Original Broadcaster Captioning (Enhanced). Treat it as a searchable index of what was broadcast, not a quotation record.
00:00:00BE DEPARTING HER ROLE AT THE END OF THE MONTH SO SHE CAN SPEND
00:00:03TIME WITH HER BEAUTIFUL YOUNG CHILDREN AND FAMILY, A DECISION
00:00:07I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND AND RESPECT."
00:00:09HE GOES ON TO SAY THAT LEVITT, WHO HAS SERVED AS PRESS
00:00:13SECRETARY SINCE THE BEGINNING OF TRUMP'S SECOND TERM, WILL BE ONE OF HIS TOP ADVISERS FOLLOWING HER DEPARTURE.
00:00:18KAROLINE LEAVITT LATER CONFIRMED
00:00:23THAT NEWS HERSELF IN A POST SAYING IT WAS AN HONOR OF A
00:00:26LIFETIME TO SERVE AS PRESS SECRETARY. SHE ALSO CITED BECOMING A MOTHER
00:00:29IN WELCOMING A NEW BABY AS KEY REASONS FOR HER DECISION.
00:00:32A SUCCESSOR HAS YET TO BE NAMED BY THE WHITE HOUSE.
00:00:36ANNOUNCER: ON THURSDAY, HOUSE
00:00:41DEMOCRAT LEADER HAKEEM JEFFRIES, REVEREND AL SHARPTON, AND OTHERS
00:00:44ADDRESS THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLACK JOURNALISTS.
00:00:48THEY ARE EXPECTED TO DISCUSS THE CURRENT STATE OF DEMOCRACY AMONG OTHER ISSUES.
00:00:52WATCH LIVE THURSDAY AT 9:00 A.M.
00:00:53EASTERN ON C-SPAN2, C-SPAN
00:00:59NOW, OR ONLINE AT C-SPAN.ORG.
00:01:03ANNOUNCER: THE ROAD TO THE
00:01:06CAPITAL RUNS THROUGH AMERICA'S BATTLEGROUND STATES, AND C-SPAN IS THERE.
00:01:10OUR CAMERAS ARE ON THE GROUND FOLLOWING THE CAMPAIGNS WHERE THE TOUGHEST RACES WILL DECIDE
00:01:13THE BALANCE OF POWER IN CONGRESS.
00:01:17WE ARE THE ONLY NATIONAL TELEVISION NETWORK PROVIDING THIS LEVEL OF UNFILTERED ACCESS
00:01:20TO THE CANDIDATES, THE VOTERS,
00:01:23AND THE ISSUES SHAPING CAMPAIGN 2020 SIX. NO COMMENTATORS TELLING YOU WHAT
00:01:26TO THINK. NO PARTISAN SPIN.
00:01:30THE ROAD TO THE CAPITAL, ONLY ON C-SPAN.
00:01:36CALIFORNIA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE JAVIER BECERRA TOOK PART IN A DISCUSSION ON HIS
00:01:40CAMPAIGN, POLICY, AND THE FUTURE
00:01:42OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AT AN EVENT HOSTED BY POLITICO IN SACRAMENTO.
00:01:48MR. BECERRA WILL FACE STEEP
00:01:49HILLS AND IN NOVEMBER IN A RACE
00:01:53WHICH THE NONPARTISAN COOK POLITICO GILBERT DESCRIBES AS
00:01:57SOLID DEMOCRAT.
00:01:59>> I AM POLITICO'S CALIFORNIA
00:02:02BUREAU CHIEF, ONE OF THREE AUTHORS OF THE CALIFORNIA PLAYBOOK.
00:02:06WE ARE HERE TODAY WITH JAVIER BECERRA.
00:02:12FORMER STATE LEGISLATOR, U.S. HEALTH SECRETARY, AND NOW THE
00:02:16DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR. SECRETARY, WE WERE HERE LAST
00:02:21YEAR. A COUPLE OF THINGS HAVE HAPPENED SINCE. LET'S GET RIGHT INTO IT.
00:02:28I KNOW THAT MUCH OF THIS CONVERSATION IS GOING TO BE
00:02:31FORWARD LOOKING, BUT FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO LOOK BACK AT THE
00:02:34PRIMARY -- AT THE PRIMARY,
00:02:37BECAUSE IT REALLY WAS EXTRAORDINARY. >> I WOULD PREFER NOT TO. [LAUGHTER]
00:02:55>> JUST ONE. YOU SPENT MOST OF THE CAMPAIGN STUCK IN THE LOW TO MID DIGITS AND THEN WHEN ERIC SWALWELL DROPPED OUT OF THE RACE, YOU SHOT INTO SERIOUS CONTENTION.
00:02:59WHY DO YOU THINK THERE WAS A CRITICAL MASS OF CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATS THAT TURNED TO YOU? >> I THINK FOR THE LONGEST TIME,
00:03:02MOST CALIFORNIANS WERE NOT REALLY FOCUSED ON THE RACE.
00:03:05SO MANY CANDIDATES, THE CONVERSATION WAS MORE ABOUT WILL THERE END UP BEING A SHUT OUT OF
00:03:09DEMOCRATS. THE CONVERSATION WAS NOT REALLY
00:03:13ABOUT THE POLICY OR THE CANDIDATE SWITCH. I THINK THE UNFORTUNATE DEMISE
00:03:17OF ERIC SWALWELL MADE FOLKS
00:03:20FOCUS, AND I THINK WHEN THE DUST
00:03:22SETTLED AND THEY WERE LOOKING, I THINK -- I HOPE, THE WAY I
00:03:27EXPLAINED IT IS THEY WERE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WHO ACTUALLY
00:03:29KNEW HOW TO DO THE JOB AND WOULD NOT NEED TRAINING WHEELS THE MOMENT THEY STEP INTO THE
00:03:33GOVERNOR'S OFFICE. MAYBE IT WAS SOMETHING ELSE, BUT
00:03:36I JUST KNOW THAT WE WERE ABLE TO CATCH FIRE.
00:03:39I WILL SAY, TO CREDIT MY TEAM, WE WERE STRATEGIC.
00:03:43WE HAD A SMALL POT OF MONEY. WE ESSENTIALLY PUT IT ALL OUT
00:03:46THERE RIGHT AT THE BEGINNING OF
00:03:48MARCH, AND WE WENT UP RIGHT
00:03:51BEFORE THE WHOLE CHAOS STARTED.
00:03:54SO WE WERE UP, AND IT HELPS
00:03:57BECAUSE WE WERE THERE IN PEOPLE CAN SEE US.
00:04:00>> I REMEMBERED YOU SAID WE WEREN'T LUCKY, THERE WAS A
00:04:04STRATEGY AND WE SAW THAT CONFLUENCE. IT WAS REMARKABLE.
00:04:07WE ARE GOING TO TURN TO THE GENERAL. YOU ARE RUNNING AGAINST STEVE
00:04:12HILTON. WE HEARD FROM HIM EARLIER. HIS PITCH TO VOTERS IS DEMOCRATS
00:04:16HAVE HAD AN IRONCLAD GRIP ON THIS STATE FOR STING YEARS, AND
00:04:19IN THIS TIME, THE HOUSING CRASH,
00:04:21THE HOMELESSNESS CRISIS, AND THE AFFORDABILITY PROBLEMS HAVE
00:04:24GOTTEN WORSE. IT IS TIME FOR SOMETHING NEW.
00:04:28DO YOU THINK THAT IS ACCURATE? IS YOUR PARTY TO BLAME FOR THE
00:04:31CHALLENGES FACING THIS STATE? >> NO.
00:04:34WE ARE A FAMILY. WE ALL WORK TOGETHER.
00:04:38WHEN YOU BLEND AS ONE PARENT WHEN THINGS GO AWRY WITH ONE OF
00:04:41THE CHILDREN -- WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.
00:04:45WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER. I COULD SAY THAT ONE OF THE
00:04:48MEMBERS OF THE AMERICAN FAMILY IN WASHINGTON, D.C. HAS CREATED
00:04:51MORE CHAOS THAN ANY DEMOCRAT IN
00:04:53THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, BUT WE WILL NOT GO THERE.
00:04:56I CAN TELL YOU THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I WILL HAVE TO WORK
00:05:00WITH EVERYONE, SO AT THE END OF
00:05:03THE DAY, STOP COMPLAINING, SHOW US WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO.
00:05:07>> YOU ALLUDED TO THE PRESIDENT.
00:05:12CERTAINLY THERE ARE WAYS IN WHICH THE ADMINISTRATION HAS
00:05:15EXACERBATED THE ISSUES THE STATE
00:05:16IS FACING, BUT 16 YEARS, A LOT
00:05:20AT THIS HAPPENED PRE-TRUMP. I AM WONDERING AS YOU ARE
00:05:23LOOKING AHEAD, ARE THERE PARTS OF THE PARTY ORTHODOXY THAT YOU
00:05:26THINK MAY HAVE TO BE RE-EXAMINED AS WE LOOK AT THE EFFECTS OF DEMOCRATIC RULE?
00:05:33>> I CERTAINLY BELIEVE EVERYONE
00:05:36IN POLITICS AS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE VOTERS ARE SAYING.
00:05:40YOU CAN'T JUST TELL US WHAT YOU WILL DO, YOU'VE GOT TO SHOW US.
00:05:44THEY WANT TO SEE ACTUAL OUTCOMES.
00:05:47THAT IS WHY I THINK IT IS SO INCUMBENT UPON ANYBODY WHO CAN
00:05:51GET INTO LEADERSHIP TO ACTUALLY DELIVER TRUE RESULTS.
00:05:55THAT IS ALSO WHY I THINK YOU CANNOT DO PIE-IN-THE-SKY
00:05:59INFLATED PROMISES, BECAUSE PEOPLE WANT TO SEE YOU DELIVER.
00:06:02YOU CAN TALK A GREAT GAME, BUT
00:06:05UNLESS YOU CAN DELIVER, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO CRUCIFY YOU.
00:06:08I HOPE I CAN SHOW FOLKS THAT I HAVE BEEN AROUND LONG ENOUGH, I
00:06:12HAVE BEEN IN THESE CRISES, I HAVE HAD TO DELIVER WHEN LIFE WAS ON THE LINE, THAT I CAN TELL
00:06:16YOU WHERE I CAN GO AND ACTUALLY
00:06:21GET IT DONE.
00:06:24>> HILTON HAS PLACED THIS AI GENERATED AD WHO CALLS YOU PART
00:06:27OF THE MACHINE.
00:06:30HAVE YOU SEEN THE AD? >> I HAVE NOT.
00:06:33>> DO YOU HAVE ANY INTEREST IN USING AI TECHNOLOGY AS PART OF
00:06:38YOUR CAMPAIGN MESSAGING? >> I SUSPECT OUR TEAM WILL LOOK
00:06:40AT HOW YOU CAN DEPLOY AI IN A
00:06:42WAY THAT IS AUTHENTIC AND COMMUNICATES SOMETHING TO PEOPLE BUT ALSO IS TRANSPARENT.
00:06:48>> I WOULD LOVE TO TURN TO THE REST OF THE VALLEY.
00:07:13WE HEARD THE OTHER BIG FIGHT IS OVER THE BILLIONAIRES' TAX.
00:07:15YOU ARE NO ON PROP 40.
00:07:18THE STATE PARTY DECIDED TO SUPPORT IT.
00:07:21ARE YOU OUT OF STEP? >> I WOULD DESCRIBE A CALIFORNIA
00:07:25DEMOCRAT AS SOMEONE WHO IS FOCUSED ON PEOPLE LIKE MY PARENTS AND THOSE WHO YOU HAVE
00:07:28TO DELIVER REAL RESULTS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY HAD TO DO EVERY DAY THEY WERE WORKING.
00:07:33DISAGREEMENTS, THEY ARE THERE. THEY COME AND GO.
00:07:36I OFTEN WILL DISAGREE WITH THE
00:07:38REPUBLICAN PARTY, AND I OFTEN WILL DISAGREE WITH THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
00:07:42THAT IS OK, PART OF THE FAMILY.
00:07:45>> ONE OF THE THINGS I HEAR A LOT ABOUT PROP 40 IS PEOPLE
00:07:48SAYING THEY ARE NOT NECESSARILY OPPOSED TO THE CONCEPT OF A WEALTH TAX OR TAX ON
00:07:52BILLIONAIRES, BUT THEY MAY BE HAD ISSUES WITH THE EXECUTION OF
00:07:56THIS BALLOT MEASURE. MORE BROADLY, DOES SOMETHING
00:07:58LIKE A WEALTH TAX, DO YOU THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT DEMOCRATS
00:08:03SHOULD LOOK INTO? >> ANYTHING THAT HELPS US ENSURE
00:08:06PEOPLE ARE PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE. DO I BELIEVE BILLIONAIRES ARE
00:08:10PAYING THEIR FAIR THAT --
00:08:21DO WE HAVE TO -- IS THAT
00:08:26HAPPENING? CERTAINLY NOT IN THE FOURTH LARGEST ECONOMY IN THE COUNTRY.
00:08:31THOSE OF US WHO BENEFIT MORE THAN OTHERS, AND I INCLUDE
00:08:33MYSELF AND MY WIFE -- WE ARE NOT
00:08:36BILLIONAIRES, BUT MY WIFE IS A
00:08:40HIGH-RISK OB/GYN. I AM AN ATTORNEY BY TRAINING. WE DO FAIRLY WELL. WE ARE NOT GOING TO SUFFER.
00:08:44I AM WILLING TO PAY A LITTLE BIT MORE.
00:08:47BY THE WAY, A LOT OF THE FOLKS I HAVE SPOKEN TO HAVE SAID WE ARE WILLING TO PAY OUR FAIR SHARE,
00:08:51WE JUST WANT TO SEE IT USED IN A WAY THAT IT PRODUCES RESULTS FOR
00:08:55THE FOLKS YOU KEEP TELLING US YOU WANT TO HELP.
00:08:57>> WHEN MR. REAGAN WAS ON STAGE,
00:09:01HE MADE A DIRECT APPEAL TO
00:09:04CONGRESSWOMAN ALEXANDRA BECAUSE HE OF CORTEZ. IT IS CLEAR HE SEES THIS AS A
00:09:09NATIONALIZED -- ALEXANDRIA
00:09:10CAUSEY OF CORTEZ --
00:09:18OCASIO-CORTEZ.
00:09:20IT IS CLEAR HE SEES THIS AS A NATIONALIZED RACE. I AM CURIOUS, WATCHING THIS
00:09:24ACROSS THE COUNTRY, HOW DO YOU
00:09:27FEEL ABOUT THE RISE OF THE DSA?
00:09:30>> I DON'T THINK IT IS AN EXISTENTIAL CRISIS.
00:09:33IF WE WERE AN ATHLETIC TEAM, A
00:09:37FOOTBALL TEAM, YOU ARE ALWAYS GOING TO SEE TURN.
00:09:40YOU HAVE TO COMPETE FOR YOUR POSITION. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT
00:09:43BECAUSE YOU WANT THE BEST ON THE FIELD. IF YOU HAPPEN TO LOOK DIFFERENT
00:09:46FROM SOME OF THE OTHER QUARTERBACKS OR RUNNING BACKS
00:09:50BUT IF YOU CAN DELIVER AND SCORE
00:09:53THOSE TOUCHDOWNS, YOU ARE GOING TO BE ON THE FIELD.
00:09:57IT SHOULD NOT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE WHAT YOUR LABEL IS SO LONG AS AT THE END OF THE DAY,
00:10:01YOU ARE FOCUSED ON HELPING, IN
00:10:04MY CASE, WORKING FAMILIES. I WELCOME PEOPLE WHO WANT TO DO
00:10:08THE RIGHT THING. BY THE WAY, BUT I WAS FOR
00:10:11MEDICARE FOR ALL BACK IN THE
00:10:14EARLY 1990'S, I WAS CALLED A SOCIALIST. I WAS CALLED A COMMUNIST.
00:10:18TODAY, MORE AND MORE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT WE GIVE TO
00:10:21OUR SENIORS IN AMERICA, SOME $67
00:10:25MILLION -- SOME 67 MILLION, SHOULD NOT BE A BAD THING TO GET
00:10:29TO THE REST OF AMERICANS WHO SUFFER FROM NOT HAVING AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE.
00:10:33MEDICARE FOR ALL IS NOT SOME ALIEN CONCEPT, NOT COMMUNIST CONCEPT.
00:10:37IT IS A CONCEPT THAT SAYS HEALTH CARE SHOULD BE A RIGHT AND NOT A PRIVILEGE.
00:10:40>> SO YOU DO SEE MEMBERS OF THE
00:10:44DSA AS PART OF THE OVERALL DEMOCRATIC TEAM?
00:10:46THERE IS CONTROVERSY OVER THAT DEBATE.
00:10:49THEY DON'T NECESSARILY IDENTIFY AS DEMOCRATS, BUT YOU SEE THEM AS TEAMMATES?
00:10:54>> I SEE REPUBLICANS AS PART OF THE DEMOCRATIC SMALL D TEAM.
00:10:57YOU WANT TO BE A PART OF THE BIG
00:10:59D TEAM, WE WILL TAKE YOU AS WELL.
00:11:03THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN CALIFORNIA ENDORSED ME. THEY ARE PART OF MY TEAM.
00:11:06I JUST GOT THE ENDORSEMENT OF THE LARGEST POLICE OFFICERS
00:11:10ORGANIZATION IN THE STATE. THEY ARE PART OF MY TEAM. I AM THRILLED AND HONORED TO
00:11:14HAVE THEIR SUPPORT.
00:11:17THE BIGGER THE TEAM GROWS, THE MORE I CAN DO, BECAUSE THERE ARE LESS FOLKS WHO CAN STAND IN THE
00:11:21WAY OF OUR JUGGERNAUT, WHETHER WE ARE ON OFFENSE OR DEFENSE.
00:11:24AS LONG AS YOU CAN PLAY THE POSITION, COME JOIN THE TEAM.
00:11:27>> YOU SEE THE RISE OF ENERGY ON
00:11:31THE LEFT -- LET'S SAY YOU ARE ELECTED, IS THAT GOING TO
00:11:35APPROACH HOW YOU GOVERN?
00:11:38-- AFFECT HOW YOU APPROACH GOVERNING?
00:11:40>> I DON'T WANT TO BE ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL.
00:11:44BEING AWAKE IS A GOOD THING.
00:11:45>> THAT IS OUR TAKE AWAY.
00:11:48ANOTHER HOT TOPIC OF THE SUMMIT HAS BEEN THE PARAMOUNT-WARNER BROS. MERGER.
00:11:53WE HEARD FROM DANIEL MILLER AND ALEX BURNS INTERVIEWING THE SORT
00:11:56OF TWO KEY PLAYERS IN THIS,
00:11:59ATTORNEY GENERAL ROB BONTA, OF
00:12:04COURSE, THEY COME FROM PARAMOUNT.
00:12:06WE KNOW WHERE ROB BONTA STANCE ON THIS.
00:12:09WE KNOW WHERE GAVIN NEWSOM MAY BEAT STANDS ON THIS.
00:12:12HE IS REPORTEDLY MORE SUPPORTIVE OF THE MERGER. SO WHO IS RIGHT?
00:12:19WE >> THE COURT IS GOING TO TELL US.
00:12:22HAVING DONE ANTITRUST CASES, THESE ARE NOT EASY.
00:12:24THEY ARE A DIFFERENT ANIMAL FROM THE MOST LITIGATION.
00:12:27THEY ARE VERY DIFFICULT, VERY
00:12:35FACT INTENSIVE. ALL I KNOW IS THIS, IN TERMS OF WHAT IS GOING ON IN THIS
00:12:39PARTICULAR CASE, THE
00:12:39ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY IS OUR
00:12:44BABY IN CALIFORNIA. WE HAVE TO FIGHT TO KEEP IT
00:12:48VIBRANT. IF A MERGER IS GOOD AND KEEPS IT
00:12:51VIBRANT, I AM WILLING TO TAKE A LOOK. IF THAT MERGER UNDERMINES THE
00:12:55ABILITY OF THE INDUSTRY
00:12:59REMAINING VIBRANT, I AM GOING TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THAT AS
00:13:05WELL. AT THE END OF THE DAY, IS IT GOOD FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT
00:13:10COMMUNITY IN CALIFORNIA? DOES IT BENEFIT CALIFORNIANS TO
00:13:14HAVE ANOTHER MERGER OCCURS? AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHO WILL
00:13:18SETTLE IT? I HOPE IT SETTLES BEFORE COURT.
00:13:21IT IS EASIER TO STAND IN A
00:13:23CONFERENCE ROOM AND SEVERAL CANDIDATES TO STAND IN A COURT DOING.
00:13:27I SAY THAT HAVING HAD TO STAND IN BOTH THE CONFERENCE ROOM AND
00:13:31THE COURT ROOM, YOU GET WAY MORE DONE IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM.
00:13:34MELANIE: WE HAVE SEEN REPORTS
00:13:37THAT DAVID ELLISON, THE CEO OF PARAMOUNT SKY DANCE, HAS BEEN
00:13:40MAKING THREATS THAT PARAMOUNT COULD LEAD CALIFORNIA IF THIS DRAGS ON TOO LONG.
00:13:45IF YOU WERE ELECTED AND YOU WERE LOOKING AT AN ENTERTAINMENT
00:13:49INDUSTRY THAT IS STRUGGLING, BUT WITH THE IMPACT BE OF PARAMOUNT LEFT THE STATE?
00:13:52MR. BECERRA: AS I JUST SAID, TO
00:13:57ME, THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THIS ENTIRE MATTER IS, IS IT
00:14:01GOING TO HELP HOLLYWOOD?
00:14:03IS HE GOING TO KEEP THE INDUSTRY
00:14:08VIBRANT? HAVING A MAJOR PLAYER IN THE
00:14:11INDUSTRY LEAVE WOULD NOT BE GOOD, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IS IT GOING TO BE GOOD FOR WORKING
00:14:16FAMILIES HAVING THEM LEAVE THE STATE? IT IS CERTAINLY NOT GOOD FOR WORKING FAMILIES.
00:14:23LET'S BE ADULTS, NOT BE KIDS.
00:14:29CONFERENCE ROOM, NOT COURT ROOM.
00:14:31MELANIE: YOU THINK THERE IS A WAY THAT CAN GET THEMSELVES TO A DEAL.
00:14:36MR. BECERRA: THERE IS A SWEET SPOT.
00:14:38MELANIE: THERE IS ALWAYS A DEAL. I WILL SAY YOU ARE THE FAVORITE
00:14:42TO WIN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE. YOU ARE A DEMOCRAT AND THIS IS CALIFORNIA.
00:14:46MR. BECERRA: CAN YOU SAY THAT AGAIN? [APPLAUSE]
00:14:49MELANIE: IN THE COMPETITIVE
00:14:52PRIMARY YOU HAVE, YOU RAN MOSTLY ON YOUR BIOGRAPHY, YOUR
00:14:56EXPERIENCE, AND LESS ON THE POLICY PLATFORMS THAT YOU ARE
00:15:00THINKING OF. NOW AS YOU ARE LOOKING AHEAD TO
00:15:04THE GENERAL AND PERHAPS BEYOND --
00:15:06>> I COULD MAKE SOME REALLY BIG
00:15:09PROMISES, BUT THAT DOES NOT GET US ANYWHERE.
00:15:12IT MAY GET ME ELECTED, BUT I WOULD PREFER NOT TO RUN ON
00:15:15INFLATED PROMISES THAT I CAN'T
00:15:20DELIVER ON. THAT IS WHY I SAID EVERYWHERE I WENT, I WON'T MAKE YOU INFLATED
00:15:24PROMISES, I WILL RUN ON MY
00:15:26RECORD.
00:15:31I ALWAYS WOULD TELL YOUNG PEOPLE, WHEN THEY WOULD ASK ME ABOUT WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A
00:15:34LEADER IN POLITICS, I WOULD SAY, DO YOU WANT TO KNOW WHERE
00:15:37LEADERS ARE GOING TO TAKE YOU? KNOW WHERE THEY COME FROM.
00:15:41I HAVE BEEN AROUND LONG ENOUGH WHERE YOU CAN SEE WHERE I COME FROM.
00:15:44I AM GOING TO BRING EVERYTHING FROM -- I CAN'T JUST TAKE OFF
00:15:48THAT SKIN, THAT IS PART OF ME.
00:15:50I SAW PEOPLE WORKING PICK AND SHOVEL. I BRING THAT TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.
00:15:55I SERVED IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE IN CONGRESS, AS
00:15:58ATTORNEY GENERAL. THAT I WILL BRING TO THE TABLE.
00:16:01I HEAD TO DECLARE NATIONAL
00:16:05STATES OF EMERGENCY.
00:16:06I HAD TO DEPLOY PERSONNEL TO
00:16:10DEPLOY PEOPLE DURING FIRES AND NATURAL DISASTERS.
00:16:13I HAD TO, FOR THE FIRST TIME, NEGOTIATE TO LOWER PRICES OF
00:16:17PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION, AND WE DID SO UP TO 80%.
00:16:22AM I GOING TO PROMISE YOU THAT
00:16:26WE CAN DROP THE PRICE OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS? YES, BECAUSE WE CAN DO IT BEFORE
00:16:29AND I KNOW WE ARE DOING IT AGAIN.
00:16:34CAN I KEEP CALIFORNIANS AND SHORT FOR HEALTH CARE EVEN THOUGH THE GUY IN THE WHITE
00:16:38HOUSE STRIPPED A TRILLION DOLLARS OUT OF THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM?
00:16:41YES, BECAUSE I KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY IS IN THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.
00:16:44I KNOW WE CAN DO THESE THINGS.
00:16:47CAN I MAKE SURE WE BUILD MORE HOMES? YES, I HAVE NOT BUILT HOMES, BUT
00:16:50I KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT WHAT IS DELAYED.
00:16:54WE CAN TAKE OUT SOME OF THE TIME CRUNCH THAT MAKES IT VERY
00:16:58DIFFICULT TO PENCIL THESE PROJECTS.
00:17:03WE CAN DO THE THINGS THAT ALLOW THERE TO BE CERTAINTY AND WE
00:17:06WANT ALL OF A SUDDEN JERK YOU BY CHANGING THE CODES ON YOUR
00:17:11BUILDING REQUIREMENTS. WE CAN DO THINGS THAT MAKE IT FASTER, NOT BECAUSE I DID IT,
00:17:14BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN IT, BUT I AM NOT GOING TO PROMISE YOU 3
00:17:17MILLION UNITS, BECAUSE THAT'S
00:17:21WHERE I CANNOT GO. THAT IS AN INFLATED PROMISE.
00:17:24BUT I WILL TELL YOU WE WILL BUILD AND THERE WILL BE MORE CALIFORNIANS THAT WILL OWN A
00:17:28HOME, ENSURING THERE ARE
00:17:32PROGRAMS TO HELP PEOPLE BUY THEIR FIRST HOME. WE CAN DO THAT.
00:17:35MELANIE: THIS ACCUSED ME UP FOR
00:17:39MY NEXT QUESTION, SO THANK YOU. ONCE YOU ARE GIVEN THE FEDERAL
00:17:44CUTS, IT IS LIKELY YOU WILL OVERSEE A MAJOR CONTRACTION OF
00:17:48THE NUMBER OF INSURED PEOPLE IN CALIFORNIA. MOST CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATES SAY
00:17:52MORE THAN ONE MILLION PEOPLE COULD LOSE THEIR INSURANCE. YOU SOUND LIKE EVEN IF YOU ARE
00:17:56NOT MAKING A PARTICULAR PROMISE, YOU SOUND FAIRLY CONFIDENT THAT
00:17:59YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO AVOID THAT OUTCOME, BUT HOW?
00:18:02MR. BECERRA: THERE'S MONEY IN
00:18:05THEM THERE HILLS.
00:18:08HEALTH CARE IS MORE EXPENSIVE IN CALIFORNIA THAN ANYWHERE ELSE IN
00:18:12THE COUNTRY, AND HEALTH CARE IS MORE EXPENSIVE IN THE U.S. THAN
00:18:15ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD. THERE IS MONEY BEING SPENT THAT
00:18:19DOES NOTHING TO DISPENSE HEALTH CARE TO YOU. WE'VE GOT TO STOP THAT.
00:18:23I SAY -- I BELIEVE IN DON'T LET
00:18:27A CRISIS GO TO WASTE. I'M NOT GOING TO LET THIS CRISIS GO TO WASTE.
00:18:31I'M GOING TO SIT THE HEALTH CARE SECTOR DOWN AND SAY DON'T LIE TO
00:18:34ME, I SEE HOW YOU PLAY THE
00:18:37SYSTEM, SO LET'S SIT DOWN.
00:18:43WHAT I AM GOING TO DO WITH THE HEALTH SECTOR IS SAY LOOK, THE
00:18:46BARGAIN IS THIS -- I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO LOSE THEIR HEALTH CARE.
00:18:50I WANT TO GET MORE CALIFORNIANS INSURED AND COVERED.
00:18:53AND WHAT I WILL DO IS I WILL BECOME THE BACKSTOP.
00:18:58CALIFORNIA WILL BECOME THE BACKSTOP FOR HEALTH CARE, WHICH
00:18:59MEANS THIS -- ALL THOSE FAMILIES
00:19:03THAT DONALD TRUMP ABANDONED AND THEREFORE SHOULD NOT LOSE THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE WON'T.
00:19:07I WILL PAY FOR IT BECAUSE
00:19:10PROVIDERS, INSURERS, HERE IS THE BARGAIN.
00:19:13I WILL ENSURE THAT OUR FAMILIES ARE INSURED.
00:19:17WHAT THAT MEANS IS WHEN THEY WALK THROUGH YOUR DOOR TO GET
00:19:21CARE, THEY WILL BE PAYING CUSTOMERS, BUT BECAUSE THEY ARE STILL INSURED.
00:19:26IF YOU DON'T WANT TO PLAY WITH ME, BUT I WILL SAY IS THE FOLKS
00:19:31THAT WILL BALK THROUGH YOUR DOOR WILL BE UNINSURED.
00:19:34THEY WILL STILL WALK THROUGH YOUR DOOR BECAUSE IN CALIFORNIA
00:19:37WE DON'T LET YOU JUST DIE ON THE STREET. THEY WILL STILL WALK THROUGH
00:19:41YOUR DOOR AND GET CARE.
00:19:43WHAT WILL BE MISSING IS THE PAYMENTS THEY CAN MAKE BECAUSE THEY ARE INSURED.
00:19:47YOU WILL HAVE TO SWALLOW THAT OR PASS IT ON TO EVERYBODY SITTING
00:19:51IN THIS ROOM WHO HAS PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE AND YOUR RATES WILL GO UP.
00:19:55LET'S MAKE A DEAL.
00:20:00I WILL ENSURE PEOPLE STAY COVERED, YOU ENSURE YOU HELP ME REDUCE THE COST.
00:20:04I ENSURE THAT YOU GET PAID. DON'T CLOSE YOUR DOORS.
00:20:07WE WILL MAKE THIS HAPPEN. I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY,
00:20:11THEY WILL ACCEPT PART OF THAT BARGAIN, AND THE OTHER THING I
00:20:14WILL DO IS SAY I KNOW THAT BOTH OF YOU GAMED THE SYSTEM, THE
00:20:18PROVIDERS AND PAYERS, WHEN IT COMES TO BILLING.
00:20:21PROVIDERS TRYING TO BILL AT THE HIGHEST RATE THEY CAN, INSURERS
00:20:25TRY TO REIMBURSE AT THE LOWEST RATE THEY CAN. AND IN BETWEEN, THERE IS A FOOD
00:20:29FIGHT THAT GOES ON NOT WITH
00:20:32DOCTORS AND INSURERS, BUT WITH ATTORNEYS, ACCOUNTANTS, PENCIL
00:20:36PUSHERS TO THE TUNE OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
00:20:39THAT DOES SOUND OFF FOR HEALTH CARE. I AM GOING TO ASK THEM TO HELP
00:20:42EXTRACT SOME OF THAT WASTE AND PUT IT INTO HEALTH CARE, WHICH
00:20:45HELPS US COVER THE COST OF KEEPING CALIFORNIANS INSURED.
00:20:53MELANIE: I'M SURE THE HEALTH CARE WALKS IN THE ROOM HAVE LOTS OF FOLLOW-UPS, BUT TIME IS TICKING AND I WANT TO MOVE TO OTHER POLICY AREAS.
00:20:57YOU TOOK A LOT OF HEAT FROM ENVIRONMENTALISTS FOR ACCEPTING DONATIONS FROM OIL COMPANIES.
00:21:02DURING THE PRIMARY, YOU SAID,
00:21:05"WE NEED CHEVRON," WHICH BECAME FODDER FOR ATTACK ADS. WHAT DID YOU MEAN BY THAT?
00:21:09MR. BECERRA: WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE REFINERIES AND HOW WE
00:21:13NEED TO CONTINUE TO HAVE REFINERIES SO WE CAN PROCESS PETROLEUM SO WE CAN HAVE
00:21:17GASOLINE SO WE DON'T HAVE PRICES THAT ARE EVEN HIGHER THAN WHAT WE HAVE NOW.
00:21:21IT WAS A TRUE STATEMENT.
00:21:23I FORGOT TO ADD THE WORD "REFINERY" AT THE END.
00:21:30OOPS. BUT THAT IS ESSENTIALLY WHAT I
00:21:34MEANT. IT CAUSED A FIRESTORM WITHIN SOME CIRCLES.
00:21:37BUT AGAIN, YOU KNOW WHERE I'M GOING TO TAKE YOU?
00:21:40TAKE A LOOK AT WHERE I CAME FROM.
00:21:42NOBODY IN THIS ROOM, I GUARANTEE YOU, BUT NOBODY WAS STANDING ON
00:21:46THAT STAGE FOR THE PRIMARY FOR GOVERNOR WHO CAN SAY THEY HAVE
00:21:49TAKEN ON THE FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY AND WON MORE THAN ME.
00:21:53THERE IS NO ONE WHO CAN SAY THEY STOOD UP AND PROTECTED THE CLEAN
00:21:56CAR STANDARDS THAT CALIFORNIA HAS THAT NOW THE REST OF THE
00:21:59COUNTRY FOLLOWS, LIKE ME. I TOOK ON THE TRUMP
00:22:03ADMINISTRATION. WE BEAT THEM. NO ONE CAN SAY THEY TOOK ON THE
00:22:06CLEAN AIR ACT AGAINST THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND WON.
00:22:09TOOK ON THE CLEAN WATER ACT AND WON.
00:22:12TOOK ON THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT AND WON. I TOOK ON MOST OF THE FOSSIL
00:22:16FUEL INDUSTRY IN COURT.
00:22:18TOOK ON SOME OF THE FOLKS TRYING TO GOUGE PRICES.
00:22:22I WILL RELY ON MY RECORD, BUT UNFORTUNATELY SOME PEOPLE DON'T
00:22:26DELVE INTO THE RECORD, THEY WOULD RATHER JUST GO OUT AND
00:22:30SEND THESE SOCIAL TWEETS OUT THERE.
00:22:32MELANIE: I KNOW YOU HAVE BOTH A
00:22:35FOCUS ON AFFORDABILITY AND THE FOCUS ON CLEAN ENERGY, AND THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO SAY THAT THOSE
00:22:38GOALS CAN BE AT ODDS WITH EACH
00:22:42OTHER. I WANT TO PULL OUT ONE IN
00:22:46PARTICULAR, CALIFORNIA'S PLAN TO PHASE OUT ALL GAS CARS BY 2035.
00:22:49DO YOU THINK THAT IS FEASIBLE?
00:22:55MR. BECERRA: IF WE INVEST IN IT, ABSOLUTELY. IF WE DON'T, IT IS NOT. IF YOU GO BACK TO WHAT A BECERRA
00:22:59DEMOCRAT IS, A BECERRA DEMOCRAT
00:23:03IS GOING TO LOOK AT THOSE FAMILIES WHO WORKED REALLY HARD, LIKE MY DAD, WHO DROVE A PICKUP
00:23:07ALL OF HIS LIFE, AND SAY CAN YOU AFFORD TO GO WHERE I WANT YOU TO
00:23:10GO AS WE TRANSITION? IF THEY TELL ME TO SLOW DOWN, I
00:23:14WILL SLOW DOWN, BUT IF THEY TELL ME, I'M WITH YOU BECAUSE YOU
00:23:17MADE IT MORE AFFORDABLE FOR ME, WE ARE GOING TO GO.
00:23:21CAN WE DO 2035? WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO BEAT IT, BUT
00:23:24WE'VE GOT TO DO THE INVESTMENT. MELANIE: WHEN YOU ARE TALKING
00:23:28ABOUT THESE INVESTMENTS, THE HEALTH CARE ALONE, WE KNOW WHAT A HUGE PORTION OF THE BUDGET
00:23:32HEALTH CARE IS, AND INVESTMENTS IN THINGS LIKE THE
00:23:36INFRASTRUCTURE FOR EV'S, WE SAW
00:23:41FROM GOVERNOR NEWSOM A REAL INSISTENCE ON NOT WANTING TO
00:23:43IMPOSE MORE TAXES DURING HIS TIME THERE.
00:23:46YOU, HOWEVER, HAVE SIGNALED AN OPENNESS TO FAIR SHARE, WHICH
00:23:50WOULD BE REQUIRING CORPORATIONS WHO HAVE EMPLOYEES THAT GET
00:23:53PUBLIC BENEFITS TO PAY MORE IN TAXES.
00:23:57IS THAT SORT OF ONE-WAY WHERE
00:23:59YOU SEE YOURSELF AS DIFFERENT THAN GOVERNOR NEWSOM?
00:24:02ARE YOU MORE OPEN TO DIFFERENT WAYS TO RAISE REVENUE?
00:24:05MR. BECERRA: I DON'T KNOW IF I
00:24:08AM MORE OR LESS DIFFERENT, BUT I WILL TELL YOU I WANT TO BE SENSIBLE.
00:24:12WE HAVE A POPULATION OF CALIFORNIANS WHO WORK FULL-TIME,
00:24:15REALLY HARD, LIKE MY PARENTS,
00:24:18CONSTRUCTION WORKER AND CLERICAL WORKER. THEY CAN'T AFFORD HEALTH INSURANCE.
00:24:22THEY DON'T GET IT OFFERED BY
00:24:25THEIR EMPLOYER, AT LEAST NOT IN AN AFFORDABLE WAY.
00:24:28SO THEY END UP QUALIFYING FOR MEDI-CAL.
00:24:33AT MY EXPENSE, THE TAXPAYER'S EXPENSE.
00:24:36WHY SHOULD WE SUBSIDIZE HEALTH CARE FOR THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE WORKING FULL-TIME BECAUSE THEIR
00:24:40EMPLOYER WILL NOT PAY ENOUGH SO THEY CAN AFFORD HEALTH INSURANCE?
00:24:44SOMEONE IS NOT PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE.
00:24:49I THINK THE WORKERS ARE WORKING HARD, AND I BELIEVE TAXPAYERS
00:24:53SHOULD NOT HAVE TO SUBSIDIZE THE HEALTH CARE FOR PEOPLE WHO WORK FULL-TIME. THAT IS FAIR SHARE.
00:24:57DOES THAT MEAN MORE TAX?
00:25:00I DON'T KNOW.
00:25:07THAT MAY MEAN WE RAISE TAXES ON BIGGER COMPANIES.
00:25:11MY DAD WAS A FARMWORKER.
00:25:15I GUARANTEE RIGHT NOW WE CAN GO TO THE FIELDS AND NONE OF YOU
00:25:18WOULD WANT TO DO THE WORK THAT THOSE FARMWORKERS ARE DOING RIGHT NOW FOR THE MONEY THEY ARE
00:25:22PAID. THAT IS NOT RIGHT. WE ARE GOING TO CHANGE THAT.
00:25:26BY THE WAY, IF YOU WANT TO KNOW
00:25:29WHERE I AM GOING TO TAKE YOU, KNOW WHERE I CAME FROM. I AM THE SON OF A FARMWORKER.
00:25:34MELANIE: THAT SHOULD BE A YEAR ONE PRIORITY?
00:25:37MR. BECERRA: ABSOLUTELY.
00:25:40THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT WE CAN DO. I WANTED TO MENTION AN IDEA THAT
00:25:44I BELIEVE WE COULD ACTUALLY PUT INTO ACTION WITHIN MY FIRST YEAR.
00:25:48IT IS WHAT WE ARE CALLING MY POWER HOUR.
00:25:52I BELIEVE WE CAN SAY TO CALIFORNIANS, MAYBE WE START
00:25:56SMALLER, MAYBE WITH THOSE WHO ARE LOWER INCOME FOR WHOM AFFORDING THEIR ELECTRICITY BILL
00:26:00IS REALLY DIFFICULT, AND WE SAY,
00:26:03I'M GOING TO OFFER YOU TWO HOURS OF FREE ELECTRICITY.
00:26:06HOW DO I PAY FOR THAT? IT JUST SO HAPPENS THAT TODAY WE
00:26:10PRODUCE SO MUCH SOLAR ENERGY,
00:26:14ELECTRICITY, THAT OFTEN TIMES IN THE AFTERNOON WE CAN'T MAKE USE
00:26:18OF ALL OF IT. IT ESSENTIALLY GOES TO WASTE.
00:26:21OR WE SHIP IT OFF TO SOME OTHER STATE.
00:26:25SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO PAY TO SHIP IT OUT. WHY DON'T WE USE IT?
00:26:28AND WHY DON'T WE DO WHAT WE USED
00:26:30TO DO IN THE 90'S -- IN THE 20TH
00:26:32CENTURY WE TELL PEOPLE PLEASE
00:26:34DON'T USE YOUR APPLIANCES DURING
00:26:39THE LATE AFTERNOON -- AFTERNOON
00:26:40HOURS, BECAUSE WE NEED TO COVER
00:26:44FOR ALL THE AIR-CONDITIONERS AND
00:26:46THE COSTS OF TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF A HOT DAY.
00:26:50WE USED TO TELL PEOPLE WAIT FOR DO IT EARLY IN THE MORNING.
00:26:57TODAY WE REPRODUCE A LOT OF
00:26:59ENERGY DURING THE HOT HOURS. THE SUN HELPS US PRODUCE SOLAR ENERGY.
00:27:05TAKING ADVANTAGE OF IT. THE BEST WAY TO GET YOU TO
00:27:09READAPT, TO RECALIBRATE IS TO TELL YOU THAT THE BEST TIME TO
00:27:12USE ELECTRICITY TODAY, 1:00 TO 3:00, AND IF YOU DO THAT, I
00:27:15WON'T CHARGE YOU. YOU WON'T HAVE A PENNY TO PAY
00:27:18THOSE TWO HOURS, SO LOAD UP, CHARGE OR DEVICES, WASH YOUR
00:27:22CLOTHES, WASH YOUR DISHES.
00:27:24USE YOUR ELECTRICITY DURING THOSE TWO HOURS AND YOU WILL NOT PAY A DIME.
00:27:28I THINK WE CAN GET CALIFORNIANS TO RECALIBRATE.
00:27:33I WILL WORK WITH THE UTILITIES, WITH THE PUBLIC UTILITIES
00:27:37COMMISSION, WOULD WORK WITH STAKEHOLDERS TO MAKE SURE WE CAN
00:27:39FIGURE OUT HOW TO PAY FOR THIS. WE ALREADY DO PROGRAMS FOR
00:27:43CALIFORNIANS WHO CAN'T AFFORD THEIR ELECTRICITY BILL. WE COULD USE SOME OF THAT MONEY
00:27:46TO NOT JUST GIVE THEM A BREAK IN THEIR BILL, BUT ALSO TO BE SMART
00:27:50ABOUT WHEN THEY USE ENERGY.
00:27:53POWER HOUR, TWO FREE HOURS OF ELECTRICITY.
00:27:55MELANIE: THAT IS GOING TO GET A
00:27:58LOT OF FODDER FOR MY COLLEAGUES
00:28:00THAT RIGHT THE CALIFORNIA ENERGY NEWSLETTER.
00:28:04BUT THOSE WHO WRITE OUR TECH NEWSLETTER WILL NOT FORGIVE ME
00:28:07IF I DON'T ASK YOU ONE QUESTION ABOUT AI, OUR FINAL QUESTION.
00:28:11YOUR CAMPAIGN WEBSITE SAYS YOU
00:28:12WANT TO ENFORCE AND STRENGTHEN CALIFORNIA'S AI STANDARDS.
00:28:16WE DO YOU SEE THE ROOM TO EXPAND THE STATE'S REGULATIONS?
00:28:18MR. BECERRA: WE HARDLY HAVE ANY,
00:28:21SO THERE IS A LOT OF ROOM TO EXPAND. WE NEED REAL GUARDRAILS.
00:28:25WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT SAFETY IS FIRST.
00:28:29WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR KIDS, PROTECT OUR WORKERS.
00:28:33WE HAVE A LOT TO DO, BUT WE HAVE TO DO IT, BECAUSE THE TRUTH IS A
00:28:36I WAS BORN, RAISED HERE IN CALIFORNIA. IT IS OUR BABY.
00:28:40WE SHOULD MAKE IT WORK QUI RIGHT.
00:28:44-- WE SHOULD MAKE IT WORK RIGHT. SOMEBODY IS GOING TO TAKE IT AND
00:28:48MAKE IT WORK WELL. BUT I KNOW IF CALIFORNIA IS ITS OWN, WE CAN MAKE SURE IT WORKS
00:28:52RIGHT. WE CAN MAKE IT SO THAT THEY
00:28:55PROSPER BUT WE PROSPER WITH HIM.
00:28:57WE COULD BUY SOME EQUITY IN AI TO MAKE SURE WE ALL GAIN FROM
00:29:00HAVING THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY WHICH
00:29:02WILL DRIVE THE 21ST CENTURY STAY IN CALIFORNIA.
00:29:05JUST LIKE I WANT TO KEEP ALL THE WOOD IN HOLLYWOOD, I WOULD LIKE
00:29:08TO KEEP THE TECH INDUSTRY HERE IN CALIFORNIA AS WELL.
00:29:11YOU CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN. IF THEY COME WORK WITH US, THEY
00:29:14WANT TO BE GOOD NEIGHBORS ON THE CONTRIBUTORS TO THE COMMUNITY, I
00:29:18THINK IT IS GOING TO BE A GREAT MARRIAGE.
00:29:20MELANIE: I HAVE MANY MORE
00:29:23QUESTIONS, BUT WE ARE OUT OF TIME. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
00:29:25THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING A PART OF THIS. [APPLAUSE]
00:29:38[CAPTIONS COPYRIGHT NATIONAL CABLE SATELLITE CORP. 2026] [CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY.
00:29:42VISIT NCICAP.ORG] ANNOUNCER: WE'VE GOT MORE FROM THE POLITICO SUMMIT IN
00:29:45SACRAMENTO, WHERE HOBBY OR BECERRA'S OPPONENT, STEVE HILTON, SAT DOWN FOR AN
00:29:49INTERVIEW.
00:29:51HE CRITICIZED DEMOCRAT RULE IN
00:29:55THE GOLDEN STATE AS EVIDENCE NEW LEADERSHIP IS NEEDED. THIS IS A LITTLE OVER 20 MINUTES.
00:30:00>> HI, I'M POLITICO'S MANAGING
00:30:07EDITOR FOR ENTERPRISE. I AM LUCKY TO BE HERE WITH STEVE
00:30:09HILTON, WHO IS RUNNING -- I
00:30:12THINK THIS IS THE FIRST REPUBLICAN ELECTED TO GOVERNOR
00:30:15IN AN OPEN ELECTION SINCE 1990. >> THAT IS EVEN WORSE THAN I THOUGHT.
00:30:52>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT. SPENCER PRATT'S VIDEOS USED AI TECH TO SHOW WHAT IS CALLED THE
00:30:56MACHINE. WHY DID YOU NEED AI TO TELL THAT
00:30:58STORY?
00:31:02FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. I THINK I AM THE ONLY PERSON IN
00:31:06THIS ROOM THAT BELIEVES I CAN WIN. AS FOR THE AD, I BELIEVE IN
00:31:10USING ALL STORYTELLING TECHNIQUES, AND WE ARE GOING TO USE THIS FRESH ONE FOR POLITICS.
00:31:17I BELIEVE IT IS IN THE TREND
00:31:22OVER THE CENTURIES. BUT THE QUESTION IS VERY REAL.
00:31:25I WOULD START IN AN UNLIKELY
00:31:27PLACE, WHICH IS CNN AND FURRY DZHOKHAR AREA SPECIFICALLY.
00:31:32A FEW MONTHS AGO, YOU MAY HAVE
00:31:36SEEN HE LAID OUT A REALLY
00:31:38DEVASTATING CASE AGAINST THE 16
00:31:45YEARS OF ONE-PARTY RULE IN CALIFORNIA, AND HE WENT THROUGH
00:31:48ALL THE DETAILS, THE DOUBLING OF THE BUDGET, THE HOMELESSNESS
00:31:51CRISIS, THE HIGHEST TAXES FOR
00:31:56THE WORSE RESULTS, THE HIGHEST COST OF LIVING IN THE COUNTRY,
00:31:59THE HIGHEST POVERTY RATE, ETC., THE WORST BUSINESS CLIMATE AND SO ON.
00:32:04INCLUDING THE FACT THAT
00:32:06ACCORDING TO FAREED, 1.9 MILLION
00:32:08CALIFORNIANS ON THAT HAVE LEFT CALIFORNIA SINCE GAVIN NEWSOM BECAME GOVERNOR.
00:32:12BUT HE USED A PHRASE THAT SPEAKS EXACTLY TO THIS POINT THAT YOU ASKED ABOUT.
00:32:16HE DESCRIBED IT AS CALIFORNIA'S
00:32:19FAILED MODEL OF GOVERNANCE.
00:32:22I THINK THAT IS WHAT THAT AD IS
00:32:23POINTING TO, WHICH IS WE ARE
00:32:29POINTING TO A SITUATION WHERE --
00:32:32WHICH IS WE HAVE HAD A SITUATION
00:32:35WHERE PEOPLE IN THIS TOWN HAVE DRIVEN POLICY IN A DIRECTION
00:32:37THAT MAY HAVE SERVED THEIR NEEDS BUT HAS COMPLETELY DEVASTATED
00:32:42WORKING PEOPLE IN CALIFORNIA, SMALL BUSINESSES IN CALIFORNIA.
00:32:44I USED TO BE A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER.
00:32:47IT IS JUST A COMPLETE FAILURE ON
00:32:49EVERY FRONT, AND IT SEEMS TO
00:32:52HAVE BEEN IMMUNE TO EVERY KIND OF CHALLENGE BECAUSE IT IS VERY POWERFUL, THE MACHINE IS VERY
00:32:57POWERFUL, FUNDED BY GOVERNMENT UNIONS, AND YOU'VE GOT THIS
00:33:01ALLIANCE OF THE GOVERNMENT UNIONS AND NONPROFITS AND THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND ALL OF THIS.
00:33:05WE HAVE DEPICTED THAT IN THE AD. I THINK IT IS A VERY REAL
00:33:09MANIFESTATION OF WHAT HAS GONE
00:33:13WRONG IN CALIFORNIA.
00:33:13>> CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ENDORSE
00:33:17YOUR OPPONENT, AND YOU WROTE AN OP-ED THAT THEY NO LONGER REPRESENT THE INTERESTS OF
00:33:21BUSINESS. WHO DOES REPRESENT THE INTERESTS OF BUSINESS IN SACRAMENTO?
00:33:27OR DOES IT SUCCESSFULLY?
00:33:30MR. HELTON: ACCORDING TO CHIEF
00:33:31EXECUTIVE MAGAZINE, THEY DO AN ANNUAL SURVEY, AND THIS YEAR
00:33:36CALIFORNIA WAS RATED 50TH OUT OF 50 STATES FOR BUSINESS CLIMATE.
00:33:40JUDGING BY THAT, AND THE FACT THAT WE ARE THE MOST
00:33:43OVERREGULATED STATE.
00:34:13MR. HELTON: ACCORDING TO CHIEF EXECUTIVE MAGAZINE, THEY DO AN ANNUAL SURVEY, AND THIS YEAR CALIFORNIA WAS RATED 50TH OUT OF 50 STATES FOR BUSINESS CLIMATE.
00:34:17JUDGING BY THAT, AND THE FACT THAT WE ARE THE MOST OVERREGULATED STATE.
00:34:21I MADE A SPEECH ABOUT THIS LAST NIGHT AT THE COMMONWEALTH CLUB. WE ARE IN A REAL ECONOMIC CRISIS, HEADING FOR A CLIFF. EVERY DAY I MEET BUSINESS OWNERS
00:34:24WHO SAY IF WE DON'T CHANGE
00:34:25DIRECTION, WE ARE OUT.
00:34:33AS I RODE IN THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, IT IS A SENSE OF LEARNED HELPLESSNESS.
00:34:34THE BEST YOU CAN AIM FOR IS
00:34:38SUCKING UP TO THE POWERS THAT BE
00:34:41IN THE HOPE OF MAKING IT A BIT
00:34:44LESS BAD RATHER THAN GETTING TO A POINT WHERE WE HAVE A
00:34:46COMPETITIVE ECONOMY THAT IS ATTRACTIVE TO BUSINESS AND
00:34:50INVESTMENT THAT WE CREATE JOBS, WEALTH, AND OPPORTUNITY.
00:34:54THAT IS NOT HAPPENING. I AM HERE TO SAY WE CAN TURN IT AROUND. THAT IS WHY WE ARE RUNNING.
00:35:00I'VE GOT MY CAMPAIGN PITCH AS WE WERE TO THE VOTERS -- AS IT WERE
00:35:04TO THE VOTERS, AND MY FRIENDS IN THE MEDIA HAVE HEARD ME SAY THIS
00:35:07MANY TIMES, OUR PLAN TO MAKE OUR
00:35:08STATE CAL-AFFORDABLE.
00:35:16YOUR FIRST 150 THOUSAND DOLLARS TAX-FREE, STARTER HOMES FOR
00:35:20YOUNG FAMILIES, THOSE ARE THE
00:35:21BENEFITS, BUT MY MISSION IS TO
00:35:24TRANSFORM OUR BUSINESS CLIENT, -- BUSINESS CLIMATE, TO MAKE
00:35:28CALIFORNIA COMPETITIVE AGAIN SO WE DO GET THE INVESTMENT AND THE JOB CREATION AND START TO TURN
00:35:32THINGS AROUND. I THINK IT IS AN ABSOLUTE CRISIS WE ARE IN IF WE DO NOT CHANGE DIRECTION.
00:35:37MELANIE: IF DEMOCRATS --
00:35:40>> IF DEMOCRATS HAVE MISMANAGED THE STATE, OUR VOTERS STUPID TO KEEP GIVING THEM POWER?
00:35:44MR. HILTON: NOT AT ALL. THE CHOICE OF A POSITIVE
00:35:49ALTERNATIVE HAS NOT BEEN MADE CLEAR ENOUGH. MANY VOTERS HAVE LEFT, HAVE
00:35:51GIVEN UP, AS THAT NUMBER CITED
00:35:55DETAILS, AND THAT'S NEARLY 2 MILLION PEOPLE, A LOT, WHO JUST
00:35:58LEFT THE STATE, GIVEN UP.
00:36:05MY JOKE AT THE BEGINNING IS ONLY PARTIALLY A JOKE. I THINK THERE IS A SENSE OF
00:36:08INEVITABILITY ABOUT IT. I THINK THAT HAS INFECTED A LOT
00:36:14OF THE POLITICAL DISCOURSE IN
00:36:17CALIFORNIA, THAT, WELL, IT'S CALIFORNIA, DEMOCRATS ARE ALWAYS
00:36:20GOING TO BE IN CHARGE, BUT CAN YOU DO?
00:36:23THE BEST YOU CAN DO IS EITHER MODERATE IT A LITTLE BIT IF YOU
00:36:26CAN OR JUST GIVE UP AND LEAVE. I THINK THAT IS A HOPELESS
00:36:30POSITION FOR A STATE AS MAGNIFICENT AS OURS TO BE IN, A
00:36:33STATE THAT HAS DONE SUCH AN
00:36:35INCREDIBLE JOB OVER THE YEARS OF
00:36:39LEADERS TO THE WORLD. THE IDEA THAT WE JUST PUT UP
00:36:41WITH THIS I THINK IS FRANKLY BENEATH US AS A STATE.
00:36:45>> YOU MENTIONED STARTER HOMES
00:36:48AS PART OF YOUR CALIFORNIA
00:36:53AFFORDABILITY. IS THAT A NOUN ARE ONLY AN ADJECTIVE?
00:36:56MR. HILTON: CAL-AFFORDABLE.
00:37:01>> I AM TAKING IT TOO FAR.
00:37:05MR. HILTON: I AM ADDICTED TO THEM.
00:37:08I WROTE A BOOK LAST YEAR CALLED CALLIE-FAILURE.
00:37:12SORRY, GAVIN. ANYWAY.
00:37:15>> IMAGINE A PROPERTY
00:37:19OWNER WANTS TO BUILD 10 STARTER HOMES ON A LOT IN THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY.
00:37:22IT SHOULD HE HAVE A RIGHT TO DO THAT REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE COUNTY RULES ARE?
00:37:26MR. HILTON: I AM VERY MUCH A
00:37:30BELIEVER IN LOCAL CONTROL OF THESE THINGS. ONE OF THE THEMES OF THE WORK I
00:37:33HAVE DONE IN BUSINESS AND GOVERNMENT IS DECENTRALIZING
00:37:36POWER, PUTTING POWER DIRECTLY IN PEOPLE'S HANDS, AND I AM A FIRM
00:37:41BELIEVER IN LOCAL CONTROL OVER THOSE DECISIONS. THE WAY I THINK ABOUT THIS
00:37:44HOUSING QUESTION --
00:37:47>> THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE THE OBSTACLES IN MANY OF THESE CASES.
00:37:50MR. HILTON: LET ME JUST GET TO
00:37:54WHERE I WANT TO TAKE THIS CONVERSATION.
00:37:56HOUSING WAS THE FIRST ISSUE I
00:37:58REALLY STUDIED AND ENGAGED IN
00:38:02AFTER I HAD THIS UNEXPECTED NEW CAREER IN THE MEDIA, BUT MOST OF
00:38:05MY CAREER HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS.
00:38:08I WANTED TO GET BACK INTO THAT.
00:38:10I STARTED A POLICY ORGANIZATION YEARS BEFORE I DECIDED TO RUN
00:38:14FOR GOVERNOR, AND THE FIRST BIG ISSUE I LOOKED AT WAS HOUSING.
00:38:17THERE ARE IMMEDIATE, PRACTICAL THINGS WE CAN DO TO DEAL WITH
00:38:19THE HYSON CRISIS -- THE HOUSING
00:38:23CRISIS, PARTICULARLY THE COST, CAPPING IMPACT FEES, REDUCING
00:38:26SOME OF THE OVER COMPLEX, TOO
00:38:31ONEROUS AND COUNTERPRODUCTIVE BUILDING REGULATIONS THAT MAKE IT TWO OR THREE TIMES AS
00:38:34EXPENSIVE TO BUILD ANY STRUCTURE IN CALIFORNIA COMPARED TO
00:38:37NEIGHBORING STATES.
00:38:49CEQA REFORM IS ON THE BALLOT, PROP 45.
00:38:53THAT IS SOMETHING YOU COULD SAY ARE PRETTY NONCONTROVERSIAL.
00:38:56A LOT OF DEMOCRATS AGREE WITH THAT.
00:38:58IN THE PRIMARY, MANY OF US FOUND
00:39:04COMMON GROUND. THE BIG ONE WHERE I REALLY
00:39:06DIFFER IS TO CHALLENGE THIS IDEA OF DENSITY.
00:39:09THE SIMPLE WAY I PUT IT IS TO
00:39:10SAY RATHER THAN FORCING HOUSING
00:39:15INTO COMMUNITIES THAT DON'T WANT IT, LET'S ALLOW HOUSING TO BE
00:39:18BUILT IN PLACES THAT DO WANT IT.
00:39:22I AM ON THE ROAD ALL THE TIME IN CALIFORNIA.
00:39:25THERE ARE PLENTY OF PLACES IN OUR STATE WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO
00:39:28BUILD OUTWARDS, NOT UPWARDS, AND I THINK WE SHOULD LET THEM.
00:39:32I JUST TOTALLY DISAGREE WITH THAT. I DON'T CALL IT SPRAWL, I CALL
00:39:35IT CALIFORNIA DREAM. THAT IS CALIFORNIA.
00:39:38PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE IN SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES. I THINK WE SHOULD LET THAT BE
00:39:42BUILT RATHER THAN FORCING HOUSING INTO PLACES THAT DON'T WANT IT.
00:39:45>> TALKED A LOT ABOUT BREAKING
00:39:49UP BIG TECH BEFORE YOU RAN FOR GOVERNOR. WE HAVE HEARD LESS OF THAT FROM
00:39:52YOU THIS YEAR.
00:39:55MR. HILTON: I THINK THAT IS FAIR.
00:39:59COMPETITION IS GOOD. I HAVE ARGUED THAT WITH RESPECT
00:40:03TO UTILITIES IN CALIFORNIA, COMMON GROUND WITH TOM STIER THERE.
00:40:08MY OVERRIDING PRIORITY AS
00:40:10GOVERNOR WOULD BE TO MAKE US A
00:40:16LESS HOSTILE BUSINESS CLIMATE. SO I WANT TO CHANGE THOSE
00:40:21CONDITIONS. THERE IS AN UNDER DISCUSSED
00:40:24TOPIC THAT THE SCALE OF THE
00:40:28LITIGATION RISK FOR CALIFORNIA BUSINESS -- THE DATA IS SHOCKING.
00:40:3350% OF CALIFORNIA BUSINESSES ARE BEING SUED RIGHT NOW.
00:40:36THERE IS A 90% CHANCE IF YOU START A BUSINESS IN CALIFORNIA,
00:40:40YOU ARE GOING TO END UP IN A LAWSUIT.
00:40:43THESE THINGS I WANT TO DO WILL HELP ALL BUSINESSES.
00:40:47BUT WITHIN THE HIERARCHY OF SECTORS THAT NEED ATTENTION AND
00:40:51HELP, TO BE HONEST, THE TECH
00:40:54SECTOR IS DOING FINE.
00:40:58I'VE GOT STRONG VIEWS ON REGULATION OF TECH IN RELATION
00:41:02TO CHILDREN AND ARTISTS AND
00:41:04CREATIVITY AND COPYRIGHT, BUT GENERALLY SPEAKING MY FOCUS IS
00:41:07ON THE TWO INDUSTRIES THAT REALLY NEED EMERGENCY HELP, AND
00:41:10I WOULD SAY THAT IS ENTERTAINMENT AND AGRICULTURE.
00:41:15I THINK THOSE TWO ARE GOING TO BE THE PRIORITIES, BECAUSE THEY
00:41:20ARE IN DIRE STRAITS IF WE DO NOT ACT.
00:41:22>> SPEAKING OF THE ENTERTAINMENT
00:41:25INDUSTRY, THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS THAT GOVERNOR NEWSOM HAS BEEN INVOLVED BEHIND-THE-SCENES
00:41:29IN TRYING TO DISCOURAGE THE LAWSUIT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S
00:41:32FILED TO BLOCK THE PARAMOUNT MERGER.
00:41:35WHAT WOULD YOU DO AS GOVERNOR IF THERE WERE RUN ATTORNEY GENERAL
00:41:38WHO WAS ENGAGING IN LITIGATION
00:41:43THAT YOU DISAGREE WITH?
00:41:44MR. HILTON: I WOULD HOPE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WOULD BE MY COLLEAGUE.
00:41:48ONE OF THE THINGS I HAVE DONE THAT IS INNOVATION IN THIS RACE
00:41:52IS PUT TOGETHER A SLATE OF CANDIDATES, A TEAM RUNNING TOGETHER.
00:41:57HAS ANYONE KNOWS FROM BUSINESS, LIFE, ANYTHING, IT IS ALWAYS
00:42:00ABOUT A TEAM, NOT JUST ONE PERSON.
00:42:03IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN ODD TO ME THAT CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR RUN
00:42:06AND THEN DO NOT PAY ANY ATTENTION TO THE OTHER VERY IMPORTANT STATEWIDE OFFICES.
00:42:10THERE IS A GUY RUNNING FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL, MICHAEL GATES,
00:42:13A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE. WE WORKED TOGETHER CLOSELY.
00:42:16I AM HOPING HE WILL BE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.
00:42:20BUT I WOULD USE WHAT OTHER POWER
00:42:21I WOULD HAVE TO DISCOURAGE ANY
00:42:26LITIGATION THAT WOULD BE AND DESTRUCTIVE TO
00:42:29CALIFORNIA, INCLUDING THIS ONE. I THINK IT IS TOTALLY POLITICALLY MOTIVATED.
00:42:34I DID NOT SEE ROB'S INTERVIEW EARLIER, BUT WHEN HE IS PRESSED
00:42:37ON THIS -- I'M PARTICULARLY
00:42:39STRUCK BY HIS INTERVIEW ON THAT
00:42:47INSIDER ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY PODCAST -- HIS ARGUMENTS JUST
00:42:49DON'T ADD UP.
00:42:55SASHA: IT'S ON A WILDLY
00:43:00DIFFERENT SITUATION THAN WHAT YOU ARE SUPPORTING FOR PARTY OUT OF GOVERNMENT.
00:43:03WHAT LESSONS DO YOU TAKE FROM WHAT THE TORIES DID TO RETURN TO
00:43:07POWER IN 2010 THAT YOU CAN APPLY
00:43:11HERE? MR. HILTON: YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE A
00:43:14POSITIVE VISION OF THE FUTURE AND BE VERY CONNECTED TO THE
00:43:17NEEDS OF THE MOMENT, AND THAT IS WHY FOCUSING ON THE COST OF
00:43:20LIVING -- THAT'S WHY IT IS THE FOCUS. I HAVE BEEN ON THE ROAD PRETTY
00:43:25MUCH NONSTOP SINCE LAUNCHING MY CAMPAIGN IN APRIL.
00:43:27AND FOR THREE YEARS BEFORE THAT, LEARNING ABOUT THE PROBLEMS AND
00:43:31DEVELOPING POLICY SOLUTIONS. PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING SO MUCH.
00:43:34YOU'VE GOT TO BE IN TOUCH WITH THAT.
00:43:37AND REALLY SPEAK TO THAT VERY DIRECTLY.
00:43:41AND OFFER A POSITIVE SOLUTION.
00:43:44OF COURSE I'VE GOT CRITICISMS OF MY OPPONENT IN THIS RACE, SO I
00:43:48WOULD -- BASED ON THE REVIEWS OF
00:43:53HIS PERFORMANCE FROM PEOPLE WHO WORKED WITH HIM, I DON'T KNOW IF
00:43:57YOU WANT THAT KIND OF PERSON IN CHARGE HERE, SO I'VE GOT LOTS TO
00:44:00SAY ABOUT THAT, BUT THE FOCUS,
00:44:03AS IT WAS BACK THEN, WAS GETTING PEOPLE TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THAT
00:44:07YOU'VE GOT A CLEAR AND POSITIVE, OPTIMISTIC VISION FOR THE FUTURE.
00:44:11I THINK THAT IS WHAT PEOPLE REALLY NOTED ABOUT MY THEN BOSS DAVID CAMERON.
00:44:16THEY HAD A SENSE OF OPTIMISM ABOUT HIM IN TERMS OF WHERE THE
00:44:19COUNTRY COULD GO. THAT IS CERTAINLY WHAT I FEEL
00:44:23ABOUT CALIFORNIA. I ALWAYS SAY WE'VE GOT EVERYTHING GOING FOR US.
00:44:26WE'VE GOT INCREDIBLE ASSETS AND RESOURCES.
00:44:30WE GOT NATURAL BEAUTY, THE BEST
00:44:32WEATHER, GREAT UNIVERSITIES, AMAZING PEOPLE, THE INCREDIBLE
00:44:36INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM, THE STARTUP HUSTLE SPIRIT.
00:44:39WE'VE GOT EVERYTHING WE NEED TO
00:44:40BE TRULY AMAZING.
00:44:45WE JUST NEED, I THINK, A PROACTIVE, PRO-BUSINESS GOVERNOR
00:44:49THAT RECOGNIZES WE JUST ENDED UP THROUGH -- OFTEN WITH GOOD
00:44:53INTENTIONS, FRANKLY, IN A SITUATION WHERE YOU'VE GOT THIS
00:44:55MASSIVE, BLOATED, BUREAUCRATIC
00:44:59GOVERNMENT THAT IS STIFLING THE SPIRIT OF CALIFORNIA. ALBEIT GOT TO DO IS STOP DOING
00:45:03THAT AND THE STATE WILL REALLY
00:45:08FLOURISH AS NEVER BEFORE.
00:45:09SASHA: SO NOW THE TORIES ARE OUT
00:45:13OF POWER AGAIN AND ARE AT RISK
00:45:15OF BECOMING THE UK'S THIRD PARTY
00:45:17NIGEL FARAGE'S REFORM, THE POPULIST RIGHT.
00:45:21YOU GET CREDIT FOR BEING POPULACE RIGHT BEFORE IT WAS
00:45:25COOL. WHO BETTER REPRESENTS THE BRITISH RIGHT RIGHT NOW, THE
00:45:28TORIES OR PRO-REFORM?
00:45:30MR. HILTON: I'M AFRAID I DON'T REALLY FOLLOW IT AT ALL.
00:45:34I AM FOCUSED ON WHAT IS GOING ON.
00:45:35SASHA: WE HAVE A DAILY PLAYBOOK
00:45:38AT OF WESTMINSTER THAT I HIGHLY RECOMMEND. [LAUGHTER]
00:45:40MR. HILTON: I HAVE SAID THIS TO THE AUTHORS, AND I REALLY MEAN
00:45:45IT, THE FIRST THING I READ EVERY DAY IS PLAYBOOK CALIFORNIA.
00:45:51THAT IS MY FOCUS. IT REALLY IS A FANTASTIC SERVICE TO EVERYONE.
00:45:54SASHA: YOU ARE KNOWN TO CARRY A
00:45:58DUMB PHONE. IS THAT STILL THE CASE? MR. HILTON: YES.
00:46:02IT'S A FLIP PHONE.
00:46:06I DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE IT ON ME, BUT YES.
00:46:08SASHA: SO YOU CAN MAKE CALLS BUT NOT THE OTHER FUN STUFF WE DO ON PHONES?
00:46:12MR. HILTON: YES, I CAN PHONE OR
00:46:15TEXT PEOPLE, BUT THAT'S IT. SASHA: THERE WAS NEWS A FEW
00:46:19WEEKS AGO THAT JIM CLYBURN SAID HE HAD NEVER USED AI BEFORE,
00:46:22THAT HE HAD BASICALLY JUST LEARNED WHAT CHATGPT WAS.
00:46:26WHY SHOULD CALIFORNIANS ACCEPT A GOVERNOR WHO IS GOING TO SET TECH POLICY WHO DOES NOT USE A CELL PHONE?
00:46:30MR. HILTON: I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE ME WISH THEY WERE
00:46:34ABLE TO DO THE SAME, AND I THINK THERE IS A GROWING TREND OF
00:46:37PEOPLE FEELING THAT IT HAS GONE
00:46:41TOO FAR AND IT IS TOO
00:46:43DISTRACTING AND ALL-CONSUMING.
00:46:46TO BE BLUNT ABOUT IT, I THINK IT IS A POSITIVE THAT YOU WILL HAVE
00:46:50SOMEONE WHO HAS TIME TO THINK, TO REFLECT, THAT IS NOT JUST
00:46:54GLUED AND ADDICTED TO THEIR PHONE THE WHOLE TIME.
00:46:57BUT MORE SERIOUSLY, IT IS NO
00:46:58REFLECTION OF YOUR UNDERSTANDING
00:47:03OF TECHNOLOGY. I WAS A TECH STARTUP FOUNDER.
00:47:07I WAS THE CEO OF, I'LL BE AT A
00:47:09MODEST TECH STARTUP -- ALBEIT A
00:47:18MODEST TECH STARTUP. I STILL USE A LAPTOP.
00:47:21I AM NOT A TECHNOPHOBE. I JUST WANT TO KEEP IT IN
00:47:25BALANCE.
00:47:25SASHA: YOU HAVE PUT OUT POLICY
00:47:29PAPERS ABOUT CALIFORNIA SHOULD BE RECEPTIVE TO AI.
00:47:31IT SEEMS LIKE THE ENERGY BIT IS
00:47:36IN A DIFFERENT PLACE NOW. MR. HILTON: I THINK IT REFLECTS
00:47:39UNEASE IN WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, A SENSE THAT TECHNOLOGY
00:47:43IS TOO POWERFUL. THERE IS NO CONTROL OVER IT. IT IS OUT OF CONTROL.
00:47:47AND I THINK THERE IS A COUPLE OF SPECIFIC THINGS.
00:47:50I THINK TWO OF THE FOUNDERS IN
00:47:53PARTICULAR HAVE BEEN A DISASTER
00:47:56FOR THE REPUTATION OF THE INDUSTRY. OF COURSE THEY HAVE HAD TREMENDOUS SUCCESS IN TERMS OF
00:48:00THEIR BUSINESSES, BUT THE
00:48:03NARRATIVE THEY HAVE BEEN
00:48:07SPINNING FOR YEARS HAS BEEN CATASTROPHIC FOR PUBLIC TRUST IN THEIR OWN INDUSTRY.
00:48:13I THINK THAT IS A LARGE PART OF THE PROBLEM, THIS ENDLESS DOOM
00:48:16LADEN PREDICTIONS ABOUT THE
00:48:17THINGS THAT THEY ARE WORKING ON
00:48:23HAS SAID THIS.
00:48:26THEY SAY EVERYBODY HATES US, I WONDER WHY. IT IS BECAUSE YOU TOLD THEM TO
00:48:30FEAR WHAT THEY ARE BUILDING. SO I THINK THE DATA CENTER THING
00:48:33IS A TANGIBLE PROXY FOR A GENERALIZED CONCERN ABOUT AI.
00:48:39MY RESPONSE TO THAT IS TO TAKE IT SERIOUSLY. PEOPLE HAVE LEGITIMATE CONCERNS.
00:48:43IF ONLY IT WAS A REAL ISSUE IN CALIFORNIA.
00:48:46WE ARE SO HOSTILE TO BUILDING THAT NO ONE IS EVEN WANTING TO
00:48:49BUILD DATA CENTERS PARTICULARLY IN CALIFORNIA.
00:48:52THEY GO TO TEXAS AND OHIO AND EVERYWHERE IT IS EASIER TO BUILD.
00:48:57LAST NIGHT, MY PLAN I LAID OUT
00:48:59WAS FOR A DECADE OF BUILDING IN CALIFORNIA WHERE WE ACTUALLY
00:49:03MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO HAVE
00:49:04MANUFACTURING AND HIGH-END
00:49:08ROBOTICS -- ALL THE THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN.
00:49:11AI IS GOING TO ENABLE A RE-SHORING UP MANUFACTURING.
00:49:15IT IS GOING TO REDUCE THE COST ADVANTAGE OF OVERSEAS MANUFACTURING BECAUSE YOU CAN
00:49:19HAVE SUCH HIGH LEVELS OF AUTOMATION. NONE OF THAT IS GOING TO COME TO
00:49:23CALIFORNIA IF WE ARE NOT CAREFUL. MY POINT ON AI, THE WAY I PUT IT
00:49:26LAST NIGHT AS WE ARE IN DANGER OF BOTH OVER AND UNDER
00:49:29REGULATING AT THE SAME TIME. I THINK WE ARE UNDER REGULATING
00:49:32SOME OF THE HARMS, FOR EXAMPLE,
00:49:35IN RELATION TO CHILDREN AND IN RELATION TO THE CREATIVE
00:49:38COMMUNITY AND THEIR OUTPUT, BUT WE ARE IN DANGER OF OVER
00:49:42REGULATING SOME OF THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS.
00:49:44YOU SEE THAT IN CALIFORNIA IN
00:49:47RELATION TO MEDICAL USE OF YOU , BUT THE REAL POINT I WANTED TO
00:49:51GET TO IS I WANT US IN CALIFORNIA TO HAVE THE FULL
00:49:54STACK OF AI JOBS.
00:49:55NOT JUST BUILDING THE SOFTWARE, BUT BUILDING ALL THE OTHER
00:49:59DRUGS. MOST OF THE TECH COMPANIES IN CALIFORNIA THAT WERE FOUNDED
00:50:03HERE, THEY HAVE FAR HIGHER
00:50:05EMPLOYMENT OUTSIDE OF OUR STATE.
00:50:09YOU JUST SAW LAST YEAR NVIDIA
00:50:11WAS THE GREATEST EXAMPLE, HALF
00:50:13TRILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT HE ANNOUNCED.
00:50:15ALL OF IT OUTSIDE OF CALIFORNIA. ALL OF THAT INVESTMENT AND JOBS
00:50:19GOING OUTSIDE OF OUR STATE. I WANT TO SEE US CAPTURE THAT
00:50:23HERE SO WE MOVE AWAY FROM HAVING THE HIGHEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
00:50:26AND HIGHEST POVERTY RATE IN THE COUNTRY. WE SHOULD BE LEADING ALL THESE
00:50:30THINGS, NOT BOTTOM OF THE TABLE.
00:50:31>> YOU WILL BE HAPPY TO LEARN I
00:50:35HAVE TO WRAP UP BEFORE I CAN ASK ABOUT DONALD TRUMP.
00:50:38THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY. STEVE: THANK YOU.
00:50:44♪ THANKS. ♪
00:50:58>> YOU ARE WATCHING C-SPAN. DEMOCRACY UNFILTERED.
00:51:06>> AMERICA CELEBRATES 250 YEARS,
00:51:09AND C-SPAN IS THERE TO MARK EVERY MOMENT.
00:51:13FROM THE SIGNING OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, TO THE VOICES SHAPING OUR NATION'S
00:51:16FUTURE, FROM FAMOUS SPEECHES --
00:51:19>> GIVE ME DEATH. >> TO BATTLE REENACTMENTS.
00:51:24AND VISITS TO KEY HISTORIC SITES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
00:51:28WE BRING YOU UNPRECEDENTED, ALL PLATFORM COVERAGE.
00:51:32EXPLORING THE STORIES, SITES,
00:51:35AND SPIRIT THAT MAKE UP AMERICA.
00:51:37JOIN US FOR A REMARKABLE COAST-TO-COAST COVERAGE,
00:51:41FEATURING KEY EVENTS FROM OUR PAST THAT MAKE POSSIBLE THE
00:51:44UNLIMITED OPPORTUNITIES OF OUR FUTURE, CELEBRATING OUR NATION'S
00:51:47JOURNEY LIKE NO OTHER NETWORK CAN.
00:51:49AMERICA 250, OVER A YEAR OF
00:51:52HISTORIC MOMENTS.
00:51:55C-SPAN, OFFICIAL MEDIA PARTNER OF AMERICA 250.
00:51:58>> C-SPAN IS BROUGHT TO BY CABLE, SATELLITE AND STREAMING
00:52:02COMPANIES THAT PROVIDE C-SPAN AS A PUBLIC SERVICE.
00:52:04>> C-SPAN IS THE OFFICIAL MEDIA
00:52:10PARTNER OF AMERICA 250,
00:52:12COMMEMORATING 250 YEARS OF
00:52:15AMERICAN DEMOCRACY. AMERICA 250 IS TRAVELING THE COUNTRY TO HONOR THE VOICES THAT
00:52:19DEFINE OUR NATION, STORIES OF IDENTITY, SERVICE, AND COMMUNITY.
00:52:23HERE IS ONE OF THEM.
00:52:24>> OK, SO YOU GUYS HAVE BOTH
00:52:29DONE THIS BEFORE. SO I JUST GOT HERE. LET'S GO AFTER THEM.
00:52:35THIS IS THE CHEMICAL.
00:52:39OK, SO YOU CAN SEE WE ARE
00:52:41GETTING IT ALL OVER, JUST THAT
00:52:45MUCH. >> THIS IS A SERVICE PROGRAM.
00:52:50I WILL INVITE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS
00:52:53THING TO COME HELP US CLEAN GRAVESTONES.
00:52:55WE KNOW IT WE ARE DOING. WE ARE VERY GOOD AT IT AND WE DON'T CHARGE FOR IT.
00:53:03WE DID 40 SOMETHING STONES --
00:53:05THEY ARE RIGHT OVER THERE. I USE THIS ONE AS AN EXAMPLE.
00:53:08THIS STONE LOOKED JUST LIKE THAT SATURDAY MORNING.
00:53:14IT IS KIND OF A WAY OF HONORING ALL THESE PEOPLE WHO'VE GONE
00:53:16BEFORE US TO GIVE THEM THEIR RESPECTIVE CLEANING THEIR
00:53:21GRAVESTONES. THIS GUY HAPPENS TO BE A VETERAN. HOW DO I KNOW IT?
00:53:24IT SAYS CAPTAIN.
00:53:27HERE'S ANOTHER WAY I KNOW IT. SEE THAT THING?
00:53:30HE WAS ONE OF THOSE FOLKS IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMY.
00:53:34LEXINGTON IS AS OLD AS OUR COUNTRY IS. OLDER.
00:53:38SO YOU HAVE FOLKS WERE BURIED HERE THAT ARE PREREVOLUTIONARY
00:53:42WAR THERE ARE ABOUT 8000 PEOPLE
00:53:45BURIED HERE. I UNDERSTAND 10% ARE VETERANS.
00:53:49YOU WILL FIND VETERANS FROM EVERY ENGAGEMENT THE U.S. HAS
00:53:52BEEN IN, INCLUDING THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. ALL THE WAY FROM THERE TO THE
00:53:56CURRENT WARS, WORLD WAR I, WORLD
00:54:00WAR II. AND OBVIOUSLY SINCE THIS IS
00:54:04LEXINGTON, VIRGINIA, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS
00:54:08WERE ALSO HERE.
00:54:09I HAVE TWO GREAT GRANDFATHERS
00:54:12ONE WAS A LIEUTENANT IN THE GRAND ARMY OF REPUBLIC FROM IOWA
00:54:16. MY OTHER GREAT-GRANDFATHER FROM
00:54:18SOUTH CAROLINA WAS ALSO A SOLDIER, AND HE FOUGHT FOR
00:54:22ROBERT E. LEE, SO IT GOES WAY BACK.
00:54:24MY FATHER WAS A SURVIVOR OF PEARL HARBOR.
00:54:28HE WAS ON THE BATTLESHIP CALIFORNIA WHEN IT WAS SUNK THAT MORNING.
00:54:32HIS WIFE WAS A NAVY NURSE WHOSE WIFE WAS IN THE WAR WHEN WE TOOK OUT SADDAM HUSSEIN.
00:54:38AND I WAS A NAVAL OFFICER FOR 24 YEARS. I GRADUATED FROM THE NAVAL
00:54:43ACADEMY IN JUNE OF 1969.
00:54:48IN NOVEMBER, I GOT AN ALL EXPENSE TRIP TO GO TO VIETNAM.
00:54:52I WAS THERE FOR THANKSGIVING. WE'VE BEEN VERY PROUD TO SERVE
00:54:56OUR COUNTRY, AND IN OUR CASE, WE
00:55:00ALL HAPPEN TO BE IN THE NAVY.
00:55:03THAT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE DURING THE ARMY-NAVY FOOTBALL GAME.
00:55:07BUT IF YOU GO ALL THE WAY BACK,
00:55:10WE ARE ABOUT AS AMERICAN AS YOU CAN GET ON BOTH SIDES.
00:55:12I LIVED AS A CHILD WITH A FATHER
00:55:15WHO WAS A REAL VETERAN WHO DID EVERYTHING BUT DIED DURING WORLD
00:55:18WAR II AND THAT AND BEDDED ON ME.
00:55:22I THINK A LOT OF VETERANS WHO
00:55:23REALLY SERVED IN HARM'S WAY, YOU
00:55:27WILL FIND THAT THEY DON'T LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IT.
00:55:29IT WAS TOO PAINFUL, DIFFICULT.
00:55:32EVEN NOW, THERE ARE MANY
00:55:34VETERANS WHO ARE SUFFERING BECAUSE THERE IS KIND OF
00:55:38SOMETHING SUBHUMAN ABOUT GOING AND DOING THE DIRTY WORK THAT YOU NEED TO DO TO GO DEFEND OUR COUNTRY.
00:55:42GO AHEAD.
00:55:47IF YOU WATCH US CLEAN SOME
00:55:49GRAVES, THE PROCESS, YOU WILL
00:55:52SEE FOR YOURSELF, IT IS SOMEWHAT OF A CATHARTIC EXPERIENCE
00:55:56BECAUSE THIS GRAVESTONE IS
00:55:58CONVERTED RIGHT IN FRONT OF US FROM A COLD STONE TO A REAL
00:56:02HUMAN BEING WHO LIVED.
00:56:11THERE HAVE BEEN ALL SORTS OF
00:56:13PEOPLE WHO WERE VIOLENTLY ATTACKING EACH OTHER, SHOOTING EACH OTHER.
00:56:18IT HAS GONE ON AND ON, BUT WE SEEM TO HAVE THIS MAGNET THAT
00:56:22BRINGS US BACK TOGETHER.
00:56:24IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT MOST SOCIETIES, CULTURES AND
00:56:29HISTORIES HAVE LASTED IN ROUND
00:56:33NUMBERS ABOUT 200 50 YEARS.
00:56:36WELL, HERE WE ARE. THE QUESTION FOR ALL OF US TO
00:56:38THINK ABOUT, WILL THERE BE A
00:56:41U.S. 250 YEARS FROM NOW?
00:56:44THERE'S SOMETHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT THAT. YOU CAN HAVE COMPASSION, GET
00:56:48ALONG WITH EACH OTHER, AND YOU CAN ARGUE RESPECTFULLY FROM
00:56:52THOSE WHO HAVE A DIFFERENT VIEW,
00:56:54BUT WE DON'T NEED TO GO BEYOND THAT. I'M DENNIS BUSSEY, AND THIS IS OUR AMERICAN STORY.
00:57:11>> C-SPAN'S COVERAGE OF THE AMERICAS 250 OUR AMERICAN STORY IS PRESENTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH YOUTUBE.
00:57:16CAMPAIGN 2026 IS UNDERWAY, AND THE STAKES CANNOT BE HIGHER.
00:57:19EVERY SEAT IN THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IS UP
00:57:23FOR GRABS, ALONG WITH 33 U.S.
00:57:25SENATE RACES AND THE OUTCOME OF
00:57:27BOTH COULD RESHAPE THE BALANCE OF POWER IN WASHINGTON.
00:57:32VOTERS WILL ALSO DECIDE 36 GUBERNATORIAL CONTEST.
00:57:34FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL TO ELECTION NIGHT.
00:57:37FOLLOW CAMPAIGN 2026 ON C-SPAN
00:57:42NETWORKS. C-SPAN, BRINGING YOU DEMOCRACY UNFILTERED.
00:57:45>> NOW, DEMOCRATIC U.S. SENATE
00:57:51CANDIDATE SHERROD BROWN MADE A STOP IN NEW PHILADELPHIA, OHIO,
00:57:54TO MEET WITH SUPPORTERS AND DISCUSSED THE IMPORTANCE OF SOCIAL SECURITY.
00:57:58BROWN, WHO SERVED AS SENATOR
00:57:59FROM OHIO FROM 2007 TO 2025,
00:58:03DISCUSSED HIS OWN RECORD ON ECONOMIC POLICY AND ALSO
00:58:08CRITICIZED HIS OPPONENT, REPUBLICAN SENATOR JOHN HOUSTON ON THE IRAN WAR.
00:58:13MR. BROWN WOULD GO ON TO FACE SENATOR HE STATED IN THE
00:58:18GENERAL ELECTION, WHICH THE COOK POLITICAL REPORT RATED A TOSSUP.
00:58:24[APPLAUSE]