1 00:00:01,168 --> 00:00:02,803 Yo! What's going on, everybody? Welcome to 2 00:00:02,836 --> 00:00:05,339 The Daily Social Distancing Show. I'm Trevor Noah. 3 00:00:05,372 --> 00:00:08,642 And I'm happy to report that I've just completed 4 00:00:08,675 --> 00:00:11,245 my first New Year's resolution, 5 00:00:11,278 --> 00:00:14,114 which was that I would learn a brand-new instrument. 6 00:00:14,147 --> 00:00:15,616 Uh, I actually wrote a little song for you guys. 7 00:00:15,649 --> 00:00:18,852 It's called "2020 into 2021." 8 00:00:18,886 --> 00:00:20,888 ? ? 9 00:00:28,562 --> 00:00:30,130 Anyway, on tonight's show, 10 00:00:30,163 --> 00:00:33,133 we pay tribute to Melania's many accomplishments as first lady, 11 00:00:33,166 --> 00:00:35,502 the NBA is taking on coronavirus, 12 00:00:35,536 --> 00:00:37,771 and everyone has already forgotten about 13 00:00:37,804 --> 00:00:40,140 what's-his-name-- you know, the guy with the hair. 14 00:00:40,174 --> 00:00:42,743 Plus, Jelani Cobb is on the show to talk about 15 00:00:42,776 --> 00:00:44,645 what's next for the country. 16 00:00:44,678 --> 00:00:46,313 So let's do this, people. 17 00:00:46,346 --> 00:00:48,715 Welcome to The Daily Social Distancing Show. 18 00:00:48,749 --> 00:00:50,417 ? ? 19 00:00:50,450 --> 00:00:54,288 -? ? -ANNOUNCER: From Trevor's couch in New York City 20 00:00:54,321 --> 00:00:57,424 to your couch somewhere in the world, this is 21 00:00:57,457 --> 00:01:00,627 The Daily Social Distancing Show with Trevor Noah. 22 00:01:03,330 --> 00:01:04,965 Let's kick things off with the story 23 00:01:04,998 --> 00:01:08,101 that just won't end: 24 00:01:08,135 --> 00:01:10,771 the coronavirus pandemic. 25 00:01:10,804 --> 00:01:13,473 'Cause I know America has begun a new era, 26 00:01:13,507 --> 00:01:16,176 but corona doesn't care about who's president. 27 00:01:16,210 --> 00:01:18,478 In fact, it's been exactly one year 28 00:01:18,512 --> 00:01:21,415 since we first learned that COVID-19 had reached 29 00:01:21,448 --> 00:01:24,751 the United States, and things have only gotten worse. 30 00:01:24,785 --> 00:01:26,820 Yesterday the country set a new record 31 00:01:26,854 --> 00:01:29,022 for coronavirus deaths. And the CDC 32 00:01:29,056 --> 00:01:31,592 now predicts that half a million deaths 33 00:01:31,625 --> 00:01:33,894 will happen by mid-February. 34 00:01:33,927 --> 00:01:36,363 Which is gonna make for a weird Valentine's Day. 35 00:01:36,396 --> 00:01:37,831 Valentine's Day is already pretty weird. 36 00:01:37,865 --> 00:01:40,667 I'm supposed to buy an adult woman a teddy bear? 37 00:01:40,701 --> 00:01:41,935 That is creepy as hell. 38 00:01:41,969 --> 00:01:43,804 The point is it's more important than ever 39 00:01:43,837 --> 00:01:46,139 to step up on COVID safety, 40 00:01:46,173 --> 00:01:48,976 which is exactly what the NBA is doing. 41 00:01:49,009 --> 00:01:50,611 NEWSMAN: Well, after witnessing some opposing players 42 00:01:50,644 --> 00:01:53,981 disregarding new league rules against unnecessary contact 43 00:01:54,014 --> 00:01:57,751 on game nights, the NBA is now moving team security to midcourt 44 00:01:57,784 --> 00:02:00,521 following games to stop the hugging and handshakes 45 00:02:00,554 --> 00:02:02,990 that may cause an unwanted spread of COVID-19. 46 00:02:03,023 --> 00:02:05,192 High fives, hugs and handshakes, 47 00:02:05,225 --> 00:02:07,427 along with extended post-game conversations, 48 00:02:07,461 --> 00:02:09,263 are no longer allowed. 49 00:02:09,296 --> 00:02:11,331 Man, this is so harsh, guys. 50 00:02:11,365 --> 00:02:14,801 COVID won't even let you shake hands with opponents now? 51 00:02:14,835 --> 00:02:16,703 That's a hard habit to break, because we've all been 52 00:02:16,737 --> 00:02:18,705 doing that since we were five years old. 53 00:02:18,739 --> 00:02:20,974 You know, you play a game, then you'd line up 54 00:02:21,008 --> 00:02:23,210 and you high five the other team saying, "Good game." 55 00:02:23,243 --> 00:02:25,179 Next they're gonna say that, what, COVID won't let you 56 00:02:25,212 --> 00:02:26,813 eat orange slices at halftime? 57 00:02:26,847 --> 00:02:28,949 Or drive past the ice cream store because your dad says 58 00:02:28,982 --> 00:02:30,918 only winners deserve ice cream? 59 00:02:30,951 --> 00:02:32,252 But look, I get it. 60 00:02:32,286 --> 00:02:34,788 You got to do what you got to do to stop COVID. 61 00:02:34,821 --> 00:02:36,557 And who knows, this could even 62 00:02:36,590 --> 00:02:38,892 create some excitement after the game. 63 00:02:38,926 --> 00:02:41,161 And here it is. Harden, going up for a high five, 64 00:02:41,195 --> 00:02:43,664 and this is... Oh, no, he's rejected! 65 00:02:43,697 --> 00:02:47,801 He's rejected by a security guard named Stanley. 66 00:02:47,835 --> 00:02:50,204 At the same time, though, 67 00:02:50,237 --> 00:02:52,806 will this really make a difference? 68 00:02:52,840 --> 00:02:56,710 I mean, I'm all for COVID safety, but these guys have been 69 00:02:56,743 --> 00:02:59,613 sweating and breathing on each other for two hours already, 70 00:02:59,646 --> 00:03:01,915 and then they can't shake hands? 71 00:03:01,949 --> 00:03:03,183 That's like handing out condoms 72 00:03:03,217 --> 00:03:05,018 as people are leaving your orgy. 73 00:03:05,052 --> 00:03:06,720 Remember to be safe. Remember to be safe... 74 00:03:06,753 --> 00:03:08,856 That was fun, guys. Remember to be safe. 75 00:03:08,889 --> 00:03:11,725 Remember to be safe. That was dope. (giggles) 76 00:03:11,758 --> 00:03:13,126 I mean, I'm not gonna lie-- this just shows how 77 00:03:13,160 --> 00:03:15,495 COVID has turned the whole world upside down, you know? 78 00:03:15,529 --> 00:03:17,331 Players are now getting into trouble 79 00:03:17,364 --> 00:03:20,367 for being nice to each other. Like... 80 00:03:20,400 --> 00:03:21,869 Yeah, you better hold me back! 81 00:03:21,902 --> 00:03:23,504 I'm about to hug this (bleep), man. 82 00:03:23,537 --> 00:03:25,105 Yeah, I res... I respect you, asshole. 83 00:03:25,138 --> 00:03:28,609 I-I will hug you right now. Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh. 84 00:03:28,642 --> 00:03:31,011 Anyway, between the pandemic and all the insanity 85 00:03:31,044 --> 00:03:33,080 around the presidential election, there have been 86 00:03:33,113 --> 00:03:34,815 all sorts of stories that we just 87 00:03:34,848 --> 00:03:36,650 haven't had time to talk about. 88 00:03:36,683 --> 00:03:38,886 But they've kind of gotten stuck in my brain, 89 00:03:38,919 --> 00:03:41,722 and I thought, well, maybe I could unstick them 90 00:03:41,755 --> 00:03:43,590 by sharing them with you. 91 00:03:43,624 --> 00:03:46,927 For instance, here's some big news you might have missed 92 00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:50,831 out of Russia, aka Mean Canada. 93 00:03:50,864 --> 00:03:52,900 Vladimir Putin's fiercest critic Alexei Navalny, 94 00:03:52,933 --> 00:03:54,868 who was nearly poisoned to death, 95 00:03:54,902 --> 00:03:58,272 returning to Russia and immediately detained. 96 00:03:58,305 --> 00:04:00,340 NEWSMAN: A dangerous gamble for one of Vladimir Putin's 97 00:04:00,374 --> 00:04:03,243 most vocal critics. He was arrested minutes after 98 00:04:03,277 --> 00:04:06,079 arriving in Moscow, kissing his wife goodbye. 99 00:04:06,113 --> 00:04:09,116 Alexei Navalny has now been detained for at least 30 days, 100 00:04:09,149 --> 00:04:12,119 prompting outrage around the world. 101 00:04:12,152 --> 00:04:14,588 Navalny nearly died last year after being poisoned 102 00:04:14,621 --> 00:04:17,491 with the extremely toxic chemical weapon Novichok. 103 00:04:17,524 --> 00:04:20,961 -(moaning) -He fell ill on an airplane, blaming the Kremlin 104 00:04:20,994 --> 00:04:23,463 for the attack-- something they deny. 105 00:04:23,497 --> 00:04:26,300 Okay, I don't know what's crazier here-- 106 00:04:26,333 --> 00:04:28,936 that this dude went back to the same country 107 00:04:28,969 --> 00:04:30,604 that tried to kill him 108 00:04:30,637 --> 00:04:33,807 or that they arrested him when he got there. 109 00:04:33,841 --> 00:04:35,509 Apparently in Russia it's a felony 110 00:04:35,542 --> 00:04:37,778 to not die when they poison you? 111 00:04:37,811 --> 00:04:39,546 (Russian accent): Why did you do that? You make Putin look like 112 00:04:39,580 --> 00:04:42,816 he don't know poison, huh? Why you do that to Putin? 113 00:04:42,850 --> 00:04:45,118 (regular accent): Look, either Navalny's the bravest dude alive 114 00:04:45,152 --> 00:04:48,488 or he's just really grown to love the taste of poison. 115 00:04:48,522 --> 00:04:50,557 I mean, I don't know, maybe poison is delicious. 116 00:04:50,591 --> 00:04:52,659 It's just that no one ever survives to tell us. 117 00:04:52,693 --> 00:04:53,794 You know, maybe it's the most delicious thing in the world. 118 00:04:53,827 --> 00:04:56,163 We don't know. Actually, I want... 119 00:04:56,196 --> 00:04:57,564 I want to try poison now. 120 00:04:57,598 --> 00:05:00,467 But either way, this guy has bigger balls than me. 121 00:05:00,501 --> 00:05:02,469 I'm not gonna lie. Because I would not 122 00:05:02,503 --> 00:05:04,304 be going back to Russia right now. 123 00:05:04,338 --> 00:05:06,540 Forget the poisoning-- it's the middle of winter. 124 00:05:06,573 --> 00:05:08,575 All Putin has to do is delay your Uber ride for five minutes 125 00:05:08,609 --> 00:05:10,511 -and you're done. -(snaps fingers) 126 00:05:10,544 --> 00:05:13,447 Meanwhile, in tech news, here's a story I really 127 00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:16,016 can't stop thinking about involving bitcoin, 128 00:05:16,049 --> 00:05:19,553 the money that lives... in space. 129 00:05:19,586 --> 00:05:22,556 Over the last few months, the value of the virtual currency 130 00:05:22,589 --> 00:05:25,659 has skyrocketed to insane heights, 131 00:05:25,692 --> 00:05:27,027 which is great for people who own it. 132 00:05:27,060 --> 00:05:30,163 But it'll never catch up to the market value 133 00:05:30,197 --> 00:05:32,900 of my Pokémon cards. That's right, people, 134 00:05:32,933 --> 00:05:36,003 I've been saving up these bad boy... 135 00:05:37,404 --> 00:05:38,639 Mom! 136 00:05:38,672 --> 00:05:41,441 Mom, what did you do to my Pokémon?! Mo... 137 00:05:41,475 --> 00:05:45,479 Anyway, one of the big draws of bitcoin is how secure it is. 138 00:05:45,512 --> 00:05:48,081 Unfortunately for one investor, it's turning out to be 139 00:05:48,115 --> 00:05:49,983 a little too secure. 140 00:05:50,017 --> 00:05:51,652 A virtual nightmare for a man with 141 00:05:51,685 --> 00:05:55,122 a quarter billion dollars in bitcoin. Yes, billion. 142 00:05:55,155 --> 00:05:56,390 He's forgotten his password. 143 00:05:56,423 --> 00:05:58,725 Stefan Thomas says 144 00:05:58,759 --> 00:06:02,262 he's been locked out of his account since 2012. 145 00:06:02,296 --> 00:06:04,598 Back then it wasn't as much of a fortune, 146 00:06:04,631 --> 00:06:06,800 because each of his 7,000 coins was worth 147 00:06:06,834 --> 00:06:08,569 about ten bucks in cash. 148 00:06:08,602 --> 00:06:10,504 Now, going... uh, the going rate-- 149 00:06:10,537 --> 00:06:13,373 -you know how much it is? It's $37 grand. -MAN: What? 150 00:06:13,407 --> 00:06:15,075 WOMAN: Uh, the man has the password 151 00:06:15,108 --> 00:06:16,710 stored on an old hard drive, 152 00:06:16,743 --> 00:06:19,413 but he lost the password to that, too, 153 00:06:19,446 --> 00:06:23,450 and has only two more tries before he gets locked out. 154 00:06:23,483 --> 00:06:27,387 Wow. What a feel-good story. 155 00:06:27,421 --> 00:06:30,224 In that I feel good that it's not me. 156 00:06:30,257 --> 00:06:33,060 This guy can't access 157 00:06:33,093 --> 00:06:35,696 a quarter billion dollars 158 00:06:35,729 --> 00:06:37,130 because he can't remember his password. 159 00:06:37,164 --> 00:06:38,665 Yo, let me tell you something. 160 00:06:38,699 --> 00:06:41,368 For a quarter of a billion dollars, I'm hiring people 161 00:06:41,401 --> 00:06:45,005 to beat the shit out of me until I do remember. 162 00:06:45,038 --> 00:06:48,242 Don't go easy on me! Come on guys, I know something. 163 00:06:48,275 --> 00:06:51,445 7-2-5, lowercase E, G... 164 00:06:51,478 --> 00:06:54,081 dash, dash. (cries) I remember. 165 00:06:54,114 --> 00:06:56,450 And, finally, from Colombia, 166 00:06:56,483 --> 00:07:00,387 an exciting setup for a brand-new season of Narcos. 167 00:07:00,420 --> 00:07:03,156 A notorious drug lord's exotic pets 168 00:07:03,190 --> 00:07:05,893 are now posing an environmental disaster. 169 00:07:05,926 --> 00:07:09,863 Pablo Escobar's four hippos escaped after he was killed 170 00:07:09,897 --> 00:07:13,367 and are now taking over the marshlands in Colombia. 171 00:07:13,400 --> 00:07:16,570 Experts say they are breeding so fast there 172 00:07:16,603 --> 00:07:20,007 there could be more than 1,500 in the next couple of years, 173 00:07:20,040 --> 00:07:23,377 posing a danger to the people and wildlife. 174 00:07:23,410 --> 00:07:26,313 They are now saying the so-called cocaine hippos 175 00:07:26,346 --> 00:07:28,582 -should be shot. -WOMAN (chuckles): Oh, my gosh. 176 00:07:28,615 --> 00:07:32,586 Yeah, you go shoot the cocaine hippos 177 00:07:32,619 --> 00:07:34,555 who were raised by Pablo Escobar. 178 00:07:34,588 --> 00:07:36,657 I'm just gonna stay out of the water. 179 00:07:36,690 --> 00:07:38,292 And I know some people are gonna be like, 180 00:07:38,325 --> 00:07:40,327 "Do you have to shoot those hippos? 181 00:07:40,360 --> 00:07:43,130 Why not just round them up and put them in a zoo?" 182 00:07:43,163 --> 00:07:44,731 No. 183 00:07:44,765 --> 00:07:48,435 We're not gonna be taking Pablo Escobar's hippos 184 00:07:48,468 --> 00:07:50,204 and putting them in a zoo. 185 00:07:50,237 --> 00:07:52,673 'Cause you know three weeks later they're gonna escape 186 00:07:52,706 --> 00:07:55,475 through a tunnel that they built out from under their cage. 187 00:07:55,509 --> 00:07:58,078 There's gonna be a note left behind from the hippos, saying 188 00:07:58,111 --> 00:08:00,314 (thick African accent): No zookeeper alive can hold me! 189 00:08:00,347 --> 00:08:02,282 (regular accent): Yeah, you see, some people would think 190 00:08:02,316 --> 00:08:04,518 that the Colombian hippos are gonna sound Colombian, 191 00:08:04,551 --> 00:08:05,686 but hippos are from Africa, 192 00:08:05,719 --> 00:08:08,222 so I like to keep the jokes authentic. 193 00:08:08,255 --> 00:08:09,556 I got to say though, man-- 194 00:08:09,590 --> 00:08:10,958 over-reproduction 195 00:08:10,991 --> 00:08:13,894 is the most badass reason to be exterminated. 196 00:08:13,927 --> 00:08:16,697 When was the last time you had so much sex 197 00:08:16,730 --> 00:08:18,498 that the government had to step in? 198 00:08:18,532 --> 00:08:21,902 The good news is there is an easier solution to this problem. 199 00:08:21,935 --> 00:08:24,638 Just release some meth gators 200 00:08:24,671 --> 00:08:26,507 to deal with the cocaine hippos. 201 00:08:26,540 --> 00:08:28,108 Then, to deal with the meth gators, 202 00:08:28,141 --> 00:08:29,776 you release the Molly cobras. 203 00:08:29,810 --> 00:08:31,345 Then, to take out the Molly cobras, 204 00:08:31,378 --> 00:08:33,647 you release the straight-edge tigers. 205 00:08:33,680 --> 00:08:36,416 They don't do cocaine, because the real thrill 206 00:08:36,450 --> 00:08:38,218 is being in control. 207 00:08:38,252 --> 00:08:39,820 Here's a question I have though-- 208 00:08:39,853 --> 00:08:41,221 I've always wondered this-- 209 00:08:41,255 --> 00:08:43,156 what's the deal with drug dealers and animals? 210 00:08:43,190 --> 00:08:45,425 Huh? It's like the higher you go up the ladder, 211 00:08:45,459 --> 00:08:47,394 the crazier your pet has to be. 212 00:08:47,427 --> 00:08:49,263 The dealer on the corner has a fish tank, 213 00:08:49,296 --> 00:08:50,864 the drug lord has hippos. 214 00:08:50,898 --> 00:08:52,599 I bet that family that invented Oxy 215 00:08:52,633 --> 00:08:55,068 has a T. rex just chained up in the backyard. 216 00:08:55,102 --> 00:08:56,937 (screeching) 217 00:08:56,970 --> 00:08:58,338 "You guys are killers. 218 00:08:58,372 --> 00:09:01,341 You should have gotten more than just a fine." (screeches) 219 00:09:01,375 --> 00:09:04,511 But let's move on now to the big story of the day, 220 00:09:04,545 --> 00:09:07,915 the inauguration of Joseph Robin Hood Biden. 221 00:09:07,948 --> 00:09:09,416 Yesterday, after being sworn in 222 00:09:09,449 --> 00:09:11,818 on the book that knows when we're all gonna die, 223 00:09:11,852 --> 00:09:15,155 Biden became the 46th president of the United States. 224 00:09:15,189 --> 00:09:18,025 But he can't run the whole country himself. 225 00:09:18,058 --> 00:09:19,726 So, immediately after being sworn in, 226 00:09:19,760 --> 00:09:21,795 he turned around and administered the oath of office 227 00:09:21,828 --> 00:09:23,564 to his new White House staff. 228 00:09:23,597 --> 00:09:26,333 And hopefully all 4,000 people on the Zoom 229 00:09:26,366 --> 00:09:27,835 were paying attention. 230 00:09:27,868 --> 00:09:30,170 NEWSMAN: For new members of the Biden administration, 231 00:09:30,204 --> 00:09:32,139 a virtual swearing in. 232 00:09:32,172 --> 00:09:34,208 And we have to restore the soul of this country, 233 00:09:34,241 --> 00:09:37,110 and I'm counting on all of you to be part of that. 234 00:09:37,144 --> 00:09:40,047 And a stern warning from the new commander in chief. 235 00:09:40,080 --> 00:09:41,315 If you're ever working with me 236 00:09:41,348 --> 00:09:44,318 and I hear you treat another colleague with disrespect, 237 00:09:44,351 --> 00:09:46,320 talk down to someone, 238 00:09:46,353 --> 00:09:49,656 I promise you, I will fire you on the spot. 239 00:09:49,690 --> 00:09:52,059 On the spot. 240 00:09:52,092 --> 00:09:53,961 No if, ands, or buts. 241 00:09:53,994 --> 00:09:55,863 Okay. Wow. 242 00:09:55,896 --> 00:09:57,264 That took a turn. 243 00:09:57,297 --> 00:10:00,067 "Welcome to a new era of kindness and respect. 244 00:10:00,100 --> 00:10:01,668 "And if you're not on board with that, 245 00:10:01,702 --> 00:10:03,437 I'll rip your nipples off." 246 00:10:03,470 --> 00:10:05,105 But insisting on respect is just one of the ways 247 00:10:05,138 --> 00:10:06,673 that President Biden is trying to make a clean break 248 00:10:06,707 --> 00:10:07,941 from his predecessor. 249 00:10:07,975 --> 00:10:10,611 In fact, he even redecorated his office 250 00:10:10,644 --> 00:10:13,814 to be as un-Trumpy as possible. 251 00:10:13,847 --> 00:10:15,849 We're getting new details right now 252 00:10:15,883 --> 00:10:19,186 about the, uh, inside of President Biden's Oval Office. 253 00:10:19,219 --> 00:10:21,388 A bust of Cesar Chavez, for example, 254 00:10:21,421 --> 00:10:23,123 sitting behind the Resolute desk, 255 00:10:23,156 --> 00:10:25,659 along with statues of Martin Luther King Jr. 256 00:10:25,692 --> 00:10:27,661 and Robert F. Kennedy. 257 00:10:27,694 --> 00:10:29,730 NEWSMAN: It is Joe Biden's stamp on the Oval Office. 258 00:10:29,763 --> 00:10:31,899 But some of it is familiar. You see those gold drapes? 259 00:10:31,932 --> 00:10:33,500 You see the blue carpet on the floor? 260 00:10:33,534 --> 00:10:35,035 Those were in the Oval Office 261 00:10:35,068 --> 00:10:36,570 during the Bill Clinton presidency. 262 00:10:36,603 --> 00:10:38,238 The decor is certainly different than it was 263 00:10:38,272 --> 00:10:39,907 under President Trump. 264 00:10:39,940 --> 00:10:42,709 Okay, first question, 265 00:10:42,743 --> 00:10:44,444 is it really an improvement 266 00:10:44,478 --> 00:10:48,182 to switch out Trump's carpet for Bill Clinton's? 267 00:10:48,215 --> 00:10:50,584 I mean, on Trump's carpet, yes, you can catch COVID. 268 00:10:50,617 --> 00:10:51,785 But on Clinton's, 269 00:10:51,818 --> 00:10:53,387 you could get pregnant. 270 00:10:53,420 --> 00:10:54,922 And, look, I respect history, 271 00:10:54,955 --> 00:10:58,091 but, at some point, it starts getting suspicious. 272 00:10:58,125 --> 00:11:00,761 "This desk was used by President Roosevelt." 273 00:11:00,794 --> 00:11:02,062 "Wow!" 274 00:11:02,095 --> 00:11:04,565 "And these chairs were sat on by President Kennedy." 275 00:11:04,598 --> 00:11:05,699 "Wow!" 276 00:11:05,732 --> 00:11:08,602 "And these drapes were hung by President Monroe." 277 00:11:08,635 --> 00:11:10,370 "Dude, are-are you broke? 278 00:11:10,404 --> 00:11:12,039 Is-is that what's going on here?" 279 00:11:12,072 --> 00:11:14,541 But I do think it's cool that no matter what other changes 280 00:11:14,575 --> 00:11:15,676 a president makes, 281 00:11:15,709 --> 00:11:18,946 the bust of Martin Luther King Jr. stays behind. 282 00:11:18,979 --> 00:11:21,415 Because no one wants to be the guy 283 00:11:21,448 --> 00:11:23,517 who removes the bust of MLK. 284 00:11:23,550 --> 00:11:26,186 Once it enters the room, it's there for good. 285 00:11:26,220 --> 00:11:28,088 If a tornado hit the Oval Office, 286 00:11:28,121 --> 00:11:30,190 it would still go around MLK. 287 00:11:30,224 --> 00:11:31,558 (blowing) 288 00:11:31,592 --> 00:11:32,926 (quietly): "Ha, ha, I'm not racist. 289 00:11:32,960 --> 00:11:35,629 I'm not racist." (blowing) 290 00:11:35,662 --> 00:11:37,798 Now, of course, redecorating the Oval Office 291 00:11:37,831 --> 00:11:39,867 is just a symbolic change. 292 00:11:39,900 --> 00:11:41,702 But even after one day, 293 00:11:41,735 --> 00:11:43,904 people are really noticing how different 294 00:11:43,937 --> 00:11:47,674 Biden's presidency will be from Donald J. Trump's. 295 00:11:47,708 --> 00:11:51,111 You just got President Biden's schedule for tomorrow, 296 00:11:51,144 --> 00:11:54,114 his first full day in office as-as president. 297 00:11:54,147 --> 00:11:57,284 Uh, I imagine it's a little bit busier 298 00:11:57,317 --> 00:11:58,552 than what we've been reading 299 00:11:58,585 --> 00:12:01,488 is the former president's schedule. 300 00:12:01,522 --> 00:12:03,290 This is a return to normalcy. 301 00:12:03,323 --> 00:12:05,158 Also a return to functioning government. 302 00:12:05,192 --> 00:12:07,294 The White House Press Office is now actually sending out 303 00:12:07,327 --> 00:12:08,762 press releases that are informative. 304 00:12:08,795 --> 00:12:10,497 So instead of having the Trump administration say 305 00:12:10,531 --> 00:12:12,232 Trump is making "many calls," 306 00:12:12,266 --> 00:12:14,234 the Biden team's actually revealing the calls. 307 00:12:14,268 --> 00:12:16,236 That's a good sign. That's progress. 308 00:12:16,270 --> 00:12:18,338 NEWSWOMAN: President Biden is now unveiling 309 00:12:18,372 --> 00:12:20,874 a national strategy to tackle COVID. 310 00:12:20,908 --> 00:12:23,343 First of all, I-I just have to say that it's great 311 00:12:23,377 --> 00:12:27,181 that we have somebody that comes out and actually has a plan. 312 00:12:27,214 --> 00:12:29,616 Today felt like a new day. 313 00:12:29,650 --> 00:12:32,486 I mean, the press briefing was boring as hell. 314 00:12:32,519 --> 00:12:34,821 And that was refreshing. 315 00:12:34,855 --> 00:12:37,558 We didn't have to count how many lies Jen Psaki was telling. 316 00:12:37,591 --> 00:12:39,459 We didn't have to get up there and hear her talking 317 00:12:39,493 --> 00:12:42,029 about the largest crowd size or yelling at the media. 318 00:12:42,062 --> 00:12:44,064 Yo, guys, Joe Biden is so lucky. 319 00:12:44,097 --> 00:12:47,868 All he has to do is have a vaccine plan 320 00:12:47,901 --> 00:12:49,870 and not lie for ten minutes 321 00:12:49,903 --> 00:12:52,539 and he's basically, what, the next George Washington? 322 00:12:52,573 --> 00:12:54,942 And we all know this is only thanks to Donald Trump 323 00:12:54,975 --> 00:12:57,511 for setting the bar so low. 324 00:12:57,544 --> 00:13:00,013 It's like getting hired as a babysitter 325 00:13:00,047 --> 00:13:02,349 and your predecessor was a Roomba covered in knives. 326 00:13:02,382 --> 00:13:04,017 You're gonna be better. 327 00:13:04,051 --> 00:13:06,687 And there's a useful life lesson here for all of us. 328 00:13:06,720 --> 00:13:10,023 Always follow the worst possible person. 329 00:13:10,057 --> 00:13:12,025 Like, if you want to date someone, 330 00:13:12,059 --> 00:13:15,429 wait until after they've broken up with Armie Hammer. 331 00:13:15,462 --> 00:13:18,765 "Baby, I promise I will never eat your flesh." 332 00:13:18,799 --> 00:13:20,767 "What a gentleman." 333 00:13:20,801 --> 00:13:24,738 In fact, people are so excited to be moving on from Trump 334 00:13:24,771 --> 00:13:28,075 that some at Biden's inauguration celebration 335 00:13:28,108 --> 00:13:32,479 were already pretending that Trump never existed at all. 336 00:13:32,513 --> 00:13:35,082 NEWSWOMAN: Appearances by three former presidents, 337 00:13:35,115 --> 00:13:37,885 George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama 338 00:13:37,918 --> 00:13:39,453 but not President Trump. 339 00:13:39,486 --> 00:13:41,555 Well, I think, uh, the fact that the three of us 340 00:13:41,588 --> 00:13:44,825 are standing here talking about a peaceful transfer of power 341 00:13:44,858 --> 00:13:45,893 speaks to the, uh, 342 00:13:45,926 --> 00:13:48,395 in-institutional integrity of our country. 343 00:13:48,428 --> 00:13:51,999 We've got to... not just listen to folks we agree with 344 00:13:52,032 --> 00:13:53,600 but listen to folks we don't. 345 00:13:53,634 --> 00:13:55,068 You think about the three presidents, 346 00:13:55,102 --> 00:13:57,604 the three former presidents that we saw gathered together 347 00:13:57,638 --> 00:13:59,306 to-to speak about this moment in history, 348 00:13:59,339 --> 00:14:02,643 to speak about, uh, the new president. 349 00:14:02,676 --> 00:14:05,245 The former president who just left office 350 00:14:05,279 --> 00:14:07,981 could have been among those three. 351 00:14:08,015 --> 00:14:09,416 -It could have been four. -Mm-hmm. 352 00:14:09,449 --> 00:14:12,352 And forevermore now, one considers, 353 00:14:12,386 --> 00:14:15,322 when there are gatherings of all the presidents, 354 00:14:15,355 --> 00:14:18,392 will the most recent president, 355 00:14:18,425 --> 00:14:21,795 -uh, who just left, will he be in there? -No. 356 00:14:21,828 --> 00:14:25,365 All right, is it just me or was Anderson Cooper working overtime 357 00:14:25,399 --> 00:14:27,835 to avoid saying the word "Trump"? 358 00:14:27,868 --> 00:14:30,370 Dude, you can't summon him by saying his name. 359 00:14:30,404 --> 00:14:32,306 All right? The guy's an ex-president, not Beetlejuice. 360 00:14:32,339 --> 00:14:33,540 Just say it. "Trump." 361 00:14:33,574 --> 00:14:36,076 But I will say this-- I'm not surprised 362 00:14:36,109 --> 00:14:37,611 and nobody should be surprised 363 00:14:37,644 --> 00:14:39,513 that Trump doesn't want to be a part 364 00:14:39,546 --> 00:14:41,515 of the Former Presidents Club. 365 00:14:41,548 --> 00:14:44,017 It's kind of like when Don Felder left the Eagles 366 00:14:44,051 --> 00:14:47,554 because he was jealous of Glenn Frey and Don Henley's success. 367 00:14:47,588 --> 00:14:49,223 Okay, I'm gonna be honest, guys. 368 00:14:49,256 --> 00:14:51,458 I don't actually know what anything in that joke means. 369 00:14:51,491 --> 00:14:53,193 I'm just trying to win over some of these white people 370 00:14:53,227 --> 00:14:54,461 who don't have a leader anymore. 371 00:14:54,494 --> 00:14:56,096 So, uh, yeah. 372 00:14:56,129 --> 00:14:57,431 Honestly speaking, 373 00:14:57,464 --> 00:15:00,868 I think Trump not being included in the club is for the best. 374 00:15:00,901 --> 00:15:03,403 Because what are these guys gonna talk about? 375 00:15:03,437 --> 00:15:04,738 (a la Obama): "Uh, you know everybody can agree. 376 00:15:04,771 --> 00:15:07,241 "Uh, being president is one of the hardest jobs in the world. 377 00:15:07,274 --> 00:15:09,476 Am I right?" (a la Trump): "Tell me about it, dude. 378 00:15:09,510 --> 00:15:12,880 "Sometimes I would have to work 12 hours 379 00:15:12,913 --> 00:15:15,916 a month. It was excruciating." 380 00:15:15,949 --> 00:15:17,885 And while I understand 381 00:15:17,918 --> 00:15:20,420 that people want to pretend Trump didn't exist, 382 00:15:20,454 --> 00:15:22,022 the truth is he did. 383 00:15:22,055 --> 00:15:23,357 Not only did he exist 384 00:15:23,390 --> 00:15:26,760 but his presidency was historic. 385 00:15:26,793 --> 00:15:29,363 Like, you may not realize it because we're living in it, 386 00:15:29,396 --> 00:15:33,634 but, guys, he sent a mob to ransack the Capitol. 387 00:15:33,667 --> 00:15:36,069 People are gonna be talking about this forever. 388 00:15:36,103 --> 00:15:38,472 We're living in a history book right now. 389 00:15:38,505 --> 00:15:40,207 In, like, a hundred years, 390 00:15:40,240 --> 00:15:43,377 they're gonna be doing musicals about this Trump era. 391 00:15:43,410 --> 00:15:45,312 ? We're gonna march on the Capitol ? 392 00:15:45,345 --> 00:15:48,749 ? Not me, I'm going home, but you guys gonna go in all alone ? 393 00:15:48,782 --> 00:15:50,517 ? And I'm-a be in my bunker. ? 394 00:15:50,551 --> 00:15:52,319 I will say though, it really was moving 395 00:15:52,352 --> 00:15:54,454 to see those former presidents together. You know? 396 00:15:54,488 --> 00:15:56,523 Two Democrats, one Republican 397 00:15:56,557 --> 00:15:58,792 paying tribute to the new kid. 398 00:15:58,825 --> 00:16:00,561 Although there was one moment in there 399 00:16:00,594 --> 00:16:02,696 that I-I really wasn't expecting. 400 00:16:02,729 --> 00:16:06,200 I think inaugurations signal a tradition 401 00:16:06,233 --> 00:16:11,138 of a peaceful transfer of power that is over two centuries old. 402 00:16:11,171 --> 00:16:14,308 So this is an unusual thing-- we are both 403 00:16:14,341 --> 00:16:17,177 trying to come back to normalcy, deal... 404 00:16:17,211 --> 00:16:19,513 Sorry to interrupt you guys, but y'all seen any car keys 405 00:16:19,546 --> 00:16:21,048 lying around here? 406 00:16:21,081 --> 00:16:22,983 It's got a troll key chain. 407 00:16:25,152 --> 00:16:27,588 Well, I think, uh, the fact that the three of us 408 00:16:27,621 --> 00:16:29,923 are standing here talking about a peaceful transfer of... 409 00:16:29,957 --> 00:16:32,259 I don't know if you're too familiar with the Troll movie, 410 00:16:32,292 --> 00:16:34,795 but the key chain is of King Peppy. 411 00:16:34,828 --> 00:16:37,564 Orange-red mustache. Butt naked. No dick. 412 00:16:37,598 --> 00:16:39,499 If everybody could just check their general area, 413 00:16:39,533 --> 00:16:40,767 I'd appreciate it. 414 00:16:40,801 --> 00:16:42,336 I'll be right out of your hair. 415 00:16:42,369 --> 00:16:44,438 We've got to not just listen 416 00:16:44,471 --> 00:16:46,507 -to folks we agree with, -King Peppy, where you at? 417 00:16:46,540 --> 00:16:48,542 -but listen to folks we don't. -America's a generous country 418 00:16:48,575 --> 00:16:50,177 -Peppy! -With people with great hearts. 419 00:16:50,210 --> 00:16:53,380 -All three of... -Hey, can one of y'all give me a ride home? 420 00:16:53,413 --> 00:16:55,616 Uh, check your pockets, Roy. 421 00:16:55,649 --> 00:16:58,385 All right, when we come back, we say goodbye 422 00:16:58,418 --> 00:17:02,122 to one of President Trump's most vicious critics, 423 00:17:02,155 --> 00:17:03,423 his wife. 424 00:17:03,457 --> 00:17:05,826 And Jelani Cobb is still joining us on the show, 425 00:17:05,859 --> 00:17:05,926 so stick around. 426 00:17:07,664 --> 00:17:09,766 Welcome back to The Daily Social Distancing Show. 427 00:17:09,799 --> 00:17:11,968 Despite what the liberal media tells you, 428 00:17:12,002 --> 00:17:13,770 a lot of people were upset 429 00:17:13,803 --> 00:17:16,072 that the Trump presidency ended yesterday. 430 00:17:16,106 --> 00:17:18,608 There was Trump himself, 431 00:17:18,641 --> 00:17:19,609 um... 432 00:17:19,642 --> 00:17:22,278 the Trump kids... 433 00:17:22,312 --> 00:17:23,913 coronavirus... 434 00:17:23,947 --> 00:17:25,348 probably others... 435 00:17:25,382 --> 00:17:27,450 The one person who surprisingly seemed happy 436 00:17:27,484 --> 00:17:30,820 about the end of President Trump was his wife, Melania. 437 00:17:30,854 --> 00:17:32,889 And why shouldn't she be? 438 00:17:32,922 --> 00:17:36,026 She got a lot done in her time as First Lady. 439 00:17:36,059 --> 00:17:39,262 And so tonight, we say farewell to Melania 440 00:17:39,295 --> 00:17:42,432 as we look back at all her achievements. 441 00:17:42,465 --> 00:17:44,000 ? ? 442 00:17:44,034 --> 00:17:46,636 FEMALE NARRATOR: The First Lady of the United States. 443 00:17:46,670 --> 00:17:48,938 She's the partner of the president, 444 00:17:48,972 --> 00:17:50,774 hostess of the White House, 445 00:17:50,807 --> 00:17:53,309 and backup Snuffleupagus. 446 00:17:53,343 --> 00:17:56,446 Bu while #AllLivesMatter, 447 00:17:56,479 --> 00:17:59,282 there's one First Lady who matters more than any other... 448 00:17:59,315 --> 00:18:01,618 MAN: Melania, to your left, to your left! 449 00:18:01,651 --> 00:18:03,887 ...Melania Trump. 450 00:18:03,920 --> 00:18:05,655 Wife. 451 00:18:05,689 --> 00:18:07,624 Birther. 452 00:18:07,657 --> 00:18:09,359 Fashion icon. 453 00:18:09,392 --> 00:18:11,094 Animal lover. 454 00:18:11,127 --> 00:18:13,430 Colonial explorer. 455 00:18:13,463 --> 00:18:16,199 On January 20, 2017, 456 00:18:16,232 --> 00:18:19,736 this third wife became America's First Lady. 457 00:18:19,769 --> 00:18:22,105 It was a moment she celebrated with great joy 458 00:18:22,138 --> 00:18:24,174 and instant regret. 459 00:18:24,207 --> 00:18:27,410 And while public life can put a strain on a relationship, 460 00:18:27,444 --> 00:18:31,481 it only made Melania and Donald stronger. 461 00:18:31,514 --> 00:18:32,882 ? ? 462 00:18:32,916 --> 00:18:35,752 Since day one, they've been inseparable-- 463 00:18:35,785 --> 00:18:38,221 if you don't count the six months she stayed in New York 464 00:18:38,254 --> 00:18:41,191 while she reportedly renegotiated her prenup. 465 00:18:41,224 --> 00:18:44,260 But after that, it was a love story for the ages. 466 00:18:44,294 --> 00:18:46,796 Those ages being a hot 50 and... 467 00:18:46,830 --> 00:18:49,265 I don't know, 97? 468 00:18:49,299 --> 00:18:51,267 During their time in the White House, 469 00:18:51,301 --> 00:18:53,236 Melania and Donald were often seen 470 00:18:53,269 --> 00:18:56,673 taking long, romantic walks, holding hands, 471 00:18:56,706 --> 00:18:58,375 trying to hold hands, 472 00:18:58,408 --> 00:19:00,877 and refusing to hold hands. 473 00:19:00,910 --> 00:19:03,346 Yes, you could always see the look of fiery passion 474 00:19:03,380 --> 00:19:05,648 whenever Melania was at her husband's side. 475 00:19:05,682 --> 00:19:07,450 And it's easy to see why. 476 00:19:07,484 --> 00:19:09,919 The First Lady's husband lived to spoil her. 477 00:19:09,953 --> 00:19:11,855 DONALD TRUMP: It's Melania's birthday, 478 00:19:11,888 --> 00:19:13,690 so Happy Birthday to Melania. 479 00:19:13,723 --> 00:19:15,925 Do you want to tell us what you got her? 480 00:19:15,959 --> 00:19:17,927 DONALD TRUMP: W-Well, I better not get into that, 481 00:19:17,961 --> 00:19:19,596 'cause I may get in trouble. 482 00:19:19,629 --> 00:19:21,331 Maybe I didn't get her so much. 483 00:19:21,364 --> 00:19:25,068 There's nothing more romantic than a man of mystery. 484 00:19:25,101 --> 00:19:28,571 But a First Lady's job is more than just being a devoted wife. 485 00:19:28,605 --> 00:19:31,474 She's also in charge of turning the White House 486 00:19:31,508 --> 00:19:33,343 into a White Home. 487 00:19:33,376 --> 00:19:36,279 And Melania let nothing stand in her way. 488 00:19:36,312 --> 00:19:38,682 NEWSWOMAN: Melania Trump is defending a tweet she sent out 489 00:19:38,715 --> 00:19:41,418 about construction on the White House tennis pavilion, 490 00:19:41,451 --> 00:19:42,852 which some have criticized 491 00:19:42,886 --> 00:19:45,021 as tone-deaf amid the coronavirus outbreak. 492 00:19:45,055 --> 00:19:48,224 Yes, even in the midst of a global pandemic, 493 00:19:48,258 --> 00:19:50,760 and with less than six and a half weeks left in office, 494 00:19:50,794 --> 00:19:53,196 Melania had the courage to do something 495 00:19:53,229 --> 00:19:56,299 literally no one was asking her to do-- 496 00:19:56,333 --> 00:19:58,935 personally renovate the White House tennis court 497 00:19:58,968 --> 00:20:01,571 in four-inch heels with a golden shovel. 498 00:20:01,604 --> 00:20:04,074 And while this renovation was so masterful 499 00:20:04,107 --> 00:20:07,043 it made the Property Brothers look like the Trump brothers, 500 00:20:07,077 --> 00:20:11,114 amazingly it came just months after her previous masterpiece, 501 00:20:11,147 --> 00:20:13,249 the new White House Rose Garden. 502 00:20:13,283 --> 00:20:15,251 NEWSMAN: The intensely private First Lady 503 00:20:15,285 --> 00:20:17,554 is facing the glare of the spotlight yet again. 504 00:20:17,587 --> 00:20:19,923 Criticized for her recent renovation 505 00:20:19,956 --> 00:20:22,525 of Jackie Kennedy's famous Rose Garden... 506 00:20:22,559 --> 00:20:24,828 ...the Rose Garden that she put some pretty dramatic changes to. 507 00:20:24,861 --> 00:20:26,162 Good for Melania! 508 00:20:26,196 --> 00:20:28,598 Who needs roses when a virus is destroying 509 00:20:28,631 --> 00:20:30,633 everyone's sense of smell, anyway? 510 00:20:30,667 --> 00:20:33,303 Besides, if there's one thing a supermodel knows, 511 00:20:33,336 --> 00:20:37,307 it's the importance of removing unpleasant shrubbery. 512 00:20:37,340 --> 00:20:39,676 And at no point was Melania's flair for design 513 00:20:39,709 --> 00:20:42,479 more apparent than during the holiday season, 514 00:20:42,512 --> 00:20:45,715 when every Christmas she chose a fun holiday theme-- 515 00:20:45,749 --> 00:20:47,717 like Ho Ho Ho movie 516 00:20:47,751 --> 00:20:50,186 and The Grinch Who Murdered Christmas-- 517 00:20:50,220 --> 00:20:53,890 all while never losing the spirit of the season. 518 00:20:56,159 --> 00:20:58,194 Yes, thanks to Melania, 519 00:20:58,228 --> 00:21:01,131 America's saying, "Who gives a (bleep) about Christmas" again. 520 00:21:02,932 --> 00:21:05,869 But perhaps Melania's greatest legacy as First Lady 521 00:21:05,902 --> 00:21:09,072 was her celebration of all God's children... 522 00:21:09,105 --> 00:21:11,074 whose parents could prove they were citizens. 523 00:21:11,107 --> 00:21:13,209 NEWSWOMAN: This is a picture of Melania Trump 524 00:21:13,243 --> 00:21:15,712 boarding Air Force One to head down to McAllen, Texas, 525 00:21:15,745 --> 00:21:18,114 to visit some of the children being held in detention centers. 526 00:21:18,148 --> 00:21:20,150 She's wearing a green jacket. 527 00:21:20,183 --> 00:21:22,152 On the back, it's written in white: 528 00:21:22,185 --> 00:21:24,454 "I really don't care. Do U?" 529 00:21:24,487 --> 00:21:27,624 Wow. Only Melania could pull off a sleeveless dress 530 00:21:27,657 --> 00:21:29,025 in a heartless jacket. 531 00:21:29,059 --> 00:21:30,360 But other than that, 532 00:21:30,393 --> 00:21:32,896 Melania overflows with love for children. 533 00:21:32,929 --> 00:21:35,065 You see, she's not just the stepmom 534 00:21:35,098 --> 00:21:36,800 of these four little Boss Babies. 535 00:21:36,833 --> 00:21:38,935 She's been the nation's stepmom, 536 00:21:38,968 --> 00:21:43,139 there for America every other weekend and on holidays. 537 00:21:43,173 --> 00:21:45,375 So when she saw the bullying epidemic 538 00:21:45,408 --> 00:21:47,010 that was tormenting the country, 539 00:21:47,043 --> 00:21:49,112 she stepped forward with a... 540 00:21:49,145 --> 00:21:51,414 grammatically courageous initiative. 541 00:21:51,448 --> 00:21:56,052 Today I'm very excited to announce Be Best, 542 00:21:56,086 --> 00:22:00,023 an awareness campaign dedicated to the most valuable 543 00:22:00,056 --> 00:22:02,325 and fragile among us, 544 00:22:02,359 --> 00:22:04,127 our children. 545 00:22:04,160 --> 00:22:07,364 Melania told children across America to Be Best, 546 00:22:07,397 --> 00:22:09,566 and Be Best, they Be'd. 547 00:22:09,599 --> 00:22:12,268 Just look how much this bully learned. 548 00:22:12,302 --> 00:22:14,471 Bernie Sanders, crazy Bernie. 549 00:22:14,504 --> 00:22:16,239 Greatest loser on earth. 550 00:22:16,272 --> 00:22:18,975 Crazy Bernie, one of the greatest losers of all time, 551 00:22:19,009 --> 00:22:20,643 -this guy. -(laughter) 552 00:22:20,677 --> 00:22:22,679 No, but I meant that in a nice way. 553 00:22:22,712 --> 00:22:25,281 So thank you, Melania. 554 00:22:25,315 --> 00:22:27,183 You made America smile. 555 00:22:27,217 --> 00:22:29,285 And we hope we made you smile. 556 00:22:29,319 --> 00:22:30,286 No? 557 00:22:30,320 --> 00:22:31,321 There it is. 558 00:22:31,354 --> 00:22:33,023 Wait. False alarm. 559 00:22:33,056 --> 00:22:34,491 There we go. 560 00:22:34,524 --> 00:22:36,793 Okay. Whatever. 561 00:22:36,826 --> 00:22:38,828 ? ? 562 00:22:40,296 --> 00:22:42,298 All right, don't go away, because when we come back, 563 00:22:42,332 --> 00:22:44,501 New Yorker writer Jelani Cobb tells me 564 00:22:44,534 --> 00:22:48,238 when we can expect Donald Trump to return. 565 00:22:48,271 --> 00:22:48,338 Don't go away. 566 00:22:51,451 --> 00:22:52,919 Welcome back to The Daily Social Distancing Show. 567 00:22:52,952 --> 00:22:55,522 My guest tonight is Jelani Cobb, an award-winning journalist 568 00:22:55,555 --> 00:22:57,957 and staff writer at The New Yorker. 569 00:22:57,991 --> 00:22:59,993 We talked about the last four years, 570 00:23:00,026 --> 00:23:03,797 and what it's taught us, and where Trumpism goes from here. 571 00:23:03,830 --> 00:23:07,167 Jelani Cobb, welcome to The Daily Social Distancing Show. 572 00:23:07,200 --> 00:23:08,968 (laughs) Thank you. It's good to see you. 573 00:23:09,002 --> 00:23:11,738 Um, it is an interesting time to have you on the show 574 00:23:11,771 --> 00:23:14,874 because you are easily one of my favorite... just thinkers. 575 00:23:14,908 --> 00:23:16,509 You know, there are people who-who write, 576 00:23:16,543 --> 00:23:18,411 and then, there people who think before they write, 577 00:23:18,444 --> 00:23:19,846 and I consider you one of those people. 578 00:23:19,879 --> 00:23:21,181 I really appreciate it. 579 00:23:21,214 --> 00:23:23,183 Because whether it's talking about policing 580 00:23:23,216 --> 00:23:25,218 or police reform, whether it's talking about politics, 581 00:23:25,251 --> 00:23:27,620 whether it's talking about issues of race in America, 582 00:23:27,654 --> 00:23:29,989 I always find that you-you... you tackle these ideas 583 00:23:30,023 --> 00:23:31,558 from a really interesting place. 584 00:23:31,591 --> 00:23:35,361 And so, as America begins this new journey 585 00:23:35,395 --> 00:23:38,565 under a new president, in a new year, 586 00:23:38,598 --> 00:23:40,500 my first question to you would be, 587 00:23:40,533 --> 00:23:43,403 what do you think about America's future 588 00:23:43,436 --> 00:23:45,138 as it stands right now? 589 00:23:45,171 --> 00:23:48,208 I think that one of the things that came out of 2020, 590 00:23:48,241 --> 00:23:51,311 if you can point to, you know, the small number 591 00:23:51,344 --> 00:23:54,247 of really good things that did come out of that year, 592 00:23:54,280 --> 00:23:57,951 was the fact that we had to think about our history. 593 00:23:57,984 --> 00:24:00,820 Because it was reoccurring right in front of us. 594 00:24:00,854 --> 00:24:02,222 You know, so much of it. 595 00:24:02,255 --> 00:24:06,292 You know, people trying to overrun the Capitol-- 596 00:24:06,326 --> 00:24:09,329 that called back to, certainly for Black people 597 00:24:09,362 --> 00:24:10,964 and people familiar with the history of race 598 00:24:10,997 --> 00:24:14,033 in this country, you know, What happened after Reconstruction 599 00:24:14,067 --> 00:24:16,769 and, you know, Wilmington in 1898, 600 00:24:16,803 --> 00:24:18,505 where white supremacist mobs, 601 00:24:18,538 --> 00:24:21,107 uh, deposed a government, 602 00:24:21,141 --> 00:24:23,743 you know, because it was interracial. 603 00:24:23,776 --> 00:24:27,780 And all those historical things were kind of piled up 604 00:24:27,814 --> 00:24:31,217 like kindling, and then they just, you know, 605 00:24:31,251 --> 00:24:34,154 burst into flames, and we had to deal with it in 2020. 606 00:24:34,187 --> 00:24:37,624 -Right. -And so, I think that, you know, looking forward, 607 00:24:37,657 --> 00:24:40,927 I'm hopeful, but I'm cautiously hopeful, 608 00:24:40,960 --> 00:24:43,930 you know, that we can actually start thinking 609 00:24:43,963 --> 00:24:45,799 about some of the problems that we have 610 00:24:45,832 --> 00:24:48,101 and some of the mistakes that we made previously, 611 00:24:48,134 --> 00:24:51,237 -and plotting a way to navigate forward. -Yeah. 612 00:24:51,271 --> 00:24:53,306 Do you... do you think that there really is a way 613 00:24:53,339 --> 00:24:56,976 to escape some of the mistakes that have been made in the past? 614 00:24:57,010 --> 00:24:59,712 And I only ask that because I struggle with America's system 615 00:24:59,746 --> 00:25:01,247 being a two-party system. 616 00:25:01,281 --> 00:25:03,550 I feel like it's inevitable that you get another Trump. 617 00:25:03,583 --> 00:25:06,186 And the only reason I feel like it's inevitable is because, 618 00:25:06,219 --> 00:25:08,455 if you have one or two choices, I feel like, statistically, 619 00:25:08,488 --> 00:25:10,657 it's more likely that people... it's gonna end up 50-50, 620 00:25:10,690 --> 00:25:13,293 which means one side may win again. 621 00:25:13,326 --> 00:25:16,930 I don't think everyone who votes Republican likes Trump, 622 00:25:16,963 --> 00:25:19,265 but they may like a lot of the policies that are in the party, 623 00:25:19,299 --> 00:25:21,201 but then, that enables another Trump to come up. 624 00:25:21,234 --> 00:25:23,236 So do you think America can actually learn 625 00:25:23,269 --> 00:25:26,439 if it maintains a two-party system going forward? 626 00:25:26,473 --> 00:25:28,675 Yeah, I mean, well, here's the interesting thing about this 627 00:25:28,708 --> 00:25:31,411 when we have this conversation, which is that, uh, 628 00:25:31,444 --> 00:25:34,581 the founders of this country never wanted parties at all. 629 00:25:34,614 --> 00:25:35,782 You know, they thought 630 00:25:35,815 --> 00:25:37,317 that parties were gonna be destructive, 631 00:25:37,350 --> 00:25:40,253 and that would be the quickest way that the republic would end. 632 00:25:40,286 --> 00:25:42,122 Uh, and, you know, the two-party system 633 00:25:42,155 --> 00:25:44,390 that we have has collapsed before. 634 00:25:44,424 --> 00:25:47,227 It's collapsed twice in American history. 635 00:25:47,260 --> 00:25:50,230 And, you know, some of those dynamics were present then. 636 00:25:50,263 --> 00:25:54,200 And so, one of the things I think we have to bear in mind 637 00:25:54,234 --> 00:25:56,402 in order to... The best hope 638 00:25:56,436 --> 00:26:00,340 for avoiding that kind of situation is the reminder 639 00:26:00,373 --> 00:26:02,642 of how fragile democracy is. 640 00:26:02,675 --> 00:26:07,213 And also, the fact that you kind of win big or go home. 641 00:26:07,247 --> 00:26:08,615 Uh-huh. 642 00:26:08,648 --> 00:26:13,186 Republicans took a really big bet on Donald Trump in 2016. 643 00:26:13,219 --> 00:26:15,522 And the lesson they could take is 644 00:26:15,555 --> 00:26:18,625 that a demagogic figure like him could succeed, 645 00:26:18,658 --> 00:26:22,295 uh, could be elected, you know, within particular constraints, 646 00:26:22,328 --> 00:26:25,231 when against a specific kind of opponent. 647 00:26:25,265 --> 00:26:27,433 Or they could take the fact that they lost the Senate, 648 00:26:27,467 --> 00:26:30,303 they lost the House, they lost the White House, 649 00:26:30,336 --> 00:26:32,438 they lost international regard 650 00:26:32,472 --> 00:26:35,141 of virtually all of America's allies. 651 00:26:35,175 --> 00:26:39,479 We've seen 400,000, and counting, people die 652 00:26:39,512 --> 00:26:41,681 because of the mismanagement of a pandemic. 653 00:26:41,714 --> 00:26:45,685 And all those things that, you know, could be warnings. 654 00:26:45,718 --> 00:26:47,487 And you're right, though. 655 00:26:47,520 --> 00:26:50,156 We have a disturbingly high possibility 656 00:26:50,190 --> 00:26:52,292 that we could find ourselves in this position again. 657 00:26:52,325 --> 00:26:55,028 I remember just before Donald Trump's ascendancy. 658 00:26:55,061 --> 00:26:57,964 The Republican Party was having a conversation 659 00:26:57,997 --> 00:27:00,800 in and around "we have to expand our tent." 660 00:27:00,834 --> 00:27:02,936 Do you think the Republican Party will gravitate 661 00:27:02,969 --> 00:27:06,873 towards a world of, once again, trying to actually appeal 662 00:27:06,906 --> 00:27:08,908 to more diverse voters, or do you think 663 00:27:08,942 --> 00:27:10,844 that they have now seen that there is enough, 664 00:27:10,877 --> 00:27:14,581 you know, excitement and anguish and grievances 665 00:27:14,614 --> 00:27:17,484 to maintain a vote and carry on the way they've been going 666 00:27:17,517 --> 00:27:18,785 for the last four years? 667 00:27:18,818 --> 00:27:20,987 That's the big question. 668 00:27:21,020 --> 00:27:22,655 And the best I can tell is 669 00:27:22,689 --> 00:27:25,358 that they have been confronted by this before. 670 00:27:25,391 --> 00:27:29,262 In 1966, you know, it was just two years 671 00:27:29,295 --> 00:27:30,897 after the '64 election, 672 00:27:30,930 --> 00:27:34,234 where Barry Goldwater was just destroyed. 673 00:27:34,267 --> 00:27:38,338 He lost by 430 something electoral college votes. 674 00:27:38,371 --> 00:27:40,273 Uh, it just... You know, it wasn't... 675 00:27:40,306 --> 00:27:41,608 If it was a boxing match, 676 00:27:41,641 --> 00:27:43,943 they would have stopped it in the third round. 677 00:27:43,977 --> 00:27:46,513 Uh, so... uh, one of the... 678 00:27:46,546 --> 00:27:49,182 They did a report then that came out in 1966 679 00:27:49,215 --> 00:27:50,850 that said, "We have to expand. 680 00:27:50,884 --> 00:27:53,019 "We have to bring different kinds of people into the party, 681 00:27:53,052 --> 00:27:55,722 "and we can't go down the road of just appealing 682 00:27:55,755 --> 00:27:57,490 to, basically, angry white people," 683 00:27:57,524 --> 00:28:00,160 who, at that point, were angry about the Civil Rights Movement. 684 00:28:00,193 --> 00:28:03,163 But the other part is that they are really getting 685 00:28:03,196 --> 00:28:06,399 an increasing share of a decreasing population. 686 00:28:06,432 --> 00:28:09,736 About 80% of their voters are white. 687 00:28:09,769 --> 00:28:14,941 And white people, every single election since 1996, 688 00:28:14,974 --> 00:28:17,544 have been a smaller share of the electorate. 689 00:28:17,577 --> 00:28:20,313 And so, the math is not on their side. 690 00:28:20,346 --> 00:28:22,448 And so, one of the things that, you know, 691 00:28:22,482 --> 00:28:26,719 political scientists think is that they make themselves into, 692 00:28:26,753 --> 00:28:28,221 you know-- no pun intended-- a minority party. 693 00:28:28,254 --> 00:28:30,089 Right. 694 00:28:30,123 --> 00:28:31,458 You've always had your finger on the pulse 695 00:28:31,491 --> 00:28:32,859 of law enforcement, for instance. 696 00:28:32,892 --> 00:28:34,894 Not just criticizing police, but rather saying, 697 00:28:34,928 --> 00:28:36,296 "Hey, here's a system that's broken. 698 00:28:36,329 --> 00:28:37,597 "Here's how it needs to be fixed, 699 00:28:37,630 --> 00:28:39,232 and here's why it needs to be fixed." 700 00:28:39,265 --> 00:28:40,934 Is there a path to a world 701 00:28:40,967 --> 00:28:42,902 where law enforcement becomes equitable? 702 00:28:42,936 --> 00:28:46,473 A world where law enforcement no longer maintains its ties 703 00:28:46,506 --> 00:28:49,309 to what it was meant to be from the past? 704 00:28:49,342 --> 00:28:52,312 Sure. I mean, I think that that's possible, 705 00:28:52,345 --> 00:28:54,747 that the things that we've seen, 706 00:28:54,781 --> 00:28:56,449 you know, two things in particular-- 707 00:28:56,483 --> 00:28:59,185 George Floyd and that excruciating 708 00:28:59,219 --> 00:29:03,656 eight-minute, 46-second video that we saw last Memorial Day, 709 00:29:03,690 --> 00:29:07,627 -Mm-hmm. -and the storming of the Capitol grounds, 710 00:29:07,660 --> 00:29:10,697 and how many off-duty police officers were involved in that. 711 00:29:10,730 --> 00:29:15,068 And for people who are just kind of thinking 712 00:29:15,101 --> 00:29:17,203 in a knee-jerk fashion, or, you know, 713 00:29:17,237 --> 00:29:19,506 kind of accepting the slogans that, you know, 714 00:29:19,539 --> 00:29:21,474 that the police are the thin blue line that divides us 715 00:29:21,508 --> 00:29:24,644 from anarchy and so on, that's shocking. 716 00:29:24,677 --> 00:29:27,280 Now for anyone who's actually looked at the data 717 00:29:27,313 --> 00:29:29,883 around policing in the United States, it really is not. 718 00:29:29,916 --> 00:29:31,518 The first people whoever talked to me 719 00:29:31,551 --> 00:29:33,520 about defunding the police-- 720 00:29:33,553 --> 00:29:35,121 and they didn't use that language, 721 00:29:35,155 --> 00:29:37,891 but they expressed that idea-- the first people whoever talked 722 00:29:37,924 --> 00:29:40,426 to me about that were cops themselves, 723 00:29:40,460 --> 00:29:43,396 -saying that they do too many things. -Right. 724 00:29:43,429 --> 00:29:45,398 That they are involved in all kinds of actions, 725 00:29:45,431 --> 00:29:47,767 that they are fundamentally not trained 726 00:29:47,801 --> 00:29:51,337 to handle mental health crises, which is... 727 00:29:51,371 --> 00:29:52,639 It makes perfect sense, 728 00:29:52,672 --> 00:29:54,240 if someone's having a mental health crisis, 729 00:29:54,274 --> 00:29:56,509 -you call the police. Why? -Right. 730 00:29:56,543 --> 00:29:59,045 We wouldn't call the cops if somebody had a heart attack. 731 00:29:59,078 --> 00:30:00,580 You know, a heart attack is not illegal. 732 00:30:00,613 --> 00:30:02,949 -Right. -Uh, so, you know, they show up, 733 00:30:02,982 --> 00:30:06,786 and situations go downhill, uh, predictably. 734 00:30:06,820 --> 00:30:08,521 And when you're really talking 735 00:30:08,555 --> 00:30:11,724 about creating different kinds of structures 736 00:30:11,758 --> 00:30:13,893 and infrastructures in cities 737 00:30:13,927 --> 00:30:16,262 so that 911 is not the only thing 738 00:30:16,296 --> 00:30:18,231 that you call for every single problem 739 00:30:18,264 --> 00:30:22,001 -of every shape, size or orientation. -Mm-hmm. 740 00:30:22,035 --> 00:30:28,541 And so, uh, if we have a more kind of broadly-based system 741 00:30:28,575 --> 00:30:31,544 of how we manage our communities, 742 00:30:31,578 --> 00:30:35,882 that goes a long way to reducing the footprint of policing. 743 00:30:35,915 --> 00:30:38,418 Uh, and, you know, in 1968, 744 00:30:38,451 --> 00:30:40,186 when the Kerner Commission Report came out, 745 00:30:40,220 --> 00:30:45,158 they said-- and this is 1968-- they said that we should think 746 00:30:45,191 --> 00:30:48,962 about creating different kinds of ways of providing services 747 00:30:48,995 --> 00:30:51,064 to communities, besides just police, 748 00:30:51,097 --> 00:30:53,500 -especially... communities of color. -Right, right. 749 00:30:53,533 --> 00:30:56,903 It's not new. We know... we know some of this stuff. 750 00:30:56,936 --> 00:30:58,805 As somebody who writes about the present 751 00:30:58,838 --> 00:31:00,907 and looks at it through the lens of history, 752 00:31:00,940 --> 00:31:02,675 what do you make of the future now? 753 00:31:02,709 --> 00:31:06,079 Are you hopeful at where America has gotten to now 754 00:31:06,112 --> 00:31:08,882 on this day, or are you trepidatious 755 00:31:08,915 --> 00:31:11,618 in considering where America still needs to get to? 756 00:31:11,651 --> 00:31:14,888 I'm hopeful, but... as I describe it, 757 00:31:14,921 --> 00:31:18,558 I have the optimism of a boxer going into the late rounds. 758 00:31:18,591 --> 00:31:20,326 (both laugh) 759 00:31:20,360 --> 00:31:22,896 And what I mean by that is... 760 00:31:22,929 --> 00:31:24,964 you know, if you haven't been knocked out yet, 761 00:31:24,998 --> 00:31:27,734 if you're still upright, the thing that kept you 762 00:31:27,767 --> 00:31:30,336 throwing punches and-and staying in the fight 763 00:31:30,370 --> 00:31:32,505 for this long, is the thing that will bring you 764 00:31:32,539 --> 00:31:34,073 all the way to the finish line. 765 00:31:34,107 --> 00:31:36,843 Uh, and so, you know, as James Baldwin said, 766 00:31:36,876 --> 00:31:38,912 I have to be an optimist because I'm alive. 767 00:31:38,945 --> 00:31:41,414 That said, I don't think we should underestimate 768 00:31:41,447 --> 00:31:43,516 the scale of the problems that we're confronting. 769 00:31:43,550 --> 00:31:45,618 The dynamics that produced Trump 770 00:31:45,652 --> 00:31:48,688 are still very active in this society. 771 00:31:48,721 --> 00:31:53,126 The anxiety around immigration, the anxiety around race, 772 00:31:53,159 --> 00:31:55,195 uh, the ways in which those compound, 773 00:31:55,228 --> 00:31:58,465 uh, you know, the economy that truthfully 774 00:31:58,498 --> 00:32:01,935 -does not serve many people, uh... -Right. 775 00:32:01,968 --> 00:32:05,071 ...uh, you know, struggling just to get by from day to day. 776 00:32:05,104 --> 00:32:07,373 Uh, and the way that that has been weaponized 777 00:32:07,407 --> 00:32:10,477 and-and used, uh, you know, to-to fuel xenophobia 778 00:32:10,510 --> 00:32:13,713 and racism and so on, those are very real dynamics 779 00:32:13,746 --> 00:32:17,050 and very problems and they will not be easily defeated. 780 00:32:17,083 --> 00:32:19,786 Uh, but I don't think that they are permanent. 781 00:32:19,819 --> 00:32:22,422 And I don't think we have to always presume that we can't 782 00:32:22,455 --> 00:32:24,324 surmount those obstacles. 783 00:32:24,357 --> 00:32:26,726 Well, it's gonna be an exciting 12th round. 784 00:32:26,759 --> 00:32:29,429 Uh, hopefully we get to chat to you again, uh, afterwards. 785 00:32:29,462 --> 00:32:31,865 and we haven't been knocked out-- Jelani Cobb, 786 00:32:31,898 --> 00:32:33,500 thank you so much for joining me on the show. 787 00:32:33,533 --> 00:32:34,934 Thank you. 788 00:32:34,968 --> 00:32:36,336 All right, we're gonna take a quick break. 789 00:32:36,369 --> 00:32:36,436 But we'll be right back after this. 790 00:32:39,171 --> 00:32:41,039 Well, that's our show for tonight, but before we go, 791 00:32:41,073 --> 00:32:43,308 as you know, the coronavirus pandemic 792 00:32:43,342 --> 00:32:45,377 is as bad as it has ever been. 793 00:32:45,410 --> 00:32:48,680 But luckily our first responders are still out on the frontlines 794 00:32:48,714 --> 00:32:50,349 saving lives. 795 00:32:50,382 --> 00:32:52,351 Now if you want to help them out, then please consider 796 00:32:52,384 --> 00:32:54,119 a donation to First Responders First, 797 00:32:54,152 --> 00:32:57,122 which offers first class medical and psychological treatment 798 00:32:57,155 --> 00:32:58,824 for first responders. 799 00:32:58,857 --> 00:33:00,792 If you want to find out more, then all you got to do 800 00:33:00,826 --> 00:33:02,127 is go to the link below. 801 00:33:02,160 --> 00:33:04,463 Until next time, stay safe out there, 802 00:33:04,496 --> 00:33:06,265 wear a mask and remember, 803 00:33:06,298 --> 00:33:08,667 if you're redecorating your house and you need some stuff, 804 00:33:08,700 --> 00:33:10,202 just ask the White House. 805 00:33:10,235 --> 00:33:12,337 They've got tons of old shit laying around. 806 00:33:12,371 --> 00:33:15,207 Now here it is, Your Moment of Zen. 807 00:33:15,240 --> 00:33:18,310 The chair lays before the senate two certificates of election 808 00:33:18,343 --> 00:33:22,080 for the state of Georgia and a certificate of appointment 809 00:33:22,114 --> 00:33:26,318 to fill the vacancy created by the resignation 810 00:33:26,351 --> 00:33:29,821 of former Senator Kamala D. Harris of California. 811 00:33:29,855 --> 00:33:32,524 (laughter) 812 00:33:32,558 --> 00:33:34,760 (cheering and applause) 813 00:33:40,032 --> 00:33:40,098 Yeah, that was very weird. Okay. (laughs)