PLEASE WELCOME THE TREMENDOUS SECRETARY
OF TRANSPORTATION PETE BUTTIGIEG IS ON THE SHOW TONIGHT.
IT IS SO NICE TO SEE YOU, THANK YOU FOR FINDING THE TIME FOR US.
NOW ARE YOU ZOOMING IN FROM YOUR NEW OFFICES IN WASHINGTON D.C.
HOW IS IT?
HOW IS LIFE THERE?
HAVE YOU SETTLED IN YET?
, WITH WE'RE STARTING TO.
ST ALL VERY NEW AND THINGS ARE A LITTLE DIFFERENT NOW, OBVIOUSLY
WITH COVID BUT WE'VE GOT A GREAT OFFICE AND THERE ARE 55,000
PEOPLE WHO WORK AT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND
GETTING TO KNOW MY NEW COLLEAGUES, THIS HE ARE REALLY
GREAT PEOPLE.
>> James: THAT IS A LOT.
AND ALSO HARDER TO GET TO KNOW PEOPLE WHEN EVERYONE IS WEARING
MASKS.
YOU HAVE TO KNOW PEOPLE JUST FROM THE EYEBROWS NOW.
>> YOU KNOW WHAT, I NOTICED, I JUST MET ONE OF OUR NEXT DOOR
NEIGHBORS IN OUR APARTMENT BUILDING.
WE HAVE KNOWN FOR A LONG TIME BUT SAW HIM FOR THE FIRST TIME
WITHOUT MASKS, WE WERE OUTSIDE.
GETTING SOMETHING TO EAT AND I REALIZED MY-- HAD MY BRAIN
INVENTED A FACE FOR THEM WHICH IS DIFFERENT THAN THE FACE THEY
HAVE I'M NOT SURE WE'RE FULLY PREPARED FOR WHAT WILL HAPPEN
WHEN HE TAKE OFF THE MASK.
>> James: IT IS GOING TO BE DEVASTATING FOR SO MANY OF US.
IT REALLY ISES, I MISS THE MASK.
I ALSO LINE THE INSIDE OF MY MASK WITH VARIOUS DIFFERENT
CANDIES NOW.
AND I CAN EAT WITHOUT SHAME, IT IS WONDERFUL.
NOW DO YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND MOVED TO D.C. EARLIER THIS YEAR,
WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST EXCITING PART OF THIS NEW CHAPTER OF YOUR
LIFE?
>> WELL, I MEAN EVERYTHING ABOUT IT IS EXCITING IF YOU ARE A
TRANSPORTATION NERD LIKE I AM, JUST IN TERMS OF LIFE, WE ARE
LEARNING A NEW CITY, LEARNING NEW HABITS, WE ARE USED-- LIVING
IN INDIANA SAY LITTLE DIFFERENT FROM WASHINGTON, WE FOUND A DARK
PARK AND THEY ARE WALKING AROUND AND WE LOVE THE BIG CITY.
>> YOU HAVE FOUND THE DOG PARKS, RECENTLY PHOTOGRAPHED WITH
ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ, HERE YOU ARE, IS THAT WHAT IT IS
LIKE, MAKING DEALS AT THE DOG PARK S THAT WHAT WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT?
>> YEAH, KIND OF.
I WOULDN'T SAY WE WERE MAKING DEALS BUT YOU KNOW, IT IS A CITY
FULL OF PEOPLE.
ANDYES, SOMETIMES YOU RUN THAT COLLEAGUES.
I WAS THERE WITH OUR DOG, BUDDY, OUR PUGGLE, GOT TO KNOW THIS
FRENCH BULL DOG AND I LOOKED UP AND CONGRESSWOMAN OCASIO-CORTEZ
RIGHT THERE, SO WE HAD A NICE CHAT.
>> James: THIS WEEK WILL MARK THE FIRST HUNDRED DAYS OF
PRESIDENT BIDEN'S PRESIDENCY.
WHY ARE THE FIRST HUNDRED DAYS SO IMPORTANT AND HOW DO YOU
THINK HE IS DOING.
AND HOW DO YOU THINK THESE FIRST HUNDRED DAYS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED.
>> IN THE TRADITION OF LOOKING AT THE FIRST HUNDRED DAYS GOES
BACK TO I THINK FDR BUT ESPECIALLY NOW BECAUSE THE
PRESIDENT ARRIVED AT SUCH A CHALLENGING TIME FOR THE
COUNTRY.
SO THE REALITY IS WE HAVE BEEN IN A RACIAL FROM DAY ONE.
RACING AGAINST COVID.
WE'RE RACING TO MAKE SURE THE ECONOMY IS IN GOOD SHAPE AND NOW
WE'RE MOVING VERY QUICKLY TO TRY TO GET INFRASTRUCTURE DONE BUT
IT HAS BEEN AN EXTRAORDINARY HUNDRED DAYS AND WE HAVE BEEN
DELIVERING FOR THE PEOPLE AND I'M PROUD TO BE PART OF THE
TEAM.
>> James: ARE YOU HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE AMERICAN JOBS PLAN.
AS THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION, TALK US THROUGH
IT.
WHAT IS THIS EXACTLY?
>> SO THE AMERICAN JOBS PLAN IS A ONCE IN A GENERATION
INVESTMENT IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR
AMERICANS TO LIVE WELL.
IT IS THINGS LIKE ROADS AND BRIDGES, PORPS AND AIRPORTS,
TRAINS AND TRANSIT.
THERE ARE ALSO THINGS WE DIDN'T USED TO THINK OF AS
INFRASTRUCTURE AND NOW WE JUST CAN'T HAVE AN ECONOMY WITHOUT
THEM.
BROADBAND IS A GOOD EXAMPLE.
THAT IS NOT TRADITIONAL BUT NOW YOU NEED AN INTERNET CONNECTION
AS MUCH AS YOU NEED A CONNECTION TO THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY
SYSTEM.
WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THE QUALITY OF WATER, THAT IS THE PA
OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND WE BELIEVE THAT MAKING SURE WE HAVE THE
KIND OF PROVISIONS FOR A-- CARE ECONOMY, IT IS A MAJOR
INVESTMENT, THE BIGGEST JOB INVESTMENT THAT AMERICA WILL
HAVE MADE SINCE WORLD WAR II.
WE THINK IT IS WHAT IT IS GOING TO TAKE TO COMPETE, SUCCEED AND
FOR FAMILIES TO THRIVE GOING TOO THE YEARS AHEAD.
>> James: THE PLANET HAS SO MANY PRESSING ISSUES FROM
CLIMATE CHANGE, OF COURSE, TO RACIAL INEQUALITY.
GIVE ME EXAMPLE OF HOW THIS PLAN ADDRESSES RACIAL INEQUALITY IN
THIS COUNTRY.
>> SO I WILL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.
THERE ARE A LOT OF PLACES IN AMERICA WHERE A HIGHWAY WAS
BUILT ON THE PATH THAT IT CAME IN ON, IN A WAY THAT SEGREGATED
A WHITE NEIGHBORHOOD FROM A BLACK NEIGHBORHOOD OR SPLIT A
BLACK NEIGHBORHOOD IN TWO.
SO PART OF WHAT WE CAN DO IS RECONNECT AREAS THAT WERE
DIVIDED.
SOMETIMES THAT MEANS TAKING A HIGHWAY AND MOVING IT
UNDERGROUND AND RECLAIMING THE LAND OVER IT.
SOMETIMES IT JUST MEANS ADDING IN CONNECTIONS WHEN EAST AND
WEST GOT DIVIDED IT WILL MEAN DIFFERENT THINGS, BUT THE
IMPORTANT THING IS WHEN WE REALIZE THE WAY WE SPEND
TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO MAKE RACIAL INEQUALITY BETTER OR MAKE IT
WORSE.
>> LAST WEEK THE HELP REPUBLICANS INTRODUCED THEIR OWN
INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN WHICH COST ABOUT-- ABOUT A QUARTER OF WHAT
YOUR PROPOSING.
IS THERE A WAY WHERE YOU THINK THESE TWO SIDES CAN MEAT IN THE
MIDDLE.
HOW DO YOU GET REPUBLICANS ON BOARD WITH SOMETHING AS
MONUMENTAL AS THIS?
>> I THINK THERE CAN BE.
THEY'VE MADE A PROPOSAL.
I THINK THAT IS A STARTING POINT TO HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS AND
THE NEGOTIATIONS.
THE REASON I THINK WE CAN ACTUALLY COME TOGETHER ON THIS
IS THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE THAT
ARE NOT IDEOLOGICAL.
AS A MAYOR ONCE SAID THERE IS SO MUCH THING AS A DEP KRATTIC OR
REPUBLICAN HOLE IN THE WORLD AND EVERY MEMBER I TALK TO, TALKING
REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS EVERY DAY, THEY ARE FROM SOMEWHERE IN
PARTICULAR AND WHEREVER THEY ARE FROM THEY KNOW HOW MUCH OF A
DIFFERENCE IT WOULD MAKE TO HAVE BETTER INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO TO GET THIS RIGHT BUT WE CAN'T ALLOW IT
TO DRAG ON BECAUSE THE NEED IS SO URGENT.
>> WHEN YOU SAY TO, I THINK 2.3 TRILLION AND THEY SAY 580
MILLION, DO YOU KNOW WHEN YOU PUT THAT PLAN TOGETHER, DO YOU
KNOW THAT WHATEVER NUMBER YOU COME UP WITH RKZ THEY ARE GOING
TO COME UP WITH A ABOUT A QUARTER OF IT, SO IN A WAY DO
YOU PICK IT HIGH IN A HOPE THAT A BIT OF YOU GO WE CAN PROBABLY
DO THIS FOR 1.4 TRILLION, SO LET'S SAY 2.3 AND THEN WE MIGHT
MEET IN THE MIDDLE.
BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T, I THINK YOU SHOULD.
I ACTUALLY THINK IT'S QUITE SMART.
>> VERY SMART.
I MEAN LOOK, THE PLAN WE PROPOSE IS WHAT WE BELIEVE IT IS GOING
TO TAKE IN ORDER TO REALLY SERVE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WELL.
OBVIOUSLY THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT IDEA, WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS AS
WE CONTINUE NEGOTIATING BUT WE BELIEVE IN THE PLAN WE PUT
TOGETHER AND AT THE SME TIME I THINK THE PRESIDENT IS SOMEONE
WITHOUT REALLY BELIEVES IN LISTENING TO OTHERS AND TAKING
IDEAS ON BOARD.
>> WHEN YOU STARTED THIS NEW ROLE, WHAT ARE YOU MOST EXCITED
ABOUT IN TERMS OF FUTURE TRANSPORTATION AND INVENTION, SO
MUCH OF WHAT YOU DO NOW IS LOOKING FORWARD LIKE LET'S JUST
BE REAL, WHEN DO YOU THINK WE'RE GOING TO GET HOVERBOARDS?
BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE WE WERE PROMISED HOVERBOARDS A LONG TIME
AGO.
I DO.
I FEEL LIKE HOVERBOARDS WERE SOMETHING WE SHOULD HAVE.
I THOUGHT WE WOULD BE AT JET PACKS BY NOW. AND I'VE STILL
GOT A.
>> WHY STOP AT HOVERBOARDS AND JET PACKS, WE CAN DO TELE POR
TAITION, THINK OF THE TIME WE WILL SAVE AND ZERO EMISSIONS
TELE POR TAITION, THAT IS WHAT I AM HOPING WE WILL GET TO BUT FOR
NOW ELECTRIC VEHICLES.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU ARE CRAP CLAP BE-- CLAPPING, HE DIDN'T
ANSWER THE QUESTION.
YOU ARE-- YOU JUST WENT A LOCK WITH WHATEVER HE SAID.
I'M TRAYING TO GET TO THE BONES OF THIS, GUYS.
I'M LIKE, ROUGHLY, JET PACKS.
>> THE JET PACK HAS TO BE MADE IN AMERICA BECAUSE THIS
PRESIDENT HAS BEEN VERY CLEAR ON THIS, AND ONCE-- I THINK WE CAN
MAKE IT UP.
>> NOW YOU ARE THE FIRST OPENLY GAY PERSON TO BE SWORN IN TO A
CABINET POSITION.
DO YOU EVER STOP AND THINK ABOUT QUITE HOW MONUMENTAL IT IS THAT
YOU ARE IN THIS POSITION AND WHAT IT WILL MEAN TO SO MANY
PEOPLE, JUST TO BE ABLE TO SEE YOU UP THERE IN THIS POSITION,
DO YOU REALIZE HOW INCREDIBLE IT IS WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
>> YEAH, THERE ARE MOMENTS.
I MEAN LOOK, I'VE GOT A JOB TO DO.
SO MOST OF THE DAY I'M THINKING ABOUT TRAINS, PLANES AND
AUTOMOBILES AND THE DAY TO DAY WORK.
BUT WE HAD OUR FIRST CABINET MEETING RECENTLY AND LOOKING
AROUND THE ROOM AND THINKING ABOUT THE HISTORIC FIRSTS IN
THAT ROOM.
AND REALIZING THAT I WAS ONE OF THEM, IT MEANS A LOT.
IT WANT THAT LONG AGO WHEN IT WAS CONSIDERED RIDICULOUS TO
IMAGINE THAT YOU COULD HAVE AN OPENLY GAY CAB NET MEMBERS
CONFIRMED BY THE SENATE.
AND IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE THAT, WE WITHIN MEMORY THAT YOU COULD
LOSE YOUR JOB IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT JUST AS A BOOK KEEPER
ON ASTRONOMER, LET ALONE AS A CABINET MEMBER OR MILITARY
OFFICER, BECAUSE OF WHO YOU ARE.
THAT IS WHANGING.
WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO BUT IT IS CHANGING AND THAT IS ONE OF
THE REASONS I'M PROUD TO BE HERE.
>> James: WE'RE PROUD YOU ARE HERE, WE REALLY ARE