(upbeat music) - You're listening to The Parting Shot with H. Allen Scott. - There's really only one thing everyone's talking about today. And that is that presidential debate. Oh my God, what the hell was that? I needed to talk about it because, you know, everyone is talking about it. I think everyone watched it. Everyone saw what we all saw. And it was, well, I'm gonna say it, a dumpster fire, primarily for Biden. And even though this is an entertainment show when we usually only talk about entertainment, I thought it would be good to talk with serious journalists, you know, from Newsweek and ask the questions that I think a lot of Americans are asking themselves right now in terms of, I mean, I watched it just from a casual perspective. Like I do any other entertainment show that I watch. And one of the things that I saw last night was that A, it was boring, but B, concerning in that one of the candidates seems to be not so up to par. And the other candidate seems to be doing what they always do, but they at least seem to put together. So like, I wanted to speak with Alex Bacchus about what all of this means, ask the questions that I think a lot of Americans are asking themselves right now. And come at it from a very sort of like pop culture perspective because that's how I view pretty much everything. And Alex is so perfect and really the only person that I want to ask these questions too. So here's my conversation with Alex about last night's insane presidential debate. With Audible, there's more to imagine when you listen. Whether you listen to stories, motivation, expert advice, any genre you love, you can be inspired to imagine new worlds, new possibilities, new ways of thinking. And Audible makes it easy to be inspired and entertained as a part of your everyday routine without needing to set aside extra time. As an Audible member, you choose one title a month to keep from their ever-growing catalog. Be inspired to explore your inner creativity with Viola Davis' memoir, Finding Me. Find what peaks your imagination with Audible. New members can try Audible free for 30 days. Visit audible.com/imagine or text-imagine to 500-500. That's audible.com/imagine or text-imagine to 500-500. - So one of the things after the debate that I thought was, well, first off, what the hell? Just what did I just watch? That was a biggie. And I mean, I'm gonna stress the top. Like, I'm not necessarily a political person. Like I was telling you before, I talk to celebrities about TikTok. Like, that's what I do. But I also am a regular American and I wanna, I'm engaged and I watch the debate. And I don't like or dislike either of them. I really don't care about either of them to be frank with you. But what I watched was kind of like a horror show in a way. On both sides for different reasons, but particularly on Biden's side. So I wanna know from you first, Alex. What, what happened? - I don't, I don't know if anyone knows what happened. You know, H.I.L.N., I was so excited to come on here and talk to you about this and talk about the crazy moments. And after watching that debate, I just sat there and I was like, what did I just see? And I felt sad and I felt a deep concern for this person who is currently a person. - The concern, that's, that's the most interesting thing. You know, I've watched, I've watched other debates before. I've watched Obama. I remember watching that of that first debate with Obama back in what was that, 2012. - Yeah. - And, and it was bad. It was bad, but I had no doubt that this person would be fine the next day or that this person wasn't capable of their job. And I mean, correct me if I'm wrong, but like going into this debate, the biggest thing that Biden had to do was to, you know, sort of appease the worry about his age. And I left being very concerned for what almost felt like a family member. It felt like there was something wrong that we needed to have a conversation as a family that we need to do something about this person that we love. And that's sort of the reaction I had. It was almost personal in a way. - Yeah, it was so hard to watch it. And, you know, what was also really jarring for me was, yes, the debate was the debate. And then afterward, the CNN analysis, the post comes on and you're getting that democratic reaction, which was, that's what shocked me. - Yes, same. - Was hearing immediately that this is a disaster, that there is panic within the DNC and then you go on social media and all I see is who's gonna replace Biden. I've never seen a debate at that level with that type of response after. And that's what was so shocking to me. - Well, and that, I think that's the question that I think every American is asking who is probably very similar to me in that we're just the regular average American who isn't necessarily political, but we vote because we're supposed to vote. So like, what do the Democrats do if they have to reply? Or what does, what needs to happen if Biden needs to be replaced because the primaries are done. People have voted like, what happens if he, I don't know, how does this work? - I know, and you know, that's the other thing too. It's people have voted. And so now we're in a really weird space. So at this point, it really is up to Biden himself to get out of this race on his own. And up till right now, he has an indicator that he plans to do that. If he did drop out of the race before the DNC, which is in August and releases his delegates, those delegates would then be free to vote for someone else. And that's the situation where you get an open convention and you could see all these Democratic contenders coming out, people like you're seeing Gavin Newsom, you know, potentially or like a Michelle Obama. That's how that may happen. I'm seeing a lot of questions too, a talent about Vice President Kamala Harris and how does she play into this too? So if Biden didn't-- - Wouldn't she be the likely person because she's the vice, I mean, she's the vice president. So wouldn't she be the likely next person? I mean, that's what I think most people think. - Exactly. So if Biden dropped out of the race, it doesn't automatically go to her. Obviously, you know, she would have his endorsement, presumably. If he resigned for some reason and ended his term early, which no one has, you know, there's no indication of that happening, she would still obviously become the president at that point, but his delegates still wouldn't automatically go to her either. So yeah, and then of course you have the other option, which I'm seeing kind of things about is the contested convention, which would be chaos for the party. And I think there's probably a lot of conversation right now about how to avoid that from happening. - Well, because, I mean, so correct me if I'm wrong, 'cause I, you know, I've only watched Veep, so I don't really know how the conventions work. I think I maybe watched a little bit of the West Wing, but like when these states and the primaries and the caucuses that happen, those delegates then go to a convention and it's at the convention that then they essentially really pick the person who's gonna be the nominee. And so those delegates could, I mean, he could release those delegates. I remember that being a big thing with Hillary and Bernie at one of the conventions, whatever year that was, that Bernie had to release his delegates of the states that he won in order for Hillary Clinton to get enough delegates for the nomination or whatever. So would that be what happens here? That these Biden delegates, that won in the states that he won the primary, would then have to then be released and support a Newsom or a Harris or whoever the person is that's, I guess, chosen to replace Biden. - That's exactly what would happen. And the DNC and the RNC are different in that way. The DNC has more unpledged delegates, so those delegates could essentially vote for anyone at this point. But yes, they're supposed to obviously represent the voters and the voters have decided that they want Biden. - I'm so, I mean, I'm proud that I was able to know that only watching V. That's a-- - I know, it's nice to work. - I know, right? Thank you. Yeah, no, good for me. But also, I mean, let's talk a little bit about Trump because Trump went in also with a big task on his end in order to appease people of him not being a felon, basically. I mean, that was the biggie is that he is convicted of it. And he does have this reputation of being bombastic and maybe have a weakness for not telling necessarily the truth or the facts all the time. So like, how did Trump do in terms of appeasing some of the concerns that even maybe some Republicans, particularly Nikki Haley Republicans, did he appease any of those Republicans to help bring them to his side and sort of solidify the base, the Republican base? - So I, the big thing I was wondering was how he was gonna show up. Last night, if he was gonna be the typical Trump or how he would present himself. And I thought he came across very calm and collected. His son, Don Jr., I think, put on Twitter that the format really helped his dad. And I do think it did too. I think having those mics muted, not having that audience kind of egging him on really played in his favor. In terms of the substantive issues, I mean, you hear a lot about Trump lied about X, Y, Z. Biden made good points about X, Y, Z. But really, I don't think anyone remembers that because all you remember are the optics and the takeaway, which was what was that? And so did it solidify his base? I don't know if anyone's even talking about that because there's such a different issue now on our hands. But I do think he presented himself well and I think the best thing he could've done last night for him for Trump was to just let Biden talk. And he did that because the mics were muted and it was pretty interesting to watch how that played out last night. It was interesting to see him be so put together. I mean, there were moments, I mean, let's be real, like there was that golf tangent that kind of went crazy and there was also the porn star. I don't know, I mean, my grandma owned a golf course and I've been bored by golf ever since I was a child. So I don't know, I tuned out. That was the moment I considered going to the restroom. But I, one of the things that like, I was so surprised about Trump and I think you're right, is I was actually concerned that the no audience would be a problem for him because he does rely on that sort of back and forth with the reaction to the audience. He gets, I mean, he's a performer in a lot of ways. And I liken him to sort of, I mean, I'm not comparing him to Reagan but I liken him to Reagan in that way in that Reagan also responded to the warmth of an audience and the reaction of an audience and he was able to sort of do the back and forth. Obama similarly too was able to do that. And so I was concerned that it would hinder Trump in this but I actually, in watching it was like, I don't know if he's saying any facts or anything 'cause I don't know necessarily all, it doesn't feel like this is the truth. I don't know though, but, and that's part of the problem with I think a lot of Americans and I'm part of the problem, I guess. But I was impressed by how he was able to stay composed. - Yeah, and you know, I think if he stays that way, it's gonna bode well for him going into November. Same thing with Biden too. - You know he can't, you know he can't. I mean, if we see the rallies, like come on. - And I think at the rallies, it's fine for him to be that way but I do think overall he has come across more presidential and he's been a little more composed and not saying things that make people say, what is this guy saying right now. So I think he's done better in that way this year so far. I was also wondering how Biden was gonna come across because remember when he came out for the State of the Union in January or earlier this year and he was like one blazing, he was aggressive. And so I was wondering if he was gonna come out this way last night and you know, obviously not but. - Well, and that's just it. That's the interesting thing because for any other president, let's get say Obama or I mean anybody really, like even Bush the Bush Jr. Like they could have a bad performance. They could have a bad debate and then the next day bounce back and be fine because we know they're fine. But in this situation, and I do think Biden is capable of being president. I don't think he's, I mean a debate setting is a very different setting than what it is like to govern or to give a speech that is not, you're not being interrupted or like it's very different. And so I do think he's able to govern and do all of those things. But the problem is the optics, like you said, are just so colossally bad in this situation that it almost is like the calls coming from inside the house get out, get out, get out. Like, it's a red alert warning moment. And that's probably something that would not have been applied to any other president. - Yeah, I do. And the stakes were so high for him coming into this because of that reason. And he really had to have a strong performance last night. And it's almost not fair because you have 90 minutes. And if you do any public speaking, you're going to say something incorrectly. You're going to make a mistake here and there, but he really couldn't afford to do that. And he really cannot afford to do what happened last night. And everything that Trump accuses him of, he went on stage for 90 minutes and did. So it was really, really bad for him. And you're right, usually one debate performance isn't a make or break. But in this case, it just seems so much different this time. - Well, and one of the things that I've always, I've always said this about Trump. I mean, I mean, I'm a gay American, so let's be real. Like, I'm probably not going to be like, yo, Trump, yay. Like, I'm just not, I mean, but I'm also not like, I'm a gay Biden, I don't care, I honestly don't care. That said, I see in Trump the entertainer, and I see why he is, I see why people like him. I see why people respond to his type of politics. I also see why people like Biden. But there is something about the way in which Trump carries himself, even though they're not that far off an age, there's not, I don't think he's necessarily as smart as Biden, or as detailed in policy as Biden, or as done as much for public service as Biden. That said, I get why people like him because he does have this, this sort of air of, you know, let's have a chat, we can talk. We can do this, you know what I mean? We can just, we can shoot the shit, if you will, even though it would be a crazy conversation, and he'd probably talk about golf and I'd fall asleep. Still, we can shoot the shit. And so I wanna know, do you think, do you think Trump could carry this on, could take this win that he had last night, and turn it into a disciplined campaign? And that's something that I'm concerned with Trump about, is can he continue to be this disciplined? - You know, I kind of wonder how much, I don't know, you know, we'll see how this plays out. I feel like at this point, everyone, maybe more than any other race ever, everyone has an opinion already on Trump and Biden, right? Like you're probably not coming into this, like, who are these people? I wonder what they do. There's so much evidence. We have four years here, almost four years here, to compare, and so, you know, we have that to see. So I think what really it is, is, you know, the people who are those, that independent group, and we'd have another candidate too, by the way. We have RFK Jr. And, you know, last poll I saw was he was at something like 9%, and you can say, okay, 9%, but 9% in a race, that can make a huge difference. - And so, obviously, right? - Oh yeah, Michigan. - Hillary Trump, 9% would have been huge, yeah. - Exactly. So, yeah, will he be able to keep this up? I mean, it's really up to Trump. I think what we've seen throughout this whole time, since he's gotten in this game, is that Trump does what Trump wants. And that's why a lot of people really love him, and that's why a lot of people really don't like him. So I think if he's seeing success in this realm, and being a little more composed, and how he's presenting himself, you know, hopefully he'll continue to be that way. - Yeah, yeah, I mean, there was, and the RFK Jr. component, I think, is an interesting point, and I wanted to bring that up in that. Do you think that this performance by Biden, because there are a lot of people undecideds out there, I mean, this debate essentially was for a lot of undecideds, and they were left leaving like, even more undecided at this point, because most of those undecideds probably aren't going to Trump. I mean, Trump's base is very clear, and Republican base is very solid in that. Some, of course, but like most probably not. And so the ones that are probably not going to Trump, where else can they go other than RFK Jr? You know, I mean, so does this benefit him? - Yeah, exactly, and it's like, does RFK benefit, you know, does it hurt Trump, or does it hurt Biden, or, you know, the Democratic side? And yeah, that is the big question, and I think it's really gonna come down to that. What was interesting this week was I, you know, we were reporting it's been such a tight race, and it was, I haven't looked at polls today. But, you know, as of this week, Trump was pulling ahead in almost every single swing state. So, and the crazy thing is, okay, it's June 28th. We still have four months to go. They're, you know, it's like, what is gonna happen in the next four months? You, we've seen what's happened in the last four months. I feel like so many things can happen, and we're really in for it. - I am, so I was, I mean, you know me. I come at this from an entertainment perspective, Biden's performance to me was an episode of Veep. I don't know what was happening. It was almost, it wasn't comical, but it would have been if it was scripted. Trump to me is a president from like a thriller where he's just kind of like says crazy things, and then all of a sudden, like, he does something good. I don't know. And RFK Jr. is like some weird, you know, president from some show that you don't watch, but that one dude tells you to watch, and then you watch it, and you're like, I'm not gonna be friends with that one dude anymore. Like, where I feel like the options that we have as Americans is frustrating, and I feel like there's, and after watching that debate, I feel like any American who maybe is just sort of watching and they're kind of undecided and they're sort of tangentially involved in politics, they left that debate thinking, where are we as a country? It felt very depressing in that these are the best options that we have, and I don't wanna be ages or anything, but like frankly, just what person, my opinion is, I'm a little like, come on, can we at least get like the younger side of a boomer? Like, can we go for someone in the 1950s? Like, my mom was born in the 1950s, and she makes a great pumpkin bread, so like, she could probably do the job. I don't know, but we need that right now. So like, do you think that those undecideds out there after watching that debate based on polling and everything that you've read and reported on, do you think that they have a direction going forward, or are we just more frustrated with the process, and what we have, our options? - Yeah, I think we're more frustrated and more confused, and after the debate I posted on my Instagram asking for some response, and that was overwhelmingly what people said was, I am sad, and I'm sad that these are our options, and that's what most people responded, and you know, I feel like we've heard that throughout the year already, and you know, you really saw that with that report that came out about Biden and his mental health, fitness, and we heard that obviously as Trump was going through all his legal stuff already this year, and now it's like, oh my goodness, this is what we have. - And listen, like, do I think that Biden and Trump are fine? I think they're fine. I don't think Biden is like, you know, senile or anything, and I don't think Trump is necessarily crazy, but I do think that both of them are hot messes, and there's something else needs to be done. That's just me, someone else, please take the call from inside the house, because I need to be saved, like I need a Drew Barrymore screen moment, where someone needs to, that boyfriend that's tied up outside needs to untie himself and save me, because I can't stand what's going on. I want to talk a little bit about the issues and sort of some of the key issues that we're talked about during the debate last night, and how do you think each candidate, and very briefly, how do you think each candidate, who won on those issues, even though I think you're right, the actual things discussed didn't really matter last night, it was all optics, and that's the big result from the campaign, but let's talk a little bit about the issues that are important in this election. First off, immigration. Trump came on Biden hard on immigration and his immigration stance, and where he is at with that. How do you think Trump came off? Because there's really Trump needed to have a win on immigration, and that is almost his core issue. So like, how do you think he came off, and did he succeed in sort of winning the immigration argument? - Honestly, I don't even remember him answering that question, because I was so confused by what was going on, I think that what I would say, because again, all I keep hearing is Trump lied and Biden made good points, and I, you know, I think that that was Biden's chance to really explain what he's done, especially the last few weeks, and I don't know if he did that, and I feel like he had the opportunity in this debate to say, look at what I have done, and this is what I want to do, and using those questions to really make it a positive thing and tell his achievements, and I did not hear that from him. Trump, you know, I think he did some good things on immigration when he was in office, and I think that he repeats those often when he speaks, and I imagine that he did that last night, and I do recall hearing some of that last night, but yeah, I don't even remember him answering that, because, you know. - Well, and I think to your point, like even on the next topic that I wanted to bring up abortion, which is a democratic topic that Democrats have been doing very well on in the primaries and these elections that have been happening, I mean, Democrats have been benefiting from the Supreme Court justices, and the decisions that came from the Supreme Court, and some of the things that Trump did while in office, Democrats have been benefiting from winning in elections because of the overall support for a woman's right to choose, so in certain states. So like, even on that topic, which Biden should have, it should have been a home run for Biden, and when Trump brought this up to him, Biden somehow made it also an immigration issue in his response about abortion, right? I mean, it was, I don't even know what that response was, and I'm not a smart person necessarily, but like, I know, but let's be real, like, you know, if we were in a panic room, I would not be the one to turn to. I'm in the corner crying, but like, I have no idea where Biden even now stands on abortion at this point. - I know, and he had such an opportunity there with the recent Supreme Court ruling this week. Roe v. Wade was overturned during his presidency. I mean, he had such an opportunity there to really talk about what we've heard him talk about before, which was being a champion for women's rights. He and Kamala Harris have both been that way. And I did not hear that at all. And you're right, he got into that tangent about some things that was everyone's calling strange, about young girls, and then the immigration thing, and it was just such a missed opportunity there. And yeah, it should have been a home run. - It should have been a massive home run for him. Also on the economy too, I have no idea where either of them stand on the economy. The only thing that I took from it was, Biden wanted to raise taxes on billionaires or whatever, which, you know, I'm getting it. - Yeah, well, trillionaires. I mean, there aren't a thousand trillionaires that I don't think. I don't know math, I'm not a math person. I have to use a calculator at restaurants. But I do know that there probably is not that. But I support, yeah, sure, cool. I wanna raise taxes on billionaires, 'cause I could use some of that money, I guess. But do you think that Biden's economic message, 'cause I feel like that's also a weak spot for Biden, just in general, that him being able to communicate his stance on where we're going with the economy. I don't think he did that very well last night in the debate, what do you think? - Oh, I agree. And, you know, every poll you see, all of them, the economy is the number one, or at least the top two issue most Americans care about. And we've been dealing with inflation. And since COVID, I mean, it's just everything is insanely expensive and that affects everyone. And I feel like Biden has made some strides very recently in getting the economy in a better spot. And he should have talked about that, and I didn't hear that. And then on the other side, Trump always just talks about how great the economy was under him. So again, that same, and it was better under him. First thing you know, and we can talk about all the reasons that's true. But yeah, I did not hear that. And he really needed to talk about that last night because that's what people are concerned about. - Yeah, I mean, yeah, exactly. Like, I don't know why. So to me, the economy is like one of those things that like, I don't know why it's either good or bad, but everyone wants to take credit for it when it's good and like blame someone else when it's bad. And half the time when they're doing it, I'm just sort of like, y'all don't even know why it's good or bad. Like, y'all just talking here. You're just throwing your hallmark card in it. You know what I mean? You're throwing out lines and just making us feel things. And that's all you're doing. I don't understand any of it. The other thing that was a big thing that, I'm surprised Biden didn't go harder on this is the whole January 6th thing. The whole everything that is a stain on Trump's presidency and Trump's legacy, I think. And Biden, to me, that's sort of like abortion and that like that could have been a massive sticking point for Biden in an issue and that would have shown how presidential Biden could be in terms of saying, "We don't do that." And even that, I was left feeling like, "Well, I mean, I don't even know if it's bad or good." Like, "I don't know, I was so confused by it all." So like, where did the two come at each other on January 6th? - I don't know. I honestly don't know, Angel. Like, and you're right. I mean, I totally agree with you. That was his opportunity there to come at him and he did not do that. And it was just another one of those issues where you're watching and it kind of just moved on to the next and it's like, "Wait, what happened there?" And that's where, you know, I want to know how you feel about the moderators but I was wanting them to push harder on some things and to follow up and to fact check and I didn't hear that. - Yeah, I didn't either. I mean, I like a Jake Tapper and a Dana Bush and I do think, I agree with what the Daily Show said about them, or I think it was the Daily Show, that they're kind of like, they almost seem like a crime show, you know what I mean? Like, you know, Dana Bash and Jake Tapper, like, on the hunt. Um, which I get. I would like to see that show. But I do, I think you're right, that I feel like the optics of this, there were so much going into this debate and I think we all know that this is probably going to be the only debate between these two men. They've said they're going to do more, I don't think they will. And I don't think that's going to happen. And so I think everyone went into this debate knowing this was the one, this was the only one. And in a way, it felt so staged and scripted and by the book. And even the candidates were staying. And for me, like, I kind of liked, I mean, like even with the Hillary Donald debates from 2016, like, I kind of liked that they were at each other. I kind of felt like I was at, like, you know, I felt like I was at the gay bar and everyone was fighting over like an episode of like the housewives or something. Like, it kind of, I was fun to watch. Like, I'm sure it shouldn't be fun to watch 'cause these are like important issues. But at the same time, I'm eating my popcorn, I'm watching and I want that. And last night, the popcorn went stale 'cause I was bored. Like, I just didn't, I was so, I was bored on both sides. I was, and I'm, and usually Trump is good for, even if he's saying wild things, he's good for an entertaining show. Like, and even that, I was a little like, ooh, like it's just-- - What do I know? - It was stale, it was stale. Overall, in terms of presidential debates, how do you think of the ones that you've watched and like historically, how will this one, what's the legacy of this debate? - I think it's just like question marks. Like, what was that? And this concern that came out of it, I've never seen a debate like that. And I've watched old debates and I've never, I've never felt that way watching a debate. I've again, never seen the reaction right after from the party of the person they're talking about with that type of reaction. It was, it was just really sad and very concerning. And, you know, I didn't like watching it. It was very uncomfortable. - Yeah, no, fully. It was, you're right, the response afterwards was probably the most stalking part of it, because I was expecting the boring, like this side tries to pump up this one and this one. And last night, it was very much like, oh, we're scared. We really scared, you know what I mean? Like, it was, it was, I mean, even from like, I mean, you see the Claire McCaskill response to the debate. I mean, former, my home state former senator from Missouri, Claire McCaskill. And to me, she is like a stalwart Democrat. She's a supporter of the party. She is out there doing her part for whoever the Democratic president is or whatever the situation may be. And she was definitely like, we need to have a conversation. Things need to be talked about now. This is big. This is not, no one can sugarcoat this. And I kind of love, from someone who works in media, and that's sort of, I want that to be my final question, because, you know, we work in media. This is what we do. Our bread and butter is when chaos happens. And so, like, in a weird way, and I'll admit to this, the chaos of this moment is very exciting. Because it is one of those things that I'm just like, ooh, more news to report, more things to talk about, more interesting things. And I have to take myself out as a regular American. I have to, like, take that hat off, even though it would be more of like a sideways hat in my part. It would be like pinning in the way that it would be a weird hat. But, like, I have to unpin that hat and put it aside and look at this from a media perspective. And I want to know, how do you think, going forward, the media in general, and that's a very big blanket term, is going to talk about this race, considering that now they were so equal in polling, and now we know one candidate has had a dramatic fall last night. How do you think the media will handle talking about Trump specifically, but also just in general talking about this race? Like, what's the direction forward? - Well, you know, you hope it's fair, and that's always difficult to find. I think-- - Not a Newsweek! - Not a Newsweek, no! (laughing) I do think, you know, watching Morning Joe today and hearing Mika's call this a disaster, it is, I mean, again, it is shocking to hear this from outlets like that. And so, I think we're gonna have a real come to Jesus what is going on here. And also, did you ever think we'd hear the words, "I didn't have sex with a porn star," being said in a presidential debate? - I mean, also, I don't know what the trial, but wasn't that like part of the trial that like, it was basically proven that they did? Like, wasn't, I mean, I don't know, to me, part of me is like, well, you've been convicted of a kind of situation, I don't know. Like, should we believe, no one believes that he didn't. So like, I mean, the people who do cool, but like, but also, I don't know judgment, all either, like, you know, have your fun. Like, I'm not here to judge you, sir. Like, I mean, I'm not, like, I would not vote, or not vote for you based on that. I would not, not vote for you based on like, what you're gonna do about my rights and the economy and all of those things. Like, I don't care who you have sex with, or like what you do, but you're right, we have reached a level of, they're talking about golf and they're talking about sex with porn stars. And it's just sort of like, I don't care what party you're at. It makes me want to go back to the Obama years where there are actual conversations and debates and no one was talking about porn stars or golf, or even like the Bush years. I'd go back to the Bush years even. Like, and you know what I mean? Like, I'll go back to any of those, also because I was younger in those years, but I would go back. - Good day. - I would go back to any of them because it does feel like we've lost a full sense of, I hate to say it to quorum, because I wear a jean jacket for a living. I don't like, there's no, I don't have any decorum, but I do feel like we've lost decorum, don't you? - Yes, well, first of all, you wear your jean jacket well. And yes, I do feel that way. And I feel like we're kind of at this place where we're like, what is going on? Like, how did we get here? And we just survived this COVID nightmare. And now we're here, and what is going on? And I've never felt, I've never felt that sentiment and heard it so much as I do now. And do you feel the same way? - I do, I definitely do. I feel, I mean, I exist in a very different plane. I think than you do in terms of like, I'm around artists all the time and whatever, like we're just being stupid and crazy. But like, there is a sense among, I think a lot of us in that we're just sort of like everything, pardon my French, but everything is fucked. And we have no control over anything. And I am a part of a generation that will probably never own a home. And I'll be in debt for the rest of my life. And probably won't have Social Security. Like I'm literally, my headspace is in that mind frame that I'm just sort of like, you know what, I'm gonna watch the housewives. - Yeah. - Like, I'm gonna tune out and just watch the housewives because I don't know what to do. And the people that I'm watching on television aren't, those are the people that we elect to be the smart ones because we all know I'm not the smart one. So like, and even that I can't trust. So I'm-- - Even I can't trust. - And it's a wild place to be in. It's a very wild place to be in, don't you think? - Yeah, it is. And you know, especially for us millennials, I do feel like that sense of you feel kind of deflated. Like, you can't get ahead and we did what we thought we were supposed to do. And the rules have changed. And it seems like we can't get where we wanna go. And yeah, and so I feel like, and then you, you know, basically now with social media, especially you just get these snippets of probably a lot of younger people I would imagine watched it with clips on social media last night, right? And you get these clips and you're like, what is going on in our, I feel like a reality and our perception of everything is so distorted now. And it's so, it's like tunnel vision. And yeah, I think it's 'cause a lot of us just, you know, you wanna like disassociate and just be like in your peace bubble and happy and who doesn't wanna be like that? But it's like, wow, you have some stuff going down. And you know-- - It's scary. It's a scary, I mean, I distinctly remember in 2012 when Obama was running, I was, I'm fine now, but I was going through chemo. And I remember watching the debates and I was going into so much debt, medical debt, because of insurance payments that I had to make, because I didn't, Obamacare didn't exist at that point. And so I was going in, I was paying thousands of dollars a month for insurance, just to stay on insurance. And then I also was going in debt with medical debt. And I was thinking like, for me, again, I'm not political, but for me, I was like, Obamacare would help me very much if I could have a lower insurance rate and I would be guaranteed coverage, no matter of a preexisting condition. Like that would be a huge thing for me. And I remember watching that and being so invested in that campaign because I had a stake in it. There was something very real happening in my life that was also going to be impacted by this election. And I feel like those stakes have been raised for a lot of Americans in terms of debt now, in terms of the economy, in terms of healthcare, in terms of access to women's healthcare in many states in the country. Immigration also is a big thing, high stakes, for even people in my family. And I feel like all the stakes are being raised. And yet at that time, I knew Mitt Romney and Obama would figure something out. Something would happen. Something would be fixed because there were rational people making rational decisions in the room, doing smart things. I didn't worry about the state of where we were going. After that debate last night, I'm worried about both men in the room. I'm worried about everyone in that room. I mean, I'm worried about their motives. I'm worried about if they're going to remember where they are. I'm worried about them being more concerned with golf. I'm worried about them having sex with porn stars. I'm worried about them forgetting things. Like I'm worried about so many different things. And it's like, this is a wild, crazy moment. - And it's a presidential debate. And I think what you're talking about, and I so feel this is you're talking about that hope that we felt at that time in 2012. And last night, I think we were all wanting to see this excitement and this optimism looking forward to the future. And we have an opportunity to do whatever it is in November. And you left with the complete opposite feeling. And that's why it was so sad. - So sad. But one of the things that isn't sad is that people can follow your coverage and my coverage and all the things over the next four months at newsweek.com. And they can like, you know, one of the things I think I love about newsweek, and I'm not just saying this because I work there, is that we do allow different voices into the mix in terms of who's talking about what. And we're able to find civilized conversation between different sides. And from my crazy side to your very serious journalist side to having opinion writers who are doing, who to have interesting takes. And I think that to me is what you need in a presidential election. You need different voices so that people readers can have these different perspectives, you know? - Yeah, you need all the voices. And I do love that about newsweek. I really do think that we have that on most all topics. - Yeah, I totally agree. Well, Alex, thank you so much for chatting with me today. Where can people find you and everything that you do on the social medias and at newsweek.com? - I'm on AlexBaccusTV on Twitter. AlexBaccus on Instagram. And yes, newsweek.com with H. Allen. And it was such a pleasure. H. Allen, I am one of your biggest fans and I just hope for you for having me. - Oh, I adore you, I adore you. Well, we'll do this again, I feel like, 'cause I feel like this is gonna be a fun one for people to listen and watch. - We should. - So like, yeah. - Let's do it on a fun topic. - I know, we should. Maybe we'll do a housewise moment. - Yeah. - Okay. - We definitely like it. Thank you, Alex. - Thank you, have a good one. - Thanks so much for listening to Newsweek's "Parting Shot" podcast. I'll be back next week with more celebrity interviews. Don't worry, I'll also be offering you lots of hot takes. There's all kinds of hot takes coming your way. So make sure you stay subscribed. And in the meantime too, you can also follow me on all the social medias at H. Allen Scott on everything. You could also leave a little rating and review on this podcast wherever you're listening to it because it really does help me out. And of course, go to newsweek.com to follow basically everything in this now insane presidential election because there's a lot more to come. And I'm sure we'll have more commentary on it coming your way very, very soon. And you can also subscribe to my newsletter for the culture to get all the entertainment news you need delivered to your inbox every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. So this weekend, watch something fun. I'm gonna suggest you watch the new "A Quiet Place" day one with Lupita Nyong'o. You can listen to my chat with her. It's, you know, the episode right next to this. And it is such a good movie. Oh my God, you have to watch this movie. So that's my recommendation. But if you watch something else, please do let me know because I need all the recommendations I can get. In the meantime, watch something fun and have a great day. (upbeat music) (upbeat music)
