MY FIRST GUEST IS A FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, CURRENT
U.S. SENATOR FROM VERMONT, AND MAYBE FUTURE PRESIDENTIAL
CANDIDATE.
PLEASE WELCOME, SENATOR BERNIE SANDERS!
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) ( BAND PLAYING )
>> THANK YOU.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) >> THANK YOU!
( AUDIENCE CHANTING BERNIE ) >> Stephen: YOU MUST GET THAT
WHEN YOU ORDER A SANDWICH IN MANHATTAN NOW.
SO NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
>> AND BY THE WAY, CONGRATULATIONS ON THE "WHERE WE
GO FROM HERE," AND HELPING THE HURRICANE.
>> Stephen: OH, I'M SO GLAD THESE PEOPLE OUT HERE DID IT.
THEY BOUGHT THE "WHERE WE GO FROM HERE."
AND WE WANT TO HELP THE PEOPLE FROM THE CAROLINAS, FLORIDA, AND
GEORGIA RECOVERING FROM THE HURRICANES.
I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU SINCE THE MIDTERMS HOW ARE YOU FEELING
ABOUT THE DEMOCRATS THIS TIME AROUND?
>> A LOT BEFORE THE MIDTERMS.
DEMOCRATS WON 40 SEATS, NOW CONTROL THE HOUSE, WON SEVERAL
GOVERNORS SEATS AND SEVERAL HUNDRED SEATS IN STATE
LEGISLATORS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
SO TRUMP SAID THIS ELECTION WAS ABOUT HIM, IT WAS, HE LOST.
THAT'S A GOOD THING.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) >> Stephen: BY A BIG MARGE, --
BY A BIG MARGIN, TOO.
EVIDENTLY, IT'S THE LARGEST ACTUAL VOTE TOTAL MARGIN EVER IN
MIDTERMS AND AT 8.6% IS THE LARGEST PERCENTAGE WIN IN 3 # 3
IN 32 YEARS.
>> AND THE POINT YOU'RE MAKING IS THE RESULTS WOULD HAVE BEEN
BETTER IF WE HADN'T HAD THE GERRYMANDERING AND VOTER
SUPPRESSION TO TRY TO MAKE IT HARDER IN OUR DEMOCRACY FOR
PEOPLE TO VOTE WHICH IS AN OUTRAGE, WHICH WE HAVE GOT TO
DEAL WITH IMMEDIATELY.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) >> Stephen: YOU'VE GOT
NORTH CAROLINA'S NINTH DISTRICT DOWN THERE WHERE IT LOOKS LIKE
THE REPUBLICANS MAY HAVE GOTTEN PEOPLE TO TAKE ABSENTEE BALLOTS
WITHOUT TAKING THEM IN IN NEIGHBORHOODS.
>> AND THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO TALK ABOUT VOTER FRAUD ALL THE
TIME.
>> Stephen: AND WISCONSIN AND MICHIGAN WHERE THE REPUBLICAN
REPRESENTATIVES IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE THERE ARE TRYING TO
STRIP THE GOVERNOR AND ATTORNEY GENERAL OF ANY POWER, EVEN
THOUGH THE PEOPLE HAVE VOTED FOR A CHANGE OF ADMINISTRATION
THERE.
>> RIGHT.
>> Stephen: SO WHAT CAN BE DONE TO AFFECT THE CHANGE THAT
PEOPLE CLEARLY VOTED FOR THIS TIME?
>> WELL, I'LL TELL YOU, I THINK IN THE CONGRESS WE'VE GOT TO DO
TWO THINGS -- NUMBER ONE, TRUMP HAS GOT TO UNDERSTAND THAT HE'S
GOING TO OBEY THE LAW.
( APPLAUSE ) >> Stephen: I'M NOT SURE --
THAT'S PRETTY RADICAL.
>> Stephen: THAT'S A HIGH BAR.
( LAUGHTER ) >> THAT MEANS THE DEMOCRATS IN
THE HOUSE, I KNOW, WILL START HOLDING HIM ACCOUNTABLE.
I MEAN QUESTIONS LIKE MAKING CONCERN THAT THE MUELLER
INVESTIGATION IS NOT INTERFERED WITH, THAT MUELLER IS ALLOWED TO
DO HIS WORK.
( APPLAUSE ) ASKING INTERESTING QUESTIONS AS
TO WHETHER TRUMP'S AFFINITY FOR DICTATORS ALL OVER THE WORLD IS
BASED NOT JUST ON HIS AUTHORITARIAN TENDENCIES BUT
MAYBE FINANCIAL INTERESTS IN RUSSIA AND SAUDI ARABIA.
>> Stephen: CAN THE HOUSE GET HIS TAX RETURNS?
>> YES.
WELL, THAT'S IN -- ( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT, IN MY VIEW, AND I SPEAK ONLY FOR
MYSELF, THERE ARE MANY MILLIONS OF PEOPLE FROM ONE END OF THIS
COUNTRY TO THEOUT WHO ARE ARE HURTING ECONOMICALLY.
WE HAVE 30 MILLION PEOPLE WITH NO HEALTH INSURANCE, PEOPLE
CANNOT AFFORD THE OUTRAGEOUS COST OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS,
YOUNG PEOPLE CANNOT AFFORD TO GO TO COLLEGE, THEY'RE LEAVING
SCHOOL DEEPLY IN DEBT.
WE HAVE PEOPLE WORKING TWO OR THREE JOBS, TRYING TO TAKE CARE
OF THEIR FAMILIES, AND WE HAVE, AS RECENT REPORTS INDICATE IN
THE TERRIBLE DISASTERS WE SAW IN CALIFORNIA, WE KNOW THAT CLIMATE
CHANGE NOT ONLY IS REAL, BUT WHAT THE SCIENTISTS TELL US, WE
HAVE A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME -- THEY TALK ABOUT A DOZEN YEARS --
TO TRANSFORM OUR ENERGY SYSTEM AWAY FROM FOSSIL FUEL TO
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY.
THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE GOT TO DO.
AND WHAT I HOPE IS THAT THE DEMOCRATS BECOME AGGRESSIVE IN
DEVELOPING AN AGENDA WHICH TAKES ON THE BILLIONAIRE CLASS, TAKES
ON CORPORATE AMERICA, AND CREATES A GOVERNMENT THAT WORKS
FOR ALL OF US AND NOT JUST A FEW.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) >> Stephen: WELL, YEARS AGO,
YOU TALKED ABOUT MEDICARE FOR ALL, AND NOW A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE
TALKING ABOUT MEDICARE FOR ALL.
WHAT PROPOSALS DO YOU HAVE NOW THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SAY,
OH, THAT'S CRAZY BERNIE, BUT FIVE YEARS FROM NOW THEY WILL
SAY, OH, WE SHOULD HAVE DONE THAT.
>> STEPHEN, THE POINT YOU'RE MAKING -- I THINK YOU'RE
MAKING -- >> Stephen: I'LL LET YOU KNOW
IN A MOMENT WHEN YOU SAY IT ( LAUGHTER )
>> THE MEDIA TELLS US ALL HOW DIVIDED WE ARE AND I GO THROUGH
THIS IN H THE "WHERE WE GO FROM HERE."
>> Stephen: THEBOOK IS WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE.
>> A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN WE SAID HEALTHCARE IS A RIGHT NOT A
PRIVILEGE AND WE SHOULD CREATE A MEDICARE FOR ALL SINGLE PAYER
SYSTEM, I WAS SOLD, I'M CRAZY, I'M A FRINGE GUY.
70% IN THE POLLS I'VE SEEN NOW SUPPORT MEDICARE FOR ALL,
RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE TO $15 AN HOUR, WIDELY SUPPORTED.
REBUILDING OUR CRUMBLING INFRASTRUCTURE, ROADS AND
BRIDGES, PUTTING MILLIONS OF PEOPLE BACK TO WORK, WIDELY
SUPPORTED.
TRANSFORMING OUR ENERGY SYSTEM, DEALING WITH THE BROKEN CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM, IMMIGRATION REFORM, COMPREHENSIVE
IMMIGRATION REFORM, MAKING SURE THAT WE PROTECT A WOMAN'S RIGHT
TO CHOOSE!
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) >> Stephen: THE DEMOCRATS IN
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MAY PASS LEGISLATION THAT HAS TO DO
WITH SOME OF THE THINGS YOU NAMED OR ALL OF THOSE THINGS,
BUT MITCH McCONNELL IS STILL IN CONTROL OF THE SENATE.
>> YES, BUT HERE'S THE DIFFERENCE, AND IT'S A PROFOUND
DIFFERENCE, STEPHEN, I DON'T KNOW THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE GET
IT, RIGHT NOW THE REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE HAVE REALLY NOTHING TO
SAY TO ORDINARY WORKING PEOPLE EXCEPT MAYBE TRYING TO THROW
32 MILLION OF THEM OFF THE HEALTH INSURANCE THEY HAVE OR
GIVING TAX BREAKS TO BILLIONAIRES.
SO WE'RE NOT GETTING ANYTHING FROM THE HOUSE THAT'S
MEANINGFUL.
THAT IS GOING TO CHANGE.
AND IT IS ONE THING FOR A REPUBLICAN IN THE SENATE TO DO
NOTHING -- YOU CAN GET AWAY WITH THAT -- IT'S ANOTHER THING TO
HAVE TO VOTE AGAINST PROVIDING HEALTHCARE TO ALL, LOWERING THE
COST OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, MAKING SURE OUR KIDS DO NOT
LEAVE SCHOOL DEEPLY IN DEBT, DEALING WITH CRIMINAL JUSTICE,
THAT IS THE PROFOUND DIFFERENCE.
>> Stephen: BUT DO THEY HAVE TO VOTE, OR CAN MITCH
McCONNELL SAY I'M NOT GOING TO BRING IT TO A VOTE?
>> LOOK, THERE WILL BE ENORMOUS PRESSURE, IF THE DEMOCRATS, FOR
EXAMPLE, MOVE US IN THE DIRECTION OF MEDICARE FOR ALL
AND MITCH McCONNELL CHOOSES NOT TO DO ANYTHING, THERE WILL
BE ENORMOUS PRESSURE ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY ON REPUBLICAN
SENATORS, DO THE RIGHT THING, DO WHAT THE HOUSE DID.
( APPLAUSE ) >> Stephen: SEEMS LIKE EVERY
DAY THERE'S A NEW CLIMATE REPORT.
>> YES.
>> Stephen: AND EACH ONE GETS MORE DIRE THAN THE LAST.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> Stephen: COULD YOU TALK ABOUT THAT IN HERE?
WHAT CAN BE DONE TO KEEP THAT STORY ON THE FRONT PAGE, TO GET
PEOPLE TO PAY ATTENTION?
BECAUSE IT IS A LOOMING CRISIS THAT DOESN'T GET TALKED ABOUT
ENOUGH.
>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT, AND ONE OF THE PROBLEMS IS -- LET ME BE
VERY HONEST -- YOU KNOW, WHENEVER WE TURN ON THE
TELEVISION, ALL THESE ADS FROM THE FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY --
>> Stephen: CNN ISN'T TALKING ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING BECAUSE
EXXON IS PAYING TO KEEP THE LIGHTS ON.
>> I THINK THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS, YEAH.
LET ME SAY THAT, I DO THINK IT IS, BUT IT'S VERY CLEAR, LOOK,
LET US UNDERSTAND WHAT THE SCIENTISTS HAVE TOLD US.
WE HAD AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL PANEL ON CLIMATE CHANGE, YOU
WIN, HUGE REPORT, AND THEN ONE FROM 13 AGENCIES OF THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT AND THIS IS WHAT THEY'RE SAYING.
THEY'RE SAYING IF WE DO NOT GET OUR ACT TOGETHER IN 123 YEARS,
THAT THE DAMAGE DONE TO THIS PLANET, THE PLANET AT THE WE ARE
GOING TO BE LEAVING OUR KIDS AND GRANDCHILDREN WILL BE
IRREPARABLE.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING IS THAT TERRIBLE FIRE, THE WILDFIRES WE
SAW IN CALIFORNIA -- AND I TALKED TO SOME PEOPLE WHO WERE
THERE, WHO THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING TO DIE, CAME INTO MY
OFFICE, UNBELIEVABLE.
THE WOMAN DESCRIBED IT AS AN APOCALYPSE.
SHE THOUGHT SHE WAS GOING TO DIE.
PITCH BLACK, CAN'T BREATHE, SMOKE THERE, THOUGHT SHE WAS
GOING TO GET BURNED UP IN HER CAR.
WHAT WE SAW IN CALIFORNIA WILL BECOME NORMAL.
RISING SEA LEVELS, THAT MEANS COASTAL CITIES WILL BE
UNDERWATER.
IT MEANS THE ACIDIFICATION OF THE OCEAN.
IT MEANS DROUGHT, IF YOU'RE IN THE MIDWEST AND GROWING SOYBEANS
AND CORN, IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TORE DO THAT WHEN THE
TEMPERATURE IS HOTTER AND HOTTER.
THAT'S THE BAD NEWS.
THE GOOD NEWS IS WE HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY IN TERMS OF
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY LIKE SOLAR, THERMAL, WIND, GEOTHERMAL.
WE KNOW HOW TO BUILD OUR HOMES AND HAVE A NEW TRANSPORTATION
SYSTEM, WE CAN LEAD THE WORLD TO TRANSFORM OUR ENERGY SYSTEM.
BUT THIS GETS BACK TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE.
WE HAVE GOT TO HAVE THE GUTS TO TAKE ON THE FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY
THAT HAS SPENT HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
IN LOBBYING AND CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS.
>> Stephen: THOSE GUYS DON'T MESS AROUND.
>> THEY DO NOT MESS AROUND.
THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT HOW SICK IT IS
THAT THEY ARE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR SHORT-TERM PROFITS
THAN THE FUTURE OF THIS PLANET.
WE'VE GOT TO STAND UP AND TELL THEM THAT IS GOING TO CHANGE.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) >> Stephen: BUT WE HAVE TO
TAKE A BREAK.
DON'T GO AWAY, WE'LL BE BACK WITH MORE SENATOR BERNIE
SANDERS!