The presenting sponsor pod, save America is zip recruiter. Sure is code smartest way to find qualified candidates fast. Why? Because they do the work for you with one click. Click send jobs over one hundred of the web's leading job boards Their marketplace reaches over thirty million candidates every month and when you post your job, they reach out to the candidates that best fit your needs and invite them to apply. As they go out and find the candidates for you, they mean it Tommy. They do, they mean it zipper. Critter even has a complete suite of tools. It's like ice for candidates that makes it easy to fill to review and rate your candidates. We get a suite of tools. We really don't talk about the larger that way like customizable screen questions. In fact, the hardest

You have to do is remember our special girl, zip, recruiter, dot com, slash cricket that zipper cooter dot com. By the way did you know that four out of five employers who post on zipper here to get a quality candidate with sight within the first day? That's amazing, it's pretty effective, zip recruiters. The smartest way to hire friends of the pod can try it for free by just going to zip, recruiter dot com. Slash

welcome America. This is Tommy Vietor thanks for tuning in to another one of our pod, save America candidates Series. Today's guest is congressman. Yeah work, Texas, he is running for president- came to visit us here in LOS Angeles, and we talked about a whole bunch of stuff. I asked him about. Some of Vice President Biden's recent comments that were a touch controversial, leave it there about his immigration plan is a plan to expand voting access. He changed his mind on the Bernie Sanders Medicare for all bill. We talked to a whole bunch of foreign policy. We talked about IRAN. We talk

about funding for Latin America. And what do you do about Venezuela? but some you know random stuff. We talked about people getting radicalized online and what we can do about it and he gave his pitch for why Artemis should be the next first dog. So, Thank you for tuning in it was great dev, congressman, O'Rourke and in studio, as always, take a moment to plug pod save the world. If you are not subscribed, I need you to hit pause you to hit the world, then restart the show 'cause we're doing good stuff. Okay that'll work my guest today from the great state of Texas and Better Rourke running for president, it's great to have you in the crooked media, H Q. Thank you for doing this good to be at the world headquarters. Thanks for having me um uh first question MRS dive into it here. So

There are twenty three Democrats running for president. It is this big, diverse, impressive field of people um. I think we all have a good handle on the challenges we face. We don't want to be Trump. People are struggling to figure out with all these great candidates who can win and will be the best president. So can you make your pitch for why you're the one who could be Trump and why you would be the best person to serve in the job if elected yeah? So you mentioned this historic set of challenges: Climate healthcare in economy that is not working for far too many people- and you mention Trump as well, this country already very polarized he dividing further day this democracy already badly broken he's undermining at at every turn. So in other really got our work cut out for us and it's important. We beat trump. It's really important that we meet these challenges that we face, which in almost

every instance preceded Trump, but we're just made much worse by him. So in order to do this, I think we've got to bring something different to the campaign and something different to the country. If If we're divided, we've got to find a way to bring people in. If this democracy doesn't work, we've got to find a way to fix it. Everything that I'm about everything that I've ever been a part of has been bringing people in and making democracy work for everyone, so small, but I hope telling example on City council. For six years. Every single week I held a town hall meeting It's important for me to listen to my constituents on proposals, for echo, development or how to make sure that we balance the budget which we did every one of those. Sears even to listen to those whom I could not help. Your neighbors dog was barking too loud last night, but you were, you

make sure that you, let me know about it, yeah that direct accountability, fundamental to a successful democracy made me such a better representative, in also ensured that, when we had to take on the tough fights an example, any two thousand and nine extending health care benefits to the same sex partners of city employees despite the blowback and in the recall elections. I had a grounding in in working with my constituents, regardless of the differences between us. Taking that same approach to do a campaign against an incumbent, against the odds for Congress in twenty twelve and winning by going door to door bringing in new voters who had not participated. Maybe ever given him a reason to register or folks who dropped out for the last fifteen or twenty years, including their voices and their concerns in our campaign we won that race and use that same level

accountability to deliver on expanding veterans, health care, for example, or protecting public lands, all of which happened. While I was in the minority, so finding Republicans and Democrats alike with him, I could work Getting that signed into law by Barack Obama getting that signed into law by the one person with whom I agree on almost nothing: Donald, J Trump, but moving that we will work with anyone anytime anywhere to advance this country's agenda. And then and then lastly, Texas. So so. Here's a state that had ranked voter in voter turnout, not by Axa one hundred percent on purpose by design drawn that way through Ray sold, gerrymandering too diminish the power of your vote or your voice. Depending on the color of your skin We went to every single one of the two hundred and fifty four counties of Texas. Without a single dime from a single political action committee showed up with occur, of our convictions, a bold progressive agenda but uh

so showed up to listen. And to learn and to include people and their stories in the campaign that we were running and at the end of the day we did not defeat TED Cruz, we won more votes than any Democrat has ever won in the history of the state. We want independence, the first time in decades and brought along nearly half a million Republicans who voted for Greg, Abbott, very conservative, tea party Republican winner and voted for me on the same ballot not despite, but because of the progressive campaign that we, and and what is thought to be one of the reddest states in the country and we transformed our democracy, no longer 50th in voter turnout, those thirty eight electoral call votes now unlocked forever changing the political landscape in America and that movement led by young people who turned out five hundred percent greater than the last midterm election in voting. So, in other words, if you do not count anybody out or down, if you don't take anyone

granted, if you include everyone in a bold progressive agenda, lead a grassroots movement. That's what it's gonna take to defeat, Donald Trump, that's what it's gonna take to meet the greatest challenges we've ever faced in our administration. So congratulations! You that speech, one you're elected president you're sitting in the oval office. What you choose to First matters a lot right because you can burn political capital administration get overtaken by events like whatever so you can hammer out executive orders, all you want, but that first legislative priority really matters. What would President O'Rourke put to Congress first, if I think about the single greatest threat that we face? It's the fact that this climate is changing and that's produced not as an act of God not from mother nature, but from you and me, an from people in this country around the world through our emissions are excesses in in uh. Action in the face of the facts and the science and the fires that

seen here in California, preceded by historic droughts in this state, the floods in Houston, Texas, the floods were seeing on both is a viable along the Missouri along the Mississippi. These disasters that are consuming the lie. Of our fellow Americans are property and entire communities in some cases that will pale and Harrison to the hell that Weights are kids unless we take action now and so responding in in the boldest, the most confident, the most courageous way, distinguishing ourselves. By the way that we meet the greatest challenge. We have to lead on that because the clock is ticking and the scientists tell so. There are roughly ten years left to us to free ourselves from a dependence on fossil fuel to make sure that every single one of us is doing our part that were fortifying the community very often lower income income, use of color that on the front lines of climate change and pollution, to make sure that we

only survive this. But we lead the world and making sure that we overcome this challenge. So there are a host of threats in challenges that we face. That is the single greatest. I think it's important. We begin by bringing this entire together around the solutions to it. It's worth noting folks, one more detail: it's one of the major policy platforms on your websites. They can check that out. I don't want to dwell on Trump today, but but one question mean Vice President Biden basically argues that Trump is an aberration and that Republicans will come to their senses. Once Trump is gone, do you?

three, and do you believe that cordial relations between Vice President Biden and segregationist senators is a good example of civility in politics. Look the the Republican Party of today, at least those republican members of Congress is complicit in what this president is doing absolutely tearing apart this country and tearing down our democracy. If you had any doubt about the president's efforts to collude with Russia, then those were completely dispelled and became crystal clear to you when he admitted to George Stephanopoulos that he would take the help of a foreign power. Feet his opponent in November of twenty twenty, and where was the outrage from the Republican Party I mean If you had any doubt that he sought to obstruct justice into the invested and what happened to our democracy in in twenty and sixteen, then his

firing of James Comi or is tweeting to his attorney general to stop the investigation or his car Think of Ladimir Putin after the molar report is released. Describes that as a hoax, giving the guy a green light to invade is democracy again or Bob Molars Crystal clear public statement that, when the subject of an investigation lies to investigators or seeks to obstruct that destination. He strikes at the very heart of our government, of four and by people wear is the Republican Party on this. Who cares about our prospects in the next election about polling numbers? This is the very future and fate of this country and in our democracy. This is something where countries should absolutely trump party or any other consideration ruling for that matter? So deeply disappointed in that party and

and and still hold out some hope, although I'm not counting on it. That folks are going to come to their senses those in these positions of public trust who for generations are going to be looking back to they've, got to do the right thing and the window's closing on the ability to do that. Yeah um, the ah the Biden comments, but segregation of senator do you think. That's a good example of civility no um. The fact that this country is so riven by Partisanship being diminished everyday by a president who will stop at nothing to secure evermore greater powers for himself might distract us from the fact that for african Americans in this country from the inception of this country, this country has not worked. And, in fact, has been actively keeping them down by law and out of greatness

in an economic success. So one of obvious examples of people point to is the fact that we lock up almost two one- slash two million, fellow Americans many there for nonviolent drug crimes, disproportionate comprised of people of color? But it's not just that. It's, the economy, where there's ten times the wealth in White America than Black America, healthcare outcomes where you have a maternal mortality crisis in this country. That is three times as deadly for women of color education in a kindergarten classroom, a four or five year old child is five times as likely to be disciplined or suspended or expelled if she is a child of color. So for the vice president to somehow say that what we're seeing in this country today- is a function of partisanship or a lack of bipartisanship. Completely ignores The legacy of slavery and the active suppression of african American is in communities of color right now, so we've got to be focused on

on the future and again it means bringing people, especially those who've, been locked out locked out strange from having any ability to participate in the success of this country. That's what I want to do is president You proposed a major plan to make it easier to vote and to restore people's faith in government. I was interested. You could walk the plan briefly plan briefly and talk about why you made that a priority yeah. So you asked about you know that the first policy priority not talked about climate. For reasons that I hope are obvious to all of us, maybe not to the president and much of the Republican Party today but how are you going to do that? There's been scientific consensus on climate for decades, there's been political consensus actually for thirty years on this. Why have we not been able to act

it's because our institutions of Power Congress, as the most telling example, have been captured and corrupted by special interests corporations, especially after 2010's Supreme Court decision on citizens, United, they are equated to people and money is speech and they can spend unlimited amounts to not just a, but, I would argue, purchased the outcomes of elections and legislation. Meanwhile, you have people locked out of their democracy. I mentioned the is gerrymandering in Texas, but Stacey Abrams would be governor right now of Georgia, but for the fact, the Secretary of State, good successfully and legally purge. Hundreds of thousands of voters the roles in that state could serve As the referee in the company, where he was a competitor and crown himself Victor at at the end of it. So how do we meet this challenge We free ourselves from the influence of corporate interests and special interests by removing

action committees from federal elections. We make sure that we restore faith in our elections by having paper ballots or paper receipts for every ballot cast We audit those elections that take place. We in sure that we have the resources to stop future foreign interference and guarantee that there are consequences in country and outside of this country. For those who have welcomed or part is painted in undermining the world's greatest dad ocracy and then we bring people in. We call for fifty five million more Americans to be registered over the next four years through auto attic and same day, voter registration, ensuring those who've been criminally justice involved, are not denied their rights to vote once they've paid their debt to society, and then we make sure that barriers in place, like those voter, roll purges or voter id laws that we have in Texas or removed through a new voting rights ACT and ensure greater access to the ballot box through

a national election day holiday to make sure that make it easier for people to cast their vote and and ensure that their voice, is heard in our democracy. We do all that and so many more things become possible. That's what's different, going forward, that's in what we bring to this historically in the way that I've run and served and at the heart of what I proposed to do is President this country, bring everybody and remove the barriers and ensure that people not packs or corporations are calling the shots. One piece of the plan that I found particularly interesting, was the proposed twelve year term limits for Congress in eighteen year term, lows for the Cream court. So the argument against term limits is that lifetime appointments somehow make judges immune to politics? I I roll my eyes at that and that congressional term limits push people out right when they become experts. You served in the house. Why do you think some of those

those need to retire earlier than they would otherwise want to look I'll, make the best case for term limits Amy and I decided when we first ran for Congress in twenty twelve, that I would serve no more than four terms eight years and the logic was you know the president of state? can't serve more than eight years. The mayor of El Paso can't serve more than eight years, what's special about it, of Congress and then and then Amy's additional push on this is I don't could turn out to be trying to say something polite I don't want you to be a jerk at the end of the day. I don't want you to think that you're more important than anyone else. I see what happens to people who hold on to power tool. So after three terms, six years chose not to run again. That seat is now held by Veronica Escobar. She became the first woman to ever represent the 16th congressional District in Texas in the history of the district,

in the first latino woman. In addition to Sylvia Garcia, to represent a congressional district in the state of Texas, a state- that's more than forty percent Mexican American. So, by getting out of the way, you demonstrate a faith in the people that you represent. They look out of more than seven hundred thousand people in this district. Certainly, there's someone who will do just as good, if not a better job than I've been able to do, and The other must we're going to add something to that institution of power that reflects the diversity and the genius of this country, folks, who in some ways have been locked out through the perpetual election of members of and listen to be intellectually honest. I get the other of this argument that you lose some of the institutional knowledge you may empower lobbyists or some people say, staff or federal employee I'm not so concerned and they simply in power yeah. This is a the those are people that I so often relied on to to be smarter in

and do a better job, but but I think this is about a faith in our democracy in a faith in people and that not any of us is yellow in the any better. Then anyone else and then, if you don't refresh and recharge these institutions, they're not going to reflect the true genius this country and you're not going to meet these challenges with the urgency that they demand yeah, I mean it would be nice if some of the Us Senate had like use the internet before or from a Paso. You put out a major immigration proposal that includes protecting Daca recipients and their families from deportation, as well as temporary, protected status recipients ending in contention for everyone, except, I think violent criminals better sourcing and speeding up the asylum process, and I've heard you talk about potential tearing down in some parts of the border wall clear. The immigration is going to be a central part of Trump's campaign, going to lie: he's going to scare people he's going to say, there's a caravan on every corner, but do you

sorry that what you've put forward could be credibly described as opening the border or could be described as creating more of an incentive for people to come to the. U set a time when the system is taxed. This is another reason run. This is another way in which we can distinguish ourselves in an extraordinary field of candidates. The president has trained our focus on the Us Mexico border in an attempt to try to scare us about Mexicans who he described as rapists and criminals about caravans are coming to get us about asylum seekers, he is described them as an infestation. He's described him as animals. I think it's only when you use language like that that you get kids in cages, yeah that you are able to support their moms back to the countries from which they fled the gin up separating families and creating the kind of cruelty. That seems so on American and yet is happening in this country right now and I'll tell you having

and their raising our three kids there I think able to tell a really powerful and hope compelling story about immigration. Being such a positive for this country, not only the right thing to do not just morally just but but in our own self interests economically or from the perspective of safety and security. El Paso, Texas, is one of the safest cities in the? U S today, it's because we're city of immigrants and asylum seeker. And refugees from the world over who were old to us and are making us better by their very press, and I'll say this arm as a demo I've been really frustrated by our party's response to this issue. For my entire life, I've seen us be so apologetic and and defensive and and really kind of half hearted. And making these bargains that never work out. I'm to get really tough on immigrants to port a bunch of break up. Families will

hope for walls and fences, though we know they've caused thousands of deaths of people who are trying to join their families. Or work jobs in this country that no one born in this country would take. But I'm going to do all this so that I can get to a place that will allow me, having shown how tough I was to do the right thing, we're changing that this is different. We're going to say doing the right thing makes us safer and more secure adds to our economy, make the average American's life farb buy, ensure The nine million green card holders in this country can become us citizens as quickly as possible, waive their fees make sure that we send them. Pre filled application forms with the data that they sent us when they first applied for legal, permanent, residency for the more than one million dreamers them. U S! Citizens! Never! again allow them to live in any fear of deportation to a country whose language they don't speak, where they no longer have family, where, if,

since those long odds, are successful, they're going to be successful for that place, not not your community, not our country and then the millions who are here doing the most backbreaking shittiest jobs that we have available in America that no, I'm born in America is willing to do, allow them to register and get right with our government contr even more to our country success and ensure that we're living up to the promise of this country that defined itself, not by race by common genealogy but by the fact that we are all created equal and that's the source of our strength. It's the foundation of our success and we turn our back on that to our peril. So this this ambitious. It is bold. It is confident it's in the best traditions of the United States, of America, and I I know that we can bring not just Democrats into this. We can bring independence and Republicans folks, who understand,

their communities, that this is the right thing to do. I left out a big piece of your plan, which is ' is investing five billion dollars, mostly through NG 'cause, I believe in Guatemala. Honduras, El Salvador, to improve the quality of life for people live those countries that they don't want to leave. An you've also talked about creating regional partnerships to get countries in the region to bring money and provide political support, and I mean I I personally think this is the key to any long term immigration proposal. If you're a kid did or if your parenting, your kid is, being forced to join a gang or could get killed like nothing's is going to convince you to stick around right, but I've also worked on the NFC, and I know how hard it is to convince Americans that it's in their interest to support sending dollars to other countries and less were blowing them up so you make the pitch like how do we convince a skeptical voter that this is a good use of taxpayer dollars? You can just

decide where you're going to meet this challenge. If you wait to meet it at the Us Mexico Border and you, for example, believe in a wall that'll cost you thirty thirty billion dollars. You have to take our fellow Americans, ranches and homes and farms and properties in to build it 'cause. It won't be built on the true international boundary. The centerline of the Rio Grande River Channel will be built well into the interior of the US. You can even look at our current costs to accept these asylum seekers. If we were to follow our laws incredibly expensive, to do that or for a fraction of the cost, you could invest in reducing violence. In Guatemala and El Salvador in Honduras, so that no family ever has to make that God awful decision to send cha hold on the two thousand mile trek and when we the size- and we just put ourselves in the shoes of somebody- would have to make that decision, we we realize no parent would ever do that for kicks or to take somebody's job or benefits were to take advantage of another country

You would put your child on that perilous journey. If that were the only thing you could do to save her life, exactly what people are doing now, so what if we can help them to protect their families and their kids, in those countries and, as you mentioned, work with non governmental organizations. Work with community, neighborhood level, policing and then understand some of our ability in the problem. We are the largest market for illegal drugs on the planet were four percent of the population. We consume twenty five percent of the illegal drugs that manned and our way of response into that with the militarization of his drug war in Central America has help hollow out some of those civil shins, compounded by decade of intervention in Central America, in their civil wars and civic life and eroding institutions for democracy. We also have sponsor ability to do this as well. But again, if I were just to make the most basic self

just argument is far cheaper to meet. This problem at its source and immediate at the Us Mexico border and then the larger challenge. I think that we have to address is the need to elevate the western hemisphere as a priority in foreign policy. It always is forgotten was ever remembered at all, and these the people that were literally connected to buy land by language bike, uh increasingly bye, bye, family and it should not have come as a surprise to us that tens of thousands of kids showed up on our front door, but it was because we were so preoccupied. Ride on places half a world away wars that we've been fighting now for eighteen years and counting so great opportunity, administration to elevate the western hemisphere address these problems at their source So, during the Senate campaign, you talked about your support for Bernie Sanders Medicare for all bill. Would have essentially eliminated the private insurance market,

You now say: that's not the fastest way to get to universal care way. Did you change your mind on on that bill and why yeah so two extraordinary women with whom I had the chance to work. As a member of Congress introduced a proposal called Medicare for America, Jan Schakowsky of no Rosa Delauro of Connecticut, and essentially this plan- says that if you are uninsured today in America, you can enroll in Medicare it also importantly says that if you're insufficiently insured, so you have insurance, but really it's a name. Only. You can't afford the co pay on the medication. You can't afford the rising premium costs. You can't bridge that deductible before you You can choose to enroll in Medicare, but if you are somebody who has employer sponsored insurance and you like it, because it works for you and your family If you're a member of a union that negotiated for a health care plan

and perhaps in lieu of wage increases or other benefits, and you like that plan because it works for you and it works for your family you're able to keep it. I I think that gets us to the goal of guaranteed high quality universal care. Quickly and as surely as possible. It in creates the interests of everyone who's concerned about the affordability of prescription medication. Ability for women to make their own decisions about their own body and have access to the health care that makes that possible, ensuring that our county jails are no longer the largest providers of mental health care services, and it allows people who have insurance that they like right now to be able to Keep it going forward. Pot save America brought to you by safe

a recent Gallup survey shows Americans worry more about burglar than almost any other crime, more than mugging, more than terrorism, more than car theft and murder. Who are these anxious people anxious about? Maybe it's the wrong thing I yeah- I would not have been a respond in that poll. That said burglary. Now I mean look now that you tell me the Word about it, I worry about it. I am already right now: I'd rather get burgle than murdered it's easier to address the burglary issue with simple off by that is very true. Every thirteen seconds there's a burglary. So, in the time it just took us to go off script like that someone got burgled we're saying that Berg, Aled and what's crazy, is the only one in five homes have home security, maybe because most companies don't make it easy. It's confusing it's expensive, it's a hassle, you're like what. What is this all about? I have to get people in my house. They have two wire everything with the fuck simplisafe is easy: they make it easy. They protect your whole home every window, room door with twenty four slash. Seven monitoring for just a fraction of the cost is designed to

right right into your home in wires and drilling. Easy to order easy to set up, usually under an hour. It's very fast. You've got an hour, so it was one a ton of awards from Cnet to the New York Times wire cutter prices, they're, always fair notice around the clock, monitoring just fifteen dollars a month visit, simply safe dot com, start tricking, media you'll, get free shipping and a sixty day risk free trial. You got nothing to lose, go now and be be sure to go to simplisafe dot com, slash cricket media, so they know that we sent you here in parts of America we did that simplisafe dot com, slash crooked media pod, save America is brought you by mirror Mirror is the First, nearly invisible, interactive home gym bring the studio, workout experience directly into your home. We're about to be able to do this because there was some dudes in the office yesterday, setting up a mirror, and, unlike our lobby area at crooked media and while they were, doing it. Governor, Steve Bullock was here, and he was looking at it like what the fucks happening. Yeah, really hey Steve, will see some leg lunges when it's off it's a front squats. This is just how things go here at our startup

when it's off it's a beautifully designed full length, mirror that blends seamlessly into its surroundings when it's on enjoy thousands of live and on demand, work classes taught by the country's top instructors, and it's on cardio strength. Yoga boxing bar palade Weightlifting and more. The mirror has the perfect workout for every member of your family. You know how I could using mirror. Our host is not reading the ads right now love it. Oh that guy, remember John love. It yeah! can see. Can you see him he's got like a mirror? It's like you know he needs it easy for him right he's like playing video games. He looks over at the Marys look at himself and he's like hey. I could do a quick workout. You know I've always wondered about if you could take your our workout in just break it up into little five minutes. Thanks and kind of get the same thing out of it. If we had a mirror in the office- and you could just do a like a tight five, very cool people are going to be lining up around this office. To do their type, five

yeah, while you're using the mirror. You can see your instructor on the mirror, your heart rate and other members of the class, while also seeing your own reflection, I mean what, if you fall in love with your mirror instructor, that's another ad. Another at got it during the workout instructors provide real time instruction and even personal shoutouts mirror optimize in real time based on a user's goals, preferences and biometric data. You can also try competition mode. Where mirrors proprietary algorithm will track your ability to achieve, maintain and recover from your target heart rate zones. Try to hit the target or compete with your personal best at school, so you can compete with others and you can compete with you, I mean the competitor inside as a special for our listeners mirrors, offering free White Glove delivery and installation in the first three months of the subscription free, that's over three hundred and fifty dollars worth of value. Let me tell you that White Glove delivery and installation that was a godsend yesterday. I didn't see any way, clubs that is correct. Maybe it's not literal

Okay. Well, we should correct that just head to mirror dot co, mirror dot c o and used the code pod, save it check out. That's mirror dot c, O code, pod save you'll, never look back on. Ah, I get it question about growing up as a kid you were kind of messing around on early internet message boards and he's like pseudo hacker communities. You are in a punk band. I can imagine a twenty nineteen version. Better Beto O'Rourke, that is in the same communities and gets pulled into four Chan or Force fed some like alt right bullshit by the Youtube algorithm and your life goes in a really different direction. You know And I know you have three kids: do you worry about how many young people are finding friendship and community in some of these dark corners of the internet and you think,

government has a role in preventing radicalization. The answer. The questions. Yes, I want to just clarify that nothing about Paul rock lead you down that road of the I, but I I get your point so so you are all go back to where you started so in in the 1980s awkward kid hard time socializing found friendship? online. Well, the version of online at the time which was die going into somebody's computer on a three hundred baht mode uh, your mom, picks up the phone and you yell it area like I'm online or your dad gets the phone bill. Oh man, what are you doing? I got hammered for our air, well built? Yes, so that I was with you. I weigh the same as I do now and I was much shorter and I was a lot of time in my room yeah um but here's. Here's a positive side of that. I found this extraordinary community of

people who also in some ways were misfits in their hometown or their school or in their lives, but team together online that version of online and man. That was just a really powerful experience and in really in some ways, kept me going in in the right direction. You know so I I don't want to discount the the the value in the positive power of of online communities, but but all of knowledge, your poll that, there's there's a really dark side, as there is in every aspect of life right there the dark side to that as well, and when you have people who traffic in hatred and violence and in so Manets based on race or religion, or the difference is that should not matter it help

to explain some of the rise in public hatred that we see right now. You know right outside the United States Capitol. I think very recently Charlottesville Virginia. Just a couple years ago and a president who then says that women and Nazis and white supremacists are very fine. People he's in part responding to a base that has been nurtured in in these online communities. Unfettered disturbed, especially by the platforms that enable this, and so I think, expecting far more out of Facebook in twitter and other digital platforms where people congregate to combat. Kind of hatred and also to acknowledge that that really young

people are on there in a receiving an education in in intolerance. That's gonna manifest itself in violence. You've seen it a rise in hate crimes, every single one of the last three years in in this country. Much of that is Donald Trump, but a lot of it is what is allowed two to grow exist on unchallenged and unchecked. So I do see a role for government to to help regulate that I You see greater responsibility through enforcement of these social media platforms, to make sure that we're protected people in that everyone is able to thrive in this country without fear of our differences going to turn to a couple of foreign policy questions there's been a lot of loose talk about IRAN. Lately weather to war with them you're, seeing times columnist: senators members of the ministration, if IRAN did sabotage the two commercial vessels in the Gulf of Oman with these limpet mines,

they continue to enrich uranium above the level set by the JCP away. What do you think the Trump administration should do about it to to stop them? America should find a way to work in concert with with other he's primarily our allies, but but Those who may have a shared interest in stability in the region two to ensure that peacefully without in IRAN, without firing a shot, were able to resolve what would otherwise be an intractable problem in part, because we know that the cost and consequence of invasion in military action will be measured in lives lost her fellow Americans, who will be sacrificed, lives taken in the name of this country. And an understanding that that rarely has military Intervention produced the results that we're looking for the sea buy a led coup in IRAN in nineteen fifty three of the democratically elected muscle, dug in part

reduced, the revolution that we saw in nineteen, seventy, nine and the impasse that we face today in twenty nineteen, we were talking about, Central America. Earlier the next year, nineteen fifty four again CIA led coup in Guatemala deposing Hyco BAR. Guzman leading to stability that has persisted to this very day. President Trump has made it very hard for us, though listen to do it the right way, not just through the Saber rattling and the threatening of war, but I exiting the joint comprehensive plan of action, which is one the greatest foreign policy feats of the United States, the modern era, certainly of the Obama administration. The fact that we could bring permanent members of the Un Security Council, Germany and IRAN all to the table and be able stop them from pursuing nuclear weapons and begin the process of addressing other tough

challenges that are on poses the funding of terrorism in the Middle EAST, their development of ballistic missiles. There are supported the hoodies in Yemen and instability that civil war that we see in that region. I felt like that was a great start: towards addressing those other issues. Now we have no one with whom to meet at the table, IRAN's not going to trust us again. Europeans don't know how to hand a country that breaks its word and its commitments that has made us less not more secure less, not more safe and is really made war a more likely out home in option, as we are seeing play out right now. So so, yes, let's hold IRAN accountable. Let's do this through partners and allies and friends were much more likely to be successful and achieve our aims. Sick with the region. You've talked about israeli Prime Minister, be netting on who you mentioned you. I think the quote. Was he open? side with racists if he

follow through on his campaign, pledge to annex the West Bank do think We should cut assistance to Israel and given some of the races things he's done said, you think he's committed to a peace agreement. It is in our national security interests, it is in The interests of the people of Israel and the Palestinian Authority for there to be a two state solution, annexing the West Bank would spike any opportunity to achieve that which would promote greater. And and violence in the region, it would make Israel less safe, make it less that you would ever achieve full human rights and dignity for the Palestinians. So it's got to be our priority and it would be my goal. President to make sure that we achieve a two state solution to provide encouragement to facilitate where we,

and to do so with the humility of understanding that we cannot impose this solution. But it's going to be tough because in addition to Prime Minister Netanyahu and his three to annex the West Bank is warning that Arabs are coming to the polls in a previous election, his siding with openly racist parties in the palace authority with the boss. You don't have a full partner for peace either. You don't have somebody who can quell the incitements or control. Silence or can demonstrate a willingness to make the necessary concessions, get to that desired goal. So so I say this: no knowing that it's to be extraordinarily difficult, given two leaders that we have in in the region, but but also making, commitment and I would be hesitant to describe a punishment or negotiate in public with the Prime Minister right

Now. On Lee to say that this will be the priority of the United States and that we will work even if it is Prime Minister Netanyahu in our administration, we will work with anyone to make sure that we secure peace and a two state solution. Um there was a pretty depressing coda to the Arab Spring Protests in Egypt this week Mohammed Morsi, who is teacher's first democratically elected president, died in prison of what appears to be neglect. But at the same time we're seeing these mass protest movements in Algeria, Sudan, Hong Kong, it does feel like there's sort of an arab spring, Two dot zero going on, or maybe it never ended. What did you take away? from watching that first round of protest movements have started in two thousand and one, and how do you think the respond to or support efforts to beat back authoritarianism yeah. It's such a good question and it's obviously a tough one for us to answer and has been for decades

mentioned Guatemala, one thousand nine hundred and fifty four IRAN in one thousand nine hundred and fifty three we've always these not always, maybe always struggled with short term security interests. You know fighting communism were fighting into terrorism today and compromising our values for democracy and independence and freedom in order to achieve those, those short term security gains- and here we are faced with that again only in this case it doesn't seem like there's a struggle on the part of the administration. They have openly cited with dictators in autocrats Prince Mohammed Bin, Salman in Saudi Arabia, was a kill an american journalist or journalist based in America, kiss og with absolute impunity with and trump- you know- maybe this kind of stuff was said behind doors in the past openly saying yeah, but guy buys billions of dollars in weapons systems from United States. Defense

contractor, so I'm willing to turn a blind eye to that and the fact that he's bombing Yemen into the last century and precipitating the greatest humanitarian crisis. Perhaps we've seen since World WAR two and that we are effectively a co combatant. It is two tired day in the Philippines. It's LCC in in Egypt were were more see, was just just died in court? It's to one in Turkey and then to our allies into the great democracies? We turn the back or give the middle finger that That is going to make us and already is making us demonstrably less safe. If we're going to be able to. To end these wars that we're in we're going to be able to confront climate change. If we're going to be able to stop nuclear proliferation, we're going to need partners and allies and we're going to answer the big open question that the world has right. Now is the future author Atarian. Where is the future democratic we're going to have lead by example around the world and then here at home again

why democracy is central to this campaign in do the administration that I hope to lead so as tough as it is in the short term. I think it's in portent that America side with democracy, in Egypt, it seems as though we were willing to forsake somebody democratically elected politically diplomatically inconvenience in favor, of somebody who has been incredibly brutal in his repression is effectively closed down. Even the nominal democracy that existed before him, that can't be who we are and who we support, and what do going forward, and in my administration we will absolutely change course in favor of democracy yeah I mean you talked about the Eastern Hemisphere, as often forgotten I mean the one place in the western hemisphere that has been forgotten by this administration, has been Venezuela, and you know, they've done this ham handed

sort of cool light regime, change effort where they were supporting a legitimate brave opposition leaders like one Quido Leopoldo Lopez, in their efforts to take power but you know meanwhile, we have, I think four million refugees have already flown out of and as well as so I mean I I'm curious you make of the administration's efforts to deal with Venezuela, dramatically and how you might approach that yeah. You know I'm concerned in my the same way about the administration's threat to invade or or bomb or on its threat to to bomb North Korea. Its threat to invade Venezuela threat that this president made and and perhaps unwittingly, diminishing. Why does stature know with the memory of Pinochet, with the with the memory of Arbenz Guzman with the memory, of active american involvement in civil wars and, overthrowing legitimately elected democratically

others in some ways we complicated Guido's path to to effectively represent the, so the resistance to Maduro and the ability to stabilize a country that is absolutely out of control. Once the richest country in Latin America, people are starving, they're going out going without medications. In Colombia alone has absorbed one dot: five million refugees. This is one of the greatest, if not the greatest humanitarian disasters in the western hemisphere. So enough of the Saber rattling focus on resolving the humanitarian urgency that we have in people dying or potentially dying, and then work collaboratively with the other stakeholders in the region, with Columbia with Mexico, with our partners,

Latin America to provide stability, a transition of power and then a democratically elected government to final much less serious or important questions first Do you think that the way the Dnc is structured and handled the debates, his made sense, or were This is a good way to run a railroad. I don't know that it made, I don't know you got this really good problem where you have twenty three or twenty four people, all of whom bring extraordinary spur, T's and biography and skills to this campaign into what they want to provide for this country as president and that's a great sign for our party, I think it's a great sign for this country in our democracy, How do you facilitate the conversation necessary for people to make an informed decision when it comes time to caucus or or to vote in in the primary, so for example, this this ten and ten over two nights in Florida.

Maybe that was the best way to do it. The threshold of I don't know what it was: sixty five thousand unique donations in a certain pulling level. Maybe that's the right way to do it so I'm Participate Obviously, in these debates I'm looking forward to it, but I'm also really focused on meeting people where they are through town halls that we've been holding all over the country going to big blue communities going to rule read communities just listening and making sure that I have a chance to introduce myself and then take the questions from the people whom I want to serve and and learn from them in the process. So I I am you know, load to second guess. You know how I would do this differently. I just think you want to make sure that that everyone of these candidates has a chance to make their case to answer questions.

And then we make the best most informed decision for defeating Donald Trump and then bringing this country together around the greatest challenges. We've ever faced last question as you no 'cause. You gave LEO treat coming in we're very pro dog podcast, so a lil, Warren's Golden Retriever Bailey has been getting a lot of press as a big social media presence, and reportedly a very good boy. Can you make the case? for why Artemis should be chasing tennis. Balls on the south lawn, oh, so Artemus is amazing, um. She Amy, and I were just talking about this the other day. She she took our kids on a backpacking trip with her two brothers and their kids and took and she said no matter how far are the leader on the trail was from the last person on the trail. Artemis is going back and forth. The int far away way to make sure that everyone's okay constantly

checking on them, she's, incredibly, loyal and faithful. Is there to protect the family and the extended family, So I don't know those characteristics. She's, incredibly, loving and cute great dog to run with shoes maligned is a turtle leader. You know that that was my bad I'll. Tell you that the circumstantial evidence, what was was pretty clear that you know she had taken the turtle food out of the turtle container into the backyard and eaten it. There was like a turtle food. Rapper everywhere was missing. I thought you know she had the turtle. Why not just hear a hurdle yeah? Well, the turtle later showed up. I think she she picked up the turtle in perhaps an attempt to eat it. I believe the turtle bit her. Oh, that's that that's! This is a gasser. And then Artemis drop the turtle and the turtle into a closet where it had for three days until until we found it, update

this Molly our ten year old who volunteers at an animal rescue just adopted two more box turtles, were found and rescued and treated and cared for so Gus has two more friends in the turtle enclosure so we're adding to the you know. The household zoo that Molly's running right It's a happy ending. You know you're, like the pizza away from teenager. Ninja turtles, thank you for doing this constant O'Rourke Great, to see you best of luck out there. Grateful thank you.