>> FUNDING FOR "OVERHEARD"
WITH EVAN SMITH IS PROVIDED
IN PART BY THE MATTSSON
MCHAIL FOUNDATION, IN
SUPPORT OF PUBLIC
TELEVISION, ALSO BY MFI
FOUNDATION, IMPROVING THE
QUALITY OF LIFE WITHIN OUR
COMMUNITY AND FROM THE TEXAS
BOARD OF LEGAL
SPECIALIZATION, BOARD
CERTIFIED ATTORNEYS IN YOUR
COMMUNITY.
EXPERIENCED, RESPECTED AND
TESTED.
ALSO BY HILLCO PARTNERS,
TEXAS GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
CONSULTANCY AND ITS GLOBAL
HEALTHCARE CONSULTING
BUSINESS, HILLCO HEALTH AND
BY THE ALICE KLEBERG
REYNOLDS FOUNDATION AND
VIEWERS LIKE YOU, THANK YOU.
>> WE HAVE 15 MILLION KIDS
WHO GROW UP BEHIND THE
POVERTY LINE.
>> MOST AMERICANS WANT THE
SAME THING, A GOOD JOB.
>> I REALIZED THERE WEREN'T
A LOT OF PEOPLE WRITING
THINGS IN MY VOICE SO I
REALIZED I HAD TO DO IT FOR
MYSELF.
>> AS A KID I LOVE YOU
BECAUSE...
>> WE ARE A BETTER COUNTRY
THAN WE USED TO BE, BUT WE
HAVE MORE TO DO AND WE NEED
TO GET AT IT.
>> I WOULD DO THAT.
I WANTED TO GET THE BUZZ YOU
WOULD GET FROM WORKING AT
THE ABSOLUTE TOP DOLLAR A
YEAR.
[LAUGHTER]
¶
¶
¶
>> WELCOME TO KLRU STUDIO
6A.
WE ARE DELIGHTED YOU ARE
HERE AS WE CONTINUE OUR 2013
SUMMER MEMBERSHIP DRIVE.
THE NUMBER TO CALL IS
866-910-KLRU.
910-5578.
WE LOVE YOU TO PICK UP THE
PHONE AND GIVE US A CALL AND
FOR THE NEXT PROGRAM, WE ARE
THRILLED TO HAVE THE SPECIAL
EDITION OF "OVERHEARD" WITH
EVAN SMITH.
"OVERHEARD" IS ONE OF THE
FLAGSHIP PROGRAMS OF KLRU.
IT'S DISTRIBUTED NATIONALLY
AND PLAYS IN MAJOR MARKETS
ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND
TONIGHT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE
A CHANCE TO SEE THE BEST OF
SEASON THREE OF "OVERHEARD"
WITH EVAN SMITH BUT EVEN
MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE HAVE A
CHANCE TO BE WITH EVAN
SMITH, THE HOST OF
"OVERHEARD."
EVAN IS A GREAT FRIEND OF
THE STATION, A FORMER MEMBER
OF OUR BOARD.
IN FACT, A FORMER CHAIR OF
OUR BOARD, AND CURRENTLY
SERVES AS THE MEMBER OF THE
NATIONAL BOARD OF PBS.
HE IS ONE OF THE FOLKS THAT
HAVE HELPED MAKE KLRU WHAT
IT IS AND WE ARE DELIGHTED
TO HAVE HIM HERE THIS
EVENING.
"OVERHEARD" IS IN THIS THIRD
SEASON BUT EVAN SMITH HAS
BEEN HOSTING THE SHOWS FOR A
DECADE BEGINNING WITH TEXAS
MONTHLY TALKS AND MORE
RECENTLY WHEN HE FOUNDED THE
TEXAS TRIBUNE, WHICH IS ONE
OF THE NATION'S LEADING NEWS
MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS FOCUSED
ON REPORTING STATE
GOVERNMENT HERE IN TEXAS AND
HE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO
RECREATE THE SHOW AND WE HAD
INCREDIBLE GUESTS AND
TONIGHT YOU WILL SEE SEVERAL
OF THEM.
WE HAVE SEVERAL CLIPS FOR
YOU.
SOME PROVOCATIVE STATEMENTS,
SOME FUNNY THINGS, SOME
INTERESTING THINGS AND A
CHANCE TO SIT AND CHAT WITH
EVAN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HIS
OBSERVATION ON THOSE
EXPERIENCES AND IT IS MY
PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE EVAN
SMITH.
>> BILL, THANK YOU SO MUCH
AND ALWAYS HAPPY TO BE HERE
ON STUDIO 6A AND ON THIS
GREAT STAGE WHERE I SPENT SO
MANY HALF HOURS INTERVIEWING
PEOPLE OVER THE LAST TEN
YEARS AND THEY HAVE AMAZING
GUESTS, AND TONIGHT I GET A
CHANCE TO VISIT WITH FIVE OF
FAVORITE INTERVIEWS OF
SEASON THREE, BEGINNING WITH
GLORIA STEINEM, SOMEBODY WHO
HAD BEEN A GUEST FOR US IN
THE SHOW, GOING ALL THE WAY
BACK TO TEXAS MONTHLY TALKS.
WE TRIED TO GET GLORIA
STEINEM REPEATEDLY AND
FINALLY WE WERE FORTUNATE TO
GET HER AS ONE OF THE
EARLIEST SHOWS IN SEASON
THREE AND THE TIMING WAS
FORTUITOUS IF YOU THINK
ABOUT IT BECAUSE RIGHT NOW
THE NATION IS ENGAGED, NOT
RIGHT HERE IN TEXAS BUT
AROUND THE COUNTRY.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
ABORTION AND REPRODUCTIVE
RIGHTS AND WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT WOMEN'S HEALTH AND
WOMEN'S ISSUES, WHETHER
THERE IS A SO-CALLED WAR ON
WOMEN AND BEFORE THE WENDY
DAVIS FILIBUSTER, MONTHS
BEFORE, MONTHS BEFORE THIS
WE BROUGHT GLORIA STEINEM TO
TALK ABOUT THE PORTFOLIO
ISSUES RELATED TO PLANNED
PARENTHOOD, REPRODUCTIVE
RIGHTS AND HER LONG CAREER
AS PROBABLY THE MOST FAMOUS
FEMINISTS IN THE WORLD.
GLORIA STEINEM WAS A VERY,
VERY CANDID, WARM AND
EXCITING AND INTERESTING
GUEST AND SHE WAS WILLING TO
MIX IT UP ON WHATS A VERY
CONTROVERSIAL TOPIC FOR A
LOT OF PEOPLE SO WE ARE VERY
PLEASED TO TALK ABOUT THINGS
SPECIFICALLY IN THE NEWS
RIGHT HERE IN TEXAS,
ABORTION, PLANNED
PARENTHOOD, AND THE LIKE
WITH THE GREAT AND
INTERESTING GLORIA STEINEM.
>> LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT
ABORTION.
I LAID THAT OUT SPECIFICALLY
BECAUSE YOU MADE A COMMENT
EARLIER THAT YOU THINK THE
MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE ARE
NOT WITH THE PEOPLE WHO SEEK
TO MAKE THE CHANGES.
I HEAR THE OPPOSITE.
THAT PEOPLE SAY THIS IS NOT
A PRO-CHOICE COUNTRY.
THIS IS REALLY A PRO-LIFE
COUNTRY OR A COUNTRY
RESISTENT TO THE IDEA OF
UNRESTRICTED ACCESS TO
ABORTION.
WOULD YOU TALK ABOUT THAT?
TALK ABOUT --
>> FIRST OF ALL --
>> HERE WE ARE IN A WORLD
WHERE PLANNED PARENTHOOD IS
BEING DEMONIZED AND THROWN
OUT OF STATE BUDGET AND TOLD
IT CAN'T BE --
>> IN TEXAS.
>> NOT ONLY TEXAS BUT
NATIONALLY PLANNED
PARENTHOOD IS UNDER ATTACK
AS MUCH IN TEXAS.
LOOK AT THE SUSAN B. KOMEN
CONTROVERSY.
>> YES, AND PLANNED
PARENTHOOD WON.
>> RIGHT, SO THAT TELLS
YOU --
[APPLAUSE]
>> SO THAT TELLS YOU THAT
MAYBE IN THE END AS MUCH AS
PEOPLE MAY ATTACK AN ATTACK,
THEY CAN'T CHANGE --
>> LOOK, I MEAN, IN REAL
LIFE, AT LEAST ONE IN THREE
WOMEN, STATISTICALLY
SPEAKING, HAS HAD AN
ABORTION.
I MEAN, THAT'S REAL LIFE,
RIGHT, AND IT DEPENDS HOW
YOU PHRASE THE QUESTION IN
PUBLIC OPINION POLLS BECAUSE
IF YOU SAY ARE YOU
PRO-ABORTION, NOBODY IS
GOING TO SAY -- YOU KNOW, WE
DON'T GET UP IN THE MORNING
AND SAY IT IS A NICE DAY, I
THINK I WILL HAVE AN
ABORTION.
I MEAN, IT IS NOT A
PLEASURABLE EXPERIENCE.
>> RIGHT.
>> BUT IF YOU PHRASE IT THE
WAY IT SHOULD BE PHRASED
WHICH IS, WHO MAKES A
DECISION, A WOMAN IN HER
POSITION OR THE GOVERNMENT,
PEOPLE DON'T WANT THE
GOVERNMENT MAKING THIS
DECISION.
>> RIGHT.
>> AND ALSO REPRODUCTIVE
FREEDOM WHICH WILL -- IS
BECOMING AND I BELIEVE WILL
BECOME A BASIC HUMAN
FREEDOM, LIKE FREEDOM OF
SPEECH, FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY
AND FREEDOM OF RELIGION.
REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM, TO
DECIDE FOR ONE SELF WHETHER
OR NOT TO HAVE CHILDREN IS
BASIC AND IF YOU ALLOW A
GOVERNMENT TO SAY YOU --
ONE -- DICTATE ONE DECISION,
THEY CAN DICTATE THE OTHER
ONE.
I MEAN, PEOPLE --
>> RIGHT.
>> -- WANT -- I THINK
EVENTUALLY WE WILL END UP
WITH SOMETHING THAT IS MORE
INCLUSIVE OF MEN AND WOMEN
WHICH IS -- I DON'T KNOW
WHAT IT WILL BE CALLED BUT I
WOULD SAY IT IS BODILY
INTEGRITY.
>> BODILY INTEGRITY?
>> YES, THE POWER OF THE
GOVERNMENT STOPS AT OUR
SKIN.
>> THE IDEA HERE WOULD BE NO
GOVERNMENT WILL TELL ME
WHETHER I CAN HAVE AN
ABORTION.
>> RIGHT.
>> NO GOVERNMENT WILL TELL
ME WHETHER OR NOT I CAN USE
CONTRACEPTION.
>> RIGHT.
AND NO GOVERNMENT CAN TELL
ME NOT TO HAVE A CHILD.
REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM MEANS
WHAT IT SAYS AND WE HAVE
GONE -- THE WOMEN'S MOVEMENT
HAVE GONE TO THE WALL TO
PROTECT PEOPLE FROM BEING
COERCED INTO AN ABORTION, IN
THE SAME DEGREE WE HAVE
FORSAKEN LEGAL ABORTIONS.
>> SO VAGINAL ULTRASOUNDS
WHICH WE WERE AN ISSUE IN
TEXAS AND AN ISSUE IN
VIRGINIA.
>> BODY INVASION.
>> BODY INVASION.
>> CAN'T DO THAT.
>> CAN'T DO IT.
>> CAN'T DO THAT.
>> YOU THINK IT WOULD SQUARE
WITH THE PHILOSOPHY ON OTHER
SIDE IDEOLOGICALLY OF SMALL
GOVERNMENT, GOVERNMENT OUT
OF OUR LIVES, GOVERNMENT OUT
OF OUR BUSINESSES.
>> NO, GUESS WHY?
>> YOU DO THAT UNTIL IT HITS
ABORTION AND CONTRACEPTION.
>> YES, BECAUSE THEY WANT
GOVERNMENT OFF OF THE BACKS
OF CORPORATIONS AND INTO THE
WOMBS OF WOMEN.
[LAUGHTER]
>> BECAUSE IN ORDER TO
CONTROL POPULATION, SO YOU
HAVE CHEAP LABOR.
YOU HAVE LOTS OF WORKERS.
IN ORDER TO DECIDE OR
INFLUENCE WHICH RACES AND
WHICH CLASSES INCREASE AND
WHICH DON'T, AND I MEAN,
WOMEN'S BODIES ARE THE MEANS
OF REPRODUCTION AND THOUGH
IT SEEMS TO ME SWEETLY
REASONABLE TO SAY, OKAY, WE
ARE GOING TO MAKE THE
DECISIONS ABOUT OUR BODIES
OURSELVES, TO THEM, IT'S
SEIZING CONTROL OF THE MEANS
OF REPRODUCTION.
I MEAN, IT EVEN SOUNDS
RADICAL, RIGHT.
[LAUGHTER]
AND SO, I MEAN, IT IS
FUNDAMENTAL.
AND IT IS TOTALLY BOUND UP
WITH RACE AND CLASS.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WHEREVER
THERE IS RACISM, IT'S WORSE
FOR ALL WOMEN, WHITE AND
WOMEN OF COLOR, BECAUSE
WHITE WOMEN OR WHOEVER IS
CONSIDERED SUPERIOR, WHOEVER
IT IS, THEY ARE RESTRICTED
SEXUALLY, IN ORDER TO
MAINTAIN PURITY, WHATEVER
THAT MEANS.
AND WOMEN OF COLOR ARE
EXPLOITED IN ORDER TO HAVE
MORE CHEAP LABOR, SO THIS --
THESE TWO THINGS GO
TOGETHER.
>> BUT I COME BACK, GLORIA,
TO THE QUESTION I ASKED AT
THE BEGINNING, ONLY PARTLY
FACETIOUSLY, IS AMERICA A
SEXIST NATION IN 2012.
BECAUSE EVERYTHING YOU ARE
TALKING ABOUT, THE
RESTRICTIONS ARE ON WOMEN,
NOT ON MEN.
THE ABORTION RESTRICTION IS
NOT ON MEN.
THE CONTRACEPTION
RESTRICTION IS NOT ON MEN,
THE VAGINAL ULTRASOUNDS
MANDATE IS NOT AFFECTING
MEN.
>> NO AND THE VIRILITY AND
ALL THE DRUGS THAT ARE PAID
FOR --
>> BY INSURANCE, RIGHT.
>> BY INSURANCE.
>> WE WILL PAY FOR THIS BUT
NOT PAY FOR BIRTH CONTROL.
>> RIGHT.
I MEAN, HELLO.
[LAUGHTER]
>> SO HOW CAN YOU NOT
CONCLUDE --
[APPLAUSE]
>> HOW CAN YOU NOT -- HOW
CAN YOU NOT, AT SOME LEVEL,
CONCLUDE THAT THIS IS ABOUT
A SEXIST IMPULSE MANIFESTING
ITSELF?
>> WELL, OF COURSE IT IS BUT
WHAT SEXISM COMES FROM IS
CONTROLLING REPRODUCTION AND
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THIS IS
A SEXIST COUNTRY BECAUSE THE
MAJORITY DON'T AGREE.
THE MAJORITY THINKS THE
GOVERNMENT HAS NO BUSINESS
INTERFERING IN THIS WAY.
¶
>> WHAT A GREAT CLIP.
WELCOME BACK TO STUDIO 6A IN
A SPECIAL EDITION OF
"OVERHEARD" WITH EVAN SMITH
AND I AM HERE WITH THE ONE
AND ONLY EVAN SMITH.
>> HELLO.
>> YOU INDICATED IN THE
INTRODUCTION YOU WERE TRYING
TO GET GLORIA STEINEM FOR A
LONG TIME.
>> YES.
>> WHEN YOU GOT HERE, THE
STUDIO WAS FULL.
>> HANGING FROM THE RAFTERS.
>> YES.
>> WHY DO YOU THINK THE
RESPONSE IS SO STRONG?
>> I THINK WHEN YOU ARE
TALKING ABOUT ISSUES RELATED
TO WOMEN IN 2013, A LOT OF
STUFF WE THOUGHT WAS
LITIGATED AND RESOLVED A
LONG TIME AGO IS NOT
RESOLVED.
WE THOUGHT THE QUESTION ON
ABORTION, WHICH MS. STEINEM
ADDRESSED IN SOME WAY, WE
THOUGHT IT WAS STILL LAW AND
SETTLED POLICY.
WE THOUGHT THE, ROE VERSUS
WADE DECISION WHICH IS NOW
MORE THAN 40 YEARS OLD, WAS
THE LAW OF THE LAND AND THAT
WAS THAT AND YET WE ARE
FINDING IN STATE
LEGISLATURES AROUND THE
COUNTRY AND IN TEXAS, EVEN
BY THOSE WHO OPPOSE THE
LEGAL RIGHT TO ABORTION OR
WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT LEGAL
RIGHT CURTAILED, EFFORTS TO
ESSENTIALLY MAKE THE FACT
THAT IT IS LEGAL ALL BUT
IRRELEVANT.
SO THEY ARE PUTTING ON
RESTRICTIONS ON WHAT AN
ABORTION CAN BE.
IN TEXAS WE JUST HAD A
DISCUSSION OF TAKING
ABORTION CLINICS AND RAISING
THEM TO THE STANDARDS OF
AMBULATORY SURGICAL CENTERS.
>> SURE.
>> WE ARE LIMITING THE
AMOUNT OF TIME IN WHICH
ABORTION IS LEGAL.
IN TEXAS, A LAW JUST PASSED
THAT BASICALLY SAYS 20
WEEKS.
THAT'S IT.
ROE VERSUS WADE, THE FETAL
VIABILITY TEST IS DIFFERENT.
THESE ARE ALL SIGNIFICANT
FOR LAWS.
PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY WHO
BELIEVE THESE ISSUES WERE NO
LONGER IN NEED OF DISCUSSION
ARE FINDING, WAIT A MINUTE,
THEY HAVE BEEN REOPENED
AGAIN SO TO HAVE GLORIA
STEINEM BACK HERE TODAY.
IT DOES SEEM LIKE A
THROWBACK, BILL.
WE WERE MUCH YOUNGER MEN.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> WHEN GLORIA STEINEM WAS
DOING THE BULK OF THE WORK
BUT THE FACT IS GLORIA
STEINEMS ARE NEEDED FOR THIS
MORE THAN EVER BEFORE ON
THIS PLATFORM.
>> YES AND THE REPRODUCTIVE
RIGHTS ARE A KEY PART OF HER
PLATFORM AND IT HAS GONE
WELL BEYOND THAT.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> I WONDER IF YOU CAN
REFLECT ON THE INTERVIEW OF
HER APPEARANCE AND THE
ISSUES YOU FOUND INTERESTING
IN DISCUSSION.
>> AGAIN, THE EQUAL RIGHTS
ISSUE, WHICH SEEMS SO LONG
AGO WHEN THAT WAS BEING
DISCUSSED ACTIVELY IN THIS
COUNTRY, IS A BROADER
PORTFOLIO BUT OF COURSE IN
TEXAS WE JUST HAD A
CONVERSATION WITH EQUAL PAY
FOR WOMEN, THE LILLY
LEDBETTER ACT PASSED
NATIONALLY BUT WAS VETOED
HERE IN TEXAS BY GOVERNOR
PERRY.
SO IT IS NOT JUST ABORTION
AND REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS.
THOSE MAY BE THE HEADLINES
NOW AND THE HOT BUTTON OF
THE MOMENT BUT IT IS MORE A
QUESTION OF THE MOMENT OF
ARE WOMEN GETTING EQUAL
RIGHTS AND GETTING A FAIR
SHAKE AT LIFE THAN ALL MEN.
AND GLORIA STEINEM SAID IN
HER 70S, WHO LOOKS GREAT.
I WOULD BE HAPPY TO LOOK
THAT GOOD NOW.
SHE PROBABLY THOUGHT BEING A
WOMAN IN HER 70S, SHE WOULD
BE RETIRED AND AT A BEACH
SOMEPLACE, BUT NOW SHE HAS
TO BE ACTIVE AS EVER IN
THESE ISSUES.
>> WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEBODY
LIKE GLORIA STEINEM WHO HAS
HAD SUCH A CAREER AND HAS SO
MANY ISSUES AND THINGS, HOW
DO YOU DETERMINE WHAT SET OF
ISSUES THAT YOU WILL FOCUS
ON THE 30 MINUTES YOU HAVE
WITH THEM?
>> THE REALITY AS YOU KNOW,
30 MINUTES ISN'T A LONG
TIME, AND YOU CAN ONLY COVER
A COUPLE OF BIG TOPICS AND
YOU NEVER KNOW REALLY WHERE
THE ANSWERS ARE GOING TO GO.
SO YOU HAVE TO FIGURE OUT,
HERE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE
MOST IMPORTANT TO TALK ABOUT
AND HERE ARE THE THINGS THAT
ARE SECONDARY ISSUES.
IF THESE GO BY MUCH QUICKER
THAN INTENDED, THE SECONDARY
ONES.
PEOPLE ARE MORE INTERESTED
IN HISTORY BUT WHAT IS GOING
ON NOW IS WHAT COMPELS THE
CONVERSATION FORWARD, SO
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE
PAST, FOR PEOPLE LIKE GLORIA
STEINEM, THIS IS, AGAIN,
CONNECTING THE PRESENT THAT
GETS THE AUDIENCE AND STUDIO
AT HOME ENGAGED.
AND SO I WAS THINKING ABOUT
THE PLANNED PARENTHOOD
SITUATION THAT WAS ACTIVE IN
2011 AND NATIONALLY, AND IN
TEXAS RIGHT NOW, I KNEW THAT
WAS GOING TO BE SOMEBODY
THAT SHE WOULD LOCK ON TO
AND CONNECT WITH AND TALK
ABOUT.
AGAIN, INCREDIBLY
INTERESTING FOR US, GIVEN
WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE WENDY
DAVIS FILIBUSTER AND WHAT IS
GOING ON, TALKING ABOUT THIS
ISSUE WITH THAT LEVEL OF
INTENSITY BACK THOSE MONTHS
AGO.
>> YES, IT WAS EXTREMELY
TIMELY.
>> YES.
>> SO WE WILL TAKE A LITTLE
BREAK HERE IN A SECOND AND
GO TO ERIN.
>> THANKS, BILL.
I AM HERE TO TALK ABOUT SOME
OF THE WAYS THAT WE HAVE TO
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
OF KLRU, THE STATION THAT
BRINGS YOU "OVERHEARD" WITH
EVAN SMITH EVERY WEEK.
WE ARE HAPPY TO DO IT BUT WE
NEED YOUR SUPPORT TO DO SO,
SO PLEASE CALL 866-910-KLRU.
GIVE THE GIFT OF ANY AMOUNT,
OR WE HAVE GREAT LEVELS FOR
YOU TO CHOOSE FROM.
THE 150-DOLLAR LEVEL, WE
HAVE ONE PASS TO THE
UPCOMING TEXAS TRIBUNE
FESTIVAL.
IT IS A WEEKEND FULL OF
DEBATES, DISCUSSION AND
DIALOGUE, FEATURING SOME OF
THE TOP AND BIG NAME
POLITICIANS IN THE WORLD AND
MORE THAN 45 MINUTES AND 150
SPEAKERS HERE AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS CAMPUS,
AND YOU CAN LEARN ABOUT IT
AT THE TEXAS TRIBUNE LEVEL
OR CALL FOR THE 150 LEVEL TO
DONATE, OR GIVE $200 AND WE
WILL SEND YOU A BRAND NEW
ROKU 3 AND YOU CAN LISTEN TO
ANY PROGRAMS ON KLRU
INCLUDING "OVERHEARD."
THANKS.
>> I GET THE PLEASURE OF
INTRODUCING THE SECOND CLIP
OF THE NIGHT AND IT IS AN
INTERVIEW I DID WITH FORMER
SPEAKER OF THE U.S. HOUSE,
SPEAKER NEWT GINGRICH.
HE RAN FOR PRESIDENT AND YOU
REMEMBER THE LAST ELECTION
CYCLE, DID QUITE A BIT
BETTER THAN WE EXPECTED AND
MAYBE THAN HE EXPECTED.
HE WAS IN IT UNTIL PRETTY
LATE IN THE GAME AND I THINK
HE REHABILITATED HIS IMAGE
BY SHOWING HIMSELF TO BE
VERY ENGAGED, NOT IN
PARTISAN WARFARE BUT IN
SERIOUS DISCUSSION OF
ISSUES.
SOME PEOPLE DON'T LIKE NEWT
GINGRICH, SOME PEOPLE WHO
CAME TO THE SHOW THOUGHT
THEY DIDN'T LIKE NEWT
GINGRICH, BUT FROM AN
INTERVIEWERS' PERSPECTIVE,
YOU COULD NOT ASK FOR A MORE
EXPANSIVE, INTERESTING,
FUNNY GUEST.
HE WAS JUST A PLEASURE TO
TALK TO.
HE COULD TALK ABOUT ANY
SUBJECT WITH A HIGH LEVEL OF
ENERGY AND ENTHUSIASM AND IT
WAS SO INTERESTING TO
FINALLY GET TO INTERVIEW
NEWT GINGRICH.
>> THE THING ABOUT
PARTISANSHIP, I WANT TO ASK
YOU ABOUT THE ASPECT OF HOW
THE NEW MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
SHOULD BE TOWARD ONE
ANOTHER.
WE HEAR SO MUCH ABOUT THE
TOXICITY OF POLITICS AND HOW
WE ARE MORE POLARIZED THAN
EVER.
IS THERE A WAY TO -- TO
CRACK THAT?
YOU KNOW, WE ARE GOING TO GO
BACK INTO ANOTHER SESSION OF
CONGRESS.
WE HAVE A REPUBLICAN-LED
HOUSE.
WE HAVE A DEMOCRATIC SENATE,
A SLIGHTLY LARGER MARGIN BUT
EFFECTIVELY THE SAME AS
BEFORE.
WE HAVE A DEMOCRATIC
PRESIDENT.
HOW DO WE NOT REPEAT THE
GRIDLOCK AND TOXICITY OF THE
LAST FOUR YEARS AND THE NEXT
FEW YEARS?
WHAT DO WE DO.
>> FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD
ENCOURAGE -- I CAN'T SPEAK
FOR THE SENATE BECAUSE I
HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HARRY REID
WILL BE LIKE BUT I ENCOURAGE
SPEAKER BOEHNER TO FIND
BILLS TO INTRODUCE THAT ARE
GOOD SMALL IDEAS AND BRING
THEM UP.
>> YES.
>> YOU CAN DO -- I TRIED
LAST YEAR AND FAILED, TO GET
THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS TO
PASS A BILL THAT HAS BEEN
INTRODUCED BY TWO DEMOCRATIC
SENATORS THAT -- BY WEBB AND
WARNER OF VIRGINIA.
IT ALLOWED DRILLING OFFSHORE
FOR VIRGINIA.
HERE YOU HAD TWO DEMOCRATIC
SENATORS DOING SOMETHING
REPUBLICANS BELIEVE IN
IDEOLOGICALLY.
IF THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS HAD
PASSED IT SENATE TO SENATE
AND SAID HARRY REID, "WE ARE
PASSING YOUR TWO DEMOCRATIC
SENATOR BILL, DON'T YOU
THINK YOU SHOULD BRING UP
YOUR TWO DEMOCRATIC SENATOR
BILL," IT WOULD BE HARD TO
ARGUE PARTISAN, BUT IT
COULDN'T BREAK THROUGH.
>> YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE
TO BE SPEAKER AND YOU KNOW
WHAT THE MINDSET CAN BE IN A
HOUSE WITH A LOT OF
DIFFICULT-TO-HERD FOLKS,
WHICH WAS SOMETHING YOU
EXPERIENCED PROBABLY AFTER
THE CONTRACT WITH THE
AMERICA PERIOD IN '94.
A LOT OF NEW PEOPLE CAME IN
WITH IDEAS.
>> SURE.
>> SO IS THE SPEAKER FAILING
TO LIVE UP TO HIS
RESPONSIBILITY AS SPEAKER
AND NOT DOING IT?
>> NO, NO, NO.
MOST POLITICIANS AREN'T
GIGANTIC RISK TAKERS.
OKAY.
I -- I CAME OUT OF THIS BY
USING A FOOTBALL ANALOGY --
BECAUSE WE CAME OUT OF THE
BACKGROUND BECAUSE WE HAD
BEEN IN A MINORITY SO LONG,
THAT I WAS LIKE A ROLLOUT
QUARTERBACK.
I WAS GOING TO THROW DEEP ON
EVERY PLAY.
I WAS GOING TO DO EVERYTHING
I COULD TO KEEP THE BALL
MOVING.
I WAS GOING TO TAKE RISKS.
AND SO IT IS NATURAL FOR ME
TO SAY, WHAT CAN I PUT
TOGETHER.
>> YES.
>> IT IS NOT NATURAL --
>> RIGHT. THIS MAY NOT BE
HIS THING.
>> WELL, MOST POLITICIANS
ARE RISKLESS, AND BECAUSE I
PROVED TO MY OWN, I ONLY
LASTED AS SPEAKER FOR FOUR
YEARS BECAUSE I WORE OUT MY
MEMBERS.
>> BECAUSE IT CAN BE
INTERCEPTED.
>> YES, IT IS HARD WORK AND
CONTROVERSIAL AND SOMETIMES,
AS YOU SAY, INTERCEPTED AND
I THINK PARTLY MY MEMBERS
BURNED OUT.
THEY THOUGHT THIS IS A LOT
OF TURMOIL.
YOU PASS WELFARE REFORM AND
BALANCE THE BUDGET FOR FOUR
YEARS, THERE IS A LOT OF
TURMOIL.
>> I GUESS JOHN BOEHNER WILL
BE SPEAKER AGAIN, ALTHOUGH
THERE IS ONE VOTE FOR YOU.
REPRESENTATIVE LOUIE
GOHMERT, WHO OFTEN FLIES BY
HIS OWN SET OF COORDINATES.
[LAUGHTER]
HE PUT YOUR NAME AS
NOMINATION OF SPEAKER.
I DIDN'T KNOW YOU DIDN'T
HAVE TO BE MEMBER OF THE
HOUSE TO BE SPEAKER.
>> THIS MAKES ME A FOOTNOTE
IN SOME OF THE HISTORY OF
THE HOUSE.
>> HOW RESPONSIVE WOULD YOU
HAD BEEN IF THEY WENT TO
RECRUIT?
"I WILL NOT SERVE.
DON'T NOMINATE ME"?
>> IF THERE HAD BEEN A MOVE,
I WOULD HAVE SUGGESTED IT
WAS IMPRACTICAL.
IF IT HAD BEEN A MAJORITY
VOTE, I WOULD HAVE BEEN
TOTALLY CONFUSED.
>> AND YOU WOULD HAVE HAD A
NEW JOB.
WE HAVE 3 MINUTES LEFT,
MR. SPEAKER.
WHAT DO YOU DO NOW, IT IS
HARD TO IMAGINE, THE NUMBER
OF BOOKS YOU WRITE, SPEECHES
YOU MAKE, IT SEEMS TO BE
COMPULSIVE -- I MEAN THIS IN
A POSITIVE SENSE, BUT THE
COMPULSIVENESS OF YOUR
THINKING ABOUT THESE ISSUES
AND YOUR PROSELYTIZED ON
BEHALF OF VARIOUS THINGS YOU
BELIEVE IN.
HOW CAN YOU TURN THAT OFF?
I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU ARE
DONE.
>> WHY WOULD YOU?
>> I AM ASKING, ARE YOU
DONE?
ARE YOU GOING TO RUN FOUR
OFFICE AGAIN?
>> I DON'T KNOW.
BUT I AM A CITIZEN.
I AM FORTUNATE.
I GET TO BE A CITIZEN ALL
DAY EVERY DAY.
I HAD HUGE FUN YESTERDAY AT
THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
NATURAL HISTORY EXAM AND
HUGE FUN TODAY WITH TIM ROWE
AT THE PALEONTOLOGY
DEPARTMENT AT THE UNIVERSITY
OF TEXAS.
I LIKE DOING THINGS.
>> BUT YOU LIKED TO BE AN
ELECTED OFFICER TO GIVE YOU
A PLATFORM TO SPEAK AND DO
--
>> BUT I HAD 12 YEARS OF
LEAVING SPEAKERSHIP AND
RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT AND I
WAS BUSY 11 YEARS.
>> YOU DON'T PLAN TO RUN FOR
PRESIDENT AGAIN?
>> IT IS NOT MY INTENTION
BUT NOT RULING IT OUT.
>> NOT RULING IT OUT.
WOULD YOU RUN FOR ANYTHING
ELSE POTENTIALLY?
>> NO, I DON'T THINK SO.
>> SO WE HAVE TO ENJOY YOU
ON THE TRAIL?
>> I AM GOING THE TRY TO
LEARN, TRY TO THINK AND TRY
TO HAVE IDEAS.
>> WOULD YOU EVER ENTERTAIN
BEING BROUGHT INTO THE
ADMINISTRATION?
THERE IS SOME DISCUSSION
THAT MAYBE THE PRESIDENT
SHOULD EXTEND AN OLIVE
BRANCH TO MITT ROMNEY AND
SAY WHY DON'T YOU BE THE
TREASURY SECRETARY.
>> UNTIL THE PRESIDENT HAD A
PRESS CONFERENCE IN WHICH HE
ANNOUNCED HE WANTED A
TRILLION $600 BILLION IN NEW
TAXES, I DON'T THINK YOU CAN
TURN TO GOVERNOR ROMNEY AT
THAT POINT AND SAY, HI --
ESPECIALLY A TREASURY
SECRETARY TO GIVE A TRILLION
600 BILLION.
>> ALTHOUGH BILL, CRYSTAL,
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH
MITT ROMNEY DURING THE
CAMPAIGN HAVE EXPRESSED MORE
OPENNESS TO TAX INCREASES ON
THE WEALTHY DURING THE
CAMPAIGN.
>> THAT WOULD --
>> THAT WOULD DISQUALIFY HIM
IN SOME RESPECTS.
>> I DON'T THINK MITT ROMNEY
HAS ANY INTENTION TO MEET A
MAN WHO DEFIES HIS CORE
PRINCIPLES ON BEHALF BARACK
OBAMA.
>> BACK ON EVAN SMITH --
>> THE SPEAKER --
>> HE WILL BE AROUND LONGER
THAN WE WILL.
HE IS A LITTLE BIT LIKE
NUCLEAR WASTE.
>> ONE HUNDRED YEARS FROM
NOW, WE WILL BE GONE AND
NEWT GINGRICH WILL BE HERE.
>> HE STRIKES ME AS HIS OWN
SPECIFIC PLACE IN HISTORY,
WITHOUT BEING OBNOXIOUS
ABOUT IT.
>> HE CAN BE OBNOXIOUS.
REMEMBER, THIS IS NEWT
GINGRICH WITH THE OLD
CONTRACT WITH AMERICA AND
THE TEMPER TANTRUM WHEN HE
DIDN'T GET TO RIDE ON THE
PLANE WITH BILL CLINTON.
EVERYTHING THAT CAN BE SAID
ABOUT NEWT GINGRICH HAS BEEN
SAID AND EVERYTHING SAID TO
NEWT GINGRICH HE HAS HEARD
100 TIMES.
IN SOME RESPECTS, IT IS THE
BEST PLACE TO BE IN IF YOU
ARE A PERSON OF PUBLIC LIFE.
THEY CAN'T SAY ANYTHING TO
HURT YOU BECAUSE YOU HEARD
IT ALL BEFORE.
>> AND YOU ARE PREPARED WITH
A RESPONSE.
>> YOU HAVE 15 RESPONSES.
SO TO HAVE A GUEST LIKE THAT
LIBERATED FROM ANY RESTRAINT
IS PERFECT.
WE ASKED NEWT GINGRICH ABOUT
MITT ROMNEY.
IT WAS THE 2012 CAMPAIGN WE
TALKED TO SPEAKER GINGRICH
AND HE WAS OKAY TO BE CANDID
AND THROW GOVERNOR ROMNEY
UNDER THE BUS.
HE KNEW THERE WAS NO RISK OR
PROBLEM WITH THAT.
>> YOU MENTIONED THE
SPEAKER'S PLACE IN HISTORY.
HE IS FAMOUSLY A HISTORIAN.
HE KNOWS AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT
OF HISTORY AND WILL TELL YOU
IN A DROP OF THE HAT THAT HE
KNOWS.
AND THEY SAY THESE PARTS, IT
AIN'T BRAGGING IF YOU CAN DO
IT.
THE GUY IS QUITE CONVERSANT
ALMOST ANY ASPECT OF
HISTORY, PARTICULARLY
POLITICAL HISTORY.
HE KNOWS SO MUCH SO IF YOU
HIT HIM WITH A SUBJECT, YOU
CAN ASSUME THAT HE WILL HAVE
10 MINUTES, ONE SENTENCE, NO
PUNCTUATION TO OFFER YOU ON
THE TOPIC.
RETICENT GUESTS ARE NOT GOOD
GUESTS.
RETICENCE IS GOOD ON SOME
ASPECTS OF LIFE BUT ON THIS,
YOU DON'T WANT THEM TO
ANSWER YES, NO.
>> THAT WOULD BE INTERESTING
TO GO BACK AND DO THAT IN
THE FUTURE.
>> YES.
>> I WAS FASCINATED
LISTENING TO SPEAKER
GINGRICH GIVE HIS RESCUE TO
SPEAKER BOEHNER, THE IDEA OF
TAKING THE ACHIEVABLE
CHUNKS.
>> OH, YEAH.
>> IT SEEMS TO BE SUCH A
CLEAR AND DIRECT.
>> RIGHT.
>> A LESSON THAT ESCAPED OUR
POLITICAL PROCESS RIGHT NOW.
>> BUT IF YOU THINK ABOUT
IT, NEWT GINGRICH SEEMS
EXACTLY THE KIND OF GUY WHO
WILL NOT COMPROMISE BUT HE
DID FIND COMMON GROUND WITH
BILL CLINTON AGAIN, WHICH
SEEMS LIKE A VERY LONG TIME
IN THIS COUNTRY POLITICALLY,
SO MAYBE HIS ADVICE FOR
SPEAKER BOEHNER IS NOT THAT
FAR OFF.
HE HAS PERSPECTIVE OF HIS
JOB.
VERY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THAT
JOB.
VERY FEW PEOPLE CAN SAY WHEN
I WAS SPEAKER, WE DID THIS
THIS WAY, SO THE CURRENT
SPEAKER SHOULD DO IT THIS
WAY.
I THINK IT IS AMAZING.
>> THE BOTTOM LINE WHEN YOU
FINISHED THE INTERVIEW AND
FINISH TALKING TO HIM, DO
YOU THINK HE IS GOING TO RUN
AGAIN, WHAT IS YOUR SENSE?
>> MY SENSE IS HE LOVES TO
BE IN THE SPOTLIGHT.
NOW, THAT MAY MEAN RUNNING
FOR OFFICE AGAIN OR TO MEET
THE PRESS ON THE THIRD
SUNDAY BUT WE WILL NEVER SEE
HIM GO AWAY COMPLETELY AND I
HAVE TO TELL YOU, I THINK HE
CONTRIBUTES A LOT TO THE
CONVERSATION.
HE MAKES SOME PEOPLE MAD.
>> CLEARLY RUNNING FOR THIS
DOESN'T MEAN --
>> GOODNESS, I DON'T THINK
HE EXPECTED TO BE ELECTED
BUT HE EXCEEDED HIS OWN
EXPECTATIONS AND CERTAINLY
THE REST OF US WHO WROTE HIM
OFF.
>> SO WHERE IS HE?
>> HE WAS WELL RECEIVED.
I THINK PEOPLE APPRECIATED
HE WAS GAME TO ANSWER
QUESTIONS AND THE Q AND A
WITH THE AUDIENCE, HE GOT
INTO AN ARGUMENT OR TWO WITH
PEOPLE WHO ASKED THINGS HE
DIDN'T LIKE, BUT THAT IS
OKAY, I THINK HE HAS BEEN
THROUGH THAT ROAD BEFORE AND
AS WE SAID ABOUT RONALD
RAGAN, HE IS A HAPPY
WARRIOR, HAPPY WARRIOR.
>> AND IF THEY GO TO THE
WEBSITE, THEY CAN SEE THE
INTERVIEW AND THERE ARE
FASCINATING THINGS THAT
HAPPEN.
>> YES, AND, YOU, TOO CAN BE
IN THE AUDIENCE.
YOU, TOO, CAN MAKE NEWT
GINGRICH MAD.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> RIGHT.
>> WHEN YOU CALL IN WITH
YOUR GIFT AT 866-910-KLRU,
LET THE REPRESENTATIVE YOU
ARE TALKING TO KNOW YOU WANT
TO BE PART OF "OVERHEARD"
TAPINGS.
IF YOU LOVE WATCHING IT AT
HOME YOU WILL LOVE TO BE
PART OF OUR AUDIENCE, WHEN
YOU CALL IN FOR YOUR SUPPORT
AND WE ALSO HAVE THANK YOU
GIFTS IF YOU WANT TO CALL AT
THE 150-DOLLAR LEVEL, WE
WILL GIVE YOU ONE PASS TO
THE UPCOMING TEXAS TRIBUNE
FESTIVAL, SEPTEMBER 27-29,
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS
CAMPUS.
THERE ARE OVER 150 GREAT
SPEAKERS FROM ALL OVER THE
COUNTRY AND IT IS RIGHT HERE
IN TEXAS, INCLUDING STATE
SENATOR WENDY DAVIS AND U.S.
SENATOR TED CRUZ THAT WILL
BE AVAILABLE FOR YOU TO --
TO LISTEN TO AT THE TEXAS
TRIBUNE FESTIVAL.
ALSO AT THE 200-DOLLAR LEVEL
WE HAVE THE ROKU 3, A BRAND
NEW WAY TO WATCH TELEVISION
AND WE HAVE PROUD TO HAVE
KLRU ON THE ROKU 3, OUR OWN
AND YOU CAN WATCH THE
NATIONAL PBS PROGRAMS AND
INCLUDING THE "OVERHEARDS"
YOU WANT TO WATCH.
SO, PLEASE, GIVE US A CALL
RIGHT NOW.
>> OKAY.
WE ARE BACK.
THANK YOU, ERIN, FOR THE
THIRD CLIP TODAY.
SOMETHING I HAVE TO TELL
YOU.
I DON'T GET AFRAID OF
INTERVIEWING VERY MANY
PEOPLE AS I DO THIS A LOT.
I DON'T GET ANY FEAR OR
ANXIETY ABOUT INTERVIEWING,
BUT WHEN SUPREME COURT
JUSTICE SONIA SOTOMAYOR
APPEARED ON STAGE, I CONFESS
TO BEING A LITTLE NERVOUS.
THIS AN IS EXTRAORDINARILY
IMPORTANT FIGURE IN AMERICAN
HISTORY.
THE FIRST LATINA SUPREME
COURT JUSTICE AND WITH A LOT
OF INTELLECT AND SOMEONE WHO
IS BRINGING REAL DEBATE TO
THE COURTS, THE HIGHEST
COURT IN OUR LAND.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT?
SHE WAS A REGULAR PERSON.
SHE COULDN'T HAVE BEEN
NICER.
SHE WAS LIKE SOMEBODY YOU
MET ON THE STREET, SOMEBODY
FROM THE OLD NEIGHBORHOOD.
SHE WAS WILLING TO TALK
ABOUT HER PLACE IN HISTORY
AND TO MY JOY, SHE WAS
WILLING TO TALK ABOUT
BASEBALL.
AS YOU SEE, JUSTICE
SOTOMAYOR IS A BIG BASEBALL
FAN, SPECIFICALLY A NEW YORK
YANKEES FAN, AND I COULDN'T
HELP ASKING HER THE ONE
QUESTION ON MY MIND.
>> I WANT TO ASK YOU A
COUPLE OF SMALL THINGS
RELATED TO THE COURT .
I KNOW THAT WE HAVE BEEN
TALKING TO YOU ABOUT THE
BOOK THAT ENDS 20 YEARS
BEFORE YOU GO ON THE SUPREME
COURT, RIGHT?
>> YES.
>> I OFTEN DESCRIBED YOU AS
THE FIRST HISPANIC SUPREME
COURT JUSTICE.
DO YOU SELF-IDENTIFY THAT
WAY?
DO YOU THINK OF YOURSELF
THAT WAY OR DO YOU THINK OF
YOURSELF AS A SUPREME COURT
JUSTICE WHO HAPPENS TO BE
HISPANIC?
HOW DOES THAT SELF-IDENTITY
PIECEWORK FOR YOU?
>> NO, I DON'T THINK OF
MYSELF AS A HISPANIC JUDGE.
I THINK OF MYSELF AS A
JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME
COURT.
AND WITH THAT THINKING, I
KNOW I HAVE OBLIGATIONS THAT
ARE REQUIRED OF ANY JUSTICE,
THE FIRST AND FOREMOST, TO
BE OPEN MINDED, SECOND, TO
BE FAIR AND UNBIAS, AND
THIRD, TO BE CARING, NOT FOR
EVERY PARTY WHO WINS BUT FOR
ANY PARTY THAT APPEARS
BEFORE ME, BUT TO ACTUALLY
LISTEN AND TO UNDERSTAND THE
ARGUMENTS THEY ARE MAKING.
THAT'S WHY I AM SO TOUGH AT
ORAL ARGUMENTS.
THAT'S WHY I AM CRITICIZED.
I PUSH THEM.
I PUSH THEM FOR A PURPOSE.
I WANT THEM TO GIVE ME THE
BEST ANSWER.
IF YOU LISTEN TO WHAT I DO
AT ORAL ARGUMENTS, I ASK
TOUGH QUESTIONS OF BOTH
SIDES BECAUSE I WANT PEOPLE
TO GIVE ME THEIR BEST
ANSWER.
>> RIGHT.
>> CONVINCE ME.
>> RIGHT.
AND I AM ENGAGING THEM IN
THAT PROCESS BECAUSE I WANT
TO BE --
>> HAS YOUR UPBRINGING --
THE PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES
OF YOUR UPBRINGING
CONTRIBUTED ANY WAY TO HOW
YOU APPROACH THIS TASK OF
BEING A JUSTICE?
>> TO THE EXTENT AS A LATINA
CHILD, I EXPERIENCED
DISCRIMINATION AND
MARGINALIZATION.
I KNOW THAT THERE ARE MANY
PEOPLE WHO ENTER OUR LEGAL
PROCESS WHO DON'T FEEL
PEOPLE HEAR THEM.
AND SO TO THAT EXTENT,
WHETHER YOU ARE LATINO OR OF
ANY OTHER ETHNIC BACKGROUND,
WHETHER YOU ARE A DISABLED
PERSON OR NOT, I CAN ASSURE
ALMOST ANYBODY WHO COMES TO
COURT, YOU MAY NOT WIN,
BECAUSE I CAN'T MAKE YOU
WIN.
THE LAW TELLS ME WHAT I HAVE
TO DO OR NOT DO.
>> RIGHT.
>> BUT THE ONE THING I CAN
ASSURE YOU ABOUT IS THAT
WHAT CONCERNS YOU, I WILL
LISTEN TO.
>> GET A FAIR HEARING.
>> GET A FAIR HEARING.
THAT'S ALL WE CAN EVER
PROMISE ANYBODY.
THE OUTCOMES ARE NOT
ORDAINED BY US.
>> RIGHT.
>> BUT WE CAN LISTEN.
>> AND IN THEORY THAT SHOULD
BE THE CASE FOR EVERY
JUSTICE, REGARDLESS OF
BACKGROUND OR ANYTHING ELSE.
THOSE ARE THE RULES OF THE
ROAD, RIGHT?
>> YES, THERE ARE SOME LEGAL
SCHOLARS WHO HAVE BEEN
EXAMINING MY DECISIONS AND
SOME OF THEM HAVE SAID WHAT
IS IMPORTANT TO THIS JUSTICE
IS PROCESS.
AND IF YOU UNDERSTAND THAT,
YOU UNDERSTAND YOUR
JURISPRUDENCE.
>> VERY GOOD.
IN THE VERY LITTLE REMAINING
TIME WE HAVE LEFT, I HAVE TO
GO COMPLETELY AWAY FROM THE
COURT.
QUEENS BOY TALKING TO A
BRONX GIRL.
>> IF YOU ARE A METS FAN,
DON'T TALK TO ME.
[LAUGHTER]
>> I AM NOT.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, I AM A
NEW YORK YANKEES FAN AND I
AM HAVING UNCHRISTIAN
FEELINGS ABOUT A-ROD AND I
AM HOPING YOU WILL TALK ME
OFF THE CEILING BECAUSE I
KNOW YOU ARE A BIG NEW YORK
YANKEES FAN.
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT HIM
WHO HAS SEEN BETTER DAYS?
>> YOU KNOW, THE YANKEES
THROUGH MOST OF THE HISTORY
HAS HAD A LOT OF HEART AND
THE HEART IS WHAT HAS TAKEN
THEM ON TO CHAMPIONSHIPS,
EVEN IMPROBABLE ONES LIKE
THE ONE I TALKED ABOUT IN
1978.
I HOPE THAT THEY CAN MANAGE
TO FIND THAT HEART AGAIN.
>> IT'S TOUGH.
>> IT'S TOUGH.
>> OH MY.
>> AND A-ROD HAS HAD HIS
TOUGH MOMENTS, OKAY.
I WILL TELL YOU ONE THING
THAT GAVE ME A DIFFERENT
PERSPECTIVE TO HIM.
A-ROD AT EVERY MEETING I HAD
WITH HIM HAS ASKED ME ABOUT
MY WORK AND NOT ABOUT
OPINIONS BUT ABOUT WHAT I
DO, AND IT'S IMPORTANT.
HE'S REALLY TRIED TO
UNDERSTAND.
>> DID YOU EVER ASK HIM
ABOUT HIS WORK, WHY ARE YOU
SO BAD DURING THE PLAYOFFS?
[LAUGHTER]
>> NO, BUT I WILL TELL YOU A
STORY I HEARD, WHICH IS
SOMETHING THAT I HOPE SORT
OF DOVETAILS WITH MY BOOK.
>> YES.
>> WHEN HE SIGNS HIS VERY
FIRST BIG CONTRACT, HE PICKS
UP THE PHONE AND CALLS
WARREN BUFFET AND SAID, I
HEAR YOU KNOW HOW TO INVEST
MONEY.
[LAUGHTER]
CAN YOU HELP ME.
>> REALLY?
>> ALL RIGHT.
THE LESSON I AM TRYING TO
TEACH IN THAT BOOK, HE
FOLLOWED.
THERE IS A LOT ABOUT HIM.
>> YES.
>> A LOT OF GOOD ABOUT HIM.
YOU KNOW, I WANT THE YANKEES
TO WIN, TOO.
>> WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
[LAUGHTER].
¶
¶
>> SUPREME COURT JUSTICE,
WHAT A RARE OPPORTUNITY TO
HAVE THAT KIND OF CLOSE
VISIT WITH SOMEONE LIKE
JUSTICE SOTOMAYOR.
>> LIVING HISTORY.
YOU KNOW, WE HAD OVER THE 10
OR SO YEARS WE HAVE DONE THE
TWO PROGRAMS TOGETHER, WE
TALKED ABOUT BILL, WE
PROBABLY HAD 15 OR 16 PEOPLE
WHO RAN FOR PRESIDENT,
ACTIVE OR IN THE PAST, NEVER
HAD SUPREME COURT JUSTICE
BEFORE.
IN FACT, I NEVER MET, BEEN
IN THE ROOM WITH A SUPREME
COURT JUSTICE UNTIL JUSTICE
SOTOMAYOR.
AND SHE IS JUST FOLKS, SHE
IS THE MOST REGULAR PERSON
IN THE WORLD.
COULDN'T BE ANY NICER.
INCREDIBLY GRACIOUS.
YOU MAY REMEMBER WE HAD THE
MOST RSVPS TO ATTEND THE
TAPING FOR JUSTICE SOTOMAYOR
THAN EVER BEFORE.
WE HAD SOMETHING LIKE 800
PEOPLE SIGN UP FOR 320 OR SO
SLOTS.
>> BUT I ALSO REMEMBER THERE
WAS A GROUP OF SCHOOL KIDS.
>> RIGHT, SO WE ALLOWED
IN -- WE HAD THE SCHOOL KIDS
HERE AND WE ALLOWED AS MANY
PEOPLE AS WE COULD AND SHE
MADE A POINT TO TAKE AS MUCH
TIME AS POSSIBLE TO ANSWER
AS MANY QUESTIONS AS
POSSIBLE.
SHE WAS NOT IMPERIOUS.
NOT UNGRACIOUS.
>> AGAIN, SHE WENT TO THE
INDIVIDUAL KIDS OF THE GROUP
AND TALKED TO THEM.
AS A 12 YEAR OLD TO BE ABLE
TO TALK TO A JUSTICE.
>> I THINK SHE HAS A LOT OF
PERSPECTIVE WHO SHE WAS AND
HOW SHE GOT TO THE POINT AND
WHAT A JOURNEY TO GO FROM
THE PROJECT IN THE BRONX TO
PRINCETON AND THEN SUPREME
COURT JUSTICE, AN AMAZING
JOURNEY.
THAT IS THE SUBSTANCE OF THE
BOOK.
THE BOOK SHE'S WRITTEN, RARE
FOR SUPREME COURT JUSTICE,
MALE OR FEMALE, ANYBODY ON
THE COURT EVER TO BE OUT IN
FRONT OF THE CAMERAS AS MUCH
AS JUSTICE SOTOMAYOR WAS
AROUND THAT TIME.
SHE WAS PROMOTING HER BOOK.
HER BOOK WAS THE LIFE STORY,
EXPRESSLY NOT ABOUT THE WORK
ON THE COURT.
>> IN FACT, YOU FIND
YOURSELF NOT TO HAVE A
DISCUSSION ON POLICY ISSUES.
>> HERE I AM SITTING ON THE
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, THERE
IS A LANDMARK CASE OF
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION AT THAT
TIME AND I COULDN'T TALK
ABOUT IT BECAUSE SHE
COULDN'T TALK ABOUT CURRENT
COURT BUSINESS, BUT THE BOOK
ENDS 20 YEARS BEFORE THE
SUPREME COURT.
SO PLENTY TO TALK ABOUT
GROWING UP AND SOMEHOW SHE
BECAME THE PERSON SHE IS.
IN THE END, THE JUSTICE SHE
IS CONNECTS BACK TO THE
PERSON SHE IS AND THE PERSON
SHE IS CONNECTS BACK TO THE
BOOK.
>> SHE IS PROBABLY ONE OF
OUR MOST ENGAGING GUESTS
I'VE EVER SEEN.
>> YES, SHE WAS.
>> AND SHE DID GREAT AND
ALSO BECAUSE SHE WAS CLEARLY
ABLE TO DIRECT PEOPLE AWAY
FROM THINGS SHE WASN'T
COMFORTABLE OR PERMITTED TO
TALK ABOUT BUT STILL
WELCOMED EVERYBODY.
>> EVERYBODY WHO HAD A
QUESTION FELT LIKE THEY GOT
A FAIR HEARING WHICH IS WHY
PEOPLE LIKE HER AS BEING A
JUDGE.
THE BEST PART FOR ME WAS
TALKING BASEBALL WITH HER.
I AM A YANKEES FAN WAY BACK
AND SHE IS A YANKEES FAN AND
WHEN I TOLD HER I WAS FROM
QUEENS AND SHE SAID YOU
BETTER BE NOT BE A METS FAN,
YOU HEARD. AND SHE HAS A
SENSE OF HUMOR.
>> HOW ABOUT SCALIA, HOW DO
YOU THINK THAT WILL BE?
>> YES, I AM NOT SURE THAT
WOULD END THE SAME WAY.
>> WE ARE HERE,
866-910-KLRU.
THANK YOU FOR WATCHING KLRU
AND IF YOU WANT TO BE AT AN
"OVERHEARD" TAPING, MAKE
YOUR GIFT AND SUPPORT KNOWN
AND DURING THIS MEMBERSHIP
DRIVE WE HAVE A GOAL OF 1500
PEOPLE TO SUPPORT THE
STATION, SO YOUR GIFT, NO
MATTER THE AMOUNT YOU CAN
AFFORD TO GIVE, WILL MAKE US
CLOSER TO THAT GOAL.
CALL 1-866-910-KLRU.
GIVE A GIFT OF $20, $50,
$100.
OR 150-DOLLAR LEVEL, WE WILL
THANK YOU WITH ONE PASS TO
THE UPCOMING TEXAS TRIBUNE
FESTIVAL HERE ON THE
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS CAMPUS.
IT IS A GREAT EVENT WITH
SOME OF THE BIGGEST NAMES IN
PUBLIC POLICY AND IT IS PUT
ON BY THE TEXAS TRIBUNE.
WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU
WITH ONE OF PASSES AT
150-DOLLAR LEVEL.
AND THE $200 LEVEL, WE CAN
THANK YOU FOR THE ROKU 3, WE
ARE HAPPY TO HAVE KLRU AND
PBS ON THIS.
YOU CAN WATCH THE NATIONAL
AND LOCAL PROGRAMS LIKE
"OVERHEARD" WITH EVAN SMITH
AND THE ENTIRE ARCHIVE IS
FOR YOU TO WATCH WHENEVER
YOU LIKE OVER THE TOP ON
YOUR TELEVISION.
PLEASE GIVE US A CALL, ANY
AMOUNT.
1-866-910-KLRU.
>> SO WHEN LAURIE ANDERSON,
THE GREAT ARTIST WAS HERE, I
WONDERED HOW WE COULD HAVE A
CONVERSATION WITH HER
WITHOUT SHOWING WHAT A
SHALLOW KNOWLEDGE I HAVE OF
THE HIGH ARTS.
I AM A LITTLE MORE LOW ARTS
THAN A HIGH ARTS GUY, SO YOU
HAVE TO RAISE THAT TO THE
LEVEL OF THE GAME AND OF THE
GUESTS, LAURIE ANDERSON IS A
INTELLECTUAL AND
SOPHISTICATE AND SHE WAS
TALKING ABOUT HOW SHE PLAYED
FOR DOGS, SHE HAD A CONCERT
IN SYDNEY WITH DOGS AND I
THOUGHT SHE WAS PRANKING ME.
SHE COULDN'T BE TALKING
ABOUT PLAYING FOR DOGS IN AN
AUDIENCE.
SO I THOUGHT I WOULD BE OUT
IN THE STRATOSPHERE WITH
THIS GREAT INTELLECTUAL, AND
INSTEAD, WE WERE TALKING
ABOUT DOGS.
SHE WAS A GREAT GUEST,
REALLY FUN AND INTERESTING.
WANTED ME TO SEE HER ART AND
HEAR HER MUSIC, AND IT WAS
GREAT.
>> JUST DID A CONCERT FOR
DOGS AND --
>> YOU DID A CONCERT FOR
DOGS?
>> I DID.
>> DOGS IN THE AUDIENCE?
>> YES.
AND IT HAPPENED BECAUSE I
WAS BACKSTAGE.
I WAS SUPPOSED TO GIVE A
COMMENCEMENT SPEECH FOR
ARTISTS AND I WAS FEELING
KIND OF GUILTY BECAUSE IT IS
HARD TO SAY TO ARTISTS, THAT
STUDENT LOAN YOU HAVE, IT
WILL BE SO EASY TO JUST GET
RID OF IT, NO WORRY ABOUT
IT.
PLENTY OF JOBS FOR ARTISTS
IN THE UNITED STATES.
[LAUGHTER]
I HAD A FEELING, WHAT AM I
GOING SAY TO THE YOUNG
ARTISTS.
AND SOMEBODY ELSE IS ALSO
THERE AND GIVING A SPEECH,
AND I SAID, YOU KNOW, I HAVE
THIS FANTASY THAT I AM DOING
A CONCERT AND I LOOK OUT AND
THE WHOLE AUDIENCE IS DOGS.
AND HE SAID, THAT'S MY
FANTASY, TOO.
>> IS THAT RIGHT?
>> I SAID, "REALLY?
WHOEVER GETS THE CHANCE TO
DO THAT FIRST INVITES THE
OTHER."
SO I GOT A CHANCE TO BE THE
DIRECTOR OF A BIG FESTIVAL
IN SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, A BIG
MUSIC FESTIVAL.
I INVITED MY FAVORITE PEOPLE
AND THEATER THINGS AND I
SAID TO THE PRODUCERS "AND
WE WILL ALSO DO A CONCERT
FOR DOGS."
THEY DIDN'T SAY CONCERT --
THEY SAID "CONCERT FOR
DOGS," WROTE IT DOWN.
[LAUGHTER]
>> FLIP ANYTHING ON THAT
LIST.
THAT'S FINE.
HOW GREAT.
>> SO IT WAS -- IT WAS THE
MOST WONDERFUL SHOW EVER
BECAUSE WE THOUGHT ONLY A
COUPLE HUNDRED DOGS WOULD
SHOW UP.
THOUSANDS.
[LAUGHTER]
>> ASSUMING IT IS A FREE
SHOW, YOU DIDN'T MAKE THE
DOG BUY TICKETS?
>> NO, BUT THEY HAD TO HAVE
THEIR PERSON BRING THEM AND
WE HAD THREE ENORMOUS AREAS
SET UP FOR LITTLE, MEDIUM
AND BIG, BUT THERE WERE WAY
TOO MANY SO THEY WERE ALL ON
THE STEPS OF SYDNEY OPERA
HOUSE AND THE CONCERT
STARTED -- IT WAS A SHORT
CONCERT, 20 MINUTES.
>> WELL, DOGS DO HAVE AN
ATTENTION SPAN PROBLEM.
[LAUGHTER]
>> YES, YES, THEY DO, AND IT
STARTED WITH KIND OF AN
INVOCATION FOR WHALES
BECAUSE WE WERE RIGHT ON THE
HARBOR AND THESE WHALES --
AND BECAUSE YOU KNOW, I WANT
TO DO ANIMAL -- WHALES IN
THE OCEAN OR DOGS, THEY'RE
LIKE A GPS SYSTEM, I AM
HERE, YOU ARE THERE.
KIND OF TO MAP OUT THE
TERRITORY, AND SO WE BEGAN
WITH THAT, AND THEN THERE
WAS SO MANY ROCKER DOGS
THERE, IT WAS AMAZING.
SO MANY DOGS WHO WANTED TO
ROCK AND MY FAVORITE WAS THE
DROOLERS IN THE FRONT ROW
AND IT WAS LIKE --
>> LIKE A REGULAR SHOW, WHEN
THERE ARE HUMAN DROOLERS,
TOO?
>> BUT IT WAS THE MOST
EXCLUSIVELY PREPPED AUDIENCE
BECAUSE THE LAST WEEK THEIR
OWNERS HAD BEEN SAYING, "WE
ARE GOING TO A SHOW, JUST
FOR YOU AND YOU ARE GOING TO
LOVE IT."
SO BY THE TIME THEY GOT
THERE, THEIR TAILS WERE
LIKE, YES, YES, OKAY, I AM
SO EXCITED.
SO IT WAS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL
SOUND, THEY WERE ALL REALLY
WELL BEHAVED, NO FIGHTS.
AT THE END I SAID OKAY,
LET'S HAVE THE SMALL DOGS
START BARKING, SO WOOF,
WOOF, WOOF.
>> AND SO THE MEDIUM DOGS
WOOF, WOOF, WOOF, AND THE
BIG ONES WOOF, WOOF, WOOF,
WOOF.
>> AND THE SOUNDS OF
THOUSANDS OF DOGS DOING THIS
JUST FOR THE HELL OF IT WAS
THE GREATEST SOUNDS.
IT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL.
IT WAS JUST PURE JOY.
>> I CAN'T HELP BUT THINK
YOU ARE PRANKING ME HERE.
>> [LAUGHTER]
>> AND I WILL GOOGLE IT.
>> GOOGLE IT.
>> AND DID HE ALSO PLAY FOR
THE DOGS?
>> TO, HE COULDN'T MAKE IT.
>> HE OWES YOU.
>> FROM SUPREME COURT
JUSTICE TO A PERFORMANCE
ARTIST DOING A PERFORMANCE
FOR DOGS.
>> AND SOMEHOW I HAVE TO
MANAGE TO KEEP UP THE BIG
LEVEL OF ENTHUSIASM AND
ENERGY THAT IS CAPABLE OF
CONDUCTING THE INTERVIEW.
ONE THING WE TALKED ABOUT
BEFORE IS THE MIX OF GUESTS
ON THE SHOW.
WE GO FROM LAURIE ANDERSON
TO SONIA SOTOMAYOR AND
EVERYBODY IN BETWEEN AND THE
PREPARATION FOR SOMEONE IN
THE ARTS AND SPECIFICALLY IN
MUSIC -- WE DO A LOT OF
MUSIC PEOPLE ON THIS SHOW --
I FIND SOME WAYS TO BE
DIFFICULT BECAUSE I AM A
PUBLIC POLICY GUY AND THAT'S
THE WORLD I LIVE EVERY DAY,
SO I CAN SIT DOWN WITH NEWT
GINGRICH OR SONIA SOTOMAYOR
OR THE MAYOR OF ATLANTA,
KASIM REED, AND THE GOVERNOR
FROM MARYLAND, O'MALLEY, I
CAN ALMOST DO THE INTERVIEW
WITH NO PREPARATION, BUT FOR
LAURIE ANDERSON, IT TAKES A
LOT OF READING AND THINKING
AND I ACTUALLY GO OFF IN A
CONTEMPLATIVE PLACE AND SAY,
WHAT ARE GOOD QUESTIONS TO
ASK THAT WILL SOLICIT GOOD
ANSWERS BUT ALSO NOT MAKE ME
LOOK LIKE A TOTAL RUBE.
I THINK A LOT OF TIMES THEY
WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE
PROCESS AND NOT JUST THE ART
BUT THE CRAFT AND SHE IS
FAMOUSLY MARRIED TO LOU
REED. AND THOUGH WE DIDN'T
SHOW THAT CLIP, IN THE
INTERVIEW WE TALKED ABOUT
WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BE
MARRIED TO SOMEBODY WHO DOES
THE THING YOU DO AND HAVE
TWO CAREERS THAT ARE BOTH
GOING FULL SPEED AT THE SAME
TIME, BECAUSE I THINK PEOPLE
ARE CURIOUS WHAT IS BEHIND
THE WORK.
SO WITH HER, I FOUND THE
PROCESS OF PREPARATION WAS
ARDUOUS BUT IT PAID OFF
BECAUSE SHE REALLY RESPONDED
REALLY WELL.
>> EARLIER WHEN WE WERE
TALKING ABOUT THE NEWT
GINGRICH CLIP AND YOU TALKED
ABOUT NOT BEING A RELUCTANT
GUEST AND TALKING ABOUT
SOMETHING THAT IS
FORTHCOMING.
OFFHAND QUESTION BUT I AM
CURIOUS AS YOU LOOK BACK
OVER A DECADE OF DOING THESE
INTERVIEWS, WHO DO YOU
RECALL AS BEING THE MOST
RELUCTANT GUEST?
>> FOR YEARS WE TALKED ON
THE STAGE ABOUT DEBRA
WINGER, THE ACTRESS, I WOULD
SAY "HELLO, MS. WINGER," AND
SHE WOULD SAY "WHAT DO YOU
MEAN BY THAT?"
SHE WAS NOT A VERY HAPPY
GUEST AND TOOK EVERYTHING
PERSONALLY, AND THERE ARE
SOME PEOPLE WHO DO THAT.
IN THE CASE OF LAURIE
ANDERSON, SHE WAS A LITTLE
BIT MORE RESERVED AND, IN
FACT, SHE WAS WORRIED SHE
WOULD DUPE THE INTERVIEW,
AND WHEN SHE DID IT, I WAS
WONDERING IF IT WAS GOING TO
BE ONE OF THOSE YEP-NOPE
INTERVIEWS, AND THEN SHE HAD
A TOPIC THAT SHE GOT HER
TEETH INTO AND THE THING
ABOUT DOGS, IT KILLED ME.
AND IT WENT ON A LISTENING
TIME.
YOU WOULD WANT TO CALL IT A
SHAGGY DOG STORY AS A
DELIBERATE PUN AND SHE SAID
IN FACT, IT HAPPENED AND I
GOOGLED IT AND, IN FACT, IT
DID.
>> THIS WAS INTERESTING WITH
THE OTHER PERSON.
>> TOO BAD HE DIDN'T MAKE
THE CONCERT IN SYDNEY BUT
INTERESTING THEY GOT THE
SAME IDEA.
THE DOGS HAD A GREAT SHOW.
>> IT WOULD HAVE BEEN GREAT.
QUICKLY BECAUSE WE ARE
RUNNING OUT OF TIME ON THIS
SEGMENT.
WHO IS THE NEXT ARTIST YOU
WANT TO HAVE?
>> DONALD FAISON, THEY ARE
PLAYING AT THE PERFORMING
ARTS HERE IN AUSTIN AT THE
END OF AUGUST.
WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE
CAN TO HAVE DONALD FAISON,
THAT WOULD TAKE ME BACK.
>> THIS AUDIENCE WOULD BE
CRAZY.
>> AGAIN, HANGING FROM THE
RAFTERS.
>> AGAIN, YOUR SUPPORT
ALLOWS US TO HAVE A
DIVERSITY "OVERHEARD" WITH
EVAN SMITH, SO WE HOPE TO
HEAR FROM YOU, 866-910-KLRU.
AND REMEMBER, EVERYTHING YOU
DO HELPS US BE STRONG IN OUR
COMMUNITY AND EVERYTHING,
ALL OF THE LOCAL SHOWS AND
NATIONAL PRODUCTIONS.
WE ARE HERE BECAUSE OF YOUR
SUPPORT AND HOPE TO HEAR
FROM YOU RIGHT NOW.
REMEMBER WE HAVE A GREAT
THANK YOU LEVEL AT
150-DOLLAR LEVEL, ONE PASS
TO THE UPCOMING TEXAS
TRIBUNE FESTIVAL, SO IF YOU
LIKE HEARING GREAT
INTERVIEWS AND SPEAKERS LIKE
"OVERHEARD" WITH EVAN SMITH,
THEN CALL US AT THE
150-DOLLAR LEVEL AND GET THE
ONE PASS TO THE FESTIVAL IN
SEPTEMBER AND THEN ALSO AT
200 WE WILL GIVE YOU THE
ROKU 3 SO YOU CAN WATCH ALL
OF YOUR FAVORITE PBS AND
KLRU PROGRAMS WHENEVER YOU
WANT, THE WHOLE ARCHIVE WITH
"OVERHEARD" WITH EVAN SMITH
AND OTHER GREAT PROGRAMS ON
KLRU, LIKE "CENTRAL TEXAS
GARDENER" AND "ARTS IN
CONTEXT" ARE ALL AVAILABLE
FOR YOU TO WATCH WHENEVER
YOU WANT AS WELL AS A KLRU
KIDS PROGRAM AND THAT CAN
ALL BE YOURS IF THE GIFT IS
$200, SO WE HOPE TO HEAR
FROM YOU RIGHT NOW.
>> OUR LAST CLIP TONIGHT IS
FROM WHAT MAY HAVE BEEN MY
FAVORITE SHOW OF THE THIRD
SEASON OF "OVERHEARD" AND
THAT IS WITH FRED ARMISEN,
THE NOW JUST DEPARTED STAR,
ONE OF THE CAST MEMBERS OF
"SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE."
HE HAS BEEN ON THE PROGRAM
FOR 11 YEARS, ONE OF THE
LONGEST TENURED ACTORS OF
THAT SHOW AND THE COCREATOR
AND STAR OF "PORTLANDIA."
I KNEW WITH HIM, IT WOULD BE
FUNNY BUT I DIDN'T KNOW IT
WOULD BE THIS FUNNY AND HE
IS AS OPEN HOW HE DEVELOPED
VARIOUS CHARACTERS ON HIS
SHOW AND HOW HE DEVELOPED
THE IDEA FOR AND THE
EXECUTION FOR "PORTLANDIA"
AND I SAT ALL YEARLONG
THINKING OF WHAT TO ASK HIM,
AND I ACTUALLY GOT TO ASK
HIM EVERY QUESTION I WANTED
TO AND HE WAS WILLING TO
ANSWER EVERY QUESTION I
ASKED, INCLUDING TWO THAT
HAD TO DO WITH CHARACTERS ON
THE SHOW.
YOU ARE GOING TO LOVE THESE
ANSWERS.
>> THE GOAL WAS TO MAKE
EVERY DAY A WORKDAY.
>> EVERY DAY A WORKDAY.
YOU ARE SUCCEEDING, YOU
KNOW.
>> THAT IS MY GOAL.
BECAUSE EVEN IF I HAVE TIME
FOR MYSELF, I MAKE SURE I
SPEND IT WRITING OR EVEN
COMING UP WITH AN IDEA.
I MAKE SURE EVERY DAY HAS
SOME AMOUNT OF WORK IN IT,
EVEN IF IT IS FIRING OFF A
FEW EMAILS -- I CAN'T
BELIEVE I SAID "FIRING
OFF" -- THAT IS THE WORST,
BUT SENDING EMAILS WORK
RELATED.
EVERY DAY HAS GOT TO BE SOME
VERSION OF WORKING, WHERE I
AM ACCOMPLISHING SOMETHING.
>> RIGHT.
I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT
JUST A COUPLE OF THE
CHARACTERS YOU DEVELOPED AND
ASK YOU TO TAKE US THROUGH
YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS.
YOU MENTIONED QUEEN
ELIZABETH ONE, THIS IS MY
FAVORITE ONE WHEN THE QUEEN
SEEMS DEMURRED AND THEN
LEAVES THE ROOM.
>> YES.
>> AND IT IS ABSOLUTELY
HILARIOUS THING.
WHAT IS YOUR PROCESS WITH
THAT?
>> WE WROTE THOSE WITH JON
MULANEY WHO IS A WRITER AND
BRILLIANT COMEDIAN AND BILL,
TOO.
>> BILL HADER.
>> YES, BILL HADER PLAYS
PHILLIP AND THEN -- THE -- I
THINK -- WELL, FIRST OF ALL,
WHEN I DO THE SKETCH, I LOVE
IT BECAUSE IT FEELS LIKE I
AM ON A SKETCH SHOW.
I FEEL LIKE, WOW, THIS IS
WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE ON
A SKETCH SHOW, IT IS PURE,
LIKE COMEDY. AND FOR ME, I
LIKE MAKING AN IMPRESSION OF
MICK JONES IN THE CLASS.
>> THAT'S WHO IT IS BASED
ON?
>> OH, TOTALLY.
[LAUGHTER]
>> RIGHT DOWN TO HER PLAYING
THE GUITAR?
>> YEAH, LIKE WE WROTE A
CLASS LIKE SONG FOR IT BUT
IT IS AN IDEA THAT HAS BEEN
DONE BEFORE, LIKE BEHIND
CLOSED DOORS KIND OF THING.
>> THE OLD SATURDAY NIGHT
SKETCH OF PHIL HARTMAN AS
RONALD REAGAN, WHERE
EVERYONE IS OUT OF THE ROOM
AND HE IS A DIFFERENT
PERSON.
>> YES, WHICH I LOVE AND IT
IS JUST A GREAT THING AND
SOMETHING I LOVED TO DO.
I LOVE DOING THAT SKETCH.
IT IS SO FUN.
>> OF ALL OF THE CELEBRITY
IMPRESSIONS -- AND I DON'T
THINK IT IS CELEBRITY
IMPRESSION BECAUSE IT IS AN
EXAGGERATION.
>> WE DON'T KNOW.
>> RIGHT, MAYBE SHE IS MICK
JONES.
PENNY MARSHALL, PENNY
MARSHALL IMPRESSION SEEMS
GREAT AND OVER THE TOP.
SOMETHING LIKE THAT, WHAT IS
YOUR THOUGHT PROCESS?
>> WELL, I THINK THAT WAS
BESTOWED ON ME AS WELL.
I THINK THERE WAS SOME
WRITERS -- I CAME UP WITH
THE SKETCH IDEA CALLED THE
LOOKER BECAUSE THERE WERE SO
MANY CABLE SHOWS LIKE THE
DETECTIVES AND STUFF THAT I
HAD NOT HAD IMPRESSION AND I
WAS LIKE, CAN YOU TRY PENNY
MARSHALL.
[LAUGHTER]
AND SHE IS KIND OF LIKE --
SHE OPENS HER MOUTH WHEN SHE
TALKS AND THEN WE JUST
DID -- WE JUST DID IT.
>> AS MUCH PHYSICAL AS
ANYTHING?
>> YEAH.
>> IT IS THE LOOK.
I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT IT
BEFOREHAND AND IT WAS EASY
TO DO.
>> I LOVE THIS IDEA THAT
SOMEHOW YOU JUST SORT OF --
OKAY, I AM GAY AND I WILL DO
IT AND DON'T HAVE TO SPEND
MONTHS DEVELOPING IT, I JUST
BASICALLY DO IT.
>> BUT I READ THAT'S WHAT
THEY DO ON SSTV SOMETIMES
THEY DO SURPRISE IMPRESSION
FOR PEOPLE.
SOMETIMES WHEN YOU DO
SOMETHING OFF THE TOP OF
YOUR HEAD IS WHEN IT IS THE
BEST.
WHEN YOU DON'T OVERTHINK IT.
SO YOU THROW IN AN
IMPRESSION OF SOMEONE,
SOMETIMES IT IS VERY COOL
BECAUSE YOU GET THE GENERAL
IDEA OF THAT.
>> YOU THE CAN PROBABLY BE
WORSE THAN USING SSTV AS A
TEMPLATE.
>> BILL HADER AND I BOTH
ACKNOWLEDGED -- MANY OF THE
SKETCHES WE HAVE DONE IS A
DIRECT COPY OF TD.
LIKE LIBERACE ON THE DAVE
RICE SHOW.
>> EVERYTHING IS LA MOJE
BASICALLY.
>> YES, BECAUSE I WANT TO BE
ON SSTV, IT IS LIKE BEING A
MUSIC FAN AND WANTING TO BE
ON A RECORD SO TO ME IT IS
LIKE THIS IS A VERSION OF
BEING ON SSTV.
>> RIGHT.
WHEN THIS SEASON IS OVER, AS
HAS BEEN THE CASE THE LAST
TWO SEASONS, YOU WILL LAUNCH
INTO DOING "PORTLANDIA" AND
YOU DO TEN EPISODES?
>> YES.
>> AND THIS IS THE THIRD?
>> JUST FINISHED THE THIRD
AND THEN AIRED AND NOW
WORKING ON THE FOURTH.
>> TELL THE STORY -- THIS
GOES BACK TO YOUR FRIENDSHIP
WITH TERRY BROWN AND YOU
WERE A FAN OF CEDAR KENNY.
>> I WAS OBSESSED.
>> AND YOU WERE A FAN OF
HER.
>> I KNEW JANET, WHO WAS A
FRIEND OF MINE AND I WAS
INTRODUCED TO CARRIE.
>> BEFORE "PORTLANDIA,"
THERE WAS THUNDER AND THAT
PRECEDED AND WAS THE
INSPIRATION FOR THE REGULAR
SERIES.
CAN YOU TELL THE STORY?
>> I MET CARRIE THROUGH
JANET AND WE BECAME INSTANT
FRIENDS AND THEN I JUST
STARTED TO LIKE HANG OUT
WITH CARRIE ALL THE TIME.
ONE OF THE THINGS, WE GOT
ALONG REALLY WELL AND SHE
LIVES IN PORTLAND AND THEN I
WOULD GO OUT THERE, BUT THEN
WE STARTED MAKING THESE
VIDEOS FOR NO REASON, JUST
BECAUSE LIKE -- I WAS ON SNL
AND I WAS LIKE, LET'S DO
THIS FOR FUN AND SHE THINKS
ALONG THE SAME LINES, LIKE
WORK ALL THE TIME AND IT IS
LIKE AN ART PROJECT AND WE
STARTED WORKING ON VIDEOS
WITH NO PUNCH LINE OR JOKE,
JUST WEIRD SHORT.
>> YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR?
>> YEAH.
>> THIS WAS REALLY ONE OF MY
FAVORITE SHOWS OF THE
SEASON.
>> IT WAS GREAT.
>> WHAT A NICE GUY, ALSO, SO
SORRY TO SEE HIM LEAVE
"SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE" BUT HE
WILL BE ON "PORTLANDIA" AND
HE IS GREAT.
>> MY RECOLLECTION OF THAT
TAPING WAS FACTUALLY THAT,
WHAT A GENTLE SOUL HE CAME
OUT TO BE.
>> GRACIOUS.
>> AND GRACIOUS WITH
EVERYBODY.
>> GENEROUS WITH HIS TIME.
>> NOT ALL COMEDIANS ARE
LIKE THAT.
>> YES, I THINK ALL
COMEDIANS ARE LIKE THAT, YOU
CAN'T BE FUNNY, THEY GET TO
BE FUNNY.
YOU HAVE THE STRAIGHT MAN
AND WE HAD THREE PEOPLE OVER
THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS ON
FROM "THE DAILY SHOW."
WE HAD WYATT CENAC AND JON
HODGE AND THEN WILL AND THEY
ARE HILARIOUS AND YOU FIND
YOURSELF LAUGHING AT THEM.
IT IS HARD TO CONDUCT AN
INTERVIEW AND YOU ARE
FACILITATING THEIR STANDUP
ACT.
>> AND ALSO AN ISSUE OF
LANGUAGE ISSUES.
>> YES, WITH LARRY WILMORE
WE HAD TO BEEP OUT A LOT OF
WORDS AND ARMISEN WAS PG AND
THEN THERE WAS A
"PORTLANDIA" AUDIENCE AND
SOMEBODY SHOWN ONE WITH A
HAT AND SHE WAS INTERESTING
AND HAD GONE TO MAKE THAT.
CALLED HER UP.
"LET ME LOOK AT THAT."
HE IS FAMILY-FRIENDLY GUY
AND HE IS APPRECIATIVE OF
THE AUDIENCE AND HE GIVES A
LOT BACK.
>> YES, HIS IDEA THAT HE
WANTS TO WORK EVERY DAY.
>> THAT HE WANTS TO WORK
EVERY DAY.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ARE LIKE
THIS, I CAN'T SIT STILL FOR
FIVE MINUTES.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> I IDENTIFY WITH THE
INSTINCT OF WANTING TO DO
SOMETHING PRODUCTIVE EVERY
DAY.
NOW THAT HE LEAVES "SATURDAY
NIGHT LIVE," HOW DOES HE
FILL HIS TIME AND HOW DO WE
FILL OUR TIME.
ONE OF THE THREE MAJOR CAST
MEMBERS TO LEAVE NOW THAT IT
HAS BEEN GOING ON 40 YEARS
AND WHAT HAPPENS AFTER HE
LEAVES.
HE HAS AN INDELIBLE IMPRINT
ON THE SHOW.
>> SO ON THE Q AND A,
BESIDES THE GIRL WHO CAME
WITH THE HAT, ON THIS SHOW,
HE DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE.
>> YES, HE WANTED TO STAY.
>> IN FACT, HE JOKINGLY
ASKED THE AUDIENCE OUT TO
LUNCH WITH HIM AFTER THE
SHOW.
>> YES, IT IS A RARE THING
FOR THE GUEST TO BE AS --
THE ONLY OTHER GUEST I
REMEMBER BEING SO GOOD WITH
THE AUDIENCE WAS TOM BROKAW
YEARS AND YEARS AGO WHO
DANGLED IN HIS SEAT AND
ANSWERED EVERY QUESTION
ABOUT HIM.
THE THING I WANTED TO ASK IS
WAS ABOUT THE DEMONSTRATION
OF THE QUEEN AND MICK JONES
AS THE CLASH.
EVERY TIME I HEARD THAT, I
WAS ON THE FLOOR LAUGHING.
I CAN'T BELIEVE I GOT TO ASK
THAT QUESTION.
I FELT LIKE THE LUCKIEST GUY
TO ASK THAT QUESTION.
>> SO WHO ELSE DO YOU WANT
TO HAVE ON FROM A MEDIA
STANDPOINT?
>> WELL, WE HAVE A LOT OF
PEOPLE FROM AUSTIN.
JOHN OLIVER FROM "THE DAILY
SHOW" WHO HAS BEEN ON MOST
OF "THE DAILY SHOW" WHILE
JON STEWART HAS BEEN OFF
MAKING HIS MOVIE WILL BE
HERE IN SEPTEMBER.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING LIKE
HECK TO GET JOHN OLIVER
HERE.
>> DOES HAVING THREE CAST
MEMBERS OF "THE DAILY SHOW"
HELP YOU?
>> YES, HOPEFULLY GO BACK
AND TELL HIM, HE IS COOL,
YES, DO THE SHOW.
WE STARTED OVER EVERY TIME
BUT IT WILL BE A LOT OF FUN.
>> YES.
>> IT HAS BEEN A GREAT RUN.
IN A DECADE OF EVAN SMITH
INTERVIEWS, THREE SEASONS OF
INTERVIEWS WITH EVAN SMITH.
>> IT HAS BEEN GREAT.
>> STILL ENJOYING IT?
>> I GET UP EVERY DAY
THINKING THAT PERSON IS A
GUEST, THAT PERSON IS A
GUEST, THAT PERSON IS A
GUEST.
I NEVER GET BORED.
I LOVE WORKING FOR KLRU AND
HAPPY TO DO THIS.
>> WE ARE HAPPY TO HAVE EVAN
SMITH AS HOST OF THIS SHOW.
>> WE HOPE YOU GIVE US A
CALL AT 1-866-910-KLRU AND
IF YOU DO, WE WILL MAKE SURE
YOU GET INVITED TO THE
"OVERHEARD" TAPINGS AND A
GREAT WAY FOR YOU TO COME IN
AND TO BE A PART OF THE
PRODUCTION THAT WE SO
TREASURE HERE ON KLRU.
CALL 1-866-910-KLRU AND GIVE
THE GIFT OF ANY AMOUNT TO
KEEP "OVERHEARD" STRONG AND
EVERYTHING THAT KLRU DOES
FOR THIS COMMUNITY STRONG
AND ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE.
THINK OF EVERYONE IN YOUR
LIVES WHO WATCHES KLRU AND
GIVE THEM A GIFT TONIGHT.
IF YOU GIVE THEM A KLRU
LEVEL, WE WILL GIVE ONE OF
THE PASSES TO THE TRIBUNE
FESTIVAL, SEPTEMBER 27-29
HERE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
CAMPUS FESTIVAL, OVER 150
GUEST SPEAKERS WILL BE HERE,
SO IT IS A GREAT TIME FOR
PEOPLE WHO LIKE PUBLIC
POLICY AND POLITICS AND WANT
TO ENJOY A GREAT WEEKEND.
WE ALSO HAVE 200-DOLLAR
LEVEL, THE BRAND NEW ROKU 3.
YOU CAN WATCH EVERY BRAND
NEW EPISODE OF "OVERHEARD"
ON YOUR TELEVISION AND
REMEMBER A GIFT OF ANY
AMOUNT MAKES A DIFFERENCE ON
KLRU SO GIVES US A CALL
RIGHT NOW.
>> THAT IS THE SHOW FOR
TONIGHT, THE BEST OF SEASON
3 WITH EVAN SMITH,
"OVERHEARD" AND WE HAD
WONDERFUL GUESTS AND A WHOLE
SEASON OF WONDERFUL
INTERVIEWS AND I THANK YOU
FOR TONIGHT AND NEXT SEASON
AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEASON
FOUR, WHICH WILL BE HERE
SOON, AND I WANT TO THANK
ALL OF YOU AS WELL.
THAT IS ALL OF YOU ON KLRU,
NOT JUST THE PLEDGE, BUT ALL
OF THIS OVER TIME, FOR THIS
STATION TO DO SOME OSCAR
BEST LOCAL PRODUCTIONS IN
PBS IN THIS COUNTRY.
THIS DOES NOT PAY FOR
ITSELF.
YOUR GIFTS, BIG OR SMALL,
MATTER.
IT MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR THE
STATION TO BE THE PUBLIC
SQUARE THAT AUSTIN AND
CENTRAL TEXAS TELLS US THAT
THEY NEED AND THEY WANT SO
TO ALL OF YOU WHO GIVE
866-910-5578, PLEASE CALL
TODAY.
WE SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING
YOU AT THE STUDIO AND THE
SCREEN FOR "OVERHEARD."
>> WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU
IN THE STUDIO, VISIT
KLRU.ORG/OVERHEARD TO FIND
INTERVIEWS, Q AND AS OF THE
GUESTS AND AN ARCHIVE OF
PAST EPISODES.
>> FUNDING FOR "OVERHEARD"
WITH EVAN SMITH IS PROVIDED
IN PART BY THE MATTSSON
MCHAIL FOUNDATION, IN
SUPPORT OF PUBLIC
TELEVISION.
ALSO, BY THE MFI FOUNDATION,
IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF
LIFE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND FROM THE TEXAS BOARD OF
LEGAL SPECIALIZATION, BOARD
CERTIFIED ATTORNEYS IN YOUR
COMMUNITY, EXPERIENCED,
RESPECTED AND TESTED.
ALSO, BY HILLCO PARTNERS,
TEXAS GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
CONSULTANCY AND THE
CONSULTING UNIT, HILLCO
HEALTH.
AND BY THE ALICE KLEBERG
REYNOLDS FOUNDATION, AND
VIEWERS LIKE YOU.
THANK YOU.