>> FUNDING FOR "OVERHEARD" WITH
EVAN SMITH IS PROVIDED IN PART
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, A
TEXAS GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
CONSULTANCY.
AND BY THE ALICE KLEBERG
REYNOLDS FOUNDATION.
AND VIEWERS LIKE YOU.
THANK YOU.
>> I'M EVAN SMITH, SHE'S AN
AUTHOR, COMEDIAN, POLITICAL
COMMENTATOR AND ACTIVIST, AND
COCREATOR OF "THE DAILY SHOW".
SHE'S LIZZ WINSTEAD.
>> I GUESS WE CAN'T FIRE HIM
NOW.
>> I GUESS WE CAN'T FIRE HIM
NOW.
>> THE NIGHT THAT I WIN THE
EMMY, BEING ON THE SUPREME COURT
WAS AN IMPROBABLE DREAM.
>> IT'S HARD WORK AND IT'S
CONTROVERSIAL.
>> WITHOUT INFORMATION THERE IS
NO FREEDOM, AND IT'S JOURNALISTS
WHO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION.
>> WINDOW ROLLS DOWN AND THIS
GUY SAYS, HEY, GOES TO 11.
>> LIZZ WINSTEAD, WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU,.
>> SO NICE TO MEET YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THIS IS A GOOD TIME TO BE IN
THE POLITICAL TALK SHOW
BUSINESS.
YOU'RE A COCREATOR OF "THE DAILY
SHOW".
GETTING TO BE ALMOST 20 YEARS
AGO.
THIS IS SALAD DAYS OF THE WHOLE
GENRE OF PROGRAMS.
DO YOU THINK THE SHOW IS A
REFLECTION OF THE TIMES, THOSE
KINDS OF SHOWS ARE A REFLECTION
OF THE TIMES WES LIVE IN OR ARE
THE TIMES A REFLECTION OF THE
SUCCESSES OF THOSE SHOWS?
>> I THINK THAT WHEN WE LAUNCHED
THE DAILY SHOW IN '96, WE
LAUNCHED WITH A MEDIA LANDSCAPE
THAT WAS, IF YOU'LL RECALL, IT
WAS LIKE ALL OF THE NIGHTTIME
SHOWS WERE MAGAZINE SHOWS THAT
WERE LITERALLY POISONING US.
TERRIFYING US, YOU KNOW, YOUR
MATTRESS, WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW
MIGHT KILL YOU.
IT WAS LIKE -- RIGHT?
CONSTANT.
AND THEN THERE WAS ONLY CNN AT
THE TIME.
AND SO IT WAS -- IT WAS -- IT
WAS O.J. AND IT WAS NOT NEWS,
PER SE, BUT IT WAS REALLY JUST
INFO TAINMENT THAT FELT VERY ALL
PURULENT.
WHEN WE WATCHED THE SHOW, WE
WERE DEALING WITH THAT MEDIA
LANDSCAPE, AND SO THE SHOW
EVOLVED WITH THE MEDIA LANDSCAPE
THAT EXISTED, SO BY THE TIME
9-11 HAPPENED, THE SHOW WOULD
BECOME SOMETHING ELSE, AND AS WE
WATCHED OURSELVES GO TO WAR, ON
FALSE INFORMATION AND THINGS
LIKE THAT, THE MEDIA THEN, AND
THE SHOW ITSELF, THEN, BECAME A
WHOLE DIFFERENT ANIMAL, AND THEN
JOHN TOOK OVER FROM CRAIG
KILGORE WHO WAS THE HOST WHEN I
WAS THERE, AND HE DID SOMETHING
THAT I THINK IS REALLY
BRILLIANT, WE WERE MORE LIKE
COLBERT AT THE BEGINNING, THE
HOST OF THE SHOW AND ALL OF THE
CORRESPONDENTS WERE IN
CHARACTER.
NOBODY BROKE.
THE AUDIENCE HAD TO GET IT.
WHAT JOHN DID WAS, BECAUSE JON
IS BRILLIANT IN AND OF HIMSELF
TO PUT HIM IN A CHARACTER MADE
NO SENSE.
HE'S JUST A SMART GUY.
SO HE BECAME SORT OF THE VOICE
OF THE VIEWER, AND ASKING A LOT
OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE HYPOCRISY
THAT WE WERE LIVING IN
SURROUNDING HIMSELF BY THE
CORRESPONDENCE WHO STILL
REMAINED, YOU KNOW, KIND OF THE
DIM WITTED CORRESPONDENTS.
>> YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU WERE
GONE BY THE TIME JON STEWART WAS
FIRMLY IN PLACE.
YOU MUST LOOK AT THE JON STEWART
ERA OF "THE DAILY SHOW" WITH
PRIDE.
>> OF COURSE.
WHAT I ALWAYS SAY IS IT'S REALLY
GREAT TO HAVE YOUR INSTINCTS PAY
OFF AND TO KNOW THAT THE BONES
OF THIS HOUSE WERE REALLY
STRONG.
AND THAT WE -- THERE WAS A
MEDIA -- THERE IS AN APPETITE TO
HAVE PEOPLE LOOKING AT THE MEDIA
WITH A JAUNDICED EYE, NOT JUST
THE MEDIA MAKERS AND TO WATCH
THAT IT WAS ABLE TO EVOLVE AND
THAT JON'S VOICE WAS TO BE ABLE
TO MAKE IT GROW, AND THEN BECOME
THE JUGGERNAUT THAT IT IS.
A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE WILL SAY
DID YOU EVER EXPECT IT TO BECOME
THIS THING THAT IT BECAME, AND
THERE'S TWO ANSWERS TO THAT, ONE
WITH JON TAKING IT OVER, I KIND
OF DID, BUT THE ONE I NEVER
EXPECTED IS THAT OUR MEDIA WOULD
BECOME SO DERILECT THAT "THE
DAILY SHOW" COULD ROCKET.
>> IT'S ABOUT THE DECLINE OF
EVERYTHING ELSE.
ALSO "THE DAILY SHOW" AND THE
SHOWS LIKE IT, COAL BETTER,
THESE DAYS THE JOHN OLIVER
PROGRAM IS IN THE SAME CATEGORY,
IT'S BECOME JOURNALISM, RIGHT,
IN SOME WAYS, IT'S BECOME A NEWS
SHOW AND DOING JOURNALISM THAT
THE REGULAR JOURNALISTS ARE NOT
DOING.
>> SHAME ON JOURNALISM, I MIGHT
SAY.
WHEN YOU FACT CHECK THE SHOWS,
THEY CHECK OUT, AND THERE IS NO
NEED -- THERE IS SO MUCH 24 HOUR
NEWS, SOME TIMES WHEN YOU WATCH
IT OR WHEN I WATCH IT, I
SHOULDN'T SAY YOU, BUT WHEN I
WATCH IT IS THE GOAL HERE TO BE
FIRST RATHER THAN RIGHT?
BECAUSE THAT'S NOT HELPFUL
REALLY TO AN ELECTORATE THAT
REALLY NEEDS SOME INFORMATION,
YOU KNOW, SOMETHING GETS SPEWED
OUT THERE SO THAT -- IN AN
EFFORT TO BE FIRST AND THEN IT'S
WRONG AND THEN IT PERPETUATES
AND THEN IT GETS TWEETED AND
RETWEETED AND ALL OF A SUDDEN
THERE'S INACCURACIES, THE
JEANNIE IS OUT OF THE BOTTLE,
AND YOU CAN'T PUT IT BACK IN
SOMETIMES.
YOU END UP SAYING, THAT ISN'T
TRUE.
I'M SURE WE HAVE PARENTS WHO
FORWARD US CRAZY E-MAILS FROM
THEIR CRAZY FRIENDS, YOU KNOW,
BARACK OBAMA WAS BORN -- WHERE
WAS HE BORN NOW?
>> WELL, THE PHENOMENON IS
ABSOLUTELY THE CASE, AND
THAT'S -- IT'S GREAT.
THESE SHOWS, THE GROUP OF THEM,
NOT TO PAINT WITH ONE BRUSH, BUT
THEY ALL TEND TO BE MORE LIBERAL
OR THEY COME ACROSS AS MORE
LIBERAL POLITICALLY, FOR A LONG
TIME, AS YOU KNOW, TALK RADIO IS
VERY CONSERVATIVE.
AIR AMERICA WHICH YOU WERE
INVOLVED WITH COFOUNDING IS
ATTEMPT TO PUT SOME BALANCE ON
THE SCALE.
>> YEP.
>> BUT THIS GENRE OF TALK SHOW
HAS LARGELY BEEN MORE
LIBERAL-LEANING, IT SEEMS, IS
THERE A REASON FOR THAT.
>> IF YOU FACT CHECK THE DAILY
SHOW, IT COMES OUT ACCURATE, AND
IF IT'S LIBERAL-LEANING, ONE
COULD DEDUCE THAT IF YOU'RE
LIBERAL-LEANING, YOU'RE SPEWING
OUT THE FACTS.
>> OKAY.
>> I'M JUST SAYING, YOU COULD
SAY THAT!
[ LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE ]
>> YOU'RE WELCOME, I SET THAT UP
PRETTY WELL.
COULD A CONSERVATIVE VERSION OF
ONE OF THESE SHOWS, YOU KNOW,
THERE HAVEN'T BEEN ANY PEOPLE
WHO ATTEMPTED.
DENNIS MILLER HAS ATTEMPTED,
RIGHT?
>> I WOULD SUGGEST ALL OF YOU TO
GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE FOX NEWS
ATTEMPT AT ABOUT -- IN 2007 OR
EIGHT THEY TRIED A 12 EPISODE
SHOW.
>> DIDN'T WORK.
>> NOT AT ALL.
I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING TO BE
SAID FOR THE POLITICAL
PHILOSOPHY OF LOOKING -- I MEAN
IT'S MINE AND I THINK IF YOU
LOOK AT SORT OF ALL OF THESE
SHOWS, IT'S -- IF YOU LOOK AT
SOMEBODY, WHO HAS BEEN GIVEN THE
GIFT OF POWER.
>> RIGHT.
>> AND THEY USE IT STUPIDLY, OR
THEY USE IT TO MANIPULATE THE
GREATER GOOD, THOSE SHOULD BE
YOUR TARGETS, RIGHT?
SO IF YOU LOOK AT CONSERVATISM
AS A WHOLE, WHICH IS LIKE STAY
THE COURSE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S
NOT A WHOLE LOT OF LIKE, LET'S
OPEN UP OUR MINDS AND LOOK AT
THIS, LIKE THIS SEEMS TO BE
WORKING, THIS IS OUR PHILOSOPHY,
IT'S -- WE BELIEVE IN, YOU KNOW,
FAITH AND FAMILY AND THIS, AND
THE FAITH IS CHRISTIANITY, AND
THAT DOESN'T EXPAND TOO MUCH,
AND THE FAMILY IS, YOU KNOW,
STRAIGHT, SECULAR, HUSBAND-WIFE,
TRADITIONAL FAMILY INSTEAD OF
FAMILY MEANS A LOT OF THINGS,
AND SO WHEN YOU STICK WITH THE
RIGIDITY, IT'S KIND OF HARD TO
THEN BE LIKE, HEY, GOOD NEWS FOR
THE BIG GUY, YOU KNOW, THAT
DOESN'T REALLY RESONATE SO WELL.
>> BUT THESE SHOWS, STEWART, FOR
INSTANCE, HAVE COME AFTER PEOPLE
LIKE BARACK OBAMA, HILLARY
CLINTON, THEY'RE BIPARTISAN.
>> IF YOU'RE A POLITICAL PERSON
WHO CAME UP THROUGH THE SYSTEM,
I THINK THE PARTY SHOULDN'T
MATTER.
WHEN THERE'S SO MUCH MONEY IN
POLITICS NOW, AND CORPORATIONS
ARE NOW PEOPLE, YOU KNOW,
DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS
ALIKE --
>> DOESN'T MATTER, IT'S A TARGET
RICH ENVIRONMENT.
>> IT'S A TARGET-RICH
ENVIRONMENT, YOU KNOW, AS WE SIT
HERE AND SPEAK, DRUM BEATS TO
WAR ARE BEING -- ARE BEING, YOU
KNOW, BEATEN BY DEMOCRATIC
PRESIDENT, AND, YOU KNOW,
THERE'S -- IF YOU'RE NOT
TARGETING BARACK OBAMA AND
HILLARY CLINTON AND THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY AS A WHOLE,
YOU'RE NOT DOING YOUR JOB AS A
SATIRIST, LIKE THAT IS JUST THE
BOTTOM LINE, THESE ARE PEOPLE
RUNNING OUR LIVES.
WE ARE THE LENS WITH WHICH WE
CAN TAKE IN INFORMATION, SPEW IT
OUT WITH A LITTLE BIT OF HUMOR,
A LITTLE BIT OF OUTRAGE, AND A
LOT OF QUESTIONS.
I THINK THAT IS WHAT IS FUN
ABOUT BEING A COMEDIAN WHO TALKS
ABOUT THE ISSUES OF THE DAY IS I
HAVE THE SAME QUESTIONS
EVERYBODY ELSE HAS, I JUST SPEND
MORE TIME DOING RESEARCH
SOMETIMES BECAUSE A LOT OF
PEOPLE ARE WORKING.
FOLKS GOT TO DO TO THEIR JOBS.
>> AND YOU HAVE A VENUE, ALSO,
THAT A LOT OF REGULAR PEOPLE
DON'T HAVE TO ASK THESE
QUESTIONS PUBLICLY.
WHY DIDN'T AIR AMERICA RADIO
WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN AHEAD OF ITS
TIME ATTEMPTING TO DO WHAT HAS
BEEN ACCOMPLISHED ON CABLE
PROGRAMS, AIR AMERICA RADIO IS A
VERSION OF WHAT YOU SEE NOW WITH
STEWART AND COLBERT AND ALL OF
THAT.
>> THERE'S A DOCUMENTARY WHY IT
DIDN'T WORK, IN THAT WE HAD
PEOPLE FUNDING IT WHO WERE NOT
VERY HONEST.
>> IT WAS ALL ABOUT THE BUSINESS
MODEL.
>> IT WAS ABOUT THE BUSINESS
MODEL, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE CORE
TEAM THAT WAS ON AIR, MARK MERRI
HAS A -- RACHEL MAD DOUGH IS
RACHEL MAD DOUGH, SO THERE WAS A
REALLY STRONG GROUP OF PEOPLE
WHO WERE DOING A REAL SERVICE,
THE STATISTICS IN TALK RADIO ARE
KIND OF STAGGERING.
THERE'S 90 SOME%, I THINK IT'S
93, BUT I'M NOT FOR SURE, BUT
IT'S BETWEEN 93 AND 95% OF ALL
TALK RADIO IS CONSERVATIVE.
>> IS CONSERVATIVE, RIGHT.
>> IT'S ASTOUNDING.
AND SO TO TRY TO FILL THAT
LITTLE NICHE WITH JUST SOME
OTHER INFORMATION IT'S PRETTY
TOUGH.
>> WELL, YOU EITHER HAVE A
SUPPLY PROBLEM IN THAT THERE'S
JUST NOT NEARLY ENOUGH OF THE
COUNTER BALANCE TO THAT.
>> RIGHT.
>> OR YOU HAVE A DEMAND PROBLEM
IN THAT MAYBE THE RADIO OFFICE
AS IT'S CONSTITUTED DOESN'T WANT
TO HEAR THAT STUFF.
TV HAS BEEN THE REVERSE IN THE
SENSE THAT THE LATE NIGHT CABLE
SHOWS HAVE BEEN THE OPPOSITES OF
THE RUSH LIMBAUGHS AND THE GLENN
BECKS.
>> IT'S ADVERTISER SUPPORTED, SO
WHEN YOU LOOK AT WE WOULD GET
ADVERTISER BLOW BACK BECAUSE WE
WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF ABORTION
RIGHTS OR MARRIAGE EQUALITY.
>> RIGHT.
>> OPINIONS THAT ARE -- THAT WE
BELIEVE ARE BASED IN FACT, AND
JUST HUMANITY, BUT -- AND
ADVERTISERS WOULD BE LIKE, NO,
WE WON'T ADVERTISE ON SOMETHING
THAT BELIEVES THAT, BUT THEY
WOULD ADVERTISE ALL DAY LONG ON
LIKE -- ON A SHOW LIKE RUSH OR
GLENN BECK, WHERE PEOPLE JUST
MADE UP STUFF.
IT'S LIKE, WAIT A MINUTE, YOU'RE
WILLING TO SPONSOR A LIE THAT
FEELS LIKE IT'S VALUES, RIGHT?
BUT YOU'RE NOT WILLING TO
SPONSOR SOMETHING THAT IS JUST
THE WAY THAT SOME PEOPLE LIVE
THEIR LIVES.
>> CHASING AN AUDIENCE, RIGHT.
>> IT'S AMAZING WHAT THEY'LL
SUPPORT, LET ME COME BACK TO
THIS QUESTION OF THE LATE NIGHT
SHOW, SO YOU'VE GOT COLBERT,
STEWART, OLIVER, MAHR, ALL MEN.
>> YES.
>> LETTERMEN LEAVES, REPLACED BY
COLBERT.
CRAIG FERGUSON REPLACED BY
JAMES, WHERE ARE THE WOMEN IN
LATE NIGHT, WHY HAVEN'T WE SEEN
EVOLUTION ON THE GENDER END OF
THIS WHERE WOMEN ARE HOSTING
THESE PROGRAMS.
>> NOBODY IS PSYCHED ABOUT THAT.
>> I JUST WOULD LOVE TO KNOW IF
YOU HAVE A PERSPECTIVE ON WHY
THIS IS.
>> THE SHORT ANSWER IS MAYBE
GUYS ARE MAKING THE DECISIONS?
I THINK THAT --
[ LAUGHTER ]
I THINK THAT FROM SOME WEIRD
REASON, AND I HONESTLY WOULD
LIKE TO KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS
MYSELF, IS THAT PEOPLE STILL
LOOK AT WOMEN AS OP -- APPEALING
TO WOMEN.
OUR HUMOR IS NOT GOING TO BE
WIDE RANGING AND WOMEN TALK
ABOUT SUBJECTS THAT ONLY WOMEN
LIKE, AS OPPOSED TO MEN WHO WE
HAVE ALL WATCHED MEN TALK ABOUT
MAN THINGS AND WE ALL SEEM TO
ENJOY IT, AND TURNS OUT THAT
THERE ARE THINGS THAT WOMEN
ARE -- CAN TALK ABOUT THAT
EVERYONE ENJOYS, BUT THAT IS
SOMEHOW JUST NOT FILLING THE
VOID, AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT.
>> RIGHT.
>> ELLEN DEGENERES WOULD BE
AMAZING LATE NIGHT, LIKE WHY IS
THAT EVEN AN ISSUE?
SO THE PIPELINE OF WHAT PEOPLE
THINK PEOPLE WANT IN LATE NIGHT
IS DECIDED OFTEN BY A WHOLE
BUNCH OF EXECUTIVES WHO --
>> HAPPEN TO BE MEN.
>> WHO HAPPEN TO BE MEN, WHO
ALSO DON'T HAPPEN TO BE SEEING
THE IMPACT THAT WOMEN HAVE
APPARENTLY IN THE COMEDY
LANDSCAPE, YOU LOOK AT TINA FEY,
KRISTIN WIGG, SARAH SILVERMAN.
>> THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO
WOULD BE FINE AND AMAZING AT
HOSTING LATE NIGHT.
>> AND IT'S NOT AS IF THESE
WOMEN AND OTHERS YOU HAVEN'T
MENTIONED AREN'T ACTIVE OUT IN
THE COMMUNITY TALKING ABOUT
POLITICS, TALKING ABOUT MANY OF
THE SAME THINGS.
AND IN FACT YOUR CAREER HAS
MORPHED I WOULD SAY A LITTLE BIT
FROM BEING A STANDUP COMEDIAN,
BEING AN AUTHOR, BEING A
PERFORMER TO BEING SOMEBODY WHO
SPENDS THE BULK OF HER TIME AS
AN ACTIVIST TALKING ABOUT
POLITICS, YOU'RE SPECIFICALLY
FOCUSED ON AMONG OTHER THINGS
REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AND WOMEN'S
HEALTH.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW YOU GOT
TO THAT POINT?
>> SURE, I, YOU KNOW, IT'S FUNNY
WHEN YOU SEE THAT COMEDY CAN
REALLY RESONATE WITH PEOPLE,
THIS IS -- PEOPLE ARE REALLY
LISTENING AND RESEARCHING AND
MAKING A DIFFERENCE, WHEN THEY
HEAR THE STUFF, AND I THOUGHT,
WELL, A COMEDY SHOW IS A COMEDY
SHOW AND FIRST AND FOREMOST A
COMEDY SHOW IS TO MAKE PEOPLE
LAUGH, SO IF YOU WANT TO MAKE
PEOPLE LAUGH AND THEN ALSO
BALANCE THAT OUT WITH MAKING
PEOPLE THINK, DO A LITTLE
RESEARCH ON THEIR OWN, GETTING
THEMSELVES A LITTLE BIT MORE
MOTIVATED, THEN YOU HAVE TO MAKE
A DECISION THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE
GONNA' DO, SO I KIND OF WANT TO
TRY TO PUSH THE NEEDLE A LITTLE
BIT, AND FOR ME WHAT HAPPENED
WAS I WAS WRITING MY BOOK, AND I
LIVE IN BROOKLYN NOW, BUT I'M
FROM MINNESOTA, AND I COULDN'T
FINISH MY BOOK, I WENT BACK TO
MINNESOTA IN 2011 TO HUNKER DOWN
IN A WINTER -- THIS IS LIZZ FREE
OR DIE.
>> LIZZ FREE OR DIE.
YEP.
>> CAME OUT IN 2012.
>> YEAH.
SO I'M -- IT'S THE NEW CONGRESS
IN 2011 IS BEING SWORN IN,
YOU'LL REMEMBER THAT'S THE VERY
CONSERVATIVE TEA PARTY CONGRESS
THAT KIND OF TOOK OVER, AND THE
VERY FIRST THING THEY PROPOSED,
AND WE WERE COMING OUT OF THE
FINANCIAL CRISIS AND THE JOB,
THERE WAS NO JOB, AND THE FIRST
THING THEY PROPOSED TO DO IS TO
DEFUND PLANNED PARENTHOOD, THE
NATIONAL PARKS AND I THINK
PUBLIC MEDIA, AND I WAS LIKE ARE
THEY PERFORMING ABORTIONS ON CAR
TALK IN YOSEMITE?
DID SOMETHING HAPPEN THAT I'M
NOT AWARE OF?
[ LAUGHTER ]
BECAUSE MAYBE WE SHOULD TALK
ABOUT THAT.
AND TURNS OUT THEY WEREN'T.
[ LAUGHTER ]
BUT A PRECEDENT HAD BEEN SET
THAT THEY WERE REALLY GOING
AFTER REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND
ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, PLANNED
PARENTHOODS AND SMALLER CLINICS,
ON A STATE LEVEL THE DEFUNDING
STARTED HAPPENING WHEN THAT
FAILED.
>> RIGHT.
>> AND I SAID, WOW, I GOT TO GO
BACK TO BROOKLYN, MAYBE I'LL
TAKE MY TWO DOGS AND ON MY WAY
BACK I'LL DRIVE AND DO SOME FUND
RAISERS AND SO I DID.
AND I WAS LEARNING ABOUT THE
LAWS IN DIFFERENT STATES AND I
WAS TALKING TO CLINICIANS AND I
WAS TALKING TO PATIENTS, AND IT
WAS REALLY A DESPERATE TIME, AND
I THOUGHT, WELL, STATE POLITICS
COULD NOT BE MORE BORING.
WHAT IF I INFUSED SOME HUMOR THE
WAY FUNNY OR DIE DOES, AND WITH
SOME FACTS AND GOT SOME OF MY
COMEDIAN FRIENDS TOGETHER, AND
WE STARTED HAMMERING AT ALL OF
THESE DIFFERENT LAWS.
>> THIS WAS GROUND UP AS OPPOSED
TO AT THAT TOP DOWN.
YOU GOT PERSONALLY ACTIVATED.
>> YEAH.
AND I REALIZED THAT THE
MESSAGING TO YOUNG PEOPLE JUST
WASN'T HITTING.
AND SO WHY NOT BRING SOME OF
THEIR FAVORITE COMEDIANS, LIKE
AMY SCHUMER, AND SARAH SILVERMAN
IN, AND DO SOME STUFF THAT WILL
RESONATE, HAVE THEM GO, I LIKE
COMEDY, OH, THAT'S GOING ON IN
MY STATE, WOW.
I COME TO TEXAS AND IT'S LIKE I
THINK THERE'S MORE TORCHYS THAN
THERE ARE PLACES YOU CAN GET AN
ABORTION IN TEXAS.
I'M NOT SURE I'M OKAY WITH THAT.
>> TORCHY'S IS DELICIOUS.
>> IT IS DELICIOUS, I WOULD LIKE
THERE TO BE A BALANCE BETWEEN
HEALTH CARE AND TORCHYS.
>> LET'S GET TO THAT, LET'S GET
TO THAT.
WHAT SPECIFICALLY HAPPENED.
ROE V. WADE IS MORE THAN 40
YEARS AGO, THE THOUGHT ON THIS
ISSUE, SETTLE POLICY, SETTLE
LAW, WHAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE
LAST COUPLE OF YEARS IS THAT
IT'S NEITHER.
>> WELL, I THINK THAT THE BIG
STEP THAT PEOPLE DIDN'T
UNDERSTAND, THERE WAS ROE VERSUS
WADE, THEN SOMETHING CALLED
PLANNED PARENTHOOD VERSUS
PENNSYLVANIA.
THAT CASE WENT BEFORE THE
SUPREME COURT.
WHAT THE SUPREME COURT SAID WAS
YOU CAN RESTRICT ACCESS TO
ABORTION CARE AS LONG AS IT
DOESN'T CREATE A QUOTE, UNQUOTE
UNDUE BURDEN.
SO I THINK ALL OF US ARE AMAZED
AT THE -- THE WAYS UNDUE BURDEN
HAS BEEN STRETCHED TO ITS
HEIGHTS IN A STATE LIKE TEXAS
WITH MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF --
>> OR ARKANSAS OR NORTH DAKOTA
WHERE THE RESTRICTIONS ARE BEING
PUT ON THIS PROCEDURE AND THE
REALITY IS THAT ALTHOUGH
ABORTION REMAINS LEGAL
NATIONALLY IN SOME OF THESE
STATES THEY'RE BASICALLY
LIMITING ACCESS TO IT TO THE
POINT THAT THE LEGAL STATUS IS
IRRELEVANT.
>> AND THE WAY THAT THEY CAN GO
AROUND, KEEPING, SAYING IT'S
LEGAL, OKAY, YOU CAN HAVE A
CLINIC, BUT IN ORDER TO OPERATE
THAT CLINIC, THE PHYSICIAN HAS
TO HAVE ADMITTING PRIVILEGES TO
A HOSPITAL, BUT THE ONLY --
WITHIN A 30-MILE RADIUS, WELL,
EVERY HOSPITAL IN YOUR 30-MILE
RADIUS, MIGHT BE A HOSPITAL THAT
HAS A RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION, OR,
AND THIS IS THE ONE THAT REALLY
GETS ME, OUR TAX DOLLAR, WE
VOTED TO NOT HAVE OUR TAX
DOLLARS FUND ABORTION CARE,
LET'S SAY, AND YOU HAVE A PUBLIC
HOSPITAL, IF SOMEBODY WERE TO GO
TO THE CLINIC AND NEED TO GET
ADMITTING PRIVILEGES FROM THE
PUBLIC HOSPITAL, WE WON'T --
IT'S NOT LEGAL TO PAY FOR THAT
PROCEDURE, BECAUSE THE PUBLIC
HOSPITAL, IT'S AGAINST THE LAW
TO HAVE PUBLIC FUNDS GO -- IT'S
A WHOLE MESS THAT THEY GOT TO
SORT OF IMPLEMENT, AND WITH ALL
OF THESE LOOPHOLES THAT MAKE IT
REALLY INACCESSIBLE, AND FOR ME,
I -- I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE DEALT
WITH A LOT OF SHAME AND STIGMA
AROUND WOMEN NEEDING HEALTH
CARE, AND INSTEAD OF USING
MEDICAL BOOKS, WE'RE USING
RELIGIOUS BOOKS AND WE'RE NOT
LOOKING AT INDIVIDUAL CASES OF
WHY PEOPLE NEED TO HAVE EVEN
BIRTH CONTROL, YOU KNOW, NOW WE
HAVE HOBBY LOBBY AND IT'S LIKE
THAT'S NOT EVEN ABOUT ABORTION
CARE, THAT'S ABOUT BIRTH
CONTROL, AND THEY SAY IT'S
BECAUSE HOBBY LOBBY IS A CRAFT
STORE THAT HAS A RELIGIOUS
VIEWPOINT, WHICH I DIDN'T KNOW
THAT CRAFT STORES WERE ALSO
CHURCHES.
I THOUGHT THEY SOLD EXTENT
SILLS --
>> BUT OF COURSE THE OWNER SHIP
OF THE STORE IS SAYING WE HAVE A
RELIGIOUS POINT OF VIEW.
YES, I HEAR EVERYTHING YOU'RE
SAYING, THIS IS AN ISSUE FOR A
LONG TIME HAS BEEN DIFFICULT TO
SOLVE POLITICALLY.
THERE'S A LOT OF DIVISION
POLITICALLY ON THIS, ULTIMATELY
POLITICS IS PRECEDED BY
ELECTIONS, IN A LOT OF PLACES
WHERE THESE ISSUES ARE COMING
UP, YOU MIGHT SAY THAT ONE WAY
TO CHANGE THIS IS TO CHANGE THE
PEOPLE IN OFFICE, SO HOW DO YOU
GET PEOPLE -- HOW DO YOU GET --
IF THAT'S YOUR PERSPECTIVE, HOW
DO YOU GET PEOPLE TO TURN OUT
AND ADVOCATE FOR THE POSITION
THAT YOU'RE TAKING AND
ULTIMATELY CHANGE LEADERSHIP.
>> WELL, MY GOAL WITH THIS SORT
OF -- I'VE STARTED AN
ORGANIZATION CALLED LADY PARTS
JUSTICE --
>> YOU CAN SAY THAT ON PUBLIC
TELEVISION, THAT'S FINE.
>> WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS
GETTING -- PART OF IT IS THAT
PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THE ASSAULT IS
SO GREAT AND THAT IT'S COMING ON
A STATE LEVEL, OREGON IS THE
ONLY STATE THAT HAS NOT DONE
SOME SORT OF CURBING OF
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE LAW
SINCE ROW V. WADE.
IT'S KIND OF AMAZING, SO IF WE
CAN GET PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND
THAT IT'S HAPPENING, BECAUSE TEN
MILLION MORE WOMEN THAN MEN
VOTED IN THE LAST GENERAL, THE
BIG LAST PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
IF WE CAN GET THEM TO UNDERSTAND
THIS IS HAPPENING, ESPECIALLY ON
A STATE LEVEL WHERE YOU CAN MAKE
A DIFFERENCE, SOMEBODY IS NOT
POLITICAL AT ALL, THEY'RE GOING
TO BE INTRODUCED TO IT FOR THE
FIRST TIME, HEY, THIS IS
HAPPENING, IT'S HAPPENING IN
YOUR STATE, THAT GUY THAT
REPRESENTS YOU IS KIND OF A
CREEP, TURNS OUT.
[ LAUGHTER ]
THEN PEOPLE LIKE, WHOA, REALLY?
SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE HAVE
STARTED THIS YEAR,
SEPTEMBER 27th, WHICH WILL BE
BEFORE THIS AIRS, NATIONAL DAY
OF ACTION, WHERE THERE'S
CONCERTS AND HOUSE PARTIES GOING
ON ALL OVER THE PLACE.
IN THE COUNTRY, THE CONCERTS
WITH MEDIANS, MUSICIANS, POETS,
COCKTAILS, HAVING A LOT OF FUN
AND THEN TALKING ABOUT WHAT'S ON
THE BALLOT IN THEIR STATE, AND
NINE TIMES OUT OF TEN IT'S WOMEN
AND NOT IN A GOOD WAY.
SO IF WE CAN GET PEOPLE TO
ATTEND THESE HOUSE PARTIES,
INTERACT WITH OUR WEBSITE TO
LEARN ABOUT THE LAWS IN THEIR
STATE, GATHER WITH THEIR FRIENDS
TO SAY I KIND OF WANT TO GET RID
OF THAT GUY, I WANT TO MAKE THE
COMMITMENT TO GET TEN FRIENDS TO
GO VOTE OR WHATEVER IT IS.
WE CAN KIND OF HAVE THIS ANNUAL,
BASICALLY THE WAY THE LGB.
THE COMMUNITY, WE WANT WOMEN TO
START GATHERING IN THE LATE FALL
RIGHT BEFORE THE ELECTION TO
SAY, HEY, LET'S REMIND PEOPLE
WHAT'S AT STAKE, THERE'S AN
ELECTION EVERY YEAR, LET'S HAVE
SOME WINE, LET'S HAVE SOME FUN.
OLD FASHIONED POLITICAL
ACTIVISM.
WE'RE SITTING AROUND GOING WHAT
ARE WE GOING TO DO TONIGHT?
HOW ABOUT MAKE SOME TROUBLE?
>> WELL, THAT WOULD BE ONE
OPTION.
>> YEAH.
>> RIGHT.
WE HAVE A COUPLE OF MINUTES
LEFT, LIZZ, YOU MENTIONED YOU
WERE FROM MINNESOTA.
OH, I SURE AM.
>> THIS IS A STATE THAT PRODUCED
BOTH AL FRANKEN AND MICHELLE
BACHMANN, EXPLAIN THAT AND HELP
US UNDERSTAND THE ROOTS OF YOUR
OWN ISSUES GOING BACK TO WHEN
YOU WERE GROWING UP.
>> IT'S FUNNY, MY DAD IS FROM
PHILADELPHIA, MISSISSIPPI, HOT
BED OF LIBERALISM.
MY MOM IS FROM WIN SEW AT THAT,
THEY MET IN WORLD WAR II IN
WASHINGTON, D.C., MY DAD
LITERALLY UP UNTIL THE DAY HE
DIED WOULD GO TO THE LOCAL CBS
AFFILIATE AND BITCH ABOUT HUE
BERT HUMPHREY AND HE DIED IN
2005.
>> A LITTLE LONGER THAN
HUMPHREY.
>> YEAH.
SO IT'S JUST AS MY FATHER SAID
TO ME, WHICH IS GREAT, WE HAVE A
VERY -- I'M YOUNGEST OF FIVE
KIDS, CATHOLIC, AGAIN, THAT WAS
IN MINNESOTA THE LUTHERAN POLICE
STATE, OKAY, WE ARE THE
OPPRESSED ONES.
SO MY DAD WAS FUNNY, MY MOM WAS
FUNNY, AND MY DAD SAID, DANG IT,
LIZZ, I RAISED YOU TO HAVE AN
OPINION AND I FORGOT TO TELL YOU
IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE MINE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> THAT HAPPENS.
>> THAT HAPPENS, SO THE MICHELLE
BACHMANN THING HAPPENS AND WE'RE
ALL WONDERING, WE STILL ALL
WONDER, YOU KNOW, IT'S A LITTLE
BIT -- IT'S A LITTLE BIT ODD,
BUT MINNESOTA IS A FUNNY THING,
BECAUSE WE PASSED MARRIAGE
EQUALITY A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO,
AND I WENT BACK TO DOOR KNOCK,
THIS SUMS UP MINNESOTA TO ME IN
A NUTSHELL.
I WENT TO A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT
WAS WORKING CLASS NEIGHBORHOOD,
A LITTLE BIT OF LIKE SOME PEOPLE
FOR IT, SOME PEOPLE AGAINST IT,
SO HOUSE TO HOUSE YOU DIDN'T
KNOW IF YOU WERE GOING TO GET
SOMEBODY WHO WAS FOR IT OR
AGAINST IT.
SO I KNOCK ON A DOOR AND A WOMAN
OPENS UP, SHE GOES, OH, HI, COME
ON IN.
I WALK IN, SO WHY ARE YOU HERE?
MAYBE YOU SHOULD HAVE ASKED ME
BEFORE YOU LET ME IN, BUT OKAY.
IT'S MINNESOTA, IT'S HOW WE
ROLL.
I'M HERE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT
AMENDMENT 2, HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT
IT, THIS WAS THE MARRIAGE
AMENDMENT.
SHE GOES, OH, YOU KNOW, I
JUST -- I DON'T KNOW, I FEEL
REAL -- I FEEL REAL CONFUSED.
I SAID, WELL, YOU KNOW, CAN I
HELP YOU.
SHE SAID, WELL, HERE IS MY DEAL.
I DON'T KNOW THAT I'M OKAY WITH
TWO GUYS GETTING MARRIED, BUT I
DON'T WANT TO BE A JERK ABOUT
IT.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> THAT SUMS UP A LOT OF PEOPLE.
>> IT DOES.
AND, YOU KNOW, IF EVERYBODY
COULD JUST KIND OF GO WITH THAT
FLOW, RIGHT.
>> YOU WERE GOOD WITH THAT.
>> I WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW,
EXACTLY, SO MAYBE JUST SIT THIS
ONE OUT.
YOU'RE NOT SURE, YOU KNOW, IF
AMERICA WOULD JUST SAY MAYBE I
DON'T LIKE THIS BUT I DON'T WANT
TO BE A JERK ABOUT IT.
>> THERE'S A POLITICAL
PHILOSOPHY THAT CAN APPLY
ACTUALLY ACROSS THE BOARD.
>> YEAH.
[ CHEERING AND APPLAUSE ]
>> I THINK THAT'S A VERY SMART
IDEA.
>> I AGREE.
>> WOULDN'T LIFE BE BETTER -- I
APPRECIATE YOU MAKING TIME TO BE
HERE WITH US.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> FUN TO VISIT WITH YOU, LIZZ
WINSTEAD.
GOOD LUCK WITH EVERYTHING YOU'RE
DOING.
>> WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU JOIN US
IN THE STUDIO, VISIT OUR WEBSITE
AT KLRU.ORG/OVERHEARD TO FIND
INVITATIONS TO INTERVIEWS, Q AND
A'S WITH OUR AUDIENCE AND GUESTS
AND ARCHIVE OF PAST EPISODES.
>> IF YOU SPECIAL DO THINGS THAT
ARE CONTROVERSIAL, OR EDGY, YOU
NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO
CROSS THE LINE, AND THE LINE IS
ALWAYS MOVING, AND SO BECAUSE
THE LINE IS ALWAYS MOVING, YOU
HAVE TO BE CONFIDENT IN WHAT
YOU'RE SAYING SO THAT YOU CAN
DEFEND IT.
>> FUNDING FOR OVERHEARD WITH
EVAN SMITH IS PROVIDED IN PART
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
HEALTH CARE CONSULTING BUSINESS
UNIT, HILLCO HEALTH, AND BY THE
ALICE KLEBERG REYNOLDS
FOUNDATION AND VIEWERS LIKE YOU.
THANK YOU.
>> THIS WEEK ON OVER HERD, THE
COCREATOR OF THE DAILY SHOW,
LIZZ WINSTEAD.
>> IF YOU FACT CHECK "THE DAILY
SHOW" IT COMES OUT ACCURATE, AND
IF IT'S LIBERAL LEANING, ONE
COULD DEDUCE THAT IF YOU'RE
LIBERAL LEANING YOU'RE SPEWING
OUT THE FACTS.
>> RIGHT, OKAY.
>> MY DAD SAID DANG IT, LIZZ, I
RAISED YOU TO HAVE AN OPINION
AND I FORGOT TO TELL YOU IT WAS
SUPPOSED TO BE MINE.
[ LAUGHTER ]