MY NEXT GUEST IS A FORMER U.S. ATTORNEY AND CURRENT
SENATOR FROM ALABAMA.
PLEASE WELCOME SENATOR DOUG JONES!
♪ ♪ ♪
>> Stephen: SENATOR, WELCOME TO "THE LATE SHOW."
>> AWESOME TO BE HERE.
THANK YOU.
>> Stephen: BEFORE WE GET STARTED, I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN
SOME TERRIBLE TORNADOES THIS PAST MONTH DOWN IN ALABAMA.
>> YES.
>> Stephen: HOW IS YOUR HOME STATE DOING?
>> I THINK THINGS ARE DOING WELL.
THIS IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR US.
WE HAVE A LOT OF THESE DISASTERS, WHETHER IT'S
HURRICANES OR TORNADOES.
WE LOST 24 PEOPLE, BUT I THINK PEOPLE ARE REBUILDING.
BY THE TIME I GOT DOWN THERE, THINGS ARE GOING GOOD.
>> Stephen: HOW IS THE DISASTER RELIEF?
>> I THINK THE DISASTER RELIEF HAS BEEN AMAZING, THE
VOLUNTEERS-- PEOPLE HAVE BEEN COMING FROM ALL OVER THE
COUNTRY.
THANK YOU FOR ASKING.
I THINK IT'S GOING WELL.
I'M GOING TO GO BACK DOWN THERE IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS TO CHECK ON
IT.
THANK YOU.
( APPLAUSE ).
>> Stephen: FEMA IS RESPONDING WELL?
>> YES, THE GOVERNMENT, THE STATE, ALL FIRST RESPONDERS.
>> Stephen: AFTER YOU WERE SWORN IN A YEAR AGO AS THE FIRST
DEMOCRATIC SENATOR-- >> I'M GOING TO STOP YOU.
I HAVE TO TELL YOU SOMETHING.
IT'S A CONFESSION.
WE DIDN'T PREP THIS.
IT'S A FAMILY CONFESSION.
I HAVE TO TELL YOU YOU'RE A BIG SHOW IN MY FAMILY.
MY WIFE EVERY NIGHT-- WHO IS UP HERE SOMEWHERE IN THE AUDIENCE--
MY RUNNING MATE IN MY CAMPAIGN, SHE GOES TO BET BEDWITH YOU
EVERY NIGHT.
( LAUGHTER )
( APPLAUSE ) ( CHEERS )
>> THERE SHE IS.
EVERY NIGHT.
SO I'M JUST SAYING OKAY.
>> Stephen: JUST SAYIN'.
>> JUST SAYIN' IS THERE KEEP THAT IN MIND.
>> WHERE DO YOU WANT TO GO?
>> Stephen: I'M NOT SURE WHERE I WANT TO GO NOW.
( LAUGHTER )
SINCE YOU WERE SWORN IN A YEAR AGO, YOU'RE NOW ON THE BANKING
AND HOUSING-- BANKING, HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS COMMIT PEP THE
HEALTH EDUCATION LABOR AND PENSION.
HOMELAND SECURITY, GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS.
AND A SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON AGING.
>> YES.
I'M AN EXHIBIT ON THAT COMMIT RATHER THAN A SENATOR.
YES.
>> Stephen: THAT'S EXCITING.
>> YEAH, IT'S REALLY SPECIAL.
>> Stephen: WELL, WHO'S-- DID YOU LITERALLY GET JEFF SESSIONS'
OFFICE?
>> I LITERALLY GOT JEFF SESSIONS' OFFICE IN THE RUSSELL
BUILDING.
I SAW YOU RIGHT OUTSIDE THAT OFFICE WHEN YOU WERE FLOATING
THROUGH D.C.
>> Stephen: YES.
>> I THINK MY COLLEAGUE DEBBIE STAIBNOW CAUGHT YOU GOING INTO
THE MEN'S ROOM AND HAD AN INTERESTING DISCUSSION.
YES, THAT WAS JEFF'S OFFICE.
>> Stephen: DID YOU HAVE TO PRING IN AN EXORCIST?
>> NO, IT WAS DIFFICULT.
BUT SENIORITY HAS CAUGHT UP WITH ME AFTER THE ELECTION.
SO APPROPRIATELY, SENATOR COTTON WILL BE TAKING THAT OFFICE AND I
WILL BE MOVING OVER TO THE HART BUILDING.
>> Stephen: 2020 YOU'LL BE ONE OF ONLY TWO DEMOCRATS RUNNING IN
SENATE WHO ARE FROM STATES THAT DONALD TRUMP WON IN 2016.
>> RIGHT.
>> Stephen: IS THERE A PRESSURE, BEING A SENATOR IN
THAT STATE, TO SORT OF BANK DOWN YOUR DEMOCRATIC BONA FIDES, TO
BE A LITTLE LESS DEMOCRAT AND A LITTLE MORE REPUBLICAN.
>> WELL, I THINK THERE'S ALWAYS A PRESSURE THAT WAY.
BUT I DON'T SUCCUMB TO THAT PRESSURE.
I GET HIT FROM THE RIGHT.
I GET HIT FROM THE LEFT.
I'M ASKED IF I'M A MODERATE, CONSERVATIVE, DEMOCRAT OR
WHATEVER.
I SAW I'M A DUG DEMOCRAT BECAUSE I'M GOING TO DO WHAT I DO.
>> Stephen: YOU WOULDN'T SAY YOU'RE LEFT OR RIGHT?
>> I'M AS CLOSE TO IN THE MIDDLE AS I CAN POSSIBLY GET.
AS A PARTY IN THE SOUTH, THAT'S WHERE THE DEMOCRATS ARE?
>> SO YOU'RE EXTREMELY MEDIUM.
>> I'M EXTREMELY EYE CALL IT-- I CALL IT THE RADICAL MIDDLE.
LA( LAUGHTER ).
>> Stephen: IT'S DWINDLING.
YOU'RE AN ENDANGERED SPECIES.
>> YES.
>> Stephen: YOU SHOULD BE IN AN CAPTIVE BREEDING PROGRAM.
THERE ARE RUMORS THAT SESSIONS MIGHT RUN AS A REPUBLICAN
AGAINST YOU.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHETHER HE WILL RUN OR NOT.
THERE'S BEEN TALK ABOUT IT.
THERE HAS BEEN TALK ABOUT A LOT OF PEOPLE PAIN LOT OF
REPUBLICANS IN ALABAMA JUST HAVE STARS IN THEIR EYES AFTER THE
RACE IN 2017, WHICH WAS AN AMAZING RUN FOR US.
WE'LL SEE.
I'M NOT FOCUSED ON ANYBODY WHO MAY OR MAY NOT RUN.
>> Stephen: IF YOU DID RUN AGAINST SESSIONS, WHICH OF YOU
WOULD FEEL ABOUT DONALD TRUMP TRUMP?
>> A LOT OF THOSE TWEETS ABOUT JEFF WOULD PROBABLY BE SEEN ON
BILLBOARDS AROUND THE STATE OF ALABAMA DURING THE CAMPAIGN.
>> Stephen: SOMEBODY MIGHT PAY FOR THAT TO HAPPEN?
>> SOMEBODY MIGHT PAY FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.
( APPLAUSE ).
>> Stephen: NOW, YOU HAVE A NEW BOOK CALLED "BENDING TOWARD
JUSTICE."
AND IT'S-- IT'S THE-- YOU TELL THE STORY OF THE 2001 INFORM
2002, AS A PROSECUTOR YOU GOT THE CONVICTIONS OF THE LAST TWO
BIRMINGHAM BOMBERS.
WHY IS THIS A STORY YOU WANTED TO TELL?
>> WELL, THERE ARE A CIEWM OF REASONS.
THE 16th STREET BAPTIST CHURCH BOMBING THAT KILLED FOUR
GIRLS, FOUR INNOCENT CHILDREN, ALL BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OF
THEIR SKIN CAN.
AND IT WAS A STORY THAT NEEDED TO BE TOLD, I BELIEVE BWHAT
HAPPENED IN BIRPING HAM, WHAT HAPPENED IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS
ERA.
BUT THEN AS THE SOUTH AND AS BIRMINGHAM CHANGED, IT WAS A
STFER SOME REDEMPTION, SOME HEALING.
37, 38 YEARS LATER WE WERE ABLE TO CONVICT TWO GUYS FOR DOING
THAT BOMBING FOR MURDERING THOSE GIRLS.
SO--
THANK YOU.
AND SO, I BELIEVE THE STORY NEEDS TO BE TOLD.
PUT I ALSO THINK IT'S REALLY RELEVANT TODAY BECAUSE WE'RE
STILL FIGHTING CIVIL RIGHTS BATTLES.
IT'S NOT JUST BLACK AND WHOIT ANYMORE.
IT INVOLVES RELIGION.
IT INVOLVES RACE.
IT INVOLVES GENDER.
YOU NAME IT, THERE ARE ALL MANNER OF CIVIL RIGHTS BATTLES
THAT WE'RE WILLING TO FIGHT.
AND WE'VE GOT TO STAND UP.
ONLY LOOK WHAT HAPPENED IN THE LAST FEW DAYS IN NEW ZEALAND AND
THE HATE AND THE RHETORIC THAT WE SEE.
PART OF THIS STORY IS THAT THE KLAN FELT EMPOWERED BECAUSE
POLITICIANS LIKE GEORGE WALLACE AND BULL CONNOR GAVE THEM THAT
POWER.
THEY GAVE THEM THE GREEN LIGHT TO DO THINGS.
WALLACE OR CONNER DID NOT CONDONE THAT VIOLENCE, BUT THEY
GAVE THEM WHAT COULD BE CALLED LIKE A DOG WHISTLE TYPE SIGNAL
TO SAY IT'S OKAY AND YOU CAN DO IT AND GET AWAY WITH THAT.
WE'RE STILL SEEING SUCH HATE IN THIS COUNTRY.
AND IT SEEMS LIKE WE SEEM TO BE EXPORTING IT?
>> Stephen: MANY ARE SAYING WHILE THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF DOES
NOT COB OF CONDONE VIOLENCE, HE DOESN'T DENOUNCE WHITE
NATIONALIST AND OF OR WHITE SUPREMACY, AND THAT GIVES A
TACIT PLATFORM TO THESE VIEWS THAT CAN LEAD TO VIOLENCE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
I WAS WATCHING CHRIS HAYES LAST NIGHT AND CHRIS SAID THE SAME
THING.
HE'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
THERE'S A PART OF HIS BASE THAT IS VERY ACTIVE AND VERY ENGAGED
WITH HIM, BUT HE NEEDS TO DO MORE.
THE FLIP SIDE OF THAT IS THE PRESIDENT HAS SUCH A FOLLOWING,
HE HAS SUCH A BASE, HE COULD REALLY LANDLORD US INTO A BETTER
PLACE, AND NOT WORRY ABOUT THOSE SPEWING THIS HATE AND THIS
CHINATOWN SUPREMACY.
LEAD US TO A BETTER PLACE IF THIS COUNTRY.
WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY IF HE WOULD TAKE IT.
>> Stephen: SENATOR, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU >> Stephen: THE BOOK, "BENDING
TOWARD JUSTICE," IS AVAILABLE NOW.
SENATOR DOUG JONES, EVERYBODY!