>> John: HELLO THERE.
LOOK, BEFORE WE START OUR SHOW
TONIGHT, WHICH I'M SURE WILL
BE ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE
GRAVEL ZONING OR
DOGHOUSE FORECLOSURES ‐‐ I
HONESTLY DON'T KNOW, I DON'T
READ THE SCRIPT UNTIL I START
TALKING ‐‐ BUT BEFORE WE DO
THAT, I'M SURE YOU'RE AWARE,
AMERICA HAS JUST SEEN TWO MASS
SHOOTINGS WITHIN 24 HOURS, IN
DAYTON, OHIO, AND EL PASO,
TEXAS.
AND WHILE IT'S STILL VERY EARLY,
IT DOES FEEL LIKE THERE ARE A
COUPLE OF POINTS THAT DO SEEM
WORTH MENTIONING HERE.
FIRST, WHEN IT COMES TO
GUN CONTROL, IT CAN FEEL LIKE
EVERYTHING'S BEEN SAID BEFORE.
IN FACT, EVEN POINTING OUT
"EVERYTHING'S BEEN SAID BEFORE,"
HAS BEEN SAID BEFORE.
IN FACT, EVEN POINTING OUT THE
FACT THAT EVERYTHING'S BEEN SAID
BEFORE HAS BEEN SAID BEFORE HAS
BEEN SAID BEFORE.
BUT WHILE THE DEPRESSINGLY
FAMILIAR NUMBNESS THAT YOU MAY
BE FEELING CAN HELP YOU HANDLE
THE PAIN IN THE SHORT TERM, IN
THE LONG TERM, IT CAN ACTUALLY
BE A REAL PROBLEM, BECAUSE
UNLESS SOMETHING HURTS AS MUCH
AS IT'S SUPPOSED TO, NOTHING
GETS DONE ABOUT IT, AND
SOMETHING HAS GOT TO BE DONE
HERE, AND NOT JUST ABOUT GUNS.
THE EL PASO SHOOTING IS
CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED AS
A HATE CRIME.
AND THE SHOOTER'S MANIFESTO
FEATURED ANTI‐IMMIGRANT LANGUAGE
THAT MAY WELL BE FAMILIAR TO YOU
FROM CERTAIN CABLE NETWORKS AND
CERTAIN PRESIDENTS.
AND CLEARLY WHITE NATIONALISM
AND ANTI‐IMMIGRANT HYSTERIA DID
NOT START WITH THIS PRESIDENT.
BUT HE CERTAINLY SEEMS TO HAVE
CREATED AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE
THOSE KIND OF VIEWS CAN FESTER
AND, INDEED, THRIVE.
IN FACT, JUST THREE MONTHS AGO,
AS HE WAS DELIBERATELY WINDING
UP A CROWD WITH THE IMAGE OF
15,000 IMMIGRANTS MARCHING
TOWARD THE BORDER, THIS
HAPPENED:
>> HOW DO YOU STOP THESE PEOPLE?
>> SHOOT THEM!
>> YOU CAN'T.
THERE'S NOT ‐‐
[LAUGHTER]
THAT'S ONLY IN THE PANHANDLE YOU
CAN GET AWAY WITH THAT
STATEMENT.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
ONLY IN THE PANHANDLE.
>> John: YEAH, BUT HERE IS THE
THING: IT'S NOT "ONLY IN THE
PANHANDLE" WHERE YOU CAN GET
AWAY WITH THAT STATEMENT.
YOU CAN NOW GET AWAY WITH IT ALL
OVER THE COUNTRY, AND ‐‐ AS HE
JUST MADE PAINFULLY CLEAR ‐‐ IN
ANY ROOM THE ACTUAL PRESIDENT IS
IN, WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY
APPALLING, AND THAT IS SOMETHING
WE CANNOT AFFORD TO GET NUMB TO.
IF THAT EVER, FOR A MOMENT,
FEELS LIKE IT'S BECOME NORMAL,
WE'RE GOING TO BE COMPELELY
FUCKED.
AND WE'RE GOING TO LEARN MORE
ABOUT THIS IN THE WEEKS AND
MONTHS AHEAD.
AND THERE MAY BE TIME TO TALK
ABOUT IT MORE IN DEPTH THEN.
BUT UNTIL THEN, I BELIEVE WE
HAVE A DUMB SHOW FOR YOU ABOUT
TURNIP SUBSIDIES OR SOMETHING.
AGAIN, I'M AS IN THE DARK ABOUT
IT AS YOU.
BUT PLEASE, AFTER A TOUGH, TOUGH
DAY, PLEASE ENJOY THIS NONSENSE.
♪ ♪
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> John: WELCOME, WELCOME,
WELCOME TO "LAST WEEK TONIGHT!"
I'M JOHN OLIVER.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US.
JUST TIME FOR A QUICK RECAP OF
THE WEEK.
AND WE BEGIN WITH THE
UNITED KINGDOM, A COUNTRY
THAT ‐‐ AND THIS IS TRUE ‐‐ HAD
A GOOD RUN.
SPECIFICALLY, WE'RE GOING TO
BEGIN WITH THE U. K.'S NEW PRIME
MINISTER, BORIS JOHNSON, A MAN
WHOSE PHOTO SHOULD ACCOMPANY THE
HEADLINE, "OWEN WILSON DROWNS."
JOHNSON'S TENURE AS
PRIME MINISTER BEGAN THIS WEEK
WITH A TOUR AROUND THE U. K.,
WHERE HE WAS RECEIVED WITH THE
EXACT LEVEL OF WARMTH HE
DESERVES.
>> PRIME MINISTER BORIS JOHNSON
HAS KICKED OFF HIS FIRST FULL
WEEK AS PRIME MINISTER WITH A
TRIP TO SCOTLAND, WHERE HE'S
CALLING FOR A STRENGTHENING OF
THE TIES THAT BIND THE
UNITED KINGDOM.
[CROWD BOOING]
WELL, THAT'S SOME BOOING THERE.
>> John: YEAH, YEAH, IT WAS.
THAT WAS, INDEED, SOME BOOING
THERE.
IT SEEMS LIKE THE CURRENT "TIES
THAT BIND THE UNITED KINGDOM"
CONSIST OF "SHARED ABJECT HATRED
OF ONE PARTICULAR MAN."
AND THE BOOING WASN'T EVEN THE
LOW POINT OF BORIS' WEEK.
THERE WAS ALSO A SPECIAL
ELECTION FOR A PARLIAMENTARY
SEAT, AND IT DID NOT GO WELL FOR
HIM.
>> BORIS JOHNSON'S CHANCES OF
SECURING ANY AGREEMENT ON BREXIT
JUST GOT HARDER.
>> THE PRO‐EU LIBERAL DEMOCRATS
JUST PICKED UP A PARLIAMENTARY
SEAT.
THIS LEAVES MR. JOHNSON WITH A
MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS
OF JUST ONE ‐‐ ONE SEAT.
>> John: BORIS HAS BEEN IN THE
JOB JUST OVER A WEEK, AND HIS
MAJORITY IS DOWN TO ONE, MEANING
THAT THE ALREADY IMPOSSIBLE TASK
OF GETTING PARLIAMENTARY
APPROVAL ON A WORKABLE BREXIT
DEAL SOMEHOW JUST GOT EVEN
HARDER.
IT'S LIKE IF APOLLO 11 WAS ABOUT
TO LAND ON THE MOON AND
BUZZ ALDRIN TURNED TO
NEIL ARMSTRONG AND SAID, "NEIL,
DON'T BE MAD, BUT I JUST
REALIZED I FORGOT OUR
SPACE SUITS.
HOW LONG CAN YOU HOLD YOUR
BREATH?"
AND IN THE MIDST OF ALL THIS,
BORIS MET WITH BRITAIN'S
FARMERS, WHO COULD BE HIT
PARTICULARLY HARD BY A NO‐DEAL
BREXIT, WHICH LED TO THIS
MAGNIFICENT IMAGE OF HIM TIGHTLY
GRASPING A CHICKEN.
AND I THINK THAT CHICKEN'S FACE
MAY ACTUALLY SUM UP THE FEELINGS
OF MANY IN BRITAIN RIGHT NOW.
JUST LOOK AT IT.
"WELL, IT SEEMS I'M FIRMLY IN
THE CLUTCHES OF AN IDIOT WHO
APPEARS TO HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO
DO WITH ME.
SO I MIGHT AS WELL JUST GO LIMP,
WAIT FOR MY DARK FATE TO COME TO
PASS, AND PRAY THIS IS ALL OVER
QUICKLY."
BUT FOR NOW, LET'S MOVE ON TO
JOHN RATCLIFFE, TRUMP'S
SHORT‐LIVED PICK FOR DIRECTOR OF
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND
THIRD‐SEASON WINNER OF THE
REALITY SHOW "SO YOU THINK YOU
CAN ROMNEY."
THE PRESIDENT ANNOUNCED
RATCLIFFE AS HIS PICK FOR DNI ON
TWITTER LAST SUNDAY, AND HE
IMMEDIATELY SEEMED LIKE AN ODD
CHOICE.
AFTER ALL, IT'S A JOB OVERSEEING
17 AGENCIES WITH A COMBINED
BUDGET OF $60 BILLION, AND
ANYONE NOMINATED TO THE POSITION
IS REQUIRED BY LAW TO HAVE
EXTENSIVE NATIONAL SECURITY
EXPERTISE, WHICH IS SOMETHING
RATCLIFFE EMPHATICALLY DID NOT
HAVE.
HE WAS THE FORMER MAYOR OF
HEATH, TEXAS, AN UNPAID POSITION
IN A TOWN OF AROUND 9,000
PEOPLE.
AND IF YOU WANT TO GET AN IDEA
OF THE KIND OF BIG ISSUES HE MAY
HAVE HAD TO DEAL WITH THERE, I
POINT YOU TO HEATH'S FACEBOOK
PAGE, WHERE THERE IS CURRENTLY A
HEATED DISCUSSION ABOUT A NEW
MEXICAN RESTAURANT IN TOWN
BECAUSE, AND I QUOTE, "WE HAVE
ONE ALREADY."
THERE ARE, AND I CANNOT STRESS
THIS ENOUGH, 189 COMMENTS.
AND WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO GET
INTO THE WHOLE THING, BUT IT'S
WORTH POINTING OUT THAT ONE
PARTICULAR THREAD STARTS WITH
"SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TWO
SIT‐DOWN 'RESTAURANTS' ‐‐
MISSPELLED ‐‐ IN TOWN, AND
THEY'RE BOTH MEXICAN FOOD?
AND WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE EXCITED
BY THIS?
SEEMS LIKE POOR PLANNING TO ME."
AND ESCALATES TO THE POINT WHERE
THIS DELIGHTFUL MAN SAYS,
"I DON'T MUCH LIKE THE OVERALL
TONE OF YOUR POSTS, SIR.
BTW, I JUST GOOGLED WHAT A CUCK
WAS, AND I AM EXTREMELY
OFFENDED."
WHICH IS PRETTY MUCH THE ENTIRE
INTERNET ENCAPSULATED INTO TWO
COMMENTS.
HEATH SEEMS LOVELY.
NOW, TO BE FAIR TO RATCLIFFE, HE
DID ALSO SERVE AS A U. S.
ATTORNEY, ALTHOUGH IT WAS FOR
LESS THAN A YEAR, ON AN INTERIM
BASIS, AND HIS RESUME SEEMS TO
HAVE VASTLY INFLATED WHAT
HAPPENED IN THAT TIME.
>> IN HIS CONGRESSIONAL BIO,
RATCLIFFE CLAIMS DURING THAT
TIME HE PUT TERRORISTS IN
PRISON, BUT A CNN SEARCH OF
TERROR‐RELATED CASES DOESN'T
SHOW ANY THAT RATCLIFFE HIMSELF
PROSECUTED AND HIS OFFICE
COULDN'T OFFER EXAMPLES OR
EVIDENCE.
IN THAT SAME CONGRESSIONAL BIO
RATCLIFFE ALSO SAYS HE ARRESTED
300 ILLEGAL ALIENS IN A SINGLE
DAY, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS ACTUALLY
A MULTI‐STATE, MULTI‐AGENCY
OPERATION TO SWEEP UP SUSPECTED
ILLEGAL WORKERS.
JUST 45 WORKERS WERE CHARGED BY
RATCLIFFE'S OFFICE, SIX OF WHOM
WERE DISMISSED.
>> John: YEAH, RATCLIFFE SAID HE
ARRESTED "300 ILLEGAL ALIENS IN
A SINGLE DAY" WHEN HIS OFFICE
ONLY CHARGED 45, WHICH IS A
PRETTY AUDACIOUS LIE.
AND I KNOW IT SEEMS WEIRD TO BE
UPSET ABOUT SOMEBODY NOT
ARRESTING AS MANY HUMANS AS THEY
SAID THEY DID, BUT IT ALSO SEEMS
WEIRD NOT TO BE UPSET.
IT'S LIKE IF YOUR FRIEND TOLD
YOU HE ONCE TOOK 300 POOPIES IN
A SINGLE DAY WHEN HE REALLY ONLY
TOOK 45.
OKAY, WHY ARE YOU BRAGGING ABOUT
THAT?
WHY ARE YOU LYING ABOUT THAT?
WHY DO YOU INSIST ON USING SUCH
A REPREHENSIBLE PHRASE FOR THAT?
AND WHY IS THE REAL NUMBER STILL
SO UPSETTINGLY HIGH?
NOW, ON FRIDAY, JUST FIVE DAYS
AFTER TRUMP'S ANNOUNCEMENT
TWEET, RATCLIFFE WAS OUT, WHICH
WOULD BE A REMARKABLE FLAME‐OUT
WERE IT NOT FOR THE FACT THAT
TRUMP IS CONSTANTLY PUTTING
FORWARD PEOPLE WHO FALL APART
UNDER THE LEAST BIT OF SCRUTINY.
HE'S LOST HIS PICKS TO
ALLEGATIONS OF CONFLICTS OF
INTEREST, PLAGIARISM, A
WORKPLACE AFFAIR, OFFENSIVE BLOG
POSTS, BEING AN IDIOT, BEING THE
ACTUAL HERMAN CAIN, OR JUST
BEING FLAMBOYANTLY UNQUALIFIED.
AND IT'S NOT JUST RATCLIFFE IN
THAT LAST CATEGORY.
TRUMP ONCE NOMINATED SAM CLOVIS
AS THE DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE'S CHIEF SCIENTIST
DESPITE THE FACT HE WAS NOT A
SCIENTIST, HE WAS A TALK RADIO
HOST.
ALTHOUGH HE WAS PRETTY CONFIDENT
IN HIS SCIENTIFIC INSTINCT, AS
YOU CAN HEAR IN THIS ASSESSMENT
OF CLIMATE CHANGE.
>> I HAVE LOOKED AT THE SCIENCE
AND I HAVE ENOUGH OF A SCIENCE
BACKGROUND TO KNOW WHEN I'M
BEING BOOFED.
AND I THINK A LOT OF WHAT WE SEE
IS JUNK SCIENCE.
>> John: WAIT.
WAIT RIGHT THERE.
HIS SCIENCE BACKGROUND TAUGHT
HIM ABOUT BOOFING?
WE LEARNED FROM THE
BRETT KAVANAUGH HEARING THAT
"BOOF" EITHER MEANS "FARTING" OR
"ANAL SEX," SO I TRULY HOPE THAT
CLOVIS IS AWARE OF WHEN HE'S
BEING BOOFED, ALTHOUGH I'M NOT
SURE THAT'S SOMETHING THEY TEACH
YOU IN SCIENCE CLASS.
AND YOU WOULD HOPE THAT A TRACK
RECORD LIKE THAT WOULD EMBARRASS
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND
MAKE THEM WANT TO IMPROVE THEIR
VETTING PROCESS, BUT, AS TRUMP
CLARIFIED ON FRIDAY, LETTING
RANDOMLY SELECTED IDIOTS AND
MISCREANTS BE PUBLICLY TORN
APART BY THE NATIONAL MEDIA IS
HIS PROCESS.
>> NO, YOU VET FOR ME.
I LIKE WHEN YOU VET.
NO, NO, YOU VET.
I THINK THE WHITE HOUSE HAS A
GREAT VETTING PROCESS.
YOU VET FOR ME.
WHEN I GIVE A NAME, I GIVE IT
OUT TO THE PRESS, AND YOU VET
FOR ME.
I GIVE OUT A NAME TO THE PRESS
AND THEY VET FOR ME.
WE SAVE A LOT OF MONEY THAT WAY.
>> John: SO HOLD ON.
THE PROCESS IS JUST "MAKE A
DECISION WITHOUT THINKING AND
TRUST THAT SOMEONE ELSE WILL DO
YOUR JOB FOR YOU."
HEARING "YOU VET FOR ME" FROM
THE PRESIDENT IS ONLY SLIGHTLY
LESS ALARMING THAN HEARING IT
FROM AN ACTUAL VET.
"YOU VET FOR ME.
I DUNNO IF GUS IS FINE OR NOT.
HERE'S HOW IT WORKS: I GIVE YOU
THE CAT, YOU VET FOR ME, WE SAVE
A LOT OF MONEY THAT WAY."
THE FACT IS, DONALD TRUMP
CHOOSES HIS CABINET AND OTHER
POLITICAL APPOINTEES WITH ALL
THE THOUGHT AND CARE THAT HE
DOES EVERYTHING ELSE, WHICH IS
TO SAY ABSOLUTELY NONE, AND
WHILE THERE'S NOT A LOT WE CAN
DO ABOUT THIS IN THE SHORT TERM,
AT LEAST NEXT TIME HE ANNOUNCES
A NEW TREMENDOUS APPOINTEE ON
TWITTER, WE CAN ALL SAY,
"NO WAY.
I KNOW WHEN I'M BEING BOOFED."
AND NOW THIS.
>> Announcer: AND NOW, FOX NEWS'
SHEP SMITH HAS A WEIRD FAVORITE
EXPRESSION.
>> I WOULD THINK HE WOULD BE
ESPECIALLY HAPPY ABOUT THIS.
SPEAKING OF WHICH ‐‐
>> HE'S BEEN DREAMING ABOUT
HITTING THE IRANIANS SINCE FLUFF
WAS A KITTEN.
SHE'S A FULL‐GROWN CAT NOW.
IT WAS TIME FOR THAT WALK ACROSS
THE LAWN
THAT PRESIDENTS HAVE BEEN DOING
SINCE FLUFF WAS A KITTEN.
SHE IS A FULL‐GROWN CAT.
THE CLINTON CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN
RAISING MONEY
SINCE FLUFF WAS A KITTEN.
SHE IS A FULL‐GROWN CAT NOW.
>> THEY BEEN WORKING ON IT NOW
SINCE FLUFF WAS A KITTEN.
STEVE DOOCY HAS BEEN IN SINCE
FLUFF WAS A KITTEN.
SINCE FLUFF WAS A KITTEN.
SINCE FLUFF WAS KITTEN.
FLUFF WAS A KITTEN AND SHE'S
FULL‐GROWN.
FULL‐GROWN CAT.
WHERE IS FLUFF?
FULL‐GROWN CAT.
TEAMS HAVE BEEN STEALING SIGNS
SINCE FLUFF WAS A KITTEN.
SHE'S IN A NURSING HOME NOW.
THAT RUMOR HAS BEEN AROUND
SINCE FLUFF WAS A KITTEN, AND
FLUFF IS ON HER LAST LEG.
HE'S BEEN WITH US SINCE
WAS FLUFF WAS A KITTEN AND SHE
IS CLOSE TO DEATH.
AND FLUFF IS LONG‐SINCE BURIED.
>> I'M NOT GOING TO LET YOU GO
UNTIL YOU TELL ME WHO FLUFF IS.
>> FLUFF IS A KITTEN.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT FLUFF FOR
DECADES.
ANY TIME THINGS WERE OLD, NANA
WOULD SAY, "THAT'S BEEN AROUND
SINCE FLUFF WAS A KITTEN, AND
SHE'S A FULL‐GROWN CAT."
SO I'VE BEEN SAYING IT SINCE
NANA.
IF IT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR NANA,
IT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR EVERYBODY.
>> I LIKE IT.
I MIGHT START USING IT.
>> John: MOVING ON.
OUR MAIN STORY TONIGHT CONCERNS
PRISON.
IF YOU'RE, FOR SOME REASON,
UNFAMILIAR WITH THE CONCEPT,
I'LL LET A BELOVED CHILDREN'S
ENTERTAINER EXPLAIN IT TO YOU
IN A CLIP THAT HAS IN NO WAY
DATED BADLY.
>> NOW, ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO
ARE IN PRISON RIGHT NOW WERE
KIDS ONCE, JUST LIKE YOU.
AND THEN SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY
THEY DID SOMETHING WRONG,
SOMETHING DUMB.
WHATEVER IT WAS, IT PROBABLY
STARTED SMALL, BECAME BIGGER.
MAYBE THEY EVEN GOT AWAY WITH IT
AT FIRST AND THOUGHT THEY'D
NEVER GET CAUGHT.
THEY WERE WRONG.
NOW THEY'RE IN PRISON.
>> John: YES, THEY ARE.
IT'S ALMOST LIKE THEY SHOULD'VE
REALLY SEEN THIS COMING.
AND, LOOK, ON THIS SHOW, WE'VE
TALKED ABOUT THE PROBLEMS OF
MASS INCARCERATION, BUT THIS
STORY ISN'T SO MUCH ABOUT WHO'S
IN PRISON OR WHETHER THEY SHOULD
BE THERE.
IT'S ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING
WHILE THEY'RE INSIDE, WHICH IS
TO SAY, BROADLY, IT'S A STORY
ABOUT PRISON LABOR, BECAUSE OVER
60% OF PEOPLE IN PRISON ACTUALLY
HAVE JOBS.
IN FACT, PRISONS ARE BASICALLY
OPERATED BY THE INMATES, AS
YOU'D KNOW IF YOU'VE EVER SEEN
AN EPISODE OF "LOCKUP" ON
MSNBC:
>> THE MOST COMMON JOBS ARE
WORKING IN THE KITCHEN OR SOME
FORM OF JANITORIAL DUTY.
>> I, YOU KNOW, CLEAN CARPET,
VACUUM, EMPTY TRASH.
>> I WORK IN LAUNDRY HERE FIVE
DAYS A WEEK, MONDAY THROUGH
FRIDAY.
>> HE HAS RECENTLY LANDED ONE OF
THE MOST COVETED INMATE JOBS,
STAFF CANTEEN CLERK.
>> I DIDN'T COME INTO PRISON
WITH A STAFF CANTEEN JOB.
I STARTED IN FOOD SERVICE IN THE
DISH ROOM AND WORKED MY WAY
RIGHT ON THROUGH THE RANKS.
YOU KNOW, OPRAH DIDN'T START ON
"THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW."
SO...
>> John: I MEAN, HE IS RIGHT, OF
COURSE.
OPRAH DIDN'T START ON
"THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW."
OPRAH STARTED WHEN A GLOWING
MAGICAL ORB CONSOLIDATED ALL OF
THE EARTH'S ENERGY INTO ONE
MESMERIZING, PERFECT BEACON OF
LIGHT.
THEN THE LIGHT FUCKED THE ORB.
AND THE RESULT WAS OPRAH.
THAT'S OPRAH'S ORIGIN STORY
RIGHT THERE.
BUT THERE ARE SOME MAJOR
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE JOBS
PEOPLE DO IN PRISON AND THE ONES
THEY DO ON THE OUTSIDE,
PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO
MONEY.
THE AVERAGE WAGE IN PRISONS IS
AROUND 63 CENTS PER HOUR.
AND REMEMBER, THAT'S THE
AVERAGE, SO THAT MEANS THERE ARE
STATES WHERE PRISONERS MAKE
CONSIDERABLY LESS.
>> IN TEXAS, GEORGIA, ARKANSAS,
AND ALABAMA, PRISONERS ARE NOT
PAID FOR THEIR WORK AT ALL.
AND IN SOME PLACES, THEY'RE
REQUIRED TO WORK UNDER THREAT OF
DISCIPLINARY ACTION.
IF THEY SAY, "NO, I'M NOT GONNA
WORK," THEY CAN WRITE YOU UP FOR
THAT.
THEY CAN SEND YOU TO SOLITARY
FOR THAT.
>> THAT'S ‐‐ THAT'S ‐‐ NOW
THAT'S SLAVERY.
TO ‐‐ TO WORK FOR FREE ‐‐
>> YEAH, UNDER HARASSMENT.
>> AND THEN THEY CAN ‐‐ AND THEY
CAN PUT YOU IN SOLITARY IF YOU
DON'T WORK OR WRITE YOU UP FOR
NOT WORKING?
FOR FREE?
WHY IS THAT NOT SLAVERY?
>> John: YEAH, THAT'S NOT GOOD.
BECAUSE "WHY IS THAT NOT
SLAVERY?" IS ONE OF THOSE
QUESTIONS THAT, IF YOU EVEN HAVE
TO ASK IT, SOMETHING HAS ALREADY
GONE VERY WRONG.
LIKE, "HOW MANY SWASTIKA
TATTOOS?"
OR "WHICH OF MOMMY'S NIGHTSTAND
DRAWERS DID YOU OPEN?"
THINGS ARE ALREADY BAD; WE JUST
NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW BAD.
AND THE ANSWER TO "WHY IS THIS
NOT SLAVERY" IS, "WELL, IT'S NOT
EXACTLY NOT SLAVERY."
BECAUSE IT TURNS OUT TREATING
PRISONERS AS SLAVES IS LITERALLY
WRITTEN INTO THE CONSTITUTION.
THE THIRTEENTH AMENDMENT STATES
THAT SLAVERY IS ABOLISHED EXCEPT
AS A PUNISHMENT FOR A CRIME.
AND THE AMENDMENT ABOLISHING
SLAVERY IS NOT THE ONE YOU WANT
TO INCLUDE THE WORD "EXCEPT."
AND LOOK, I KNOW THAT, TO MANY,
INMATES ARE NOT A NATURALLY
SYMPATHETIC GROUP OF PEOPLE.
IN FACT, WHEN THERE WAS A PUSH
TO GET A HIGHER WAGE FOR THOSE
WORKING BEHIND BARS A FEW YEARS
AGO, THESE PEOPLE ON FOX FOUND
IT HILARIOUS.
>> INMATES BEHIND BARS ARE NOW
SUING FOR THE MINIMUM WAGE FOR
THE WORK THEY ARE DOING BEHIND
BARS.
SHOULD THAT BE A CRIME?
>> HE SAYS HE DESERVES MINIMUM
WAGE.
AS IF CRIME PAYS.
>> WHY LET CRIME PAY?
>> EXACTLY.
CRIME SHOULD NOT PAY
IT'S VERY SIMPLE.
COMMON SENSE IS VERY SIMPLE.
>> John: "EHH, COMMON SENSE,
VERY SIMPLE."
FIRST OF ALL, IF YOU WATCH THAT
ON MUTE, YOU'LL DEFINITELY
ASSUME IT WAS A PANEL ON
ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION.
AND EVEN WITH THE SOUND ON, YOU
CAN'T DEFINITELY SAY IT'S NOT.
BUT IN A WAY, I GET IT.
"CRIME DOESN'T PAY" DOES SOUND
LIKE COMMON SENSE, BUT IT'S
MUCH, MUCH MORE COMPLICATED THAN
THAT.
THE TRUTH IS, WHEN YOU COMBINE
THE LOW TO NONEXISTENT WAGES
THAT PRISONERS GET PAID WITH THE
THEY AND
SURPRISINGLY HIGH COSTS THAT
THEY AND THEIR FAMILIES CAN
INCUR WHILE THEY'RE INSIDE, THE
CURRENT SYSTEM CAN WIND UP
COSTING ALL OF US.
AND TONIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO LOOK
INTO HOW PRISONERS MAKE AND
SPEND MONEY AND THE COMPANIES
THAT HAVE MANAGED TO GET RICH
OFF THEM.
AND LET'S START WITH THE FACT
THAT PRISON LABOR CAN TAKE MANY
FORMS.
IT IS OFTEN THE JANITORIAL OR
KITCHEN WORK YOU SAW EARLIER,
BUT IN SOME STATES, PRISONERS
ACTUALLY WORK AS FIREFIGHTERS.
IN FACT, IN THE CALIFORNIA
WILDFIRES LAST YEAR, AROUND 12%
OF THE FIREFIGHTERS WERE CURRENT
INMATES.
AND I SHOULD SAY, MANY OF THEM
FIND FIGHTING FIRES VERY
REWARDING.
>> JUST THE OTHER DAY, WE WERE
ABLE TO SAVE HOUSES FROM ‐‐ FROM
BURNING DOWN.
TO HAVE A WOMAN COME OUT TO HER
BACKYARD AND THANK US FOR SAVING
HER HOUSE MAKES US FEEL LIKE
WE'RE DOING SOMETHING.
NOW BEING ABLE TO GIVE BACK AND
POTENTIALLY SAVE LIVES IS ‐‐
IT'S HUGE.
>> John: YEAH, AND THAT MAKES
SENSE.
BEING ABLE TO SAVE LIVES MUST BE
VERY SATISFYING.
IT'S WHY BATMAN IS ALWAYS SEEMS
TO BE IN SUCH A GOOD MOOD.
AND WHY HIS CATCHPHRASE IS,
"WHEEEEE!
I'M BATMAN!
HOW GREAT IS FIGHTING CRIME?
IT'S GREAT!
I LOVE IT!"
AND THAT HONESTLY FEELS LIKE THE
BEST‐CASE SCENARIO FOR PRISON
LABOR: PEOPLE WHO ARE HAPPY TO
WORK, CONTRIBUTING TO SOCIETY,
AND LEARNING NEW SKILLS.
ALTHOUGH IT IS WORTH NOTING,
THOSE FIREFIGHTERS' BASE PAY IS
ONLY BETWEEN $3 AND $5 PER DAY
FOR THAT DANGEROUS WORK.
AND IF YOU'RE THINKING, "WELL,
AT LEAST THEY'RE LEARNING SKILLS
THAT'LL HELP THEM GET A JOB ON
THE OUTSIDE," THAT IS OFTEN NOT
THE CASE.
CALIFORNIA LAW BARS MOST PEOPLE
WITH A CRIMINAL RECORD FROM
BECOMING LICENSED EMERGENCY
RESPONDERS, WHICH MEANS THAT
BEING A FIREFIGHTER IN PRISON IS
NOT UNLIKE BEING AN ART HISTORY
MAJOR IN COLLEGE.
IT MAY BE FUN WHILE YOU'RE IN
THERE, BUT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO
BE DOING IT ONCE YOU GET OUT.
DO YOU HEAR THAT, THESSALY?
YOU'RE GONNA WORK IN
HUMAN RESOURCES, YOU'RE GONNA
HAVE A FAVORITE COFFEE MUG AND A
THROW PILLOW THAT SAYS
"IT'S WINE O'CLOCK SOMEWHERE,"
AND YOU'RE GOING TO STARE OUT
THE WINDOW YEARNING FOR THE
SWEET RELEASE OF DEATH
JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.
AND INCIDENTALLY, FIGHTING FIRES
IS FAR FROM THE ONLY DANGEROUS
JOB PRISONERS DO.
AT LOUISIANA STATE PENITENTIARY,
SOME TAKE PART IN A PRISON
RODEO, WHERE THE ENTERTAINMENT
CAN BE INSANE.
>> TAKE CONVICT POKER.
FOUR INMATES SIT NERVOUSLY AT A
CARD TABLE WHILE A VERY RESTLESS
BULL PICKS OUT HIS TARGET.
THE LAST ONE STANDING OR SITTING
WINS.
>> SO WHY DO YOU DO THIS?
>> MONEY.
I'M BROKE.
I'M TRYING TO GET A PRIVATE
INVESTIGATOR ON MY CASE.
>> HE EARNS TWO CENTS AN HOUR
WORKING IN THE PRISON FIELDS BUT
HE CAN EARN HUNDREDS OUT IN THAT
MUD.
>> John: HOLY SHIT!
THAT IS TRULY SHOCKING.
ALSO ‐‐ AND, LOOK, THIS REALLY
ISN'T THE BIGGEST ISSUE THERE ‐‐
IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A GAME
WHERE A BULL ATTACKS A GROUP OF
PEOPLE, YOU DON'T NAME IT
"CONVICT POKER."
YOU NAME IT "DODGE BULL."
AGAIN, NOT THE BIGGEST ISSUE.
NOT THE BIGGEST ISSUE.
BUT I DID WANT TO BRING IT UP.
AND BEING ATTACKED BY A BULL FOR
ENTERTAINMENT IS CLEARLY AN
OUTLIER.
MOST PRISONERS ARE DOING ROUTINE
LABOR FOR LITTLE TO NO MONEY.
THE PROBLEM IS, THAT CAN LEAD TO
THEM BEING SEEN LESS AS HUMANS
PAYING THEIR DEBT TO SOCIETY
AND MORE AS A POOL OF VIRTUALLY
FREE LABOR.
AND DON'T TAKE THAT FROM ME ‐‐
LISTEN TO LOUISIANA SHERIFF
STEVE PRATOR.
WHEN THE STATE, AS PART OF A
PRISON REFORM PROGRAM, STARTED
RELEASING SOME INMATES, HE WENT
PUBLIC WITH AN UNUSUAL
COMPLAINT:
>> IN ADDITION TO THE BAD ONES,
AND I CALL THESE BAD ‐‐ IN
ADDITION TO THEM, THEY'RE
RELEASING SOME GOOD ONES THAT WE
USE EVERY DAY TO ‐‐ TO WASH
CARS, TO CHANGE OIL IN OUR CARS,
TO COOK IN THE KITCHENS, TO DO
ALL THAT WHERE WE SAVE MONEY.
WELL, THEY'RE GONNA LET THEM
OUT.
THE ONES THAT WE USE IN THE
WORK RELEASE PROGRAM, THEY'RE
GONNA LET THEM OUT.
>> John: JUST THINK ABOUT WHAT
HE'S SAYING THERE.
HE'S SAYING SOME PEOPLE NEED TO
STAY BEHIND BARS BECAUSE THEY'RE
TOO VALUABLE AS A SOURCE OF FREE
LABOR, WHICH IS EXACTLY THE SAME
PLAN AS THE VILLAIN IN
"THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION."
NORMALLY TO QUALIFY AS A
STEPHEN KING VILLAIN YOU HAVE TO
BE SOMETHING WAY LESS STUPID,
LIKE AN EVIL CAR OR A GUY WHO
FORGOT TO WEAR A COAT.
AND LOOK, MANY PRISONERS DO
PREFER HAVING JOBS TO JUST
SITTING IN THEIR CELLS ALL DAY,
WHICH, AGAIN, MAKES SENSE.
SO GETTING RID OF PRISON LABOR
ENTIRELY IS NOT THE ANSWER HERE.
PAYING PRISONERS MORE MIGHT
HELP, ALTHOUGH THAT WILL BE VERY
DIFFICULT.
PRISONS ARE NOW SO RELIANT ON
THEIR LABOR, MOVING TO A
COMPETITIVE WAGE COULD COST
HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
EACH YEAR.
AND I KNOW THAT THERE ARE THOSE
OUT THERE WHO MIGHT SAY, "WHAT
DO PRISONERS EVEN NEED MONEY
FOR?"
BUT THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION
IS ACTUALLY REALLY IMPORTANT
HERE, BECAUSE WHILE IT MAY SEEM
LIKE YOU'RE LIVING FOR FREE IN
PRISON, YOU MAY ACTUALLY HAVE A
LOT OF EXPENSES, LIKE LEGAL FEES
OR BASIC NECESSITIES, LIKE SOAP
OR SHAMPOO.
AND AS LAWMAKERS IN ARIZONA
RECENTLY DISCOVERED, PRISONS
THERE WERE ACTUALLY REQUIRING
WOMEN TO BUY PERSONAL HYGIENE
PRODUCTS.
>> THERE'S A NEW BILL IN THE
LEGISLATURE THAT WOULD HAVE THE
STATE PAY FOR ALL FEMININE
HYGIENE PRODUCTS.
>> AND FIRST TO HEAR THE
PROPOSAL, A COMMITTEE OF NINE
MEN, SOME OF THEM A BIT
SQUEAMISH ABOUT TAKING ON THE
TASK.
>> I GUESS HEARING THE BILL WAS
SOMETHING I DIDN'T EXPECT.
I DIDN'T EXPECT TO HEAR PADS AND
TAMPONS AND ‐‐ AND THE PROBLEMS
OF PERIODS.
>> John: OKAY, OKAY, SO TWO
THINGS THERE:
FIRST, "THE PROBLEM OF PERIODS"
SOUNDS LIKE THE TITLE OF A
MEDICAL TEXTBOOK WRITTEN BACK IN
THE TIME WHEN WE USED TO TREAT
FEMALE EMOTIONS WITH EITHER
ELECTROCUTION OR DROWNING.
AND SECOND, I AM FRANKLY SHOCKED
THAT THE MAN WHO WILLINGLY CHOSE
THAT HAIRCUT ISN'T MORE OF AN
EXPERT ON WOMEN.
BUT THE FACT IS, UNTIL LAST
YEAR, ARIZONA'S FEMALE PRISONERS
WERE ALLOTTED JUST 12 PADS PER
MONTH, WHICH AS I'M GONNA SAY AT
LEAST HALF OF YOU KNOW OFTEN
ISN'T NEARLY ENOUGH.
AND EXTRA HYGIENE PRODUCTS WERE
NOT A MINOR EXPENSE.
BASE PAY FOR PRISONERS STARTS AT
15 CENTS AN HOUR, WHICH MEANT TO
BUY ONE ADDITIONAL PACK OF PADS
TOOK ABOUT 21 HOURS OF WORK.
AND IN THEORY, WOMEN WHO NEEDED
MORE COULD SIMPLY ASK PRISON
GUARDS OR GET A MEDICAL
DISPENSATION, BUT THE PROBLEM
IS, IN ARIZONA, AS IN MANY
PLACES, PRISONERS ALSO HAVE TO
PAY A CO‐PAY TO SEE A DOCTOR.
AND I'LL LET A FORMER PRISONER
ADDRESSING THAT PANEL TELL YOU
HOW THAT WORKED OUT IN REALITY:
>> THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, IF
I WANT TO REQUEST THE MEDICAL
RIGHT TO GET MORE PADS BECAUSE,
SAY, I HAVE A HEAVIER FLOW THIS
MONTH THAN LAST MONTH, I WOULD
HAVE TO PAY $4 JUST TO BE SEEN
BY MEDICAL.
NOW, WHEN I'M MAKING 9 CENTS
AFTER TAX, YOU GOTTA REALLY
THINK IF I WANT TO PUT MY WHOLE
MONTH'S INCOME INTO HOPEFULLY
BEING ALLOWED ‐‐ APPROVED FOR
EXTRA PADS IF THEY BELIEVE I
DESERVE IT.
>> John: LOOK, NOT ONLY IS IT
UTTERLY RIDICULOUS THAT SHE
NEEDS TO PAY TO MAKE A CASE THAT
SHE DESERVES ACCESS TO PADS,
JUST SPARE A THOUGHT FOR HER
HAVING TO DISCUSS THE DETAILS OF
A HEAVY FLOW INTO THIS
BEWILDERED FACE.
SO IT'S PRETTY CLEAR THAT FOR
MANY PRISONERS THERE IS AN
ENORMOUS GAP BETWEEN WHAT THEY
MAKE AT THEIR PRISON JOB AND
HAVING ENOUGH FOR BASIC
NECESSITIES.
NOW, IF THEY ARE LUCKY, THEY
MIGHT HAVE FAMILY OR OTHERS ON
THE OUTSIDE WILLING TO HELP THEM
OUT BY SENDING THEM MONEY, BUT
EVEN THAT IS MORE COMPLICATED
THAN IT APPEARS, AND THIS BRINGS
US TO THE FINAL ABSURD ELEMENT
HERE, THE FOR‐PROFIT COMPANIES
WHO STAND BETWEEN PRISONERS AND
THE OUTSIDE WORLD.
BECAUSE LET'S SAY THAT YOU WANT
TO SEND MONEY TO YOUR
INCARCERATED SON OR DAUGHTER.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST COMPANIES
THAT LETS FAMILIES DO THAT IS
JPAY.
BUT THERE'S A CATCH.
>> IN LOTS OF STATES, FAMILIES
HAVE TO GO THROUGH JPAY TO SEND
MONEY INTO A PRISON AT ALL.
FOR ALMOST 450,000 FAMILIES,
JPAY IS THE ONLY WAY TO SEND AN
INMATE MONEY, AND THE COMPANY
CHARGES THEM FEES AS HIGH AS
45%.
>> TO GIVE TO HIM $50, I HAVE TO
SEND $70 OFF OF MY CARD.
>> IT'S HARD FOR PEOPLE LIKE
PAT TAYLOR WHO ARE BARELY
SCRAPING BY.
>> I JUST LET A BILL GO.
I LET A BILL GO AND PICK IT UP
LATER
>> John: IT'S TRUE, IT COSTS HER
$20 JUST TO SEND $50.
YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS:
LOOK OUT, TICKETMASTER.
WHEN IT COMES TO DICKISH
TRANSACTION FEES, THERE'S A NEW
ASSHOLE IN TOWN.
AND CHARGING FAMILIES TO
TRANSFER MONEY ISN'T THE ONLY
WAY COMPANIES CAN PROFIT ‐‐
JPAY'S PARENT COMPANY, SECURUS,
IS ALSO A LEADER IN THE FIELD OF
CHARGING PRISONERS FOR PHONE
CALLS AND VIDEO VISITS, WHICH IS
A $1.2 BILLION A YEAR INDUSTRY.
SECURUS HAS ADS WHICH PLAY LIKE
A SHITTY APPLE COMMERCIAL BUT
MAKE IT LOOK LIKE IT'S A WARM,
FUZZY COMPANY FOCUSED ON HUMAN
CONNECTIONS.
ARE FULLY ACKNOWLEDGING HOW
IMPORTANT IT IS
FOR PEOPLE TO CONNECT TO OTHERS
ON THE PHONE.
IT'S A LESSON AT&T WOULD DO WELL
TO TAKE.
BOOM!
SUCK IT, BUSINESS DADDY!
BUSINESS BABY AIN'T NEVER
GETTING IN LINE.
THIS BABY RIDES DIRTY.
WHAA‐WHAA!
DON'T RUB MY TUMMY.
WHAA!
WHAT THAT AD DOESN'T MAKE CLEAR
IS JUST HOW EXPENSIVE THEY'VE
SUCCESSFULLY MADE THOSE VITAL
CONNECTIONS.
PHONE CALLS WITHIN STATES CAN GO
OVER $1 PER MINUTE, AND
FACILITIES SERVED BY SECURUS
HAVE HAD FEES OVER $3 FOR THE
FIRST MINUTE AND 16 CENTS FOR
EACH ADDITIONAL ONE, AND THAT
CAN REALLY ADD UP, WHICH CAN BE
A MASSIVE PROBLEM FOR PRISONERS'
FAMILIES, WHO MAY HAVE LIMITED
RESOURCES.
>> SHAYNA PALLES IS MARRIED TO A
MAN WHO IS CURRENTLY FACING A
SEVEN‐AND‐A‐HALF YEAR SENTENCE
IN PRISON.
PALLES HAS BEEN PAYING HIGH
TELEPHONE FEES TRYING TO KEEP
HER DAUGHTER CONNECTED TO HER
FATHER HOWEVER SHE CAN.
>> WHERE'D DAD GO?
>> DADDY!
>> BUT AT $6 A CALL, KEEPING
THAT CONNECTION ISN'T EASY.
>> YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE MIGHT
NOT SEE $6 A DAY AS A LOT, BUT
WHEN YOU HAVE AN INFANT, YOU
KNOW, $6 A DAY IS HALF OF, YOU
KNOW, A PACK OF DIAPERS.
>> John: AND THAT IS ROUGH.
YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TO CHOOSE
BETWEEN LETTING YOUR KID TALK TO
HER DAD AND BUYING THEM DIAPERS.
THAT IS PRETTY MUCH THE
DEFINITION OF A SHITTY, SHITTY
SITUATION.
AND IF YOU CURTAIL OR REMOVE
THAT CONNECTION, IT CAN HAVE
SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES ON LIFE
INSIDE THE PRISON, AS THOSE
WHO'VE BEEN THERE CAN TELL YOU.
>> ALL A LOT OF GUYS HAVE WHEN
THEY'RE INCARCERATED ARE THOSE
PHONE CALLS, THOSE LETTERS,
THOSE VISITS.
THAT'S IT.
THAT'S WHAT THEY LIVE FOR.
THAT'S HOW THEY GET THROUGH
THEIR TIME.
I'VE SEEN GUYS, THEIR FAMILY
DIDN'T COME SEE THEM IN A WEEK
OR TWO, AND THE NEXT THING YOU
KNOW, THEY ENDED UP IN THE HOLE
FOR 90 DAYS, 'CAUSE THEY JUST
FELT ALONE.
'CAUSE YOU FEEL ALONE.
YOU CAN'T BUILD A FAMILY IN
PRISON.
>> John: HE'S RIGHT.
CONTACT WITH FAMILIES IS
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
AND COMPLETELY UNRELATED, "IN
THE HOLE FOR 90 DAYS" IS ALSO
HOW STING DESCRIBES A QUICKIE.
AND IF YOU'RE THINKING, "WELL,
HOLD ON, MAYBE FAMILIES CAN GET
AROUND PHONE CHARGES JUST BY
VISITING THEIR LOVED ONES IN
PERSON," THEY CAN, ALTHOUGH THAT
IS CHANGING TOO.
PRISONS AND ESPECIALLY JAILS
HAVE BEEN PHASING OUT IN‐PERSON
VISITS IN FAVOR OF VIDEO
VISITATION, MEANING YOU CAN TURN
UP TO SEE A LOVED ONE AND STILL
HAVE TO SIT IN A DIFFERENT ROOM
AND TALK TO THEM ON A SCREEN.
INCREDIBLY, THIS IS SOMETHING
SECURUS HAS CONTRACTUALLY
MANDATED.
UP UNTIL 2015, SOME OF THEIR
CONTRACTS WITH FACILITIES HAD
THEM PROMISE TO ELIMINATE ALL
FACE‐TO‐FACE VISITATION.
AND THAT IS JUST EVIL.
"MACHINE THAT MAKES MONEY BY
STOPPING PEOPLE FROM SEEING
THEIR FAMILIES" SOUNDS LIKE AN
ITEM AT THE TOP OF
SATAN'S AMAZON WISHLIST, RIGHT
BEFORE "SUPER‐BEDBUGS,"
"CAULIFLOWER RICE," AND "JUST
THE ACTUAL EXISTENCE OF AMAZON."
AND WHILE THIS SOUNDS INHUMANE,
THE PEOPLE RUNNING THESE
FACILITIES WILL INSIST THAT THE
REASON FOR IT IS PURELY A SAFETY
ISSUE.
>> IF YOU LIMIT THE PEOPLE WHO
ARE COMING IN, YOU'RE GOING TO
LIMIT THE ATTEMPTS OF
CONTRABAND.
>> YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT
CONTRABAND.
>> IF YOU'RE DOING A VIDEO
VISIT, YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE
TO INTRODUCE CONTRABAND INTO THE
JAIL.
>> John: OKAY, I GET IT.
SO IT'S A CONTRABAND ISSUE.
THE PROBLEM WITH THAT
EXPLANATION IS THAT RESEARCH
SHOWS THAT INSTALLING VIDEO
VISITATION DOES NOT DECREASE
CONTRABAND, PROBABLY IT'S EASIER
FOR IT TO COME IN THROUGH OTHER
WAYS, LIKE THROUGH GUARDS,
STAFF, AND OCCASIONALLY THROUGH
OWLS.
ALTHOUGH ADMITTEDLY, THAT IS
MOSTLY AN AZKABAN PROBLEM.
SO WHY PUSH VIDEO VISITATION SO
HARD?
IT IS DIFFICULT TO SAY.
I WILL POINT OUT IT SEEMS
NOTABLE THAT JAILS AND PRISONS
OFTEN GET A CUT OF THE PROCEEDS
FROM PHONE AND VIDEO CALLS.
AND WHILE THEY WILL POINT OUT
THE MONEY GOES INTO AN
INMATE WELFARE FUND, THAT FUND
IS OFTEN USED FOR THINGS OTHER
THAN INMATE WELFARE.
ONE COUNTY SPENT NEARLY
THREE‐QUARTERS OF THAT MONEY ON
STAFF SALARIES, WHILE ANOTHER
DIPPED INTO IT TO BUY TASERS.
TASERS!
WHICH REALLY STRETCHES THE
DEFINITION OF "INMATE WELFARE"
TO A LITERALLY SHOCKING DEGREE.
AND WHEN YOU PUT ALL OF THIS
TOGETHER, YOU WIND UP WITH A
SCENARIO WHERE YOU'RE NOT JUST
HURTING THE PEOPLE WHO ARE
INCARCERATED, YOU'RE HURTING
EVERYONE AROUND THEM.
ONE IN THREE FAMILIES OF INMATES
REPORTED GOING INTO DEBT TO PAY
FOR PHONE CALLS OR VISITATION,
WHICH IS TERRIBLE, AND THAT
DOESN'T REALLY SET UP A PRISONER
FOR SUCCESS ONCE THEY ARE
RELEASED.
LOOK, THE CURRENT SYSTEM OF LOW
WAGES AND HIGH COSTS IS CLEARLY
NO GOOD FOR ANYONE BUT THE
COMPANIES WHO ARE SOMEHOW
MANAGING TO MASSIVELY PROFIT
FROM IT.
AND THERE ARE THINGS WE THAT CAN
DO HERE, SMALL AND LARGE.
NEW YORK CITY RECENTLY MADE
PHONE CALLS FROM JAILS FREE,
AND CONNECTICUT WILL CONSIDER
SIMILAR LEGISLATION NEXT YEAR.
AND IF WE WANT TO MAKE BIGGER
CHANGES, LIKE PAYING PRISONERS
MORE, WE COULD DO THAT, ALTHOUGH
AS I'VE SAID, IT WOULD
UNDENIABLY BE INCREDIBLY
EXPENSIVE AND VERY UNPOPULAR.
YOU SAW PEOPLE ARGUE: CRIME
DOESN'T PAY ‐‐ THAT'S JUST
COMMON SENSE.
BUT PART OF THE WAY MASS
INCARCERATION PERSISTS IS BY
KEEPING THE TRUE COSTS OF IT OFF
THE BOOKS, AND WE'RE DOING THAT
THROUGH A COMBINATION OF
UNDERPAID LABOR FROM PRISONERS
THEMSELVES, FINANCIALLY DRAINING
FAMILIES WHO'VE ABSOLUTELY DONE
NOTHING WRONG, AND OCCASIONALLY
MANAGING TO MONETIZE PRISONERS
BEING LAUNCHED INTO THE FUCKING
AIR WITH LIVESTOCK.
ARGUE
WE'VE COME A LONG, LONG WAY FROM
COMMON SENSE.
AND NOW THIS.
>> Announcer: AND NOW, WHAT THE
FUCK IS GOING ON WITH
NEW YORK CITY'S RACCOONS?
>> RACCOONS RUNNING AMOK,
BREAKING INTO HOMES,
HELPING THEMSELVES TO FOOD,
AND LEAVING A BIG MESS.
>> ON MOST NIGHTS IN THIS QUIET
CORNER OF CENTRAL PARK, A
FEEDING FRENZY TAKES PLACE.
>> THEY EAT BREAD.
THEY LIKE PIZZA.
>> THESE RACCOONS DON'T BEHAVE
NORMALLY.
THEY ARE OUT DURING THE DAYTIME
WHEN THEY SHOULD BE SLEEPING.
>> HE STOOD ON TWO LEGS AND HE
HISSED AT ME.
>> GOTTEN SO BAD.
THIS 3‐YEAR‐OLD MALTESE
SNOWBALL, WHO USED TO LOVE TO
PLAY OUTSIDE, IT IS NOT IN HIS
OWN HOME.
>> HE REFUSES TO GO OUT IN THE
YARD.
>> RACCOON EXPERTS ARE NOT
SURPRISED.
>> ONCE THEY'VE BEEN TRAPPED IN
A TRAP ONCE, THEY WILL KNOW NOT
TO GO IN THAT TRAP AGAIN.
>> FROM THE WINDOW, HE HEADED TO
THE PANTRY, OPENED UP THE DOOR,
UNSCREWED IT, AND HELPED
HIMSELF.
DIDN'T STOP THERE.
ATE PEANUTS AND WASHED HIS PAWS
IN THE CAT'S DISH.
>> THEY ALSO SAW THAT A RACCOON
ACTUALLY REMOVED THE WRAPPER
FROM A LOLLIPOP.
>> WHAT, DO THEY HAVE THE HANDS?
>> A CALLER REPORTED SEEING A
TIGER ROAMING THE STREETS IN
WASHINGTON HEIGHTS.
>> YOU SEE ALL SORTS OF THINGS
OUT HERE.
CAN'T TELL YOU MUCH ABOUT SEEING
A TIGER.
>> CONFIRMED IT WAS A TIGER?
>> IT WAS A RACCOON.
>> IT WASN'T A TIGER.
IT WAS A RACCOON.
>> WHAT?
>> John: THAT'S OUR SHOW.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.
SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.
GOOD NIGHT!