PLEASE WELCOME THE MIGHTY, THE POWERFUL SENATE MAJORITY LEADER
CHUCK SCHUMER TO THE SHOW!
SENATOR, SO GOOD TO SEE YOU, WELCOME BACK TO THE SHOW.
HOW ARE YOU?
WHERE ARE YOU ZOOMING IN FROM?
>> I'M ACTUALLY IN MY OFFICE IN WASHINGTON DOWN THE HALL.
OFFICER GOODMAN REDIRECTED THE SONS OF GUNS AWAY FROM THE
SENATE.
HADN'T HE TONE THAT, MAYBE I WOULDN'T BE ON YOUR SHOW.
>> James: HOW MANY FEET AWAY ARE WE TALKING?
>> OH, I'D SAY 30.
>> James: 30 FEET.
YEAH, YEAH.
>> James: WHAT WENT THROUGH YOUR FIND WHEN YOU REALIZED THAT
WAS 30 FEET AWAY?
>> I HAVE TO SUCH A WHIRL, YOU KNOW.
YOU HAD TO TAKE BACK YOUR RECOLLECTION AFTERWARDS AND
REALIZE HOW MUCH DANGER YOUR OPINION IN BECAUSE YOUR
ADRENALINE WAS PUMPING AND YOU KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON AND THIS
MAN SAVED US, HE'S A HERO.
WE GAVE HIM THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR, HE REALLY
DESERVES IT.
>> James: I SAW THAT.
IT WAS ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT.
WERE YOU IN THIS OFFICE AT THAT MOMENT?
>> I WAS ON THE SENATE FLOOR RIGHT ACROSS THE HALL.
>> James: I'VE GOT TO SAY, SENATOR, I DO LIKE THE LOOK OF
THIS OFFICE.
IT'S VERY FANCY.
( LAUGHTER ) GREAT CHAT.
( LAUGHTER ) >> WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO SAY?
I HAVE A FANCY OFFICE.
LET ME TELL YOU WHAT I HAVE HERE, JAMES.
>> James: GO ON.
WITH I IS A GREAT PERK FOR ME.
A FIREPLACE.
I NEVER HAD A FIREPLACE IN BROOKLYN.
WE DON'T HAVE THEM IN BROOKLYN.
BUT HERE YOU USE THESE STARTER LOGS, AND EVEN A KID FROM
BROOKLYN CAN LIGHT A GREAT FIRE EVERY TIME.
I LIGHT THEM ALL THE TIME.
>> James: SO YOU'RE IN THERE, YOU'RE STOKING UP A FIRE, YOU'RE
CHANGING THE COUNTRY.
I LOVE IT, AND I ALSO LOVE THAT I'M IMAGINING YOU NOW SMELLING
OF A REAL LOG FIRE, WHICH I ACTUALLY THINK IS THE MOST
SENSUAL A MAN CAN SMELL.
>> YEAH.
>> James: I DO.
( LAUGHTER ) >> WELL,ETTES BETTER THAN A LOT
OF OTHER WAYS A MAN CAN SMELL, ISN'T IT?
( LAUGHTER ) BUT SERIOUSLY, JAMES, THE BEST
PERK I HAVE, FRANKLY, SERIOUSLY, IS THE ABILITY TO PUT BILLS ON
THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE.
TODAY WE PUT DEB HAALAND ON THE FLOOR, FIRST NATIVE AMERICAN TO
EVER BE IN THE CABINET, THE NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITY LONG
NEGLECTED, LONG ABUSED WILL HAVE A VOICE, AND SHE'LL ALSO PREVENT
THE OIL COMPANIES AS INTERIOR SECRETARY FROM RUNNING OVER OUR
PUBLIC, OUR BEAUTIFUL PUBLIC LANDS, AND THEN LAST WEEK, I PUT
THE A.R.P. BILL ON THE FLOOR.
PEOPLE ARE GETTING CHECKS, VACCINES, HALF THE KIDS IN
AMERICA WON'T BE IN POVERTY.
SO THE ABILITY TO PUT A BILL ON THE FLOOR, MCCONNELL WOULD HAVE
NEVER PUT ANY OF THESE THINGS ON THE FLOOR, IS THE REAL IMPORTANT
PART TO HAVE THIS JOB, EVEN MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE FIREPLACE.
>> James: I ALSO DON'T KNOW IF MITCH McCONNELL EVER LIT A
FIRE.
( LAUGHTER ) DOESN'T NEED TO.
CARRIES HIS HOME ON HIS BACK.
( LAUGHTER ) AND, NOW --
( LAUGHTER ) NOW, IT'S BEEN REPORTED THAT
SOME OF YOUR STAFF, THEY HAVE RULES FOR YOU WHEN YOU'RE
APPEARING IN PUBLIC.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT SORT OF RULES ARE WE TALKING?
>> THEY'VE HAD THREE RULES ALL THE YEARS I HAVE BEEN IN THE
SENATE.
IN PUBLIC, NO SINGING, NO DANCING, NO HATS.
BUT, JAMES, RULES ARE MADE TO BE BROKEN.
♪ THESE LITTLE TOWN BLUES ♪ ♪ ARE MELTING AWAY ♪
♪ I WANNA BE A PART OF IT ♪ ♪ NEW YORK, NEW YORK ♪
>> James: OH, THIS IS SENSATIONAL!
GET THE MAN A HAT IMMEDIATELY!
( LAUGHTER ) NOW, SENATOR -- CANCEL SAM
SMITH!
( LAUGHTER ) WE DON'T NEED SAM SMITH.
SENATOR'S GOING TO STAY AROUND AND SING US OUT OF THE END OF
THE SHOW.
IT'S GOING TO BE FANTASTIC.
NOW, THIS IS A VERY EXCITING TIME.
PRESIDENT BIDEN SIGNED THE 1.
-89D -- THE $1.9 TRILLION COVID RELIEF BILL, CHECKS STARTED
GOING OUT THIS PAST WEEKEND.
CONGRATULATIONS ON ALL THE INCREDIBLE WORK YOU DID TO GET
THAT ACROSS THE LINE.
IT'S GOING TO MEAN SO MUCH TO SO MANY PEOPLE.
BUT THERE IS UNDERSTANDABLE CONCERN IN SO MANY RESPECTS THAT
SOME OF THIS MONEY WILL BE MISDIRECTED TO THE WRONG PLACES.
HOW DO YOU PREVENT THAT FROM HAPPENING?
>> IT'S A GREAT QUESTION, AND WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL BECAUSE
THOSE WHO DON'T WANT TO SEE THE GOVERNMENT DO ANYTHING WILL LOOK
AND PICK AT THAT.
BUT THE BOTTOM LINE, IS FIRST, THE ADMINISTRATION HAS JUST
CHOSEN THIS GUY GENE SPERLING, ONE OF THE MOST CAPABLE PEOPLE I
KNOW, AND HE IS LOOKING OVER THIS TO MAKE SURE THE MONEY IS
GOING WHERE IT IS.
BUT THE GOOD THING ABOUT THIS, JAMES, MOST OF THE MONEY GOES
DIRECTLY TO PEOPLE.
THE CHECKS GO DIRECTLY TO PEOPLE.
THE VACCINE MONEY JUST GOES TO VACCINES TO PUT IN PEOPLE'S
ARMS, THE EMPLOYMENT MONEY WILL GO TO THEM.
THE RENTAL MONEY TO HELP PEOPLE FROM BEING KICKED OUT OF THEIR
HOUSES WILL GO EXACTLY TO PAY THE RENT.
SO THE LARGE PART OF THIS CAN'T BE ABUSED BECAUSE IT GOES
DIRECTLY TO PEOPLE.
THAT'S HOW WE WANTED IT TO WORK.
PEOPLE GOT THE MONEY, NOT DIFFERENT PROGRAMS OR THE
GOVERNMENT BUT PEOPLE.
>> James: THE MINIMUM INCREASE, IT DIDN'T MAKE THE
COVID RELIEF BILL.
PEOPLE ARE WONDERING IF THAT COULD EVER HAPPEN.
WE HAVE LOTS OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WORK ON OUR SHOW WHO TALK A LOT
ABOUT STUDENT LOAN FOREGIVENESS, WHICH WAS TALKED A LOT ABOUT ON
THE CAMPAIGN.
ARE THESE THINGS ACTUALLY DOABLE OR ARE THEY CAMPAIGN PROMISES?
>> WELL, THE MINIMUM WAGE, I WISH HAD GONE TO 15.
WE DIDN'T QUITE HAVE THE VOTES BUT WE'LL KEEP FIGHTING FOR
THAT.
IF YOU WORK ALL DAY, YOU SHOULD LIVE A LIFE IN DIGNITY, NOT
POVERTY.
THE STUDENT LOANS, THAT'S STILL IN PLAY.
ELIZABETH WARREN AND I SAID THE PRESIDENT SHOULD FORGIVE $50,000
IN STUDENT LOANS.
WE DON'T NEED LEGISLATION, HE CAN DO THIS WITH A FLICK OF THE
PEN.
SO MANY KIDS GET OUT OF COLLEGE AND IN LATER YEARS, INSTEAD OF
COLLEGE BEING A LADDER UP, THE DEBT IS AN ANCHOR DOWN, AND IT
WOULD BE SO GOOD FOR THEM, THEY COULD START THEIR LIVES IN A
BETTER WAY, THEY MAYBE COULD BUY A CAR, START A FAMILY, DECIDE
WHAT BUSINESS OR PROFESSION THEY WANTED, BUT WE COULD GET THIS
DONE.
I TELL YOU ONE OTHER THING ABOUT IT, THE RACIAL WEALTH GAP, A LOT
OF PEOPLE OF COLOR HAVE THESE LOANS BECAUSE THEY WERE DUPED ■B
THESE FOR-PROFIT COLLEGES AND THEY EMERGE WITH NO DEGREE AND A
HUGE AMOUNT OF LOANS.
BUT WE CAN GET THIS DONE AND I URGE YOUR LISTENERS, EMAIL,
WRITE, TWEET, DO WHATEVER YOU CAN TO LET PRESIDENT BIDEN KNOW.
I TOLD HIM WE'RE TRYING TO GET A CAMPAIGN ON THIS AND HE WELCOMED
IT.
SO PUSH AWAY, WE CAN MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
>> James: I WOULD LOVE ALL OUR LISTENERS TO DO THAT.
I WOULD ALSO LOVE SOME OF OUR VIEWERS TO DO IT.
BUT IF YOU'RE JUST LISTENING, IT'S THE BEST WAY TO TAKE IN THE
SHOW, IT REALLY IS, BECAUSE, LET'S BE HONEST, ME AND YOU,
SENATOR CHUCK SCHUMER, WE'RE MADE FOR THE RADIO, THAT'S THE
TRUTH OF IT.
( LAUGHTER ) NOW, WE HAVE OVER 100 MILLION
VACCINATIONS HAVE ALREADY BEEN ADMINISTERED WHICH IS A
TREMENDOUS ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.
PEOPLE ARE TALKING A LOT ABOUT JULY FOURTH AS A POSSIBLE RETURN
TO WHAT WE WOULD CALL YOUR NORMAL LIFE.
WILL CHUCK SCHUMER, WILL HE BE HAVING A SMALL GATHERING?
WILL THE GRILL BE OPENED?
WILL IT BE FIRED UP?
>> YEAH, WE DON'T HAVE A -- BEING IN BROOKLYN, I LIVE INEN A
APARTMENT HOUSE, WE DON'T HAVE A GRILL, BUT I HAVE LOTS OF
FRIENDS WHO DO.
HERE'S WHAT I LOVE -- JULY FOURTH, HAMBURGER, HOT DOG, ONCE
IN A WHILE A STEAK, AND NO BUN.
I'M GLUTEN FREE, YOU MAY NOT KNOW THAT, SO I EAT THE STRAIGHT
HAMBURGER, STRAIGHT HOT DOG.
YOU KNOW HOW I MAKE THE STEAK, JAMES?
>> James: GO ON.
BLACK ON THE OUTSIDE, BLUE ON THE INSIDE, THEY CALL IT
PITTSBURGH.
THAT'S THE WAY I LOVE IT.
LET THE FLAMES GET HIGH, BURN THE OUTSIDE, KEEP THE INSIDE
BLUE.
GREAT.
>> James: IT'S BOMBSHELL AFTER BOMBSHELL TONIGHT!
( LAUGHTER ) WE'VE HAD A SONG, WE'VE HEARD
ABOUT A GLUTEN INTOLERANCE, IT'S A COOKING SHOW!
SENATOR CHUCK SCHUMER, YOU MIGHT BE UP THERE IN THE TOP FIVE
GUESTS OF ALL TIME!
I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THIS PHOTO THAT YOU SHARED, SIR.
YOU RECENTLY SHARED THIS PHOTO OF YOUR GRANDSON WITH YOUR
PARENTS, WHICH IS A MOMENT -- SO MANY SENIOR AMERICANS, SO MANY
FAMILIES CAN RELATE TO THIS, SEEING FAMILY TOGETHER FOR THE
FIRST TIME IN OVER A YEAR.
TALK ABOUT THIS DAY.
HOW MUCH DID THIS MEAN TO YOU?
>> OH, HUGE.
YOU KNOW, MY DAD IS 97, MY MOM IS 92.
MY DAD, INCIDENTALLY, HE SUFFERED HIS WHOLE -- HE
STRUGGLED HIS LIFE.
HE HAD THIS SMALL JUNKY EXTERMINATING BUSINESS.
MY BROTHER AND SISTER AND I WOULD HEAR HIM AT 2:00 A.M.
SUNDAY MORNING, MONDAY MORNING, SUNDAY NIGHT, PACING THE FLOOR,
BECAUSE HE HATED GOING TO WORK.
IT'S TOUGH.
THE SMALL BUSINESS PERSON HAS SUCH A STRUGGLE.
THAT'S WHY I WORKED HARD TO GET HELP FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND
RESTAURANTS AND STAGES BECAUSE I SAW HOW MY DAD STRUGGLED, BUT
THEN HE RETIRED, AND THEN HE BECAME A HAPPY GUY.
YOU KNOW THE GREATEST JOY IN HIS LIFE IS HIS GREAT-GRANDSON.
FOR A YEAR HE COULDN'T SEE THEM, NOW HE GOT THE SHOTS, THEY'RE
OVER 85.
AND FOR THE FIRST TIME, HE SAW HIM ON SUNDAY, WHAT A JOY.
WHAT A JOY TO WATCH -- >> James: IT'S A BEAUTIFUL
THING.
( APPLAUSE ) >> BUT I KNOW WHAT A HARD LIFE
HE LIVED, AND HE'S NOW SO HAPPY.
GOD IS GOOD.
WHAT CAN I SEE.
>> James: I SPOKE ABOUT VIVIDLY TALKING ABOUT IT LAST
TIME YOU'RE ON THE SHOW, THE BILL'S BEEN PASSED, AND IS IT
ABSOLUTELY TREMENDOUS AND VITAL THING THAT YOU HAVE DONE TO SO
MANY PLACES AND ORGANIZATIONS.
WHEN CAN PEOPLE EXPECT TO SEE THE RELIEF FROM THAT BILL.
>> JUST TODAY, WE CONFIRMED THE HEAD OF THE SMALL BUSINESS
ADMINISTRATION, THEY'RE IN CHARGE OF SENDING OUT THE MONEY.
I MET WITH HER A FEW WEEKS AGO.
I SAID WE'VE GOT TO GET MOVING HERE BECAUSE OUR INDEPENDENT
VENUES ARE REALLY HURTING.
>> James: ABSOLUTELY.
AND SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE, THE ARTISTS AND OTHERS WHO DEPEND ON
THEM.
IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS, I THINK PEOPLE SHOULD BEGIN BEING ABLE
TO SEE SOME MONEY THERE.
IT GOES -- IT'S A SIX-MONTH LOAN, GOES TILL SEPTEMBER, GOD
WILLING COVID'S OVER.
THEY WILL BE BACK AND NEW YORKERS AND PEOPLE AROUND
THE COUNTRY WILL BE MIXING AND MINGLING AND EVEN DANCING AND
SINGING IN PUBLIC.
>> James: YOU KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE TOP OF THE BILL, SENATOR
CHUCK SCHUMER SINGING "NEW YORK NEW YORK."