>> HELLO, EVERYONE.

WELCOME TO AMANPOUR AND COMPANY.

HERE'S WHAT'S COMING UP.

>> EVERY DECISION I'VE TAKEN HAS BEEN ABOUT PUTTING THE COUNTRY I LOVE FIRST.

THAT IS WHY I WILL RESIGN AS LEADER OF THE LABOR PARTY.

> >> UK LEADER, KEIR STARMER, STEPPING DOWN.

WHAT THE CHANGE MEANS FOR BRITAIN AND THE WORLD.

AND -- > >> WE ARE ABOUT TO TAKE PART IN THE GREATEST MASS MIGRATION IN HISTORY.

>> DRIVEN FROM HOME.

IN THE WELCOME TABLE, MASS MIGRATION.

>> AND THEN YOU HAVE WORK FROM HOME STAY-AT-HOME MOMS.

>> NO COUNTRY FOR MOTHERS.

IN A NEW SECONDARY, MOMS FIRST CEO DR.

CALLS FOR A TRUCE IN THE CULTURE WARS SO MOTHERS CAN FIND COMMON GROUND.

> >> AND FINALLY, A BREATHTAKING TRANSFORMATION.

VISIONARY STREET ARTIST JR JOINTS ME FROM THE BANKS OF THE SEINE.

> >> AMANPOUR AND COMPANY IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE ANDERSON FAMILY ENDOWMENT.

JIM ATTWOOD AND LESLIE WILLIAMS.

CANDACE KING WEIR.

THE SYLVIA A. AND SIMON B. POYTA PROGRAMMING ENDOWMENT TO FIGHT ANTISEMITISM .

THE STRAUS FAMILY FOUNDATION.

THE PETER G. PETERSON AND JOAN GANZ COONEY FUND.

CHARLES ROSENBLUM, BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG, AND I CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

> >> WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM, EVERYONE.

I AM BIANNA GOLODRYGA, IN NEW YORK SITTING IN FOR CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR.

> >> KEIR STARMER ANNOUNCED HE WAS RESIGNING.

>> THE QUESTION MY PARTY IS ASKING NOW IS WHETHER I AM BEST PLACED TO LEAD US INTO THE NEXT GENERAL ELECTION.

I HAVE HEARD THE ANSWER OF MY PARLIAMENTARY PARTY TO THAT QUESTION.

AND I ACCEPT THAT ANSWER WITH GOOD GRACE.

>> TWO YEARS AGO IN A LANDSLIDE VICTORY, THE LABOR PARTY PROMISED TO END THE CHAOS OF LEADERSHIP IN THE UK.

CHAOS THAT DATES BACK ALMOST EXACTLY 10 YEARS SINCE THE BREAKS IT THE FIRST PUNCH BRITAIN INTO POLITICAL INSTABILITY.

NOW, STARMER LEAVES OFFICE AS THE LEAST POPULAR LEADER.

NIGEL FARAGE IS DEMANDING A NEW ELECTION TO SIX FORMER -- BROKEN BRITAIN.

> >> A CRUCIAL PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION -- TO SUCCEED STARMER AS THE NEW LEADER AND PRIME MINISTER.

FOR BURNHAM, THIS COULD BE A MIXED BLESSING AS THE UK FACES STAGNANT WAGES, HIGH-ENERGY BILLS AND SERIOUS QUESTIONS OVER THE STATE OF THE ARMED FORCES.

CAN HE REALLY TURN THIS ALL AROUND?

JOIN ME NOW IS TOM McTAGUE, EDITOR IN CHIEF OF THE NEW STATESMAN.

TOM, LOOKING TO THE PROGRAM.

AGAIN, IMPORT INTERMENT ARE VIEWERS THAT TWO YEARS AGO, LABOR ONE ITS BIGGEST PARLIAMENTARY MAJORITY IN HISTORY.

NOW, STARMER HAS LOST BOTH HIS COUNTRY AND HIS PARTY AND JUST ON FRIDAY, HE REMAINED DEFIANT THAT HE WAS GOING NOWHERE.

CLEARLY THINGS HAVE CHANGED OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST 48 HOURS.

WHAT LED ULTIMATELY IN THIS CHANGE FROM DEFIANCE TO THIS RESIGNATION?

>> I THINK IT WAS NUMBERS.

IT WAS THAT OLD LBJ ADAGE THAT THE FIRST RULE OF POLITICS IS TO COUNT.

HE LOST SUPPORT OF HIS PARLIAMENTARY --AND HE LOST SUPPORT OF HIS CABINET AND WITHOUT EITHER OF THOSE THINGS, HE CANNOT GOVERN AND SO IT WAS JUST A FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION OF BEING ABLE TO GOVERN.

YOU KNOW, HE COULDN'T FILL THE CABINET.

THEY DIDN'T HAVE HIS --THEY DIDN'T HAVE CONFIDENCE IN HIM THAT --AND HIS PARLIAMENTARY PARTY DIDN'T HAVE CONFIDENCE IN HIM.

>> VICTORY THAT FLIPPED MOST MPs HERE OR WAS THEIR GROWING SENSE AMONG SOME OF THE POLITICAL LEADERS THAT IT WAS STARMER'S TIME TO GO?

>> IT WAS A BIT OF BOTH.

THE REASON THAT BURNHAM WAS ABLE TO STAND IN FOR THE ELECTION WAS BECAUSE OF THE RESOUNDING NATURE OF THE LABOR PARTY'S DEFEAT IN MESA LOCAL ELECTION.

YOU KNOW, A KIND OF MIDTERM HAMMERING IF YOU LIKE FOR THE LABOR PARTY, WHICH WASN'T JUST A DEFEAT BUT A KIND OF EXISTENTIAL DECEIT.

IT SUGGESTED THAT THE LABOR PARTY WAS ON FOR A WIPEOUT IN THE NEXT GENERAL ELECTION.

SO, FUNDAMENTALLY, KEIR STARMER WAS NOT ABLE TO COMMAND THE SUPPORT OF HIS MPs BECAUSE HE LOST SUPPORT OF THE COUNTRY AND THEY WERE LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY THAT WAS GOING TO SAVE THE PARTY AND SAVE THEIR OWN SEATS.

AND SO, KEIR STARMER LET ANDY BURNHAM STAND TO RETURN TO PARLIAMENT EVEN THOUGH HE KNEW THAT BY DOING SO, HE WAS PUTTING HIS OWN JOB AT RISK.

AT THAT POINT, HE WAS ESSENTIALLY TOO WEAK TO STOP ANDY BURNHAM FROM RETURNING, AND SO WHEN ANDY BURNHAM PASSED THE TEST THAT HE SET HIMSELF BY WINNING THAT BY ELECTION OR WINNING IT SO RESOUNDINGLY, THE DEAL WAS REALLY NEAT.

WAS REACHED AMONG LABOR MPs WHO LOOKED AT THAT ELECTION AND SAW HOW ANDY BURNHAM HAD DEFEATED AND REFORMED THE POPULIST PARTY OF NIGEL FARAGE.

HE MANAGED TO DEFEAT THEM AND DEFEAT THEM QUITE COMFORTABLY IN THEY HAVE IT.

THAT'S THE FUNDAMENTAL CANCELLATION HERE.

HE IS LOOKING AT ANDY BURNHAM AND THINKING, HE'S OUR LESS CHANCE OF BEING ABLE TO SAVE OUR OWN SKIN.

>> SO DOES LABOR LOOKING AT ALL OF THIS ONCE A STRAIGHT HANDOVER TO ANDY BURNHAM RIGHT NOW --A SORT OF CORONATION FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD?

BECAUSE I'M THINKING ABOUT WHAT WE SAW PLAY OUT HERE FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN 2024, WHEN JOE BIDEN ANNOUNCED HE WOULD NO LONGER BE RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT, AND THE CANDIDATE THEN BECAME KAMALA HARRIS AND THERE IS A LOT OF DEBATE WHETHER SHE WOULD BE BETTER TESTED IF THERE HAD BEEN A PRIMARY.

AT THAT POINT, THERE WASN'T.

IS THERE CONCERN ABOUT THAT TRANSPIRING NOW FOR ANDY BURNHAM?

>> ABSOLUTELY AND IT'S INTERESTING, THE KAMALA HARRIS EXAMPLE YOU JUST RAISED BECAUSE IT CAME UP IN A MEETING I WAS HAVING TODAY WHERE PEOPLE WERE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE PARALLELS, AND ALSO THE DIFFERENCES.

YOU KNOW, THE DIFFERENCE HERE IS THAT THIS IS A, YOU KNOW, HANDOVER OF POWER THAT HAS BEEN IMPOSED UPON KEIR STARMER, THE PRIME MINISTER, THROUGH AT LEAST SOME DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.

THERE HAS BEEN AN ELECTION, TO WHICH ANDY BURNHAM HAS WON AND RETURNED TO PARLIAMENT, BUT AT THE MOMENT, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE A CORONATION, ALL OF HIS RIVALS ARE STEPPING ASIDE BECAUSE SO MANY OF THE LABOR MPs ARE BACKING ANDY BURNHAM.

ANOTHER BIG DIFFERENCE OF COURSE IS THAT ANDY BURNHAM HAS THREE YEARS POTENTIALLY IN THE JOB BEFORE HE HAS TO HAVE A GENERAL ELECTION.

SO UNLIKE KAMALA HARRIS WHO WAS PARACHUTED INTO THIS JOB AND THEN SUDDENLY HAD TO FIGHT AN ELECTION, THERE WAS TIME FOR DR.

NEED TO MAKE HIS CASE.

BUT THERE'S TIME FOR HIM TO LOSE IT POPULARITY AND SUPPORT AS WELL WHICH HAS BEEN A TREND WE'VE SEEN AMONG MOST WESTERN LEADERS OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.

KEIR STARMER, OBVIOUSLY, THE BEST EXAMPLE.

IS THERE CONCERN THAT THAT COULD HAPPEN TO ANDY BURNHAM, DESPITE HIM HAVING A PERHAPS MORE OUTGOING PERSONALITY, CARING VIBES --THAT SEEM TO BE REGISTERING MORE WITH VOTERS.

A LOT CAN HAPPEN OVER 2 TO 3 YEARS.

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE PARTY IF HE THEN STARTS TO LOSE SOME OF HIS WAY?

>> LOOK.

I THINK THAT'S A VERY FAIR OBSERVATION AND ONE THAT LABOR MPs HAVE PRIVATELY BEEN WRESTLING WITH THE PAST FEW MONTHS .

THIS IS A PROSPECT OF ANDY BURNHAM RETURNING TO PARLIAMENT.

NOW, HE IS BOUND BY THE SAME MANIFESTO PROMISES THAT KEIR STARMER MADE, WHICH --WHICH WERE ENDORSED IN THE LAST GENERAL ELECTION.

AND JUST TO MAKE IT CLEAR, TO YOUR VIEWERS, YOU KNOW, KEIR STARMER WON A RESOUNDING ELECTION VICTORY.

A LANDSLIDE ELECTION VICTORY.

LESS THAN TWO YEARS AGO, AND WE ARE IN THIS POSITION WHERE HIS POPULARITY HAS ABSOLUTELY PLUMMETED AS I THINK YOU PUT IN THE BEGINNING.

HE'S THE LEAST POPULAR PRIME MINISTER IN HISTORY.

AND THAT IS PART OF A LONGER- TERM TREND IN WHICH ALMOST ALL PRIME MINISTERS, RIGHT --I THINK YOU'RE HAVING IT ACROSS EUROPE AND IN THE UNITED STATES, WHERE INCUMBENT LEADERS ARE BECOMING VERY UNPOPULAR VERY QUICKLY BECAUSE OF CONDITIONS BEYOND THEIR CONTROL OR CERTAINLY BECAUSE OF THE CONDITIONS THAT EXIST AT THE MOMENT.

AND SO THOSE CONDITIONS ARE GOING TO APPLY TO ANDY BURNHAM AND YOU ALREADY HAVE A SENSE AMONG SOME PEOPLE IN BRITAIN THAT CAN'T HANG ON A MINUTE.

I DIDN'T VOTE FOR THIS GUY.

WHAT MANDATE DOES HE HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS?

AND SO YOU'RE ALREADY SEEING THE PRESSURE BUILD FOR AN EARLY GENERAL ELECTION, SO LET US SEE IF HE CAN ENDURE THAT PRESSURE OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS AND POTENTIALLY YEARS, OR WHETHER HE WILL --YOU KNOW, THE SAME THING THAT HAPPENED TO BORIS JOHNSON AND JOE BIDEN WILL HAPPEN TO ANDY BURNHAM.

>> THERE'S QUITE A BIT OF A PARADOX, TOO, AND THAT AS YOU NOTED, ANDY BURNHAM SAYS HE'S GOING TO STICK TO THE 2024 MANIFESTO BUT HE GIVES OFF A MUCH MORE PROGRESSIVE SOCIALIST MESSAGING IN TERMS OF POLICIES THAT HE SUPPORTS THAN STARMER DID, BUT THAT MANIFESTO INCLUDES GOING OUT RAISING MORE TAXES AND COMMITTING TO BALANCE THE BUDGET.

SO IF HE'S NOT GOING TO BORROW MORE, HE'S NOT GOING TO TEXT MORE, WHERE DOES THAT MONEY FOR CHANGE ACTUALLY COME FROM?

>> YOU'VE GOT THIS MILLION- DOLLAR QUESTION RIGHT THERE.

YOU KNOW, ANDY BURNHAM IS STANDING ON A TICKET AS, YOU KNOW, CHANGE.

MUCH AS KEIR STARMER STOOD ON THAT VERY SAME COMMITMENT AND THAT SAME PROMISE, THAT SAME SLOGAN.

HE WAS PROMISING CHANGE, BUT BECAUSE OF THE CONDITIONS THAT ANDY BURNHAM IS INHERITING, THE PHYSICAL CONSTRAINTS THAT EXIST HERE, AND THE FISCAL CONSTRAINTS THAT ARE SELF- IMPOSED THROUGH THE LABOR PARTY'S MANIFESTO THAT AS YOU SAY, HE'S COMMITTED TO.

THIS IS THE FUNDAMENTAL CHALLENGE THAT HE FACES.

PEOPLE WILL SAY OF COURSE THAT THERE ARE SMARTER WAYS OF ACTING --SOME SMART DECISIONS THAT CAN BE MADE.

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SAVINGS THAT CAN BE FOUND ELSEWHERE, BUT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT EASY BECAUSE IN ANY ECONOMY, WHICH IS NOT GROWING, THE DECISIONS THAT YOU MAKE ON CUTS NECESSARILY MEAN TAKING SOMETHING AWAY FROM SOMEBODY AND THAT IS JUST A FUNDAMENTALLY DIFFICULT JOB.

IN FACT, THAT IS WHAT CAUSED KEIR STARMER SUCH A DEGREE OF THE --IN HIS PREMIERSHIP WHERE HE REMOVED CERTAIN WELFARE PROVISIONS HERE.

AND THE BACKLASH WAS ENORMOUS.

SO I THINK IT'S A REALLY DIFFICULT CHALLENGE FOR KEIR STARMER.

--ANDY BURNHAM.

>> WHAT STARTED AS A LANDSLIDE FOR KEIR STARMER ALMOST IMMEDIATELY OUT OF THE GATE SAW SOME OWN GOALS AND STUMBLES AS YOU NOTED.

THE SCRAPPING OF THE POPULAR WINTER FUEL BENEFIT FOR ELDERLY VOTERS.

OF COURSE, THE PETER MENDELSON SCANDAL AS WELL.

HOPING HIM INTO THE EPSTEIN DRAMA HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

THAT CONTINUES TO UNFOLD.

MENDELSON BEING THE UK AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED STATES APPOINTED BY KEIR STARMER.

WALK US THROUGH WHAT ULTIMATELY LED TO THIS MORNING'S RESIGNATION.

HOW MUCH WEIGHT DID MENDELSON ALONE CARRY HERE?

>> LOOK, I THINK IT WAS AN IMPORTANT MOMENT IN THE LONG DOWNFALL OF KEIR STARMER.

BUT IT WASN'T THE CAUSE OF THE DOWNFALL.

IT WAS A KIND OF CONTRIBUTING FACTOR I THINK.

I THINK YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT HIS DECLINE.

HIS DECLINE IN AUTHORITY AND POPULARITY.

GOING RIGHT BACK TO THE BEGINNING OF HIS PREMIERSHIP, HE CAME INTO OFFICE IN JUNE 2 YEARS AGO.

AND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY FACED A SUMMER --SOMETHING WE DON'T OFTEN SEE IN PERSON.

RIOTING.

AND IT WAS WRITING ABOUT --IN THE AFTERMATH OF A HORRIBLE ATTACK FROM AN INDIVIDUAL WHO KILLED A NUMBER OF SCHOOLGIRLS AT A DANCE CLASS.

AND IT SPARKED A SET OF ETHNIC RIOTS AND RACIST WRITING ACROSS THE COUNTRY TARGETING WHAT ARE CALLED HERE ASYLUM HOTELS WHICH ARE HOTELS THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN OVER BY THE STATE TO HOUSE ASYLUM-SEEKERS WHO HAVE COME OVER, OFTEN FROM FRANCE, IN THESE SMALL BOATS ACROSS THE ENGLISH CHANNEL.

THIS IS A CAUSE OF HUGE CONTROVERSY HERE.

AND IT STARTED REALLY FROM THAT MOMENT, AND THAT REAL SENSE OF, LIKE, YOU KNOW, SORT OF VIOLENT UNDERGROUND ANGER IN THIS COUNTRY.

OVER A WHOLE HISTORY OF THINGS.

AND THEN IT REALLY GOT --IT GOT KIND OF --HE JUST GOT -- HIS TERRIBLE INHERITANCE AND A SENSE AND HE NEVER REALLY RECOVERED FROM THESE EARLY MISSTEPS.

>> YEAH, AND WE ARE LOOKING NOW AT SEVEN PRIME MINISTERS IN A DECADES TIME WHICH HAS LED SOME TO QUESTION WHETHER ENGLAND, THE UK, AT THIS POINT , IT MAY BE POST BREAKS IT IS UNGOVERNABLE.

THE ECONOMIST MAGAZINE SAYS NO, THAT IS NOT THE ANSWER.

IT IS GOVERNABLE.

IT JUST TAKES A CERTAIN TYPE OF LEADERSHIP, AND YOU'VE WRITTEN A COVER STORY FOR THE NEW STATESMAN CALLED WHAT BRITAIN WON'T FACE ANNIE'S --YOU ARGUE THAT THE COUNTRY FACES DELUSION OVER REALITY.

WALK US THROUGH WHAT YOU MEAN HERE.

>> THAT THERE ARE SEVEN PRIME MINISTERS IN 10 YEARS IS REMARKABLE.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT 10 YEARS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A COINCIDENCE HERE, BUT IT'S NOT A COINCIDENCE THAT TOMORROW IS THE 10th ANNIVERSARY OF BRITAIN'S REFERENDUM TO LEAVE THE EU, AND THIS SEISMIC -- MOMENT IN OUR RECENT HISTORY WHICH REALLY SHOOK BRITISH POLITICS UP BECAUSE --COULD AND IN THE LABOR PARTY.

AND IT REALLY DESTABILIZED BRITISH POLITICS.

I THINK IT'S UNDENIABLE, WHETHER YOU ARE A REMAINDER RELIEVER, IT IS CLEAR THAT IT DESTABILIZED BRITISH POLITICS.

THERE'S BEEN A FRAGILITY IN THE SYSTEM EVER SINCE.

I THINK OFTEN IN BRITAIN'S HISTORY, WE HAVE LOOKED TO EUROPE AS EITHER AN ANSWER TO OUR PROBLEMS OR A SOURCE OF OUR PROBLEMS.

ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

IF WE WERE LOOKING TO GOD, OR IF WE WERE LOOKING TO LEAVE, AS AN EASY ANSWER TO DEEPER STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS WHICH NEED TO BE ADDRESSED, AND THAT IS REALLY WHAT I THINK IS --IS GOING ON AGAIN IN A SENSE.

THE ECONOMIST PIECE THAT YOU MENTIONED --IT SAID, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD A LOST DECADE SINCE THE EXIT REFERENDUM OF 2016, THEY ARGUED THAT IF WE WERE TO SEE --PERCEIVE A RETURN TO THE EU, IT WOULD BE ANOTHER LOST DECADE BECAUSE WE WOULD BE ARGUING ABOUT THIS CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTION FOR ANOTHER 10 YEARS AND NOT GETTING TO SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES ABOUT HOW IS IT THAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO PROSPER IN THIS WORLD THAT EXISTS TODAY, WHERE WE HAVE MORE PROTECTIONISM AND MOORES ON THE EUROPEAN CONTINENT, AND, YOU KNOW, THE CRISIS IN THE MIDDLE EAST SEEMINGLY CONSTANT.

HOW IS IT THAT BRITAIN, A MIDSIZE POWER, CAN THRIVE IN THIS WORLD?

SIMILAR MATTERS ARE BEING FACED BY COUNTRIES LIKE CANADA AND AUSTRALIA AND FRANCE AND GERMANY.

AND I DON'T THINK WE ARE YET GRAPPLING WITH THOSE DEEPER DEEPER QUESTIONS.

>> YEAH, AND THESE ARE QUESTIONS THAT AS YOU NOTE, ARE NOT EXCLUSIVE TO THE UK.

THANKS FOR YOUR ANALYSIS.

APPRECIATE IT.

> >> NOW, AND THE STATION HAS BEEN ONE THAT UK PRIME MINISTER'S BIGGEST POLITICAL CHALLENGES.

IT IS AN ISSUE DOMINATING POLITICS ACROSS EUROPE AND UNITED STATES AND IS LIKELY TO GET EVEN BIGGER.

REPORTS BY THE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM REPORTS THAT ONE OUT OF THREE PEOPLE ON THE PLANET WHO LIVE IN AREAS OF EXTREME HEAT COULD BE FORCED TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES.

FILM MAKER JOSH FOX HAS A REMARKABLE PROPOSAL FOR HOW TO TACKLE THE GROWING CRISIS.

INSTEAD OF BUILDING HIGHER WALLS, WHAT IF WE BUILT A BUNKER TABLE.

IN A DOCUMENT OR HE CALLED THE WELCOME TABLE, FOX ASKS AUDIENCES TO HAVE A MORE GENEROUS RESPONSE TO A CATASTROPHE THAT DISRUPTS SO MANY LIVES.

JOSH FOX JOINS US NOW.

WILL COME TO THE PROGRAM, JOSH.

IT IS A VISUALLY COMPELLING AND POWERFUL PIECE.

OBVIOUSLY WE'VE COVERED THE IMMIGRATION STORY AND THE CLIMATE CRISIS FOR MANY YEARS HERE, BUT YOURS IS A UNIQUE WAY TO TELL IT, AND I WANT TO START WITH THE OPENING OF THE FILM BECAUSE WE SEE TRADITIONAL AFRICAN-AMERICAN GOSPEL SONG CALLED I'M GONNA SIT AT THE WELCOME TABLE SUNG BY JAZZ SINKER JOHN.

WE KNOW THE IMPACT TO CLIMATE CHANGE WITH HURRICANE KATRINA ON THE PART OF THE COUNTRY.

THE PREMISE THAT YOU INVITE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN DISPLACED DUE TO CLIMATE CRISES TO A TABLE TO TELL THEIR STORIES, HOW DID THAT COME ABOUT?

>> WELL I WAS THINKING SO MUCH AS FAR BACK AS 2019 ABOUT THE WALL AND HOW TRUMP WAS SEPARATING FAMILIES AND INITIALLY I WENT DOWN TO THE BORDER IN EL PASO TO TALK TO MIGRANTS WHO HAD BEEN SEPARATED FROM THEIR FAMILIES.

A WOMAN WHO LOST HER TWO SISTERS AND HAD NO IDEA WHERE THEY WERE.

HER SISTERS ESSENTIALLY AGES 12 AND FOUR KIDNAPPED BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND I STARTED TO THINK, WELL, WHAT IS THE OPPOSITE OF THE WALL?

I MEAN, THE WALL IS REALLY JUST A METAPHOR.

IT DOESN'T WORK WITHOUT THE $200 BILLION THAT THEY JUST GAVE TO I. C. E. FOR ENFORCEMENT, SO I STARTED TO THINK ABOUT WHAT IS THE OPPOSITE OF THAT, AND THEN I RAN INTO JOHN AND HE SING THIS SONG, THE WELCOME TABLE AND THE PERFECT METAPHOR AROSE.

THE TABLE IS THE SYMBOL OF COLLABORATION, COMMUNITY, OF LOVE, WELCOMING.

AND WALLS ARE XENOPHOBE AND AUTHORITARIAN GOVERNMENTS THAT ARE SERVING IN THE UNITED STATES AND ALL OF THE WILL TO THE IDEA OF THE WELCOME TABLE WAS TO TRY TO THINK ABOUT AN ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE TO THE HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS WHICH HAD BECOME THE POLICY IN SOME OF THE PLACES IN THE WORLD, CERTAINLY HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> LET'S PLAY A CLIP FROM THE FILM, THAT TABLE, FOR OUR VIEWERS.

>> WE INVITE YOU TO OUR TABLE.

MORE THE MERRIER.

>> THERE'S NO TABLECLOTH, BUT EACH THREAD OF OUR STORIES REACH THE TAPESTRY.

>> THE PEOPLE AT THIS TABLE ACROSS MANY RIVERS TO GET HERE.

>> THE PEOPLE FROM EVERY CONTINENT HAVE BEEN DISPLACED BY CLIMATE CHANGE.

MEETING HERE FOR THE FIRST TIME TASK, WHERE IS HOME NOW?

>> AND FILMING THIS PIECE, YOU TRAVEL AROUND THE WORLD.

YOU GO TO SOUTH AMERICA.

YOU GO TO BRAZIL.

HE GO TO EUROPE AND ITALY WHERE YOUR FAMILY ORIGINALLY HAILS FROM BUT YOU START THE PIECE WITH A FAMILY WHO WAS IMPACTED BY THE PARADISE FIRES IN CALIFORNIA.

THEY WERE DISPLACED IN 2018.

WHY OPEN WITH THEIR STORY AND WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM THEM?

>> WELL, THERE'S A VERY LONG ARC OF THIS MOVIE ACROSS SIX OR SEVEN YEARS.

OF COURSE, WE TAKE A BREAK DURING COVID, BUT YOU KNOW A LOT OF AMERICANS ARE LOSING THEIR HOMES.

MEGAN CITIES ARE BEING DESTROYED BY CLIMATE CHANGE FASTER THAN THEY CAN BE REBUILT.

THERE IS VERY LITTLE STABILITY IN THE FUTURE WHEN WE THINK ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE SO THE AMERICAN DREAM IS BURNING PEOPLE'S FEET, AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST INTERVIEWS I DID, AND I WANTED TO REDEFINE WHAT IT MEANT TO BE A CLAIMANT REFUGEE.

TO BE A CLIMATE SURVIVOR.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T THINK OF THOSE CALIFORNIA AND -- CALIFORNIAN AMERICANS WITH CHILDREN WHO ARE SERVING AS CLIMATE REFUGEES BUT WE HAVE TO REDEFINE EVERYONE.

I MEAN, RIGHT NOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SOME ESTIMATES SAYING ONE OUT OF EVERY THREE PEOPLE WILL LOSE THEIR HOMES DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE WHICH MEANS WE ARE EITHER GOING TO BE ON THE MOVES OURSELVES OR WE ARE GOING TO BE TEST WITH WELCOMING THOSE WHO ARE.

SO IN TERMS OF THE FIRES IN CALIFORNIA, I MEAN, THE HURRICANES IN THE SOUTH, CERTAINLY THE THINGS WE ARE SEEING IN THE NORTHEAST IN TERMS OF INCREDIBLE CLIMATE IMPACTS, THERE IS NO GEOGRAPHICAL ANSWER TO WHERE WILL I BE SAFE.

SO THE QUESTION BECAME, WHERE IS HOME?

WHAT IS AM GOING TO BE ON A PLANET RAVAGED BY CLIMATE CHANGE WHICH A THIRD OF THE PLANET ON THE MOVE, WHAT DOES THE FUTURE LOOK LIKE?

HOW DO WE START TO REDEFINE WHAT IT IS TO BE HUMAN AND CERTAINLY, THE RESPONSE OF THESE FASCIST GOVERNMENTS IS TO WALL PEOPLE OUT OR TO INCARCERATE THEM, TO ABUSE THEM, TO DETAIN THEM, TO TORTURE THEM, AND THAT CAN'T BE THE ANSWER FOR BILLIONS OF PEOPLE, SO WHEN WE LOOK TO THE FUTURE, WE HAVE TO ASK, WHAT FUTURE DO WE WANT?

A FUTURE OF THAT KIND OF HATRED AND VIOLENCE OR A FEATURE OF GENEROSITY IN SHARING AND TOGETHERNESS AND COLLABORATION WHICH CAN OFTEN BE THE ANSWER TO A CRISIS.

THE CLIMATE CRISIS IS HERE.

IT IS HERE NOW.

THIS MOVIE IS DOCUMENTING IT ALL ACROSS THE ROAD WHETHER IT'S FIRES OR FLOODS OR FAMINE OR EXTREME WEATHER'S OR LANDSLIDES, THESE IMPACTS ARE HAPPENING NOW.

THEY'RE HAPPENING IN REAL-TIME.

PEOPLE ARE BEING DISPLACED EVERYWHERE ACROSS THE PLANET, WHETHER THAT'S AUSTRALIA OR EUROPE OR THE UNITED STATES.

THEN WE HAVE TO START TO THINK ABOUT WHAT WILL WE DO TO COUNTERACT --TO STEM THIS TIDE OF HATRED THAT IS COMING AT MIGRANTS?

EVERY --THERE IS AN AGE-OLD RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FASCISTS AND THE HATRED OF IMMIGRANTS, AND YOU KNOW WHAT I WANTED TO DO WITH THIS GNOMISH OF THE STORY OF PEOPLE WHO ARE NORMALLY PORTRAYED AS BEING WRESTLED TO THE GROUND BY I. C. E. WE DON'T HEAR THOSE STORIES.

WE DON'T SEE THOSE STORIES.

BUT THESE PEOPLE IN THESE FILMS, ANYONE OF US COULD BE SUBJECT TO THOSE CONDITIONS AND YOU KNOW, OUR HUMAN REACTION HAS TO BE TO COME TOGETHER AND TO WORK TOGETHER OR ELSE THE FUTURE IS MADNESS.

SO THAT'S WHAT THIS FILM IS ABOUT.

>> YEAH.

I WANT TO GET TO THE POLITICS OF THIS AS WELL THEY TOUCH ON A NUMBER OF TIMES FOR A MOMENT.

BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT THE HUMAN STORIES AND THE LIVES THAT ARE IMPACTED, WHO YOU DOCUMENT.

IN BRAZIL, WE MEET MARIA ANTONIA.

ASSURANCE AND AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM FORGETS THAT ARE RELOCATED FROM THE SAVELLA.

SHE LOST HER OWN HOME IN THE LANDSIDE AND I BELIEVE LOST HER HOME KEEPER, SOMEBODY WHO HAD BEEN WORKING FOR HER AT HER HOME IN THIS LANDSIDE AS WELL.

SHE TAKES YOU TO HER HOME AND SHE SHOWS YOU THE DAMAGE THAT WAS WROUGHT.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

>> THAT WAS MY LAUNDRY.

>> OH, WOW.

>> THERE IS STILL A REFRIGERATOR THERE.

>> SHE WANTED THE SIMPLEST AND SMALLEST THING.

A LITTLE MOSQUITO NET FOR HER CUP OF TEA THAT SHE DRANK EVERY MORNING IN HER KITCHEN.

IT HAD SOMEHOW SURVIVED.

THE LITTLE THINGS.

THE LITTLE THINGS THAT REMIND YOU THAT YOU ARE A HUMAN BEING.

>> AND THAT WAS THE LINE THAT I WROTE DOWN AFTER WATCHING THE FILM.

THE LITTLE THINGS THAT REMIND YOU YOU ARE A HUMAN BEING.

IT'S NOT THE TELEVISION SETS.

IT'S NOT THE EXPENSIVE GADGETS THAT PEOPLE GO SIFTING FOR AFTER TRAGEDIES LIKE THIS AND DISASTERS.

IT'S BIRTH CERTIFICATES.

IT'S FAMILY PHOTOS.

IT'S HEIRLOOMS.

HOW IMPORTANT WAS THAT FOR YOU TO INCLUDE IN ALL OF THEIR STORIES?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A MOVIE ABOUT LOVE.

THIS IS A MOVIE ABOUT HOW WE TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER SO THIS IS A MOVIE ABOUT HUMAN BEINGS.

RIGHT?

AND HUMAN BEINGS ACROSS THE SPECTRUM, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, CLASS, SURVIVE THAT SECTION OF BRAZIL, USING VERY WEALTHY PEOPLE LIKE MARY AND TAMIA WHO ARE SERVING AND YOU ARE SEEING POOR PEOPLE WHO ARE SUBJECT TO MUCH MORE GREATER RISK YOU ARE LIVING IN FAVELAS WHO, RAIN BOMBS ARE COMING DOWN OUT OF THE SKY AND THEY'RE DEPOSITING A YEARS WORTH OF RAIN IN A COUPLE OF HOURS AND THAT'S CAUSING THE LAND TO SIDE AND VERY WHOLE NEIGHBORHOODS.

WHEN I WAS FIRST DOING WAS FOLLOWING FIRST RESPONDERS AND MUTUAL AID --WHO ARE THE FIRST PEOPLE THAT SOMEONE IS GOING TO SEE THAT TYPE OF CRISIS AND THE IMPORTANCE THAT THEY HAD AND WELCOMING VICTIMS OF THESE CRISES, AND TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO RETAIN YOUR HUMANITY IN THE MIDST OF TOTAL CHAOS, AND THAT IMPULSE I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO THINK ABOUT IN TERMS OF JOURNALING.

HOW ARE WE GOING TO SURVIVE THIS CRISIS?

WE ARE GOING TO SURVIVE BY BEING HUMAN BEINGS.

WE ARE GOING TO SURVIVE BY EVERYONE HERE IS WORTHY OF OUR RESPECT AND WORTHY OF BEING TAKEN CARE OF AND CERTAINLY WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE BROADER GLOBAL PICTURE, THE COUNTRIES IN THE GLOBAL SOUTH ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR CLIMATE CHANGE.

THEY'RE NOT BUILDING --BURNING A LOT OF COAL AND GAS.

THEY ARE THE VICTIMS OF CENTURIES OF COLONIALISM.

IT IS THE THAT IS DOING ALL THE DAMAGE TO THE CLAIMANT.

THE BIG QUESTION IN THE SUN AND WHAT WE ADVOCATE IN THE FILM IS FOR A LOSS AND DAMAGE FUND FOR RESPONSIBILITY COMING FROM THE GLOBAL NORTH WHICH CERTAINLY WOULD MEAN TO WELCOME VICTIMS OF THIS CRISIS.

YOU KNOW, RATHER THAN TREAT THEM INHUMANELY BUT IT WAS SO IMPORTANT TO ME TO FIND THOSE HUMAN MOMENTS AS A DOCUMENTARIAN THAT OUR CINEMA, THAT ARE TELLING THAT STORY.

>> I GUESS YOU KNOW THE FINAL QUESTION HERE, HOW DO YOU GOVERN ON THAT, BECAUSE WHILE SOME ELECTED OFFICIALS, SOME POLITICIANS MAY BE SPEAKING IN VERY DEHUMANIZING TERMS, YOU CAN'T BLAME THOSE WHO VOTED FOR THEM, AND ANY COUNTRY, WHETHER IT'S UNITED STATES.

YOU HEARD US TALKING ABOUT WHAT IS GOING TO BE THE SEVENTH PRIME MINISTER IN 10 YEARS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.

IMMIGRATION A BIG ISSUE FOR VOTERS AS WELL SAYING, I WANT BORDERS IN FIRST, I WANT SECURITY HERE.

I WANT TO MAINTAIN MY JOB.

SO HOW DO YOU BALANCE THAT?

>> WELL, $200 BILLION FOR I. C. E. AND THE WALLS IN AMERICA.

CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT $200 BILLION WORTH OF TABLES WOULD DO?

OBVIOUSLY, WELCOMING IS NOT AN EASY THING TO DO.

IT'S HARD.

LEARNING HOW TO GET GOOD AT WELCOMING MINCED DOING INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION.

DOING TRAININGS BUT THIS IS THE WHOLE CORE OF THE WORLD CONVERSATION RIGHT NOW.

I'M HERE IN THE --NEW YORK CITY.

I CAN'T IMAGINE A NEW YORK CITY THAT WASN'T A MUST DIVERSE CITY ON THE PLANET.

ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING PLACES TO LIVE.

OUR DIVERSITY IS THE HUMAN RACE IS THE MOST INTERESTING THING ABOUT BEING ALIVE.

I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW AWFUL IT WOULD BE TO SEE THIS KIND OF WHITE SUPREMACY AND NEOCOLONIALISM TAKE ROUTE ACROSS THE WORLD WHERE PEOPLE ARE CLAMPING DOWN ON BORDERS.

WHY?

WHAT IS THE POINT?

THE POINT IS SO THAT WE CAN SOMEHOW INSULATE OURSELVES IN SOME KIND OF, YOU KNOW, A FUTURE THAT IS INVOLVED IN BEING ARMED TO THE TEETH, INCARCERATION, AND RACISM?

NO.

THE OBVIOUS ANSWER IS THAT IN CRISIS, WE HAVE TO BE GENEROUS.

CRISIS, WE HAVE TO AID EACH OTHER AND THIS MOVIE TRANSMITS THAT IN SINGING.

THE WELCOME TABLE IS A SON.

THERE IS MUSICIANS AND SONGS ALL THROUGHOUT THIS FILM BECAUSE THE GREAT MUSICIANS FROM NEW ORLEANS WERE CALLED TO WELCOME PEOPLE AT THAT TABLE, SOME OF A, YES, IT'S ABOUT THE MOST DIRE CRISIS THAT WE HAVE, BUT SPOILER ALERT, AT THE END OF THAT FILM, WE BUILT THE TABLE 1000 FEET LONG.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT 1000 FOOT TABLE IN EVERY CITY ACROSS THE WORLD.

WE ARE TRYING TO THROW THAT TABLE TO SHOW THAT TABLE TO SHOW THAT ARE SET, THE SITE OF SEPARATION, THE SET OF MUSIC, THE SIDE OF LOVE IS ACTUALLY WAY MORE POWERFUL AND WAY MORE INTERESTING AND FUN THAN HIDING BEHIND A WALL SO WHAT'S THE OPPOSITE OF A WALL?

IT'S A TABLE.

AND SO KNOWING THAT AND SHOWING THAT METAPHOR IS WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE FILM.

AND IT HAPPENED IN KIND OF A MIRACULOUS FASHION.

THE PEOPLE AT THE TABLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD BECAME AN INSTANT COMMUNITY.

AND WITHIN FOUR OR FIVE DAYS AND 1000 PEOPLE FROM NEW ORLEANS SHOULD UP TO OUR TABLE TO CELEBRATE THE CRISIS TO SAY, WE CAN BE BETTER THAN THIS.

WE CAN BE STRONGER THAN THIS.

AND THE WAY WE DO THAT IS BY TAKING CARE OF EACH OTHER.

WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I NOW IN OUR MEDIA, WE HAVE SUCH A CRISIS OF NOT ENOUGH DIALOGUE ABOUT HOW WE BEAT BACK THIS TIDE OF FASCISM.

>> JOSH FOX, WILL HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

THANK YOU.

THE WELCOME TABLE PREMIERES ON HBO TOMORROW.

>> GIRL BOSS, TRAD WIFE, TWO TERMS YOU MAY HAVE OR TO DESCRIBE THEM TODAY.

BUT MUST --WOMEN WITH CHILDREN SOMETHING IN BETWEEN.

RESHMA SAUJANI, THE CEO OF MOMS FIRST THE SECOND ISSUE IN HER DOCUMENTARY, NO COUNTRY FOR MOTHERS.

HERE SHE IS WITH .

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

IS BUT YOU ARE THE CEO OF MOMS FIRST AND BEFORE THAT, GIRLS CODE.

AND NOW YOU'VE GOT THIS REALLY INTERESTING DOCUMENT TREE OUT CALLED NO COUNTRY FOR MOTHERS.

AND THIS IS A REALLY INTERESTING LOOK AT THE ISSUES THAT ARE FACING MOTHERHOOD TODAY AND ALMOST GOING BACK IN TIME AS WELL AND SHOWING HOW THESE CHALLENGES HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A WELL.

FIRST, WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO MAKE THIS FILM NOW?

>> WHAT MADE ME WANT TO MAKE THIS FROM NOW IS I THINK SOME OF THE POLICY ISSUES WE ARE CLOSE ALREADY.

THEY'RE CLOSE TO CHILDCARE AND PAID THE FAMILY HAVE EVER BEEN BUT I THINK WHAT'S STANDING IN THE WAY OF US PASSING THESE POLICIES IS CULTURE WARS.

I THINK EVERY TIME WHEN MAKE PROGRESS, WE ARE HANDED A CULTURE WAR TO DISTRACT AND DIVIDE US AND I THOUGHT, IF I CAN DO AN INVESTIGATION INTO REALLY LOOKING INTO WHAT IS IT ABOUT AMERICAN MOTHERHOOD IN PARTICULAR THAT'S BEEN DESIGNED --LITERALLY SINCE THE INK DRIED ON THE CONSTITUTION TO CON WOMEN INTO THINKING THAT THESE BINARY CHOICES.

IF I COULD MAKE WHEN SEE THAT AND NOT PARTICIPATE IN THAT CULTURE WERE, I THINK WE WOULD GET MILES CLOSER TO WINNING SOME OF THESE BATTLES.

>> WE SAW SO MANY WOMEN DROP OUT OF THE WORKFORCE IN THE PANDEMIC.

IT WAS THIS MOMENT THAT THE ENTIRE WORLD PAID ATTENTION TO IDEAS LIKE MENTAL LOAD AND HIS TAKING CARE OF WHAT.

WHAT MADE YOU COME OUT OF THAT AND LOOK AT THIS NOT JUST AS A PANDEMIC RELATED THING BUT MORE OF A STRUCTURAL ISSUE?

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, I HAD MY SECOND BABY DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT BECOMING THE MOTHER FOR A PANDEMIC BB THAT JUST EVANGELIZES YOU.

BECAUSE YOU REALIZE, WHEN WE HAVE CHOICES, WE OFTEN DEEP FAULT TO MAKING UP THE MOM THE THE MARTYR.

MAKING HER BR DEFAULT SOCIAL NET.

SO SY WAS BORN IN 2020.

THE WORLD SHUT DOWN.

I HAD TO GO BACK TO REBUILDING GIRLS WHO CODE FROM SCRATCH.

WHEN THE PANDEMIC STARTED, IT WAS THE FIRST TIME IN THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY THAT 51% OF THE LABOR FORCE WAS WOMEN.

WE WERE FLYING OUR FEMINIST FLAGS HIGH.

WHEN THE PANDEMIC HAPPENED, WE WERE SHUTTING DOWN SCHOOLS AND BAD MOTHERS LIKE ME LOGON HER SIX-YEAR-OLDS AT THE SAME TIME OF HAVING TO SHUT OFF AT THE OFFICE.

SHORT AT OUR VIRTUAL OFFICE ON ZOOM AT THE SAME TIME AND WE JUST DIDN'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT.

WE ASSUMED THAT MOTHERS WOULD ACTUALLY DO IT.

AND YOU SAW, FOUR TIMES AS MANY WOMEN LEAVE THE WORKFORCE AS MEANT IN COVID BECAUSE IN AMERICA, TWO THIRDS OF THE CAREGIVING WORK IS BEING DONE BY ONE.

WE ARE THE CAREGIVERS.

WE ARE BASICALLY BALANCING TWO JOBS AT THE SAME TIME WITH NO SUPPORT AND NO HELP, AND YET, WE TRY TO APPROACH FIXING EQUALITY FOR AMERICAN WOMEN BY, YOU KNOW, GIVING THEM ANOTHER SKILL SET.

BY TELLING THEM TO COLOR-CODED THEIR CALENDAR.

ABOUT THIS BEFORE THEY GO TO A MEETING IN THE MORNING.

WE MAKE THEM FEEL LIKE THEY ARE THE PROBLEM AND NOT THE STRUCTURE.

AND I REALIZE, OH MY GOD, WE'VE BEEN GETTING CONNED.

WE'VE BEEN GETTING CONNED SINCE THE INK DRIED ON THE CONSTITUTION.

THIS IS NEVER BEEN ABOUT OUR INADEQUACIES.

IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT THEIR INABILITY AND A LACK OF WILL TO SOLVE THE STRUCTURAL BIASES LIKE PAID LEAVE IN CHILDCARE THAT PUT US IN THIS POSITION IN THE FIRST PLACE AND I WANTED TO GO SOLVE THAT PROBLEM AND THAT'S WHY I STARTED MOMS FIRST.

>> THIS TENSION ABOUT MOTHERHOOD AND WOMANHOOD AND FEMININITY AND WHO CONTRIBUTES AND WHAT'S VALUABLE IN A FAMILY OR THE ECONOMY, AS YOU POINT OUT IN THIS FILM, IS THAT DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF THIS TENSION HAVE BEEN KIND OF STRUCTURALLY ARCHITECTED AND CAMPAIGNED FOR DECADES.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

I MEAN PHYLLIS SCHLAFLY WAS THE OJI TRAD WIFE.

>> I DON'T BELIEVE WOMEN ARE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST.

MOST AMERICAN WOMEN DON'T THINK OF THEMSELVES AS SECOND-CLASS CITIZENS.

THEY KNOW THEY HAVE A WONDERFUL POSITION IN OUR COUNTRY.

>> AND SO THE DYNAMIC HAS ALWAYS EXISTED SINCE I THINK WOMEN STARTED WORKING IN AMERICA WHICH IS FROM THE BEGINNING OF TIME IS TRAD WIFE GIRL BOSS.

I'D ARGUE IT'S THE SAME CONE, A NEW COSTUME.

SHE COMES IN DIFFERENT FORMS.

STAY AT HOME MOM, GIRL BOSS, STAY-AT-HOME MOM, TRAD WIFE.

WHAT THAT DOES IS IT DIVIDES AND DISTRACTS US.

IT MAKES WOMEN THINK THEY HAVE TWO OPTIONS WHEN THE VAST MAJORITY OF WOMEN WANT SOMETHING IN THE MIDDLE.

RIGHT?

WHICH IS A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH.

AND AS I TRAVEL THE COUNTRY, I DIDN'T NEED A MOM THAT WANTED TO HUSTLE SO HARD THAT SHE NEVER SAW HER KIDS OR SPEND HER TIME, YOU KNOW, LOOKING ACCOUNT.

THESE ARE MADE UP CULTURE WARS.

MOST --THE VAST MAJORITY OF THEM I CAN WOMEN, 99% OF THEM CAN'T AFFORD TO BE A GIRL BOSS OR A TRAD WIFE.

AND SO WHAT HAPPENS IS WE GET SO DISTRACTED IN DEFENDING OUR CHOICES THAT WE DON'T REALIZE THAT WE ARE BEING TRICKED.

WE ACTUALLY DON'T REALIZE THAT THERE IS MORE TO US THAT UNITES US THAN DIVIDES US AND THAT WAS MY PURPOSE OF NO COUNTRY FOR MOTHERS.

I WANTED PEOPLE TO WALK AWAY FROM THIS FILM AND BE LIKE, OH MY GOD.

THIS ONE AT THE TURNING POINT CONFERENCE, I MAY NOT AGREE WITH 90% OF THAT, BUT 10%, WE AGREE.

WE AGREE ON CHILDCARE.

WE AGREED THAT AMERICAN MOTHERHOOD IS BROKEN.

WE AGREE THAT WE NEED MORE SUPPORT.

IF WE CAN WALK.

IF WE CAN COME TOGETHER ON THOSE LINES, THESE ISSUES AREN'T PARTISAN.

>> I KNOW IT'S HARD FOR YOUR GENERATION, AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE MESSAGING IN YOUR GENERATION HAS BEEN TOUGH, WHICH IS THAT YOU SHOULD GO GO GO AND PUT WORK FIRST, AND THAT'S ALL A GREAT MESSAGE AS A WOMAN UNTIL YOU HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN.

>> YOU KNOW, EVERYONE IS BENEFITING, RIGHT, UP FROM OUR DIVISION.

FOR EXAMPLE, POLITICIANS ARE BENEFITING FROM US BEING DIVIDED.

RIGHT.

FROM US BEING IN THESE TWO DIFFERENT CAMPS.

INFLUENCERS OR OTHERS WHO ARE TRYING TO SELL A BOOK OR MAKING MONEY ARE GETTING FAMOUS OFF OF HAVING US REACH BAIT ONLINE.

TECH COMPANIES ARE MAKING AD REVENUE AND MONEY OFF OF OUR OWN DIVISION, AND SO THESE ARE STRATEGIES BY OTHER PEOPLE TO GET WEALTHIER OR MORE POWERFUL OR MORE FAMOUS, AND THE PEOPLE THAT LOSE OUR MOMS.

>> AT ONE POINT IN THE FILM, WE HEAR THE STATISTIC THAT THE U. S. IS THE ONLY INDUSTRIALIZED NATION WITHOUT GUARANTEED PAID LEAVE.

40% OF PARENTS HAVE GONE INTO DEBT BECAUSE OF CHILDCARE COSTS AND THAT WOMEN STILL DO MOST OF THE UNPAID LABOR AT HOME.

I MEAN, THOSE STATS EACH ON THEIR OWN WOULD BE PRETTY HUGE BUT ALL OF THEM ARE HAPPENING SIMULTANEOUSLY IN A PLACE WHERE WE THINK THAT, WELL, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO BOTH.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

PEOPLE ARE DROWNING BECAUSE OF CHILDCARE COSTS.

THEY ARE ONE BAD DAY AWAY FROM FINANCIAL RUN.

A CAR BREAKING DOWN, A HEALTH EVENT.

BECAUSE ALL OF THEIR SAVINGS GOES INTO CHILDCARE.

SO WHEN YOU'VE SEEN STATES -- WHEN THEY HAD A SURPLUS OR AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE AN INVESTMENT, AND I LOOK AT, WELL, WHAT ARE ALL THE THINGS THAT I CAN DO FOR OUR FAMILY, WHAT ARE ALL THE, LIKE, WAYS I CAN GIVE THEM MORE RESOURCES, OFTENTIMES, POLICYMAKERS COME TO THE DECISION THAT IF I CAN LOWER CHILDCARE COSTS, IF I CAN MAKE IT AFFORDABLE AND AVAILABLE, I ACTUALLY CAN TAKE FAMILIES OUT OF A PRECARIOUS FINANCIAL SITUATION AND PUT THEM ON THE PATH TO THE AMERICAN DREAM, AND SO, CHILDCARE IS THE LINCHPIN OF AFFORDABILITY.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT MOMS --WE HAVE BEEN DRIVING TOWARDS FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS, TAKING OUT SOMETHING THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN SEEN AS THE PERSONAL PROBLEM.

THIS IS YOUR PROBLEM AS A FAMILY THAT YOU HAVE TO FIX.

TO IT BEING AN ECONOMIC ISSUE.

WORKERS CAN'T WORK WITHOUT CHILDCARE.

, AND BUSINESSES DON'T WORK WITHOUT WORKERS, AND SO, IF YOU CARE ABOUT THE AMERICAN ECONOMY, IF YOU ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT STABILIZING AMERICAN FAMILIES, THE OPTION THAT YOU CHOOSE IS LOWERING CHILDCARE COSTS, PERIOD.

>> IF YOU WIN IN NOVEMBER, CAN YOU COMMIT TO PRIORITIZING LEGISLATION TO MAKE CHILDCARE AFFORDABLE AND IF SO, WHAT SPECIFIC PIECE OF LEGISLATION WOULD YOU ADVANCE?

>> DURING THE 2024 CAMPAIGN, I REMEMBER IN MY MEDIA SEED, SEEING A CLIP OF YOU ASKING PRESIDENT TRUMP A QUESTION, AND IT WAS LITERALLY ABOUT THIS.

RIGHT?

WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF HIS RESPONSE THEN AND WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF HIS MOST RECENT RESPONSES WHEN THIS TOPIC HAS COME BACK UP?

>> I THINK I SAID IN THE FILM I WAS SHOCKED THEY WEREN'T PREPARED.

THEY DIDN'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT.

AND THAT IN AND OF ITSELF WAS INSULTING.

WHAT I WILL GIVE THEM IS HE SAID IN HIS RESPONSE WHEN I ASKED WHAT HE WOULD DO TO FIX CHILDCARE, HE SAID, CHILDCARE IS CHILDCARE.

AMERICANS GOT TO HAVE IT, AND THEN MOST RECENTLY, DURING EASTER, YOU KNOW, THE QUESTION IS RAISED AGAIN, AND HE KIND OF SAYS, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY FOR CHILD CARE.

I GOT TO FOCUS ON PROTECTING THE COUNTRY.

I. E. , I HAVE TO FOCUS ON INVESTING AND PUTTING MONEY AND RESOURCES INTO FOREIGN WARS, AND SO MY REACTION TO THAT WAS LIKE, WOW, YOU GOT BILLIONS FOR BOMBS, BUT PENNIES FOR MOMS AND KIDS.

AND IT WAS SOMETHING THAT I THOUGHT WAS PRETTY REMARKABLE, IN HIS AND ADMITTING THAT HE IS PRETTY MUCH SAYING TO AMERICAN FAMILIES, SORRY, NOT SORRY.

I KNOW THE MATH AIN'T MATHING, BUT IT'S NOT MY PROBLEM, BUT I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THE ADMINISTRATION IS GOING TO PAY A BIG PRICE FOR THAT IN THE BALLOT BOX.

THEY ARE SAYING AT THE SAME TIME, YOU SEE KEY PEOPLE IN THIS ADMISSION COMBINING ABOUT THE DECLINING BIRTHRATE AND MAKING IT SEEM LIKE THAT'S OUR PROBLEM OR THAT IF I GIVE MEDALS TO MOTHERS OR BUILD FERTILITY HIGHWAYS OR IF I JUST TAKE AWAY D. E. I. OR HAVE FEWER WOMEN BECOME ENGINEERS --IF I HAVE LESS EDUCATED WOMEN AND GIVE US OPPORTUNITIES TO MEN, THAT THOSE WOMEN WILL HAVE BABIES.

AND THEY ARE SO WRONG ABOUT THAT.

DESPITE WHERE SHOULD THE SOLUTION COME FROM?

SHOULD IT BE A FEDERAL POLICY OR AS THE ADMIN STATION SAYS, THIS IS A STATE-BY-STATE ISSUE.

>> I THINK IT'S GOT TO BE BOTH.

YOU ARE SEEING, I THINK STATES LIKE NEW MEXICO AND VERMONT HERE, VERY INVOLVED WITH GOVERNOR HOGLE, GETTING US CLOSER TO UNIVERSAL CHILDCARE SO I CAN SEE HOW THIS HAPPENS.

I THINK STATES ARE HAVING TO DO IT BECAUSE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS REFUSED TO FIX IT.

RIGHT.

CHILDCARE IS BROKEN BECAUSE IT'S A MARKET FAILURE.

STATES CAN PAY MORE --WRITE, AND SEE NEED TO HAVE EITHER A GOVERNMENT OR A PRIVATE SECTOR OPTION.

WE KNOW WITH APGAR, THAT THE PRIVATE SECTOR SOLVING THIS IS NOT GOOD FOR ANYBODY AND SO I THINK STATES HAVE HAD TO USE THEIR SURPLUSES BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF INVESTMENT FROM FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND SO I THINK IF IT CONTINUES THIS WAY, IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO SAY NOT OUR PROBLEM, I THINK IT'S GOING TO FORCE STATES TO DO IT BUT UNFORTUNATELY, SIMILAR TO ABORTION, I FEEL -- AN ISSUE THAT IS NOT PARTISAN --77% OF THEM RECKONS IRREGARDLESS OF WHO THEY VOTED FOR, I FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT CHILDCARE.

PERIOD.

>> ONE OF THE MOMS HAD AN INTERESTING ANECDOTE ABOUT WHAT THE COSTS ARE IF YOUR CHILD IS ACCUSED OF ACTING UP IN SCHOOL.

>> AND AS I REPORTED, THE INCIDENCE AGAINST BLACK BOYS, BLACK GIRLS, THE IMPACT AS A PARENT TO LEAVE YOUR JOB.

>> A LOT OF TIMES, MANY OF US ARE NOT IN JOBS WHERE WE HAVE THOSE LIBERTIES >> TO DO THAT.

>> MANY OF US ARE HOURLY WORKERS.

A SIMPLE THING CAN LEAD TO A DOMINO EFFECT OF DISASTER FOR A FAMILY.

>> THERE IS A REASON WHY, YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR, WITH THE JOBS NUMBERING 500,000 WOMEN LEFT THE WORKFORCE AND THEY WERE MOSTLY WOMEN WHO HAD CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF FIVE BECAUSE THAT'S A TIME WHERE KIDS --AS YOU NOTE DOZIER GETS NEED A LOT OF ATTENTION.

THEY GET THE FLU.

THERE ARE SO MANY UNPLANNED EMERGENCIES, EVENTS, THINGS THAT HAPPEN, AND IT'S ALWAYS ON MOMS TO BE THE ONES TO GO TO IT.

AND THEN YOU HAVE A LOT OF EMPLOYERS WHO ALREADY ARE ASSUMING THAT WE ARE LESS ENGAGED THE MINUTE WE HAVE A CHILD IN OUR JOBS AND SO WE ARE DISPOSABLE, AND IT'S WE HAVE THE MOTHER PENALTY AND YOU HAVE WOMEN MAKING 6% LESS IN INCOME THE MINUTE THEY BECOME A MOM.

WE DON'T LIVE IN A COUNTRY OR A SOCIETY OR WORKPLACES THAT HAVE A LOT OF GRACE FOR MOTHERS.

PERIOD.

AND SO IT HAS DISASTROUS ECONOMIC COSTS AND THE PROBLEM IS THAT MANY POLICYMAKERS THINK WE ARE LIVING IN THE 1950s.

THERE SOMEBODY EVEN HAS THE ABILITY TO LIVE AT HOME.

I MEAN STAY AT HOME AND NOT WORK.

IT'S JUST NOT POSSIBLE.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

LIKE, PEOPLE ARE DROWNING.

YOU NEED TO HAVE TWO INCOMES, WE SHOULD BE BUILDING AND SOLVING THIS PROBLEMS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF SINGLE MOMS.

IF I CAN CREATE A SOCIETY THAT WORKS FOR HER, IT WILL WORK FOR EVERYBODY, BUT WE DON'T THINK THAT WAY ABOUT THIS.

>> THE CREDITS OF THIS FILM INCLUDE 2500 PRODUCERS.

I MEAN, YOU HAVE A VERY DIFFERENT STRATEGY IN THIS ERA.

YOU ARE NOT TRYING TO GET AN OSCAR AND HAVE THEM JIM FOX, HOWEVER, PUT THIS ON MEGA FLEX SCREENS.

TELL ME A LITTLE ABOUT THAT.

>> WE ARE NOT.

LISTEN, , I LEARNED IN DOING THIS WORK THAT WE ARE IN A MOMENT WHERE A LOT OF WOMEN'S CONTENT OR A LOT OF CONTENT ABOUT WOMEN'S ISSUES --ABOUT POOR PEOPLE, BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE, IS GETTING SUPPRESSED, AND SO EVEN IF I HAD A STREAMER BY IT, IT WOULD PROBABLY GET BURIED.

AND I DIDN'T WANT THAT.

THIS MOVIE IS MADE FOR A SPECIFIC AUDIENCE.

MOMS, TO MAKE THEM SEEN AND TC THEM MAKE CHANGE.

AND SO THE WAY THAT WE CREATED IT, ONE, WAS, AGAIN, WE BLEW THE WORLD RECORD FOR MOST AMOUNT OF ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS ON A FILM IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD, EVER.

BLEW IT OUT THE WINDOW.

THE THE SECOND THING WE'VE DONE IS THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN WATCH THIS FILM IS IF YOU HAVE A SCREENING BECAUSE COMMUNITY COMMUNITY COMMUNITY IS CRITICAL.

I DON'T WANT TO EVEN GIVE YOU THE OPTION TO WATCH IT ON YOUTUBE ON YOUR COUCH.

YOU NEED TO SEE IT WITH OTHER MOMS SO YOU ARE ALL LIKE, OH MY GOD, AND THEN WE DO SOMETHING.

THERE'S ALREADY 1400 SCREENINGS IN THE COUNTRY.

ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

EVERYWHERE.

AND IT'S LIKE NOTHING I'VE EVER SEEN BEFORE.

>> YOU SHARE A LOT ABOUT YOUR OWN FAMILY AND YOUR STRUGGLES HAVING A CHILD AND HOW YOU ARE RAISING THESE TWO BOYS NOW, BUT I WONDER, LIKE, AS WE TALKED ABOUT, THE STRUGGLES OF HOW WE DEFINE WOMANHOOD AND FEMININITY, THERE SEEMS TO BE THIS OTHER CONVERSATION ALSO HAPPENING SIMULTANEOUSLY ABOUT WHAT IT IS TO BE A BOY, WHAT IT IS TO BE A MAN, WHAT IT IS TO BE MASCULINE.

>> YOU SEE THIS HAPPENING A LITTLE BIT ON THE RIGHT RIGHT NOW WHERE THE WAY THEY KIND OF TAKEDOWN THAT IS BY TELLING THEM THAT THEY ARE FEMININE, THAT THEY ARE WEAK.

IT'S THE WORST THING YOU CAN SAY TO A MAN IS CALLED HIM A WOMAN.

ISN'T THAT INTERESTING?

I THINK WE ARE IN THIS MOMENT OF REAL TRADITIONALISM WHERE WE ARE TRYING TO BOX WOMEN INTO CATEGORIES AND WE ARE TRYING TO BOX MEN INTO CATEGORIES AND IT'S THE SAME CONE.

IT'S THE SAME PLAY.

IT'S LIKE --WHAT I THOUGHT WAS SO POWERFUL WAS THE COUPLE AT THE END IN THE FILM THAT WERE, YOU KNOW, MORE CONSERVATIVE, AND HE WAS BASICALLY LIKE, HEY, I AM THE ONE THAT IS MOST OF THE CHILDCARE.

THAT WORKS FOR OUR FAMILY.

>> I STAY HOME NOW DURING THE DAY.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

IS MY GENDER ROLE DIFFERENT NOW?

>> AND, I WAS LIKE, EXACTLY.

RIGHT?

LET PEOPLE DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES WHAT WORKS FOR THEIR FAMILY AND STOP TRYING TO PUT PEOPLE INTO BOXES.

>> LET'S SAY SOMEBODY ATTENDS ONE OF THESE 1000+ SCREENINGS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

AT THE END OF THIS, AND HASTEN ABOUT THE CONVERSATION UP WHAT'S NEXT, WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST TO THEM, WHAT THE PURPOSE OF THEM?

IS THERE LEGISLATION THEY SHOULD BE OPTING FOR?

IS THERE A PARTICULAR PERSON THEY SHOULD CONTACT?

>> WE HAVE TO ACTIVELY REBUILD OUR MUSCLES TO NOT PARTICIPATE IN THESE CULTURE WARS.

SO WHEN WE ARE ABOUT TO JUDGE SOMEBODY OR SHAME THEM, TO PULL BACK AND REMEMBER, LET THEM MAKE CHOICES THAT ARE GOOD FOR THEM.

IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT I NEED TO MAKE THE SAME THING.

WE REMOVE OURSELVES FROM PARTICIPATION IN THE CULTURE WARS, AND I THINK I WOULD GO A LONG WAY.

AND THEN THE SECOND THING IS, YOU KNOW, I WANT PEOPLE TO --I WANT TO WALK OUT OF THESE SCREENINGS, WALK OUT OF THIS MOVEMENT BUT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF MORE SUPPORTERS AND VOTERS THAT ARE CHILDCARE VOTERS.

LIKE I THINK THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY IN THE MIDTERMS AND BEYOND TO GET CHILDCARE LEGISLATION BOTH FEDERALLY AND IN THE STATES.

LIKE I SAID, THE ECONOMIC AND WOMEN'S --HEADWINDS ARE WITH US.

72% OF AMERICANS REGARDLESS OF PARTY MOTHERS.

WE ARE SO CLOSE THERE THAT I WANT THIS FILM IN THE COMMUNITY THAT'S BEING BUILT OUT OF THIS FILM, THE MOVEMENT THAT IS BEING IGNITED FROM THE SUM TO PUSH IT OVER THE EDGE.

AND I KNOW IT WILL.

>> THE FILM IS CALLED NO COUNTRY FOR MOTHERS.

IT IS SCREENING AROUND THE UNITED STATES NOW.

NOW, ASK A PRODUCER AND CEO OF MOMS FIRST, DOCTOR.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

A SPEC ONE OF THE MOST ICONIC SITES EMPRESS HAS BEEN TRANSFORMED.

THE OLDEST STANDING BRIDGE ON THIS AND HAS BEEN ENCASED IN FABRIC, BY THE ARTIST JR.

IF THAT SEEMS SIMILAR, IT IS A TRIBUTE TO ARTISTS JEAN- CLAUDE, WHO WRAPPED THE SAME BRIDGE IN FABRIC 40 YEARS AGO.

JR HAS CHANGED THIS PROJECT INTO SOMETHING MORE ELEMENTAL WHILE BATTLING REAL-WORLD ELEMENTS.

A RECENT STORM DAMAGE THE FACT --STRUCTURE, FORCING A DELAY TO THE OPENING BUT NOW THE BRIDGES FINALLY OPEN AND ITS CREATOR, 19 JOINS US FROM THERE.

WHAT A PITIFUL SHOT, JR, AND LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT WE SEE.

WELCOME .

>> YOU ARE TWO YEARS AGO WHEN CHRISTO AND JOHN CLAUDE WRAPPED THIS BRIDGE.

WHY DID YOU DECIDE --AND YOU NEVER HAD A CHANCE TO SEE IT AT THE AGE OF TWO.

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO CREATE YOUR OWN PIECE SOME 40 YEARS LATER?

>> BECAUSE TRULY, I WAS CLOSED --CLOSE TO CHRISTO, WE WERE KISSED EACH OTHER, AND IS THAT HE ASKED ME IF I WOULD DO SOMETHING 40 YEARS LATER .

IF NOT, I WOULD NEVER HAVE TAKEN THE LIBERTY TO DO IT, SO HAD THE BLESSING FROM THE FAMILY.

I WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW WHAT?

THIS IS A GREAT CHALLENGE.

WHAT WOULD I DO 40 YEARS LATER AND THAT'S HOW I STARTED WORKING ON THE --.

CAVE OF THE PONT NEUF.

>> FIRST OF ALL, THE WAY I TOOK OVER THE BRIDGE IS VERY DIFFERENT.

I'M ELEVATING THE BRIDGE BY 60 FEET ABOVE, SO 18 METERS ABOVE THE BRIDGE AND I CREATED THIS SET OF BOX PERMISSIONS THAT PEOPLE SEE AS MOUNTAINS.

SOME OTHERS SEE US GLACIERS THAT REALLY CHANGE DURING THE DAY, AND IT'S KIND OF DISSOLUTION OF HAVING MOUNTAINS IN THE MIDDLE OF PARIS BUT THE MOST AMAZING THING IS THAT IF YOU WALK INSIDE THE CAVE, A CAVE THAT IS 120 METERS LONG THAT WHEN YOU ENTER INTO THE DARK, IT IS ALMOST INTIMIDATING.

IN THE MIDDLE OF PARIS, YOU LOSE ALL YOUR SENSE OF WHERE YOU ARE.

THE CENTER AND HE IS MADE BY THE --ONE THAT --WHO CREATED NO MUSIC.

HE CREATED A VIBRATION THAT YOU FEEL.

YOU DON'T REALLY HEAR IT.

YOU FEEL IT, AND THERE IS EVEN --THAT IS MADE BY SARAH THAT CREATED THIS WHOLE SENSE THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE -- THAT IS BASED ON THE --WHICH IS THE FIRST SMELL OF THE EARTH THAT BRINGS US BACK TO THE ORIGIN OF HUMANITY ALSO.

>> AND IT IS A CAVE INTERIOR NATIVE 80 ARCHES OF FABRIC FILLED WITH 20,000 CUBIC METERS OF AIR.

AND A PASSERBY TOLD THE AP THAT PARIS FEELS SUDDENLY AGENT -- ANCIENT AGAIN.

WAS THAT YOUR GOAL?

HOW DID YOU WRITE WHEN YOU HEARD THAT REACTION?

>> I THINK IN A MOMENT WHERE EVERYTHING IS ACCELERATING AND WE ARE ALL ON OUR PHONES, CALLING DOWN, HOW DO YOU COME OUT OF THAT STATE?

AND ONE OF THE WAY TO DO IT IS BRING EXTRAORDINARY INTO OUR LIFE.

BRING THINGS THAT ARE BIGGER THAN LIFE THAT MAKES YOU STOP AND IF YOU LOOK AROUND, WHAT YOU ACTUALLY SEE IS PEOPLE STOPPING.

THEY LOCK IN WHEN THEY SEE THIS, IS THAT WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

THEY HAVE TO QUESTION IT, AND THAT'S WHY --WHAT ART IS DOING.

IT RAISES A QUESTION.

IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY BRING ANSWERS BUT PEOPLE CAN EXPLORE IT, AND THEN THROUGH THAT JOURNEY, IT IS MORE OF AN INNER JOURNEY, SO I THINK THERE'S MANY THINGS I WANTED TO DO HERE.

BUT I DEFINITELY WAS MOST AMAZED --THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF PUBLIC ART.

IT BROUGHT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE TO COME THROUGH IT BECAUSE IT'S TOTALLY FREE, OPEN 24 SEVEN FOR TWO WEEKS LIKE CHRISTO AND JEANNE-CLAUDE'S WALK IN THE PAST.

IT'S AMAZING TO SEE PEOPLE BE TRANSFORMED BY ART AND QUESTIONED BY ART ALL DAY AND ALL NIGHT.

>> DO YOU AS THE ARTIST, AS THE DESIGNER, DO YOU SEE SOMETHING DIFFERENT EACH TIME YOU WALK THROUGH?

>> YES.

IT GROWS ON YOU.

THIS CAVE.

YOU GO IN, AND IT'S LIKE SOMETHING THAT YOU KNOW, AND YET THEY DON'T KNOW BECAUSE WE ALL COME FROM THE CASE.

IT'S THE ONLY METHOD THAT WE ALL BELIEVE IN.

WHEREVER YOU GO, WHICHEVER CONTINENT YOU GO AROUND THE WORLD, PEOPLE SAY WE COME FROM THE CAVES AND IT'S PRETTY INTERESTING THAT WHEN YOU BRING PEOPLE IN AND EVERYBODY KNOWS IT'S AN ILLUSION.

IT'S FABRIC.

IT'S AIR.

THEY ALL KNOW THAT THIS IS AN IMAGE TRICK AND YET, THEY ALL WANT TO BELIEVE IN IT, AND SO, THAT IS SOMETHING EACH TIME I GO, IT IS THE FLOW OF PEOPLE, OF PEOPLE LIKE --THEY ENTER WITH THEIR PHONE AND QUICKLY THEY TAKE IT DOWN TO ACTUALLY LOOK AT WHAT'S AROUND THEM.

AND SO I MADE THE LIGHT DARK ENOUGH SO YOU ACTUALLY WANT TO BE FOCUSED WHEN YOU LOOK.

HE ACTUALLY WANT TO EXPERIENCE IT.

>> AND YET VISITORS ARE INVITED TO USE THEIR PHONES TO SEE THE AUGMENTED REALITY PART OF THE INSTALLATION, SO IS THIS A USEFUL WAY TO USE A TOOL THAT YOU THINK, AND SOMEBODY WOULD AGREE WITH YOU, HAS BEEN SUCH A DISTRACTION FOR PEOPLE OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS, 20 YEARS?

>> YEAH.

EXACTLY.

I THINK THE FACT THAT WE USE TECHNOLOGY I'M SAYING --WE ALL HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND ACCEPT AND EMBRACE --OF THE QUESTION IS WHICH TECHNOLOGY TO USE AND IN A MOMENT LIKE NOW, OR AN ARTIST LIKE ME CAN USE ANY TECHNOLOGY I WANT, I WANTED TO FIND ONE THAT HELPS US GO AND SEE THROUGH THE SCREEN.

SO AUGMENTED REALITY IS ONE -- STAY IN THE PRESENT BECAUSE YOU ARE STILL INTERACTING WITH PEOPLE AROUND YOU BUT IT'S A QUESTION THAT I'VE ALWAYS ASKED MYSELF IN EACH PROJECT THAT I'M DOING BECAUSE ACTUALLY ALWAYS LOVE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN PEOPLE.

THE FACT THAT IT BRINGS PEOPLE PHYSICALLY TOGETHER, AND THAT'S REALLY ONE OF THE DNA.

WHATEVER WAY I'M DOING IT.

AND ALSO, IT'S ONE THAT IS DONE BY HAND.

EVERYTHING IS MADE BY HUNDREDS OF ARTISANS.

EVERYTHING IS HANDSTITCHED.

EVERYTHING IS VERY FRAGILE.

THAT'S WHY WHEN THERE WAS A STORM A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, WE LOST PART OF THE TOP THAT WE HAD TO RE-STITCH BY HAND, AND ACTUALLY KEPT THE MARKS.

>> THAT'S WHY WE ARE TALKING TO YOU, THE INDIVIDUAL ARTIST, JR, BUT WE KNOW YOU LOVE WORKING AS A COLLABORATING FORCE.

WHICH YOU HAVE THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER, AND THAT APPLIES TO YOU AS WELL.

ARTIST JR IN PARIS, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

IT IS FASCINATING.

WISH I COULD BE THERE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND THAT'S IT FOR OUR PROGRAM TONIGHT.

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JOIN US AGAIN TOMORROW NIGHT.

>> AMANPOUR AND COMPANY IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE ANDERSON FAMILY ENDOWMENT.

JIM ATTWOOD AND LESLIE WILLIAMS.

CANDACE KING WEIR.

THE SYLVIA A. AND SIMON B. POYTA PROGRAMMING ENDOWMENT TO FIGHT ANTISEMITISM THE STRAUS FAMILY FOUNDATION, CHARLES ROSENBLUM, BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG, AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.