Mehdi Hasan: The Freedom to Speak

[music]. >> Jean-Claude Van Damme, I mean, come on. He's not He's not Jason Statham. >> Woah! >> Ah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. >> Are you kidding me? >> Yo, what. >> JCVD versus Jason Statham. >> Statham would kick his ass. >> My friend, okay, let me start let me. start by saying this. You're stupid. >> Okay. >> [laughter]. >> Secondly, secondly, Jean-Claude Van Damme. >> Yeah. >> my friend, you. >> up watching Jean-Claude Van Damme. >> You have the memory of a goldfish. >> No, I didn't. I could tell you every. movie now. Bloodsport. >> My friend. >> I can watch Bloodsport again every day.

>> There's no world Double Impact. >> Twin Brothers in Hong Kong. >> where you can make a statement as it. would it be a close fight? Yes. Would it. be a tough fight? >> Timecop. >> My friend, there is no world. >> There's no scenario you watch more JCVD. films than I have. I watch him now at. the B that goes straight to. straight to streaming where he's like an. old assassin retired. I watch that. too. I watch all of this stuff. I mean, in what world in what world. >> Dude, the hand. >> In what world are you going to bring. What What did What did happen to. Like, I don't know. >> Oh, YOU CAN'T [laughter] GET HIM.

>> LIKE, HE HAS a gun now cuz he cuz he. can't do splits and kick anymore cuz. >> Cuz you said he's old and you did this. WITH YOUR HANDS. >> BUT, JASON STATHAM JASON STATHAM WOULD. kick his ass. >> No way! >> Are you KIDDING ME? YOU THINK THIS YOU. THINK THIS YOU THINK THIS BELGIAN dancer. is going to take out. >> You think this British. >> YOU THINK THIS BRITISH DRIVER. YOU THINK THIS BRITISH DRIVER IS GOING. TO BEAT kickboxer with cheesy lines like. >> What are you talking ABOUT? >> WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? >> THIS GUY'S. >> YOU'RE INSANE, BRO.

>> DO YOU KNOW TOM PO? AH, my man, you're. playing games, you. Have you seen. Universal Soldier? >> My my man, I've watched all of these. These are the only movies we had in. South Africa. >> I think Dolph Lundgren would have kicked. Jean-Claude Van Damme's ass. >> Yeah, but that's a tough one. But, that's a tough That's why. >> I'll give you Lundgren. >> Yeah, but I'm saying that's. >> But, I won't give you Van Damme. >> [music]. >> This is What [music] Now with Trevor. Noah.

>> [music]. >> What's the What's the language rules on. this show? >> [laughter]. >> Uh. you speak the language you speak. >> Okay. How many languages do you speak? >> Four and a half. >> What's the half? >> Urdu. >> Oh, okay. All right. >> We are known as the Urdu swearing. podcast. >> I don't know. I I don't worry. You When. you did your famous India-Pakistan dodgy. accent, that was on every every Indian. WhatsApp group I was on got that clip. Don't worry. I remember it well. >> [laughter].

>> You did You did like a Bollywood in the. middle. You did like a Bollywood. >> You know what I mean? I got got flamed. for that. >> He did like in the middle of the war. they were. He did like a Bollywood break out of the. soldiers. He like mocked. Indian-Pakistani soldiers doing the. >> No, no, no, no, no. I didn't I didn't. didn't mock the Mehdi Mehdi. >> What was it? I can't remember what it. was. >> Mehdi. You You are the man of facts, man. >> Not anymore. I can't remember anything. >> [laughter]. >> I have EARLY ONSET DEMENTIA. >> BY THE WAY, I HAVE A HARD OUT 4:25, my. friend, cuz I got to catch the train or. my wife will kill me. >> Let's do it, man. >> She's already upset with me. Let's not. make her more upset. >> Oh, man. Why is she upset with you?

>> Cuz I'm always traveling. >> Oh. >> said I'll be home tonight at 8:00. I got. to make the 5:00 train. >> Did you think you would work less or. more when you started your own thing? >> I thought I would work more, not this. much more. It's insanely more. >> Yeah, and I will say congratulations on. all of your success, Mehdi Hasan. >> I appreciate it. Same to you. >> Does it feel like uh Does it feel like. freedom or does it feel like a different. kind of burden? >> No, no, freedom. >> Yeah? >> Always freedom. I love the. >> Did you Did you ever see this for. yourself? >> I just started. >> Yeah, what do you mean? >> [laughter]. >> I love this is the weirdest podcast I've. ever done. >> Yeah, that's what I'm TALKING ABOUT.

>> WHAT'S GOING ON HERE? You just lulled me. into it. I just What do you mean? >> What if I said something outrageous that. I wasn't supposed to say? What if I. wanted to say some. >> Say some So, wait. So, wait. Wait. Let me understand this. So, you you you. >> No, no, no. Now I'm all buttoned up. [laughter]. Now you're ready to go. >> What would you like to talk about on the. Mehdi Hasan. >> Uh you see now Mehdi. Now Mehdi. [laughter] that we were on. >> Now we must cut the cameras and then go. back to the previous Mehdi Hasan. >> That's not what we're doing here. That's. not That's literally not what we're. doing here. >> what we're doing. >> No, we're doing what. >> I'm a free man. >> You see, so be free.

>> I'm free from corporate slavery, servitude, domination. I get to say. whatever I want. I get to do whatever I. want. I don't have to look over my. shoulder. It is liberating. >> What do you think you couldn't say. before that you can't say now? >> A lot of things. I can say. I can say whatever I want. I can say. >> what couldn't you say before? Do you. remember a specific thing where you were. like, "Oh damn, I couldn't say this. before.". >> Oh, I think well, if you know anything. about corporate media and you do because. you worked in it as well, you know that. it doesn't come down as a set of rules, it comes down as kind of you know, maybe.

you shouldn't say this or that. So, I. mean there are obviously rules. I went. to NBC News which has a very strong. standards department which I respect. >> that's different. >> Standards is different. >> Standards is different, but then there's. also, you know, things like, you know, you're not supposed to swear. That's. obviously. >> Yeah, that but I mean that I can. understand. >> understand that, too. But obviously, if. you look at for example The New York. Times, >> Yeah. >> Intercept got hold of a memo at the. early days of the genocide where they. were saying, "Don't say occupation. Don't say apartheid. Don't say. genocide." This was their guidance to. reporters. Like that kind of. When I set up Zeteo in 2024, the first.

thing I said was I get to say the G. word, the F word, and the R word. Genocide, fascism, and racism which. corporate media runs away from. >> They do. >> call Donald Trump a racist. You don't. know what's in his heart. Uh you can't say it's a genocide. That's. That's a little That's a little. inflammatory and even though every. genocide scholar in the world pretty. much now says it's a genocide. So, this. kind of crap, you know, fascism. I was. one of the first people on MSNBC to say. the F word, August 2020. I was sitting. in for Chris Hayes. It was the Portland. protest, George Floyd protest. And I. said, "We need to say fascism." And at. the time people were like, "Oh, this is.

hyperbolic. What are you talking about? He's not Hitler." Now, it's kind of his. own team have pretty much said he's a. fascist. >> Yeah, but so here's what I think it is. I I understand it. even though I don't agree with it most. of the time. >> [snorts]. >> I think what happens is people don't. understand that. it's something that shifts. It's not. something that happens. Does this make. sense? >> No. >> Fascism or any of the So, everyone. thinks that fascism happens overnight. >> Yeah. >> Everyone thinks that Even things like. you know, take it out of politics.

Being broke or being an alcoholic or be. People think those things just happen. overnight. >> Mhm. >> It's the one thing that leads to the. next thing. It's the second drink, the. third drink, the fifth drink, two nights. a week, three nights a week, four nights. a week. So, when you say it on night two. of the person drinking alcoholic, people. are like, "No, Maddi, Maddi, Maddi. Come. on, man. We don't use that word because. that's hyperbolic.". >> Yes, but the problem is by the time you. are using By the time everyone agrees on. the word. >> It's too late. >> It's too late. >> 100%. >> That's That's the issue. So. >> Tell that to the Palestinians. Now it's.

like, "Oh, the majority of genocide. scholars say it's a genocide. Every. human rights group says it's a genocide. Prominent Israelis say it's a genocide.". And it's like, "Okay, but now 100,000. people are dead. Netanyahu says he wants to take over all. of Gaza, etc., etc.". >> Yes. >> We're in a very different place. Same. with the fascism. >> By the time everyone agrees it's too. late. >> In 2019, I wrote a piece. I was writing. for The Intercept at the time. I wrote a. piece in I think March or April of 2019, and I said if Donald Trump loses the. next election, he will not accept the. result and there will be riots. And. people said, "You don't know what. they're talking about. You're a.

Brit. You don't know anything about. America. Secret Service will march him. out. That's not how it works. Yeah, of. course he can't try and stay on." And. then we saw what happened with the. election denial and January 6th. And now. it's like everyone's [clears throat]. like, "Oh, well, maybe he'll stay on in. 2020." And like now everyone gets it. When it's too late, he's back for a. second term. He's crushing his. opposition. Now it's like, "Oh, yeah, maybe he's a fascist. Maybe he doesn't. respect election results. Maybe he wants. to be a dictator.". >> I just realized that you're a Brit. I. don't know why I didn't think of that. before. >> American now. At the time I was a Brit. >> Yeah, but what I'm saying is I don't. even think of you as a Brit. I think you. are. >> Does my accent not give me away?

>> Mhm. No, I just think of you as Maddi. >> Okay. Unique nationality in the world. >> No, okay, let me explain. Stop being a. hater, Maddi. I'm trying to explain. something to you here. This guy's He's. trying to fight me here and I'm not. trying to fight here. >> I trust you. >> get what I'm saying, Eugene? >> Yeah. You know, sometimes somebody. becomes so um ubiquitous that you don't. think of them as being. >> innocuous. >> [laughter]. >> You ubiquitous is You ubiquitous not. good. >> No, what I mean What I mean is this is. like you you someone starts to occupy a. space just as themselves, and you don't.

think of them as being from somewhere or. because I I And I mean this as a. compliment, by the way. I just think of you as Mehdi Hasan now. >> From the internet. >> Yeah, that's what some That's what some. people say. But from the zeitgeist. Yeah, I do think of you as as the Like. when you said now a Brit, I was like, "Oh, damn.". >> Yeah. >> Where are you from in the UK? >> North London. >> Huh. >> 12 years ago I left. >> a football fan? >> I am. >> Who's your team? >> Liverpool. >> Why didn't we start there, Mehdi? >> [snorts]. >> Cuz I grew up I grew up in the 1980s.

where every brown Muslim supported. Liverpool. >> Why? Oh, glory hunting. >> It was the end of a great era. The funny. thing is I started supporting Liverpool. when they stopped winning everything. >> Or they stopped winning when you started. supporting them. >> Exactly. But I started supporting them. when they stopped supporting them. Um so. I I said this to Piers Morgan recently. where he made insisted on his show that. I congratulate him on Arsenal winning. the Premiership. And I said, "You know, I'm used to Liverpool not doing well. Liverpool winning things was an. aberration for me. My daughter's a. Liverpool fan, much bigger fan than I. am, watches every game I didn't have.

time to watch football anymore cuz of my. life. But I'm used to it. She's got to. enjoy Premier League victories and. world-class I lived through the '90s. where it was very difficult very. difficult period where Man United were. winning everything.". >> So you You jumped on a bandwagon and the. bandwagon stopped. >> Worst Worst time. Every brown person. did. >> Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London. >> Yeah. He's a Liverpool fan. >> Oh, wow. So this is how it came to I. wonder if this is how Ryan jumped on. Ryan, is this how you jumped on? Uh he won't respond to that. >> Why would he jump on when the [laughter]. when the brown people were jumping in? Ryan is white.

Brown people always like. >> great. He makes his own chili oil. What. are you talking about? >> That's so great that we could like we. should start building an image of this. Ryan guy [laughter] and who he is. >> white, he probably joined at the right. time. We are brown people come late to. everything, right? So, Desi people, people from the. subcontinent, we are late. We are. famously late. >> But if I say. >> So, I come along in like 1990 and it's. like, "Yeah, it's John Barnes at the end. of his career, Ian Rush retiring, Ronnie. Rosenthal, Israeli super sub." I wonder. what would happen to him today. But, you. know, this is this was a period where. Muslims loved Liverpool and we still do.

and but some of us, you know, and my. daughter is lucky, as I say, but this. season not for Liverpool. >> Yeah, yeah, but I mean I mean Liverpool. we we are we were still the champions. until recently. Is the thing I always. was, you know, I have to be reminded of. Arsenal won, Eugene. Why do you want me. to say it? >> Wait, what did they win? >> You know what, Eugene? You know what, nah? The Ashes. You know what, Eugene? You know what? >> You know, that's the. >> Mocking people's pain, Eugene. It's the lowest form of humor, Eugene. >> I'm not allowed to dig in and get into. the fact and get the merits of the.

story. I am interested and I'm. representing a huge demographic of brown. people. That wanted to join. >> You've never said brown people in your. life. >> You've never said brown people. >> And now you're saying brown people like. I'm [laughter] not black. >> This guy has never said brown He's never. said brown people in HIS ENTIRE LIFE. >> [laughter]. >> THIS GUY IS NOT HERE. >> THIS GUY IS OUT here gaslighting. >> But why are you like this every time we. speak about soccer? I want to. understand. >> No, he wants he wants foot pro. >> You know what's funny is soccer came.

from. >> It's football. >> Yeah, but the word soccer didn't come. from America, though. No, it didn't. Association football. Yes, but soccer. didn't come It's like it's funny how we. like punish Americans for saying soccer, but they didn't say soccer. They were. taught the word soccer by Europeans and. then Europeans flipped it and were like, "No, football. You dicks. Stop saying. football. It's soc- It's It's It's It's. It's soccer. It's football.". >> Then Americans are like, "But who calls. it football?". >> So, I respect him even more than I. already respected him. He calls it football. He doesn't call it. soccer. >> What do you think of Zoran? >> I'm a fan. I'm an admirer. >> What are you a fan of?

>> I'm a fan of the fact that he won an. election that people thought he couldn't. win. >> Yeah. >> He won it by sticking to his guns. He. didn't roll over. He was a politician. who basically ran from the left but. didn't run from the right. And I think. we live in an age where Democrats, anytime they get attacked, they. immediately crouch defensive crouch, defensive posture, try and meet you in. the middle, try and compromise. He. didn't do it. He He said, "These are my. policies. This is what I'm running on.". I interviewed him in December 2024.

>> Mhm. >> Right? At Zeteo, he was at less than 1%. in the polls. I told him this later. It. was a pity interview. >> Mhm. >> They were like, "There's a Muslim guy. running from Queens. He's a socialist.". I was like, "Ah, let's get him on. Let's. give him a platform.". That day I was interviewing Hasan. Minhaj. And I remember being like, "Hasan Minhaj is coming into the. studio." I was like, "We got to get this. other guy out quickly." I remember I. just vividly like, "Zora- Zoran Mamdani. is coming? Yeah, we'll do that first, and then Hasan's coming. Hasan's. coming." And I you know, I had no idea.

at the time. And I told him this later, bluntly to his face. I've said this to. him. Like, I I thought I was doing you a. favor. Who knew this guy would be a. global sensation? And I kind of in that. first interview is when he said, "If. Benjamin Netanyahu comes to New York, I'll have him arrested." I remember. that. People went nuts at the time. Well, they. didn't go nuts at the time cuz he was a. nobody. But when he became big, that. quote came back. And it came back to the. point where in the White House, Netanyahu's meeting Trump and a reporter. says, "Zoran Mamdani says he'll arrest you.". And Netanyahu's like, "Well, Trump will. come with me to protect me in New York.". Um and I was like, "Wow." And he And he.

kept getting asked about it. And he. didn't back down from it. I mean, he. pointed out that legally he can't do it. >> Yeah, yeah. >> But the aspiration, he never backed away. from that. And it's not just Israel. Multiple issues, you know. He ran on. like free buses, child care. He had a. bunch of very clear policies. I've been. waiting for a Democrat who could speak. like a human, energize people, young people. It's not. hard. I always make the example of. Donald Trump versus Hillary Clinton. What was Donald Trump's flagship slogans. in 2016? >> Uh build a wall. >> Yeah. >> Deport all Muslims. >> Yeah. You remember, right? It was 11. years ago. You remember it like it was. yesterday. >> What was Hillary Clinton's top slogans?

>> I'm going to break that glass ceiling. >> I mean, look, nobody remembers what I. mean, I'm sure she had an amazing. 77-page child care policy, but that's. just how Democrats run with like, "We'll. give you lots of stats and lots of. proposals and lots of technocratic wonky. solutions.". >> Obama was yes we can, which was. inspirational. >> Which was good. And he ran as a. populist. People forget he ran anti-war. People forget he ran against the Iraq. war and Hillary Clinton's record. >> I don't think you can be anti-war when. you get in. I think there's something. that happens to American presidents. >> Yeah. >> Like I think you can be anti-war when. you're coming in and then I think when. you get inside there, someone says.

something to you or something happens. and then they're like, "Hey, bro, you. got to do this thing, man.". >> Donald Trump, the great. >> Yo, man, Donald Trump was fully. anti-war. >> Well, he pretended to be, yes. >> I don't even know if he pretended. >> pretended. >> You think he pretended? >> 100% pretended. >> No, man, I think he wasn't. I think he. was anti-war. >> No. >> I think he was anti-war. >> Based on what? >> Just because of everything he said. He. was fully anti-war. There was no There. was no There was no point where he was. like, "I'm for this thing.". >> Who cares? It's Donald Trump. I. can't believe you're ever. >> No, no, no, no, no, no, no, listen, listen. You see, here's. where we're going to have a. disagreement. You're making it seem like.

the man does not exist anywhere doing. anything and has no opinion about. anything. I'm saying. there are some things I believe that he. believed. >> EG, not going to war. >> I genuinely think that. >> Even though in his first term he did. lots of war. >> He did not That man. >> Yeah. >> Do you remember when he launched like. one missile? This was crazy where he. launched like I think it was like one. missile at towards Syria or in. >> I was eating chocolate cake and it was. great. >> You You. >> [laughter]. >> actually said it at the time. And then. >> you were eating. >> Yeah, I thought you were eating. chocolate. I was like, "Damn, you know. where you were?". >> I [laughter] eat a lot of chocolate.

cake. So, a good bet that night I was. eating chocolate cake with chocolate ice. cream. >> And then he found out And then he found. out how much each missile cost and then. he was like, "I'm not doing that again.". >> All right. So, Donald Trump in his first. term. uh expanded every war he inherited from. Barack Obama. >> listen to what I'm saying? I'm not. saying that he did what he did. I'm. saying. I think there is something that happens. to you when you get into the White House. that eclipses your views on war is what. I'm saying. Because to your point, there. is no. there is no American president who has.

come in and not done war. That's what. I'm saying. But many of them have come in and said, "I'm not doing war.". Did you see he did his hands by. The hands. As soon as you said it, the. hands came. >> Pre-2016, you could have got away with. Donald Trump, yeah, you know, he's an. outsider or whatever. But we had. first-term Trump. People just basically. didn't want to pay attention. People. kept saying, "Well, he never started a. new war." But every war he inherited, he. expanded in Syria, in Iraq, in.

Afghanistan. He dropped the MOAB, the. mother of all bombs on Afghanistan. He. did more drone strikes in his first 2. years than Obama did in 8 years. People. don't know this. They say Obama, the. drone president. He killed Qassem. Soleimani, the Iranian general, in his. final year in office, which could have. sparked World War III. So, he did all. this Uh he pardoned war criminals. And then he goes into opposition. He. does his little retreat at Mar-a-Lago. He makes his comeback. Beats Ron. DeSantis. And he goes to Michigan. He. goes to Dearborn. He tells all these. Arab Americans, "I'm going to be. anti-war. Kamala's with Liz Cheney. She's going to send your people to die.

in the Middle East." And that people. believed. And that was is what. I'm saying. That that period where he. pretended to be pre-war. Then he comes. in, does seven bomb He bombed seven. countries in 2024. He started 2025 but. going after Venezuela. >> And I'm still saying. >> And he did Iran. On Christmas Day, he. did Nigeria. We didn't even pay. attention to. >> And I'm I'm still saying In fact, that. just proves my point. When you're. outside the White House, you're like, "War's not good." When you go inside. there, maybe it's like asbestos or. something in the walls. >> [laughter]. >> There could be something. I'm just. saying. Where else have you seen. Where else have you That's what I mean.

That's what I mean. I think there is. something. >> if AOC ran for president, won the. presidency, do you think she'd be a. warmonger, too? >> I don't know, and I'd love to see. Maybe. Maybe Maybe she wouldn't be. Uh I I have a belief that women don't go. to war as much as men do. I think that. women don't think of it as a solution. the same way that men do. >> Hillary Clinton had a very hawkish. record. >> As president. Okay. We must talk about. as president. Do you get what I'm. saying? So, I'm I'm just saying, I don't think. so. >> We haven't had a woman president, so we. can't test that out. >> You see, that's so that's why we need to. have one. >> We had a We had a We had female prime.

minister in. >> say when I'm ordering extra food from a. restaurant, you must do it for science. >> Okay. >> I just I just Yeah, you must see. How can you know things without testing. them out? >> That's a good point. >> Do you know what I mean? How How can you. >> are testing Donald Trump for another. four years. >> Do you feel like this has consumed your. life as a person? >> Yes. Yes, I moved to the United States. of America in March of 2015. He came. down that golden escalator in May of. 2015. So, my entire period in this. country has been dominated by this. orange freak in my private life, my. public life, my waking hours, my.

sleeping hours. I thought we'd got rid. of him in 2021, and then he comes back. again. I just can't get away from him. >> What What what. >> And as a And you know, I'm a Muslim, I'm. an immigrant, I'm a journalist. Every. aspect of my identity is intertwined. with. >> Oh, yeah. It's fully It's There's no. There's no part of you that can escape. him. >> off and have a holiday and I won't think. about him. Or I'll hang out with my. kids, but my kids are Muslim American. kids who have to grow up in this country. with Trump as president. >> What moved you to the US? >> Uh a couple of things. One is just. journalism opportunities greater here, I. thought. And secondly is my wife is. American, and a happy wife is a happy.

life. >> Oh, nice. Okay. So, where did you guys. meet? >> We met in California. >> Nice. >> Yeah. >> Were you just here on vacation? Was it. like a. >> was on a lot of vacation. I have a lot. of friends and family in America. She. moved to the UK. Right? So, the first half of our. marriage, she lived in the UK, and she. was like, "When are we moving to the US?". And I was like, "What am I going to do. in the US? I'm a brown, left-wing. Muslim. Who's going to hire me?". Right? So, when I ended up working at. the HuffPost, which was owned by Arianna. Huffington at the time, and AOL, it was like an American company. So, I. was like, "All right. Let's see if I can.

make a shift." So, I ended up here in. 2015 thinking, "I'll be here for a. couple years." That was the agreement. "I'll come here for a couple years, and we'll cover the Hillary Clinton. presidency.". Best laid plans. Now, I I am not a fan. of blaming people for things that most. would argue are out of their control, but just in the little time we've been. speaking, I've noticed a pattern. >> Okay, I supported Liverpool. >> [laughter]. >> Mehdi Hasan started supporting. Liverpool. >> Because? >> Mehdi Hasan started supporting Liverpool. and then Liverpool went through its. worst period ever.

>> Yeah. >> Mehdi Hasan moved to America. >> Golden escalator happened. >> And the golden escalator happened and. now the rest is history. >> Mhm. >> So, >> What should I do next? >> I mean, you tell me. >> I'm going to buy a plane ticket TO TEL. AVIV. >> [laughter]. >> CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION? CAN I ASK YOU. A QUESTION? I'VE BEEN UP HERE just to answer your. question. >> think No, no, no, you're not. You're. here to have a conversation. >> No, conversation. >> You're here to have a conversation. We've got with unbuttoned, there's no. ties here, there's no corporate. overlords. Mehdi can do whatever we We.

could all start freestyle rapping right. now. >> You know what we should do? >> I'm not very [clears throat] good at. that. >> Let's talk about Liverpool. This guy. >> YOU SEE YOU. [laughter]. >> THIS GUY. >> THERE IS ONE TENANT OF THIS. ORGANIZATION. PLEASE, PLEASE, EUGENE. NO, um. No, but like I I. What What I I mean, obviously that's a. joke, you know. I think more about like your life and as. a person. Like who Who was Mehdi before all this? Like how did you get into this world?

First of all, you seem and not even. seem, you are. fully. Like you fit fully into this position. I. I can't imagine you not doing what you. do. >> Nor can I. >> You You You're passionate, you're well. informed, you are. You see, when you tell me I don't take. time off from this, I believe you. I. don't go like, "Nah, this guy's just. saying that." I'm like, "No, this guy. You sleep it, you you drink it, you. think it, you You know what I mean?". >> Yeah. >> Was that always you? >> No. >> When did that become you?

>> It's a good question. Um I guess with. the Trump phenomenon, Trump is sui. generis. Like him taking over my my I. don't think any other politician When I. was in the UK, I don't think there was a. single I covered UK politics for a. living when I. >> Okay, but how did Let's go back. How did. you get into that? What were you doing before that? What. were Like, why journalism? >> journalist all my life. >> Yeah, but why? What Where did this. start? Like, were you. >> As a little kid, were you on the. playground like, "Oh, I'm going to cover. the politics of the the. >> Yeah, but that's a little. >> the what's happening with the Tories? >> Not as a little kid, but maybe 15, 16. Yeah, I get very political at that age. >> What politicized you? What were you. seeing? >> That's a good question. I mean, it.

wasn't a very interesting period. It was. the mid-90s. Politics was very quiet in. those days. Remember it was Clinton, Blair, end of history, all of that. Um I don't know why I got so. political. It was a very boring time. I. don't know why I got into politics at. the most boring time. My dad was very. political. >> What In what way? >> Uh he loved politics. Like, old Indian. men love politics in general. Right? They just want to talk about politics at. any event, weddings, funerals. They want. to talk about what's [laughter]. happening in India, Pakistan, DC, London. That's just a fact. Ask anyone. And often the conversation comes back to.

the role of the CIA. Right? So, that's. That's how most. >> Sounds like you're our kind of guy. >> You need to hang out with You need to. hang out with You need to [laughter]. hang out with Indian men circa 50 to 75. But So, my dad was very political all. his life. He moved to the UK in 1966 and. was obsessed with British politics. >> Yeah. >> He was obsessed with British prime. ministers, the Labour Party. He's always. obsessed with Indian politics. So, I. grew up around him talking about. politics, hearing about politics, watching the news. The news is on 24/7. in our house. >> Okay. >> when I ended up being on the news as a. host, like, for my dad, it was like. amazing. Most Indian parents were kind.

of disowning any child who became a. journalist. My dad was like, >> lawyer, engineer. >> You can't be a journalist. Um and my. sister and I both ended up as. journalists. >> And your sister as well? >> Yeah, my mother is not happy about this. My mother is a doctor, my father is an. engineer, like a classic Indian couple. And my mother to this day is like, "Stop. talking about Trump. Why don't you go be. a lawyer or do something different?". >> Why don't you make something of. yourself? >> Why don't you make something of. yourself? Why don't you be a lawyer? If. you want to argue, be a lawyer. That's. what she used to say to me. Um when I. say used to say to me like yesterday. morning. Um so, [laughter].

she hasn't given up. But my father was. very proud of the fact that I was a. journalist doing journalism politics. He. loved it. He loved even he passed away. last year, but even till the. thank you. Even till his last days. anytime we spoke he'd be like are they. really going to run Joe Biden again? Really? >> So you you you basically found yourself. in his like This was like his league. You know, it's like it's the Premier. League or the NFL or the NBA of his you. found but it but it it correct me if I'm. wrong. It seems then that the two of you.

It probably brings back good memories. for you then because because most people. would have gone away from politics if it. didn't bring back good memories. Does. that make sense? >> Yeah, no, but it was a great bonding. moment. We didn't talk about Liverpool. My dad. wasn't a football fan. We talked about anytime he'd call me. he'd be like oh, I watched this video. you did. I'm not sure I agree with what. you said there about Trump or whatever. it is. >> Yeah. >> So that was always an interesting even. till the very end. That was what he. wanted to talk about. He was very upset. Anytime I'd visit him he always had the. news on 24/7 so he'd be like oh, you. know, this happened this happened. Do.

you know what's happening? He was super. informed cuz he just read The Guardian. all day, watched Channel 4 news in the. UK and CNN or whatever it is Indian. news. So that that's in the that's in. the household. That's there around me. And then generally I wrote about this in. a book I wrote about debating which is I. grew up in a house where we were. encouraged to debate and argue and. question and dispute. Like my dad and I. talk about this in the book in the late. 1980s Salman Rushdie publishes The. Satanic Verses. Right? Muslims go crazy. It's a blasphemous book. It's insulting. the prophet which it did. Ayatollah Khomeini.

>> That was the one they that's where the. Khomeini. >> the fatwa the fatwa on him he should be. executed for And at the time people in. Do you know the story Eugene? >> Mhm. >> Oh yeah, tell please tell the story cuz. a lot of people I don't think just know. it. >> Rushdie very famous Indian British. novelist award-winning novelist writes a. a novel which is kind of fictionalized. version of some Islamic history as he. understood it in which the prophet is. portrayed in horrific ways as a baddie. and Muslims being very sensitive got. very very upset to the point where at. the time the Ayatollah in Iran the. supreme leader of Iran then, uh Ayatollah Khomeini put out a very.

famous fatwa saying the punishment is. death. for this kind of writing. Rushdie had to go into hiding. He's. still today kind of He got attacked a. few years ago. Again. Uh so it's never. gone away even after the death of. Khomeini. And a lot of Muslims burned. the book even in even in UK town, not. just in the Middle East. So it was a. huge controversy and Muslims uh then got. attacked of course by Western ideologues. saying, "You people are so backward and. barbaric and look at you, you don't. believe in free speech." And my dad in. the midst of all this later is I'm like. 10 years old. My dad buys The Satanic. Verses, reads it, and then puts it on.

the bookshelf right by the dining table. So every time we have people over, they're like, "What is going on?". They're furious. All my dad's friends. are furious. "Why have you got this book. here? Why would you have it?" And my dad. would say, "Have you read it?". "And if you haven't read it, how can you. be mad about it?". And that mentality, which was very. provocative in the Muslim community, is. something that I remember vividly. This. idea that you shouldn't just blindly. follow the crowd. You shouldn't just. take what's given to you from on high. You've got to question everything no.

matter how sacred. >> Did you read The Satanic Verses? >> No comment. >> [laughter]. >> I did. I did. >> And? >> It's awful, but at least you read it. Like I mean I I didn't read it as a. piece of fic- literature. What do I know. about literature? Salman Rushdie is an. award-winning novelist. I'm not. I'm. That's not the point. The point was Was. it historically accurate? Was it. offensive? All of that stuff. But the. point is obviously I don't support. obviously killing people for their. views, obviously. Um but I understood at. the time I I I understood why it became.

such a wedge issue. You want to talk. about culture wars today. I mean, that. was a culture war. >> Yeah, that was That was viral before. viral. >> Exactly. Yeah, pre-internet, pre-dates. Um and you know, that's And then it. obviously gets rolled into everything. else that then happens in the subsequent. decades in the relationship between. Islam and the West. >> I love that you were encouraged to argue. and debate by your parents. I think. >> Yeah, cuz a lot of Indian parents are. like, >> Shut up.". >> No, I mean a lot of parents in general, especially in the. >> place chappal. >> No, what is that? >> So, in the pack culture, anyone watching. who speaks Urdu or Hindi, chappal means. I'm going to get my sandal hit. Chappal.

is a sandal. >> Oh, it's done. >> That's just like, "Chappal.". You're going to get. >> I actually you've just taught me a new. one now. Thank you so much. >> Watch your Watch your wrist. The. chappal. >> Chappal. I mean, I've got it for you, genius. Chappal. Every time you say. something anti-Liverpool, chappal alert. I'm coming for you, bro. >> Double chappal. >> Could you Could you debate at home? >> [laughter]. >> You won't say that about your. >> No. I don't think there was time for for. debating.

Just you knew what you were told was. what was going to happen anyway. I think. if if. >> But if you answered back, did you get a. slap? >> No, no, no, no, no. I think if you grow. up with a single mom, there's no There's. no one to defer to. >> Okay. >> So, I think when there's a debate. happens when there's someone to go, "Right? Right? Talk to your wife.". >> there's an audience to debate for. >> if someone goes, "At 6:00, we're doing. this thing." And you're like, "But at. 6:00." And then they leave the room. Won't take it. Yeah, it's the law. It is. what it is. It's just the law. Yes. It. is what it is cuz when we start debating.

is when we went to white kids' houses. >> Yeah, that's where. >> saw the back and forth. Come on. Come. on. What do I need to do that? And. you're like, "Yeah.". >> The day Andrew, the day Andrew, my. friend, told his dad, he said, "Come to. dinner." And then he was like, "Oh, Dad, we're still playing." And I remember my. body. getting. >> You can't say that. >> Yeah. Yeah, because I was like I was. waiting for his dad. And Andrew, like, he fully turned back. So, his dad came. to the door. And he was like, "Boys, time for dinner." And then he was like, "OH, DAD, WE'RE STILL PLAYING." AND HE. DIDN'T SWEAR OR ANYTHING. HE WASN'T like. rude. But he just said a thing that I.

would have never thought of. He was. like, "Dad, we're still playing." Right? We're playing a Command & Conquer, right? And he was like, "Dad, we're. still playing." And then his dad like. walked off. The whole period between us going to. dinner and and the dad come I sat there. tense waiting for. >> the backlash. >> Yeah, no, no, but I was like he turned. his back fully. I was like, "How is he. so Is he going to play?" And then he was. like back here and then I was like this. the whole time now. >> Yeah, on standby. >> Cuz you like you can't just you can't. >> Head on a swivel. >> That that to me was not a concept that. ever existed.

>> But I think probably in hindsight it. went too far with me. >> I'm debating. >> Cuz now I'm like crazy. >> [laughter]. >> Now my wife, my kids, my friends, my. family, my colleagues have to put up. with me being perpetually argumentative. Like I can't help it. >> But you don't have to remind me. >> enjoy it. >> Yeah, but they don't. >> SO SO. >> [laughter]. >> IT DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER I ENJOY IT. THE PEOPLE AROUND ME ARE like. >> Shut the up. >> So when you got older your mom was like, "Yeah, you can have him now.". >> Yeah, yeah, 100% [laughter]. 100% Yeah, yeah, my my I'm sure my. mother would say that to my wife. >> That's what that's what someone said to.

me when I was in India. on my first trip actually where we were. at a restaurant in New Delhi and it was. like a crew of people that that's you. know friends of friends that are similar. older men and we one of the guys we we. got into a debate when I was having so. much fun. And then one of the other people he. worked with didn't know that I was. having a good time and then he came and. like stopped and he's like and he's. like, "Trevor, he's like I have to. apologize to you. You have to know in. India we debate for fun, Trevor. Please. don't be I was like, "Yo, my friend, I. have found my people." That's all I I. was like, "I have found This is the most.

fun I've ever had." Cuz we also argue. for fun in that way. But I guess. depending on which culture you go to. >> that story so you could do the accent. again. >> No, my friend, I do accents for every. culture. >> but I love your Indian accent. >> Every single And by the way, I don't do. I don't do accents. >> accent. >> I do the people. This is a This is a common misconception. people have about me. >> the person that you've met before. >> Because I don't I I'm terrible at. accents. >> Are you? Are you? >> at I promise you I'm terrible at. accents, but I can remember how people. speak. >> Ah. >> Does that make sense? >> Yes, it does. >> So if you said to me like, "Do an.

English accent." I'll be all over the. place. >> Oh, what you going to Oh, don't even. know anything. >> But who's a famous English person you. can. >> Well, I can do a certain person who's on. television quite a lot and that's like. no. You know who that is? Who? >> I think said me, but it was really bad. >> No, no, no, it's not. IT'S NOT IT'S NOT. YOU. OKAY, I'll I'll do it I'll do it. properly. Hold on. Let me get into it. >> It's so bad that neither of us. >> Hold on. Let me get into it. I'll I'll. do it I'll do it properly. Hold on, cuz. I haven't I've got to think of him doing. it properly. Hold on. Give me a second. Give me a second. Give me a second. Give me a second. Hold on. Hold on. >> I haven't lived there for 10 years. I.

don't want to put you through that. >> be biased. You're going to think of. yourself. >> Okay. >> Clear your thoughts. >> Yeah. >> Breathe. >> Okay. Chakra. >> Let yourself go. You got it. >> Go on. >> Okay, let me let me also channel him. Let me let me get him completely. Well, that's Absolute. And now, time for our next. story. >> Did you mean Clarkson? >> Yeah, it it Yeah, it it veered into. Jeremy. It wasn't supposed to. It wa It wasn't supposed to, cuz that. The bottom part was more Jeremy than. him. >> Clarkson and Gambon. >> Yeah, it wa It was. It was. And that's.

why the Bugatti Chiron. >> Who is it? >> It's Yeah, that's That's you're right. I. went into a bit of Jeremy. >> Yeah, but who did you begin with? >> It was supposed to be Oliver. JOHN. OLIVER. >> AH! >> YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. >> THOUGHT I COULD DO JOHN OLIVER. >> NO, NO, NO, NO, NO. >> Cuz I haven't Cuz I haven't It's cuz. YOU'RE THROWING ME OFF RIGHT NOW. >> [laughter]. >> BY THE END OF THE SUMMER, I'M GOING TO. DO YOU. And then it's going to be over. for you. >> All right. If you do me like you did. John Oliver, any [laughter] British person, LIKE 60. MILLION BRITS, SO I CAN'T do any of. them. Clarkson, Oliver, Hassan. [laughter]. And your defense will be, "Well, I. didn't know Mehdi was British. I thought. he was just Mehdi from the UK.".

>> He is just Mehdi. Your accent has. probably changed a lot. It has. >> Yeah. >> I'm a bit of a sponge. So, I pick up. stuff wherever I go. So, people make my. my British friends when I go back make. fun of me. But when I go back, I speak. British. But when I'm with Americans, I. code-switch a bit. And then British. people who are in my presence will say, "That's weird. You don't talk like that. when you talk to us.". >> Do they say you sound American? >> When my wife moved to the UK, she'd known me for like two I don't know. how many years before you got married. When she moved to the UK and saw me in. my habitat, natural habitat, David. Attenborough, talking to Brits, she's. like, "Who the hell are you?

You don't talk to me like that." I said, "Cuz you're Texan.". So, when I go to India, I become a bit. more Indian. I speak a little bit with a. touch. When I speak to elders in my community, we all I mean I just I'm a bit spongy. >> No, you but you can't not be. With with my grandma Think about it. You. You as Eugene, the way you. >> People have taught me here. >> Yeah. No, you This is what people don't. understand. People like to think of it as switching. I think this is an academic use of of a. you know, an academic understanding. Oh, you're code-switching. No. If you have ever lived in multilingual.

cultures, >> Mhm. >> you have to learn how to speak different. languages to different people even in. the same language. So, if you think about it, the [snorts]. Zulu that you would speak with your. friends is not the Zulu you would speak. to your grandmother, even [clears throat] though it's still. Zulu. >> Well, >> The way you would say the words, the way. you would that your your inferences. Yeah, that your accent, the the even. even your tone has to change completely. So, what I'm saying is sometimes people. take for granted that anyone who's grown. up in a world where there are multiple. languages learns how to speak the.

language of the people they're speaking. to. >> Yeah. >> It's It's not just like being. >> That's what I say. Like when people say. like, "Oh, you're code-switching." It's. like, >> Yeah, on an academic level I understand. that, but it's it's not I couldn't talk. to my grandmother with this accent. My. grandmother. >> not conscious, right? That's the key. point. I'm not doing it consciously. I. don't know I'm doing it until people. pointed out to me. >> Yeah, no, no, you don't. >> And also here's the other interesting. thing. With me, it's a double whammy. because not only is it Okay, I'm living. in America and I have family who are. British American. I have kids, one of. whom, you know, grew up in the UK, one. mostly grew up in the US. >> So, their accents are different? >> My older daughter still has her solid.

Not solid, I'd say 60% British, 55, 60. She kept onto it in the last 10 years, but my younger one came very young. So, what I would say here is. I'm also on TV. I also did 3 years of. primetime American television. So, just. I had to switch. So, people I would have. people producers would say, "If you use. that phrase, no one knows what the hell. you're saying." So, I also had to. therefore consciously switch times. I. would want to use a British euphemism or. phrase and my team would look at me. blankly say, "No one knows what that. means." I'm like, "Really?" We've never. heard of that phrase. That happens. You. never heard of that phrase? And I And.

then I And then I'd start doing things. like um I'd be on TV talking about, I. don't know, the war in Ukraine. I. remember MSNBC and I'd say, "They fired. missiles.". And then people would say, And then. friends of mine would say, "You say. missiles now? You don't say missiles?". And I'd be like, "I don't know. I don't. even know." In fact, telling you this. story right now, I'm not sure as I'm. talking to you I'm not sure which one's. which. Which one's British, which one's. American. >> [laughter]. >> Mine was controversy and con-. controversy. So, I slowly It took me 4. years. MSNBC, 2 and 1/2 years, and last. year I switched to controversy.

>> Yeah. I said con- controversy. >> for years and then I switched to two. controversy. >> Yeah. >> So, it goes Yeah, it goes back and. forth. >> It's just It's just one of those things. that happens. It's life. But I still say. tomato. >> You can't change that one, though. Tomato is a weird one. Eugene says. water, but even in inside Africa. >> a little bit American. >> He says water even inside Africa now. >> I say it. >> Can [snorts] I get some water? Can I. have some water? Can I get some water? Can I have a water? >> That's exactly how you say it. That's a. good point. >> a water? >> You're getting nothing. You're getting a.

noun. >> Eugene is slowly transforming into a. white American woman. >> How long have you lived in the US? >> not two days. YOU HAVE [laughter] NOT. >> I CAME HERE ON WEDNESDAY, AND I GOT A. WATER on Thursday. >> Don't go anywhere, cuz we got more what. now after this. All right, Eugene. >> [music]. >> Let's play a little game. You know, make. something fun. Two truths and a lie. Here we go. One, I've had to tell a world leader.

that their fly was undone. Two, when getting dressed, I don't do. sock sock shoe shoe, I do sock shoe sock. shoe. Three, I've been a Verizon customer for. 11 years. What do you think? >> Mhm. Very confused. First of all, why. would a world leader own a fly? Cuz those things just come uninvited. Secondly, lying to your friend is not. cool. It's never been a game. >> No, Eugene, a fly is for like zip is. what. And then it's it's it's not a lie. It's.

a game where I'm trying It's like I give. you information. Okay, I lied. All three are true, Eugene. And in case you were thinking, you know, Verizon isn't as expensive as. you think. In fact, if you bring in your. AT&T or T-Mobile bill, they'll give you. a better deal. And the reason I've been with them for. this long is just because I travel so. much. I need a network that's reliable. That's right. A better deal on the best. network with the most ways to save on. plans, streaming, and phone deals. Take.

your AT&T or T-Mobile bill to your local. Verizon store today. Get your better. deal. and start saving for real. Based on Root. Metrics best overall mobile network. performance, US second half 2025. All. rights reserved. You must provide recent. consumer mobile bill in name of the. person redeeming the deal. Additional. terms, conditions, and restrictions. apply. So, do you understand how to truths and. Do you understand it now? >> I understand that you didn't have to lie. first before telling me that Verizon is.

the best. >> No, I wasn't lying. Eugene, it's not a. lie. I wouldn't lie to you. It's a game. Okay, I'm sorry. >> [music]. >> I lied. AH. >> [laughter]. [music]. >> SO, LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION. IS THERE. Is there ever a part of you. that worries about being left and like. having an opinion and then also saying. that you're in the news? >> What do you mean? >> So, for a long time people said, "If.

you're a journalist, oh, you can't like. have an Just like Just like the Supreme. Court, you're supposed to be. >> Yeah, yeah. >> you know, you're supposed to be The. Supreme Court was always Now. we know it's Uh I think the. media I mean, the media doesn't exist. like that anymore. Look where we're. sitting. We're just sitting in. independent spaces. We're doing our. thing. We're not bound by these old. conventions. And the The conventions. shouldn't even bind the people still in. mainstream media, I would argue. It's. killing our mainstream media right now. cuz people are fed up with being. patronized by people who pretend that. they're neutral or impartial when we can.

clearly see they're not. I would rather. have, you know, there was a moment. recently where Brendan Carr, who runs. Donald Trump's FCC, he's like a. censorship czar. >> Yeah. >> He was at a media conference, I think it. was a Semaphor conference in DC. Somebody started sending me clips. saying, "Brendan Carr is talking about. you." I was like, "You don't want to be. talked about by Trump's censorship. bureau. You don't want to be on that. radar.". >> Right. >> And I tune in and somebody sends me the. clip and I watch it and he's basically. complaining that lots of liberal lots of. mainstream journalists have left the. media and then now they're all like. anti-Trump. And he's like, "See, see, we. told you the media was biased against.

Trump." And then he goes, "At least with Mehdi Hasan, he hates. Trump, but I like him cuz I know where I. stand with him. He's very open about his. biases and then you can just read or. watch whatever he would does." And I was. like, "A, that's a good point. B, I got to. take a shower now. C, I don't really. want to be [laughter] on Brendan Carr's. radar cuz I'm very happy with my life. here and I don't want to be deported. So, that's you know, that there's that. thing where there is this sense of now. people in independent spaces we're. seeing their real colors, whatever. But.

my position has always been I would. rather people put their bias on the. table and then just be fair, right? So, when I do an interview when I have a. Trump person on or I have a. Israeli person or I have someone who I. disagree with from whatever government. in the world, someone from the Saudi, someone whatever it is, everyone knows. I'm critical of them. >> Right, right. >> But I still try and be fair. I try and I. don't try and edit them in a bad way. I. make sure they get enough time. >> to speak and answer. I don't try and lie. about, you know, in the question. That. for me is more important. That for me is. fairness, not this fake left, right, pick a point in the middle and say I'm.

impartial. That bullshit's got to go. No. one accepts that anymore. It was never. real to begin with. It's now become very. apparent that there is no kind of fake. impart The view from nowhere, they teach. you at German journalism schools. You're. >> That's the thing. In the UK, that's like. a that was like a big one. >> it's even bigger in the US, to be. honest. US journalism schools, yes. >> No ways, Mehdi. No ways. Maybe the BBC, yes. >> yeah, that's what I mean. Okay, the BBC. >> Okay, okay, got it.

>> Yeah, that's true. >> Crazy cable channels.

>> But I feel like I feel like this world. is more it's. I could be wrong, but I I feel like it. suits you more. Like you you strike me. as like a wild west kind of guy. >> Yeah. >> Yeah, yeah. >> It is. >> Persona.

Running my mouth. Running Is that a. Britishism? >> No, no, no, I just liked it. I just. liked that you said that. Running my. mouth. What do I do? >> I run my mouth. That's all I do in life. Is that a. >> No other skills in life. >> That's not true, man. That's not true. You you you you're you're an informer. You. >> police? >> [laughter]. >> I knew there was something.

Something weird. >> You know this guy in there? Wainwright? You. >> Just when I think I couldn't love you. anymore. >> Just when I thought I couldn't LOVE YOU. ANYMORE. >> [laughter]. >> YEAH. >> YOU CAN'T RUN YOUR MOUTH WHEN YOU USE. YOUR SOURCES. >> NO, BUT YOU DIDN'T but I but this is. what I mean. I think I think you are. like many British people you will you. will um. you'll try and. dampen your your achievements or what. you do. Like British people are very. quick to be like I don't I don't. I've got Then you're like, "But you're. the king of England." No, please. I I. just wear a wear a crown sometimes.

You know what I mean? >> That's Americans are much more. >> Yeah, no, you you you do like you you do. a ton of research. I don't think I. know many more people who just know. stats off the top of their head the way. you do. Like you Do you Did you study like this? Did you. >> No. I mean when you say study like this. >> No, I mean you When you were a kid when. you were a kid did you did you remember. everything in school? Were you able to. >> a very good memory. >> Yeah, you can recall information. >> I'm old and gray but my like my daughter.

has a very good memory has inherited. that. When I was young yes, I had a very good. memory. I could I could remember you. know you know put things on a table I. could remember it. Names, places. Even. today I still remember like my wife will. make fun of me that I will forget kids. birthdays but I'll remember when the. Six-Day War was in 1967. >> Damn. >> So that kind of random stuff is still in. here. I have too much in here. You. know what Sherlock Holmes is like, "The. mind palace. You must [laughter] clear. things out." Like I don't clear. out. So that's why I'm now in a. situation where I can't remember like. friends' names and stuff but I can tell.

you you know which president. >> You should name your friends. Yeah, you. should name your friends after like. major tragedies. >> Yeah, name your friends after tragedies. in history and then you'll never forget. them. And then just tell them it's like. your nickname for them. >> But I but look, I also now do have to do. a lot of prep. So I told you I'm in. charge I wrote this book and there's a. chapter in the book on preparation. I do. try and make it clear especially to. young people cuz they ask me this. question especially budding journalists. like how do you do what you do? Like I. don't wing it. People think. >> You wing things. I don't think you wing. anything. >> This one I'm winging cuz I walked into. this conversation no prep. Normally I'll. be like what's Trevor going to ask me.

and I'll be ready. >> There's no ready. There's no ready at. all. THAT'S. >> THAT'S HOW WE SURPRISE YOU. >> [laughter]. >> YEAH, YEAH. >> [screaming]. >> I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHEN WE STARTED. >> HERE WE GO. YEAH. >> [laughter]. >> WHO ARE YOU? >> [laughter]. >> WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? IT WAS A VERY DIFFERENT CONVERSATION. WE. TALKED ABOUT PETE BUTTIGIEG.

I REMEMBER THAT. WE HAD A CONVERSATION. with the presidential debate, live. debate. >> Damn, you really have an insane memory. >> I mean, I was the guest. Why would you. remember? You had like a thousand years. >> No, but that's not the point. You you. have. >> But I do remember what we talked about, yes. >> This is this but that's my point. You. have an insane Do you. >> I remember politics for some reason. >> have a tough time forgiving people in. life? >> Yes. What's I forgive but I don't forget. >> Yeah, but that's part of forgiving, I. think. >> No, I can't forget. I can't. >> Yeah, part of No, no, no, I'll tell you. why. Which Okay, you tell me why you. don't think so. >> Look, if I forgive you, I don't have to.

forget what you did. >> saying have to. >> Yeah, but I'm saying you said it's part. of it. >> I argue. My my belief is. when you forgive somebody. >> what you did. >> When you I'm saying when you. when you forgive somebody, it is in my. opinion. >> Yeah. >> to your point, the part of your brain. that is holding on to the memory. >> Yeah. >> lets go. In my opinion. This is only my. opinion. I'm not a neuroscientist. This. is not medical advice. This is not. anything. I did I'm winging this for the. record. This is my opinion, 100%. I. believe when you forgive,

your brain or something happens in your. mind and you're more likely to forget. Is my opinion. >> I think that's a good point. >> That's why I I can't. >> I find people generally people who have. amazing memories like this. generally struggle to forgive. >> It is a problem that I do remember. things that I should just let go. That. is a problem. Just everything, personal, professional, political. I mean, actually helps me in my journalism. because the number one problem in this. country is people have short memories. and that's why people in power get away. with Donald Trump. I gave you an. example about the war thing. Oh, he's.

anti-war. Then I have to remind people, okay, remember what happened between. 2017 and 2021?" No, cuz we all forgot. it. I spent all of 2024 listening to. Americans tell me, "Ah, you know what? If Donald Trump comes back, we survived. him once, we can survive him again." No, we didn't survive him. Half a. million people died from COVID, but. you've forgotten that, right? Cuz. Americans have the memories of goldfish. Like 8 seconds, 9 seconds, done. >> Do you know goldfish actually have good. memories? >> Do they? Is that a myth? Is that an. urban legend? >> Should have fact-checked that before I. put it in the book. >> Well, we should check it now. >> I put it in my book, it's too. >> We should check it right now. >> I remember reading this and maybe I read. the wrong thing.

>> No, no, no, we should we should read it. because I I we should check it up now, but I do believe that the goldfish thing. is actually a myth. If it is a myth, if. it is a myth, then we should replace. goldfish and we just Americans should. play the role of goldfish. [laughter]. >> No, no, seriously, Americans have no. memory. >> I'm taking my American hat off. >> and wearing my immigrant British hat. >> as an outsider. >> 100% true. People do not remember what. happened last week. >> And that's why everyone gets to reinvent. themselves, rehabilitate themselves. >> So, the fact is myths uh goldfish.

actually have memories that span months, not seconds. Studies have shown that. they can be trained to respond to. signals for food, remember feeding. times, and navigate mazes retaining that. knowledge for at least several months. >> wish Americans had the memory of months, cuz we don't. >> Let me tell you something, Medhi. Let me. tell you something. Here's where I'll. disagree with you. >> Please. >> I think it is unfair to say Americans. have bad Americans do not have bad. memory anything. I think any person who exists in an. environment where they are constantly. waterboarded with a media that is.

distracted, they are the people So, I'll give you an. example. In South Africa. >> You're saying they're being overloaded. >> In South Africa, we had a commission, right? That is is it still ongoing? >> Yeah. >> Right. Right. So, we have a commission that's. on corruption. If you talk to the average South. African, they are fully focused on this. commission. >> Yeah. >> How many months has it been going for? >> Yeah, it's been long now. It's been. almost a year now. >> Almost a year. There's no South African who's forgotten. about it. There's no South African who. doesn't talk about it. It is fully in.

the zeitgeist. >> Yeah. >> But I argue because the South African. media has given it that it is on. television every single day that they're. on. the clips go out on YouTube. The clips. go out on TikTok. People are seeing it. So all I'm saying is all I'm saying is I. I'm not quick to say Americans have a. bad memory. I've watched the news in America. I've. seen a story. that is breaking on a Monday and by. Wednesday they've moved on and I'm like. how have you moved on? >> That's a that's a fair point about.

especially the Trump era where they. where the the strategy is right what's. the phrase to flood the zone with. >> Yes, exactly. >> That's the deliberate strategy is to. keep that up. People Americans didn't. forget about Bill Clinton when that. happened the Monica Lewinsky but then. before. before Trump could forget Medi. No, Medi. We did. We did. That's why. that's why these people that's why. George look at George Bush's approval. ratings. They're really good right now. You know that? George Bush's approval ratings are good. right now. >> Yes, but. >> He left office as the most unpopular. president. He should be sitting in the. Hague facing war crimes charges. He was.

until Trump came along he was the worst. president of our lifetime but over time. Americans forgive and forget. They. forgive and then they forget like you. want them to. Look at right now with Iran. Why do they. hate us? Why do they hate us? Cuz we. remember We don't remember we shot. down their plane. We deposed their. government. We supported Saddam. Hussein's inva- We don't have any. memories of anything we did. We're bad. at history. We're bad at remembering. >> So I've I'm going to respond to you but. then I also have a question for you. So the first thing I will say is that. again is not people forgetting in my. opinion.

I don't think anyone forgot what George. Bush did. I think because of recency. bias and because of the way people. perceive things that happen in time. George Bush now for the average American. seems like a much better option than. what they're experiencing at this moment. in time. A because they're not. experiencing it right now and B because. George Bush I would argue was doing. worse things to the world than he was. doing to Americans. So, the average. American, for the most part, was. experiencing less less of Bush's badness.

than the world was, right? So, that's. what I think was happening. The other. question The question though that I have. for you for this is. when did you start saying we for for for. what America was doing? >> It's a great question. That's a really. good question. >> noticed you said we invaded them, we. bombed them, we. >> answer to that question. Sometimes And. you notice what I said before we, I said. Americans have bad memories and I. immediately caught myself and said, "Let. me put my British hat on, take my. American hat off cuz I have multiple. identities." So, when I talk about bad. American memories, I'm talking as an. immigrant outsider, right? But then.

sometimes I'm an American insider. Now, that bothers Republicans, you know, the. new phrase du jour is deport and. denaturalize. They say it about the. mayor of New York, they say it about. Ilhan Omar, they say it about me. Multiple Republican members of Congress. have called for me to be deported. They. say, "We're going to send you back to. the UK." Which makes me laugh cuz. growing up. >> People are sending you back to India. >> like, "I'm going to send you back to the. UK. Ooh, that's a real scary So, you're. going to send me back to London, are. you? Oh, not to London. Not [laughter]. there.". So, I mean, you got to get you got to. hand it to the racists, they've come up. in the world. But that is the crap I get. now and cuz they don't accept me as a.

real American. Um naturalized Americans. are not real Americans apparently, unless you're Melania Trump. Uh so, that. is a good question. I don't know when I. started saying we. I I wonder if my. MSNBC team know cuz I I became a citizen. in October 2020, a month before the 2020. election, just in time to vote against. Trump. And I don't know. It's a good. question. I You know, I was very happy. to be a citizen um because I want to. have skin in the game. I don't want to. be just an outsider just pundit running. my mouth like a Piers Morgan when he was. here. >> Shots fired. >> Obviously, I have American kids and I.

have dual national kids, I have an. American wife. Uh and I've lived here. My My future is here. So, no, no, I'm not saying to you, but. just to people who wonder like some. people go, "Oh, why does he live here if. he doesn't like it?" So, I mean, no, I. love it. I love it here. I don't like. American foreign policy, I don't like. Donald Trump, but I love the United. States of America. I've said it clearly. I've spoken at a No Kings I've spoken at. a no king's rally, right? Two. interesting things about that. I spoke. at a no king's protest. Number one, I. spoke behind bulletproof glass, first. time in my life. That's the world we. live in now after Charlie Kirk. It's really strange, by the way. I love. the organizers, spent a lot of money on. the bulletproof glass,

but it was only at the front. There was. nothing on the sides, which I felt was a. little bit of an inadequacy when there. were people all around the stage. Anyways, that was weird being behind. bulletproof glass for the first time. I've spoken hundreds of speeches in my. life. First time behind bulletproof. glass. >> make you give your speech differently? Like did you move a little bit more to. where you. >> Yeah, I didn't have the same rapport. The audience felt distant, apart from. the people on the sides who could shoot. me at any time. [laughter]. And then number two, my mother watched. it cuz it went viral and someone sent it. to her. >> From the side? >> She watched it [laughter] from England. And she called me and she goes, "Okay.

I noticed you said, 'I love America. I want to save my country.' She says, 'When did you start talking like that?'. Before you I was like, "Ah, shit." Cuz. my mom's not a fan of the fact that I. became an American. She wanted me to. stay a British. >> Oh, she wanted you to stay British. >> yeah, she's. >> But where was your mom born? >> I was born in India. >> Huh. What a beautiful irony. >> Yeah. Which is exactly the point I made to. her. I said, "You became an American, moved to another country, why can't I?". Nah, I think she's just anti-American. >> But what do you love so much about. America though? >> Uh, many things. >> Mhm. Tell me. I'm here for it. >> All right. I love.

>> America. Eugene loves America. So he's. just asking you to validate it. >> it two days as well. >> Best two days of my life. >> I uh. What do I love about America? I love the. I love the sheer space. Yeah. I love the. fact that it's a big country. I love. that flying to California is like flying. to London. I love that. I love that. there's a country continent. Um I love. the fact you go to different states. I. travel a lot for work and every state. you go to is like a little mini country. with its own kind of people, problems, issues. I love that. I'm all about. diversity. I'm Sorry, sorry. right-wingers, I love my diversity, my.

DEI. Um so, >> [laughter]. >> I love the fact that people are. different wherever you go in this. country. That's a That's a good thing, not a bad thing. I love the food. I'm a. foodie. I love junk food. I love. American junk food and fast food. I'm. not a snob. I'll have the stuff. Mm. Like I was I was born for I was at I. was at movie cinema last night and I. ordered a milkshake. >> What did you watch? >> Uh I watched Mandalorian and Grogu. >> Is it good? >> Why? Are you a Star Wars fan? >> Yeah, I'm I love the movie. >> love Star Wars fans. >> No, okay. No, then I I'm.

I would be careful then. I would say. that I. >> If you're not a Star Wars fan, you. probably won't love it. >> No, no, no. You know, this is why this. is why I'm careful. So, sometimes when. people say, "Are you a fan of. something?" They just mean, "Do you like. it?" In fact, in general, I I I I I I. >> No, you mean you think about it. >> No, no, no. So, >> He means on May the 4th. >> Do I say, "May the 4th be with you?". >> Yes. >> Yes, but not as like a like I have to. I. just like that people have said. >> No, no, no, no, no, no. I. >> To answer your question, I love the TV. show. Hard to convert TV shows into. movies. >> Yeah, so it's a movie. It didn't work as. a movie. It's a movie. >> Yeah, they made it a It was doing very.

well. >> It was doing [laughter] It was doing. well at the box office. >> It doesn't suck. It's good, but it's not. great and it could have been better. But, I loved the show and I love Pedro. Pascal, so I went to watch it. But, I. ordered a milkshake. >> Yeah. >> And it came as a class I love that. moment I was like I love America. >> Did it come in a Grogu cup? >> No, it didn't. But, it came in a. huge cup. And I was like, "This is what. I love." The first time I went back to. England when I realized I'm an American. I went back to England, I was doing my. show for Al Jazeera, went to a cafe. across from the filming, ordered a. brownie. And this tiny little piece of came. on the plate. And I was like, "What is. this?" I was like, "Oh, I'M IN ENGLAND.".

>> [laughter]. >> AND THAT'S WHEN I WAS LIKE, "I'M. AMERICAN.". >> What about the generally sunny. disposition? Do you Do you find. >> I don't like. >> You don't like that. >> No, that I'm very. >> Do you still have that American. >> American head off? >> Shut on. Okay. >> That I I don't want to talk to you. unnecessarily. I I don't want to keep my. head down. I'm the guy on the the tube. in the UK. You mind your own business, you keep your head down, you don't. engage. >> No, New York is a little bit like that. as well. >> Not giving people directions, not. >> No. >> New York is on unnecessary chit-chat. >> No, have a nice day. >> Here's the thing people get wrong about. New Yorkers though. New Yorkers mind. their own business, right?

And because it's a fast-paced People be. like New Yorkers are not friendly. I I I. don't agree with that. I just think New. Yorkers I that everyone's trying to get. somewhere and go somewhere. So, you. can't be just stopping everyone. Hey, how you doing? What's how's your life? You're interrupting people's lives. But, if you want to see how good New Yorkers. are, do something wrong and they will very. quickly correct you and help you. >> No, so so. >> Like go like say out loud, ah, I'm going. you know, to Queens and I'm going to. take the whatever the F train or. somebody like, no, no, hey, hey, hey, hey, wrong the wrong train. They'll be. like, no, don't. >> back to your point about sunny. disposition, if you mean like kind of.

department store have a nice day that. annoys me. >> I love that. >> But, if you love it Okay, I'm not a fan. Um, but if you mean kind of sunny. disposition as in what's my world? My. world is politics. If you mean kind of. Barack Obama, Zareen Mamdani, inspiring. speech, tear-jerking, I love that. >> Okay, so you like that part? >> Yeah, like I'm the guy who watched West. Wing and I corny West Wing like people. make fun of people like me. I love the. West Wing. I'm that guy. I apologize. I. know people hate the. >> No, what do you mean? You don't have to. apologize for that. >> Yeah, but I mean we don't Why why do we. have to Why do we have to apologize for. that? The British The that that British.

political cynicism, no, I'm not a fan. of. I prefer the American. >> Okay, so you've taken So, you've taken. all the the general optimism. That's. that's the thing you love about America. >> The democratic optimism. >> I'm with you. I'm with you. But, then. when it comes to like the niceties of. the. >> Yeah, then I'm I'm just a Brit. I'm. still a Brit. I'm still a Brit there. I. can't be fake. >> Do you have the the fake apologetic. thing that British people have? >> Uh, I'm not sure. That's a good. question. You'd have to ask someone. else. Do I? >> [laughter]. >> I don't Yes, I do. I apologize all the. time. >> No, I'm asking. I'm asking if he has it. still. That's all.

>> I I'm not sure. I don't know the answer to that. question. You have to ask people around me. >> So, you're fully in then? >> This is like This is fully in till I get. deported. I'm fully in. >> Do you Are you worried about being. deported? >> Yes. >> Genuinely. Are you not? >> No. >> Then you're stupid. Well, we're going to clip that. >> [laughter]. >> We're going to clip THAT FOR SURE. >> YOU ARE A FELLOW non-white immigrant. >> If we don't clip this thing and put in. like just the back and forth here WITH. YES, MAKE SURE WE'RE CLIPPING ALL OF THESE. MOMENTS. YES. >> [laughter].

>> WELL, THEN YOU'RE STUPID. I apologize. I APOLOGIZE. NON-WHITE PEOPLE DO not take the threat. of Trump seriously, I think. Do not apologize. You're. You're making my day. I just did a British apology. Yeah, you. did Okay, so you do have that thing. I'm. very sorry for Do not apologize. You. made my day. Cuz all what I love is. I love the idea of us creating like a. fake trailer for this interview. Just. hostile. And it's just going to be. hostilities back and forth. Well, yeah, you're stupid. What are you TALKING.

ABOUT? WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT? YOU'RE. WRONG ABOUT AND IT'S JUST BLAH BLAH. BLAH. MEDI HAS And we're just going to. put the craziest title on the thumbnail. and I want to see how many people are. going to click on it and then just go. from there. And then we're Five minutes. into the video and then I ordered A. GIANT MILKSHAKE. >> [laughter]. >> GEOPOLITICS AT ITS BEST. DO YOU think Yes, I am worried about. being deported. Yes, I It would be. Okay, so. Remember, I'm the guy in 2019 who said. take it seriously. Trump will stay on. So maybe maybe there's a semantic.

misunderstanding that we're having. You. asked me if I'm worried. You're not. saying if I took it seriously or not. I. think there's a difference for me. Okay, explain it. So there are things that I. do not care to worry about as a person. for myself. But I take it seriously. So do I think there's a chance that. they'll take away my ability to live in. the US and kick me out? I'm like, yeah, that's very possible. Yeah, yeah, but I go do I worry about. it? I can't worry about it. For me it's. trouble. I cannot worry about it. Yeah, cuz I'm. like I don't I don't. If I worried about it, I wouldn't be. doing what I do. I wouldn't be here in. New York. Okay, then no, no, then we're.

saying the same thing. I would have gone. and become a lawyer like my mother asked. me to. My mother said stop talking about. Trump, keep your head down. And I'm. like, okay, and then I go do Jubilee and. and then I'm like, oh, I didn't keep my. head down. Yeah, I actually I actually. care and I don't I don't say this like. just to say it. I actually care more. about the people who have to worry about. it. That's what I care more about. So. like families being broken up, people. who've built their lives here. You've. got multi-generations. You've got This. is their only chance. That's more the. thing that I go, ah, man. And and maybe. a not so popular opinion, I worry for. the United States. >> Agreed. >> Because I think I [clears throat] think.

any like if you you know we've had this. conversation. We talk about the re- the. replacement population or rate of. replacement in China or in Germany or in. Japan, places where they're seeing. what happens when you're not having. enough children being born or enough. immigration. >> When it's just you. >> Your country cannot replace the. population at a high enough rate to. sustain your economy's growth. And there's almost no country that has. done that without immigration. It's very. difficult to do without immigration cuz. this is weird thing that happens. >> Musk says you can do it by having lots.

of kids and he's trying to show us the. way. >> By the way, what was it like talking to. his um. you didn't you interview. >> Ashley St. Clair, baby mama. >> He's. >> [laughter]. >> He maybe you really don't have a boss. anymore. >> I don't think I've ever heard a. journalist say baby mama in my life, right? >> Jesus. >> With that accent. >> No, no, no, but the way he said it, baby. mama. >> [laughter]. >> What did you make of that? >> As a Brit, I'll say I apologize to. Ashley St. Clair. If she took any offense from. >> No, no, no, she seems cool. >> I mean look, people ask me questions. >> what I mean. That's what I mean. That's. what I mean. said she she seems cool. now. >> But I'm a cynic.

>> Yes, you are. >> So I I did I said this to Ashley when. she was on the show with the greatest. respect. I've dealt with too many people. who kind of I've left Trump world and. I've converted and then they haven't. really converted or they're just out. there for the grift or you know, you. look at Michael Cohen, conned a lot of. people. People at MSNBC when I was there. loved Michael Cohen. He'd be on the show. every day and then suddenly he's back in. the Trump fold or whatever. So I think a. lot of these people I'm very skeptical. of like who come very late to the party. Although to be fair, she said she had no. regrets. I mean I asked her straight up, you know, do you regret being fooled by. Elon Musk? She said, "No, I got a kid. out of it." She says, "I have my child. thankfully, so I would never do anything.

differently." But you know, she talked. about how he impressed her and I don't. understand how anyone I find him to be. one of the most repulsive, loathsome, charisma-free, humor-free people on the. planet. Again, he's the richest man in. the world, so that has a certain appeal. But uh yeah, I'd I'm confused when when. I when I talked to her about why she. ended up with him. >> Hm. What were are hoping to get out of. that interview? >> I wanted to know how much they paid her. They offered to pay her. She talked. about. >> They offered They She said on the show, she said they offered me the.

an amount the size of a GDP of a small. country to not speak, and she didn't. sign it to get keep her freedom to speak. out. And she's been speaking out a lot. She's been in a lot of places. She was. on Jennifer podcast. She was with Hassan. She was on my show. >> Now, this is this is what's interesting. to me. What does she say is the reason. that she flipped her views on the world? >> I asked her that question. I think she. said it was being exposed to people she. had not been exposed to, being waking up. to the grift on her side. She told some. great stories about being in like. WhatsApp and text groups with like Trump. kids and MAGA influencers are all just.

getting the marching orders. Some of. them are just getting money for what. they're doing. You can cameo these guys, like the equivalent of a few hundred. bucks. You can get a MAGA influencer to. say whatever you want them to say. We. live in a world where you click online, you do not know if the person posting on. Twitter, Instagram, Threads is posting. because they believe that or someone's. paid them. And that applies on both. sides of the divide, by the way. You saw. recently Tom Steyer, the guy running for. governor of California, billionaire, was. paying liberal influencers to say nice. things about him. I didn't see that, actually. >> So, it's the world we live in, though. It's just me, you, Trevor, who are. actually speaking from the heart. Everyone else. >> Ah, me, my man. I get paid to hang out.

with this guy called Eugene. South. Africa pays me. It's this weird deal. that I have. They're like, "You have to. roll with one. You have to roll." And. I'm like, "Ah, okay, Eugene. >> Let's roll to keep the side up. >> Let's roll, my friend. >> is a You have to pay for a SMALL. APARTMENT BLOCK. >> [laughter]. >> WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE THIS. conversation right after this short. break. This message is a paid partnership with. Apple Card. Imagine this. You're at a checkout. counter. You're ready to pay when you. realize you don't have your wallet. Dun.

dun dun. You could drive all the way back home, and you could get it, but you remember. that you have your Apple Card on your. iPhone. So, you can tap to pay with. Apple Pay. Imagine that. No need to. carry a wallet. But, you know, one of. the things I do like about having my. card on my phone is we live in a world. where you lose your card and then you. don't know where it is. And then you're. like, "What do I do?" Well, if your. phone is connected to your card and your. card is connected to your phone, you. know what's going on. The best thing. about having the Apple Card connected to. your phone is you know what every.

transaction is. You know like sometimes. you're like, "What did I spend this. month?" The Apple Card will show you. One month, I had spent an obscene amount. of money ordering videos online. >> Just videos? >> They were just videos. >> What kind of videos? >> That's not the point. >> Sure. >> The point is I knew that I didn't want. to order those videos anymore cuz I'd. spent too much money on it. It was videos on how to not spend money. online. I felt like I'd been duped. [laughter]. Point is Apple showed me what I was. spending my money on and I was able to. change my spending habits and you can do.

it, too. I earn up to 3% daily cash back. on every purchase with my Apple Card. That's [music] unlimited daily cash. back, no matter where I shop. What a. refreshing change of pace. [music]. Apply for Apple Card in the Wallet app. on your iPhone. Subject to credit approval. Apple Card. issued by Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Salt. Lake City branch. Terms and more at. applecard.com. >> [music]. >> I worry because.

there's there's a there's a gift and. curse when it comes to everything, right? I say that all the time, but I do. believe it. One of the curses of having a media that. is controlled by a few people is that it. is controlled by a few people and we. don't realize that our news is being. filtered through the lens of a few. >> Yeah. You can feel about it. >> of the gifts is that there's. accountability cuz you know where to. find these people. >> Mhm. >> So, even Fox News could be sued by. Dominion Voting Systems and they could. lose and they could pay the money, even. Fox News in that way. But.

now with the internet the way it is. >> Anonymous rando. >> you can run an entire campaign. that lies to people. And the thing that. I I don't mean. >> And you never find the source. >> Yeah, I don't I don't mean this like in. a political way like, "Oh, it's don't. want no, no. What I just mean is. it can make human beings feel like their. world is worse or better or different. than it actually is. And it can make them. create or vote for a world that is worse. for themselves without realizing it. That's That's like the the most. pernicious side of it is. >> remember the Johnny Depp Amber Heard.

issue? A lot of that was kind of online. artificially boosted. Um. the recent um. Why am I forgetting the names? Uh. the recent big Hollywood row. I'm having. a mind block. See, I'm old. I can. remember wars. >> Recent Hollywood row? >> Blake Lively. >> Oh, damn. Look at that. >> Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni. A lot. of that there was a New York Times piece. about what people were doing behind the. scenes uh to gen up, you know, opposition to her. So, you don't know. what you can believe anymore. A lot of. people out there are just innocently. living their lives, walking down the. streets of Manhattan on their phones, not knowing that they're being.

manipulated and gaslit. >> Yeah, they're they're seeing a lot of. people saying something, but they don't. know that those aren't a lot of people. Those are basically paid actors. You. know You know how they put in the bottom. of an ad, even on TV, those If you still. watch TV, it'll say, "Not a real person, paid actor." They They even Even in that. world they have to tell you. I know that. I'm telling you to take this medication, Skyrizi, >> [laughter]. >> but I'm not a real person. >> I love By the way, that You asked me. what I love about America. I love. pharmacy ads. They're hilarious. Drug. ads are amazing. >> They're They're phenomenal. >> they read out the side effects, don't.

they? Because diarrhea, memory loss, and. you know, severe in your eyeballs. >> They're smiling on screen as they say. >> [laughter]. >> My favorite is the fact that they say, "Ask your doctor about it." I'm like, "If my doctor cannot tell me about the. medication, I don't trust him." It's. just weird that you're going to be like, "Ask your doctor about" Now, I'm just. walking and be like, "So, doctor, tell. me about uh" I wonder how many doctors. hate that, actually. >> One of the side effects. is death. Okay. >> Yeah. No, that one doesn't get me. You. know what the worst one is for me? I understand that all medication can. have a side effect, and I understand. that they have to list this. What gets. me is when the side effect is the thing.

that you were being treated for. [laughter] in the first place. That's. the one that gets me. That is not a side effect. Do you. understand what I'm saying? So, if they. say, "You Do you suffer from. constipation? Take this medication. It. may cause drowsiness. It may cause. suicidal thoughts. It may cause death. It may cause skin rashes." That's side. effects. I understand this. I'm not even. judging you. But, when you go, "Side. effects may include constipation.". That's not a side effect. That's the. thing not working. You can't You must say, "Sometimes it. doesn't work." You can't say the side. effect of the thing is the thing that I. already have. That's not how it works, bro. That's when I have an issue with.

those ads. Otherwise, I think it's. great. I think it's a fun time. I sit there and enjoy it. What do you. watch when you're watching stuff, by the. way? >> Oh, um I've said this before because I. don't really watch much other than. action films. >> Well, you What's What's your go-to? >> Jason Statham. >> Ah, I like that. >> I I I watch him because he's English. >> No, no, I knew you were going to say. that. No. >> No, I don't know. I'm I'm wondering. >> I mean, I do love I do love that I do. love that he has the kind of They have. to always give him some random English. backstory cuz he can't do an American. accent very well. So, in the majority of. movies. >> I guess. >> In the majority of movies, you can't do.

an English accent so far we've. [laughter] seen. Poor John Oliver. The. Because they can't cuz he can't do a. very good American accent. >> I take a I take a I'll get it. I'll get. it. If he comes back If he comes back, I'll get it. >> back. >> I was watching Jeremy Clarkson. yesterday. This is what This is what. That Grand Tour. >> not like Clarkson, either. But, cuz he. can't do an American accent, in most of. the movies they give him some random. backstory like he left the Marine the. Royal Marines and then moved to become a. builder. They always This guy was. something that He was a He left the. Special Boat Service and moved to this. island. >> Um And now he has a normal job.

>> he has a normal job. Now, he's just a. you know, even though on the. other day it was one I watched today. >> I can't remember the name of it. >> The Beekeeper. >> a great film. >> Yeah, the Beekeeper was a good one. >> But, there was a really bad one recently. where he was on an island. I didn't rate. that one. >> He was still a worker, though. >> He's always a worker. He's always like a. He's always like a foreman, a driver. My. favorite one, of course, Transporter. movies. >> but that's one of the greatest movies of. all time. >> 1, 2, 3, they get better. One of the. best film franchises. >> Oh, the Audi That's when you know a. movie's dope. >> Audi It was started with a BMW, then. they switched to Audi. Audi was like, "Ooh." You're like, "I. want an Audi.". >> You got to buy this Audi. You know when. they can make like a a a family saloon.

look like no, this is the car you need. to be driving. >> saloon. It's like a A8, but okay. >> Yeah, but I mean it's like a big goomba. goomba goomba. >> an Audi for a while after that. Not an. A8. It was a it was a big leap. >> And I remember when I moved to the DC, I. had one. And this is a real American. experience. I was sitting in a parking. lot at like a Walmart or somewhere, and. my wife and kids or whatever was inside. This guy just walks up to me. Big white. guy walks up to the screen, looks at me, goes, "Audi.". I said, "Yes.". He goes, "Hitler used that car with slave labor.". >> Damn, right.

>> And I was like, in my I was this close. to saying, "And the White House was. built with slave labor down the street.". But I just moved. It was like a month. in. So, I was like, "Let's let it go. Let it go.". >> Do you think. >> [laughter]. >> beef just finds you? >> It does. It does. No, and I I say this I. genuinely say So, I I like my my. >> on the train today coming up. >> Yeah, and. >> he might watch this. Sweet kid. Was next to me on the train. Turned out. to be a fan. But he said to me, uh and if you're watching, now, you know, respect I'm saying this very. respectfully, but if you're going to.

We're in the middle of a train journey, and he turned to me and he was like, "Oh, yeah, I'm a big fan. I've seen your. videos. I think probably And then he. goes, "But you know, but I don't agree. with you on genocide.". Tell me why you think it's not a. genocide. I said, [laughter] "I can't do this. here. We're on a Amtrak train. I'm going. to do Trevor Noah. I got to read my. emails." I said, "I've done many videos. you can watch them." But it's like it's. hilarious to me that even the person who. recognized me on the train wants to have. a debate about the Middle East right. then and there. >> You I guess yeah, you've got maybe you. have like debatable vibes. Maybe maybe. you give it off. >> to be fair, I then go and look for. debates, too, which is what friends of.

family tell me it's my fault. Like I. went and did Jubilee, which was probably. a dumb thing to do if you don't want to. have a debate vibe. Cuz now people. People under the age of 25, they don't. know my name. They've never seen The. Takeo. They've never seen Al Jazeera. They're They're like, "You're that dude. from the circle debate.". >> You're that dude from Jubilee. >> Mehdi, let's be honest. You were in. heaven. >> I was not in heaven. >> You were in heaven. >> 1/2 hours of my life I will never get. back. >> Mehdi Hasan, you were Let me tell you. something. Have you seen this? >> I was not. >> So, you know that series on on YouTube. where they'll put one person against a. group of people in a circle, and then. they have to run to the middle and argue. with you about something. >> I thought it would be heaven. It was.

not. It was hell. >> Really? >> I went thinking, this is going to be. fun, right? Trump, 20 to 1, I like those. odds, >> [laughter]. >> right? Let's do it. Someone like me, I'm. like, yeah, let's do it. I go there and you asked earlier about. memory and data, right? I. prepared for this. I spent days. preparing. My argument You have four. claims, you have four. I was like, I had my notes, I had memorized. constitutional amendment I had My first. argument was, Trump is. anti-the-constitution. Trump is. pro-crime. Trump I can't remember my. claims. Trump is whatever it was,

immigration. I don't know immigration's. good for America. I had all these. provocative claims for this maggot. And. I had data, statistics, official. reports, quotes, all up here. I was. ready. This is me. I went in. First guy. sits down, I'm like, Oh, yeah, the Constitution. He's like, I. don't care about the Constitution. >> Yeah. >> I was like, oh, what do I do now? It's like, none of my facts or figures. are relevant to you cuz I'm surrounded. by a bunch of white supremacists, fascists, and crazies. And that was a. very strange experience for me because I. went in thinking, stupidly, not good.

faith debate, but some kind of debate. And what's interesting is, to be fair to. Jubilee, and I've been criticized. Jubilee since doing it, to be fair to. them, in other shows, Glenn Greenwald. just did one recently with 20 maggot. people. I've watched other shows. And I watched them and I go, how come I. didn't get those 20? Like, every other. show has some semi-normal people. For. some reason, what do you say, B finds. me. >> B finds me. >> the 20 craziest people in the history of. Jubilee. Like, I thought there'd be like. two or three crazies and like 16, 17. normal. >> But the whole squad was like. >> 19 crazy and there was like one normal. guy. >> I genuinely thought you were loving it.

>> No, no, don't worry. >> Just because of just because of like how. you roll in the debate. So, the. basically they you run in you would love. it actually. You would No, we're going to I'll show. you I'll show you the 20. No, I think. you would just love watching it. >> I just spent 2 and 1/2 hours in a. warehouse in LA with a bunch of white. supremacists. And look, I want to make a. serious point here. I do love debating, but this is going to sound very strange. and cliché. I'm also a human being. And you sit there for 2 and 1/2 hours. with person after person telling you. you're not a real American, you're not a. white person, get out of my country. I didn't see that coming. I'll be.

honest, maybe I was naive. Because I've. watched other Jubilees and other host. other guests have not got that. Maybe. that those were white guys on the left. who went on. Maybe because I'm a brown. Muslim it was it was worse for them. But. it was a very strange experience to be. told by one person after another, you're. not a real American, you don't belong. here, get out, you're going to be the. first to go. Then discover after the. show that some of these people are like. linked to the Proud Boys and are Nazis. online. I said, "Oh. damn." I was sitting with some And I I. took like one security guy with me. afterwards. I was like, "Maybe I should. have taken like 20." Because afterwards. you're feeling like that's a very. strange situation to be in. That is not.

a debate. Like And a lot of people. attacked me. A lot of people on the left. said, "Why did you do that? Because you. gave the wrong message out. You're. saying that people of color should have. to sit there and listen to white. supremacists say this to their. faces." And I I understood that and I. respect that. I got criticized from both. sides. Um and and to this day people. say, "Well, would you do it again? Do. you regret doing it?" I don't know. I'm. torn. That's why when you said I enjoyed. it, like I thought I would enjoy it, but. I didn't. >> That makes a lot of sense. That Did it. Do you think it changed how seriously. you took.

the situation in the country? >> No, I already took it seriously. >> No, no, but I'm saying do you think it. changed that did it did it change that. did. >> took it seriously. That's the only. redeeming feature. I hope the stupid. people that we talked about earlier who. think this is all just a, you know, a. bunch of old white men in Mississippi. are going to die out all the Republican. body. They saw 20 young people in LA. saying crazy anti-Semitic, Islamophobic, anti-black, great replacement And I think. people don't realize this is not just. some generational thing. Well, oh, the. racists are just going to die out and. then we're going to have a liberal. multi-racial America. No, no, no, no.

This is a serious problem. There's a. huge movement on the right that is young. and vicious. The Nick Fuentes, the. Groypers. Some of these guys were linked. to Nick Fuentes I discovered later. And. I think that is what was scary and I. think that was one of the redeeming. features. When I look back and say, "Would I do it again? Do I regret doing. it?" I certainly don't regret exposing. I hope I exposed it to whatever the 15. million people, whatever it is, who. watched on YouTube to say, you know, these people live amongst us. They are. your neighbors. One of the guys, Connor, claims to be in fired after the show. from his employer. And I I remember. being on there thinking as he said to.

me, "Yeah, I'm a fascist." As he played. down the Holocaust, I'm like, "You're. saying this?" I'm not naive enough to. think that these views don't exist in. American society. But the fact that you. now live in a country where you think. you can go on YouTube proudly and say it. to cameras are filming you. Your. colleagues, your co-workers are going to. see this and it doesn't bother you? That. for me was very stark. Um and actually. for the vast majority of them there was. no consequences airing those views on. YouTube to millions. That should tell us something about. where we are as a country and what's. acceptable now in discourse. >> How How afraid are you on a day-to-day. basis? Like just when you're like.

rolling in the streets living your life? >> I'm okay. Yeah. I get a lot of love. The haters The haters The haters stay. away. The haters stay away. >> Are they digital? Or they digital or. they watch from afar? I got one guy. recently. shout at me in airport said, "You should. be deported. Get out of my country.". >> Like scream at you or just say it like. no way? >> he said it under his breath. And I said. >> That's even scarier in a weird way. >> breath he said he said it he was like a. middle-aged, middle-class guy not didn't. look like a you know, normal guy. >> Yeah. >> So he walked past me under his breath. saying, "Get out of Come out of here.". he said. Deport Get something about.

getting out of the country. And I said, "What did you say? Say it to my face.". >> Maybe he worked for the airport and he. thought you were at the gates. Or maybe. he said. So I didn't No, you know cuz sometimes. in life you know they say like your. perspective can shape how you see an. experience. So you don't know maybe this. person is like a greeter or somebody who. works at an airport. And then maybe they. were saying it in a good way. They were. like, "Oh my god, there's Mehdi Hasan. I. love him." And they were worried for you. and they walked past and they're like, "You should get out of the country, man." You No, you don't know. >> Unfortunately, I do know cuz when I said. say it to my face he said, "You hate. this country. You're a threat to our. country. You should get the out.". >> See, I like that you verified it. I.

verified Okay, this is good. No, cuz. people don't do this sometimes in life. You know, you have a negative. experience. >> cuz I get a lot of hate online and in. the mail but not to my face. Actually, touch wood I've probably jinxed it now. But you know, obviously now events. especially post Charlie Kirk, I have to. have a lot of security. It looks really. bad. I don't like feeling like a diva, but you do, unfortunately, given the. level of hate and the number of guns in. this country. But no, on a day-to-day. basis, I live my life, I watch my Jason. Statham movies, I drink my milkshakes, I. don't worry about freaks. >> Here's something I've I've always. wondered, because we live in a society. where people are constantly being fed.

one idea of of other people, politics, etc., etc. Um. I often wonder. if there's something you would say to. people who have a singular idea of you. that might surprise them. What like what. would you what would you say to people? Cuz. I I don't think there's any world where. it's just a. plurality, right? There's no world where. it's just like them and us. Everyone has. a shade of something. It's this gradient. that goes from one color to another, etc., etc. There's somebody out there who is only.

being fed clips of yours that pissed. them off. They know nothing about you as. a human being. >> Like lies. >> Yeah, yeah, but I'm saying no, but I'm. saying there might even be stuff that. you've said that people have clipped. >> Yes. >> Anyway, you know what you know when I. experienced this for the first time? Like in the in the in the starkest. manner was when I did the White House. Correspondents Dinner. I did the White House Correspondents. Dinner. It's Joe Biden. At like any White House Correspondents. Dinner, I roasted Joe Biden. I roasted. Democrats. I roasted liberal media. I roasted um conservative media. I wrote.

you I was like this is what the event is. about, right? What shocked me was the next day, the clips where I spoke about. >> Yeah. >> anyone on the right. went to the left, and the clips where I. spoke about anyone on the left went to. the right. And I was shocked to see how. even when we try and create a reality. that is gray, the algorithm splits the black and white. and goes we'll send this to you, we'll. send that to you. But but I'm saying. what would you So like if you met. somebody who Let's say somebody walked.

up to you and they didn't say get out of. my country. They said, um Mehdi Hasan, I've seen some of the things you say. about this country, and I I just want. you to know that I think you you're. really divisive and and you're not you. know you're not part of making this. country a better place. You know, I. think you hate America. What would you. say to them? And And if you saw they. were trying to be sincere. >> Yeah, I would say there's many things I. would say to them. Um aside from saying, well, I love the country, too. Look, I. would say, and I say this because this. is my politics, is that I'm I'm the last. person to be divisive. I think AOC has a.

very good line which I will steal from. her, which is I want everyone to have. health care. I want MAGA to have health. care. I don't want to deprive my. political opponents of everything. I'm a. universalist, right? So, I'm the last. person you could actually call divisive. because I want what I have for everyone. else. I've been very blessed. I've been. very privileged. I'm part of the 1% or. whatever you want to call it. I want. everyone to have access to health care. I want everyone to have a roof over. their heads. I want everyone to have a. job that pays well. Um you know, I. started a business. I'm as American you. know, American dream. Immigrant came I'm. a socialist running a business, right? I'm an entrepreneur now. I do.

stuff like make sure you subscribe to. Zizek. I feel dirty after but you got to. do it. Small businessman. >> [laughter]. >> So, like. I'm I'm I'm a proud American, right? I'm. a proud American dreamer. Um and my. position, my politics are in fact the. opposite of divisive. They are. universalist. They are I want a higher. minimum wage for everyone. I want health. care for everyone. I want college to be. accessible to everyone. I know it sounds. cliche but that's literally what So, it's always makes me fun when we get oh, the far left and the far right are the. two divisive forces. The far right are. Nazis who want to get rid of black.

people from America. The far left want. universal health care. That is not the same thing. Right? Bernie Sanders is not the same. thing as Nick Fuentes. And if you think. that, your brain is broken by the. algorithm. Huh. I like that. I would also say I enjoy a. good Jason Statham movie and I hope the. MAGA voter does, too. I feel like MAGA. likes Jason. >> That actually is where you. >> I say let's go watch Beekeeper 2. together. You know, to be or not to be. Is that what he said? >> He says it in the first. >> Oh, man. That's a.

>> Of course he says it. You think he went. to the movie and he said, "That is. amazing.". >> or not to be. >> That is amazing. To be. >> [laughter]. >> And then he kills the guy. And then he kills the guy. >> Uh Eugene, how you going to act like you. don't love Have you not watched. Beekeeper? Fire, my man. >> I've never watched anything by Jason. Statham. >> What? Uh marathon, my brother. Me and. you. >> Why? I was going to get into it and then one. day I saw. >> So much Expendables, too. >> No, I saw I saw a video of him that he. was almost an Olympic diver. >> Yes. >> Then I was like, that's so random. You've never watched Jason Statham, but. you know that bit of trivia that only.

>> the hardcore friends know. He was almost a British Olympic diver, yeah. >> Yeah, for me people who pivot too much. >> [laughter]. >> WHAT? PEOPLE WHO OVER PIVOT. You know, if he became A SWIMMING. INSTRUCTOR. >> [laughter]. >> WELL, HIS NEXT MOVIE HE'S on a boat. >> I just watched the trailer last night. [laughter]. >> If he became a a swimming instructor, I. would have been like, yeah, that's. within the realms. He went from. diving. to becoming a Hollywood actor. >> But he doesn't claim to be an actor, I. don't think. >> Of course he doesn't.

>> he accepts he's not. >> He also didn't claim to be a diver. >> Didn't Didn't Jean-Claude Van Damme also. go from Wasn't he like a dancer and then. he went into. >> Yeah, he worked at his dad's gym. >> Jean-Claude Van Damme, I mean, come on. He's not He's not Jason Statham. >> Woah. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? YO, WHAT? >> JCVD versus Jason Statham. >> First of all, Statham would kick his. ass. >> My friend, okay, let me start let me. start by saying this. You're stupid. >> Okay. >> [laughter]. >> Secondly, secondly, Jean-Claude Van. Damme. >> Yeah. >> my friend, you. >> up watching Jean-Claude Van Damme.

>> You have the memory of a goldfish. >> No, I didn't. I could tell you right now. Bloodsport. My friend, I could watch. Bloodsport again every day. >> world Double Impact. >> My brothers in Hong Kong. >> where you can make a statement as it. would it be a close fight? Yes. Would it. be a tough fight? Timecop. >> Let's go. >> There is no world. There's no scenario. you watch more JCVD films than I have. >> I watch him now that the B that. goes straight to straight to streaming. where he's like an old assassin retired. I watch that too. >> I watch all of this stuff. In what world. In what world. In what world are you going to bring. >> What What What What What was going on.

with him there? >> Like I don't know. >> Oh, he's [laughter] got a gun. >> LIKE HE HAS A GUN. cuz he can't do splits and kick anyone. >> No, cuz cuz you said he's old and you. did this WITH YOUR HANDS. >> BUT HE'S JASON STATHAM. Jason Statham. kick his ass. >> IN WHAT WORLD ARE YOU TALKING ARE YOU. ARE YOU SERIOUS? YOU THINK THIS BELGIAN. dancer is going to take out. >> You think THIS BRITISH YOU THINK THIS. BRITISH DIVER YOU THINK THIS BRITISH. DIVER is going to beat kickboxer. >> with cheesy lines like. >> talking ABOUT? >> YOU KNOW WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

>> THIS GUY'S NOT STRAIGHT, BRO. [laughter]. >> DO YOU KNOW Tong Po? >> Ah, my man, you're playing games, you. >> Have you seen Universal Soldier? >> My My man, I've watched all of these. These are the only movies WE HAD IN. SOUTH AFRICA. >> I THINK DOLPH LUNDGREN would have kicked. Jean-Claude Van Damme's ass. >> Yeah, but that's a tough one. But that's. a tough one. That's why. >> I'll give you Lundgren. >> Yeah, but I'm saying that was. >> But I won't give you Van Damme. >> My man, >> I just Statham. Stay Stay there. >> You see when you put your foot like this. >> Yeah. Over your head. >> Over your head. >> Yeah. Relax. >> But he doesn't hit people with it. >> Statham actually. >> breaks some bones. This guy. >> You know what, Medi? >> over pivotous. >> No, you are.

>> I think you're crazy. I hope you get deported. >> [laughter]. >> This guy just said the craziest thing of. all time. >> I'm just going to say this because one. day I dreamed to meet Jason Statham. You're going to clip all the other. clips. Me, >> [laughter]. >> I'm clipping this and I'm tagging Jason. on Instagram. >> This guy. >> I'm going to say I defend Van Damme. >> Yeah. >> Sure. >> To end this debate The muscles from. Brussels. >> To end this debate. >> He's from Brussels, for God's sake. >> You're bringing in real things, which is. not fair. >> I'm not bringing a single real thing. about Jason Statham. >> I am. >> Not a single thing. >> Okay, on camera. Okay, character then.

Fine, on character. I'm not You're. You're hitting below the belt. >> No, no, I'm saying let's take their. characters. >> Yes. >> You're going to take this like wussy. Time Cop Double Impact Hong Kong dude. and you're going to put him up against. ex-SAS. Jason Statham who doesn't take from. anyone. >> Yo. >> Transporter 2. blowing up things, shooting people. I'm. talking straight hand-to-hand. >> Hand-to-hand. I'm talking too. >> Have you seen Have you seen the. Beekeeper? >> Jean-Claude Van Damme Jean-Claude Van. Damme. >> No, there's no Jean-Claude Van Damme. >> No, there's no Jean-Claude Van.

>> You'll be here. You'll be here. Jean-Claude Van Damme you'll be here. While you're here, you'll feel something. here. >> you talking about? You think Statham. doesn't kick? >> He He'll kick you like. >> never seen that? So, you lied earlier. >> Show me Jason Statham's highest kick. Show me Jason Statham's highest kick, and show me Jean-Claude Van Damme's. highest kick. >> Van Damme's short, so you don't need to. do a high kick. He's a short guy. >> Yeah, okay. You know what? >> You just defeated your argument there. >> If there's a If there's a world where we. could make this happen. >> I feel like there's a jubilee here. >> I'm going to 20 people. >> I'm going to try I'm going to try and. we're going to raise funds and make this.

movie. >> See what I told you should bring the. grade school class. Let's just clip. this, tag Statham, and see what he. thinks. I want to see you both with. Statham in the chair. Why not Statham? >> We I didn't say You're the one who. brought this thing up. You're the one. who made it antagonistic. I was happy. with both of these heroes. >> I love the Transporter, and I said. Statham would kick Jason. >> You see, you made it into. >> Obviously, if you met me, I make. everything into a debate [laughter] OR. AN ARGUMENT. EVEN REAL FIGHTS. SOMEBODY HAS TO win and lose in. everything that I watch. >> What do you think you loved about action. movies? What is What is like What got. you?

Like why action movies is what I'm. saying. >> I think because you Because you could. have. >> Yeah, but you could have loved romantic. comedies. You could have loved. >> romantic comedies, too. I just don't I. just don't watch them now. >> Yeah. Oh, okay. Also, you went through a. period. >> Yeah. >> But, the action has stayed with you your. whole life, clearly. >> Since I was a kid. >> Who did you want to be when you were a. kid? >> He-Man's out. And I grew up watching. He-Man. >> He-Man, do you think he's going to be. good or not? >> No. >> I'm worried about too many sequels. I. think at some point. >> No, no, but. >> No, but my toy I mean, they killed it. with Barbie for the. >> Yeah. And I don't know why I like it so. much. Maybe cuz I was a kid in the. playground who got bullied and I'm not.

good at fighting. Maybe I saw it that as. a kind of escape, and I saw myself in. JCVD. >> Did you When you were getting bullied. >> JCVD wasn't my guy growing up. >> Yeah, but what Bruce Willis? >> Bruce Willis was your guy? >> Die Hard. Die Hard. Die Hard was the. >> Well, that's an interesting one. For a. kid, that's a I don't know why I think. that's. >> How old When I Die Hard? I was quite. old, 13, 12. When was Die born? '89, '90, I want to say. '88? >> When we got them was different to when. they came out. >> That's so true. That's so true. >> I remember the first time. >> I go to the cinema. >> I remember the first time I talked to an. American about something that was. current in my world in South Africa, and. they were like, "That was That was out. from 10 years ago." And we were like,

"Ah, that just came out for us, bro.". >> It just came out for us. >> That literally just came out for us. So, I. >> No, but I loved Arnie, obviously. I. loved all those guys. They all turned. out to be Republicans. Now, I see. everything politically. >> So, I'm like, "No, man. Don't Don't do. that to yourself.". >> Sly Stallone, Republican. Arnie, Republican. >> me Let me tell you something. >> a good Republican. >> But let me tell you something, Medi. >> Mark Wahlberg. >> Medi, Medi, let me let me tell Let me. tell you something. If there's one thing I can I can hope to. leave you with when you leave this. podcast is. do not do that to yourself. Because. here's here's the thing we take for. granted. Because we live in a world. where people have now been forced to.

live their politics first. >> Yeah. >> and their humanity second. We have now. created a world where we no longer see. humans anymore. >> Yes. >> We see the politics. >> Yes. >> And then we forget that there's a human. But we don't understand that. humanity is at the center of politics. If I cannot see you as a human, we'll. never get to a place where we agree. because we've already started with not. agreeing. >> I agree with that. >> So, no, no. So, what I'm saying is Jen, and I mean this cuz I I I I. I remind myself of this is I go I have. to live in a world where I'm willing to. accept certain people have done.

beautiful things for me in terms of. their art, in terms of their music, in. terms of their movies, whatever it might. be. Then I find out that on a personal. level they have different political. views to me. That you will That will. take nothing away from what you gave me. for my whole life, my whole childhood, my whole every I'm like, "Yo, man. Okay, fine. You have. >> I agree with that. You identify them on. the screen. >> Yeah, but I'm saying don't let the Don't. rob yourself of Don't rob little Medi of. that. >> I try not No, I try not to find. Especially now with the genocide, right? For me, the biggest moral issue of our. time is the genocide. For me, I see. celebrities, actors through that prism, and that's a real problem for me. I.

recently discovered that Helen Mirren is. like a hardcore socialist. I love Helen. Mirren. And it's like, "Ah!" And it's. painful for me. Does that mean I'm not. going to watch the next season of even. though apparently Tom Hardy got kicked. off because. apparently Tom Hardy got kicked off. No, but they negotiated and they they. said I think they saw the backlash and. they've now said they're working on it. >> I love Tom Hardy as well. Um but the So. that I agree with that. Um but. it's hard. I I would say that. >> I don't dispute that. >> And by the way, I would do the reverse, too. So someone like Kiefer Sutherland, who's a super lefty in real life, his. grand- his grandfather was the first. socialist prime minister of some.

province in Canada. He was in a show, 24, >> Yes. >> which I loved. Super Islamophobic show. There's no debate about that. Like it. was a super Islamophobic show. >> That was like that was like peak anti um. Muslim propaganda. Yeah, war on terror. Every show was war on terror. >> And seasons 2, 3, 4 became you're all. the Muslim terrorists. Um even like Kal. Penn turns out to be like a sleeper. terrorist in that show. Loads of comedians in that show turn out. to be. uh turns out turn out So many people I. watch it now and I'm like Nick. Offerman is like a far right white. supremacist. >> Oh, I didn't know that. >> in like season 2. He's like beating up. an Arab guy. I'm like that's Nick. Offerman. I text Nick. I'm like Nick,

you're in 24. Yes, early role. You [laughter] reckon? Like. there's so many um Maz Jobrani is like a. terrorist. >> I didn't know that. >> Maz Jobrani is like a terrorist who. doesn't go through with I've re-watching. it recently with my daughter. So I was. like okay, Islamophobic. But like that. show, I loved it but I had to really. torture like a lot of Muslims that we. should boycott this show and I was like. I want to but I love it so much. But it. goes against everything I believe in. And I met Kiefer Sutherland once and I. got to ask him about it and he kind of. tried to put my mind at ease about like. the on-screen Islamophobia. But that. does That's the reverse. That's That's. where on-screen it's really bad but.

you're still watching as like a guilty. pleasure even though you know. politically goes against everything you. stand for. >> So but but going back to you as a kid, who who do you think you were Actually, what what cuz I would like when I was. getting bullied in school, uh my two defenses were my speed. I. could outrun most kids. And then was my. humor. So I was like okay, if the. bullies do catch me, then I'm going. humor. What was your What was your. >> Mine was similar. Humor, more mockery. So as I was getting beaten up, I would. make fun of them more in front of the. people. >> For real, for real? >> Yeah, cuz my mouth never shuts. I run my.

mouth. So that was the main thing, right? If. they're going to try and they're going. to try and beat me up, one thing they're. not going to do is silence me. And. that's been how I've been all my life. So, you know, whether it's Republican. members of Congress saying deport me to. the USA or back to the UK, or the kid in. school bullying me calling me the. P-word, that was the same that was the. same. So, it was always a matter that you're. not going to shut my mouth. You can. physically You know, you know that old. sticks and stones will You know the crap. teachers tell you? Sticks and stones. will break your bones, but words will. never hurt me. No, that's I. knew that from very early age words will. affect you. I've made words my career, and that was the only defense I had.

>> That explains a lot though. It's like. you kept you kept that thing of you're. not going to shut me up. You might scare. me, you might beat me up, you might. threaten me, what it whatever it is, but. I'm still going to say. What do you think that gives you? And what what I mean is like what does. it preserve of you know? >> I mean, I would hope it preserves my. integrity because ultimately if you're. in our business at many points in your. career you're asked to sacrifice. integrity or principle, you're asked to. shut up about an issue, you're asked not.

to say, you know, as Noam Chomsky has. often said the worst kind of censorship. is censorship by omission, right? It's. what you don't say, not what you do say. is that's the worst kind of propaganda. and and brainwashing and gaslighting. And I think over the years that's been. the thing that I've tried to avoid in. all my public life, my private life, um. as a as someone on the left, as someone. who's a Muslim, etc. etc. is just. saying, you know what? I'm just going to. say what I have to say. And obviously to. go back to your earlier question, this. is why I love doing Satire right now. As. much as I loved MSNBC, I had a great. time at MSNBC, had a great time in all.

the other places I worked. All my. experiences have been great. I don't. regret any of my journalistic career, but the moment I'm in now, that freedom. really to be able to really just go for. it without having to worry about any. consequences, or I mean, obviously. there's some consequences, but in. general, I think that is hugely. liberating, and I say liberating in a. very literal sense. >> Well, I'm I'm glad that you get to be. this person. Thanks for joining us, man. This was Thank you for having me. A true. joy. I'm glad we got to see you, and. good luck for the train ride back. If. someone approaches you, cuz you You.

know. This guy is starting He gets beef. He gets beef started. You never know. >> Oh yeah, true. >> So on the way back. >> way back I found myself sitting next to. Jean-Claude Van Damme. >> Hey, the muscles [laughter]. from Brussels. >> The muscles from Have you ever watched. the muscles from Brussels? >> Have you watched the Beekeeper? Let me. tell you who would kick your ass. >> [laughter]. >> Hopefully you bump into Pedro Pascal. >> Oh, that'd be good. Not wearing his. mask. >> He didn't reply. >> This is I said this is the way. >> Yes. >> Is it? >> Yeah, of course it's the way. >> That's good music.

>> No, they did but not enough of him. >> I wanted more of him. >> Yeah, that is the best part of it. >> That is the best part. >> Has Boba Fett made a an appearance? >> No. >> Don't spoil anything. Don't We're going to go watch it. ourselves. That's what we got to do. Manny man, for real. This is great. >> Thanks guys. I appreciate it. >> Thank you so much for watching the. episode. If you enjoyed it, pass it on. to a friend. If you didn't enjoy it, pass it on to your friends still. Let them suffer for a change. And don't. forget to engage with us in the. comments. If you want to suggest a.

guest, maybe there's [music] questions. you want, maybe there's ideas that you. have, you can chat to us. We will read. through the comments and we'll get into. it. Either way, I appreciate you taking. the time. Thank you for hanging [music]. out with us on What Now? And remember we. do this for you, so we would like to. hear from you. >> [music]. >> Till next time. Thank you.