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PoliticsNation with Al Sharpton - Season Episode 40
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00:02Good evening and welcome to Politics Nation. We're following all breaking news tonight in Newark, New Jersey. The situation appears
00:11calm tonight outside the Delaney Hall ice facility after several days of protests and clashes between demonstrators and police.
00:21Today we learned limited family visitations have resumed with full hours expected to be restored beginning tomorrow. As authorities and
00:32activists try to calm tensions in Newark throughout New Jersey, the House Democratic Hakeem Jeffries took to social media this
00:43morning calling for the facility's closure following an oversight visit with New Jersey House Democrats.
00:51Tonight we're covering all angles of this evolving story. We'll be joined by New Jersey Governor Mikey Sherrill, Newark Mayor
01:01Raz Baraka, and representing National Action Network on the ground, Pastor Reverend Stephanie Bartley. Joining me now is the Governor
01:10of New Jersey, Mikey Sherrill.
01:13Governor, you've called on aggressive and dangerous protesters outside the Delaney Hall facility to bring the temperature down, citing last
01:24night's violence between them and New York, New Jersey state police.
01:29Today you announced the Department of Homeland Security has agreed to restore family visitations and a congressional delegation, including New
01:39Jersey Congresswoman LaMonica McIver and Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
01:44What's the situation right now?
01:48Thanks, Rev. Yeah, as you know, I've spent a lifetime defending and protecting this country.
01:54I took my first oath to the Constitution when I was 18 years old and entered the Navy.
02:00I recently took an oath to the New Jersey Constitution as I became governor.
02:04Your next two guests, Mayor Raz Baraka and Steffi Bartley, have spent a lifetime protecting civil rights and advocating for
02:14justice.
02:15All of us are working incredibly hard to make sure that we keep the public safe, that people can exercise
02:24their constitutional rights and that we are able to get back to focusing on advocating for rights and dignity for
02:32people detained within Delaney Hall.
02:35Now, you said you want to make sure the people's constitutional rights are respected during these protesters.
02:42You've also pointed out many of the people who have been arrested for violence have been from out of the
02:48state of New Jersey, including from Pennsylvania or New York.
02:52I want to mention National Action Network has peaceful protesters on the ground there in Newark because we believe in
02:59civil rights and human rights and concerned about those that are being held inside.
03:05Note that they are there peacefully, as are a lot of people, ministers, clergy, faith leaders.
03:11What's the difference as you see it between them and these more aggressive elements on the ground there?
03:19Rev, you really pointed out something really important here, I think.
03:24You know, we've had peaceful protesters on the ground outside Delaney Hall for at least a year now advocating for
03:31better justice.
03:32We've had people who aren't receiving medicine within the facility.
03:36We have young 18-year-old women there who just want to graduate from high school.
03:41It's heartbreaking.
03:41We have heard that because of all of this advocacy, we've heard that two pregnant women were just released.
03:49That's what the reporting has been.
03:50That's been something that many of us were really advocating to see that vulnerable people are, we can ensure they're
03:58treated with dignity.
03:59And many of the reporting, much of the reporting has been it's not been the case.
04:02Recently, we had reports of a hunger strike going on within the facility.
04:08And so our congressional delegation has done a marvelous job increasing oversight.
04:13But more and more people came to protest and ICE started going into the crowds, using batons against people, beating
04:20people who were on the ground.
04:21The situation became more and more dangerous.
04:23And then ICE was surging personnel in.
04:26And I don't really have to tell your viewers why that would be a red line.
04:30We do not want to give ICE any excuse to get on the streets of New Jersey.
04:34We've seen how badly they do things in other states, up to and including killing American citizens.
04:41So that's when we really had state police reach out and said they were going to take over the security
04:47situation there at Delaney Hall.
04:50ICE would go behind the fence so that we could keep it more safe.
04:54And what we were seeing at that time was that during the day we had a lot of peaceful protesters,
05:00protesters that we know, like, as you mentioned, Reverend Bartley, who, you know, people on my team and I've known
05:08for years.
05:09He has done a lot of peaceful advocacy and he was working hard along with people like Reverend Roundtree to
05:16really keep the crowds calm.
05:18These are people that we knew and wanted to be there to protest for the people within Delaney Hall.
05:23We were starting to see that after dark, a different kind of person seemed to be coming and seemingly attracted
05:29by this violence.
05:30They would come in mass. They would have tear gas mass. They would come in with firecrackers and start throwing
05:36rocks.
05:37So we were working incredibly hard to keep the area safe for the peaceful protesters.
05:41But as we started to see this get more and more violent, it culminated last night when a group of
05:47these protesters banded together and rushed the police force.
05:51And now these were police officers had been there all day to protect people because there were two dueling protests.
05:57There was a pro-ice protest and there was an anti-Delaney Hall protest.
06:03Those two groups were there at the same time. The police did a wonderful job giving them areas to protest
06:08and doing so safely.
06:10Unfortunately, as darkness fell, then these more violent groups rushed the police line.
06:15They were not dressed in protective gear.
06:18They started throwing rocks at them, tear gas at them.
06:22They had long poles that they had pulled out of signs and really created an incredibly dangerous situation.
06:29So those police called in support and we had to clear the area for security reasons.
06:35Now, you're against the ice surge in New Jersey, calling for Delaney Hall's closure.
06:42And you've taken several steps to curtail ISIS tactics in your state since taking office in January.
06:49Yet it's reported that your decision to deploy state police to Delaney Hall has resulted in a rare moment of
06:57common ground with Homeland Security Secretary Mark Wayne Mullen,
07:02who supports at least that specific effort to maintain public safety.
07:07Has DHS been helpful or at least cooperative in helping you maintain order in your state this weekend, Governor?
07:18DHS has been a real problem.
07:20I mean, I think we've seen Mark Wayne Mullen tweeting things like he's going to close the international terminal,
07:24which the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and tourism industries have really come out strongly against.
07:30Even the secretary of transportation in Trump's administration said that's a really bad idea.
07:36So he seems to keep trying to, you know, trying to create more of a problem here.
07:42The police have gone to ICE and said, look, we are taking over this situation.
07:47If you could stay behind the fence, that is what we're demanding as we try to secure the area,
07:53because we know the ICE policing has been so dangerous.
07:56We've seen them beating up people here in New Jersey, but that's, you know,
08:01it doesn't take much imagination to see where the surge would go when we see what's happened in other states
08:06across the nation.
08:09Governor, in the midst of the administration's international travel threats,
08:13millions of people are coming to New Jersey for the FIFA World Cup starting in less than two weeks.
08:22Are you confident that these conflicts in your state can be resolved ahead of the games and their public safety
08:29demands?
08:32Look, here's what we need to see tonight.
08:35We need to make sure that the peaceful protesters are able to do so peacefully,
08:41that then they respond to Mayor Baraka's curfew so that we can keep the peace
08:48and ensure that we are keeping the focus on those people inside Delaney Hall,
08:54who we really want to focus on making sure they have civil rights and justice and due process.
09:02At the same time, if we can keep the focus on that, I think we can continue to advocate for
09:07shutting down Delaney Hall.
09:09This is, you know, this is why I have been opposed to these private prison facilities.
09:14We have grave concerns about this.
09:16We are not getting answers as quickly as we would like,
09:19and we are not seeing movements as quickly on dealing with some of the concerns we have within the facility.
09:26We're working to get more oversight and accountability,
09:28and I, again, have been incredibly impressed with our congressional delegation.
09:33You mentioned Congresswoman LaMonica McIver, Rob Menendez.
09:37We have Senator Andy Kim.
09:39We know, you know, they have all been working around the clock.
09:44Our newest member, Anna Lilia Mejia, has joined as well to really try to make sure
09:49that we are seeing better, better oversight and accountability from that facility.
09:57All right.
09:57Thank you for taking the time, New Jersey Governor Mikey Sherrill.
10:02Staying with this story, joining me now is the mayor of Newark, New Jersey,
10:06Mayor Roz Baraka and Reverend Steffi Bartley,
10:10senior pastor of New Hope Baptist Church of Elizabeth, New Jersey,
10:14and a National Action Network national board member.
10:17We appreciate your time tonight, Mayor Baraka.
10:21Earlier today, you ordered a curfew for a half-mile area around Delaney Hall
10:27to last until early morning tomorrow.
10:30What's the mood in your city right now?
10:34Well, I think it's calm right there in that area,
10:37and it's important to note that Delaney Hall is on the outskirts of the city of Newark,
10:42close to the airport and the seaport, you know,
10:45so it's a very isolated area of our city.
10:49Not a lot of foot traffic normally or a lot of residents down there.
10:52But once we saw the fire burning in the middle of the street,
10:57people being arrested with weapons, the kind of violence that was taking place,
11:02and that my officers were down there,
11:04I thought it was necessary for us to do this curfew, a limited curfew,
11:08until we could get this thing under control.
11:10Reverend Barley, you just heard from Governor Sherrill,
11:14who you joined at a press conference yesterday,
11:18representing the National Action Network there in New Jersey,
11:20and our shared call for restraint on all sides.
11:25We want justice, but we don't want violence.
11:28But at the same time, you've been working with the governor to ease tensions.
11:32You've been in the streets leading Nan's presence at these protests,
11:36working with Reverend Roundtree and faith leaders,
11:38which have and will remain peaceful,
11:41but full-throated in our call for oversight and reform.
11:46What's the importance, in your view, of doing both?
11:50Well, Reverend Sharpton, you know,
11:51as being a part of the National Action Network for 35 years,
11:55the work that we've done in organizing peaceful protests,
11:58that this is the model that I think everyone should be a part of,
12:02and so that's why we're there.
12:03The meeting of the minds that came together,
12:06and just want to thank the governor, the attorney general,
12:08and of course, the mayor of the city of Newark,
12:10how they were able to come together with the meeting of the minds
12:13and saying, here is a plan that you should use,
12:17and that plan is peaceful.
12:19So, right, the protests.
12:21But, you know, Reverend Sharpton, when I was a kid coming up,
12:23there were those that were coming in from other towns, other cities,
12:26and we would say to them, don't start nothing, and it won't be nothing.
12:30Right.
12:31And so the governor and them are...
12:32And they're getting away at a cause because the cause,
12:35the detention is them rather than those suffering in the detention center.
12:40Mayor Baraka, you've been impacted by this conflict personally,
12:44having been arrested in February,
12:47along with several House Democrats in your state,
12:51trying to perform oversight at the Laney Hall facility.
12:55No violence.
12:56And you're also the head of a city facing a public safety concern that could escalate.
13:02That affects not just your city, but your state, as we discussed with the governor just now.
13:08Having seen this issue from all those points,
13:12what do you want to see happen,
13:13and do you see any workable resolutions here?
13:19Well, really, I think, ultimately, Delaney Hall needs to be shut down.
13:23That would end everything.
13:25But folks have been out there for over a year protesting, as the governor laid out.
13:29And we've been down, I've been down there several times without any incident whatsoever.
13:33It needs to be made clear that when ICE interjected itself, they created violence.
13:38They created, they escalated.
13:39Because they escalated the day when I was arrested, when they attacked the Congress people.
13:43They came to create this kind of violence.
13:46And what that does is attracts other people to the scene who want to see that violence
13:53and want to engage in that kind of violence.
13:54There's no need for the tactical gear, the batons, the tear gas.
13:58And we shouldn't replicate that on a state and local level as well.
14:01We should not replicate those tactics as well.
14:04We have protests in Newark all the time that we peacefully engage in,
14:09and they end without this kind of violence taking place,
14:13which is important for us to note that the violence was initiated and began
14:18because of ICE, who then attracted these people who came in and escalated it even more.
14:24Now, Reverend Barley, these protests began because of allegations of inhumane conditions
14:31facing detainees in Delaney Hall,
14:34allegations that the Department of Homeland Security is denying.
14:37We both understand the power of narrative.
14:40How do you keep the media's attention on that part of the story and not the chaos outside?
14:47And how do we keep the attention when things cool down?
14:51Because the moral issue and the humane issue is what needs to be focused on.
14:56And when the news cycle moves on,
14:59how do we look out for those being detained that are possibly being treated inhumane?
15:04If I continue, Reverend Sharpton, to do the work that's going on right now out there,
15:08there is a white tent out there where they are working with families
15:12to make sure that their families are getting the visitation,
15:15making sure that once individuals are released,
15:18that they're getting the proper treatment that they need,
15:21because they're going to be there after the news media goes away.
15:25And the National Action Network is saying,
15:26we're here, but we also need you to make sure that peaceful protesting is going on.
15:33Because if we don't have that, we'll never get to where we want to get to,
15:37as the mayor just mentioned, shutting down Delaney Hall.
15:40Thanks to you, Mayor Roz Baraka,
15:43and to Senior Pastor Steffi Barton.
15:46Coming up, we'll ask the ranking member of Homeland Security Committee
15:50about his take on the protests in New Jersey and how they're being handled.
15:55And later on the show,
15:56the New York Knicks are headed to the NBA Finals for the first time in nearly 30 years.
16:02Even President Trump is trying to get a ticket.
16:05We'll talk to the ultimate Knicks fan, Spike Lee, about the series and more.
16:12That's all ahead on Politics Nation.
16:23Welcome back to Politics Nation on MSNOW.
16:27We're covering the unfolding situation at the ICE facility in Newark, New Jersey,
16:33where demonstrators have been holding protests.
16:36Minority House Leader Hakeem Jeffries calling for the Delaney Hall ICE facility
16:42in Newark to be shut down.
16:44Joining me now is Mississippi Congressman Benny Thompson.
16:48He's the ranking member of the Homeland Security Committee.
16:53Congressman, as ranking member of the Homeland Security Committee,
16:57what is your take on the protests and how they're being handled,
17:00and especially the rumblings about Homeland Security Secretary Mark Wayne Mullen,
17:09diverting customs people from Newark Airport to deal with it?
17:15Well, this is just consistent with the Trump administration's policy of being mean.
17:22It's not being legal.
17:23It's just being mean.
17:24And so what they've done historically with the immigrant population under this administration
17:31is warehouse them in many facilities that don't pass muster.
17:38What happened at Delaney Hall, as you know, was the fact that under current law,
17:44any member of Congress can present themselves at an ICE facility and they have to let them in.
17:51Well, the Trump administration just stopped that policy and we had to go to court to get that policy back
18:00in place.
18:00And so what we have now with the new secretary, Mark Wayne Mullen, following the Trump playbook,
18:08dealing with immigration and other things, he's now saying, well, dealing with the Ebola epidemic,
18:18we're going to also mess with airports in blue cities or sanctuary cities.
18:26And all of a sudden, as you know, people said, now, wait, this is commerce.
18:33And so you have the Chamber of Commerce and other people pushing back on all these kind of crazy things.
18:40They don't make sense.
18:42Americans follow written policies.
18:45Americans want to understand what the rule of law is.
18:49You just can't do it willy nilly.
18:51And so that's why people are pushing back.
18:55But Leader Jeffries is absolutely correct.
18:58Many of these facilities don't pass muster.
19:01We've had shutdowns.
19:04We've had people protesting inside the facility.
19:08We've had hunger strikes for over a week at Delaney Hall.
19:13Something's wrong.
19:15Why can't this administration understand that there's why can't we follow the law?
19:20And we're just struggling with that.
19:23But the Trump administration is a lawless administration.
19:27The rule of law does not apply.
19:29Now, let me switch gears to this other issue, because it's been about four weeks since we last had you
19:36on in the immediate aftermath of the Supreme Court's Louisiana redistricting decision.
19:41Since then, Republicans in your state have gone back and forth over whether they'll try to eliminate your seat.
19:50Can you tell us what is the latest on that issue?
19:54Well, you know, the governor chickened out at the last minute because he finally put the math to the to
20:01the numbers.
20:02As you know, African-Americans make up 38 percent of the population of this state.
20:09Somewhere you're going to have to have at least one black district.
20:13If you mitigate the district I represent, you might end up with two purple districts and which ultimately might end
20:23up with two Democrats rather than one Democrat.
20:26So they pumped the brakes and now he's saying, well, we'll look at it in January of next year.
20:34So, look, we have five thousand people who showed up last Wednesday when they were supposed to have the special
20:42session.
20:42The one thing I can say with this Calais decision, it put every black and progressive organization in the same
20:53room.
20:54Everybody understands who the enemy is.
20:58And basically, as you know, we saw it in Montgomery the week before.
21:04Everybody is saying we have a common enemy.
21:08So, therefore, we have to have a common strategy.
21:12And so that common strategy, you saw it work in South Carolina.
21:16You see what's happening in Georgia.
21:19You saw the court decision in Alabama.
21:23So, look, all hands are on deck and everybody's on the same page.
21:29So we're not going to give up.
21:32And, you know, if this is Jim Crow 2.0, so be it.
21:36But we're going to fight with every fiber in our body.
21:40And as I say, National Action Network, NAACP, ACLU, Southern Poverty Law Center, Urban League, everybody is on the same
21:52page.
21:52And I think they have created a monster by trying to just do away with black representation in this country.
22:00Yeah, if it's Jim Crow 2.0, it's civil rights 2.0 to meet it head on.
22:07But elsewhere in the country, we've seen many setbacks since the Supreme Court decision with states like Alabama, Tennessee and
22:16Florida moving ahead with plans to eliminate black majority districts.
22:20But you've also seen a few positive developments, as you mentioned, like in South Carolina, where Congressman Jim Clyburn's seat
22:28is safe for now.
22:30Where are we headed in terms of black congressional representation, in your opinion?
22:35Well, the potential is very real that that number will shrink because many of the states who are trying to
22:43change it are basically red states.
22:46They take the position that, for whatever reason, black representation is bad.
22:52You saw with the lightning speed after the Calais decision, all these states all of a sudden started trying to
23:01redistrict.
23:01And so what we have to do, we have to be vigilant, Rev.
23:06Clearly, there is a chance that the numbers for the Congressional Black Caucus will go down.
23:14We'll lose a seat, potentially, in Florida.
23:16We don't know what will happen in Georgia.
23:19You saw what happened in North Carolina.
23:21So there are places on the map that are a target.
23:27At this point, the Republican Party, next year, will be an all-white party.
23:35The four black members who are in the Republican Party, not coming back next year for various reasons.
23:42So they're going to have to come up with some kind of plan to pretend, if nothing else, that they
23:49represent everybody.
23:50But when you look at the demographics, they don't.
23:53But our Democratic Party got to get its act together, too.
23:57Our progressives have to get their act together.
24:00You know, every time black folk have a problem, some of our allies get quiet.
24:07And so we want all of our traditional allies, when you have an issue, whether it's a woman's right to
24:15choose or other kind of thing, you're always looking for black folk.
24:18So at this point, when you see that we are in this fight, we expect all our Planned Parenthood and
24:25everybody else to be on the side of the Congressional Black Caucus.
24:30All right. All right. Loud and clear.
24:33Congressman Benny Thompson, thank you for being with us.
24:36Now to this week's primaries.
24:39Voters in America's most populous state will head to the polls on Tuesday.
24:44MSNOW will have complete coverage of the California primaries, as well as contests in five other pivotal states, with my
24:53colleagues Rachel Maddow and Ali Velshi, leading the coverage starting at 10 p.m. Eastern.
25:00My next guest represented the golden state in Congress for nearly three decades and now serves as the city of
25:10Oakland, California, as mayor.
25:12Mayor Barbara Lee, thank you for being with us.
25:16Let's start with the governor's race.
25:18Voters have a lot of choices in a crowded primary field.
25:22I know you've endorsed California State Superintendent Tony Thurman, but so far, no Democrat has really emerged as a clear
25:31front runner.
25:32What issues do you think Californians will have top of mind as they select their next governor?
25:39Thank you so much, Reverend Al, for giving me a chance to be with you.
25:42And it was so good to hear my brother, a great leader, Benny Thompson.
25:46You know, I have many family members who live in Hazlehurst, Mississippi, and he's right about we have to pull
25:51together so that we can all come up with a plan and an agenda to not allow the magazine and
25:59Donald Trump to turn the clock back.
26:01You know, here in California, we have many issues on the ballot affordability.
26:05The cost of living is extremely high here.
26:08The cost of gasoline is extremely high here.
26:12Racial equity and justice is an issue that we have to confront head on and not sweep it under the
26:18rug.
26:18And I have to tell you, yes, I endorsed Superintendent Tony Thurman because he's experienced.
26:25He understands how to put progressive coalitions together and people of color.
26:30But also one problem here in California is money.
26:33Reverend Al, we have got to get money out of politics because I won't tell you how money drives who
26:39can get on the debate stages in California.
26:41I believe the only black candidate who was allowed on the debate stage for two times was Tony Thurman.
26:49He was only allowed two times there.
26:51Then there was a housing forum of all of the candidates here in Oakland.
26:55And housing is a critical issue in California.
26:58He was excluded from that forum because he didn't have the money in the polls.
27:03And so we have some systemic issues here in California.
27:06And I told all of the candidates I wish that they would have fought to allow the only black candidate
27:11to at least have a voice in all of these debates because money is such a driver.
27:16We've got to get money out of the politics out of politics.
27:19And I think the California primary really exemplifies how money drives polls, drives presence, drives people being excluded from being
27:29able to present their points of views from different points of views, especially around justice and racial and economic equity.
27:36Now, as we look down ballot rate, down ballot at the at the race for mayor of Los Angeles, as
27:44well as contests in many newly drawn congressional districts, we see some real recurring themes of moderate versus progressive or
27:55veteran politicians versus an emerging generation of new leaders.
28:00How do the do you expect these differences to play out in California this week?
28:07Well, these differences are real.
28:10We have a responsibility to pass the baton to this new generation of leaders and also to mentor them.
28:17And I'm really proud of Congresswoman Latifah Simon, for example.
28:20She's on the ballot on Tuesday in a primary.
28:23And she followed myself as the 12th congressional representative.
28:28She's doing a phenomenal job.
28:30I also know that we have to be able to use experience as well as the new ideas of new
28:37generation.
28:37I'm a progressive, Reverend Al, all the way.
28:41And I believe it's important for progressives and especially African-American progressives and women and people of color to be
28:48able to govern,
28:49to be able to show that, yes, we have progressive values and we're going to continue to fight for our
28:54progressive values.
28:55And, yes, we know how to govern.
28:57Yes, we know how to establish priorities of public safety and housing our unsheltered population here in Oakland,
29:04cleaning up trash and fighting for economic development and jobs for our young people.
29:09So those are progressive values, feeding hungry people.
29:12And I think what's important for myself and people in California is that progressives – California is a progressive state,
29:20but progressives have to be able to demonstrate that we can govern.
29:24And that requires, as Benny Thompson, still my chairman of Homeland Security, said,
29:30we have to be able to get our allies to understand that they've got to support progressives and people of
29:36color
29:36as they move forward to govern in cities and in local jurisdictions.
29:41Now, speaking of Oakland, your shortened term ends next year.
29:46And I know you've said you won't be making any official pronouncements until after the primaries,
29:52but you've also recently said you still have more work to do for the city of Oakland.
29:58What more would you still like to accomplish as mayor of Oakland?
30:05Reverend Al, I said early on that I wanted Oakland to be the cleanest, greenest and safest city.
30:10In the country, our crime rates are coming down, historic reductions in gun violence and homicides,
30:17but we still have a lot of crime.
30:18And people who are affected by crime, who are victims of crime, really don't believe it.
30:23And we have a duty and responsibility to make sure everyone, wherever they live in Oakland,
30:28are safe, feel safe and are safe.
30:31And so we have our Department of Violence Prevention, our Oakland Police Department, ceasefire,
30:36our trusted messengers who all have their own lanes.
30:38We work together.
30:39And I want to continue to bring the crime rate down by making sure that we prevent crimes from happening.
30:47Secondly, we have an issue, Reverend Al, of people dumping on our streets.
30:51It's a moral outrage.
30:53We have cleaned up the city.
30:55We still have a heck of a lot more to do.
30:57And I want to pass a measure on Tuesday, Measure E, which is very controversial because it's a parcel tax,
31:04but it's a tax that would help continue our public safety and our cleanup of the city
31:09and create the foundation for us to move forward on our economic development
31:14and for us to be able to have our response time on 9-11 and our firefighters
31:18to be able to make sure equipment is the type of equipment they need.
31:23And so we have a lot on the ballot this Tuesday, but I have a lot of work that I
31:27want to continue to do.
31:28And I'm not going to formally announce because the primaries, I didn't want people to get confused.
31:32I'm not on the primary, but look at June 6th, my mother's birthday.
31:36I'm going to talk about future in terms of my endorsement.
31:39June 6th, we'll be watching.
31:41Mayor Barbara Lee, thank you for being with us.
31:43And don't forget, Tuesday, the battle for control of Congress continues
31:48as voters head to the polls in six pivotal states, including California.
31:54Join Rachel Maddow and team for analysis throughout the night with Ali Velshi breaking down real-time results.
32:02Special coverage begins Tuesday at 10 p.m. Eastern on MS Now.
32:07Coming up, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is back from Italy after meeting Pope Leo.
32:14He'll be here to discuss what he thinks and tell us why he thinks this pope is an ally on
32:23social justice.
32:35Welcome back to Politics Nation on MS Now.
32:39Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is back in the Windy City this weekend after a trip to the Vatican
32:47for a summit with fellow Chicago native Pope Leo XIV.
32:52And he joins me now, Democratic Mayor of Chicago, Brandon Johnson.
32:57Thank you for joining me tonight, Mr. Mayor.
32:59You're welcome.
33:00You're welcome.
33:00Thanks for having me remember now.
33:02During your visit with the pope last week, you presented him with the care of packages and gifts from his
33:09hometown.
33:09And you talked about some serious issues like AI and the war in Iran
33:15and the pope's historic apology for the church's role in slave trade.
33:20Mayor, what were your takeaways from this visit?
33:25Yeah, well, first of all, it was a tremendous honor.
33:27And I was deeply humbled by the opportunity.
33:31And I'm grateful for the delegation of faith leaders, community leaders, labor leaders, elected leaders,
33:38community leaders all coming together to greet the pope, our hometown servant.
33:44And the experience was, I believe, transformational.
33:49The conversation was pretty straightforward.
33:51He wanted to know exactly not only how Chicago was doing, but how we were standing up to Trump's terror.
33:58And this big takeaway for me is that the opportunity for the faith community, elected leaders, again, community leaders,
34:08of course, labor leaders, business leaders to all come together to protect our common humanity.
34:13That's the uniting call that the pope gave us as a charge.
34:18And it's one that we clearly are aligned with.
34:22And I understand it was a very emotional and energetic meeting of Reverend Marshall Hatch, who works with us.
34:30And my little brother, Yousef Jackson, that's running Rainbow Push, was part of your delegation.
34:36But I was disappointed, but not surprised, sadly, to see the president lash out on social media, criticizing the pope
34:45for meeting and calling you, quote, useless.
34:49Mayor, do you have a response?
34:51Well, I mean, look, this president has demonstrated over and over again that he is not only ineffective,
34:58but he has detached from the desires and needs of working people as cost of living continues to rise, not
35:05just in this country, but around the globe.
35:07This president continues to enrich the ultra wealthy, the large corporations.
35:12You know, look, here's what I'm clear about.
35:16This president has brought us recession, inflation and wars.
35:21What we're doing in Chicago is we're bringing safety, affordability to light.
35:26We're investing in working people.
35:28The conversation that I had with the pope, I spoke with him directly around how we stood up to ICE.
35:34I've passed multiple executive orders to protect all of Chicago.
35:38And now those executive orders that I've passed, whether it's ICE out of our public spaces, protecting the First Amendment,
35:45creating a pathway to accountability for federal agents who act outside of the scope of the Constitution.
35:50Now, 10 percent of the country, they're currently living under executive orders that I've established right here in Chicago.
35:58And with the bully pulpit of the pope and my pen as an executive,
36:02we believe that we can protect democracy and secure humanity across the globe.
36:07Mayor, you presented Pope Leo with a formal invitation to come back to his hometown of Chicago next year and
36:15celebrate mass.
36:16There's been speculation that the pope might not return to the United States until after the Trump presidency.
36:23But are you hopeful the president will accept, I mean, the pope, hopeful that the pope will accept your invite?
36:30I am, because that's exactly what we need right now.
36:34We need hope as we see more and more young people flock back to our faith.
36:39We took an interfaith delegation there.
36:41You mentioned, of course, Yusef Jackson, Reverend Hatch, there was Reginald Sharp, of course,
36:46who is the third pastor of the Historic Fellowship Baptist Church here in Chicago that Reverend Clay Evans founded.
36:52You know, we also had a rabbi with us.
36:54We had a priest with us.
36:56This coalition really speaks to the soul of Chicago.
37:00But we know that Chicago is really the epicenter, the global capital of the world for justice.
37:05You know, when Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. came to Chicago and and faced tremendous odds,
37:12he walked away with one conclusion that if we can do it right in Chicago, we can do it anywhere
37:16in the world.
37:17So we're hopeful that the pope could come to Chicago in spite of what's happening at the federal level
37:23to really ignite the type of hope to that we really desperately need for for humanity in this season.
37:30A lot of time. But before we go, I want to note that this past Memorial Day weekend was reportedly
37:37Chicago's first without any homicide.
37:41What are the directives from your office that are resulting in the city's violence being trending down?
37:49Yeah, look, thank you, Reverend Al.
37:50This is the top priority of my administration and building the safest, most affordable big city in America.
37:55That's my vision for Chicago.
37:56The way we do that is by investing in people.
37:59We have increased youth employment by over 55 percent.
38:03Over 31,119 young people had summer jobs last summer.
38:07We're going to do that again.
38:08We're investing in CVI, our community violence intervention workers.
38:11These are individuals who have been justice involved, but they have reformed their lives.
38:16And now they're giving back into the very communities that they wreak havoc in.
38:20We're investing in affordability and expanding mental and behavioral health care.
38:24Reverend Al, we've expanded our crisis assistance response engagement program so that when a mental health crisis occurs, a paid
38:31behavior mental health crisis professional shows up instead of a police officer.
38:35And that allows our police officers to show up to more violent scenes.
38:38We've invested in our detectives bureau.
38:40So we have a 75 over 75 percent clearance rate.
38:44So we're solving crime as well, which works as a deterrent.
38:47And so the bottom line is this.
38:48We are investing in people, particularly on the south and west sides of Chicago, that have been historically disinvested in.
38:54And as a result, we're seeing violence reduce.
38:58We had the fewest amount of homicides last year in 60 years.
39:02There's a lot more work to do, as as Mayor Barbara Lee said, as Mayor Roz Barak has indicated.
39:08But we are certainly moving in the right direction.
39:10All right.
39:11Thank you to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.
39:14My next guest probably has front row tickets to the hottest event in town.
39:20My brother, Spike Lee, in a moment.
39:29Welcome back to Politics Nation.
39:31In case you haven't heard, the New York Knicks are officially in the NBA finals for the first time in
39:39nearly three decades, which kicks off this week.
39:43Such excitement that even President Trump is trying to get in on the action.
39:48Cheering the Knicks from the front row is my next guest who needs no introduction.
39:55Brother Spike Lee, I have just one question for you.
39:58Do you have your tickets ready for both here and New York and in San Antonio?
40:04Antonio?
40:05How are you doing?
40:06I'm doing.
40:07I'd just like to say everybody else, me and a rib, Brooke is in the house.
40:13No doubt about it.
40:14Well, I'm going to game one in San Antonio.
40:18You know I'm going to be at the world's most famous arena.
40:22Man's with Garth for games two, no, three, four, and six.
40:28I'm predicting that game six is going to be a great night.
40:37You put a city home.
40:39You calling it for game six.
40:42Game six.
40:42As I told you before, we went on air.
40:46I know they're going to have to be, it's going to be a joyous celebration.
40:53And just don't want ice there.
40:55No ice.
40:56No ice.
40:57Police, firemen, National Guard, Army, Navy.
41:02For no ice.
41:04What about Trump?
41:06Trump's trying to come.
41:07Well, I read that.
41:08And I don't know.
41:11That thing got invited.
41:13So, uh...
41:17Okay.
41:18My focus is going to be on the game.
41:21I know from knowing you for years, the pause says it all.
41:24That, that, that, that dramatic pause.
41:28You know what I got?
41:30That's tiny in my ear.
41:34It's tiny.
41:35Mike, don't you go.
41:37That's your wife going.
41:38Yeah, that's tiny in my ear.
41:40Slow it down.
41:41Don't let rum it out and get you to go to the spot.
41:44Don't be trying to blow up the spot.
41:47Now, it's an exciting time for the next challenging times for the country.
41:51We've been talking on show about the anti-ice demonstrations in Newark.
41:56Right.
41:56And we've been covering the Republicans' effort to eliminate black minority congressional districts throughout the South.
42:02As one of the great observers of Americans' life, an American, how Americans, how they're living their lives now,
42:10what do you feel about the state of the nation right now?
42:13Well, it's kind of ironic.
42:14Like, we're coming up to 250, 25th anniversary, right?
42:18And I always have a problem using that word founding fathers because some of them were enslaved, my ancestors.
42:26Right.
42:27But the principles of democracy are going backwards, I feel that way.
42:33Now, you're one of the great stewards of black culture of our times.
42:38So I wanted to get your thoughts on the Kennedy Center now that it appears President Trump's takeover of the
42:44Center has failed.
42:45The Kennedy Center has been a venue to honor many of our great African-American artists.
42:50As we lost the great Sonny Rollins this week.
42:54I was thinking back to the time that President Obama honored him at the Center in 2011.
43:00Are you confident that this institution and the multicultural America it represented can be restored?
43:07Yes, there's going to be a new election, a presidential election.
43:14And as far as I know, you'll only be president twice unless there's some okie-doke going on.
43:20Shenanigans.
43:23Subterfuge.
43:26But I think that once we get forward, we're going to get back on track what this country is about,
43:34what it's really about.
43:36You know, we're going to come back to straight and narrow.
43:41I really believe that, Rev.
43:43Let me go.
43:44Let me go again now.
43:46I want it on the record.
43:47You're saying Knicks in six.
43:49Six, game six is going to be the world's most famous arena, Madison Square Garden.
43:56And who's the MVP?
44:02Jalen Brunson.
44:03All right.
44:04So that's two spiked predictions for a powerpoint station.
44:07Now, don't bet the house.
44:11Don't bet the house.
44:12But that's your prediction?
44:13Yes.
44:13Because you and I both grew up in Brooklyn looking up to Bahába D'Ali who used to call around.
44:17So you're calling the game and you're taking a shot at the MVP.
44:22Yes.
44:23All right.
44:24All right.
44:26Rev, you can't make a call again.
44:27We need you at the garden.
44:30Can't make a call?
44:31Give me some tickets.
44:32I'll make the prediction.
44:33I don't give predictions without a seat.
44:35But let me ask you.
44:37What are you working on right now?
44:40Right now, I'm just on the blue skies.
44:47You know, that's been a long time.
44:50In fact, I know we got to run.
44:51But the first championship, I was at the game, May 8th, 1970.
44:57I was 13 years old.
44:59Wow.
45:00So, of course, you know, back then, even still now, you've got to cook with your daughters.
45:06But back then, it's fathers and sons.
45:09And my father took me to Old Garden on 8th Avenue.
45:15Remember?
45:15Needix?
45:16Right.
45:16I remember.
45:18So, uh, I've been a Knick fan since as long as I can remember.
45:26Oh.
45:26And you've been an artist, Knick fan.
45:29All right.
45:29Well, thank you for being with us, brother Spike Lee.
45:32That does it for me.
45:34Thanks for watching.
45:34I'll see you back here next weekend at 5 p.m. Eastern.
45:37But first, you can catch me tomorrow on Morning Joe, starting at 6 a.m. Eastern, right here on MS
45:45Now.
45:45The weekend primetime starts after a short break.
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