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>> Stephen: HEY, WELCOME BACK, EVERYBODY.
MY GUESTS TONIGHT ARE THE FOUNDERS OF "CROOKED MEDIA" AND
CO-HOSTS OF "POD SAVE AMERICA."
PLEASE WELCOME BACK TO "A LATE SHOW," JON FAVREAU, JON LOVETT,
AND TOMMY VIETOR!
FELLAS!
GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN!
>> YOU, TOO.
>> YEAH, IT'S A GOOD DAY.
>> Stephen: IT IS, WELL, "POD SAVE AMERICA," IS AMERICA SAVED?
HOW ARE YOU FEELING?
>> I THINK AMERICA IS RELIEVED.
BEATING... TOOK A LITTLE LONGER THAN WE HOPED.
DONALD TRUMP IS GONE.
JOE BIDEN AND KAMALA HARRIS ARE RUNNING THE SHOW.
MITCH McCONNELL IS NO LONGER THE HEAD OF THE SENATE.
IT'S A PRETTY GOOD DAY.
>> Stephen: IT TRICKLED IN.
>> I FEEL LIKE AMERICA SURVIVED A NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE, AND WE
HAVE, LIKE, GIVEN OURSELVES MAYBE ONE MORE CHANCE.
HOPEFULLY MORE, BUT MAYBE ONE MORE CHANCE.
AND IT IS ACTUALLY-- IT'S-- IT'S INSPIRING BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I
WAS WORRIED WHEN TRUMP WON.
MY BIGGEST FEAR WAS THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE SO CYNICAL AND SO DOWN
THA THEY WOULDN'T WANT TOPARTICIPAT
AWAY FROM POLITICS, THAT THEY WOULDN'T GET INVOLVED.
AND THE FACT THAT SO MANY PEOPLE DID IS THE REASON THAT WE'RE
HERE TODAY, IS THE REASON THAT JOE BIDEN IS PRESIDENT RIGHT
NOW.
>> Stephen: WELL, JON, AS OBAMA'S FORMER HEAD
SPEECHWRITER, YOU'RE AN EXPERT AT INAUGURAL ADDRESSES.
WHAT STOOD OUT TO YOU TODAY?
>> A LOT OF INAUGURALS ARE PRESIDENTS LIKE TRYING TO DO AN■
IMPRESSION OF J.F.K.'S ADDRESS, SO THEY END UP BEING, LIKE, A
LOT OF FLOWERY RHETORIC, AND THEY DON'T ACTUALLY SAY MUCH.
I LOVE JOE BIDEN'S BECAUSE I THINK HE MADE A REAL ARGUMENT
ABOUT UNITY.
AND, YOU KNOW, HE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT IT'S ALWAYS BEEN DIFFICULT
TO OVERCOME RACISM AND DIVISION AND NATIVISM.
BUT HE SAID AT EVERY BIG MOMENT, ENOUGH OF US-- AND HE REPEATED
"ENOUGH OF US--" CAME TOGETHER TO CARRY ALL OF US FORWARD.
AND THEN HE OFFERED A REALLY MOVING LESSON FROM HIS OWN
EXPERIENCE, I THOUGHT.
HE SAID, "HERE'S THE THING ABOUT LIFE.
THERE'S NO ACCOUNTING FOR WHAT FATE WILL DEAL YOU.
THERE ARE SOME DAYS WHEN WE NEED A HAND.
THERE ARE OTHERS WE'RE CALLED TO LEND A HAND.
THAT IS HOW WE MUST BE WITH ONE ANOTHER."
AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS JUST A REALLY BEAUTIFUL SENTIMENT FROM
HIM.
>> Stephen: UNITY, OF COURSE, HAS BEEN A THEME LEADING UP TO
THE INAUGURATION, AND IT WAS ALL THROUGH THE DAY.
LOVETT, WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THOSE CALLS FOR UNITY?
DO YOU THINK WE HAVE A CHANCE?
HE ACKNOWLEDGED THE DIVISIVENESS IN THE COUNTRY, BUT DO YOU THINK
WE HAVE A CHANCE TO BOUNCE BACK FROM THAT NADER THAT WE SAW ON
THE CAPITOL STEPS TWO WEEKS AGO?
>> I THOUGHT WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THE INAUGURAL IS IT WASN'T-- IT
WAS HOPEFUL WITHOUT BEING NAIVE.
AND IT TALKED ABOUT UNITY IN A WAY THAT I HAVEN'T REALLY HEARD
JOE BIDEN TALK ABOUT IT IN THE PAST, WHICH IS THAT IT WASN'T--
HE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT IT AS SOMETHING YOU BEG FOR.
HE TALKED ABOUT IT AS SOMETHING YO FIGHT FOR.
IF WE WANT TO HAVE SHARED FACTS, IF WE WANT SOTEE SHARED
HUMANITY, IF WE WANT A NICE THING, PEOPLE DON'T TRY TO BURN
THE CAPITOL DOWN WHEN THEY LOSE AN ELECTION, THEN WE DON'T JUST,
LIKE, BEG OUR OPPONENTS TO BE NICE.
WE POINT OUT THE FORCES AND MAKE PEOPLE PAY A POLITICAL PRICE FOR
EMBOLDENING THE FORCES OF PROPAGANDA, RACISM, BIGOTRY AND
LIES WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH FOR FOUR YEARS.
AND HE WAS VERY CLEAR ABOUT THAT.
AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IF SOMETHING COMES OUT
OF THE LAST FOUR YEARS, FOUR YEARS OF SOMEBODY LYING TO US,
IT CAN BE THAT WE ARE FINALLY, COMPLETELY HONEST ABOUT HOW
BROKEN THINGS HAVE GOTTEN, HOW DANGEROUS SOME OF THESE FORCES
ARE, AND WHAT IT WILL TAKE TO FIX IT.
AND THAT, TO ME, WAS VERY HOPEFUL AND EXCITING.
THAT WAS WHEN I FELT THE EMOTION OF THE DAY THE MOST, I THINK.
>> Stephen: TO ME, IT SEEMED LIKE THE ARGUMENT, ON A CERTAIN
LEVEL WAS, LET'S FIND UNITY, IF ONLY ON A UNITY THAT FACTS
MATTER, A UNITY THAT HUMAN BEINGS ARE AFFORDED DIGNITY.
A UNITY THAT OUR INSTITUTIONS THAT SUSTAIN OUR DEMOCRACY ARE
WORTH FIGHTING FOR.
ANOTHER THING THAT BIDEN HAS A UNIQUE ABILITY TO ADDRESS IS
LOSS AND GRIEF.
AND, TOMMY, HOW-- WHY DO YOU THINK IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT--
FOR INSTANCE, THAT LAST NIGHT HE WENT TO THE REFLECTING POOL AND
TOOK THAT MOMENT OF SILENCE AND REMINDED US THE NECESSITY FOR
THAT RECOGNITION?
>> YEAH, LOOK, EVERYONE THAT IS-- THAT HAS WORKED FOR JOE
BIDEN OR WORKED AROUND HIM HAS A STORY ABOUT A TIME WHEN HE
REACHED OUT TO YOU WHEN YOU WERE STRUGGLING OR, LIKE, YOU SAW HIM
GIVE HIS CELL PHONE OUT TO A STRANGER HE MET AT AN EVENT WHO
EXPERIENCED LOSS AND HE ACTUALLY STAYED IN TOUCH WITH THEM.
IT'S THE CORE OF WHO HE IS IS.
THE MAN EXPERIENCED THIS UNIMAGINABLE LOSS AND TRAGEDY IN
HIS LIFE AND HE CAME AWAY WITH IT WITH THIS BOTTOMLESS WELL OF
EMPATHY FOR OTHERS.
WHAT I THINK THAT MEANS FOR US AS PRESIDENT NOW IS HE IS GOING
TO VIEW COVID AS A HUMAN PROBLEM AND NOT A POLITICAL PROBLEM.
TRUMP GAVE UP ON MANAGING COVID.
HE DIDN'T WANT NATIONAL TESTING BECAUSE HE THOUGHT MORE CASES
MADE HIM LOOK BAD.
HE DIDN'T WANT TO GIVE STATES MONEY TO DISTRIBUTE THE
VACCINES, BECAUSE HE DIDN'T WANT TO MAKE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS
LOOK GOOD.
IT'S TRULY SHOCKING THAT WE HAVE HAD 400,000 DEATHS.
THERE HAS BEEN NO MEMORIAL SERVICE UNTIL TODAY.
BUT WHAT I THINK BIDEN SAID THROUGH THE EVENT AND THE COVID
PLANT HE ANNOUNCEDDED IS, "I WILL GRIEVE WITH YOU.
I WILL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM, AND I WILL OWN IT,
BECAUSE WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER."
THAT IS A VERY DIFFERENT VISION OF LEADERSHIP.
>> Stephen: YOU GUYS WORKED ON CAMPAIGNS.
DO YOU THINK IF THE LAST PRESIDENT HAD JUST TAKEN ONE
MOMENT TO ADDRESS THE GRIEF OF THE NATION, OR TO ACKNOWLEDGE
THE LOSS, HE MIGHT STILL BE PRESIDENT TODAY?
>> YES.
I MEAN, UNFORTUNATELY.
( LAUGHS ) BECAUSE I THINK HE SHOULDN'T BE
PRESIDENT FOR A NUMBER OF OTHER REASONS.
>> Stephen: SURE.
>> BUT I THINK AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC, THERE WAS
ABSOLUTELY A MOMENT WHERE THE COUNTRY WAS YEARNING FOR ALEADER
NECESSARILY AGREE WITH THAT PERSON, EVEN IF THEY DIDN'T VOTE
FOR THAT PERSON.
AND HE COULDN'T SHOW EVEN A MODICUM OF EMPATHY FOR OTHERS,
BECAUSE HE IS A NARCISSIST, OBSESSED WITH HIMSELF.
AND THAT WAS BASICALLY THE DEFINING CHARACTERISTIC OF THE
ENTIRE PRESIDENCY, WAS SELFISHNESS.
>> Stephen: LET'S GET TO AN IMPORTANT SUBJECT, GAGA, J-LO,■ç
GARTH BROOKS.
LOVETT, DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE PERFORMANCE TODAY?
WHAT LEFT OUT?
>> OBVIOUSLY, AS A GAY AMERICAN, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT I CHOOSE
GAGA.
( LAUGHTER )
>> Stephen: SURE, LEGALLY.
>> LEGAL ME SPEAKING.
AMAAMANDA GORMAN'S POEM WAS, OBVIOUSLY, BEAUTIFUL.
BUT I WOULD-- I WOULD SAY THAT TED CRUZ PRETENDING HE DIDN'T
SUBORN A CUE TWO WEEKS AGO WAS EXTRAORDINARY.
>> Stephen: OSCARS.
OSCARS.
>> KEVIN McCARTHY, LIKE GEORGE CASTANZA WANDERING AROUND LIKE
HE DIDN'T JUST DECLARE WAR ON THE WHOLE PLACE.
HE VOTED AGAINST DEMOCRACY TWO WEEKS AGO!
WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?
( LAUGHTER )
WE ALL SAW IT HAPPEN.
IT WAS ON TELEVISION.
>> Stephen: YES.
BUT YOU NOTICE-- >> HE CAME BACK IN AFTER THE CUE
ATTEMPT.
>> Stephen: THE TELEVISION CAMERAS, THERE'S RIGHT AND
THERE'S WRONG-- THE CAMERA CUTS TO TED CRUZ.
OR WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN VISITED BY
EVIL, IT CUTS TO KEVIN McCARTHY.
IT WAS INCREDIBLE, WHOEVER WAS PRODUCING IT, KNEW WHERE PEOPLE
WERE SITTING.
>> REMEMBER HOW YOU VOTED AGAINST DEMOCRACY, AND THEN YOU
HAD TO LEAVE YOUR OFFICE?
AND THEN WHEN YOU CAME BACK A BUNCH OF STRANGERS HAD PEED IN
VARIOUS STRANGE PLACES?
>> Stephen: WE'RE LIVE.
WE'RE LIVE.
STOP THERE.
TOP IS THERE.
WE WERE LIVE.
YOU GUYS ALL WORKED FOR OBAMA.
WHAT'S THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN YOUR OLD BOSS AND THE NEW
PRESIDENT?
THAT CLUTCH AT THE END, YOU KNOW, THE FIST BUMP, AND THE
CLUTCH AT THE END.
WHAT DO YOU THINK IT MEANS TO OBAMA TO SEE HIS OLD FRIEND UP
THERE?
AND WHAT DO YOU THINK IT MEANS TO THE NEW PRESIDENT TO HAVE
BEEN THERE WITH HIM THAT WHOLE TIME?
>> I THINK THEY'RE, LIKE, GENUINELY VERY CLOSE.
I MEAN, THERE WAS A POINT IN TIME WHEN VICE PRESIDENT--
THEN-VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN'S SON, BEAU, HAD JUST PASSED AWAY, TO
PAY FOR HIS HEALTH CARE, JOE BIDEN WAS THINKING ABOUT
MORTGAGING HIS HOUSE.
AND, LIKE, BARACK OBAMA BSICALLY SAID, "DON'T DO THAT.
I WILL LOAN YOU THE MONEY."
THAT WAS THE CLOSENESS OF THAT RELATIONSHIP, RIGHT.
THEY WENT THROUGH FIRE TOGETHER FOR EIGHT YEARS.
JOE BIDEN KNOWS HE CAN CALL ON BARACK OBAMA FOR ANYTHING AT ANY
TIME.
I THINK IT'S-- IT'S LIKE-- IT'S HEARTWARMING TO SEE TWO HUMAN
BEINGS LIKE THAT INTERACTING.
>> Stephen: WELL, I-- IS HE-- DO YOU THINK HE'S GOING TO USE
THE OLD PRESIDENT OBAMA-- THE OLD PRESIDENT-- PRESIDENT OBAMA
AS A RESOURCE?
IS THAT A-- I DON'T KNOW HOW COMMON THAT IS FOR ANY
PRESIDENT.
BUT DO YOU THINK THE RELATIONSHIP IS CLOSE ENOUGH HE
MIGHT TURN TO HIM FOR ADVICE AT TIMES?
>> OH, I THINK SO.
BECAUSE I THINK THEY TALK ALL THE TIME.
AND I KNOW THEY TALKED DURING THIS CAMPAIGN A LOT.
AND I THINK BECAUSE THEY HAD SUCH A GOOD-- NOT JUST A GOOD
WORKING RELATIONSHIP BUT SUCH A GOOD PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP THAT
BIDEN WILL BE CALLING HIM A LOT.
WE HAVE TO TAKE A QUICK BREAK.
BUT WHEN WE COME BACK, I'LL ASK THE FELLAS ABOUT WHAT THE NEW
ADMINISTRATION MEANS FOR THE COUNTRY GOING FORWARD.
STICK AROUND.
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