Lovett or Leave It - The Kids are Alright

Episode Date: February 24, 2018

Young people change the gun debate in a matter of days. NRA talking points ring hollow at a CNN town hall. Black Panther helps register voters. And Jon demands a gay superhero. A guy with laser eyes and a boyfriend. What’s the problem? Mayor Michael Tubbs of Stockton, Black Lives Matter activist Alicia Garza, and comedian Jenny Yang join Jon in Sacramento to break down the week’s news and mock Marco Rubio because he deserves it.

What is up? Sacramento. Sacramento. Home of Lady Bird and Jerry Brown. Basically, there's just two kinds of people in this city. You have Lady Birds and Jerry Browns. And you know what you are. Are you a Jerry Brown type? Or are you a Lady Bird type? Now, first of all, guys, there is still some time left to participate in Crooked Media's contest to deliver the official portrait of Donald

Trump. We have received incredible submissions. All right? They're fantastic, but we're waiting for more. You have another week. If some artists are, you know, they're saying we didn't give them enough time, so we may extend. But for right now, you have one more week

and a reminder that all the funds we raise from what we sell, we're going to sell these portraits. We're going to donate it to PS Arts, which goes to public school art programs in California. And I thought, just for some inspiration for the kind of person we have put in this position of power, this is from the New York Times moments ago. This is about what the president said to a victim of the shooting. Yeah, just get ready.

victim of the shooting. Yeah, just get ready. Samantha Fuentes, who was shot in both legs during the assault, said she had felt no reassurance during a phone call from the president. He said he heard that I am a big fan of his, and then he said, I'm a big fan of yours too. I'm pretty sure he made that up, she said in an interview. Talking to the president, I've never been so unimpressed by a person in my life. He didn't make me feel better in the slightest. Ms. Fuentes, who was left with a piece of shrapnel behind her eye, said Mr. Trump had called the government, quote, a sick puppy, and then said,

oh boy, oh boy, oh boy, like seven times. Portraitmode.crooked.com. Be inspired by whatever inspires you. Submissions now. Next, one other piece of business. Crooked Media is launching a newsletter called What a Day. You can go to crooked.com and sign up right now. You should really do it. I've seen the beta and it's really great. So the idea is every night in your inbox, you'll get a summary of the news, all the things that were important, the things that you might have missed with some jokes,

some stuff from us. It's by Priyanka Arabindi, who's a great young writer, who we hired because she's cool. And Brian Boitler, the editor-in-chief of crooked.com, who is a fantastic writer and who's written some of the smartest pieces about politics. And look, there'll be some of me in there, some Tommy,

some John, some Dan, all your friends at Pod Save America. It's a newsletter that you're going to love, so fucking sign up for it. I'm not going to beg. It's your loss if you don't. Alright, I want to bring out our panel because we have an awesome show for you tonight. We have an awesome show. Tonight's panel includes Dinesh D'Souza, Dana Loesch, and Paul Manafort's cellmate, Big Phil.

And I know what you're thinking. Like, oh, Big Phil. I bet he, like, you know, really, you know, bullies. No, Big Phil was just a lawyer in for financial crimes. And actually, it's a tonic that they found each other in jail. They become lifelong friends, Paul Manafort and Big Phil. They kind of get through it together. When they both get out, they actually decide to live near each other because that's the bond.

All right. because that's the bond. All right. Okay, let's bring out our actual panel because we do have a fantastic panel. She's the Special Projects Director for the National Domestic Workers Alliance and a co-founder of Black Lives Matter. Please welcome Alicia Garza.

How are you, Alicia? Feeling good, thank you. How are you doing? I'm feeling good. Fantastic. We debated whether or not to have Doritos before coming out here. We did. I had the Doritos. I held off. He is Stockton's first African-American mayor and the youngest mayor of a city with more than 100,000 people in the U.S.

Please welcome Michael Tubbs. more than 100,000 people in the U.S. Please welcome Michael Tubbs. Mayor Tubbs, you have some fans out here. They're here for you. I just get to be the icing on the cake. That's cool. And finally, she is a former labor organizer turned stand-up comedian.

Please welcome writer and actor, friend of the pod, Jenny Yang. Okay. Let's get into it. What a week. Nice. Nice. So, obviously we've spent the past few days talking about the shooting in Parkland Florida where 17 people were killed what's been interesting in the wake of this shooting is normally we've gone

through a kind of loop about how we debate this there was recriminations there's politics Democrats call for common sense reforms it is made obvious that that can't happen. And then there's a tweet or the attention is distracted and we all move on. Something does feel different this time. The high school students from Stoneman Douglas have organized in a pretty extraordinary way. We saw students. Absolutely. We saw students walking out all over the country.

We saw lions at the White House. We saw victims knocking on Governor Rick Scott's door who refused to speak with him because he was in, it says here, a molting phase. I don't know. So some Republicans are offering a set of reforms for the first time. This is small potatoes, but they are actually coming up with some proposals. A major Republican donor said he was withholding funds until we deal with gun control. And Marco Rubio on live television changed his position on the age of legal gun ownership, bump stocks, and magazine size.

At least he said he would consider those changes. All that said, we still have the NRA fighting back. Trump said that we should, and magazine size. At least he said he would consider those changes. All that said, we saw the NRA fighting back. Trump said that we should arm and train teachers. Yeah, someone shouted, give them books. Yeah, yeah. Pencils. Yeah, pencils. Crayons.

Supplies. Supplies, right. We have just a reminder that we did spend the tax debate trying to prevent Republicans from removing a tax break that allows teachers to buy their own school supplies, which many of them already do. I would just, deplorable. You know, Michael, I want to start with you. Mayor Tubbs, Michael, what do you think? This is my second time.

We're kind of friends. I'm Michael tonight. He's Michael tonight. That's cool. I just want to start with the impact of this gun debate and the lack of action that we've seen in the wake of so many shootings, not just these mass shootings but the kind of quotidian violence in our cities. What is the impact of Washington's failure on gun control on your city? Well, the first mass school shooting actually happened in Stockton in 1989 at Cleveland

Schools. I didn't know that. And to this day, there's a group of teachers who are in the classroom when the deranged gunman came and gunned down a bunch of little kids just because they happened to be immigrants from the Cameroon area are organizing around gun violence and not just the mass shootings but the daily assault of gun violence in our community so in Stockton it manifests not just Stockton though in most communities of over a hundred thousand people it manifests itself in a lot of trauma and untreated trauma and there's also some research I read out of Berkeley that said that a shooting in the neighborhood has the impact of depressing achievement for almost a year in terms of student achievement.

So I think the biggest impact is just in the trauma and the way it manifests in our children and how they're able to grow, live, and even impacts brain development. So the gun debate's very frustrating because number one, we only want to seem to have the conversation when a mass atrocity happens. And unfortunately, it happens far too often in our country. But also every night in Oak Park or I don't know the Sacramento neighborhoods that well, but in every community, there's a neighborhood where there's a shooting or something happening. And that's not a normal condition. That's not a natural condition. It requires a sustained focus and investment in those communities to make it so that we're not going to sleepless in the gunshots as so many people throughout our country have to.

Yeah. Alicia, Black Lives Matter started as a movement that gained power. It was driven by people who were fed up and felt like their voices weren't being heard, similar to what these kids are doing. Do you think it has the chance to grow in the same way? And what advice would you give to those kids who are in the wake of this shooting, who are grieving and kind of discovering their voice? What do you wish you had known when you first became an activist and you first sort of started leading this sort of organic movement? became an activist and you first sort of started leading this sort of organic movement?

Well, I first became an organizer almost 20 years ago. So yeah. Slight check. I didn't realize they let babies organize. You know, I know the skin looks good, but I'm almost 40. And I just want to say I'm really proud of them. I'm really proud of them. They are so incredibly fierce and focused and clear, and they are not able to be deterred. And I see that in their spirits and it just makes me really happy. And I want them to know that the more successful they get, the more people will tell them to stop doing what they're doing. And we're already seeing this, right? We're hearing legislators talk about if they do these walkouts, it's illegal, right? Really trying to, you can't stop people from walking out of school. Like what are you going to do?

Lock me up. Right? Miss Canestrero saw me walking by senior year. I wasn't part of a movement. I was just lazy. So I want them to keep going and I want them to know that people are going to try to stop them from what they're doing the more effective

they get. But the reality is we need change now and we need to not compromise on this issue of our safety and our wellness and not making guns the industry that it is that is compromising our families our communities our schools and our well-being I think I think that's the biggest issue there. Jenny, what's been fascinating to see, these kids, they're steeped in our culture, and they've been watching it. It seems like they, because they've grown up with cable news as their normal and they've grown up with social media, they seem like a kind of, I don't know, like a new version of a Terminator to kind of take over the system in a way like they've adapted, right? Like they've been paying attention and now they know the moves in a way that I think other, even people that are millennials haven't been able to do. What do you make of that?

Their sort of adroitness in social media and their ability to kind of make a moment out of this. You know, I feel like it's like any kind of succession process of generations. The parents, adults, elders, they want you to grow, they want you to learn, you know, and sometimes we learn a little too well, right, and so now, oh, guess what, oh, you know, Emma, was it Emma, she, she's, she doesn't just come out, you said 20 years, right, you said 20 years organizing, she doesn't just show up being that articulate, being that focused, being that quickly fierce. Yeah, no, she's been a leader on campus with the Gay Straight Alliance. That's right.

You know what I mean? So to me, it's like we've taught our children well, and this is what happens, right? I'm on Twitter all the time. Listen, Jenny Yang TV, let's do this. Immediately. Unsanctioned plug. Unsanctioned. No, no, but immediately, though. TV, let's do this. Immediately. Unsanctioned plug. Unsanctioned. No, no, but immediately, though.

No, for real. Immediately, I found them. I found all of the speakers who showed up on CNN. The three women. Do you remember the first image was the three women? Right? And it was so captivating. And I joked, and this is not to minimize their power, I said, look, we need a remake of the movie The Craft,

in which the three of them start a coven, they're not fighting each other, they take down the NRA. That's right. I love that. Okay, so they know, so they know. They get on the Twitter, they tweet about their experience, they wear a fierce red lip. They look good on camera.

Make this shit happen. Generation Z. Do it. I love it. I'm loving it. We'll do the craft for the NRA and then maybe we get Bette Midler

and the other Hocus Pocus team together. Yes! And they take down Harvey. You know what I mean? Yes! We just need a bunch of just cool 90s covens and we'll be all set. So I found myself of two

minds in the way in which we debate mass shootings. On the one hand, there is a kind of, it's hard to say, but there is a kind of almost elitism in the conversation. In so far as the vast majority of deaths in this country by guns are suicides and the, for lack of a better term, the daily murders that take place. And as you were saying, neighborhoods in every city in the country. And those don't get attention. And I think they don't get attention in part because of just systemic racism, and because the people that cover these shootings don't feel worried about them. They don't touch their lives. And mass shootings, I think, captivate the attention of the whole country because there's nothing you can do

to avoid it, right? We're all living under the threat of a shooting at a concert or a theater or a school or a mosque or a church or what have you. But at the same time, it may very well be that this movement of kids responding to mass shootings is how we deal with the deeper crisis around guns, that parents worried about mass shootings everywhere is how we start with the deeper crisis around guns. That parents worried about mass shootings everywhere is how we start to make the changes that can help in cities like Stockton and other places that are ravaged by our failure to act on guns. What role do you think that kind of whatever class divide, race divide on the issue of guns plays in our failure to do things? race divide on the issue of guns plays in our failure to do things?

When we conceptualize guns as an issue, it's already racialized. So in where I live in Oakland, I mean, thank you, it's already racialized. So there's lots of empathy that happens during mass shootings, particularly for the shooters. during mass shootings, particularly for the shooters. So the shooter becomes a broken spirit, a lost soul, right? But that's not how people talk about shootings in Oakland. It's not about how people talk about police shootings, right? There's not the same kind of sympathy or the same kind of empathy or the same kind of feeling of it's not able to be controlled.

When there are shootings in my community, pretty much what ends up happening is folks want to do more surveillance, more police, more crackdowns, and that's very unique to particular communities, poor communities, communities of color, immigrant communities. And then to be honest, I think we also have to be mindful that as we increase the role of the state, a lot of other people get swept up in that. So I'm thinking about just last week, we were talking about the DREAM Act, right, and pushing for immigration reform. Now we're not talking about that, but we'll come

back to that later. But all of these things are really interconnected and related. The increased criminalization of immigrants, the increased militarization of the border, different kinds of weapons being given to security forces to maintain safety in particular places, it's all looped in. Yeah, yeah. And there's also this sort of catch-22 in that now we're talking about arming teachers, putting armed guards at schools, that the gun industry and the NRA says that individuals need to be heavily armed to defend against the police state, but then we need a police state because people are so heavily armed. But isn't this interesting that this school had armed security,

and the first responder who was armed didn't even go inside to stop it. So it's not keeping us safer. And we just have to start saying that to ourselves over and over again, because we're thinking that we're solving a problem with more guns, but we're not. We're making it worse. Yeah. Michael, what's your response to that?

I have nothing nearly as eloquent. But I would say also, I think it's a national conversation about values. So when we're talking about gun violence and NRA and everything else, we're really talking about the profit motive and kind of what drives decision making and also about just the value of life. And I think before Dr. King passed, he was talking about the three ills of America, one of them being mass commercialism, one being pervasive racism, and one being

militarism. I think we see those three demons, if you will, still at work, and especially when it comes to gun violence. It's a response to a mass shooting as the NRA makes more money because people are purchasing more guns. There's something very morally bankrupt in terms of our values as a community. So I get really frustrated when we even have to have a debate. Maybe I'm very simple, but some things are just right and wrong.

And as a former educator, my classroom would be less safe if I had a gun. I would argue the school I worked at would be a lot less safe if teachers had guns, especially those who were apt to have guns. So I think we have to really focus this conversation in that we're talking about as a community, as a group of people who have values, how is it that we allow ourselves to live in a society where our kids are having mass shooting drills,

like fire drills? Like that's something's broken there. How do we live in a community where people are able to profit from real pain, right? Like I read something that after shootings, actually oftentimes, or terrorist attacks, gun sales go up, and folks are making money, and contributions from the gun lobby go up, so I guess I'm doing the rant part of the show early. No, but it's never too early. That's all

I have to say. Well, no, I think that's true, and, you know, I think sometimes we're so dug in on our sides, I think obviously, whether it's homicides or suicides or mass shootings, the access and availability of guns is central to every one of those crises. Can I just say one more thing? Yeah. Because what gets me is this, right? You better come on. You better come on. Remember when Vegas happened? Yes. No, let's go back. Remember when Sandy Hook happened?

Yes. And how upset and hurt everyone was? Yes. And I thought, okay, in a country with this many people who are... There's no way we'll let these babies die in vain. And then next it was Vegas, and I was going to Vegas for a conference the next weekend, and the conference I was going to was almost canceled and to see those people at a concert hundreds of them just slaughtered like a video game and then

before that Orlando like or not a nightclub school concerts there's really almost attacks on like social and the freedom of assembly the ability to gather and every one of those times I thought that this time, this is the worst. And I think we're at risk for becoming numb to the fact of this because it happens so routine in our country. So, again, I think we just have to refocus the debate about how, like, I don't want to curse because it's going to go viral, but this stuff is unacceptable.

Like, it's not normal. It is unacceptable. It's not normal. It's unacceptable. The fact that we're even having a conversation is crazy to me. Well, the hope has to be that what these kids are doing is helping to break that cycle. And the only point I was going to make is, to what you were saying about the sickness, I think liberals should be confident enough in our position, which is that we need to get weapons of war off the streets. We need background checks. We need lower capacity.

We need to get high capacity magazines off the street. And I think we need to be able to stand by our convictions and say, we will do what it takes to get to a point in which this is no longer our reality, that we are willing to say we will pursue the policies necessary to stop it. But as part of being confident in our position, I think sometimes because we know what the other side will say, that they'll villainize mental health issues, that they'll try to find a scapegoat, they'll talk about video games, they'll talk about the culture,

I think sometimes we're afraid to admit that there is a deeper poison, toxicity in our culture that we also need to talk about. That mass shootings are made worse and caused by the availability of weapons, but not just the availability of weapons. That we need to face that there is this contagion in our culture, that there is something broken in boys, who by dint of their own flaws and problems and by being ostracized by the way in which our culture treats us are left with this dangerous notion that the best thing that they can do is go out in this blaze of glory. And I think we need to start talking about it like an ideology.

We spent all this time talking about the ideology of Islamic terrorism. But there is value in talking about the ideology of mass shootings because we need to be honest about that. Because they're not just conducted with AR-15s. They're conducted with handguns and rifles and shotguns and knives and all the rest. I think we need to be confident enough in our position on guns to also say to conservatives, every part of what you think is causing this problem, we'll say yes to you. You know, we will concede, but you need to come with us on guns because you're right. This kid should have been stopped. There were warning signs. Absolutely. Part of the problem is though,

because there are 8 million AR-15s or whatever the number is in circulation, every city has a troubled kid. Every city has a kid who is saying threatening things right we we have to be able to do both we have to be able to to figure out who is prone to doing this but also getting their ability to cause this slaughter off the streets anyway on on the issue of the toxic masculinity i know that's a long ass term but it it's an access to guns, and it is a problem with how we treat our boys and our men, and what it means to be a man, and I love that whole thing that the NRA says, guns don't kill people, people kill people. Well, you know what? Men kill people in these instances. So what? So are we, hashtag ban men, hashtag ban men! Hashtag ban men!

Is that what we're doing? No. Okay. I'm just taking the logical conclusion on this. Sorry, I just tried it. When we come back, too stupid to be true. Hey, don't go anywhere. There's more of Love It or Leave It coming up.

This break has gone on long enough. You guys ready to come back? Some sort of black-only Wakanda reference on the stage. That's fine. No, you guys can talk about Wakanda. Do it. No, honestly, it's...

I won't interrupt. No, I was just saying I should have sent an invite to more people from Wakanda to be part of this great conversation. Oh, I see. Yeah. I'm going to put this in the show now.

This is it. And we're back! Now for a segment we call Too Stupid to be True. Here's how it works. We are going to quiz someone in the audience, and we're going to read you several statements. Three of those statements are real.

One of them is too stupid to be true. Many kids from Parkland are speaking out against congressional inaction on gun reform, but a lot of conservatives didn't love it. In fact, they were bothered so much by it that they assumed that these kids must not be doing it on their own. Some dirty liberals, some secret cabal must be putting these kids up to it. So we'll play Too Stupid to be True, the gun reform edition. Three of these statements were spoken aloud

by actual human beings, and one of them was made up. Who will kick us off with a statement? Oh, we need to pick somebody from the crowd. Would someone out there like to play? This person is just waving so ferociously, and she's in merch. I tried last time and didn't get it, so yeah.

Hi, what's your name? My name is Wendy. Wendy. And I told you at the meet and greet last time that you were my favorite gay man besides my husband. Okay, so... Wendy, I have a couple questions. You know what?

And I know I skew outside your demographic because I'm a little old. Current husband? Yes, I have a daughter with a gay man. We're married. I'm sorry, but you're telling me that's a real, I thought you were making a joke. No. What a world. My husband is gay.

Okay. Okay. You know, Wendy, are you happy? I'm happy. Then we're all happy for Wendy. And he doesn't listen to the podcast, so I'm safe. Wendy, I now have two problems with your husband. Okay.

Honestly, usually I say at this point, I don't want your life story, but I'm on the fence about it. But we got to move forward, Wendy. You're stalling. Let's start the game. Wendy, here is your first quote. Do we really think, and I say this sincerely, that 17 year olds on their own are going to plan a nationwide rally, I would say to you very plainly that organized groups that are out there, like George Soros, are always ready to take the charge.

And it's kind of like instant rally, instant protest. Unfortunately, I'm sure that's true, as stupid as it is. Okay, so you think that one's true. We have a few more. Okay. Mayor Michael Tubbs. Here's the thing about George Soros.

He's smarter than you think. He's trying to think three, four, five steps ahead, six, seven, eight steps ahead. He pays off journalists and protesters and even folks like Meryl Streep. And it's been Soros' mission for a better part of three decades now to make you

to feel sad about gun deaths. And that's too bad. Wendy, just think about it. You don't need to decide now. Okay, I got one more. Jenny, quote number three. You have two more.

Deal with it. Oh, no. Jenny, quote number three. The globalists hate an armed population, armed civilians. So what do they do? They have these gun attacks, and then they target the guns, and they get the average liberal to buy into it then hate guns why because that's the globalist agenda to take the firearms from americans that

makes it easier to conquer us i used to be anti-gun i'll admit it i've already admitted it i went through the college indoctrination the university made me hate God, hate guns, and hate America! So I know where they're coming from, but I've moved past that. I've got woke. I took... For those listening at home, the invocation of wokeness has

sent parts of our panel into a state of disarray. I've got woke. I took the red pill. And finally, Wendy, quote number four. The media's focused more on a teenager's expertise in supply-side control measures for guns,

which, let's be candid, expertise in supply-side control measures for guns, which, let's be candid, they probably have not studied a very complicated layered issue. I'm going to say all four are true. Wendy, that shows me two things. First of all, you're wrong.

Oh, no! But also, you've been a listener a long time because you remember that at the beginning, they were always all true. Yes, they were. But if you also remember, we discovered that people figured that out. And so we did have to make it a real game. So one of them is fake.

Which do you think it is? No, the red pill one's probably fake. That one was real. It was Mayor Tubbs' quote about George Soros thinking three moves ahead with Meryl Streep. I think we have a clip of what these people all said. Well, let's ask ourselves, do we really think, and I say this sincerely, do we really think 17-year-olds on their own are going to plan a nationwide rally? I would say to you very plainly that organized groups that are out there, like George Soros, are always ready to take the charge, and it's kind of like instant rally, instant protest.

The globalists hate an armed population, armed civilians. So what do they do? They have these gun attacks and then they target the guns and they get the average liberal to buy into it to then hate guns. Why? Because that's the globalist agenda to take the firearms from Americans. That makes it easier to conquer us. Five years ago, I used to be anti-gun. I'll admit it. I've already admitted it. I went through the college indoctrination the university made me hate God hate guns and hate America So I know where they're coming from. I've moved past that I've got woke I took the red pill where their voices would be valuable is where were the signs missed these students were there

They dealt with this kid every day. But the media's focused more on a teenager's expertise in supply side control measures for guns, which, Tucker, let's be candid, they probably have not studied a very complicated layered issue. I'm sorry we made you watch that. I just want to point out, whenever there's one of those sort of Infowars people who talks about how they used to be indoctrinated, but now they're not because they're indoctrinated in the other side, just one time I'd want one of them to just say to themselves, wait a second. Am I susceptible to being indoctrinated?

Am I prone towards... Huh. Anyway. Wendy, you have lost. Too stupid to be true, but I think you're great. I think... I think you have something to teach us all, frankly. So, guys, give it up for Wendy.

When we come back... Okay, frankly. So guys, give it up for Wendy. When we come back, OK Stop. Don't go anywhere. This is Love It or Leave It and there's more on the way. And we're back. Now for a segment we call OK Stop. Here's how it works.

We'll roll a clip, and then we'll say OK Stop when we feel like talking about it, when it bothers us, when it gives us a thought, you know? And that's fine. Earlier this week, CNN held a town hall where students from Parkland and their families asked questions of politicians. And no one got tougher questions than punching bag of the pod, Marco Rubio. Let's roll the clip.

You and I are now eye to eye. Because I want to like you. Look at me and tell me guns were the factor in the hunting of our kids in this school this week. And look at me and tell me you accept it and you will work with us to do something about guns. Now, I think what you're asking about is the assault weapons ban. Okay, stop. You see that? I found this event fascinating because these are parents and kids motivated by grief and who are not professional talkers going head to head with people who evade and parry and talk for a living. And it was fascinating to watch these two worlds collide

because in a political culture that claims to prize authenticity, which has lost all meaning, it really does remind you just how political people like Marco Rubio, who are more normal-seeming than most, and I think we all know that I have no affinity for Marco Rubio. But it's amazing in that moment to watch what happens when the kind of brute force of grief and anger that isn't as articulate, if we're being honest,

comes face-to-face with Washington's ability to avoid. And it reminds me almost of, it's a debate in which Rubio thinks he's winning on points but you can't win on points you know because he just avoided the man's question and i think that i didn't hear assault weapon i didn't hear that in the man's question so for that to be the lead in terms of he said i wonder like you my daughter was hunted and the response from the senator was i think you're asking me about this. It's that first acknowledgement, like, hey, that must, how do you feel?

Well, I think he may have started there. But the fact is, Marco Rubio, who is so eminently political, could never admit what he knows to be true. He would be too cowardly to say, I do believe guns played a role. But here's why I have a different point of view. He's not even honest enough to say, I do believe guns played a role, but here's why I have a different point of view. He's not even honest enough to say that. Sir, so let me be honest with you about that one. Stop. Okay, stop. No, no.

Like, pro tip, 90% of the time when someone says, let's be honest, or believe me, they're lying. That's all I have to say. Yes. Yes. or believe me they're lying that's that's what i said i would have prevented this from happening i would support it but i want to explain to you why it would not it basically bans 200 models of gun in this combat 220 specific models of gun in this combat. 220 specific models of gun. Good. Good. Okay? But it allows legal 2,000 other types of gun that are identical. Are you saying you will start with the 200 and work your way up? I would say, I would explain to you what has happened.

It's a place to start. We can do that. My belief is Okay, stop. Okay, stop. What is the deal current elected official not you know not included what why can't you say yes or no that's the that's what really is so frustrating in this collision of cultures right we are so mad and we just want an answer and all i'm asking you is a yes or no question will you do this and they just refused to say no. It's all yes. Well, it's also the only issue where you can say something so absurd. Like we have this ban with this bill and it bans 200 kinds of poison.

And would you ever say I don't support that? There's so many other kinds of poison that aren't banned. You know, what a ridiculous position. It's so cowardly, like cowardly. Just even the image of him. The podcast people don't get to see it, but Marco Rubio right now has his shoulders hunched over. He looks like he's literally ducking and bobbing and weaving as if he is in a boxing match. Yeah, right?

Because he is so afraid to confront the reality of what this man's trying to say, and that's what's so upsetting, but I think it's beautiful. Actually, going back to the thing about what makes this different from before, that the fact that we have on CNN, so immediately after the mass shooting, this direct confrontation of the NRA, now we know exactly who the enemy is, is all I'm saying. We know exactly who the enemy is.

I also, it's a side point, but as someone that criticizes CNN with some frequency, it is worth noting that this town hall was an extraordinary event put together very quickly. I thought Jake Tapper did a very, very good job. And, you know, at a time when emotions were raw and you're dealing with kids who are feeling things and being put in a spotlight for the first time, learning how to do that, I thought he did a fantastic job. And I think CNN, for all its faults, has done these town halls, these policy debates around health care and taxes and other issues,

and it's a really good thing. And I thought the fact that there were millions of people who decided to sit at home and watch a two-hour event about gun control was another reason to be hopeful, because I do think what CNN has been doing with these policy-focused events is impressive and good and we should point it out because we can't just complain about their dumb, dumb panels, you know? Anyway.

... that rather than continue to try to chase every loophole that's created, it's why it failed in 94, it's why they're getting around it now in California, it's how they get around it in New York, is we instead should make sure that dangerous criminals, people that are deranged, cannot buy any gun of any kind. That's what I believe a better answer will be. Okay, stop. Again, it's the sophistry of this. Okay, sure. We all agree. And by the way, he voted against background checks. And it is a classic Marco Rubio thing to oppose every single solution while claiming there is a solution that he supported. Just can't get a vote on it. The thing, there is a thing that I would do, but nobody ever gives me the chance. Like the Marco Rubio has been hiding under the bed. Marco Rubio put himself out there one time for immigration and then totally reversed himself.

Otherwise, he can't find anything to take a chance on. People are saying Marco Rubio deserves credit for coming to this event. What are you talking about? He represents them. First of all. Second, implicit. Implicit in the idea that he deserves credit for being here is an understanding that his position is so deplorable to these people and the impact of the position that people like mark rubio take

takes has caused so much harm that him showing up makes him someone who's going to be yelled at and scoffed at and argued with because the position he has taken is so harmful that's not something you deserve credit for you don't You know what that's like? It's like Marco Rubio is the long cheating boyfriend. Okay? He's been cheating on us. He's been cheating. He's been just philandering everywhere.

And then he shows up to say, baby, I'm sorry. I'll never do it again. That literally is what this is. But no, he said, baby, I'm giving some thought to never do it again. That literally is what this is. Well, no, he said baby I'm giving some thought to maybe not doing it as much Yeah, I'm giving some thought to doing it a tiny bit less Because of how angry you are. Yeah, so I'm gonna show up to let you vent a little bit And I'm gonna go back and just continue fucking

a little bit and I'm gonna go back and just continue fucking your answer speaks for itself this is about people who are for making a difference to save us and people who are against it and prefer money so senator Rubio can you stop I just want to I just want to acknowledge his framing yeah that was beautiful excellent except a single donation from the NRA oh that face that face just a few frames before when he is just wilting oh my god I took a screenshot of that and saved it for my wallpaper it is delicious I don't think you understand after all the bullshit the Trump administration has put us through, we deserve that face.

You know what I mean? We deserve it. I want to swim in it. Excellent. Excellent. Okay, stop. I mean, that's a moment, even if you disagree, just to be proud that this young

American citizen is speaking up, and he's like frowning at him like he's on stage again for the Republican primary. And I think as, maybe you forgot the camera was on, but that's just like a bad shot. You're frowning at an 18-year-old engaging in democracy. Yes! You're upset. That's crazy. Yeah.

Yeah, there's something fascinating about Marco Rubio in that. Is there, though? No. That's fair. That's a fair point. Let me rephrase. right i stand corrected deserved earned apologize what i mean is what i find fascinating is a specific way in which um it's almost as if every day marco rubio rediscovers that he's not who he wants to be. He wakes up every morning believing he's one person.

And at some point during that day, he realizes he's not. And that's what happens to your body. That's what I find fascinating. That's all that I mean. I've said this before, but Paul Ryan, that guy's got a poker face, right? Paul Ryan knows exactly who Paul Ryan is

and that gives him power. Marco Rubio is pained and he is overcome because his pains, and he is overcome because I believe that Marco Rubio

is forever one day away from being the hero he thought he was going to be. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I really do believe that. I believe that that is the face. It is the face of a man who says, well, I guess we'll get up and try again tomorrow. And that's OK Stop.

When we come back, a game called Nickname or Trick Name. Hey, don't go anywhere. There's more of Love It or Leave It coming up. And we're back. Leave It coming up. And we're back! Now for a game we call nickname or trick name. Would anyone out there like to play?

What's your name? Stephanie. Stephanie? Yes. That's my sister's name. Oh, great. I bet she's awesome. She's pretty cool.

So here's the deal. With everything going on, it might have been easy to overlook the fact that Robert Mueller is continuing to put together the 3D puzzle that is Trump's jail cell. Flynn announced he wouldn't be using Trump's legal fund. Rumors spread that Rick Gates was about to flip. And then after the Russian troll indictments last week, Mueller dropped a new count, 32 indictments against Paul Manafort. So even as we weren't focusing on this, Trump was, which is why he tweeted that Adam Schiff, the Democratic leader on the House Intelligence Committee,

Trump called him Little Adam Schiff, the leaking monster of no control. And as someone who has been a fan of Adam Schiff's conduct in holding his committee accountable, even as he's trying to hold Trump accountable, I think that is an

amazing badge of honor. And I think Adam Schiff ought to wear a t-shirt that calls him the leaking monster of no control but we wanted to play a game called nickname or trick name here's how it works I'm going to read a list of Trump nicknames and as fast as it you can you have to tell us if you think it's a real Trump nickname or a fake Trump nickname it's a lightning round, Stephanie. Yeah. So we're going to move fast. Okay. Alright. If it's real, you say real. Okay. If it's

fake, you say fake news. Ooh, fake news. Okay. Alright. Let's hear the clicking sound that has no function except to make you nervous. Are you ready for the lightning round? I think so. Little Rocket Man.

Real. Correct. J Rocket Man. Real. Correct. Jowly Jeb. Fake News. Fake. Dumb as a Rock Mika. Real. Real.

Low IQ Mika. Real. Pleasant in Person Mika. Fake News. Little Marco. Real. Sleepy Eyes Real That was Chuck Todd

Yes Nice Hansy Pete Fake News Fake Dickie Durbin Real Real

My Kevin Real Real That's what he said about Kevin McCarthy Just remember what Kevin McCarthy was called by Donald Trump, which is my Kevin. Enjoy that, Kevin McCarthy. My own personal gimp, Paul Ryan.

Real? No. That's fake. Sneaky Dianne Feinstein. Real. Fake Tears Feinstein. Real. Fake Tears Chuck Schumer. Real. Boss Baby Chuck Schumer.

Fake News. That Black Fellow. Real. Fake. Oh. My African American. Real. That one was real.

Pear-Shaped Melissa. Real? Fake. Oh. Jeff Flakey. Real. That one was real. Pear-shaped Melissa. Real? Fake. Oh. Jeff Flakey. Real? Can't swim Kasich. Real?

Fake. Ah. Mulan. Real? Fake. Moana. Fake. Fake.

Pocahontas. Real. Sloppy Steve. Real? Slutty Steve. Fake news. Snorting Scaramucci. Fake news.

That one is fake-ish. Look, I just want to be careful here. I don't know anything about Anthony Scaramucci's habits. I will say that if cocaine became a person, it might consider... If cocaine... If someone went up to cocaine and said, you get to be a person for a week,

what form will you take? One of the options would surely be the mooch. That's just a fact. And finally, Stephanie, did Trump say this about John and Eric? Quote, they were in the back of the room when God handed out brains.

Yes. Yes, although it's from the Michael Wolff book So who knows Stephanie You have won Nickname or trick name Excellent work She got it

When we come back The rant wheel Don't go anywhere This is Love It or Leave It, there's more on the way. And we're back. Now for a segment we call the rant wheel. Here's how it works. We spin the wheel on where it lands.

We rant about the topic at hand. This week on the wheel we have actors doing American accents, universal basic income, controversially, the film Black Panther, Dinesh D'Souza, gay superheroes, Fox News' new streaming super channel, the fact that in diets, calories don't matter anymore, and Fergie's performance of the national anthem. Let's spin the wheel. I've been told we can only do four, but maybe we'll do five. It has landed on actors doing American accents and I am sick of them. There's something that, there's some actors that crush an

American accent. Idris Elba, his American accent you know you just it's so good but there's a certain kind of actor where they kind of spending all their mental energy making their mouth be American and that's all the character is. A lot of just terrible American accents. Oh, yes.

Okay. You're on your feet trying to tell me that Swarzy Ronan's accent was perfect. Guys, I haven't seen Lady Bird. Boo me! I welcome your hatred. I haven't seen Lady Bird.

I don't know when I'm going to watch it. Boo all you want. I love it. I love to be booed. What's it about? Honestly, until two weeks ago, I thought it was about love to be booed. What's it about? Honestly, till two weeks ago, I thought it was about President Johnson's wife. So give me a break.

The sack is out of control tonight. Yeah, sack toe, sack toe. And I don't care. The point is, stop sending British people and Canadians to do jobs Americans can do. Yes! Yes. Let's spin it again. British people and Canadians to do jobs Americans can do. Yes! Yes!

Let's spin it again. It has landed on universal basic income, a suggestion that comes from one mayor, Michael Tubbs. I'll be brief. I think, number one, some misconceptions. This idea is almost as old as the Republic. Thomas Paine talked about this in The Great Revolution. Dr. King was calling for this right before he was assassinated.

In California, one in two Californians can afford one $400 emergency. All the studies done in places like Canada, et cetera, et cetera, in the Eastern Band of Turkey, Native Americans in the States, in Alaska have shown that when people are given a guaranteed income, an income floor, that there's no labor market impacts and actually good things happen. So good things happen, like kids are in school longer, health outcomes increase, bad things go down, like alcohol and drug use.

And in Stockton, for the millionth time, this demonstration we're doing now is philanthropically funded, and philanthropic means not your money. It means... Oh, shut up. And then the last thing, I think the first word is so special in the term and it's the word is universal. Universal meaning you and me, meaning not them, not those undeserving poor people, but

universal meaning everyone has a chance to benefit and gains from it. So we're gonna roll out this fall. I'm excited. There's a benefit and gain from it. So we're going to roll it out this fall. I'm excited. There's a lot of other cities looking. So beautiful. And I think the last, last thing I think is that it's not about, for me, robots or AI. It's about the here and now, especially in California when we look at kind of the housing market and how utility rates and housing rates are going up and people's wages are. And it's about how the most jobs have been created

actually in the gig economy that doesn't have any benefits, that people are making barely above minimum wage and doing all these things to get benefits. And it's also really about just a basic premise that the most important investment we can make is in people and our economic system is, it's broken and we have to figure out what we can do to fix it. That's really exciting. I didn't know that that was happening. So this is going to be a test. Your city is going to be a proving ground for UBI. One of them. So we're running a demonstration in Oakland with Y Combinator is doing a more random RTC, some sort of real tight-knit study.

That's fascinating. No, I think universal basic income, it's a tough issue in part because I think it's really important that for it to become something people can get behind, that they understand what the consequences and the unforeseen consequences are. In a lot of ways, we have just a really shitty universal basic income. The social safety net is a collection of services that add up to a deeply flawed net with tons of holes and problems that form a kind of confusing and complicated and bureaucratic universal basic income. So I think it's going to be really important to see what happens in these places.

And the last thing is, it's not to suggest that's a panacea or a magic bullet, if you will, but it's really people need good schools, people need healthcare. There's a lot of other things people need, and again, this is just another thing to add to the conversation about what kind of community we want to live in. All right.

Yeah, I hope that when it's up and running, we can talk about it again. Let's spin the wheel. Wow. Yes! Jenny Yang, you suggested the film Black Panther. Yes! Take it away, I guess.

She has the coat. I am praising, yes, I am praising the Black Panther. Yes. I take it away, I guess. She has the coat. I am praising, yes, I am praising the Black Panther because what a gift this movie has been to our culture. There are just layers upon layers of how this enduring piece of art is going to give back to us. Already I'm calling white people colonizers. You know what I mean? It feels so good. It's so

cathartic, you know? It's like, don't scare me like that, colonizer. You know what I mean? It works. And the only thing I would say is that if 2018 and 2020 don't go too well, I'm going to Wakanda I'll see you there

it was very cool that people were registering voters at Black Panther screenings what a great connection between the movie and our current political shit storm uh, you have a group called Black Future. You have to say something. Okay, so. I agree. Also, yes, the Movement for Black Lives Electoral Justice Project is doing a voter registration drive

called Wakanda the Vote. And they've gotten, I think, over 100 voter registration drives going across the country which is dope super smart and then of course we got to talk about black futures because that's what black panther is all about is reimagining what's possible and we just started an organization called the black futures lab which is moving towards transforming black communities into constituencies that build power in cities and states that is independent and progressive.

And we're getting ready to launch something really big on Monday. So check us out. Go ahead, Alicia. I will say this. There has been a trend in superhero movies towards 15 to 20 minute battles of shirtless guys. It was true in Batman versus Superman. It was true, not Batman versus Superman,

whatever the new one was. What was it called? Justice League. It was true in Black Panther. And it's a trend I can get behind. That's all I wanted to say about that. Okay, but wait, can we say some more stuff? Because I said I wasn't going to talk about this, but now you opened it up, and now I'm going to talk about it.

What was also amazing in Black Panther was the role that women played in saving the republic and ensuring a humanistic democracy. That really just touched my heart. And it was also a foreshadowing of the consequences that happen when you don't listen to women. That's right. That's right. I mean, I don't want to spoil it for you if you haven't seen it, but you should go see it, A. We don't do spoilers.

You should go see it because it. We don't do spoilers. And B, you should go see it because it's mirroring real life because women are kicking ass and taking names. You're welcome. Let's spin it one more time. It's going to be Fergie. I was hoping for Fergie. It has landed on gay superheroes, and I'm glad it did. Okay, it's time.

All right? I want a gay superhero. All right? We had The Flash. I don't think The Flash is technically a gay character in the comics, but it was played by Ezra Miller, who did not stop being a person who is queer when he played the character, which is cool. I want to see some gay superheroes, all right?

I want to see some gay powers. But what would they do? How about Wonder Woman? What would be their superpower? I don't know. Making people feel bad about their jeans? That's so hacky. I'm sorry.

The queer eyes for the straight guys do not count. They're lovely, but they're not superheroes. They're making canapes. I would like, I don't care what their powers are. Wonder Woman has a magical lasso. I don't think it has anything to do with her being a lady. T'Challa drinks something and it makes him powerful, but you know what I mean?

The gay super person can fly or, I don't know, use laser eyes. I don't care. I don't care. I just want a Lois Lane that's a dude. Well, my gay superhero would be Bayard Rustin. Hello. Organizer, Marshall Washington, taught everyone how to organize. Bayard Rustin. Hello. Organizer, March on Washington,

taught everyone how to organize. Bayard Rustin! Yeah, one of the organizers. Or James Baldwin. I love James Baldwin. Yes. Or Zora Neale Hurst. I think there's a lot of gay superheroes.

We just got to put them on the screen. I think that was a kind of, look, I agree that there have been many gay everyday heroes. No, no. I agree, Mayor Tubbs, that there are superheroes. You know what I think? Oh, no. Alicia, you know what I think?

I'm trying to be a part of the show. I think every teacher is a superhero. You know who's a superhero? A doctor working that late shift. Oh, God. I want laser beams out of a gay person's fucking eyes. All right? I don't want James Baldwin.

All right? I don't want Truman Capote. Give me a fucking break. Trenchant writing is not the superpower that's going to put people in the seats on a Friday night at the multiplex one of them will run real fast and punch people

2018 the flash needs to be gay my marker is laid down Mayor Tubbs I'm just trying to contribute man I don't watch superhero movies. I'm being honest. Those are my superheroes.

We had a fun time tonight. I want to thank... We have to leave it there, guys. We have to. I want to thank our amazing panel for a fantastic and informative discussion. Guys, give it up for Alicia Garza, Mayor Michael Tubbs, Jenny Yangs,

and the city of Sacramento, home of your fighting ladybirds. Thanks a lot for coming out. Have a great night. Thank you.