your background. and how it informs your dual loyalties. to America. So, it's I I find it such an. interesting. dichotomy that as you tell your personal. story. it really forms what your desire for. public service is and right now it's. being utilized we'll talk about you. know, you're at a town hall and this. young Tommy, we'll call him. I believe. his name was Tommy.

asked you to disavow the Muslim. Brotherhood. Now, this guy Tommy apparently turned. out to be a Republican operative who. worked for Josh Hawley, Senator Josh. Hawley. But what is it say that your opponent is. not interested in what part of your. immigrant story. drove you to service. but it's the part of your immigrant. story that makes you worthy of. suspicion. >> It's that I have my family has an.

immigrant story in the first place. And he's going to use that to distract. people from the actual issues in this. race. >> Mhm. >> Because the actual issues in this race. are that the guy who called him up and. asked him to run, Donald Trump took us. to a war we had no business fighting and. now you're paying for it both in your. taxes and at the pump and at the grocery. store. There's a tariff war with Canada because. he's got a vanity campaign against the. Prime Minister of Canada and so now. we're getting tariffed through our. teeth, $5,600 what we're paying in.

Michigan on average. >> And people should know that Michigan and. Canada, I mean, when you cross the. border from Michigan to Canada, it's not. like an international trip. It's like. going from, you know, New York to New. Jersey. Like it's it's it's like. crossing a state border. >> It's exactly I mean, Detroit is the only. place in the country you can go south to. go to Canada. >> [laughter]. >> That that's how that's how intertwined. we are. And you know, and now we're paying for. it and. >> Right. >> he I mean, he has the audacity this is. the crazy thing. He has this ad. that Debbie Stabenow ran in the early.

2000s. standing in front of Windsor on the. Detroit River talking about how much. more expensive prescription drug prices. are here than there. Except for he voted. four times against prescription drug. re-importation. I'm like, my guy, you. did that. That was your policy. And and so he is just I mean, it's like. the hypocrisy of the thing. He doesn't. want to talk about how hard it is to see. a doctor. He doesn't want to talk about. air and water. He doesn't want to talk. about any of these things. So instead, he just points to me and my name. Donald. Trump and J.D. Vance are in on the act.

They're doing all of this because they. don't want to actually talk about their. policies and. they think they've got red meat. The. thing they don't get is that I don't. back down. And I I don't I'm not afraid of who I. am. I know exactly who I am. And for. years, I wrestled with the idea of. whether or not I could even do this. because of my name. And at some point, here's the thing. about I was raised by my dad and my. stepmom Jackie, okay? Daughter of the. American Revolution from the middle of. state. >> Jackie? >> Jackie, right? And you know, grandparents are Jan and Judy Johnson.

>> Jackie El-Sayed. >> Jackie El-Sayed, right? And and the. irony of it is this. My my. I have a little brother whose name is. Osama. Long story, right? So my parents. named me they gave me 11-letter first. name. They were like, we're going to do. a lot something a lot easier. Uh and so 1992 rolls around. and they're like, we're going to name. him Sam. >> [clears throat]. >> with O on the front and A on the back. And then that in Saudi Arabia. went and ruined it for him. [laughter]. But here's the funny thing. My brother. Osama El-Sayed, okay? Osama. >> Yeah. >> He he's he literally is a blood.

descendant of Abigail Adams. >> Oh, that's wild. >> But that's America, right? Like that is. America. And there are small-minded. people who want to make America small. like them. America has always been big, particularly in Michigan. Michigan. people don't realize is a microcosm of. America. You got Detroit, you got you. got Dearborn, you got Grand Rapids, and. then you've got places like Caro or. places like Iron Mountain or places like. Escanaba. >> Now, what's Caro Now, I I'm not familiar. with any of those. Iron Mountain Where.

where's that? >> They're tiny little towns I was just in. the last 3 days, where we had like, by. the way, 500 or 600 people in every one. of those rooms. And. the thing about it is that Michiganders. are this rare combination of being. gritty and earnest. Like we expect the. best and give the best, but we're. willing to work. We just don't like being exploited by. people. >> A little overly nice for my taste. I've. I've when I've been up there, uh the the niceness almost starts to. feel like sarcasm after a while. You're. like, wait, are you. >> Sometimes sometimes. >> Are you being serious here? >> Sometimes it is sarcasm.

>> Sometimes. Oh, >> [laughter]. >> all right, huh? I I knew it. I knew it. >> A Midwest nice. But look, I but this is. the thing about it like people are good. people and. I've been a guy named Abdul El-Sayed. from, let's say, the rural and I know. that Michiganders are a lot bigger than. what J.D. Vance and Donald Trump and. Mike Rogers want to make them out to be. And so they're going to keep pointing to. my name and my faith and we're going to. keep pointing to your gas prices, the. price at the grocery store, the ability. to see a doctor. >> Mhm. >> And I think we're going to win that. exchange. And I think we're going to win. that exchange because Michiganders are. sick and tired of being told that. they're too small.

And and our our our vision of Michigan. is a big Michigan where people reach. across divides. And we're going to keep. believing and betting on that Michigan. and I feel pretty good about what we can. accomplish if we do bet on that. >> Let me ask you in it it if you're. reflecting on the challenge to close. this thing out, is do you have more difficulty right now. convincing those that may cast suspicion. at someone named Abdul El-Sayed from. let's say the Republican side or maybe.

even from the Democratic side if we're. being honest. Or do you think you have. more of a challenge of. firing up those in Detroit or in, you. know, traditional Democratic. constituencies. that that might not. come out in the same numbers because. they're concerned about either your. rhetoric with Israel or that you haven't. done enough. to win over the black vote. Like where. where would you say are the biggest.

challenges then for you as you close. down these final two weeks? >> Can I try to reframe the question? >> Please. And I've seen you do this. I've. seen you reframe questions and now I'm. going to look like a chump. But all. right. >> No, no, no. You're going to You're. You're going to look great. >> [laughter]. >> I think in politics, you know, you're. asking two questions. One that's obvious. and one that's less obvious. >> Yes. >> The The first one is what do you say. you're going to fight for? What are you. about? I want money out of politics, money in your pocket, Medicare for all.

But the second question is the one where. most politicians trip up. It's how do I know you're going to fight. for it? And what we're doing here, to answer. your question, both questions, which is. the harder part, what we're doing here. is just to demonstrating that you can. throw as much money from Big Tech and. Big Pharma and Big AI and the utilities. and the insurance companies and AIPAC at. me as you want. But I am going to stand pat on my. positions because it's what I believe. And I think whether you're somebody. who's trying to decide, you know, what's.

this Abdul El-Sayed guy about, can I. trust somebody named Abdul El-Sayed? Well, I see him taking it on the chin. Not for what he stands for, but but but. for just for who he is. And I see him standing strong. >> But that gets me to my point. There are. legitimate. possible concerns in the black community. and in the Jewish community that have. nothing to do with your name, things. you've said, other things, that you will. have to. convince them that they have. no need to fear your candidacy. So, it's.

not all I don't I don't want to And this. is just a push back and say I don't want. to give you the easy way out. >> No, but. >> Yeah. >> This is a binary choice. Well, it's a a. three-part choice. Do you just stay. home? >> Okay. >> Or. do you support this guy named Abdul. El-Sayed? Or. do you support the guy who is a sock. puppet to Trump? And two out of those three choices. bias for Trump. >> But you don't want to be the lesser of. two evils. You want to be the. affirmative choice.

>> I want to be the affirmative choice. But for a lot of people, the only way I. prove to you what I'm about in the long. term is to show you what I've done, which I've tried to do, and to show you. after 6 years of my service what I've. done. I can't do that yet. The 6 years. of my service comes next. But I also can remind you what Donald. Trump is actively doing and what Mike. Rogers has done for 14 years while he. was in Congress. And you talked about. some of it. That's just That's just part. of what his record has been. And so, the question I'm answering. always is, "What are you going to fight.

for and how do I know you're going to. fight for it?" And I think if you. recognize that in this moment you are. paying way too much for gas and. groceries because of Donald Trump, you. are paying way too much to see a doctor. or to have your prescription drugs. because of the choices of Donald Trump. and his party, do you think Abdul is going to credibly. fight against those things? I'm showing. you every day that I will. And I think that is about making an. affirmative choice. And I think that. choice is both why we're getting such. huge crowds and enthusiasm in. communities that they say that Democrats.

shouldn't even waste their time with, but we go to and we speak in and we take. questions in. And also, why I'm hearing. every single day from both black and and. and and Jewish Michiganders and from. Michiganders uh who are part of the. party who say, "I cannot wait because I. know who you're going to be in office. because you're showing me who you are. right now because you're not backing. down. You're not triangulating. You're. not telling me what you think I want to. hear. You are standing up and fighting. for the things that we need and deserve. And that's the best I can do. >> When you go into a room and maybe it's a.

skeptical room. And I don't know if. you've had that experience. Have you had. the experience where you walked into a. room? What does that say? Have you been. able to turn that skepticism around? What have been kind of the fulcrums and. levers that allow you to do that? And. what does that feel like as that. coalesces? >> You know, there's this thing that too often people. in my party do, which is like they show. up and pander. They use the words. And I. I've been pandered to. I'm you know, I'm. a. >> Right. Well, every politician is. >> Every every politician, you know, but.

but this is the thing I actually don't. do. Like I I've I've gone into rooms and. we had this um this town hall. >> You're like you're like Bill Burr when. he goes into a room and he just starts. ripping the crowd apart. >> That's No, it's I'm not trying to rip. the crowd apart, but like you know, it. was a room full of very skeptical Jewish. Michiganders. >> Okay. >> And in in my in like right near my. hometown, I grew up in a in a heavily. Jewish community. I'm really grateful. for that. I mean, Judaism and the Jewish. people, incredible contributions to. Michigan, to America. Judaism is a. beautiful faith. >> And uh. beautiful. I mean, that you know, the.

holidays the holidays could be a little. bit of a drag sometimes. We're. >> Well, that that's on that's on you to. decide, but like I've I've I've I've. enjoyed what I've been able to. participate in. And. >> What I I knew it was a very icy room. But when the question around my. commitment to Jewish safety, which is. sacrosanct, because the commitment to. Jewish safety is a commitment to safety. for any of us. It's the ability to. practice your faith as you choose. And. you know, as somebody who's a Muslim. who's being attacked for my faith, like. I don't want anybody attacked for their. faith. >> I'm Jewish and they're mad at me. So you can imagine.

>> I I I can imagine. And and so, you know, I'm I'm in that room and I told I told. folks I'm like, "Look, I'm going to tell. you straight up what I believe. And you. are straight up going to disagree with. me. But I want you to know something. Where I agree with you, I'm going to be. honest, specific, and direct. And where. I disagree with you, I'm going to be. honest, specific, and direct. Because in. the end, I don't want anything but. honesty and directness. I want you to. understand where I stand, and I want you. to decide where you where you stand. relative to me. And I'll tell you this,

if the issues of preserving our. democracy, or standing up for. reproductive rights, or standing up for. LGBTQ rights, or standing up against. tyranny, or standing up to Donald Trump. in these insane tariffs in this. ridiculous war, if those issues are. bigger, then you know what you're. getting. Somebody who is going to stand. up and fight back. If the issue of. Israel is bigger, then you know what. you're getting. I am going to tell you. what I think. I'm not afraid of what I. believe. But the choice has to be yours. What I think people are used to is a. politician coming behind closed doors.

and being like, "Hey, yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, you know, I'm Let me tell you what. I think you want to hear.". >> I just say that to them, but you guys, here's what the truth is, right? >> Yeah, but I don't want you to ever think. because of what that means then is that. even where you disagree with me, you. knew I had the courage to tell you what. I thought. So, when it comes down to the. issues that you agree with me on, you're. going to be like, "Well, he's he has the. courage to step up and fight." That's. the best I can offer. Really, that's the. best I can offer. And it This is the. problem. You know how many times I've. been in a room like it's an iftar, okay? And uh it's it's during Ramadan. >> For those who don't know, iftar is the.

the meal that happens after the the. fast. >> The the break fast after Ramadan, right? And so, you you'll have very. well-meaning politicians who come in and. say, "You know, I fasted in solidarity. with you." I'm like, "Solidarity? There's food right here. I don't need. your solidarity. It's not like I'm. starving, okay? Like, >> [laughter]. >> we've got good food. It's delicious. We're probably going to have the best. meal you're going to have you're going. to have all week." I don't need your. solidarity when it's here in this space. and we're about to eat delicious food. I. need your solidarity when people are. coming for folks to try to take away. their religious liberties, or people who. look like me or pray like me are getting.

bombed by our tax dollars. That's when I. need your solidarity. Right? Don't you. don't you tell me that that that you're. in solidarity with me when it's easy. I. need solidarity when it's hard. And what. I'm trying to prove out is, look, I am. going to tell you what I believe, and. I'm going to stand pat. So, on the vast. majority of issues on which we agree, you know where I stand, and you know I'm. going to go fight for them. Because I. had the courage to tell you where I. disagreed with you. And that's the thing too few politicians. do. So, it goes back to that point that. I'm making. There's two questions that. everybody's asking about a politician. Number one, what do you say you're going. to fight for? And two, how do you know.

you're going to fight for it? >> [music]. >> Hey everybody. I I. it's the fall. I you know that. You've. seen leaves are turning and there's a. little bit of nip in the air. Uh but for. me, the fall is a particularly. consequential. period of time, and I'm going to tell. you why. In in in the springtime, it is. the robin redbreast that signifies. renewal, and it signifies a return to the earth. for so many creatures. And for me, the.

signal of fall, more than Halloween, is. the putting on of my fall Bombas. Uh the. this fall, I I I cannot urge you this. enough, get the best socks that are out there, and that is Bombas. They'll They'll get. you through They've got merino wool. socks for the cold night. They've got. sport socks. for sweat, so that you're not bringing uh stinky. dogs into the house. Uh suede moccasins. for. I'm going to say canoeing? I don't.

really know why you would wear suede. moccasins. You probably can't wear them. for that many activities, but they've. got them cuz they've got everything. Because fall is the time of year where. you treat your feet. Head over to. bombas.com/weekly. and use code weekly for 20% off your. first purchase. That's b o m b a. s.com/weekly. code weekly at checkout. >> [music]. >> It's very interesting to me that And And. look, this is.

also a part and product of the. aggregator system of the internet and. it's looking for these moments. But a. lot of the stuff I see on you. you know, in my general travails as I'm. flipping through things is will you. disavow Hasan Will you disavow. the Muslim Brotherhood? Will you judging. you by. uh. a variety of things that are kind of. associative. and not. affirmative in terms of what you said.

Is that the experience that you've also. been having or am I getting a much more. skewed vision of what you're. experiencing? >> You know, John I've been on a town hall. tour for the for the last 2 weeks and. took me to. 10 different communities. >> A variety of communities, rural, city. but. >> rural, urban. >> Okay. >> the questions that I get asked by media. almost have nothing to do with the. questions that I get asked in the room. >> Really? Total disconnect.

>> Total disconnect. >> That's interesting. >> Like and I'll have a whole press gaggle. right after and the folks in the room. are asking me about AI, they're asking. me about healthcare, they're asking me. about rights, they're asking me about. how you going to you know, work work. work with Republicans, tell me about. your leadership style. They're asking me. substantive questions cuz they're making. a decision about who they want their. next US Senator to be. And then I'll do. a gaggle afterwards and it's all of. these gotcha questions made for clicks. on the media. And I'll just I'll tell. you look, I hosted a podcast, I've done. this thing and I believe in the role of. the media.

But part of the reason people don't. trust media anymore is because it's. become so disconnected from their actual. lives and it's made for the. entertainment. >> Well, it's part of the reason why also. they don't trust government because they. see that government policy is also. disconnected from their lives. >> And and that's the thing that they're. getting with me, I think is that when I. stand in front of you and I take open. questions, we don't we don't screen. questions. People are realizing that like, wait, this is the guy who. did work in government to try to make it. work, solving medical debt, putting.

glasses on kids, making sure kids. weren't exposed to lead in their. schools. Like, that's important stuff I. actually agree with and I want him to. do. And they're, you know, asking him. all these questions in the press and he. keeps coming bringing it back to, yeah, but you can't afford your gas, you can't. afford your groceries. People don't, you know, can't see a. doctor. And they're all like, yes, yes, yes. Okay, fine. But can we talk about. Israel for the 15th time? And they're. like, we can, but the thing I keep. trying to tell you about that is, I. don't want my tax dollars subsidizing a. foreign military when it could be used. to subsidize kids' schools.

And they're like, yes, but you're. evading the question. I'm like, no, I'm. actually answering the question that. most people care about. You just want to. hunt for clicks. >> Is there any kind of synchronicity. between. is the media able to shape those. narratives to the point where you begin. to feel them. in your interactions with regular people. that you're uh going going around. Like, as you see. the news cycle focus on AIPAC or Israel. or Muslim Brotherhood or any of those. things, does that bleed into or do you.

see the downstream effects of. advertising in your interactions with. people? >> The advertising definitely you hear. >> You do hear. Okay. >> it true that you're Is it Is it true. that you're going to. and you're like, well, let me let me. just speak to, number one, who's funding. that and number two, what what my actual. position is. But more often than not, right, the sort of gotcha clickbaity. stuff in the media, specifically in. interviews, if anything, people come up to me even. when they disagree with me. Like, I've.

had multiple Trump voters who are like, you know, I saw that interaction with. Tommy. and thank you for standing up. >> Tommy. All right. By the way, I love. that. I love that he's just named like. Tommy. Just a random boy who stood up in. the back. >> Tommy now. >> A little Dennis the Menace of a child to. ask a question. Dude's a Republican. operative implant named Tommy. >> And actually, you'd be surprised how. many people actually know that about. him. Now? Oh, know that it Yeah, yeah. >> Yeah, they know they know what he is.

And then they'll also say, "Look, I saw. you on CNN. I saw you on MSNBC. I saw. you on Fox News. I saw you on whatever.". >> Right. >> And they kept trying to get you on this. thing, and you know what? Like you kept. bringing it back to me. So, thank you. And so, in some respects, it's funny because like when the when. the when the camera shuts off and we're. all off the record, I'm like, "How did. you think that interaction was going to. go?". Right? Like cuz here's the thing about. it. This is going to get clipped, and. then it's going to go on the internet, and then everyone's going to kind of. look at that and be like, "You know, that guy's actually just talking about. me, and you keep trying to make him talk. about everything else.".

And what what people think I'm going to. do is that I'm like, "I'm going to back. down, or I'm going to give, or I'm going. to give up." Like, "No, I know what I'm. here to fight for. I'm here to fight for. affordable gas, groceries, the ability. to see a doctor, I want money out of. politics, money in your pocket, Medicare. for all. That's what I'm here to talk. about." And if you want to make me talk. about foreign policy, I will, but I'm. going to talk about it with respect to. where our tax dollars are going and. where they should be going. Right? I And and and you know, the hard. part about it is there is this sort of. assumed thing. I mean, let's just step. back. We've got these these bipartisan. consensus in politics, and then you've.

got public consensus. >> Wait, we do? >> [laughter]. >> Right? But like But here's the thing, this is what makes it so weird. The. broad public generally agrees that the. government should be giving us or. guaranteeing us health care. Both parties don't. So, why is the. difference? Uh pharma money, insurance. money, hospital money. Same same issue with foreign policy. >> I think one of the biggest issues though. was if if you really want to look, you. know, on a macro level at what these. forces at play are, I think we have to. look at the Supreme Court decisions. There's been three areas where they've.

made decisions on money and politics, they've made decisions on, uh. you know, executive power, and they've. made decisions on defining corruption. A variety of decisions in all three of. those areas that I think have made our. democracy really much more vulnerable. than it needs to be because it allows. for all the influences that you're. talking about. >> You're exactly right. And it's why my. first my first point is always money out.

of politics. >> Can I ask you a question? Is there a. possibility why. who can introduce an amendment? And I. don't really know how the the process. works. I know you can introduce. amendments. Does it have to come from a state? Why doesn't a state introduce an. amendment to the Constitution. that. that makes these changes. I don't. understand why partisan gerrymandering. is allowed. I don't understand why I. don't understand why Elon Musk can spend. $500 million. to.

avoid paying taxes to get you know, it. it's just it's incredible to me. So. why do you think there hasn't been a. process to try and amend the. Constitution. based on that? Cuz clearly the process. exists. >> I mean I think too often I hate to say. it, but there's again both parties play. at that game. And I I would love to see. us do it. The other thing I'll tell you. is I actually think that if we passed a. law thinking like about belt and. suspenders when it comes to Citizens. United. Like just a law to push back and.

and make an act of Congress that says. >> But they've tried. I mean. McCain-Feingold was sort of the reason. why all those Citizens United bills came. out. You know, that The reason why I say. it is it looks like. the law would be declared. unconstitutional, which is why I think. you have to approach it from the level. of an amendment. It's the only reason. why I say that, but I agree with you on. the other if if that would work, but. overturning it. feels like it would need an amendment, not another piece of legislation. >> What if what if though the way you you. thought about it is okay, fine. You.

know, if the Supreme Court has. interpreted the 14th Amendment to say. that a corporation is a person and money. is speech. What if they what if any support from a. super PAC triggered equal opposite. public funding? Fine. You We're not taking away your. your your right to speak as a. corporation. >> Flood it more. >> Yes. There's just going to be public. funding that that that that trucks in. and says, "Look, like this is going to. undo some of that.". >> I just saw that then I think you're. talking about public funding that is.

upwards of 10 billion dollars for each. election. So, I just saw I I don't think. it's tenable on just the the nature of. the amount of spending. I think we have. to find a limit somehow. I I would. propose a constitutional amendment that. limits election seasons to a certain. amount of time, spending to a certain. amount of limit, takes away partisan. gerrymandering, and and doesn't allow. for. you know, the people that don't want any. of their power, I'm talking about, you. know,

the technocrat class, any of their power. regulated, removes their ability to. create this vicious cycle where they get. to buy political outcomes that they. want. We have to do something. >> And John, I would support you on that. Let's do it. Look, even when I get. elected, let's go let's go DO IT. >> LET'S GO! >> MONEY OUT OF POLITICS. I MEAN, LOOK, I. want to try any and everything that. addresses the fact that our politics are. bought and sold. Right? And and, you know, I I know it. intimately. I'm seeing it happen to us. I mean, by the time this is done, there's never going to have been a.

candidate in Michigan history who's had. more money spent against them. Right? Upwards of 300 million dollars. >> Primary and otherwise. >> Primary, general. >> Can I ask also, you know, 70 million. dollars on the primary? And I know Haley. Stevens, she endorsed you immediately. >> I'm grateful for that. >> And said all that. How important is that healing process. within cuz the Democrats are going to be. going through a type of kind of civil. war tug, you know, tug-of-war back and. forth as to, you know, what direction they're going. to go in cuz right now they're, you.

know, sort of rudderless and relying on. individuals. What is that process like? And. when you go through this bruising. primary season, how do you put that back. together again? And how do you guys move. forward in a more united Was that a. difficult process? And and has it even I. know she hasn't really been out there. that much. You haven't campaigned. together. What are the residual downstream effects. of that? >> Well, she's been she's been out there. campaigning for us, which I really. appreciate. And we're at the point of. the campaign now where everyone's kind. of fanning out and hitting as many.

people as they can. But, you know, it's a recognition that. whatever differences we have and they're. real differences, the risk of Trump and. Trumpism are so much worse. Mike Rogers. is going to be a check on that and it's. a recognition that, all right, you know, we we we had a good scrimmage to decide. who the starting team is going to be. And now let's go let's go shoot up on. Friday night because this is where we. need to go. Now look, we're going to. have an internal party discussion, of. course, about who we are and who we want. to be. And my hope is that we come out. of this election season saying, "Hey, when we stick to principle and we're.

clear on our principle, when we step. aside from corporate and special. interest money, when we can speak. directly to the issues of working. people, the power of a union and the. need to provide health care, we can win. elections and we can win elections. anywhere. And what we're proving in. Michigan is that actually, you know, if. you look at the polling, I do better. among Republicans than any other. statewide candidate running right now. Why? Because that Say what you will about me. You might not agree with me on. everything, but you know I'm not about. off and you know I'm telling you what I. think. And I think it's just really important. for us to be recognizing that actually.

the difference in our politics isn't red. and and and blue, right? The difference. in our politics is people who are locked. out versus the people doing the locking. out. And I always want to be on the side of. the folks who are locked out and I think. Democrats need to be the people who are. always on the side of the people who are. being locked out against the people. locking them out. >> Well, I very much appreciate you being. here and taking the time. Um, you know, we all see it looks like it's. going to be quite close. I imagine I. don't know if you guys have internal I. mean, I don't even know what polling. does anymore. It seems like I you know, I I I in the primary it looked you know,

the polls were saying it's Sayed in a. blowout and then it was really really. close. So, I don't know if if you're. having a fear of that also happening in. the general or if you have internal. numbers that line up differently, but. how how are you feeling about it going. into these final 2 weeks? >> We feel strong only because we're seeing. support in pockets we didn't expect and. a lot of support in pockets we do. expect. We're going to fight for every. vote. You know, I don't trust any polls. There is no resting on laurels. We are. going to burn through the last 14 days.

And in the end we're going to look up. and see what happened, but um. Michiganers are are good people. They. deserve a lot better than they've. gotten. They deserve way better than. being exploited by a billionaire from. New York or a millionaire from Florida. And we're building a campaign that has. been true to our ideals. I'm proud of. the campaign we've run and we're going. to keep running and fighting for every. single vote to the end. That's what I trust in. I don't trust in. polls. >> Well, Godspeed, sir. And I really. appreciate you being here and taking the. time to talk to us. Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, Democratic nominee for US Senate in.

Michigan. A Michigander. >> Appreciate you, John. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> [music]. >> Uh folks, this company, Mint Mobile. I don't want to give you a keep you in. suspense and any of those things. They. got themselves maybe the ad. spokesman of the century, Ryan Reynolds. But apparently, they need a little extra. push. And they're bringing in. I guess you know, it's like anything. You got to you got to sub in. One guy. can't do all of it.

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>> never know. >> [laughter]. >> God, I'm so stupid. He was right there. HE WAS SITTING RIGHT THERE. >> While we're here, do you guys disavow. the Muslim Brotherhood? >> What do you Tommy? >> Let's all disavow it while we can. >> But it is so interesting cuz it does. it points to a couple things. One is the absolutely skewed perspective. that we get from the national and. aggregate media culture. >> Yeah. >> Which is I mean it it like it must feel.

like Bizarro world. The fact that he. said though that that doesn't really. trickle down to the race is interesting, but that advertising really does matter. >> Yeah, and I think it reminds me of when. we had Mikey Sherrill on and there was. like that terrible ad that was running. in New Jersey. The one where she. literally was giving an example of. something she would not do and they. clipped it and we're like she wants to. do that. >> [laughter]. >> No, I thought can I tell you. because I'm in New Jersey like and I was.

seeing all the ads, I was like oh, she's. not going to win like. those ads made me really nervous and the. fact that she blew them out was a real. shock. >> Yeah, let's let's hope for that again. Just one year ago. >> [laughter]. >> Wow. >> But but it's it's funny because beyond. that idea of like the skewing of the. national media and media in general. looking for like only conflict points or. only things that can travel virally. But compare that to.

when he describes his immigrant story. and you start to see. the reason he is why he is. was the pressure of. recognized sacrifice getting to this. country and the opportunity that was. going to be presented him and him not. wanting to that up and squander it. >> Mhm. Yeah. >> Versus how his immigrant background is. used by the other side as a mode of. suspicion.

>> Yeah. And I I thought he gave a great. answer on that early in the campaign. where he was like, I think a lot of. people can put trust in somebody that. looks like me because I think a lot of. people are used to having doctors that. look like me. And I was Yeah. >> Oh, that's interesting. >> on your HMO, sure. [laughter] That's. right. >> If you have insurance, yeah. [clears throat]. >> Yes. If you have that. Emergency room is. a different experience. >> Yes. >> But it is But you also see like. he's a prickly dude. >> Well, I mean, holy The what he's.

dealing with. >> Yes. >> While doing research for this episode, there was a lot of moments where I. literally said to myself, "Oh my god.". Just the things that have been thrown at. him. Yes. But I love his bite. back. I really do. >> it because it is beyond the pale. >> I do wonder, you know, how effective it. is because. they wouldn't do it if it wasn't in some. ways Look, they don't have much to run. on. >> Yeah. >> But unless they thought it was somewhat.

persuasive that the appeal to the. unknown dark man. >> Yeah. >> isn't a like they must think, well, it's. got to be worth something. >> Absolutely. >> It's how Trump and Vance got elected, to. be honest. >> And it's not a dog whistle. It's like a. loud whistle. >> Right. >> are [laughter]. whistling. >> And it's in. What's so interesting to me is when you. talked about the difference between. what they ask him, people that live in.

Michigan in the town halls, and then. what they ask him right afterwards from. the reporters that are there. >> I mean, maybe it's just the media that I. get or from where I'm sitting, but they. seem a lot more interested in asking him. to, you know, disavow Hasan. disavow. >> That's all I see. >> than they actually feel about asking. anyone else answer for a president. >> [laughter]. >> That is That is ICE. >> Yeah, coming from me. >> And they're And they're coming. for No, we know it's not ICE because ICE. No siren.

>> Yes. >> Just like a weird. >> No siren, no name tag. >> Right. Just a Camry, an unmarked Camry. that drives up and. four guys in masks come out. By the way, they always say like, you. know, when they say they. we had to shoot the guy we were looking. for cuz he tried to. get away from us and you're like, right. Cuz to the person in the car, four. random people with guns just ran up on. me with no identification or no anything. else. So, I'm getting the out of.

there. >> Yeah, you could use a little signage, buddy. >> It'll be It'll be really interesting. I'm. I'm in a little bit of a dark hole about. the election. >> Are you? >> In. in the sense that. will there be any price to pay. for the Republican Party in general for. acquiescing to the abject recklessness. and. you know, megalomaniacal instincts of. this guy that's more interested in.

building ballrooms and monuments than. making measured decisions and getting us. into a reckless war and just throwing. out impulsive tariffs that drive cause. like, will there be any is there. anything that can happen? >> I have an anecdote about this actually. >> Brilliant. Thank god. >> going to sound like the New York Times. I was literally in a diner. >> this a trend? >> I was in a diner in a country that is. technically in the middle of this. country. Okay. Whether it's blue or red, I won't say. >> I assume you were there fact-finding.

You were not there on your own volition. >> mission. >> Is it New America? >> It's New America. I was in New America. Um and I as I'm sitting down at my. table, a man who's like in his 60s or. 70s, he's getting up with his wife. And. what I hear him say in a in a drawl, which I I don't think I have the. confidence to perform, but I'll say what. [laughter] he said. >> No, I'm I'll do it for you. Tell me what. to say. >> He said, "I don't like anything Trump's. doing and none of them stand up to him,

so I can't vote for the party anymore.". That is all I heard this man say. >> What? >> Wow. >> And I said I was like, "We can go.". >> [laughter]. >> I don't need to. >> What? >> I heard exactly what I wanted to hear. It confirmed everything I need. [laughter]. >> Have you ever had one of those moments. like where you're sitting on the beach. and it's like 6:45 at night and the sun. is just setting and it's that perfect. moment and then all of a sudden a. dolphin swims by [laughter] and you're. like, "Did somebody queue that?".

>> This is the simulation. Yes. >> That that sounds like they were in there. and then they go, "Uh couple number one, get up, say your line. Move past.". >> Yeah, it was I was I heard exactly what. I needed, so I can sleep easy at night. >> From your mouth to God's ears. I hope at. some level that there's not a one of. them that deserves to be reelected. because of their passivity in the face. of recklessness. >> 100%. >> Full stop. >> I think they're nervous. I really do. I.

have this sense that they're slightly. nervous. >> Yeah. >> [clears throat]. >> Trump going to Kansas, like they're just. I there's something about that I'm I'm. feeling optimistic. >> I hope so. I you know, I've just. because as we talked earlier, I think. the national media is so disconnected. from the reality of things that all they. care about is the horse race and. creating narratives around blue wave and. not blue wave and tsunami and and the. polling is always so and so wrong.

that I just really have no. sense. I know the country is hurting, but I also like my anecdote is I can't. even remember where I was, but it was I. saw a commercial from Texas that is just. a woman going, "James Tallarico wants to. make it illegal for you to object to. transgender mutilations on children. He. wants you to go to jail if you don't. agree with him.

I can't vote for that." And you're just. like, "What the is happening?". >> Yeah. >> Britney, what what Let's hope the. listeners have some questions that pull. us out of this morass. >> Uh John, for the first question, there's. an intro. >> Oh boy. Is it musical? Is it a drawl? Will Jillian perform it? >> Hopefully not. >> [music]. [music]. [singing].

>> John, as an up and coming musician, does. it scare you that AI-generated music can. already replace you? >> Was that did I just dance to. AI-generated music? You know what's sad? I can never take that back. >> [laughter]. >> I just my body just moved. to the dulcet tones. of AI-generated music. I I apologize to. our listeners, uh to our audience. Uh Uh,

I found it pleasant and agreeable. It [laughter] somehow seeped into the. synapses in my brain. It triggered. dopamine. Uh, I was moving. Many of you can't see. it, even if you're watching this on. YouTube. My hips weren't lying. >> [laughter]. >> They were. And I I feel right now. only shame. I feel only shame. The good news is I'm shitty enough as a. drummer that you don't need AI to.

replace me. I can be I can be replaced. by a child. >> No. >> I can be replaced by a child who's 3. months into their percussion career. So. >> Yeah. >> Uh, no no worries there. Yeah, it's. >> I've listened to music and I'm like, I. really like this. And then someone will. be like, oh yeah, this is AI. >> Yeah, no. It just sounded like a regular. jingle music. Like, listen, if the worst. thing that happens to us is all our. jingles are replaced, >> Yeah. >> I think we'll consider ourselves lucky. But I don't think that's where it's. going.

>> Questions. Kind of gave it away for me. >> questions, yeah. >> Yeah, that's right. Didn't quite sound. [laughter]. Once Once they I'm telling you. >> Once they unlock that. >> Once I started going to Taco Bell and. the little box went, "Hello. What can I. help you?" Oh boy. [laughter]. All right. And by the way, won't answer you. They've decided, I think wisely, let's. not even create interactive prompts cuz. people are just going to with it. So I I do a lot of like, "You seem like.

you're having a good day.". >> No small talk at Taco Bell. Philanthropic on the flip side is like, if you're mean to Claude, we're banning. you. >> Yeah, no. But when you do that, it the. the machine, the AI immediately goes to. like, "Do you want sauces?". >> [laughter]. >> All right. >> Will you be paying with the app? >> Exactly. Always the first question. >> Yes. >> Uh, what else they want? >> Uh, we touched a bit upon this, but. John, >> Mhm. >> Trump says, "Quote, the polls are fake.".

So, are we in for another utterly. disappointing election night? >> Well, that's. whether Trump believes them to be fake. or not is is not even the question. Could we be in for another. disappointing? I think there is not. anyone alive who has not felt the gut. punch, the stomach-dropping. feeling of the floor going out from. underneath you and the. lack of equilibrium that you feel when. the results. when you are shocked by what.

you believe your good fellow Americans. want to happen in this country. Like, that to me is the greatest. feeling of disequilibrium is. a sense that. oh, these people around me want. something I find not just. a. a policy disagreement, but actually. dystopian. Like, they actually want to. create. fear and and disorder in communities of.

immigrants that are just really like. that have been here 20 25 years and just. trying to get to work. Like, that's the part that I find. I I I have trouble reconciling. >> CAN'T WAIT. >> NO! BUT, isn't that isn't isn't the issue on. elections? It's For me, it's it's almost. never about like, "Oh, this is going to. have policy just you know disagreements. that I'm probably not going to be on. board with." It's the feeling that those. around you that that's what they wanted.

That there was a majority of people that. said like, "Oh, no. That grabbing by the guy, like, that's that's for me.". >> Yeah, and I think that's why 2016 was so. destabilizing for me was I literally. felt like I had been. like lied to my whole life um. just about like who we are. that kind of. thing. >> That's all. Can I tell you the moment. for me when Hillary Clinton said in the. debate with Trump, "America is great.

because America is good." And you're. like, is that why are we? >> And America was like, "No, we're not.". Actually, actually, we're not. >> You don't you know nothing of my work. >> Right. And you're just like, "Ah, it's a. tautology that doesn't quite ring true.". >> But the fact that we did it again, like. that we decided or some people decided. upon doing it again, is really kind of. where I. >> And did it again knowing that now. those dystopian goals were explicit.

>> And after January 6th, like I'll just. never understand the people that thought. that that was permissible. >> That's that's a great point. I mean, there were so many red lines that you. thought like, "Well, there's just. no way.". >> Yeah. >> And and. So, I think that to me is I I think. Jillian, the the perfect word there was. destabilizing. I think it just makes you. go, "I don't think I understand. any of this.". >> Yeah, and you're being told this by like.

Steve Kornacki. >> [laughter]. >> I figure if I can't trust a guy whose. sleeves are rolled up to here, I mean, >> A2, Steve Kornacki. >> Why would anyone roll their sleeves up. to here if they weren't going to tell us. the truth? I mean, I I could understand somebody. lying with a sleeve over the wrist, but. but here? With the truth forearm fully exposed? >> [laughter]. >> Unacceptable. >> More and more disheveled. Okay, last.

one. >> One more. Uh. >> John, do you think Trump yells fake news. because he can't yell you? >> Here's the thing about Trump, he can. yell you and he's done it. And he. does it all the time. Like, I don't. think I think he just. it depending on, you know, he has a. variety of responses like a sort of. magic eight ball to things he doesn't. agree with and you is one of the. responses and fake news is one of the. other magic eight ball responses and he.

uses them all and it's all part of his. kind of deep-seated core belief that he. can shape the reality that we all live. in and unfortunately. he's had more success doing that than. we've had convincing him otherwise. And that's on us. >> Yeah. >> I mean that going back to your point. that like. if after January 6th he's like, "Oh, that's nothing. I'll I'll come. back from that." And we let it happen. Well, who's shaping the real Who's Who's.

warping. reality? Who's distorting it? Him or us? >> Like you're not delusional when you're. the president of the United States. >> That's exactly right. So who's living in. the distorted reality? Those of us who. believe that those things are. disqualifying or those of us who go, "Nah, that's not even a speed bump on my. path to total domination.". >> Oh, man. >> Yeah. Oh, this is terrible. We're having a terrible. Whatever happened to the.

Whatever happened to the fun. Oh, the question. Get out and vote. >> week. >> Please. God, if there's a The people of. France are burning down the. country cuz their schools are crumbling. We live in an utter. political dystopian. reality and everybody's like, "Eh, I. don't know.". Like come on. >> Both sides. >> Let's Let's demonstrate. that we recognize the the the position, the urgency of now, the urgency of the.

moment. >> Yeah, yeah. yeah. CONTROL. >> [laughter]. >> ALL RIGHT. UH WELL, THANK YOU guys for. Yeah, all right. I'm going to get out of. it. I'll get out of it. This is going to. be a two-week. >> Two weeks? It's going to be over. so. >> Churchill used to call it the black dog. I'll be visited by the black dog over. these next two weeks, which is uh. >> Also a Taylor Swift song. >> Is black dog really a Taylor Swift song? >> Sure. >> Is it about depression?

>> It is. >> I bet it is. But that's a secret. It's a whole thing. It's layers to it. >> I really got to You know what? I've got. to delve back into the collection. [laughter] and start. and start looking. >> why I'm here. >> Britney, that's one of the small reasons. why you're here. You're here for many, many. other Britney, how do they get in touch. with us? How do they How do they keep us. informed? >> Um Twitter, we are weekly show pod, Instagram, threads, TikTok, Blue Sky. We. weekly show podcast and you can like, subscribe, and comment on our YouTube.

channel, The Weekly Show with Jon. Stewart. >> Uh all right. Uh thanks again to. everybody who helps uh put this show. together. Producer Britney Mamedov, producer Jillian Spear, video editor and. engineer Rob Batolo, audio editor and. engineer Nicole Boys, our associate. producer Rebecca Rotenberg, and our. executive producers Chris McShane and. Katie Gray. Thank you guys so much and. we'll see you again next week. Bye-bye. >> [music]. >> The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart is a. Comedy Central Podcast. It's produced by. Paramount Audio and Bus Boy Productions.

>> [music].