1 00:00:01,466 --> 00:00:03,166 - [Announcer] Funding for Overhead with Evan Smith 2 00:00:03,166 --> 00:00:07,133 is provided in part by the Alice Kleberg Reynolds Foundation 3 00:00:07,133 --> 00:00:11,700 and Hillco Partners, a Texas Government Affairs consultancy. 4 00:00:11,700 --> 00:00:16,033 And by KLRU's Producers Circle, ensuring local programming 5 00:00:16,033 --> 00:00:18,100 that reflects the character and interests 6 00:00:18,100 --> 00:00:21,333 of the greater Austin, Texas, community. 7 00:00:21,333 --> 00:00:23,466 - I'm Evan Smith, he's a former U.S. Secretary 8 00:00:23,466 --> 00:00:26,300 of Housing and Urban Development and a former San Antonio 9 00:00:26,300 --> 00:00:29,500 mayor widely regarded as a rising star in the Democratic 10 00:00:29,500 --> 00:00:33,566 party and a possible future candidate for president. 11 00:00:33,566 --> 00:00:37,033 He's the honorable Julian Castro, this is Overhead. 12 00:00:37,033 --> 00:00:38,566 (inspirational music) 13 00:00:38,566 --> 00:00:40,566 Let's be honest, is the about the ability to learn 14 00:00:40,566 --> 00:00:42,566 or is this about the experience 15 00:00:42,566 --> 00:00:44,500 of not having been taught properly? 16 00:00:44,500 --> 00:00:46,366 How have you avoided what has befallen 17 00:00:46,366 --> 00:00:48,200 other nations in Africa? 18 00:00:48,200 --> 00:00:49,566 I hate to say he made his own bed, 19 00:00:49,566 --> 00:00:51,433 but you caused him to sleep in it. 20 00:00:51,433 --> 00:00:54,966 You saw a problem and over time took it on. 21 00:00:54,966 --> 00:00:58,100 Let's start with the sizzle before we get to the steak. 22 00:00:58,100 --> 00:00:59,333 Are you gonna run for president? 23 00:00:59,333 --> 00:01:01,800 I think I just got an F from you. 24 00:01:01,800 --> 00:01:03,300 This is Overheard. 25 00:01:05,766 --> 00:01:07,200 Mr. Secretary, good to see you. 26 00:01:07,200 --> 00:01:08,700 - Great to be with ya. 27 00:01:08,700 --> 00:01:09,900 - Welcome back to Texas, I guess you're living here now 28 00:01:09,900 --> 00:01:11,666 so it's not really much of a welcome back 29 00:01:11,666 --> 00:01:13,100 but in some ways. - But welcome back to Austin. 30 00:01:13,100 --> 00:01:14,533 - You've been gone, welcome back to Austin. 31 00:01:14,533 --> 00:01:15,766 So here we are, I looked it up today, 32 00:01:15,766 --> 00:01:18,200 it's day 124 of the Trump administration. 33 00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:20,366 - Ah. - Does that feel long 34 00:01:20,366 --> 00:01:23,500 or short based on what we've seen so far? 35 00:01:23,500 --> 00:01:27,766 - It feels like the longest 124 days of our national life. 36 00:01:27,766 --> 00:01:29,266 - Is it really any different than you expected? 37 00:01:29,266 --> 00:01:31,766 I mean, obviously, your side going into this election, 38 00:01:31,766 --> 00:01:34,133 thought you had it won, didn't end up that way, 39 00:01:34,133 --> 00:01:36,400 coming out of it, worried your fears would be realized 40 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:39,100 and in many respects, suspicions confirmed, 41 00:01:39,100 --> 00:01:41,100 it's been somewhat like you thought. 42 00:01:41,100 --> 00:01:44,000 Has it been really though worse than you thought? 43 00:01:44,000 --> 00:01:45,533 - Oh, no doubt. 44 00:01:45,533 --> 00:01:48,300 Let's start off with a caveat, that caveat is we're only 45 00:01:48,300 --> 00:01:51,866 a few months in, and I think that Americans 46 00:01:53,266 --> 00:01:55,700 of all different stripes tend to give a president 47 00:01:55,700 --> 00:01:58,966 a little bit of room to learn and grow on the job. 48 00:01:58,966 --> 00:02:00,266 - Whether they were for him or not. 49 00:02:00,266 --> 00:02:03,666 - That's right and that's usually reflected 50 00:02:03,666 --> 00:02:06,133 in public opinion polls. - And you want him to succeed. 51 00:02:06,133 --> 00:02:07,600 - Of course. - Of course, 52 00:02:07,600 --> 00:02:09,066 everybody wants the president to succeed. 53 00:02:09,066 --> 00:02:10,533 - Everybody wants the president to be successful 54 00:02:10,533 --> 00:02:12,766 in moving the nation forward in the right direction, 55 00:02:12,766 --> 00:02:14,366 of course, we have very strong disagreements 56 00:02:14,366 --> 00:02:17,833 about what that means, but you want for the sake 57 00:02:17,833 --> 00:02:21,000 of that office and the country for him to succeed. 58 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:25,166 Having said that, it has been a mess, unqualified mess. 59 00:02:26,066 --> 00:02:28,200 (audience laughs) 60 00:02:28,200 --> 00:02:31,433 You have a president that looks like, if reports are true, 61 00:02:31,433 --> 00:02:34,466 that he's abusing his power, potentially has obstructed 62 00:02:34,466 --> 00:02:38,633 justice in terms of the investigation into possible 63 00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:43,800 collusion between his campaign and Russia, 64 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:46,866 they put together a healthcare package that would mean 65 00:02:46,866 --> 00:02:51,500 that 24 million less Americans would have healthcare, 66 00:02:51,500 --> 00:02:56,033 put forward a budget that just decimates opportunity 67 00:02:56,033 --> 00:03:00,300 for people who are low income and even middle class. 68 00:03:00,300 --> 00:03:01,633 - I think in fact every state agency except 69 00:03:01,633 --> 00:03:03,733 for Homeland Security, Defense, and Veterans 70 00:03:03,733 --> 00:03:05,733 saw a decrease in this budget. 71 00:03:05,733 --> 00:03:09,533 - Yeah, it's a train wreck of a budget. 72 00:03:09,533 --> 00:03:11,333 - But practically, it's dead, I mean, 73 00:03:11,333 --> 00:03:12,766 that budget's not gonna go in, practically. 74 00:03:12,766 --> 00:03:14,366 - So it doesn't matter who the president is, 75 00:03:14,366 --> 00:03:15,900 you're not gonna get everything that you want. 76 00:03:15,900 --> 00:03:18,433 In this case, I hope that he gets nothing that he wants. 77 00:03:18,433 --> 00:03:20,900 (audience laughs, applauds) 78 00:03:20,900 --> 00:03:24,233 Just to give you an example of that, 79 00:03:24,233 --> 00:03:29,100 over at my former department at HUD, the proposal was to cut 80 00:03:29,100 --> 00:03:32,766 more than $6 billion from the HUD budget. 81 00:03:32,766 --> 00:03:35,333 Now mind you, when Reagan walked in the door in 1981, 82 00:03:35,333 --> 00:03:38,300 HUD had about 16,000 employees. 83 00:03:38,300 --> 00:03:41,900 Today it has less than 8000 and at the same time, 84 00:03:41,900 --> 00:03:43,833 the needs out there have grown. 85 00:03:43,833 --> 00:03:45,333 - Well the population has grown, right? 86 00:03:45,333 --> 00:03:48,366 - Population has grown and the needs have grown 87 00:03:48,366 --> 00:03:50,900 and this is a budget that would cut from the ability 88 00:03:50,900 --> 00:03:53,266 to provide for low-income and middle class Americans 89 00:03:53,266 --> 00:03:56,733 housing opportunity, it also would impact things 90 00:03:56,733 --> 00:03:58,900 like Meals on Wheels, which is very popular 91 00:03:58,900 --> 00:04:02,866 and make sure that poor seniors have food to eat 92 00:04:02,866 --> 00:04:07,033 during the day, and so it's a very draconian compassionless 93 00:04:09,400 --> 00:04:12,666 budget that we haven't seen in a very long time. 94 00:04:12,666 --> 00:04:14,366 - You know, there are Democrats I've had the opportunity 95 00:04:14,366 --> 00:04:16,866 to sit across from, some Democrats including Nancy Pelosi 96 00:04:16,866 --> 00:04:19,266 recently, we interviewed her a couple weeks ago, 97 00:04:19,266 --> 00:04:20,633 and she said, "I can't believe I'm saying this, 98 00:04:20,633 --> 00:04:21,900 "but I miss George Bush." 99 00:04:21,900 --> 00:04:25,766 - You know, I actually saw that, I saw that. 100 00:04:25,766 --> 00:04:27,266 - And she's not the only one to say that, 101 00:04:27,266 --> 00:04:28,966 I mean, there is this idea that somehow those of us 102 00:04:28,966 --> 00:04:31,066 who thought, not myself, but people who thought 103 00:04:31,066 --> 00:04:34,866 in the Bush era, we hate this, this is not what we wanted, 104 00:04:34,866 --> 00:04:37,200 they're nostalgic actually for a time like that. 105 00:04:37,200 --> 00:04:39,233 - You know, to me, and the budget is a good example of this, 106 00:04:39,233 --> 00:04:43,933 to me it just feels like he's turning over the supervision 107 00:04:43,933 --> 00:04:48,100 and mechanics of government to right-wing ideologues. 108 00:04:49,466 --> 00:04:52,333 I would be surprised if President Trump actually knows 109 00:04:52,333 --> 00:04:54,400 the basics of what's in the budget 110 00:04:54,400 --> 00:04:56,233 that has been proposed on his behalf. 111 00:04:56,233 --> 00:04:58,066 - You think it's staff driving this 112 00:04:58,066 --> 00:04:59,666 as opposed to his vision top-down. 113 00:04:59,666 --> 00:05:01,233 - No doubt. 114 00:05:01,233 --> 00:05:02,500 - Let me make the counter case to you, Mr. Secretary, 115 00:05:02,500 --> 00:05:04,033 that there were things about the Obama years 116 00:05:04,033 --> 00:05:06,533 that needed to be fixed, that is the case that was made 117 00:05:06,533 --> 00:05:08,833 during the campaign, it's the case that's being made now 118 00:05:08,833 --> 00:05:11,766 and this budget and the policies that have been 119 00:05:11,766 --> 00:05:14,300 put into place or have been articulated since inauguration 120 00:05:14,300 --> 00:05:17,000 day are really an attempt to rescue the country 121 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:18,833 from the brink, that was the argument 122 00:05:18,833 --> 00:05:20,866 that Mr. Trump made during the campaign. 123 00:05:20,866 --> 00:05:22,566 - Well the argument that he made during the campaign 124 00:05:22,566 --> 00:05:25,266 was that there were forgotten Americans, 125 00:05:25,266 --> 00:05:28,933 folks, for instance, who lived in Wisconsin or Michigan 126 00:05:28,933 --> 00:05:33,000 or Ohio who had been impacted by free trade 127 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:37,900 and jobs moving overseas, the problem is that he hasn't 128 00:05:37,900 --> 00:05:40,066 lived up to his promises. 129 00:05:40,066 --> 00:05:42,700 For instance, in this budget, he takes away 130 00:05:42,700 --> 00:05:45,700 economic development money from the very communities 131 00:05:45,700 --> 00:05:48,233 that he said that he would help to revitalize. 132 00:05:48,233 --> 00:05:50,533 - And in many cases, communities that voted for him. 133 00:05:50,533 --> 00:05:52,033 - That's true. 134 00:05:52,033 --> 00:05:54,533 - The Affordable Healthcare Act translates into the AHCA, 135 00:05:54,533 --> 00:05:56,633 it is said that the people who will be hardest hit 136 00:05:56,633 --> 00:05:59,033 are often people who voted for him, 137 00:05:59,033 --> 00:06:00,633 in the communities that supported him. 138 00:06:00,633 --> 00:06:01,966 - No doubt, no doubt. 139 00:06:01,966 --> 00:06:03,333 What folks have to understand about Donald Trump 140 00:06:03,333 --> 00:06:06,933 is that he spent the last four decades almost 141 00:06:06,933 --> 00:06:09,533 doing certain things like railing against free trade, 142 00:06:09,533 --> 00:06:13,300 railing against China, railing against Saudi Arabia, 143 00:06:13,300 --> 00:06:16,833 at one point in the 1980s railing against Japan too, 144 00:06:16,833 --> 00:06:20,066 and he gets into office and the first thing that he does 145 00:06:20,066 --> 00:06:24,200 is to say, well, maybe China's not a currency manipulator, 146 00:06:24,200 --> 00:06:26,766 and maybe we do need NATO after all, 147 00:06:26,766 --> 00:06:30,533 and no, we're not gonna scrap NAFTA the way that I said 148 00:06:30,533 --> 00:06:32,733 that we were, we're gonna go ahead and try and renegotiate 149 00:06:32,733 --> 00:06:36,566 it with Canada and Mexico, so time after time, 150 00:06:38,600 --> 00:06:41,033 not only has he gone back on what he promised 151 00:06:41,033 --> 00:06:43,300 during the campaign, he's not even the same guy 152 00:06:43,300 --> 00:06:46,566 that he was before he went into politics. 153 00:06:46,566 --> 00:06:50,500 He has turned into, basically, Mike Pence, 154 00:06:50,500 --> 00:06:53,000 a right-wing ideologue and so, 155 00:06:55,233 --> 00:06:58,000 whether it's 2018 or 2020, the decision that people 156 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:02,533 are gonna have to make is do they trust someone who flat out 157 00:07:02,533 --> 00:07:06,300 lied to them about the man that he would be as president. 158 00:07:06,300 --> 00:07:07,700 - You understand though, Mr. Secretary, 159 00:07:07,700 --> 00:07:09,766 that although his approval ratings are lower 160 00:07:09,766 --> 00:07:13,433 than most presidents over time have been at this point, 161 00:07:13,433 --> 00:07:16,300 at the end of the day, a lot of the people who supported him 162 00:07:16,300 --> 00:07:20,100 are still with him, they actually knew he was imperfect, 163 00:07:20,100 --> 00:07:22,300 that he maybe said things that didn't square with facts 164 00:07:22,300 --> 00:07:24,800 during the campaign or that he had done things 165 00:07:24,800 --> 00:07:27,066 that you would kinda shield your eyes from, 166 00:07:27,066 --> 00:07:28,866 but they still voted for him, what makes you think 167 00:07:28,866 --> 00:07:30,833 that all of a sudden now, they're gonna break with him 168 00:07:30,833 --> 00:07:32,800 when they had ample opportunity to break with him 169 00:07:32,800 --> 00:07:34,300 before and did not? 170 00:07:34,300 --> 00:07:38,300 - Number one, in August of 1974, there were people 171 00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:41,733 who were still with Richard Nixon. 172 00:07:41,733 --> 00:07:42,866 - Right, it was only at the very end 173 00:07:42,866 --> 00:07:44,466 that he lost the majority of Republicans. 174 00:07:44,466 --> 00:07:46,233 - No no, I'm saying at the very end, 175 00:07:46,233 --> 00:07:48,300 when he flew out in the helicopter. 176 00:07:48,300 --> 00:07:49,533 (audience laughs) 177 00:07:49,533 --> 00:07:52,700 I bet you that there were 25 or 30% of people 178 00:07:52,700 --> 00:07:54,466 who didn't think that he should be flying out 179 00:07:54,466 --> 00:07:57,900 in the helicopter, who didn't think that he should resign. 180 00:07:57,900 --> 00:08:02,600 And so let's dispense with the idea that his support 181 00:08:02,600 --> 00:08:04,900 is ever gonna go down to zero, it's not. 182 00:08:04,900 --> 00:08:08,366 Now I think the more interesting question is, 183 00:08:08,366 --> 00:08:12,800 the 10 to 15% of folks who would determine an election. 184 00:08:12,800 --> 00:08:14,666 There's very good polling data out, 185 00:08:14,666 --> 00:08:17,600 compilation of months of polling that has shown 186 00:08:17,600 --> 00:08:20,500 that the folks who strongly support him 187 00:08:20,500 --> 00:08:23,200 has diminished by 1/3. 188 00:08:23,200 --> 00:08:25,900 And so he's losing those folks, 189 00:08:25,900 --> 00:08:28,233 he's losing them because people can tell it's a mess. 190 00:08:28,233 --> 00:08:29,533 - So you think if the election were held today, 191 00:08:29,533 --> 00:08:30,933 he might have a hard time winning. 192 00:08:30,933 --> 00:08:32,966 - Oh, no doubt, no doubt, and not only that, 193 00:08:32,966 --> 00:08:35,700 the other thing I was gonna say is, election, 194 00:08:35,700 --> 00:08:38,000 whatever election it is, I don't care if it's for school 195 00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:41,166 board or for city council or president 196 00:08:42,500 --> 00:08:45,933 is always a match-up between two or three people. 197 00:08:45,933 --> 00:08:48,000 And he's never gonna have the same match-up again. 198 00:08:48,000 --> 00:08:49,200 - It's a choice, not a referendum. 199 00:08:49,200 --> 00:08:50,433 - It is a choice, that's right, 200 00:08:50,433 --> 00:08:54,066 and so it's a choice, there's also timing, 201 00:08:54,066 --> 00:08:56,566 he's gonna have a track record next time. 202 00:08:56,566 --> 00:08:59,400 The Republicans are gonna lose their majority in Congress 203 00:08:59,400 --> 00:09:01,133 in 2018. - Well you say that. 204 00:09:01,133 --> 00:09:02,400 (audience applauds) 205 00:09:02,400 --> 00:09:05,233 We don't know that, well we don't know. 206 00:09:06,600 --> 00:09:08,666 - Well I guess, Evan, you're right, we don't know. 207 00:09:08,666 --> 00:09:10,700 - These guys notwithstanding. 208 00:09:10,700 --> 00:09:12,500 If you were sitting here on November 7th, 209 00:09:12,500 --> 00:09:14,600 you'd say, and we're gonna win the presidency the next day. 210 00:09:14,600 --> 00:09:17,233 - Let me just say that if I was a betting man, 211 00:09:17,233 --> 00:09:20,500 if I were a betting man, I would put money on the Democrats. 212 00:09:20,500 --> 00:09:24,000 - House, Senate, or both? - Well keep at least 213 00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:27,366 holding the Senate, winning back the House. 214 00:09:27,366 --> 00:09:29,333 - Holding the Senate in what respect? 215 00:09:29,333 --> 00:09:31,066 - Holding the seats that we have in the Senate. 216 00:09:31,066 --> 00:09:33,800 - Currently. - Yeah, 48 essentially. 217 00:09:33,800 --> 00:09:36,833 - But not winning back a majority. 218 00:09:36,833 --> 00:09:38,600 - Right now I'm not willing to say that because 219 00:09:38,600 --> 00:09:40,700 there are a couple of states that are very difficult. 220 00:09:40,700 --> 00:09:42,033 - Well the fact is there are 10 seats 221 00:09:42,033 --> 00:09:44,033 that the Democrats have to win next time, 222 00:09:44,033 --> 00:09:46,033 when they're up for reelection, that were either in states 223 00:09:46,033 --> 00:09:48,500 won by Trump or that Trump barely lost, so you're gonna have 224 00:09:48,500 --> 00:09:51,533 to assume that those are gonna be hard to hold. 225 00:09:51,533 --> 00:09:54,566 - I think that we're gonna hold everything that we have now. 226 00:09:54,566 --> 00:09:56,100 - So you said every election is a choice, not a referendum, 227 00:09:56,100 --> 00:09:59,166 if that's the case, is the reason 228 00:09:59,166 --> 00:10:02,433 that we're in the situation we're in now because Trump won 229 00:10:02,433 --> 00:10:05,166 or because your side lost a winnable election. 230 00:10:05,166 --> 00:10:07,066 Do a little bit of self analysis or autopsy 231 00:10:07,066 --> 00:10:08,533 on what happened last time. 232 00:10:08,533 --> 00:10:11,033 - It's clear that from the very beginning, 233 00:10:11,033 --> 00:10:13,866 you had a race that was gonna be a challenge 234 00:10:13,866 --> 00:10:16,300 for Democrats to win, and I said that because the Democrats 235 00:10:16,300 --> 00:10:19,166 had held the presidency for two terms 236 00:10:19,166 --> 00:10:22,700 and it's rare that you get a third time with the same party. 237 00:10:22,700 --> 00:10:24,200 - George H.W. Bush. - That was the last person. 238 00:10:24,200 --> 00:10:25,633 - Is the exception that proves the rule. 239 00:10:25,633 --> 00:10:27,266 - That's right so when you start thinking 240 00:10:27,266 --> 00:10:30,333 about the framework of that, it was always gonna be tough. 241 00:10:30,333 --> 00:10:33,766 Secondly, there's no question that something was in the air 242 00:10:33,766 --> 00:10:37,766 in 2016, populism, to a certain extent nationalism, 243 00:10:37,766 --> 00:10:40,166 this idea of America first that Trump ran on. 244 00:10:40,166 --> 00:10:41,666 - Russia. 245 00:10:41,666 --> 00:10:44,133 - Russia, we don't know what the impact of that was 246 00:10:44,133 --> 00:10:46,533 or wasn't right now, but yeah, it's conceivable 247 00:10:46,533 --> 00:10:49,000 that that contributed, of course. 248 00:10:49,000 --> 00:10:52,866 So I think that the overall dynamics of the race, 249 00:10:52,866 --> 00:10:55,200 if somebody were looking back on it, 250 00:10:55,200 --> 00:10:57,300 they would say that they were not good for Democrats. 251 00:10:57,300 --> 00:10:59,766 - Easier to see now when you look back 252 00:10:59,766 --> 00:11:01,866 over the totality of it. 253 00:11:01,866 --> 00:11:04,633 - And Trump was an unconventional candidate. 254 00:11:04,633 --> 00:11:08,733 He also did a very good job of, and I think here is where 255 00:11:08,733 --> 00:11:12,500 the Russian influence and social media influences 256 00:11:12,500 --> 00:11:15,733 comes into play, they did a very good job, and by very good, 257 00:11:15,733 --> 00:11:18,933 I mean effective, of smearing Hillary Clinton. 258 00:11:18,933 --> 00:11:21,433 Basically on social media, they turned Hillary Clinton 259 00:11:21,433 --> 00:11:23,433 into somebody that she was not. 260 00:11:23,433 --> 00:11:26,066 I can't tell you how many times when I would post something 261 00:11:26,066 --> 00:11:29,433 on Facebook or on Twitter, I would get back this really 262 00:11:29,433 --> 00:11:33,166 virulent strain of, oh, this person is a criminal, 263 00:11:33,166 --> 00:11:36,833 she should be in jail, I mean, come on. 264 00:11:36,833 --> 00:11:39,100 - But they used the tools available to them, 265 00:11:39,100 --> 00:11:41,233 they used the new tools particularly of campaigning. 266 00:11:41,233 --> 00:11:42,533 - For sure. - And as they say, 267 00:11:42,533 --> 00:11:44,666 this stuff ain't bean bag, it's tough stuff, 268 00:11:44,666 --> 00:11:45,933 and they used it effectively. 269 00:11:45,933 --> 00:11:48,633 - I think that it's gonna be difficult 270 00:11:48,633 --> 00:11:52,966 for either party to achieve that kind of result 271 00:11:52,966 --> 00:11:54,600 in the future because I think people are, 272 00:11:54,600 --> 00:11:58,433 each time folks go through that as a populace, 273 00:12:00,500 --> 00:12:01,933 they get a little bit smarter. 274 00:12:01,933 --> 00:12:04,266 - So you learned from at least that aspect 275 00:12:04,266 --> 00:12:06,100 of the last campaign, you learned about that. 276 00:12:06,100 --> 00:12:08,933 What did you learn about the Democratic message, 277 00:12:08,933 --> 00:12:12,100 what the message of your party needs to be. 278 00:12:12,100 --> 00:12:13,700 If you go back now and you look at what the message was 279 00:12:13,700 --> 00:12:15,966 in the last election and you think ahead two years 280 00:12:15,966 --> 00:12:18,700 or four years, what should the message be, 281 00:12:18,700 --> 00:12:20,833 what tweaks would you make to the message? 282 00:12:20,833 --> 00:12:25,333 - I would focus a lot more on what the policies Democrats 283 00:12:25,333 --> 00:12:28,800 embrace would do for low income and middle class Americans. 284 00:12:28,800 --> 00:12:30,500 - An affirmative argument. - An affirmative argument 285 00:12:30,500 --> 00:12:35,066 instead of an argument that focuses so much on, 286 00:12:35,066 --> 00:12:38,200 this is a bad guy and look at what our children 287 00:12:38,200 --> 00:12:40,766 are thinking, watching him. 288 00:12:40,766 --> 00:12:42,533 I just think that that didn't seem to resonate 289 00:12:42,533 --> 00:12:44,666 the way that folks thought it would. 290 00:12:44,666 --> 00:12:47,466 But look at his policies, look at the fact that he's gonna 291 00:12:47,466 --> 00:12:49,933 strip healthcare from 24 million Americans, 292 00:12:49,933 --> 00:12:53,200 that he's making it harder for poor senior citizens 293 00:12:53,200 --> 00:12:56,200 to get some food delivered to their doorstep, 294 00:12:56,200 --> 00:12:58,500 that he's making it more difficult for folks 295 00:12:58,500 --> 00:13:01,033 who are developing HIV in Africa, 296 00:13:01,033 --> 00:13:03,866 something that President Bush championed, supporting them, 297 00:13:03,866 --> 00:13:07,400 taking that away or at least 1/5 of that budget. 298 00:13:07,400 --> 00:13:11,533 So there's plenty there that shows that this is a guy, 299 00:13:11,533 --> 00:13:14,600 who is a billionaire, who is making policy 300 00:13:14,600 --> 00:13:17,800 or suggesting policy to reward billionaires and millionaires 301 00:13:17,800 --> 00:13:21,166 in Wall Street and I would focus a lot more there. 302 00:13:21,166 --> 00:13:24,266 We need to lay out a positive vision 303 00:13:24,266 --> 00:13:26,366 for opportunity in the 21st century, 304 00:13:26,366 --> 00:13:28,933 it needs to focus on opportunity for everyone. 305 00:13:28,933 --> 00:13:31,866 If folks remember when Barack Obama 306 00:13:33,266 --> 00:13:36,100 emerged in 2007, 2008, there was this great hope 307 00:13:36,100 --> 00:13:39,200 in this sense that opportunity would be expanded 308 00:13:39,200 --> 00:13:41,800 and it contrasted very well with the Bush years 309 00:13:41,800 --> 00:13:46,200 and I believe that the Democrats have a golden opportunity 310 00:13:46,200 --> 00:13:50,366 to do that going forward against Trump because it's so 311 00:13:51,733 --> 00:13:54,266 focused on the past, it's stuck in trickle down economics, 312 00:13:54,266 --> 00:13:57,000 it's such a mess, it's just dour, 313 00:13:58,500 --> 00:14:01,600 that we have a real chance to be something different. 314 00:14:01,600 --> 00:14:03,566 - So on the subject of Obama, I wanna look backward 315 00:14:03,566 --> 00:14:05,666 before we look forward, I wanna talk about your time 316 00:14:05,666 --> 00:14:07,233 as HUD Secretary, what did you learn, 317 00:14:07,233 --> 00:14:08,700 why was this a good decision? 318 00:14:08,700 --> 00:14:11,300 People say, well he's rising up through the Democratic ranks 319 00:14:11,300 --> 00:14:12,866 at least in his home state of Texas, 320 00:14:12,866 --> 00:14:15,200 he's running a city that was then and is now 321 00:14:15,200 --> 00:14:16,833 the seventh largest city in the country, 322 00:14:16,833 --> 00:14:19,066 dealing with a lot of problems that affect people's lives 323 00:14:19,066 --> 00:14:21,900 every day, he's gonna disappear into a federal cabinet, 324 00:14:21,900 --> 00:14:24,466 he goes to Washington, he becomes part of the problem, 325 00:14:24,466 --> 00:14:26,566 not part of the solution in the rest of the country, 326 00:14:26,566 --> 00:14:27,933 why was this a good decision, 327 00:14:27,933 --> 00:14:30,300 what'd you accomplish, what'd you learn? 328 00:14:30,300 --> 00:14:33,966 - The satisfaction that I got from serving at HUD 329 00:14:33,966 --> 00:14:37,233 was the knowledge that the work that you're doing 330 00:14:37,233 --> 00:14:40,766 is helping to provide opportunity for folks 331 00:14:40,766 --> 00:14:44,566 who are low income, folks who are middle class 332 00:14:44,566 --> 00:14:46,533 but are willing to work hard and are just trying 333 00:14:46,533 --> 00:14:48,500 to reach their dreams in the United States 334 00:14:48,500 --> 00:14:52,133 and to go and see the country and see what's working 335 00:14:52,133 --> 00:14:54,700 and what's not, I got to visit 100 different communities 336 00:14:54,700 --> 00:14:57,400 in 39 different states, I never would have had 337 00:14:57,400 --> 00:14:59,466 the opportunity to do that, 338 00:14:59,466 --> 00:15:01,733 at least in the same amount of time, as mayor. 339 00:15:01,733 --> 00:15:03,600 The satisfaction of being mayor was that you kinda have 340 00:15:03,600 --> 00:15:05,600 the wind at your back, there's a sense of community, 341 00:15:05,600 --> 00:15:08,733 a pride in the city, that's what it felt like being mayor 342 00:15:08,733 --> 00:15:11,766 because things just move much more swiftly. 343 00:15:11,766 --> 00:15:16,166 The bureaucracy sometimes lived up to its reputation, 344 00:15:16,166 --> 00:15:19,000 things go a lot more slowly, you're dealing in an ecosystem 345 00:15:19,000 --> 00:15:21,666 where you're not in command of your own ship 346 00:15:21,666 --> 00:15:24,400 because Congress appropriates your funds, 347 00:15:24,400 --> 00:15:26,400 you have a whole bunch of rules and regulations 348 00:15:26,400 --> 00:15:27,933 that have built up over the years, 349 00:15:27,933 --> 00:15:32,100 but what I learned was that when we do policy right 350 00:15:33,433 --> 00:15:36,100 and we make the right investments, that you can make 351 00:15:36,100 --> 00:15:38,200 a fundamental difference in people's lives. 352 00:15:38,200 --> 00:15:40,733 The best example of that was the Obama administration's 353 00:15:40,733 --> 00:15:42,866 push to end veteran homelessness. 354 00:15:42,866 --> 00:15:46,133 Because of smart policies like Housing First, 355 00:15:46,133 --> 00:15:48,166 which says the first thing that we're gonna do 356 00:15:48,166 --> 00:15:49,800 is get somebody into permanent housing, 357 00:15:49,800 --> 00:15:52,366 not make them jump through hoops to get housing, 358 00:15:52,366 --> 00:15:55,966 because the Congress appropriated the right resources 359 00:15:55,966 --> 00:15:58,900 because mayors and county governments out there 360 00:15:58,900 --> 00:16:00,466 got on board and starting trying 361 00:16:00,466 --> 00:16:02,133 to drive down veteran homelessness. 362 00:16:02,133 --> 00:16:05,300 Between 2010 and 2016, we saw veteran homelessness 363 00:16:05,300 --> 00:16:09,500 decline by 47% in the United States. 364 00:16:09,500 --> 00:16:13,633 47%, that's proof that we can do good 365 00:16:13,633 --> 00:16:15,466 when we do government right. 366 00:16:15,466 --> 00:16:17,700 - Now did you talk to Ben Carson, your successor at HUD, 367 00:16:17,700 --> 00:16:20,366 about this program or any other program, 368 00:16:20,366 --> 00:16:21,866 I mean seriously, I mean there's obviously a handoff 369 00:16:21,866 --> 00:16:24,066 of responsibilities at that agency as you looked ahead 370 00:16:24,066 --> 00:16:26,766 to a new administration, how much guidance 371 00:16:26,766 --> 00:16:28,266 and what kind of guidance, 372 00:16:28,266 --> 00:16:29,866 if you're willing to talk about it, did you give him? 373 00:16:29,866 --> 00:16:34,600 - We had a brief conversation before the holidays last year, 374 00:16:34,600 --> 00:16:38,266 before he took office, and of course I offered my help 375 00:16:38,266 --> 00:16:42,600 and he was very gracious, we really didn't get into much 376 00:16:42,600 --> 00:16:45,366 of a policy discussion, I left him a short note, 377 00:16:45,366 --> 00:16:47,366 there at his desk. 378 00:16:47,366 --> 00:16:50,066 - Dear Secretary Carson, this is not brain surgery, get it? 379 00:16:50,066 --> 00:16:52,633 (audience laughs) 380 00:16:52,633 --> 00:16:54,333 That would have been what I would have left him. 381 00:16:54,333 --> 00:16:58,066 - I will say that, to his credit, about a week ago, 382 00:16:58,066 --> 00:17:02,366 he assembled, he asked the last four or five HUD secretaries 383 00:17:02,366 --> 00:17:04,533 and their spouses to join him in Washington 384 00:17:04,533 --> 00:17:06,633 to have dinner and give input. 385 00:17:06,633 --> 00:17:09,700 Now, I was not able to make it but I did get a hold 386 00:17:09,700 --> 00:17:12,600 of his office and tell him that I'd love to give any input 387 00:17:12,600 --> 00:17:16,000 any time he has a question, any advice that I can provide 388 00:17:16,000 --> 00:17:18,433 because he's in a tough spot. 389 00:17:20,233 --> 00:17:21,733 - And you gotta root for him the way 390 00:17:21,733 --> 00:17:23,200 you're rooting for the president, right? 391 00:17:23,200 --> 00:17:24,900 I mean, at the end of the day, you want him to succeed. 392 00:17:24,900 --> 00:17:27,866 - His department is being decimated in terms of the budget, 393 00:17:27,866 --> 00:17:31,433 in terms of the personnel, also I do disagree 394 00:17:31,433 --> 00:17:34,300 with the perspective that he has on the people 395 00:17:34,300 --> 00:17:38,366 that HUD serves, I don't believe that receiving housing 396 00:17:38,366 --> 00:17:40,666 assistance or other types of assistance 397 00:17:40,666 --> 00:17:45,033 necessarily makes you dependent on government. 398 00:17:45,033 --> 00:17:48,266 Now, I'm not saying he believes this part, 399 00:17:48,266 --> 00:17:52,833 but I also don't believe that poor people are lazy, 400 00:17:52,833 --> 00:17:55,766 I don't believe that there's something wrong with the idea 401 00:17:55,766 --> 00:17:59,933 of trying to help people and my hope is that he will listen 402 00:18:01,266 --> 00:18:05,233 to the many great professionals that have been there 403 00:18:05,233 --> 00:18:08,200 at HUD over the years and know the programs, 404 00:18:08,200 --> 00:18:09,933 they know the impact that they're making, 405 00:18:09,933 --> 00:18:12,033 and maybe just as importantly, listen to all the mayors 406 00:18:12,033 --> 00:18:14,533 out there, listen to the folks that are running 407 00:18:14,533 --> 00:18:16,133 housing authorities. - Who are on the ground. 408 00:18:16,133 --> 00:18:18,300 - Yeah, they're on the ground, they're working with folks, 409 00:18:18,300 --> 00:18:20,400 they see the need out there, 410 00:18:20,400 --> 00:18:23,500 one program that's up for elimination 411 00:18:23,500 --> 00:18:25,533 is Community Development Block Grants, CDBG, 412 00:18:25,533 --> 00:18:27,766 and that's been around for 43 years now. 413 00:18:27,766 --> 00:18:29,766 It makes a lot of difference. 414 00:18:29,766 --> 00:18:32,600 My hope is that he and the administration will actually 415 00:18:32,600 --> 00:18:34,933 listen to the need out there. 416 00:18:34,933 --> 00:18:36,333 - Well of course you were mayor and as I said, 417 00:18:36,333 --> 00:18:38,133 mayor of the seventh-largest city in the country, 418 00:18:38,133 --> 00:18:40,000 San Antonio, you would be one of the mayors 419 00:18:40,000 --> 00:18:42,500 he'd be talking to so go back now to your time as mayor. 420 00:18:42,500 --> 00:18:44,400 What were the things you took away that you would be 421 00:18:44,400 --> 00:18:46,100 telling Secretary Carson if he were asking you 422 00:18:46,100 --> 00:18:49,133 about the biggest challenges that are being faced 423 00:18:49,133 --> 00:18:51,666 on the ground in these cities? 424 00:18:51,666 --> 00:18:54,900 - Number one, that what the Obama administration did, 425 00:18:54,900 --> 00:18:56,833 now this is from when I was mayor, 426 00:18:56,833 --> 00:19:00,433 to encourage the mayor to work with the school district 427 00:19:00,433 --> 00:19:02,966 superintendent, to work with the Housing Authority Director, 428 00:19:02,966 --> 00:19:07,333 the transit administrator, everybody working together 429 00:19:07,333 --> 00:19:11,500 and physically take neighborhoods that need revitalization, 430 00:19:12,833 --> 00:19:15,533 include the community and then go step by step 431 00:19:15,533 --> 00:19:18,333 trying to work at the same time to improve the educational 432 00:19:18,333 --> 00:19:22,200 achievement, to lower crime, to improve transit options, 433 00:19:22,200 --> 00:19:26,100 to try and get more jobs by investing in small businesses, 434 00:19:26,100 --> 00:19:29,900 neighborhood by neighborhood, go to the toughest sections 435 00:19:29,900 --> 00:19:33,700 of cities, one by one, that was basically the idea 436 00:19:33,700 --> 00:19:37,800 behind Promizons and we'll see how much fruit that bears 437 00:19:37,800 --> 00:19:40,200 in the future but in San Antonio, at least preliminarily 438 00:19:40,200 --> 00:19:43,066 on the east side, we've seen that it is making a difference. 439 00:19:43,066 --> 00:19:47,366 The graduation rate is higher, crime has gone down, 440 00:19:47,366 --> 00:19:51,466 there's more of a sense of optimism in that community. 441 00:19:51,466 --> 00:19:52,866 - Right. - So it can work. 442 00:19:52,866 --> 00:19:54,900 - But of course the challenges in any big city, 443 00:19:54,900 --> 00:19:56,466 not just San Antonio, were going to be, 444 00:19:56,466 --> 00:19:57,966 that's the nature of big cities, 445 00:19:57,966 --> 00:20:00,266 you have a disproportionately high number of people 446 00:20:00,266 --> 00:20:03,200 without health insurance, you have educational attainment 447 00:20:03,200 --> 00:20:05,100 that may not be great at the K12 level 448 00:20:05,100 --> 00:20:07,233 or college readiness may not be what it needs to be, 449 00:20:07,233 --> 00:20:09,200 poverty is a big issue to deal with. 450 00:20:09,200 --> 00:20:11,333 Transportation, getting people from place to place, 451 00:20:11,333 --> 00:20:13,100 affordability of housing, these are pretty significant 452 00:20:13,100 --> 00:20:15,333 challenges, any one of them would be a significant challenge 453 00:20:15,333 --> 00:20:16,866 but if you're a mayor of a big city, 454 00:20:16,866 --> 00:20:18,700 you have to deal with all of them and it's just hard 455 00:20:18,700 --> 00:20:19,966 to know which to tackle first. 456 00:20:19,966 --> 00:20:21,900 - Yeah, I mean I guess so my message would be 457 00:20:21,900 --> 00:20:25,166 the sooner you get to addressing them holistically, 458 00:20:25,166 --> 00:20:27,400 working together at the local level. 459 00:20:27,400 --> 00:20:28,666 - Strategy, not tactics. - That's right, 460 00:20:28,666 --> 00:20:30,333 and then the federal government working, 461 00:20:30,333 --> 00:20:33,700 there were 17 different federal agencies working 462 00:20:33,700 --> 00:20:35,766 as part of this Promizons effort 463 00:20:35,766 --> 00:20:38,033 and in San Antonio, when I was mayor, 464 00:20:38,033 --> 00:20:40,433 we began working across those lines. 465 00:20:40,433 --> 00:20:43,866 So my message would be encourage folks to look 466 00:20:43,866 --> 00:20:47,666 at these challenges holistically and you can both save money 467 00:20:47,666 --> 00:20:51,566 and also have a bigger impact and the other thing 468 00:20:51,566 --> 00:20:54,366 I would just say is that there's a whole lot of need 469 00:20:54,366 --> 00:20:57,933 that is not apparent, but is there. 470 00:20:57,933 --> 00:21:00,766 The fact is that poor people, lower income folks, 471 00:21:00,766 --> 00:21:02,866 are often in the shadows, and I'm not saying anything 472 00:21:02,866 --> 00:21:04,966 profound that people don't know. 473 00:21:04,966 --> 00:21:06,466 - But often they don't have a voice in conversations 474 00:21:06,466 --> 00:21:08,500 like this one. - They do not, they do not. 475 00:21:08,500 --> 00:21:10,633 They're not up there lobbying, they're not giving campaign 476 00:21:10,633 --> 00:21:14,933 contributions, they don't have the means to any kind 477 00:21:14,933 --> 00:21:19,266 of megaphone that others do, and so I would just encourage, 478 00:21:19,266 --> 00:21:21,833 whether it's Secretary Carson or any of the other folks 479 00:21:21,833 --> 00:21:24,766 in the administration, when they do their listening tours, 480 00:21:24,766 --> 00:21:28,100 which I think is a good idea, that they also go out there 481 00:21:28,100 --> 00:21:29,300 and try and listen to folks 482 00:21:29,300 --> 00:21:30,900 who are actually living the challenges. 483 00:21:30,900 --> 00:21:32,166 - In some of these communities. 484 00:21:32,166 --> 00:21:35,300 So are you gonna run for president at some point? 485 00:21:35,300 --> 00:21:38,233 I mean, I may as well just ask you straight away. 486 00:21:38,233 --> 00:21:40,366 There's speculation about your. 487 00:21:40,366 --> 00:21:41,966 (audience cheering) 488 00:21:41,966 --> 00:21:43,933 There's speculation about your intentions. 489 00:21:43,933 --> 00:21:46,600 There were many people who believed that we might see 490 00:21:46,600 --> 00:21:48,933 what I thought of as a Patty Duke moment 491 00:21:48,933 --> 00:21:51,866 at the top of the ticket in Texas in 2018, 492 00:21:51,866 --> 00:21:53,600 with you running for governor and your brother 493 00:21:53,600 --> 00:21:56,433 running for the Senate, O for two on that. 494 00:21:56,433 --> 00:21:59,166 But then people naturally go to the next opportunity 495 00:21:59,166 --> 00:22:00,866 for you to decide to get back into something 496 00:22:00,866 --> 00:22:02,933 and that might be an election in 2020, 497 00:22:02,933 --> 00:22:04,300 well it sounds like every Democrat in the country 498 00:22:04,300 --> 00:22:06,233 is talking about running so why not you? 499 00:22:06,233 --> 00:22:09,366 - I've said very clearly that I'm not taking that 500 00:22:09,366 --> 00:22:13,333 off the table, that I'll look and see how things develop 501 00:22:13,333 --> 00:22:16,566 over the next year or so and then make a decision 502 00:22:16,566 --> 00:22:18,766 as to whether that's something that I wanna do. 503 00:22:18,766 --> 00:22:21,600 - If someone in your situation were going to do this, 504 00:22:21,600 --> 00:22:24,100 what would the case be for a former mayor 505 00:22:24,100 --> 00:22:27,000 and former HUD secretary as opposed to. 506 00:22:27,000 --> 00:22:29,133 - You don't think I'm that dumb, do you, Evan? 507 00:22:29,133 --> 00:22:31,366 Come on. (laughs) 508 00:22:31,366 --> 00:22:33,766 - I don't think dumb is a disqualification, candidly. 509 00:22:33,766 --> 00:22:36,300 (audience laughs, cheers) 510 00:22:36,300 --> 00:22:38,133 - That's a good point. 511 00:22:40,800 --> 00:22:42,166 - You've got a bunch of United States Senators 512 00:22:42,166 --> 00:22:44,533 who are in significant positions, you've got governors, 513 00:22:44,533 --> 00:22:46,700 you've got people who are doing big things, 514 00:22:46,700 --> 00:22:49,366 being mayor of San Antonio or HUD secretary is not nothing 515 00:22:49,366 --> 00:22:52,466 but what about the job appeals to you 516 00:22:53,666 --> 00:22:56,333 or what about you might appeal to them. 517 00:22:56,333 --> 00:22:59,333 - Well, first of all, that is not something 518 00:22:59,333 --> 00:23:02,066 that I've made a decision to do. 519 00:23:02,066 --> 00:23:03,266 - I'm not suggesting you have. - And may well never. 520 00:23:03,266 --> 00:23:05,366 - We're living in a land of hypotheses here. 521 00:23:05,366 --> 00:23:07,300 - I would just say that 522 00:23:08,600 --> 00:23:12,633 a lot of attention has been focused on this 523 00:23:12,633 --> 00:23:16,866 Make America Great Again and the word in that phrase 524 00:23:16,866 --> 00:23:20,366 that sticks out to me is the word again. 525 00:23:20,366 --> 00:23:24,033 Because this entire administration is just looking backward 526 00:23:24,033 --> 00:23:27,133 and I feel like that we need a vision 527 00:23:28,666 --> 00:23:30,800 that is forward-looking, that we need to embrace 528 00:23:30,800 --> 00:23:34,866 the 21st century and that we need new blood at all levels 529 00:23:34,866 --> 00:23:38,566 that is going to be bold and really set out 530 00:23:38,566 --> 00:23:40,766 a positive vision for expanding opportunity 531 00:23:40,766 --> 00:23:42,900 instead of pitting people against each other 532 00:23:42,900 --> 00:23:46,500 and scapegoating folks the way that this administration has. 533 00:23:46,500 --> 00:23:48,966 And so whether somebody's running for mayor 534 00:23:48,966 --> 00:23:53,900 or for governor or for president, I'm gravitating toward 535 00:23:53,900 --> 00:23:57,066 people like that and I recently just endorsed a fellow, 536 00:23:57,066 --> 00:23:59,000 Andrew Gillum, who's the mayor of Tallahassee, 537 00:23:59,000 --> 00:24:01,000 that's running for governor of Florida, 538 00:24:01,000 --> 00:24:04,033 Colin Allred who actually worked with me out there at HUD. 539 00:24:04,033 --> 00:24:06,300 - Former NFL player who's running for Congress in Texas. 540 00:24:06,300 --> 00:24:10,333 - NFL player, lawyer, just a terrific, genuine guy 541 00:24:10,333 --> 00:24:14,133 who is also young, who's running against Pete Sessions 542 00:24:14,133 --> 00:24:16,633 in the 32nd Congressional district of Texas. 543 00:24:16,633 --> 00:24:19,433 So I don't know how much that adds up to 544 00:24:19,433 --> 00:24:23,600 or whether the, what the sense is gonna be in 2018 or 2020 545 00:24:25,066 --> 00:24:29,066 and whether I run or not but my sense is that this country 546 00:24:29,066 --> 00:24:32,333 is looking for a vision for the future, 547 00:24:33,233 --> 00:24:34,433 not a vision for the past. 548 00:24:34,433 --> 00:24:35,866 - Is there anybody at the national level 549 00:24:35,866 --> 00:24:38,000 who is talking about running, if it's not you, 550 00:24:38,000 --> 00:24:39,833 who you look to and you think, the kind of person 551 00:24:39,833 --> 00:24:42,566 I'd be comfortable supporting, who I would be interested 552 00:24:42,566 --> 00:24:45,266 in supporting potentially is, blank. 553 00:24:45,266 --> 00:24:47,966 - I think there are plenty of folks. 554 00:24:47,966 --> 00:24:50,400 There are very talented folks from Elizabeth Warren 555 00:24:50,400 --> 00:24:53,733 to Cory Booker, Kirsten Gillibrand, 556 00:24:53,733 --> 00:24:56,500 that's why sometimes I read this, 557 00:24:58,266 --> 00:25:02,433 in Politico or some of these other commentary news sites, 558 00:25:03,800 --> 00:25:06,400 this idea that the Democrats don't have a bench. 559 00:25:06,400 --> 00:25:07,700 - You think the bench is pretty good. 560 00:25:07,700 --> 00:25:08,933 - Oh for sure. - In fact there are perhaps 561 00:25:08,933 --> 00:25:10,400 two dozen people who are talking about running, 562 00:25:10,400 --> 00:25:11,600 that feels like a pretty deep bench. 563 00:25:11,600 --> 00:25:12,966 Whether they win or not. 564 00:25:12,966 --> 00:25:15,566 - And again, as I said, at the end of the day, 565 00:25:15,566 --> 00:25:18,133 it's a choice that folks have to make, 566 00:25:18,133 --> 00:25:21,066 and so you don't need a perfect person, 567 00:25:21,066 --> 00:25:24,100 what you need is somebody that has the right values, 568 00:25:24,100 --> 00:25:26,866 that has the right experience, has the right vision, 569 00:25:26,866 --> 00:25:29,300 and then folks are gonna make a choice, 570 00:25:29,300 --> 00:25:33,100 I assume it's still gonna be Donald Trump but who knows. 571 00:25:33,100 --> 00:25:34,800 - You know, we're living in a who-knows world, aren't we? 572 00:25:34,800 --> 00:25:37,266 Right, when will you decide? 573 00:25:37,266 --> 00:25:38,633 - Probably next year. 574 00:25:38,633 --> 00:25:39,700 - Okay, well then you come back. 575 00:25:39,700 --> 00:25:40,866 - Yeah. - Okay. 576 00:25:40,866 --> 00:25:42,333 Mr. Secretary, thank you very much. 577 00:25:42,333 --> 00:25:45,500 (audience applauding) 578 00:25:46,866 --> 00:25:48,766 - [Announcer] We'd love to have you join us in the studio. 579 00:25:48,766 --> 00:25:52,833 Visit our website at klru.org/overheard 580 00:25:52,833 --> 00:25:55,466 to find invitations to interviews, 581 00:25:55,466 --> 00:25:57,400 Q&As with our audience and guests, 582 00:25:57,400 --> 00:26:00,466 and an archive of past episodes. 583 00:26:00,466 --> 00:26:01,766 - One of the first things that I told people 584 00:26:01,766 --> 00:26:03,133 when I walked in the room was, 585 00:26:03,133 --> 00:26:06,800 yeah, I'm asking you to raise your taxes 586 00:26:06,800 --> 00:26:09,800 and it's gonna cost you $7.81 a year 587 00:26:11,533 --> 00:26:15,700 so that we can fund these 22,000 low income students 588 00:26:17,100 --> 00:26:19,333 to get high quality, full day pre-K over the next eight 589 00:26:19,333 --> 00:26:23,366 years and then people can see what we stand for. 590 00:26:23,366 --> 00:26:25,933 - [Announcer] Funding for Overheard with Evan Smith 591 00:26:25,933 --> 00:26:29,700 is provided in part by the Alice Kleberg Reynolds Foundation 592 00:26:29,700 --> 00:26:34,333 and Hillco Partners, a Texas Government Affairs consultancy, 593 00:26:34,333 --> 00:26:38,566 and by KLRU's Producers Circle, ensuring local programming 594 00:26:38,566 --> 00:26:40,700 that reflects the character and interests 595 00:26:40,700 --> 00:26:44,133 of the greater Austin, Texas, community.