Many people don't know this,
but there is a whole other event after the debates
called the "spin room."
It's where the candidates try to spin their debate performance
to the press.
Now, usually, they only allow respected members of the media
inside the spin room, which is why we were surprised
when they gave access to our very own Michael Kosta.
And here is his report.
Here we are in Detroit, Michigan,
across from the Fox Theatre-- I'm sorry, I'm just trying to...
just trying to shoot something.
Sorry. So, here we are. We're across from the Fox--
you guys are in our shot again.
Here we are, from the Fox--
you're stealing our shot.
We're across, in Detroit, the same one...
(groans)
This your first time on the job?
As I was saying, we're in Detroit, Michigan,
covering the after-party of the Democratic debates.
Now, here is where we, the real reporters,
can ask candidates whatever questions we want
and get so close that we can actually smell
what they had for dinner.
You want to know what Bernie's breath smells like,
stick with me.
Welcome to the spin room.
Since this was my first time at the debates,
I wanted to hobnob
with a few of the 500 prestigious journalists--
myself included-- allowed in this room.
Chris Matthews is right behind me.
This is my... is this your first spin room here, or...?
-Who are you? I don't... -First spin room?
Huh. He's actually quite quiet in person.
What are you gonna ask Delaney?
"Why you?"
That kind of seems like a dumb question, if you ask me.
I kind of like Swalwell.
-He dropped out, I'm pretty sure. -What?
-I think he dropped out. -Did Eric Swalwell drop out?
-Yeah, he did. -What?!
What the (bleep)?
What the (bleep) am I even doing here?
Do you know Eric Swalwell dropped out?
(sputters)
What are you gonna ask, uh, Klobuchar, for instance?
When you are president,
would you bring back a pet to the White House?
You get one question, and that's what you're gonna ask?
-(laughs): Yes. -What's-what's-what's...
Is this your notebook here?
-Is this where you keep all your good ideas? -Yes.
♪ ♪
Now I was more prepared than ever.
Welcome back to the CNN Democratic Presidential Debate.
KOSTA: The debates were starting,
and I was ready to kick ass and show these clowns
what real reporting was.
-(snoring) -KLOBUCHAR: That's because we
come from a country...
What do you say we get this spin room spinnin'!
KOSTA: Mr. Bullock? Mr. Bullock? Mr. Bullock?
Sorry.
Well, now it's over.
Nice-nice check.
All these media personnel trying to get time
with the candidates, but I have a secret weapon.
Get over here, Jeffrey.
Smile for the camera.
If you turn down a kid, you're the candidate that hates kids.
All right, let's go, buddy. Come on.
But I'm still the star.
KOSTA: Beto?
You looked Ted Cruz in the eyes. How do we know you're not blind?
Senator Warren, you want to forgive college debt,
but even philosophy majors?
What about speech communication?
Didn't they make their own bed?
-Thank you, everybody. -Mr. Hickenlooper,
you were the governor of Colorado.
Do you personally know where I can get some weed here?
-No. No, I have no idea. -Wolf Blitzer's dry.
-I have no idea. -Come on.
I'm sure Wolf has-has sources.
Timothy John Ryan, is America ready
to have a president with three first names
-and no last name? -(laughs) We're gonna find out.
-Yeah. -Let's give 'em a chance.
He laughed, but I got to the heart of it,
and that's what good journalism does.
Mr. Delaney, Mr. Delaney, you're polling in last place.
You're staff is asking you to leave. Do you have a comment?
They're... Neither of those are true.
So my comment is, you need to do your work a little better.
That's how you do journalism! Whoo!
The author of this book is right behind me.
Where's my secret weapon?
Where's Jeffrey?
That slippery son of a bitch got to her first.
That kid took my question. That kid took my question.
I mean, these kids, they're ruthless.
Jeffrey, I thought you were on my side, buddy.
Going through the hell of the spin room
can rip people apart, that's for sure.
Ah, man, what a day, huh, Jeffrey?
I guess we got to go to the bar and hash it out.
That's what I like to do.
But I had a feeling Jeffrey and I,
we were gonna be just fine.
I basically got to talk to everybody I wanted to.
-What about you? -(laughs): Yes.
-I didn't get Warren, though. -I did.
What?!
(cheering, applause)
Michael Kosta and Jeffrey, everyone.