>> Stephen: WELCOME BACK, FOLKS, MY GUESTS TONIGHT ARE
TWO HOSTS OF THE CIRCUS, PLEASE WELCOME ALEX WAGNER AND MARK
McKINNON, HEY YOU TWO.
>> HEY, STEPHEN.
>> Stephen: NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
>> HOWDY, HOW ARE YOU.
>> Stephen: I HAVE THREE GUESTS, ALEX, MARK AND HIS HAT.
I ASSUME THE HAT HAS ITS OWN CONTRACT EVERY SEASON.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> NEGOTIATE LIKE HELL.
>> Stephen: ALL RIGHT, GLAD TO SEE YOU ARE BACK.
THE SHOW WAS OFF FOR AWHILE BECAUSE OF THE COVID.
NOW YOU ARE BACK OUT ON THE ROAD.
ARE YOU STAYING SAFE?
>> WELL, ACTUALLY STEPHEN, WE RAN THROUGH THE PRIMARIES IN
MARCH WHICH WAS OUR ORIGINAL PLAN AND WE ONLY STOPPED SHORT A
WEEK BECAUSE OF COVID BUT OUR PLAN WAS TO COME BACK TO THE
CONVENTION AND SO NOW WE'RE COMING BACK AND IT IS A
COMPETELY DIFFERENT WORLD THAN WHAT WE EXPECTED.
AND YOU KNOW, LIKE YOU WERE HAVING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO
THIS DIFFERENTLY IN THIS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT WORLD.
>> STEPHEN, WE WHERE LEARNING ALL ABOUT THE REALITY OF
MASK-NE.
MASK ACNE.
>> Stephen: WOW, I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THAT, I GUESS I'M NOT
WEARING ONE ENOUGH.
>> YOU DON'T WANT TO FIND OUT ABOUT IT.
>> Stephen: PLEASE STAY SAFE BECAUSE CIRCUSES ARE NOT KNOWN
FOR THEIR CLENLINESS.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE BIG NEWS.
KAMALA HARRIS ANNOUNCED YETERDAY.
YOU BOTH INTERVIEWED HER.
YOU COVERED HER PRIMARY RUN.
WHAT TONE DOES SHE SET FOR JOE BIDEN NOW?
>> I MEAN I THINK YOU SAW A LITTLE BIT OF IT YESTERDAY.
SHE IS ABSOLUTELY GOING TO BE CALLING ON HER SKIMS AS A
LITIGATOR BUT SHE IS ALSO AN INCREDIBLY, IN THE WAY THAT
BIDEN KCTS WITH VOTERS, HARRIS ALSO HAS INCREDIBLE
INTERPERSONAL SKILLS.
AND IS A LISTENER.
YOU KNOW, SHE HAS DEVELOPED THAT PART OF HER POLITICAL MUSCLE IN
A WAY THAT FEW OTHERS HAVE.
SO I THINK SHE WILL BE REALLY VALUABLE ON THAT FRONT DESPITE
THE FACT THAT COVID IS PREVENTING A LOT OF THE RETAIL
POLITICS WE USUALLY SEE.
MORE THAN ANYTHING SHE FRESHENS UP THE TICKET.
THE NARRATIVE AROUND BIDEN IS THAT HE IS TRUSTED AND HE IS A
KNOWN QUANTITY IN AMERICAN POLITICS.
AND THAT IS CERTAINLY SHOWN TO HAVE SOME BENEFIT.
BUT I THINK EVERYONE ON THAT CAMPAIGN IS READY AND OPEN,
WELCOMING SOMEONE WITH OPEN ARMS WHO BRINGS DIVERSITY TO THE
TICKET, NOT JUST IN TERMS OF RACE AND GENDER BUT EXPERIENCE
AND OUTLOOK.
AND I THINK IT'S COMING AT A CRITICAL TIME IN THE CAMPAIGN.
>> THERE WERE REALLY THREE IMPERATIVES.
ONE THAT NEEDED TO BE A WOMAN.
IT REALLY HAD TO BE A WOMAN OF COLOR GIVEN THE TIME AND ISSUES
WE ARE FACING BUT ALSO SOMEBODY WHO HAD EXPERIENCE ON THE
NATIONAL STAGE, WHO IS USED TO THE VOLLEY AND INCOMING THAT
THIS TICKET IS GOING TO GET.
I MEAN THE TRUMP DEATH STAR IS UNLOADING ALREADY AND SO YOU
DIDN'T WANT SOMEBODY WHO IS KNEW-- NEW TO THE GAME BECAUSE
IT A HUMAN MICROWAVE OUT THERE.
SHE HAS BEEN OUT THERE, SHE CAN HANDLE IT.
SHE IS USED TO IT.
>> Stephen: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE TRUMP'S SUPPOSED DEATH STAR.
BECAUSE IT REALLY FEELS LIKE HE IS HAVING A LITTLE TROUBLE
FINDING A NEW GAME WITH THIS TICKET.
BECAUSE THE FIRST THING HE DID WAS CALL HER NASTY, THAT IS JUST
RETREADING AN ATTACK AGAINST HILLARY CLINTON IN 2016.
NOW HE IS PULLING OUT HAIL MARY, YOU KNOW, MIDDLE AGE MAN
GRIEVEANCES LOOK NOT ENOUGH PRESSURE IN MY SHOWERHEAD.
WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF HIS REACTION SO FAR?
>> I THINK HE HAS HAD A HARD TIME FIGURING IT OUT, RIGHT.
THIS IS SOMEONE, THE PRESIDENT GAVE 6,000 TO KAMALA HARRIS'
RE-ELECTION EFFORTS.
>> Stephen: DONATED TO HER TWICE.
>> AS DID HIS DAUGHTER.
SO THAT IS DEFINITELY A COMPLICATING FACTOR.
I THINK YOU KNOW, IT FEELS LIKE THE PRESIDENT THINKS THAT SOME
OF THE SAME MISOGYNIST SEXIST ATTACKS THAT DOG WHISTLED AROUND
HER BEING A NASTY-- A NASTY WOMAN.
THIS MORNING HE CALLED HER A MAD WOMAN WHICH IS DOUBLING DOWN ON
THAT AGE-OLD STEREOTYPE OF THE ANGRY BLACK WOMAN.
HE FEELS LIKE IT SEEMS LIKE THAT COULD WORK.
THE QUESTION IS MORE ABOUT THE AMERICAN ELECTORATE.
YOU KNOW, WHAT WOMEN AND PARTICULARLY WHITE WOMEN
TOLERATE THIS ELECTION SEASON.
DONALD TRUMP WON THEM BY 47%, IN 2016.
THE QUESTION IS ARE THEY GOING TO DE PART FROM THAT RHETORIC,
ARE THEY GOING TO REJECT IT IN THE 2020 ELECTION.
HOW ON ERT HE WILL BE THE TEST FOR WHERE WE ARE IN TERMS OF
GENDER RELATIONS IN THIS COUNTRY.
>> PART OF THE PROBLEM STEPHEN IS THEY ARE TRYING TO PAINT HER
AS A RADICAL LEFTIE.
PART OF THE REASON SHE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL IN THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY IS BECAUSE SHE WASN'T.
IN FACT SHE HAS A LOT OF ATTRIBUTES TO THA ARE GOOD FOR A
GENERAL ELECTION LIKE A TOUGH FORMER PROSECUTOR.
THAT LINE OF ATTACK IS TO THE GOING TO WORK VERY WELL.
>> Stephen: WHEN I WAS A KID WE WOULD HAVE CALLED JOE BIDEN
AND KAMALA HARRIS ROCKEFELLER REPUBLICANS.
>> YEAH.
>> EXACTLY RIGHT.
>> Stephen: SO THERE IS THE OLD CLICHE WELL DO NO HARM.
YOU KNOW, AS A VICE PRESIDENT.
WHAT IS THE HARM THAT IS A DANGER HERE, IS THIS IT IS SHE
IS NOT PROGRESSIVE ENOUGH BECAUSE THE YOUNGER PEOPLE IN
THE PARTY ROLL THEIR EYES A LITTLE BIT WHEN SHE WAS PICKED.
>> I MEAN ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH HARRIS IS THAT SHE HAD A
HARD TIME FINING HER FOOTING IN THE PRIMARY.
BECAUSE THE BETWEEN THE PROGRESSIVE END OF THE PARTY AND
THE CENTER OF THE PARTY.
SHE COULDN'T, SHE RAN AS A PROGRESSIVE PROSECUTOR BUT THEN
HAD A HARD TIME ANSWERING FOR HER PROSECUTORIAL RECORD ON
THINGS LIKE CAPITAL PUNISHMENT, SOME OF HER TOUGH ON CRIME STUFF
IN CALIFORNIA.
SO SHE WILL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT YOU KNOW WHERE SHE STANDS.
AND WHAT HER IDEOLOGY IS BECAUSE IT IS CERTAINLY GOING TO CAB YOU
WILL-- CALLED INTO QUESTION.
AND THREN THERE IS THE FUNDAMENTAL REALITY AROUND WHAT
KIND OF WOMAN SHE IS GOING TO BE.
YESTERDAY IN HER REMARKS SHE DEFINITELY SAW THE TEN ASITY, WE
TALKED ABOUT TRUMP RIDING THE COUNTRY INTO THE GROUND, LEAVING
IT IN TATTERS.
AT THE SAME TIME SHE BURNISHED HER CREDENTIALS AS MOMMALA,
SOMEONE WHO GOES TO SWIM MEETS, IS AT HOME COOKING ON SUNDAY
NIGHTS, WHERE WE ASK AMERICAN WOMEN TO BE, CAN THEY BE
PROFESSIONALS AND MOMS, DO THEY HAVE TO CHOOSE.
SHE WILL BE A TEST.
OUR ATTITUDES ABOUT WOMEN AND WHAT KIND OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT
KIND OF IMAGE WE WANT TO SEE FROM THE WOMEN WHO ARE LEADING
THIS COUNTRY.
>> THE INTERESTING PART OF THE COVERAGE OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT WAS
TA PEOPLE DE CLAWRED IT BOTH BOLD AND SAFE AT THE SAME TIME.
YOU HAVE A WOMAN OF JAMAICAN SOUTHEAST ASIAN HERITAGE WHO IS
BEING DECLARED AS SOMEBODY WHO IS A SAFE CHOICE.
AND THAT SAYS A LOT ABOUT HER BACKGROUND.
SHE IS EXPERIENCED, SHE IS IN THE SENATE.
>> Stephen: I THINK IT SAYS A LOT ABOUT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
THAT IS A SAFE CHOICE FOR THEM.
>> THAT IS A GREAT POINT, GREAT POINT, AND ALEX YOU MAKE A GREAT
POINT ABOUT THE BIDEN CONNECTION TO OBAMA.
>> I MEAN I THINK A SENSE IN BIDEN OF ALMOST GRATITUDE IN
THAT OBAMA MADE HIM THE FIRST VICE PRESIDENT, THE VICE
PRESIDENT FOR AMERICA'S FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT.
AND I THINK IN A LOT OF WAYS HE SEEMS HIMSELF AS THE CONNECTIVE
TISSUE BETWEEN WHAT COULD BE TWO MONUMENTAL HISTORIC LEADERS
WHICH IS IT SAY THE COUNTRY'S FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT AND THE
COUNTRY'S FIRST ASIAN AMERICAN BLACK VICE PRESIDENT.
AND THAT TELLS YOU A LOT ABOUT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY TOO.
THAT THIS 70 SOMETHING YEAR OLD QUITE GUY FROM DELAWARE COULD
END UP BEING A FIGURE OF JUST TRANSFORMATION FOR THE COUNTRY.
AND BUILDING A MORE INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE AMERICA.
>> Stephen: CONVENTIONS START NEXT WEEK.
WE'RE GOING TO BE LIVE, ARE WE STILL GOING TO BE LIVE.
WE HOPE TO BE LIVE NEXT WEEK.
THERE ARE SOME CHALLENGES.
SO WE HOPE TO BE LIVE, WHAT IS A POINT OF A CONVENTION WHEN THERE
IS NO CONVENING ANY MORE.
CAN YOU STILL CALL IT A CONVENTION?
>> YOU REALLY CAN AND YOU REALLY SHOULD, I HAD A LOT OF
RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE 2 THOUSAND, 2004 CAMPAIGN
CONVENTIONS, EVEN BACK THEN ALMOST 20 YEARS AGO WE HAD A LOT
OF DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HOW COMPLETELY ANACHRONISTIC THESE
ARE, THE BALLOON DROP, THE ROLLING PARTY, THE TERRIBLE
SPEECHES, HORRIBLE ENTERTAINMENT ESPECIALLY ON THE REPUBLICAN
SIDE, THERE IS REALLY ONLY A FEW THINGS YOU HAVE TO DO WHICH IS
WHAT WE WILL FIND OUT NEXT WEEK AND I THINK IT FROM NOW ON THEY
WILLER FOREVER CHANGED.
>> CAN I SAY ONE THING, I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THE FORMER
HEAD OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD, THE DAUGHTER OF THE LATE GREAT ANN
RICHARDS IN TEXAS.
AND SHE SAID YOU KNOW WHAT I REMEMBER ABOUT GERALDINE
FERRARO.
I WAS THERE WITH MY MOM, AND THE DAY, THE EVENING SHE ACCEPTED
THE VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION AS THE FIRST FEMALE NOMINEE VICE
PRESIDENT FOR A MAJOR PARTY, ALL THE MEN ON THE FLOOR GAVE THEIR
FLOOR PASSES TO WOMEN.
AND I REMEMBER GETTING THAT PASS AND GOING WITH MY MOM AND
WATCHING GERALDINE FERRARO STRIDE TO THE STAGE IN HER WHITE
SUFFRAJETTE PAINT SUIT OR BLAZER, THAT IS AN INCREDIBLE
MEMORY.
>> Stephen: REASONS LIKE THAT THAT I HOPE THE CONVENTIONS
DON'T GO AWAY.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO GET TOGETHER.
>> IT IS.
>> VERY QUAINT.
>> Stephen: WE HAVE TO TAKE A QUICK BREAK, BUT STICK AROUND,
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH MORE ALEX WAGNER AND MARK McKINNON
FROM THE CIRCUS.