MY FIRST GUEST TONIGHT IS THE FORMER MAYOR OF SOUTH BEND,
INDIANA, WHO JUST MADE HISTORY AT THE IOWA CAUCUS.
PLEASE WELCOME MAYOR PETE BUTTIGIEG.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) .
>> Stephen: MR. MAYOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING BACK.
>> THANK YOU.
>> Stephen: GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) THANK YOU.
>> Stephen: HOW HAVE YOU BEEN?
>> NOT BAD, NOT BAD.
>> Stephen: IT HAS BEEN, IT'S BEEN AN EXTRAORDINARY FALL AND
WINTER SO FAR.
>> YEAH.
>> Stephen: WE HAVE TALKED THREE TIMES, THIS IS THE THIRD
TIME THAT WE HAVE SPOKEN AND ONE OF THE THINGS I ALWAYS LIKE
ABOUT TALKING TO YOU IS THAT YOU ACTUALLY ANSWER QUESTIONS THAT
ARE POSED TO YOU.
I DON'T ACTUALLY HEAR THUMP BEATS WHEN I ASKED QUESTIONS,
PEOPLE ASK YOU WHO HAVE YOU BEEN IMPRESSED WITH, AND I GO THERE
IS THIS GUY PETE BUTTIGIEG IN THE MAYOR OF SOUTH BEND, WHAT,
THAT GUY IS RUNNING, WHEN YOU FIRST CAME ON, PEOPLE DIDN'T
KNOW WHO YOU WERE.
>> I WAY THINKING, ALMOST EXACTLY A YEAR AGO, MY BOOK WATT
COMING OUT, I HAD THIS SENSE THAT MAYBE WERE YOU A LITTLE
SCEPTICAL OF MY CHANCES OF COMING IN I WHERE NEAR THE
AMERICAN PRESIDENCY.
>> Stephen: A LITTLE BIT, A LITTLE BIT, SOUTH BEND SAY
LOVELY PLACE.
>> ST, YEAH.
>> Stephen: YOU WON LAST TIME WITH LIKE 8,000 VOTES OR
SOMETHING.
IT IS NOT THE SAME SCALE THAT WE IMAGINE THAT A NATIONAL
CANDIDATE IS COMPETING ON.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS I SAID TO YOU AT THE TIME WAS YOU KNOW,
ONE HOPEFUL SIGN I SEE IN AMERICA IS THAT THE THIRD OR
FOURTH THING I LEARNED ABOUT YOU WAS THAT YOU WERE A GAY MAN.
I LEARNED EVERYTHING ELSE FIRST, AND NOW I THINK IT BEARS NOTING
THAT YOU ARE THE FIRST LGBTQ PERSON TO WIN DELEGATES IN ANY
PRESIDENTIAL CONTEST.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
WHAT DOES THAT SAY TO YOU.
I WILL LET THEM HAVE A MOMENT.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU PERSONALLY AND WHAT DO YOU THINK
THAT MEANS ABOUT AMERICA?
>> WELL, WHAT IT MEANS TO ME PERSONALLY IS THAT, YOU KNOW,
THE VERY SAME THING THAT I THOUGHT MIGHT MEAN I WOULD NEVER
GET-- AND OR BEING IN OFFICE.
TURNS OUT TO BE, ABOUT GOD HAVING A SENSE OF HUMOR, IT
TURNS OUT TO BE PART OF HOW I HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO MAKE A
DIFFERENCE.
I DIDN'T SET OUT TO BE THE GAY CANDIDATE OR THE GAY PRESIDENT,
BUT ALSO WAS OPEN ABOUT WHO I AM.
AND HERE WE ARE.
AND MY HOPE MORE BROADLY IS THAT, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THERE IS
A LOT OF PEOPLE, A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE WONDERING IF THEY FIT,
FEELING LIKE MAYBE THEY DON'T BELONG IN THEIR COMMUNITIES,
MAYBE EVEN QUESTIONING IF THEY BELONG IN THEIR OWN FAMILY.
AND HOPEFULLY THIS IS ONE SIGNIFICANT BIT OF PROOF THAT
THEY BELONG, AFTER ALL, AND THEY BELONG IN THIS COUNTRY.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE).
>> Stephen: WE KNOW YOU BEST, EVERYBODY ON YOUR POST ARES AND
EVERYTHING, IT SAYS MAYOR PETE.
>> YEAH.
>> Stephen: IF YOU END UP BECOMING THE 46th PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES, WILL IT BE PRESIDENT MAYOR PETE?
>> DOESN'T EXACTLY ROLL OFF, I GUESS IT WOULD HAVE TECHNICALLY
BE PRESIDENT FORMER MAYOR PETE.
>> Stephen: MAYBE NOT.
>> MAYBE JUST PETE.
>> Jon: >> Stephen: DO YOU KNOW, THIS
IS BEING TAPED ON WEDNESDAY FOR THURSDAY NIGHT, DO WHAT THE
LATEST DO WE KNOW, DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE LATEST RESULTSES ARE
FROM THE GREAT, IF CONFUSED STATE OF IOWA?
>> SO THE LAST I CHECKED, BY THE MEASURE OF STATE DELEGATE
HE-- EQUIVALENTS, WE WHERE ON TRACK TO BE THE FIRST PLACE
WINNER IN THE IOWA CAUCUS.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE).
>> Stephen: DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH IS REPORTING?
>> I THINK I BELIEVE ST OVER 80%.
I THINK THERE IS ANOTHER 15% OR SO OF THE PRECINCTS TO GO.
SO WE ARE STILL WAITING ON SOME OF THESE VERIFIED RESULTS AS WE
SIT HERE SPEAKING.
>> Stephen: BUT YOU DID NOT WAIT ON THE NIGHT OF THE CAUCUS,
YOU WENT AND SAID I'M PRETTY SURE WE WON.
THAT IS WHAT HISTORIANS CALL BALANCESY.
-- BALLSY.
WHY EVEN CAMPAIGN IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, WHY NOT JUST DECLARE
VICTORY NOW.
CAN YOU NAME ME AS THE WINNER OF THE EMMYS SO I DON'T HAVE TO
GIVE CONGRATULATIONS TO JOHN OLIVER NEXT SEPTEMBER, RIGHT
NOW.
(APPLAUSE) >> I COULD BUT I DON'T KNOW IF
IT WOULD GO AS WELL FOR YOU AS IOWA WENT FOR US.
WE WERE OBVIOUSLY WAITING ON THE VERIFIED FIGURES, BUT THE THING
ABOUT THE CAUCUSES T IS NOT LIKE A SECRET BALLOT VOTE, PEOPLE DO
IT OUT IN THE OPEN, HIGH SCHOOL GYMS, REPORTERS ARE THERE.
WE ARE OBSERVERS AND VOLUNTEERS.
>> Stephen: AND THEY WRITE THE TOTALS ON THE BOARD.
>> EXACTLY.
WE HAD SEEN ENOUGH TO KNOW EVEN WITH THE FINAL MATH WHICH WE ARE
WAITING FOR, THAT THERE WAS NO WAY THAT IT COULD BE ANYTHING
BUT AN EXTRAORDINARY VICTORY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN.
>> Stephen: HAVE YOU COMMUNICATED BY ANY OF THE OTHER
CAMPAIGNS ABOUT YOUR MUTUAL FRUSTRATION ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED.
BECAUSE YOU SPENT A YEAR IN IOWA.
AND.
>> MOSTLY.
>> Stephen: MOSTLY BUT ON AND OFF A YEAR IN IOWA.
>> THE LAST THREE WEEKS ABOUT 55 EVENTS, WORKING TOWARDING THIS
FOR YEARS, BUS TOURS, CAMPAIGNING.
>> Stephen: WERE YOU AFRAID IT WOULD END UP BEING MEANINGLESS,
ALL THAT EFFORT?
>> LOOK, NOTHING IT CHANGE THE FASSETT OF WHAT THAT MEANT AND
WHAT IT MEANT, THERE ARE SO MANY IOWANS STOOD IN FRONT OF THEIR
NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS AND MADE THIS STATEMENT.
BUT IT IS GENERALLY NICE TO GET THE RESULTS-- WELL IT WOULD BE
LIKE AT THE EMMYS IF YOU HAD TO WAIT A COUPLE OF DAYS AFTER THE
CEREMONY TO FIND OUT WHO ACTUALLY GOT IT, I'M SURE VERY
FRUSTRATING FOR EVERYBODY.
>> Stephen: IT IS PRETTY FRUSTRATING ALREADY.
NOW OKAY, SO LET'S TALK ABOUT IOWA, THERE IS SOME CRITICISM
THAT IT IS NOT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UNITED STATES.
IS A WIN, IF YOU ARE RIGHT, AND YOU GET THE MAJORITY OF THE
DELEGATES AND ARE TECHNICALLY THE WINNER OF IOWA, WHAT DOES
THAT MEAN NATIONALLY, WINNING IN SOME PLACE THAT IS SO DEM
GRAPHICALLY NONDEMON STRATTIVE OF THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.
>> THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT IT WILL BE AS PORNTS IN THE FUTURE
TO COMPETE IN STATES THAT HAVE GREATER RACIAL DIE VERSITY, FOR
EXAMPLE, WE WILL BE IN NEVADA SOON, SOUTH CAROLINA SOON.
BUT HERE IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THAT IOWA SUCCESS IS SO
MEANINGFUL.
THAT WE WERE ABLE TO SUCCEED IN RURAL AREAS, IN SUBURBAN AREAS
AND IN URBAN AREAS, IN COUNTIES THAT VOTED DEMOGRAPHIC THE WHOLE
TIME AND MANY OF THOSE COUNTIES FAMOUSLY SWUNG IN A BIG WAY FROM
VOTING FOR PRESIDENT OBAMA TO VOTING FOR TRUMP.
AND WE WANT TO BEAT DONALD TRUMP, AND I THINK WE ALL, AT
LEAST MOST OF US WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT HAPPENS, YOU KNOW, ALL
OF US CANDIDATES GOING AROUND THE COUNTRY SAYING PICK ME, I'M
THE ONE TO GO TOE TO TOE WITH THIS PRESIDENT.
I'M THE ONE THAT CAN PUT TOGETHER A BIG WIN.
AND THE PROCESS OF PROVING THAT BEGAN IN IOWA AND THERE IS A
GREAT WAY TO DEMONSTRATE THAT.
>> Stephen: LET'S TALK ABOUT GOING TOE TO TOE WITH PRESIDENT
TRUMP.
NOW THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS BEEN ACQUITTED BY THE SENATE,
DOES IT CHANGE AT ALL HOW YOU RUN AGAINST A PRESIDENT WHO HAS
BEEN ACQUITTED OF IMPEACHMENT?
FOUND GUILTY IN THE EYES OF EVEN MANY REPUBLICANS, A MAJORITY OF
AMERICANS WANTED HIM REMOVED.
AND YET HE STAYS IN OFFICE.
>> PIE BIGGEST CONCERN ABOUT THE EFFECT-- EFFECT OF THIS IS A
SENSE OF EXHAUST SHUN WITH EVERYTHING BECAUSE WE SEE THE
PROCESS IN THE SENATE, IT WASN'T A REAL TRIAL, THEY DIDN'T HAVE
WITNESSES.
EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT TRIALS GENERALLY OUGHT TO HAVE
WITNESSES.
THE JURORS, SO TO SPEAK, MANY OF THE GOP SENATORS MADE CLEAR THIS
WAS A FORE GONE CONCLUSION.
AND THE WORST THUNKING THAT COULD HAPPEN WAS WE GIVE IN TO A
SEARCHES HOPELESSNESS OR EXHAUSTION AND WALK AWAY FROM
THE WHOLE PROCESS.
BUT THE BEST THING ABOUT THE FACT THAT IT IS 2020, WE ARE
LIVING IN AN ELECTION YEAR, IS THAT IIA, THE SENATE WAS THE
REQUIRE IN THE IMPEOPLE-- IMPEACHMENT BUT WE
ARE THE JURY NOW.
AND WE GET THE FINAL VERDICT ON THE PRESIDENT AND ON THE SENATE
IN THE ELECTION.
MAWS PLAWS.
>> Stephen: DID YOU WATCH THE WHAT MITT ROMNEY SAID ON THE
FLOOR OF THE SNAPT.
>> I CAUGHT JUST A LITTLE BIT OF IT.
>> Stephen: YEAH, HE SEEMED TO BE THE LONE VOICE OF THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY WHO BELIEVED THAT THE OATH REQUIRED HIM TO
REMOVE DONALD TRUMP FROM OFFICE, OR VOTE TO DO SO AT LEAST.
HAVE YOU SPOKEN PRIVATELY TO ANY REPUBLICANS ABOUT YOU HO THEY
FEEL WHEN THE DOOR IS CLOSED?
>> GOP SENATORS DON'T GENERALLY CONNIFIED IN ME.
BUT, BUT-- I KNOW NIF PEOPLE WHO KNOW ENOUGH PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT
MITT ROMNEY IS NOT THE ONLY PERSON IN THAT CHAMBER ON THE
REPUBLICAN SIDE WHO KNOWS THAT WHAT THE PRESIDENT DID WAS
GRIEVOUSLY WRONG.
AND YOU KNOW, I DO THINK HE DESERVES CREDIT.
I THINK HE HAS BEEN ON THE WRONG SIDE OF A LOT OF ISSUES.
BUT I THINK HE DESERVES CREDIT FOR HAVING FOLLOWED HIS
CONSCIENCE ON THIS AND DONE THE RIGHT THING IN THIS CASE.
AND THE FACT THAT HE IS THE ONLY SNALT REPUBLICAN TO DO
IT,-- SENATE REPUBLICAN TO DO IT, MORE THAN ANYTHING THAT SAYS
A LOT ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE SENATE GOP.
>> Stephen: MR. MAYOR, WE HAVE TO TAKE A BREAK.
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH MORE PETE BUTTIGIEG.
STICK AROUND.