From the New York Times are microbe over this period. Today, any democratic, senator representing a red state was going survive the midterm and make it to twenty nineteen. It was owing to be my camp, but she did Michael Sabrina Tavernise spoke to her during of final weak and off its first December twenty backing August daily producer, Lindsey Garrison, and I went to Missouri to visit the states. Only remaining abortion clinic Justice Kennedy had just announced he would be retiring from a Supreme Court briskly.

Guaranteeing a more conservative court. Thinking was that, while this might not result in Roby Wade being overturned, it would probably mean that red states would become more like Missouri. Pressingly embolden to limit abortion. We wanted to see what that looked like way around, but it turned out that it couldn't have been worse timing for abortion to come back into the national conversation, Claire mechanical was a democratic senator, trying desperately to keep her seat against a conservative Republican Josh Holly, and this was a state that had gone for Donald Trump. I nearly twenty points its profits, when she lost, we knew we wanted to talk to her about what had happened in which he makes it Your words centres,

Lindsey and I went to the capital this past year day, dissenter mechanical office, finding his willingness to accept it no longer says Senator Mechanical look, there's new pack, there's no name, there's just an empty placards outside her glass doors. I think its head now into the water. Bear the book shelves completely empty. Hi. A couple of her aids took us down to her hide away. The elevators that will take you up to the floor in the bowels of the capital is the part of the capital that makes you feel like you're eighteen, but there is still a couch to sit on Non. I knew she was Sabrina Guy

I now come to my pared down hideaway. Indeed, it is carried down the aisle, my pictures or on my shelves are gone and my normal desk has gone on her Ipad with her shoes off your aim with. I again thank you for taking the time, but it is my pleasure to I'm gonna start in the beginning, and I want you mechanical to go back and remember for me what politics were like when you first started in politics We all blurry lying back then, because we didn't have the sharp divisions based on cultural issues. There were whole lot of anti choice, Democrats in the Missouri legislature, There are a whole lot of pro gun Democrats in Missouri Legislature. There are a whole lot of rural Democrats in the Missouri legislature,

budget today. It is the misery legislature is dominated now by republicans by and large, because of the strength of the Republican Party outside of the two major urban areas where seeing their change a well. You started scene it really during the Clinton years when used Are you having a lot more? issues come up whether it was abortion or whether it was funds or whether it was gay rights, and so as we began to address some of the inequities in our country as apart There were a whole lot of white working class voters particularly in rural America. They said won't what about me hey. What about me and really that's the vain that Trump tapped into very very effectively as a good marketer, and how did you navigate that sentiment? Well, I'm a mean clearly not very well, because I lost you terms. Yeah I mean I, I think,

a whole bunch of voters, the Missouri that don't make up your mind on party and so My goal was always to work harder than anybody else to show up show respect that counts for a lot. If we hadn't had the Cavanaugh spectacle if Trump Hen camped out a misery. I think we would have had a chance this time, because we alone motivation on our side and they weren't. That enthusiastic- and I stressed issues I my background- was an auditor and a prosecutor will who doesn't want safe streets and who doesn't want us to keep track of taxpayers money, so I did an awful lot of work. Those buckets and that appeals to those voters that are not identifiable by party in our state- and I thought I could-

get enough out of that middle to go to cross the finish line this time, but Caravan Cavenaugh and Trump campaign out, where the three things that really amp up their side and ultimately cause the defeat and part of his journalist I think journalism has really made this a much more difficult job. Now everyone can pick a network for affirmation and just costs do in their own juices. You have places where you can find an echo chamber, and that is a problem. The public conversation is broken down, it's broken down so much colleagues that are from bright blue places. They want to make sure that they are appealing to the base. The party almost exclusively, my colleagues, are from bright red pit places, ditto People that are from states like mine still understand that the two sides yelling at each other or yelling about things that are not gonna? Get done, only increases cynicism. If we don't

people into the middle shave off the edges and find some and we can agree on. We're never gonna make a progress, especially on the tough stuff mean. That's where compromises gonna have to happen, and everyone is scared to death to compromise. So I started to understand the politics of Missouri this summer, because Breck haven't had just been nominated Supreme Court and we wanted to go to a state that had already pretty restricted access, so Missouri effectively only had one clinic. And I was expecting to find the states one democratic- senator- really be fighting for this kind of b on the barricades about it. You know be supporting this pro choice position and I was pretty surprised that you didn't you weren't. You were quiet on it and I talk to a lot of Democrats who really upset about that wondering if you understand why. Well, no, not really my voting,

record is perfect. I think I have Durban clear about my position. I think the people You talk to you, I'm willing to bet, I name three or four of them are young way and who have not spent any time outside of the group of people that agree with them. They probably don't understand that trust success had a whole lot to do with economic angst. And I knew that if I ignored the meat and potatoes of this election, which was all about, will people to be able to get health care. Can they afford health care? What about the price of prescription drugs These are all things that everybody in Missouri. When I go out to all the town halls, everybody would shake their heads. I think those people who were upset I was talking about it. The shame on them. They don't know my voting record and shame. M that they're not working as hard as they can for me and not trashing me

Doesn't my voting record in a hard state? What did you want to say to them shut up? You know really. I mean this is hard. You gonna be one thing: if I never wavered, but There is a lot of votes over the years on this issue. I have standing in the breach for women's rights as it relates to reproductive freedom. For all of my adult life and the fact that these young women didn't realize that and just be quiet, roll up their sleeves and work there ass off for me. Was beyond irritating? Can you tell, I can tell you tat, so you know, rather than go out the New York Times back as yeah she's, not doing enough he's not talkin about it enough we'll get out there work and real actor and quick complaining, because Josh Holly thinks the morning after pill should be illegal. He has said publicly: he wants to overturn Roby Wade. So to me there was a huge difference.

In the two of us and the fact they didn't appreciate that difference and they were willing to be critical that when talking about it enough dumb, it wasn't. I was changing my position on the issue. It was not an issue that was gonna, bring me more votes so effectively. Do you want to win, or do you want to feel morally pure. What I want to win so that I can be there to vote. The right way on issues that really matter to those young women and to me it's not like these young women I get and I love their passion, and am I loved they're out there working on this, they need to remember who their friends are and not make it more difficult for their friends. So when the assault allegations came out against Brecht haven't or were you thinking shit, there goes on my work to keeping things local. You were trying to walk that line and not be dragged into this kind of for tax of national parties.

Frankly, the oh shit moment was when Kennedy resigned, paint a picture. I was actually in my office and I was actually having a picture taken for a magazine article, and they had me by a window in my office is right by the door that leads to my staff and it was really quiet man. The picture was clicking and all of a sudden, this voice shouted out. Oh shit, that my staff members this back there- and I was a little arrest and so the photographer laughed and I opened the door. I know what's going on and I looked at the screen and it was: Kennedy is retiring Anna, so everybody in my office knew this was going to be a challenge because it was going to bring to the forefront issues that really divide us. So that's when I knew it was gonna, be a struggle and then, as it turned out, it was even worse than I thought it might be before it was all over. I still think I could have survived had passed.

Perhaps you ve been handled slightly differently. So did you the Democrats method here in what way I think, when the letter was received by the Judiciary Committee, it was imperative that even though the woman wanted confidentiality, the FBI is capable of confidentiality, and how and turned over right away? They could not have ever said that was an eleventh hour kneecap. It looked like this. Was political on the part of the Democrats doing this at the very end. And appearances matter more than substance, sometimes, especially in the closing weeks of a contested election in a pretty red place. When did you realize that you were going to lose So I knew the last three weeks that if we want it was going to be incredibly clubs, and I knew the chances were good, though we wouldn't win

do you feel that the Cavanaugh hearing was pretty much responsible for your loss that, along with the caravan optics and Trump camping out, Missouri those three things together really pumped up the other side, it got people who may be it dont vote that frequently, and certainly not in a mid term but like are all down with Donald Trump and the idea of giving the finger to the establishment. It got them off. The couch I'll be right back. H, vetoes I'll be gone in. The dark is in new documentary series based on the late author Michel Mcnamara's investigation of the Golden State killer directed by,

me winning director list garb s. It weaves Michel's riding with survivor, accounts and rare archival footage to explore the twisted case I'll be gone in the dark premier, Sunday June twentieth at ten p m on HBO and stream. It on HBO Max and subscribe to HBO I'll be gone in the dark, companion podcast for in depth conversations after every episode. It did feel like there was quite a real sort of changing of the guard There is maybe some sort of a message in it that you know you lost in Missouri, Joe Donley lost Indiana high camp lost in North Dakota. In you. Eyes were the ones tat were really trying really hard to connect to rural voters. I mean you did you know you were really really really strong candidates would one before

and you are lost, I mean what does that say about where we are right now in politics? Is the middle gone I mean, can a Democrat win in a red state while Yo Piano Mean curses Cinema, one a seat in the Senate in Arizona State had elected, democratic decades. People, I think you know, maybe ten minutes ago, would have called Arizona read: I think this is a trump inspired pendulum swing to the right, a little the hang over from the Obama years in areas of our country that many of those voters voted for Obama, but nothing changed for them. There still not doing as well as their parents did. They still can't afford to retire. They lost their job, the car plant and are working for half the money and without the benefits, and they were when the car plant was open. I got those in my state. I know No Donnelly has those people in his state, and it was

long enough in the Trump administration. For them to be as cynical about him became about Obama and why centre to deepening the people, have not. Really been moved when it turns out that the policies are so great or it's kind of not because they wanted to give him time. It's like the tariffs. How do you put tariffs on soybeans the most important crop in Missouri without there being a huge fall out while because they believe him that just give me time, it's gonna be better. You know he knows what he's doing he's a really good business man. He knows how to negotiate slowly, but surely there begins to realize, will maybe just maybe the emperor doesn't wearing clothes, but not yet not yet more They may be as the question. What does it do for our Canada's running for president against him and How do we not need someone who can compete in states like Wisconsin Michigan?

Of Florida and Ohio, even if they can't win days, like Indiana Missouri, because the next step for the pendulum swings back is freedom from to be defeated in twenty twenty. So I just want to make sure that all the people who have been elected to Congress from very blue districts- listen to the people who were elected from Congress, that replaced Republicans, not defeated Democrats in primaries. If you know who I mean who or what was her name, their bellies fascinated with New York. Cortez Iming got lover, but I hope she listens to people who defeated Republicans because it's the people defeated Republicans in this election- that we need to be emulating, not the people who defeated Democrats in primaries, and that goes back to the kind of purer than pure yeah bans that doesn't understand the broader picture.

Well, they may understand it, but they are so passionate about their beliefs. They feel that if everybody would just be more pure, more people would come to the car and many of them have not been in a place where the math is unforgiving to that concept, and so I just want to make sure that we don't make a mistake Oh so far to the left in nominating a candidate that we lose, whose all those white working class voters there had been a huge part of our party a decades ago. While we maintain great enthusiasm by young people, we need somebody who can bridge that divide. So we have an opportunity and twenty twenty is long. As we don't go so far off the left side of the earth that we alienate those people that when they hear the Word free college, they hear that phrase. They think Look there giving way something to other people. Besides me again, had earned mine. Why

they having to earn there's. That thing is real, sometimes going too far, we turn off people and make election victory impossible. I'll. Tell your true story: I met a gas station in kingdoms. Which is a stop in the highway miss about a month after present tromp was inaugurated in there was a good old boy or by the gas pumps Is that how you hey you, which in Missouri a senator senator so I walked over? And I said what can I do for you, sir, and he starts shaken his finger in my face. He's I voted for you before and I made over you again want you to know. I didn't vote for her Hillary Clinton. I knew she cared about women. I knew she cared about Muslims. I knew she cared about Mexicans. I knew she cared about homelessness. Because I really knew she, you know really care to lie about black people, but I'm pretty sure she didn't give a shit about me. So if

he's centre on economics and how people are frustrated about their economic situation. We will have a great deal more success. And not that we don't want to be a party of opportunity inequality. Of course we do. Of course we do, but we ve got to make sure that in that we don't miss the fact that a royal family living on the edge of poverty is no different in an urban family living on the edge of poverty. And that's what happen as many people in rural Missouri. Don't think we give a shit about them that there's this contempt yeah. That we think we're better than them smarter than em and don't get them. That is part of the democratic parties problem you I mean it did really strike us that you know, particularly with I mean the abortion politics in Missouri was one example right, but it felt like.

You know these two extremes are kind of what makes up every day politics when most people are sort of watching that in their television and just turning away and discuss the noise in the system is being generated by the ends, not by the nobody calls my office to say. I'm calling to ask Mister Mc Caskey to compromise. No one writes a letter saying you know, can't you find the middle, can't you, but they still expect us to get things done and those are mutually exclusive propositions. Getting things done means you cannot be extreme or pure. You have to come from so people around here know that and so there this compromise that happens, but it's not conflict, so it doesn't get covered as much mean people in Missouri were priced out. Getting hearing AIDS hearing AIDS were five six seven thousand dollars.

Not covered by Medicare. Hundreds of thousands of missourians could not hear very well and couldn't afford to get a hearing aid without a bell. Past gonna bring it and around five hundred bucks- that's a big, damn deal nobody. Missouri has any idea happened because it didn't scare him, it didn't make him angry, and so part of this is that the shifting business models and journalists that you know the idea that beyond Sais Bresse are always going to out click by GOSH. We ve got something done on the price area, AIDS. It is really a problem, so the issue is when people were, They have to be smart enough to know in states like Missouri Many many others that there is somebody out. The suburbs does not watching cable news and they're just trying to figure out. If I can afford us in their kids camp. This

And we need to be thinking about them, and smart people running for office will think about them and they will take them into consideration and they will win. Are you hearing from some of your constituents? Now I mean there is still the vast political middle out there right, even if you don't. Perhaps politicians are quite behaving that What are you saying? Well, I depends on where I am I'm hanging out at my home, which is Saint Louis, and dumb it's it's quite emotional. When I go out because people are incredibly kind, almost to a person, I they bemoaning the state of politics of a new century. Some quite hopeful, but I felt like your loss. Was Europe seriously cheer up you gotta get over it. We're gonna be fine trumpet

is an anomaly in America. He is somebody who so outside the norm. He is so bizarre most of America? Knows it and we're gonna be fine. Well, I've got a lot of grace and each year You think most go back by Christmas,

It probably won't surprise. My colleagues know that like much the idea of a farewell speech, but I want to respect the tradition, especially since I have witnessed so many such traditions crumble over the last twelve years, so I will do my best to get through this without breaking up. I think line. If I didn't say I was worried about this place.

It just doesn't work as well as used to the Senate has been so enjoyable for me, but I must admit it puts the fun in dysfunction. The United States Senate is no longer the world's greatest deliberately body and everybody needs to quit. Sign it until we recover from this period of polarisation and the fear of the political consequences of tough boats, writing legislation behind closed doors, giant omnibus bills. That most don't know what's in m. That's today's solving the toughest problems will not happen without tough boats. We can talk about the toughest problems we can visit about it. We can argue about em. We campaign.

Item, but we're never saw them without tough, but it will not happen. Something is broken and if we don't have the strength to look in the mirror and fix it, the american people are gonna, grow more and more cynical and they might do some crazy bike like elect a reality tv star president, I'm not kidding that's one of the reasons this has happened, but all the problems I have outlined know that I love this place and you almost all of you. You have filled my life with interesting work, an unforgettable memories. We have argued, we have saying we have fought, we have cried and we have laughed together just like family.

You your family, and I will miss you terribly. Thank you very much for your reply Kay I didn't die like one one death march around here I mean Jesus, I mean. I know everybody is sad for me and I know but I mean I'm fine, I'm fine, honest, I'm fine! Oh I didn't I.

I can now go places I never dared go before. I can tear the bark off the tree. If I feel like it, and so I feel great, I feel smart, I feel free, I feel cheerful, and I can't wait to get to it. I was expecting dark and you're so light, no known a dark. Not me, I feel great, Here is what else you need to another day. We have one against ISIS weeping that had we been badly, we ve taken back the land and now it's time for our troops to come back, love in surprise, move on Wednesday. President tromp ordered that all Two thousand? U S: ground troops in Syria be withdrawn within thirty days, despite pressure from his own generals to keep a military presence there in a tweet explaining the decision

tromp declared that the original mission of pudding troops in Syria to defeat ices has been completed. A conclusion own military and diplomatic staff have rejected in recent public remarks. The real objectives and serious or the military objective, very clearly the military objective as the enduring defeat devices, and if people one thing over the years and during the feet of a group like this means you can't just to feed their physical space and leave. You have to make sure that any internal security forces, is to ensure that those security gains. Are enduring the times. Reports that Pentagon leaders and republican law makers have sought to talk. The president out withdrawing the troops, arguing that it would seem influence in Syria to to U S, adversaries, Russia and IRAN, and. Allowing ISIS to re emerged the decision to withdraw on american presence. Syria is

So my mistake: greater that's, going to have significant repercussions in the years and months to come. On Wednesday night. The Senate has a short term spending, though that would avoid a partial government shut down. On Friday, but would not fulfil the president's demand for food. Five billion dollars to fund a border with the continuing resolution, if passed by the house and signed by the present, would fund nine different agencies through the first week of February. After which the president would face another budget showdown with a new Congress That's it. I'm Nikobob sooner

How does your home impact your health? which all reality, help million suffering from loneliness, I'm science, journalist Korea's power and I'm culture, credit Kristen Mines. Are we teamed up with Invest coke Youtube? You t brand at the New York Times to create innovation uncovered the world, changing in real time, often in ways we can predict on innovation uncovered. We share stories about the groundbreaking people in technologies there reshaping our culture rate now. Listen though, wherever you get your podcast in basque or distributors, ink