Eclipse Week with Christiana & Josh Johnson - What Now? with Trevor Noah Podcast

- You are the most awkward person I know in. certain situations. Sure, - Sure. I felt it. I feel every time this, this is a thing about being awkward. that people don't give enough credit for. I know what's happening. I also wanna leave, but I don't know what to do next. 'cause it's my fault. You see? But now, now I. - Feel bad for - You. I, but here's the thing, I don't feel bad. I just know it's happening. I wish I could stop it. Okay. I'll, I'll give you an example.

If someone tied you to a chair, you know that. to get outta the chair, you'd have to break the ropes. - Yes. - But you don't know how to break the ropes. Right. And you don't have the strength Right. To break the ropes. That is me in every conversation. - Except you're the person who tied yourself to. - The chair. Yes, yes, yes. - You are the person tying yourself to the chair. And then you sit there looking at the other person. like, oh man, this is weird. - Yeah. I look at the other person, like, I shouldn't have done this. - Hey, what's going on everybody? Welcome to another episode of what now the podcast.

where we talk about all the conversations. that are invading your brain. Yeah. That's how I see them. They're invading your brain. This week we're chatting about rocks. The rocks flying in space, the rocks under your feet, and the rock, who is no longer involved in politics. Now, the only thing I enjoy more than having conversations. is having them with some of my favorite people. And this week I'm joined as usual. by my good friend Christiana.

All the way from Los Angeles. Yes. She's a mom, she's a thinker, and she's a person with a voice once again. And what a treat. I'm joined by the one and only Josh Johnson, comedian. and human being in the same space. Touch my blood. That's. what we say in Africa. Touch my blood. - Yeah. You like that? That's. that's way harder than shake my hand. - Yeah. Touch my blood. - I love that. - That's what that is. Yeah. We started doing that when AIDS was spreading. Like really? It was like a big thing. Oh, okay. Yeah. Oh, too late.

You touched it. Yeah. Welcome to the podcast. This is what now with Trevor Noah. Happy podcast day, everybody. Happy podcast. - Day, - Man. Happy. - Podcast day. - I've missed you, Christiana.

It's, it feels like it has been forever since I've seen you. - I missed you, Josh, and I missed you Trevor. I, I'm glad I have a voice again. - Yeah. It - Feels good to be able to speak. - Someone asked me if it was a, if it was a gimmick or a gag. I, I don't know what people think. Someone asked me this. They, they were, I was in an, I was in an airport. and someone came up to me and they were like, I love the podcast so much. And they're like, I have a girl crusher on Christiana. Please tell her. And they're like, but I, I just didn't understand. It was the vo is the voice thing real? What was that about?

Then I was like, what do you mean? Is it real? What? Please explain. Sometimes I don't, I don't think people understand comedy. - Yeah. - Because please ex explain to me. what you think the premise of this joke would be. That we would say Christiana doesn't have a voice. and then there's no payoff. - Yeah. Yeah. Then she's just back one day. - And then she's just back. - Yeah. - Christiana, how's the family? How's everything going? - You know, I'm having a bit of a They're good that, you know, the headline is, the family's good. I should always lead with that.

- You're so African when you do that. That No. Can I tell you that's the most African thing that, that, that you'll do, which reminds me of everybody from home. You'll ask them a question about life or anything. They start telling you the truth. and then they catch themselves. And then they'll be like, you know, so they'll be like, how's everything? Like, ah, man, you know things, you know what? You know what? I'm blessed. Let me start by saying I'm blessed. This is. - Yes. Yes. - This is literally what you, what you, it's the most African thing. I know. It's. - Also - Like I know, I. - Know. - It's such a deep southern thing too,

because just like when you're in the. south, like I was just in Raleigh. Yeah. And when you talk to anybody, they'll start telling you about their day earnestly. And then they, they feel like they're wire tapped by God, because then they'll start telling you about their day. and they'll be like, but God is good though. But let's not forget that God is good. Okay. So I know I got hit by a car today, but Ooh, God is good. It just got hit by two cars. - It does feel like that. Yeah. It really does feel like that. Yes. - God is good. He is good. He's always good. - He's all the time. All the time. And now that, now that we're on a secure line,

tell me your, your, your real story. - My real story is this. Okay, so, so I have a. almost 10 month old named Luna. Wonderful little girl, but she's like, she's doing things differently to ob. Did like, Obie had teeth at three months. Luna has no teeth. She refuses to crawl. She sat up a bit later. and you know me, I'm like, I want her. to be a doctor or a lawyer. So she should be walking in my books. So we keep bringing it up.

with the pediatrician and the pediatrician. She's fine, she's fine. But take her somewhere just to check. and I'm Of course we're gonna take her. And today we found out she is fine. She's just lazy. So she needs physical therapy to get over the laziness. The ability is there, but the desire is not Wait, which is a worry. 'cause she's supposed to be a doctor. - Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Sounds. to me like she's not lazy. Sounds like she's a genius. - Yeah. It sounds to me like she's not gonna be a. doctor or a lawyer. She's gonna be the president. - That's, I mean, - Either the president. or she's gonna own, like create a tech company.

that has no value, but sell it for like $2 billion. Which is I am fine with that. Like that that's a good outcome. - Yeah. If I was a parent and I, they told me that my child. - Yeah. - Has figured out - Yeah. - That they don't need to crawl. I mean, they walked so that I don't have. to crawl is essentially the world she's in. She's a trail, she's a trailblazer. - Trevor, I feel like you've just made up. I feel like you've made it up, but I'm gonna, I'm gonna rock with it. - Do not deny the genius of your child.

- Yeah. - And you'll see in like eight months, Luna's gonna be on the podcast. She's gonna be like Beyonce's children. - Yeah. Yeah. - She'll just be like, featuring on the podcast winning us Grammys. Today's, today's episode of the podcast is gonna be fun. There's a bunch of things happening. I will tell you a little bit about where I was. because again, some people think I didn't tell them where I was going. Some people ask me if I was gonna get a BL, that's why I disappeared and wouldn't say where I was going.

Which was a strange one. The fact that people think I needed a bbl L. - Yeah. Talk to talk to 'em. - You know what I'm saying? - Yeah. Yeah. - The worst thing about these kinds of rumors is. that now people see it when they didn't see it. So if they go like, you went to go to bbl, they're like, I can see. Then you're like, that, that's how I've always been. Then they're like, no, I would know. So, so do either of you know where. Bhutan is? I mean, if I was betting money, I would say Christiana knows. Again, Josh, this is not an insult to you.

I say this because I wasn't completely familiar. with where Bhutan was. Christiana is somebody who's extremely learned. and she went to university. I don't know that you went to university. I didn't go to university. So. before you get offended at all. - Yeah. - I'm just put, do you know anything about Bhutan? - Sometimes you say before you get offended at. all, but you've already said all the. - Things. - Yeah. He is like, no offense, I. - Apologize, - But I'm about. - To thank you. Okay. I, no, I apologize. I apologize. Josh, what do you know about Bhutan? - I know that it starts with a b. - Christiana, - What do you, what do you know about Bhutan?

- I dunno that much about Bhutan. I don't, - Do you know where it is? A lot of people don't even know where it is. - Is it near in, near the Indian Ocean or am I wrong? - No, so it's actually in the Eastern Himalayas. Eastern Bay. I'm just telling you the thing. Oh man. Oh, you just took me back to my childhood. I have, I have a, I have a cousin who tries to do that. They try and answer the questions with you. to act like they always knew that, man.

Thank you for that, Josh. Thank you so much for that. No, so, so I, I, I, I was in Bhutan, that's why I went for a week. A country that is, is really interesting. because they, they only got the internet and TV in 1999. Place was pretty much closed off from the whole world. And then now they don't have a GDP, they measure their success in. what they call the GNH Gross National Happiness. And so you, you go to a country where they're like, oh yeah, money doesn't determine how well the country's doing.

We measure it on people's general health, their connection. with their family, their time, their free time. And so I went there and I just spent a week essentially. with monks, them just telling me about. happiness the whole time. - And was it like, when you were talking to them, was it an an inspiring experience. or were you like, oh, like, like, or were they, - Were they fun monks? Can, can I, oh, okay. First of all, I'll say this, every real monk I've. met is fun.

- Okay. - Fake monks. Yeah. Fake monks are the ones who are like, there is nothing funny in the world. And you know, if you're like, I had a bad day, they're like, there is no bad and there is no day. Ah, those guys, those guys, those, those monks are assholes. The monks like, like the real, real monks. They're great. They have a good time. - Wow, - Okay. Yeah. The, the one monk was like, Hey, you should follow me on Instagram. I was like, you have Instagram? He's like, yeah, everyone has Instagram. I was like, oh, but you're a monk. He's like, I don't, I don't get. what this has to do with anything. You gonna follow me or not?

And then I thought he was joking. Yeah. And then the next day I saw him again. and he's like, you didn't follow me. Yeah. - Did you have to be like, silent? Like what, what, what were you doing for the week? Apart from being like the CIA asset that you are, I, - I spent a lot of time meditating. I, I'm gonna ignore that comment. because I've found inner peace. and you, okay, lemme put it this way. It was, it was, it was interesting to go to a place where. they're trying to redefine the very idea of. what success is, but from the country level.

Do you know what I mean? So. - Yeah. - These people, for instance, I, I played a game of poker. where they didn't play with money. They played with pushups. - That's hilarious. - It was actually, can I tell you, it was actually the most stressful game. of poker I've ever played. - That's so good. That's. - Like, literally, you bet. And you go, I raise you two pushups. And someone's like, I raise your two pushups there, six pushups, eight pushups. And then at the end of each round, people are doing pushups.

There's no money exchanged. Same game, same enjoyment. But people are doing pushups. And you, first of all, you'll be shocked at. how quickly you start. curtailing your gambling when you have to do pushups. Yeah. I was like, this could cure Vegas in like a week. - Yeah. Yeah. - If you said everyone in Vegas had. to do squats or pushups every time they lost. - This is, this is the best. Because now your gambling addiction looks sexy. - Well now you'll know who has a gambling addiction. - Right? Yeah. Like, you'll see somebody with just the chest.

and no arms and you'll be like, Ooh, he's sick. He sick, poor. We need to pray for him. 'cause he got no legs. But he got that thick. - Chest. That's, oh man. You know what I, I feel enlightened and. - I feel some of that light. Yeah. I love that. - Like, I, I, no, I feel like, I feel like you're a hater. That's what you are. - I'm not a hater. - I'm. really, I'm feel like you're a hater. - I'm a hater. I'm always - You're a hater, - Professional hater. - You're, I'm - Always a hater. - Yeah, but you're different. Josh right now is just. that you are being you. Josh has stepped out of himself to step in.

and and hate on me. - I'm not hating at all. I'm. glad that you told me about this. And I will think about it sometimes when I. freak out about money. - You know what we're gonna do? We're gonna take a little. break When we come back, I will tell you. what would've happened to you. a few hundred years ago if you had this. exact same attitude with me. We're gonna continue this conversation right. after this short break.

When was the last time either of you watched. or saw an eclipse. - Today? - You saw the, you went outside and you. - Did - You have, did you have the glasses? - Look, I'll tell you this right now. Everybody was trash a truck for looking at the sun. But I almost did it. I really did because I had the glasses. and bef when the thing was starting, I couldn't see anything. because the glasses were so good. - Yeah. - And then I started to see a little bit. and I was like, I do kiwan. Just take 'em off real quick. Just get a sneak peek. - But did you take them off? I did.

- Not - See, I didn't not fit to be president. Christiana, you, when was the last time you saw an eclipse? - I've never seen an eclipse. - Huh? - Yeah, I avoid them. It feels too spiritual. Too much of a shift. I stay. - Indoor. Yeah. It's, it's, it's, I I will say this, it is both the most powerful. and meaningless thing I've ever experienced. Because it was like a, it was, it was one of those moments. where, you know, seeing everybody outside. for the same, I, I don't know.

There, there was a, there was a, the last time I saw. New York, like that was during the pandemic. And so in a, in an emotional way. It was, it was really wonderful to see everybody outside. for something that wasn't morose. Something that wasn't sad, something. that it was just people gathered together. to look at the sky, turn dark for a moment. - Yeah. - And, and enjoy like everyone, I mean like construction workers, high school kids. Literally, I just, I was riding a bicycle. through New York watching it the whole day.

And it was just, everyone was just standing on the side. of the road with, I don't know where they all got them all. By the way, that's, that I will say is like weird. I don't know. Everyone in New York had eclipse glasses. and I don't know where they got them from. I don't know where I got mine. It's very suspicious. I think a lot of people are gonna have some. long-term vision problems. 'cause nobody knows where they got their glasses. But, but I started reading up on everything. that the eclipse has meant for humankind. It's amazing. Like, like you say, like wars.

There, there was a war that there was spoken about, like back in the day, I think it was the ancient Greeks. And they, they basically, they had a truce. because they, they were just like, yeah, man, even the moon. and sun don't want us to fight. And then they just stopped fighting. That's beautiful. - Yeah. Yeah. - That's, that is so beautiful. And then to you, earlier when you were trashing me. with my poker pushups, if this happened back then, - Yeah. - I could have killed you during an eclipse. and no one would've said anything, Josh. Why wouldn't they have said anything?

Because it would've happened during an eclipse. And eclipse was what? Like, so that's the thing I learned. The eclipse was the perfect time to end other people. because during that period, you could say you were ending it. for the eclipse or because of the eclipse. So if you, if you killed somebody. during an eclipse back in the day, and then people are like, what did you do? And you are like, yo, the demon biab took over. when the sun was gone. - Okay. - And then you say to people, I would never, you know me. Come on man. You know me. Have I ever killed anyone? - Yeah. If you kill me over a comment about the poker.

pushups, you were waiting to kill me. Like the, the, the eclipse had nothing to. - Do with it. No, don't. - Josh, - Josh, please. If you. - Haul off and choke me now. Oh, you've been waiting. - No, no. Maybe no, no. I don't know. I just, I just liked it. I I, I was sad that not everyone got. to experience it everywhere in the world. because it was just like a moment over the east coast.

- Yeah. - Of, well, Texas, you know, sort. of like the east of, of, you know, - They also didn't all look the same. Did you see that? Like the one, the, the eclipse in Mexico was a little redder than ours. - That's racist. Josh, - I, - That's - Racist. Yeah. - I, and I cannot believe Josh. - Cancel me. I cannot believe Josh said it, - Not me. That you would take this moment, you would use the eclipse Josh to, to further your ideas. Josh, Josh, Josh of, of superiority and supremacy. Josh just said, y'all ever notice.

how the Mexican eclipse looks a little red? Wow. Josh. - I said, red or not. Wow. I didn't say Josh Johnson. I didn't say darker. I said, - Wow. Very problematic. Josh Johnson. - I'm just throwing it out there. that everyone doesn't have the same eclipse experience. - Why? Because the eclipse in Mexico doesn't have a job. Is that what you're saying, Josh? - I did not say that at all. - What are you saying Josh? - I was just saying that I think it's beautiful. that all over the world, just. 'cause you're here, this New York eclipse is not the same. eclipse as another eclipse and another eclipse.

- Some of us, Josh, we don't see colors in eclipse. - Yeah. 'cause it's blacked out. - I I didn't even see that it was black. One of the, the worst stories. and also one of the best stories I will preface. because just it's, it's interesting. was Christopher Columbus, right? He got to the Caribbean. Him and his men landed on the shore. The people at the time like say Jamaicans for now.

Like, you know what I mean? Jamaicans were like, yo, what are you doing here? And he was like, well, we're coming here to do our thing. And they were like, no. And they had a huge fight. and there was a bit of a war and they were winning. And then Christopher Columbus remembered. that the eclipse was about to show up in like a few days. And then he said to the Jamaicans, he was like, my God will punish all of you for. what you have done if you don't repent. And the Jamaicans were like, what are you talking about? And then the eclipse happened and the Jamaicans were like, damn, God is on his side.

- Yeah. - And the rest is history. - I mean, I would do something similar just. because if you go back to medieval times, the only people. who could read were also people in the church. So then a lot of science also came from the church. So there were people dabbling in both at the same. - Time. Yeah, yeah, yeah. - And I would be like, Ooh, God mad. Look at that. He heard you owe me the 10. Because I, because when I taught God, listen. And I told him how you owe me the 10. and you, you acted all big and bad. You all wanna pay me back 'cause you bigger than me.

- You using an eclipse for $10. Josh. - Shillings. - Okay. - Probably. - My bad. My bad. Yeah. Yeah. I didn't know this. During an eclipse, animals don't know what's happening. Right? For the most parts, nocturnal creatures have woken up. because they think it's nighttime. Birds shut up. During this happened for real in New York, by the way. I was in a park. Birds were chirping, chirping, chirping, and then silence. - Doesn't that creep you guys out? - It doesn't. It is creepy. - I get so spooked out by No,

that's why I stayed in my room. I don't, I don't wanna be around it. I just wanna pretend it's not happening. - What do you, what are you spooked out by? - I, you know, I was raised by, you know, Africans. who believed that Christ rose from the dead in three days. So I just like, which did my sense a reality, which you did not like everyone else did. I'm. - Going to heaven. - I don't, nobody - All, but, - But like, I'm like, oh my God, I just, that kind of stuff creeps me out. My husband's gonna be so. embarrassed when he listens to this. 'cause he was like, you need to believe Moreor in. science, which I do. I vaccinate my kids. However, eclipses creep me out.

Like, you being like, the birds stop chirping. They do. - Yeah, they do. And - Animals come out of certain areas. I'm like, nature is far more powerful than I want it to be. I hate nature. That's the issue. - You know, when you talk about it being scary or, or any of these things in South Africa right now, there's a, there's an ant I wanna say epidemic. If you leave anything anywhere, you, you've never seen this many ants in your life, ever. And I, when I went home recently, my,

I experienced this firsthand. It's like, like, like Gilligan's Island type ants. Like they will lift you up and they will move you around. I'm, I'm not even sure, you've never, ever, ever seen this many ants in your life. Geez. So everyone in South Africa has been going, why? There's so many ants. What's happening? Where are the ants coming from? It seems like the. devil, something's going crazy. You know what I mean? And then like around the world, there's been all these stories of like, either animals acting strange or tides being different. Or then you had the earthquake right? In Taiwan and people were like, oh yeah, there's, there's earthquakes cut to New York.

had like a four point something. - Earthquake - And people didn't even know which way to go. Do you run up? Do you run down? Do you run? - Yeah. - Like in la. because like, if you're in California, they tell you what. to do and there's an earthquake because they earthquake. ready in New York. People just, yeah, we. - Built buildings high. - All cocky. Yeah. But some, some people are saying. that the world might be ending. And I don't know. - I mean, I really hope not.

'cause things just start to go, well, for me, I need at least four, four or five more years of earth. And let me see why I take this thing. - You one of those, you one of those people. If the, if the world was ending. and you knew for a fact it was ending in a week, would you do anything different in your life? - Mm, I would probably go to England. That would be it. But only for a couple days. And then I'd come back. England is kind of like Oliver twisty right. now. So I wouldn't wanna be there for too.

- Long. Wait, too long. Wait, wait. You're gonna go there. for a few days? The world is ending in a week. - Yeah. I'd go there for a few days. and then keep living my life the way I've been living it. - Wow. - Because I feel like I'm living the life. I'm supposed to do. You know what I mean? I'm raising my kids. - Yeah. - I'm doing work. I what, why would I do? Wait, - Wait, wait. You would still go to work? You would still go. to work if they told you the world is ending in a week? - I like writing. I actually like my job, Trevor. No, no, no, no, - No. That's that's. - Not, that's not what I'm, I'm, I'm with you. I, I think if, if,

if I thought the world was ending in a week, right? I would go, my girlfriend and I would go see my mom. Right? I'd go hang out with my mom. I'd do a show in Atlanta. Then I would take Sally and my mom to Boan. and I would play poker for pushups until I un un. until my arms fell off. Really? Like I, I might have a, i. - I I, I don't know if I envy you. or if I feel sorry for both of you.

The world is ending in a week. There is no one you would cuss out. There is no thing you would do. But I cuss. - People out anyway. Trevor, wouldn't you live like me? And you just say how you. - Feel? All right. I'm. - Cussing people out. - Okay. That's different. - I'm yolo. about cussing people out. - I'd also buy a sword. Now this is what I'm talking about. Oh. - Yeah? What kind. - Of sword? - What type of sword? - We are talking a full on saber. - What? Wait, what were you, what are you doing with them? - I'm just walking around with. 'em, letting people know what's up. - Trevor, - What would you do?

- Yeah, - If there was a week left. - Whew. - Okay. There's a few things I would do. I would take crack, I would take heroin. You would. - Take crack. - That's - Wow. Take crack is what do you, what do. - You mean? - Sounds like somebody has never done. - Crack. The fact that Yeah. I've never done dope take. No. That's the most CIA thing done. You've ever said I would take crack? I would take, I take crack. This is, I feel like you Wait, what do you do? What do you do? You smoke crack. I can't believe you sound like the most wired up person. Writer. I would take crack. Wait, you you. - Smoke - Crack?

- Yes. You smoke the crack. The difference is taking crack. Yes. 'cause you don't imagine if I was like, I I'm about. to my partake in some alcohol. It sounds. - Josh, that's what you say every. weekend when we go out. Whatcha are you talking. - About? No, no. I've never said that. Whatcha are you talking about take. - Crack? You said I will unleash, - Take myself upon other people if I. took you somewhere right now. If I took you where I grew up. Yeah. Right. Yeah. So we go to like the Sonia quarters. Okay. Of, of, of Alexandria, Louisiana. Right. And if you say to the dealer, I'd like to take crack, we will be shot.

We we we will be shot so. - Fast. - Alright, fine. I will smoke crack. Thank you. And I will smoke heroin. Okay. No, you can't smoke heroin. But you gotta, - Trevor you inject heroin. - Yeah. - Trevor, I told you he's CIAI. - Knew if I, if I was CIAI would know all these things. - No, I would know all of these things. You're too busy going to Butan. And, and and, - Okay. Okay. Look, either way. So I would do heroin, I would do crack. I would take a shit on the sidewalk. This is something I've always wanted to do.

I I just think there's some occasions. where you like going somewhere. - And - Then you, I hate the whole. like, do you have a bathroom? Can I use your bar? And then they give you that giant key. with the heavy thing on it. And now you're at their mercy. And then you have to buy something. Do you want the code for the do I just think sometimes it. would be nice just like a dog to just like find a spot, do your thing, look at people while doing. it and just keep on moving. The world is ending in a week. Remember all of this is happening. I would do that. Yeah. - Best true. Six five. Like a six five. Dude, I'm, I'm gonna act like I want a high five. Right.

Because they love that. 'cause they think I can't re they. they think I, it's like touching the wind. So then they're gonna, they're gonna do this. Right? And then right when they do this, I'm gonna punch 'em in the balls as hard as I can. Yeah. Yeah. And now he's my height. Doubled over. - Yeah. Oh man. You know who is six five? You could try that with is the rock. Oh, - You know, this's the thing. Save. - That thought.

Yeah. Okay. 'cause we're gonna talk about him after this. Okay. Don't go anywhere. 'cause we got more What now after this? So if, if you haven't followed the story. and you've somehow managed to avoid it. So Dwayne the Rock Johnson made a special. appearance at WrestleMania. He's, he came back to compete. What, what? He's, he's 51 now. So it's pretty special. - Came - Back to compete. Wrestlemania's really taxing the. last time he was there, he got badly injured.

Anyway, he goes back, he does, it's, it's triumphant it's an amazing return. But this thing gets overshadowed by the fact. that the rock goes on Fox News. and says that he will not be endorsing Joe Biden. Right. Everyone goes crazy. People obviously Fox fans are like, yeah, that's it. Joe Biden is, is is a screw up. And, you know, screw him. - Yeah. - And then people, you know, who approach Joe Biden are like, why would you do that to us? The rock? You know, you know what.

- I mean? Yeah. Yeah. - It's okay. Here's what's, here's what's weird to me, a few things. First of all, he says he's not endorsing Joe Biden. And he says he's no longer endorsing anyone. So he's also not endorsing Donald Trump. - Yeah. Yeah. - So I don't understand why. that's not a headline, - But it, for some people it's an addition by subtraction. So they're so, they're like, you endorsed Joe Biden last time. - And, and now you're not endorsing. - Me and now you're not. So you're at least coming closer to me is. how people see it. Okay, - I see that. I see that. - And - Yeah, I, it kind of worries, it worries me a lot.

that people take their voting guidance from. a wrestler turned, actor turned, turned, the businessman turned everything. - Yo Like guys, - Once, once Donald Trump. I don't. - Believe once Donald Trump became. president, all bets were off. - Sure. Like, I'm sure. But I think I'm, - Yes, I'm biased because the Rock was on this podcast. I'm biased 'cause I've spoken to him of, but I think he would be more considerate. as a president than many presidents America's had. - I think that that would be incidental.

I think that if, if you, how about this? I, I don't know how to fly a plane. So no matter the intent I have when I, when I try. to take off, I'm still gonna kill. everybody when we try to land. So just because he's more considerate doesn't. mean he's more polished. Doesn't mean that he is more understanding. of policy. You know, - This dude, guys, I hate the celebration of politics. I despise it so. - Much. I agree with you. - I hate that people take so much guidance from like, it,

it drives me up the wall that people even care. what he thinks about politics. Like I really would like wrestling guidance from him working. out, guidance from him, business advice from him. But I don't necessarily need his opinion on. how I should vote in a school board election. And the fact that so many people. do care what the rock thinks. Very. - Worrying. Well, - We're in a bad way guys. - First of all, he is the people's champ. Let's start with that. He's the champ of the people. But secondly, no, but, okay, here's why I'll give him credit. He's never told anybody how to vote.

In fact, he's done quite the opposite. Even in this interview. He's essentially saying, he's essentially saying he doesn't wanna participate in. politics anymore. because he saw that all it did last time was. basically just get him hate. - But I would say this is, this is my thing with with that, with I, I have no problem. with anything he said except for that. Because the thing about division that I think a lot. of people don't understand, and I'm not trying. to take him specifically to task, but I want to use, take him. - To task Jess. - Okay. I do. Yeah. Go, go for it. He's not here.

- What's he gonna do? - Yeah. Come here. He won't. - Beat you up. - Yeah. - I hope you got your save ready. - You look, you look at the rock. The rock is. from Hawaii. Right, - Right. Okay. - Okay. So he is from Hawaii. and there are, there are both people in terms of, of politicians and people in terms of corporations that want. to take as much land as they can from, from the people. of Hawaii and use it for other things. And don't care. - What happens to the people. - I imagine he would stand against something like.

- That. Yeah. Right. Okay. Okay. - So when he stands against something like that, he's not causing division. 'cause that's what someone would say. They'd be like, oh, we're just trying to bring jobs. to Hawaii and you're over here causing. division. Do you, do you see what I'm. - Saying? Yeah, I hear what. - You're saying. And so I think him endorsing Biden, I think that, like, that didn't to me cause division. He just said who he was voting for. and to your point, didn't tell anybody else who to vote for. But now he's worried about causing division by just saying. what it, what he's doing.

And I, and I do think that a little bit of. that is worrying about the check first. I don't think, I don't think it's. - Necessarily No, but I think, I think what he's saying is. he's causing division in his life. I don't think he was saying he caused division out there. He's just causing division amongst his fans. and his people. And, and you. - Know, I don't think division is intrinsically a bad thing. Right. It's just how we deal with division. and how we deal with conflict. So I I I didn't, that kind of rubbed me that part. where he is like, oh, it caused division. and caused, I just think those conflicts can be useful.

My, my real issue comes back. to I do not believe in the theater. of public ideas that we have. - I agree - That the rock's opinion. should hold that much weight. It really worries me. because there are, like for instance, if you are a mother. that you send your kids to your local public school. If you're in an area that's deprived. and you're dealing with bad roads and bad schools, and you know how it bad housing, we don't care what those people think. And those people have opinions about. who their elected officials should be. Right. And I'm, I think we listen.

to the wrong people in this country. And it's not just unique to the US around the world. There's become this celebration of. who I wanna take my political opinion from an. influencer on Instagram. - Yes. - I don't care what that Instagram thinks about. some sort of conflict. What the hell do you know? Why do you have to puppet? You know? I mean, I think we just demand this, I feel actually bad for the rock that we demand this of him. to endorse somebody. - I agree with that actually, because I, I don't. - Think he knows any better than anyone. I, and I I, and that's what kind of annoys me.

It doesn't, I don't actually care who he votes for. I, I care that we demand somebody like that to actually say. what they feel politically, because I don't think there are any more sophisticated than. your average person. And maybe we should listen to experts. Well, that maybe be a good thing. - I I also, I also think, and maybe, maybe that this was taken. or this was inspired a little bit by the eclipse. I do feel like maybe just maybe we should consider.

the possibility that it is better for some things in society. to remain impartial slash. you know, non-party affiliated slash. i I think it might be nice for the world. to just go the rock is just the rock. Yeah. Whether you're Republican or a Democrat. - Yeah. - The rock is just the rock. Maybe it's nice to just, you know, share these things. as people and, and not have,

because to your point, Christiana, if we don't want. or think that these people should have an outsize influence. in how people vote. or don't vote, then maybe there's some merits. to them just being the thing that brings people together. Like, imagine this during the eclipse, at the peak. of the eclipse, all of a sudden the eclipse was. like, vote Trump. Yeah. First of all, I'm voting Trump. I'm just gonna let you all know that's happening. Yo, the eclipse said it. Yeah, - Yeah, yeah, yeah. - And now I as Trevor, there's a part of me that'll be like,

what does the sun know about American politics? - Yeah. - Do do. So. - I'm on the other side. I'm actually on the, I like, I believe the, I don't think we need to depoliticize any celebrity. I don't think you need to depoliticize yourself. I think people need to accept that we're more than our, it gets complicated that you can really like the rock. Ooh. - It's hard - As, as an actor, it's hard. It's hard. But you can write him as an actor. You. - Can, it's hard - Him as a father and his work, but you may not like his politics. because it's just like, that's what it's, there are people.

who I know, like politically I really agree with them, but I think they're kind of bad people. I don't like them. Yeah. I don't, I. don't wanna be part with them. I agree. Even though they're politics on paper, we agree completely. But I'm like, I actually don't think you're. a decent human being. And I think we need to be able to allow for. that in a society where we're like, okay, the rock votes for so and so. Does it change how I feel about his work a bit. But I have to accept that who he is. And I think if we could live in that nuance, it'd probably be a better world. - Oh, here's what, okay. Here, here's, I, I I agree.

with the sentiment of what you're saying. The reason I don't think we can do that is. because po politics fundamentally at some point make. some people feel whether it's real. or not, that their lives are being threatened. Right. So I think it's hard to say to people, Hey, ignore how the rock or somebody else is voting. or has voted when you believe. that their politics inherently threatens who you are.

Like actually are. Yes. Yes. So, so. - No, I'm not saying to, I'm not, I'm not saying to. ignore it. I'm not saying to ignore it. - Yeah. But I'm saying, I'm saying you, I'm saying you might have a, you might have a, an ability. that most human beings do not. The ability to ignore. or to be able to put aside how somebody has voted. I I I don't know how many people. - No, I include it in the per I don't, I don't put it aside. I think that's a, I just, - You make it one of the - Things, it's like the sum of it part. - Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's - Part of the thing. Right. - I'm saying that's, I'm saying that's special. Yeah. Yeah. - It's just, no, I don't, I just think if,

I think if we're will, if we're gonna be really human. and accept the messiness of what a human being is. - Yeah. - You're gonna know it's not always gonna be coherent. And I think we live in a time where people don't wanna live. with that incoherence or that paradox, and they wanna pretend that people are just one thing. - So here's the thing. I agree. That's why I say I, I agree with the sentiment completely. But growing up in South Africa was interesting. and weird for me in that like, I got to see democracy. for the first time in a country, not many people have lived.

through that experience. Right? So in South Africa in 1994, we had our first elections ever where everybody could vote. And I remember I was a child. and it was the biggest thing ever lines that, I mean like, it looked like the whole of South Africa was going. to a Taylor Swift concert, let's put it that way. Right. The biggest message was, your vote is your secrets. Your vote is your secret. And I remember, I didn't understand it. I was like, why should your vote be a secret? I mean like, and it, it was almost agreed on all the black.

people were voting for the A NC. because this was the party that had. liberated them, et cetera, et cetera. But still, people were like, your vote is your secret. Your vote is your secret. And I remember asking, it was a teacher. or somebody, I was like, why is your vote your secret? And they were like, because if people know how you vote, you may not be able to continue voting that way. because they might want to kill you or threaten you. And obviously in South Africa, we had a lot. of political violence. Right. But the thing that stuck with me was just this idea.

of how I don't, I don't know, it's a weird, in, in many ways, I think of it like this, politics is a lot like sex. Everyone has their own proclivities. There may be things that you believe in politically. that I don't agree with or that are strange to me. But I think if we know all of these things about each other, it's a lot harder for us to exist in a society. where we take each other as, as as whole human beings. It, it'll be very hard.

to look at Josh the same way when you know. that he uses a saber during sex. Do you know what I mean? - Yeah. When you know, I have that thing, - It's like, it, it just changes how you are with people. And I don't know, I feel like, yeah. I feel like one of the things. that's hurt America is the fact. that now people start conversations. with their political affiliation. Whereas before, I remember, even in my lifetime, it used. to be a thing where people didn't, if you said, how did you vote? They'd be like, well, come on. Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey. That's not how I,

- Yeah. It used to be more like sex. - Yeah, yeah. People would just like, like so what. - Position - Exactly? Oh, hey, hey, that's between me and my wife. - Yeah. You - Know, that's, I don't think it's appropriate. - Yeah. - And, and I, I think there's. something valuable in that. I think there's something valuable in us not knowing. how every, only because only. because politics is inherently a polarizing thing. And I think there's something valuable in living in a. society where we go, I don't know how you vote. Let's go and vote honestly in privates.

and then let's see what the country. and the people actually feel like. And then we work from there. Does that, does that make sense? - No, it does, it does make sense. And I think that when it comes to the Rock. or any other celebrity, there's two main things at play. One is that there's no way word for it, but it's, it's basically we want every great athlete. to be Muhammad Ali. because Muhammad Ali took everything that he had as far. as like clout, as far as fame and everything. - Yeah. - And he put it towards things that he believed in. And he gave speeches and he happened to be a great order.

And he happened to be, well, well read. So it's like we kind of got everything all at once. But then you turn to the next boxer, next to him. Right. So second best boxer in the world. And he's like, I punch, that's really all I do. Right. And that was, that was okay at that time. Like Muhammad Ali was doing all these big things that were. outside the arena of. - Sport. Yeah. - And other, other boxers were just sport. Right. But I think that now, and I mean, I am kind of coming down on, on myself.

and just the, the whole country, we don't love to like read. or find these people. So then it's kind of easier to package them in people. We are already watching. Like you're already watching WrestleMania more than you're. watching a debate about Israel-Palestine with, with two people who are experts and on the history Yeah. And the politics. So then if the rock says something about. Israel Palestine, you're more inclined to listen. 'cause you're already watching him. - I hear what you're saying. But I think.

what we should never take for granted is the. power of embodiment. This is a man who has come from nothing, has worked really hard physically and mentally, and he's brought people together. and you know, he, he exists in different worlds. and he, he is also a biracial human being who's combined, you know, America, but then also this, this Samoan heritage. And it's all these things. Do you know what I mean? So there's all these pieces that that sort of come together. and I think that embodiment makes people go, that is.

what we want our country to represent. Like one of the weirdest thoughts I've had is I've, I've gone, I sometimes feel like America could do. with a royal family as well. Like America should actually get a royal family. Because I sometimes think what happens in America is. America's looking for the embodiment of what America is. and they're putting that on the president. But that job is really just supposed. to be like an administrative role. You're the regional manager. and you manage a region called America. - Yeah. Yeah. - I think the royal family.

and this idea of a embodiment is a good one. because I think as much as embodiment, I think there is a certain type of American. and a certain type of Brit who needs a public figure. that makes them feel like the country is harmonious. - Yes. - And the royal family is a great example. because when I really, really think about the royal family. and the fact that I speak with this accent, it's a result. of trauma and pain. You came to West Africa.

and you plundered it, you created Nigeria, you raped it, and you put your face on our money. And then the country's in such a bad state. My grandparents and people, like my grandparents. and parents had to move to a different country. Right. And my, when my parents were born, they were born under colonial rule. This was, they were born. before Nigeria had become independent. - Yeah. - So for some British people. who can sing royal batan. and you can sing God, save the. Queen, and now God save the king. When they see the royal family, they do see that embodiment, they see that fantasy of harmony.

But underneath it, underneath these symbols, wherever they are, whether it's the rock or the royal family. or a president, there's always something darker there. Even the rock, he may not show us his darkness, but there is an inherent conflict in him. But people want this fantasy of embodiment and harmony. And I think the rock is actually the perfect example. because him saying, do you know what I'm gonna shut up? That does embody what a, a lot. of America is doing right now. Where they're like, I'm just gonna keep what I really think.

to myself rather than be able to live in the discomfort. and have the messy conversations. - Okay. So let me ask you about that question then. Do you think that, do you think that. the idea of. cancel culture slash wokeness, like, I mean like let's just use these terms. loosely and throw them around. Right? We, we, 'cause we can debate forever about, I mean, I have my thoughts, you have your thoughts, et cetera. But do you think there could be some.

merit to maybe having like a, I, I know this sounds weird, but maybe like an amnesty. where we say like everyone can say what they want. Let's like a purge. Everyone can say. what they want for one day. Maybe let's say like every two months. or every three months, we hold nothing against you. But you can come out and say it. And because then maybe there's like a release valve. 'cause it seems like people might vote. a lot louder than they speak. And that could be causing a bit of a problem.

because it surprises you when it happens. - Okay. I'll pitch you that that thing already exists. and exists all the time. And it, and it goes by anonymity on the internet. I think that people are consistently. voicing everything that they think. You think so behind an avatar. Like I, I don't think that there's, there's this story. that we tell ourselves so we don't have to feel as bad later. that the internet got us all riled up. and made us do whatever this person, as far as cancellation what, what. - Whatever thing is. Yeah, yeah. I hear you.

- I think that by and large everyone already felt that way. and then they just let it out. - So I, I agree and I disagree. I think the internet creates an environment. where people are prone to let out a part of what they think. But it is not them. And it is not how they fully think. I think there are a lot of people on the internet. who say things just because it's what's happening. and people are going crazy. There is a part of you that is caught up in the moment.

that isn't a representation of all of you. Whether it's a collective fear, whether it's a collective anger, whether it's a collective joy. - Yeah. - Sometimes a hundred thousand people are storming. and they're terrified. And you, you're there and you're like, I'm also terrified. But you weren't really as afraid as, as maybe you, you would've been on your own. Does that make sense? - Yes. - And I think what the internet has done is it's. created an environment where people express a part. of themselves that is welcomed by the group and the mob.

And then what happens is, because of the internet and. because of the platform and the way it looks, we are only exposed to that in a collective. - Yeah. - Half the people. who are like racist on the internet. And I know this is a strong thing to say, I think half. of those people aren't even like real life racist. Like they just found a place where they can go out. and say something that'll hurt someone. and then they, they they sort of get to put it away. - I'm in between both of you actually. - Yeah. - I think there's something to Josh saying. that the internet brings stuff out of you. I think Trevor to your like thought experiment of that day.

where you can say whatever you want, it's actually very hard in person. to say something really degrading to a stranger. Even if you're gonna say a bad thing, you're not gonna say the worst thing as you would. - Online. Yeah. I agree with you. - And I think there is something to like that in. between phase of like radical honesty, but when you do it in person, I think you're more careful. 'cause then you're just seeing the person's physical. reaction and like most people aren't sociopath. If you see that you've said something that's hurt someone,

you are gonna react to it and it. changes the whole interaction. Whereas when you're on online. and you're just being super rude. and it's your lower self, you don't actually have. to see the person on the other side of the screen. So to merger ideas, I think there should be a day. where we can be radically transparent. and honest about politics. But you have to do it across from the. table with someone, Ooh, I like this. And sit in their reaction. And from there that's where it gets interesting. - Everybody should say. how they really feel in punching distance. - I like this. We should, we should create.

this. We we create a safe. - Environment - Where once, let's start with once a year. - Yeah. - Pilot program. - Yeah. - We bring everybody together. So we bring those people to the rock, face-to-face, and we're like, here he is, here is Dwayne. Speak to him. Tell him how you feel about him. and his, his politics and his endorsements. Mr. - Rock. Mr. Rock. I may have said some things in the past that. - Yeah, we just, we just put people face to face. and then we, we, we, we see what happens.

- Yeah. Yeah. - Everyone say what you're gonna say. to people's faces online. Let's just be nice. Yeah, yeah, - Yeah. - And if you see the rock. and you wanna tell him some shit, make sure. that you're within punching distance. - Yeah, yeah. - Absolutely. - And his and his punching distance is quite far. So I will, I will probably cheat. and take an extra step back. Well, it. - Was fun chatting to you guys. - Yeah. Great to see you, man. I wanna go to Batan now. Trevor. I'm jealous. I want to go to the monastery.

- And meet the - Mon. They don't allow. - Women there. - Alright. - Well, it's been fun chatting to you all. Oh, let's have a fantastic time this week. Bury the lead baby. No, I'm, I'm joking. I'm joking. I just wanted, okay. I just wanted. to throw a grenade into your world. Yeah. Before I said goodbye. It was true. I was just like, what is the one thing I could say to you. that would spoil this image? - Yeah. You know me too well. - Yeah. You know me too Well.

What now? With Trevor Noah is produced. by Spotify Studios in partnership with day zero productions. and full well 73. The show is executive produced by Trevor Noah, Ben Winston, Sinaz Yaman, and Jody Agan. Our senior producer is Jess Hackle Marina Hanky is our. producer, music mixing and mastering by Hannahs Brown. Thank you so much for listening. Join me next Thursday. for another episode of What Now?