The Daily Show: Ears Edition - Gov. Gretchen Whitmer Talks Swing State Strategy | Gov. JB Pritzker’s Tour of Chicago

Episode Date: August 27, 2024

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer sits with Michael Kosta to talk about her bestselling book, "True Gretch: What I’ve Learned About Life, Leadership, and Everything in Between," earning the nickname “Big Gretch” for taking down Trump, and her role as the Harris-Walz presidential campaign co-chair. Plus, Jordan Klepper takes a tour of Chicago with Illinois Governor JB Pritzker.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Survivor 47 is here, which means we're bringing you a brand new season of the only official survivor podcast on fire. And this season we are joined by fan favorite and Survivor 46 runner-up, Charlie, Charlie, I'm excited to do this together. Thanks, Jeff. So excited to be here, and I can't wait to bring you inside the mind of a survivor player for season 47. Listen to On Fire the official Survivor podcast starting September 18th wherever you get your podcast. You're listening to Comedy Central. Hey this is Ryan Chang. The Daily Show is on break this week but don't worry we put together some special highlights for you to catch up on in case you miss them. We'll be back on September 10th. Until then, enjoy this episode.

Welcome back to the Daily Show. My guest tonight is a two-term governor of Michigan and author of the best-selling book True Gretch. Please welcome Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Aren't they great? Aren't they great? All these people who love you who aren't even legally allowed to vote for you. You're in Michigander. I am. I'm in Michigander. It dawned on me today, in this audience, might not like this, but it dawned on me today that one of the best parts of Chicago is the lake.

And one of the best parts of Chicago is Michigan. Right? Hey! Oh! I think one of the things people love about you is that you have grit and you seem tough. And you talk about this, you talk about this in your book, you talk about as a kid, someone pushed you down, knocked your teeth out. Yeah. What age was that? That happened? It was about eighth grade. It was church camp.

It was just... Where most violence can happen at church camp. Yeah. And then throughout your life, even in the chambers, while people are voting, you would pop your teeth out to mess with them, right? Yeah. Well, yeah. We have a picture of what it sometimes...

I mean, this was in the book, I love this. I mean, it's like, what is that? What is that picture? Where is that picture? That was in high school at some point. I used to play in the Gus Macar tournament, so three on three basketball. And I was eating a Tutsi roll on the way, and both my teeth came out. Okay. Before the game, it was a nice, you know, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, to, to, to, too, too, to, too, to, to, too, to, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, the thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, th. th. th. th. th, where, where, where, where, where, where, where, where, where, where, where, where, where, where, where, where, where, where, where, th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi. thi. thi. to, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's, where, that's, where that's a physical toughness, but now in politics it feels a more emotional toughness.

Is that right? Yeah, I think so. You know, one of the nicknames I've earned over the last few years is Big Gretch. Yeah. And, uh. Big Gretch. And, uh, my all-time new favorite new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new thi thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, it thi, it th, it th, it th, it th, it th, it th, it th, it th, it th, it th, it th, it th, it th, it th, it th, it th, it th, it th, it th, it th, it th, it th, it th, it th, th, th, it th, thi, thi, thi, thi. thi. thi. thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi nickname. It used to be gravity grutchin because I fall down a lot, hence the teeth. But during COVID, I talked about in the book, but during COVID, you know, when Donald Trump turned his ire to me because I observed there was not a national strategy when he

told us he's not a shipping clerk, we need to go find masks ourselves. He got mad. And so it turned his attention to me and I started getting threats and all of that noise and at some point someone on my staff said you know that people are starting to call you Big Gretch right and I was like what is this? Right. Well and we were listening to G. Mac Cash is big grech song downstairs yeah. So a whole rap song we've written about you which is pretty cool. It became a thing, you know?

The people of Detroit bestowed this nickname on me because I was taking so much heat from the White House and doing what I could to save people and so this was someone likened it to being bestowed a key to the city. When the people of Detroit give you a nickname like Big Grutch. Okay. Okay. Um, Um, um, on page,

on page two, the second page of your book, you talk about your grandmother, Nino, and how she said, always look for the positive in people. And I love this quote, it is, even the meanest person might have pretty eyes. Is that a way to govern? I mean, is that... You know, a lot of people maybe sadly were introduced to you through the kidnapping story? Yeah. How do you see the positive in those people or in that situation? Can you? Well, they say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Right. So there's the, there's the cause.

Yeah, you know, I've learned so much. And in the last six years, when you get tested, you see what you're capable of and what you're made of. And you also know who you can count on and who you can trust. And so there's a lesson in every tho tho tho tho tho tho tho tho tho tho tho tho tho tho tho tho tho tho tho tho tho tho tho tho tho tho tho tho tho tho tho tho tho thus tho tho tho tho tho tho tho tho tho tho tho tho tho the the the the the the the the the the the their their their their their tho tho tho tho tho tho tho tho tho tho tho tho tho tho tho tho tho tho tho tho tho tho. tho. tho. thooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo. th. tho. th. th. thust. And so there's a lesson in every tough story. Right. Yep, and there's... Yet, you're the governor of the whole state. Your supporters love you, but there's people on the other side that maybe didn't vote for you that are still mad about some COVID restrictions that are having a hard time paying their mortgage. How do you bridge the gap with them? How do you speak to them?

What do you say? I think it's showing up. You know, I know that I don't have every person's lived experience. I'm learning when I'm asking, what can I do that'll make your life better? What do I tell you? How do I tho? How th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th? th th? th th... thi? thi? thi? thin? thin? thin? to thin? thin? thi? thi? thi. to to to to to to to to to to to to tho. tho. tho. tho. tho. tho? tho. thi thi thi? thi? th.............................................. I'm? I'm? I'm toe? I'm toe? I'm toe? I'm toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. I'se. I'ma. I'ma. I'ma. I'm toee. I'm toe. I'm toe. I'm toe. toe your way. I love to get around Michigan and ask that question. You know, if I'm lucky enough to get elected, what could I do for you? And people are not shy to tell you when you ask.

They will tell you things you never imagine, but over and over again, when you hear something that is recurring, you know this is a response and that's why I'm so focused. Yeah. A brilliant platform because as a Michigander I've said that to my, to whoever's listening and apparently you were listening if you put it on a bus and your bus was listening. I have to ask you this because I don't often get the opportunity to sit down with the governor of Michigan but as a Michigan myself I love our Great Lakes. I love the 20 the the to to to to to to to the to to to the to to to the to to the to to the to to to to the to to to the to to the to to to to to to to to to to to to the the the to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the world the world the world the world the world the world the world the world the world the world the world the world the world thususus. thoe. thoe. teau.eau.ea.ea.ea.ea.ea.ea.ea. tea. tea. tea. tea. tea. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. the opportunity to sit down with the governor of Michigan, but as a Michigan or myself, I love our Great Lakes. I love the 20% of the world's freshwater is sitting amongst us.

I've lived in Los Angeles. I've toured through Arizona. They want our water. Okay? And in all reality, what are you as governor doing to protect our Great Lakes? Is this important to you? Absolutely. So the Great Lakes, 21% of the world's fresh surface water. This is a big...

I said 20 and she was like, it's 21, mother-ftick. You heard that? That's good. So, you know, I'm working hard to make sure that we protect the Great Lakes and we make Michigan a place where people move to for opportunities. So I would welcome you to come back to Michigan. Enjoy the lakes. And then maybe you and I can reenact the Clepper Pritzker bar crawl. Oh, that would be fun. Oh, that would be fun. I haven't gone drinking with Clepper, but I bet there might have been a bucket there

where he was kind of like, you know. There's a lot of energy for Kamala right now. There's a lot of momentum. I'm, I'm, I'm fearful though. I'm fearful that Democrats aren't thinking a few steps ahead. Trump is throwing his tantrums. He's mad that she's doing well. But you know he's a competitor. He's gonna pivot. He's gonna come back with something. Are the Dems strategizing many steps ahead? I believe so, but what are you anticipating?

What are you going to do in a couple of weeks? I mean, I think he's sitting at home watching the energy,., the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the thusususususususususususususususususus strategia thus strategia themananananananan't them stanananananananananananananan't strategizing, try. Are tr. Are tr. Are tr. Are tryms, tryms, tryms, tryms, tryms, tr. tre. tre. tr. tr. tr. tr. tr. tr. th. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. It, the. It's, the. It's, thea. It's, thea. It's thea. It's tru. tru. tru. tru. tru. tru. tru. tru. tru. couple of weeks? I mean I think he's sitting at home watching the energy, the enthusiasm, the optimism that's going to come out of this week and I think it's going to hurt his brain. Yeah, well it is. It is hurting his brain. Okay. Okay. Let's hope that happens. Let's prepare for him to get his head on stray and stop throwing a tantrum like a four-year-old. He's acting like a four-year-old. Eventually they calm down and they figure out the weak spot. So I'm just hoping the Dems are.

Are you a co-chair on Kamala's campaign? I am. I mean, how does Michigan is Michigan, right? There's Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Michigan. These are the swingiest of states, and we are going to decide the outcome of this election. We got to show up, we got to do the work. We got to be in all 83 counties. We cannot write off a place because it looks Republican in past elections.

We're going to show up and we're to pull to pull to pull to pull to pull to pull and pull and pull and pull and pull and pull and pull and pull and pull and pull and pull and pull and pull in because this is... Show up. Show up. Showing up. Half the bed. Yeah. Yeah. You talk and hear a lot about your gratitude journal, which I love. Be specific with what you're thankful for, which you do. But sometimes, do you ever just write down super annoying shit, you know?

You've had some bad stuff that's happened. Do you ever just write down, well, this sucks. Today people try to f-kidnap me. It's tempting. It's tempting. But no, but there are some days where it says, my dogs, my bed and tequila. Right. Yeah.

You have that in here, yeah. Let's talk about humor. This is a comedy show. I grew up in a big family. No one ever said, I love you in my family, but you teased. You poked fun. And when I read and listened to your book, I love the audio version as well. There's a lot of humor, and it just comes naturally for you. Is this something that is embedded in you from an early age as a kid?

Is it something you've worked on? I think both my folks were really funny. And humor is a great way to, I think, relieve stress, diffuse a tough, tense situation if you can find a laugh. And my mother was kind of the queen of gallows humor. Even in the darkest day, she died of brain cancer. She could find the light. She could make us laugh.

And I think it's just such a powerful way to find common ground. That's why I love, I love being on your show with you. I love that. Um, last thing. You know, I told you that a couple weeks ago, my daughter, who's four, got pushed by another girl at camp.......... th. th. their, their, their, th. their, th. their, th. th. th. th. th. their, th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. thi. thi. toe. toe, toe, toe, toe, toe, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, th. Yeah, th. th. th. th. And, th. And, th. And, th. And, th. And, th. And, th. And, th. And, th. the th. th. the th. th. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. too. And, toe. toe. And, toe. And, toe. And, toe. And, the the the th. And, told you that a couple weeks ago, my daughter, who's four, got pushed by another girl at camp and had a black eye, and I was really sad and I was upset about it, and then I read your book and I said, holy shit, my daughter is going to be the governor of Michigan. True Gretch is available now, Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

Hey everybody, John Stewart here. I am here to tell you about my new podcast. Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Hey, everybody, John Stewart here. I am here to tell you about my new podcast, The Weekly Show, it's going to be coming out every Thursday. So exciting, you'll be saying to yourself, TGID, thank God it's Thursday, we're going to be talking about. All the things that hopefully obsess you in the same way that they obsess me. The election. Economics, earnings calls. What. the. the. the. the the th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. the. thoing. thoing. thoes. tho' thoe. thoes. thoes. thoe. thoe. thoe. thoe. My thoe. thoe. My thoe. thoe. thoe. thoe. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. All the things that hopefully obsess you in the same way that they obsess me. The election. Economics. Earnings calls. What are they talking about on these earnings calls? We're going to be talking about ingredient to

bread ratio on sandwiches. And I know that I listed that fourth, but in importance, it's probably second. I know you have a lot of options as far as podcasts go, but how many of them come out on Thursday? I mean, talk about innovative. Listen to the weekly show with John Stewart, wherever you get your podcast. The Democrats could have picked any city to hold the convention. So why Chicago, our own Jordan Klepper, spent the day with a local to find out what Chicago has to offer. Beautiful Chicago, my old term, where I spent nearly a decade doing improv comedy and posing like a hip-hop

magician. But this isn't about me. It's about showing the exotic hot spot Chicago has to offer. And I've got a little help from a local billionaire. For a tour guide, I'm here with Governor Jake B. Pritzker. We're going to see that Chicago is more than just Wrigley Field and a bunch of drugs in bars, right? There's culture here. What are we going to say? We got blues, we got the lakefront, we got museums, we're a foodie town. So we're a million people. We are going to get to that. I used to drink here. We got to get a drink.

Let's go. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Save my old place. It's perfect. To get in the right mood, we need a local delicacy. Mallor is a Chicago special. So if you come to Chicago, I mean if you want to be like Chicagoans, you've got to have a Mallard. Yes, it's a lovely liqueur made here in Chicago and it tastes like it was made here in Chicago. It's unleaded. I love it. Cheers. Oh, oh. Oh, oh. Ooh. Oh. Oh. That's some of the best reward I've ever had.

That's delicious. I have this aftertaste like I was sucking on the leg of a wet dog. It's DNC week. The convention is here in Chicago. Why Chicago? Well, you know, we've had more political conventions in Chicago than any other city in America. They haven't always gone great. The demonstrators repeatedly tried to march on the side of the convention.

Yeah, things have changed quite a lot. And there are protests at every convention. But the truth is that here in Chicago we protect people's first amendment rights, and we're going to put on one of the best conventions that we'll be no city that has a better summer than the city of Chicago. This is like the Olympics for people who are not athletic. I know this doesn't sound exciting. I know this doesn't sound exciting. I know this doesn't sound exciting. to see what's it's a lot of the the thirty states.

You're right. thiiii. to see what the R&C did? Hulk Hogan? They got Hulk, they got Hulk. How do you beat that? What are you gonna get? The guys from jackass? Honestly, this is gonna be the most energetic convention that you've ever seen. Unfortunately, I've seen what their energetic conventions can be like. Hillary Clinton was out there doing herstery. Keep it in history. It's, you know, Chicago has been known for corruption in the past. Now Republicans are criticizing Kamala for getting in through as they would put it, inside maneuvers. How does the party square something like that? Are you kidding? Donald Trump tried to steal an election. He has one insurrection.

That's always going to be, you're going to tar him with that? Yes. And by the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the th th th. And by th. And by th. And by th. And by th. the th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. thi. thi. to be th. toe, too. too. too. toe. toe. to be to be to be to be to be to be thoe. thoe. thoe. thoe. th. th. th. th. th. th. th.. th. th. the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. th. th. th. I. th. always going to be, you're going to tar him with that? Yes. And by the way, he says if he doesn't win this time, he's been cheated. I gotta ask you, the governor, big question. Is the bear a comedy or a drama? Okay, I don't know why it's in the comedy category, but I gotta say it's one of the best shows off Chicago. Let's go it. Let's the thia, thia, thia, thia, thia, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, tho, tho, tho, tho, tho, tho, tho, tho, tho, tho, to to to tho, tho, to to to to to to to to to to to to to tho, tho, tho, tho, tho, tho, tho, tho, tho, tho, th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. thi. thi. thi. thi. tho, tho, tho, tho, to to tho. toooooooooooo. too. tooooo. too. too. too. too. to Chicago culture, shall we? Let's do it. Put it on the Pritzkers. Look at that you to always say back in the day. Okay, maybe we just hit one more, Bob, before we get to that time.

Did you do it? That's perfect. Yes. You know, this empty bar takes me back to my improv days. The audience's response back then. But you do it because you love it. OK. Yeah. Cheers.

OK, museums. Are we talking museums? No, we're going to museums. We got to do this. Let's see this town, this beautiful town. Governor, a lot of culture here. So much good architecture in Chicago. It is. Well, you know, that started with the great Chicago fire, everything getting burned down, all the great architects and artists and entrepreneurs. I used to drink here. We've got to get a drink. We got a green line?

Let's do it. Cheers. Were you surprised about Biden stepping down? I was. I really was. It happened so fast. It was about noon on a Sunday. Oh yeah, it was a Sunday. I remember that because I was in a church. Not at a bar. I was at a church.

And a lot of us were concerned about the direction of the election and whether Joe Biden was going to be competitive because the polls weren't looking good. In this moment, are you in a the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the their the their their their their their their their thiiiii. toe. toeck. toeck. toeck. toeck. toeck. toea. toeck. toeck. tooes. tooes. tooes. tooes. tooes. tooes. tooes. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. t. t. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe able to be competitive because the polls weren't looking good. In this moment, are you in a text chain with other governors? Well, actually, there were governors talking. The governors push him out? No, no. No, no. You weren't nudging an old man.

To be clear. You're not like walking by him's the one nudging somebody back. Oh, don't give me this. Look how tough he looks on a bike bullshit. He's a tough guy. He really is. And he understands politics better than most. And we don't have any time to waste. Kamala Harris is our vice president. We all voted for her. balls to the walls. That's the first thing you do? This is what my taxpayer money goes to? It was a Sunday. I'm paying for balls hashtags. I mean maybe.

Buy the drinks, okay, I got it. I got it. Unbelievably. Enough of the distractions. Museum, where do we have to go to go. Well, you've got to go to a museum and contemporary art. Of course. The Art Institute, the beautiful lions in front. Don't forget the field museum, right? We've got the big diner.

Natural history. There's culture in this town that you have to focus on. Oh my gosh, we're at Riggs. I love it. We've got to go. into a bit of Chicago history is intoxicating. I can smell the stale hot dogs and tears of defeat. Look at this, huh? Beautiful day to be here at Riggley. Every day at Riggley is beautiful.

Yes. Okay, so no baseball today. No, when this place is full, it is amazing. It seems to be setting up for a concert. This is America's Pastime. Watching other people do work while you sit on your ass. Let's go, Rodees! Let's go, Rodees!

Union Rodees. Let's go, Union Rodees. By the way, I have some parking tickets. I cannot help you with those parking tickets. I, everybody a beer? That's about all the news. I'll take it. Explore more shows from the Daily Show podcast universe by searching the Daily Show, wherever you get your podcasts. Watch the Daily Show weeknights at 11, 10 Central on Comedy Central, and stream full episodes

anytime on Paramount Plus. Paramount Podcasts. Survivor 47 is here, which means we're bringing you a brand new season of the only official Survivor podcast on fire. And this season we are joined by Fan Favorite and Survivor 46 runner-up, Charlie Davis to bring you even further inside the action. Charlie, I'm excited to do this together. Thanks, Jeff. So excited to be here, and I can't wait to bring you inside the mind of a survivor player for season 47.

Listen to On Fire, the official Survivor podcast starting September 18th, wherever you get your podcast.