Before I get to my next guest, it is apropos to bring up some news, and it's not necessarily breaking news because I've.

Before I get to my next guest, it is apropos to bring up some news, and it's not necessarily breaking news because I've.

Seen it all over the airwaves over the last few hours.

Seen it all over the airwaves over the last few hours.

Former President Barack Obama is set to hit the campaign trail on behalf of Democratic nominee for the presidency of the United States, the one and only Kamala Harris. The former president will campaign for Vice President Harris in battleground states during the final twenty seven days until election Day. His first event is scheduled for this Thursday in Pittsburgh. For those of you who don't know, just a little nugget of information, Democrats are considered to be in tight races in the state of Michigan, Maryland, and Florida, so they're releasing ads on Friday featuring Obama as well right there, So you can't ignore that. And obviously, when we're talking about President Obama, one of the most popular presidents in history, you can't ignore the fact that from a fundraising standpoint, the man is big time already. With fundraising content and events featuring Obama, He's been able to raise seventy six million in the twenty twenty four presidential campaign according to his office, So we have to give credit where credit is due in that regard. According to Obama's senior advisor, Eric Schultz, he told Fox New, CNN and others, quote, President Obama believes the stakes of this election could not be more consequential, and that is why he is doing everything he can to help elect Vice President Harris Governor Walls, and Democrats across the country.

Former President Barack Obama is set to hit the campaign trail on behalf of Democratic nominee for the presidency of the United States, the one and only Kamala Harris. The former president will campaign for Vice President Harris in battleground states during the final twenty seven days until election Day. His first event is scheduled for this Thursday in Pittsburgh. For those of you who don't know, just a little nugget of information, Democrats are considered to be in tight races in the state of Michigan, Maryland, and Florida, so they're releasing ads on Friday featuring Obama as well right there, So you can't ignore that. And obviously, when we're talking about President Obama, one of the most popular presidents in history, you can't ignore the fact that from a fundraising standpoint, the man is big time already. With fundraising content and events featuring Obama, He's been able to raise seventy six million in the twenty twenty four presidential campaign according to his office, So we have to give credit where credit is due in that regard. According to Obama's senior advisor, Eric Schultz, he told Fox New, CNN and others, quote, President Obama believes the stakes of this election could not be more consequential, and that is why he is doing everything he can to help elect Vice President Harris Governor Walls, and Democrats across the country.

Schultz said he.

Schultz said he.

Continues by saying his goals are to win the White House, keep the US Senate, and take back the House of Representatives. Now that voting has begun, our focus is on persuading and mobilizing voters, especially in states with key races. Many of these races are likely to go down to the wire, should be taken for granted. Let me give you my take before we get into our next guest. Who would be Van Jones Number one? I'm not gonna apologize for saying I wish Michelle Obama was running. I think the former first lady in the United State, as far as two of the greatest first lady who ever lived. I think she's phenomenal. I think her speech at the Democratic National Convention was phenomenal. I think she's an incredible figure, very very powerful, very influential, and I wish she was running. Not to knock Kamala Harris in any way, but I just wish Michelle Obama. I think it would be a landslide. Donald Trump would have no chance going up against Michelle Obama. That's number one, that's my personal opinion. Number two, I'm not sure how much help Barack Obama.

Continues by saying his goals are to win the White House, keep the US Senate, and take back the House of Representatives. Now that voting has begun, our focus is on persuading and mobilizing voters, especially in states with key races. Many of these races are likely to go down to the wire, should be taken for granted. Let me give you my take before we get into our next guest. Who would be Van Jones Number one? I'm not gonna apologize for saying I wish Michelle Obama was running. I think the former first lady in the United State, as far as two of the greatest first lady who ever lived. I think she's phenomenal. I think her speech at the Democratic National Convention was phenomenal. I think she's an incredible figure, very very powerful, very influential, and I wish she was running. Not to knock Kamala Harris in any way, but I just wish Michelle Obama. I think it would be a landslide. Donald Trump would have no chance going up against Michelle Obama. That's number one, that's my personal opinion. Number two, I'm not sure how much help Barack Obama.

Is going to be. Somebody's got to say it, so I'm gonna say it.

Is going to be. Somebody's got to say it, so I'm gonna say it.

Now.

Now.

I don't have the specific numbers in front of me. I've given them to you in the past. If you want me to, I can give them to you again. No one's here questioning the popularity of President Obama. We knew he was the real deal, but that's when it came to him Senate seats, congressional seats, goubernatorial races, the judiciary. I mean, he lost a ton of seats for the Democrats while he was in office. He campaign for Hillary. She lost in twenty twenty. We all know that it wasn't about Biden. It was about eighty one million people voting against Trump. And one could easily make the argument right now that if Kamala Harris wins it's because that many more people want Trump to lose because in so many people's eyes, he's just too trifling to see back the White House. So it's gonna be really interesting to talk to Van Jones about this kind of stuff, because I really want to hear his opinion about this. I respect him, But in the same breath, I'm not blind. Obama's gonna go on the campaytrill. Why's he going on the campayt troll? You know, wody's going on the campaytriil because polls as well as pundits and surrogates are openly acknowledging that Kamala Harris has a problem with the black vote.

I don't have the specific numbers in front of me. I've given them to you in the past. If you want me to, I can give them to you again. No one's here questioning the popularity of President Obama. We knew he was the real deal, but that's when it came to him Senate seats, congressional seats, goubernatorial races, the judiciary. I mean, he lost a ton of seats for the Democrats while he was in office. He campaign for Hillary. She lost in twenty twenty. We all know that it wasn't about Biden. It was about eighty one million people voting against Trump. And one could easily make the argument right now that if Kamala Harris wins it's because that many more people want Trump to lose because in so many people's eyes, he's just too trifling to see back the White House. So it's gonna be really interesting to talk to Van Jones about this kind of stuff, because I really want to hear his opinion about this. I respect him, But in the same breath, I'm not blind. Obama's gonna go on the campaytrill. Why's he going on the campayt troll? You know, wody's going on the campaytriil because polls as well as pundits and surrogates are openly acknowledging that Kamala Harris has a problem with the black vote.

It's not on lock.

It's not on lock.

That there's a growing number of black folks in this country that are looking at Trump, not evenly compared to Kamala Harris, but enough to potentially sway the election, untilt the scales one way or another. The man gets fifteen to sixty percent of the black vote, she's got a problem. Now he's got his own problems because Kamala Harris is very dominant with women, No doubt, the overturning of Roe v.

That there's a growing number of black folks in this country that are looking at Trump, not evenly compared to Kamala Harris, but enough to potentially sway the election, untilt the scales one way or another. The man gets fifteen to sixty percent of the black vote, she's got a problem. Now he's got his own problems because Kamala Harris is very dominant with women, No doubt, the overturning of Roe v.

Wade has a lot to do with that.

Wade has a lot to do with that.

But when it comes down to Obama, you're talking about black folks, and you're talking about young folks, the young folks.

But when it comes down to Obama, you're talking about black folks, and you're talking about young folks, the young folks.

Do you really really look at Kamala Harris as the answer. It's a question.

Do you really really look at Kamala Harris as the answer. It's a question.

Nobody's being presumptuous here. Nobody's making any accusations. I'm simply asking. But I will also say this, regardless of how off out of pocket or off kilter he sounds, Trump's everywhere.

Nobody's being presumptuous here. Nobody's making any accusations. I'm simply asking. But I will also say this, regardless of how off out of pocket or off kilter he sounds, Trump's everywhere.

She's had rallies, she said, campaign stops.

She's had rallies, she said, campaign stops.

Those interviews being able to walk into the lions then answer questions about her record, about her record with the bi An administration, which is still in office. By the way, We've got Israel and a moas and Hasbalah.

Those interviews being able to walk into the lions then answer questions about her record, about her record with the bi An administration, which is still in office. By the way, We've got Israel and a moas and Hasbalah.

You got Harang in a mix.

You got Harang in a mix.

Now you got people walking around fairing World War IIE is in route. You know about Russia, Ukraine, they're fair and stuff on that end. We got a hurricane disaster took place throughout the states in south particularly state.

Now you got people walking around fairing World War IIE is in route. You know about Russia, Ukraine, they're fair and stuff on that end. We got a hurricane disaster took place throughout the states in south particularly state.

Of North Carolina.

Of North Carolina.

We got private citizens involved in search of rescue missions with people saying where has the National Guard been. It's got a whole bunch of stuff going on. Biden is in office right now. Kamala Harris is in office right now. Something worth thinking about. Can't wait to talk to my next guest about this. My next guest is an Emmy Award winner, a CNN political analyst, immediate personality lawyer, and a three time I'm New York Times best selling author. He's been a leader in criminal justice reform and is now working in the emerging world of AI technology. Please welcome the one, the only mister Van Jones.

We got private citizens involved in search of rescue missions with people saying where has the National Guard been. It's got a whole bunch of stuff going on. Biden is in office right now. Kamala Harris is in office right now. Something worth thinking about. Can't wait to talk to my next guest about this. My next guest is an Emmy Award winner, a CNN political analyst, immediate personality lawyer, and a three time I'm New York Times best selling author. He's been a leader in criminal justice reform and is now working in the emerging world of AI technology. Please welcome the one, the only mister Van Jones.

To the Stephen A. Smith. Joe, what's up, big time? How are you man? How have you been?

To the Stephen A. Smith. Joe, what's up, big time? How are you man? How have you been?

Man? It's nothing but good stuff in my life. And that's the honor to be with you, brother, man.

Man? It's nothing but good stuff in my life. And that's the honor to be with you, brother, man.

It's always an honor to be with you.

It's always an honor to be with you.

Talk to me about your life a second, at this particular moment in time.

Talk to me about your life a second, at this particular moment in time.

How is life for you? What have you been doing, and what has it been.

How is life for you? What have you been doing, and what has it been.

Like for you to be covering politics in this day and age this particular year.

Like for you to be covering politics in this day and age this particular year.

It's a rough year. I mean, my life is good. I have four kids, are all thriving and growing. I've got two big kids, one in college, one high school for my first marriage, and now I've got these two little ones, both in diapers. And it gives you a lot of perspectives but also a lot to worry about because I'm very concerned about the direction of this election. I am not I am not confident that we're doing the things we need to do as Democrats to get across the finish line. And there's stuff that we can't talk about. I think a lot of African American men are not happy, and not due to sexism, but just feeling that what what what is being spoken for us. I see a lot of black a lot of brothers are in pain and won't speak about it. The feminist culture says, shut up, you're toxic, You're part of the problem anyway. The masculiness culture says, shut up and take it because boys don't cry. And so you've got some unspoken epidemic of pain in the black male community, especially non college black men. And so far it's either uh, you know, from the right wing we blame the immigrants, or from the left wing really just shut up and vote, and I think it's not working.

It's a rough year. I mean, my life is good. I have four kids, are all thriving and growing. I've got two big kids, one in college, one high school for my first marriage, and now I've got these two little ones, both in diapers. And it gives you a lot of perspectives but also a lot to worry about because I'm very concerned about the direction of this election. I am not I am not confident that we're doing the things we need to do as Democrats to get across the finish line. And there's stuff that we can't talk about. I think a lot of African American men are not happy, and not due to sexism, but just feeling that what what what is being spoken for us. I see a lot of black a lot of brothers are in pain and won't speak about it. The feminist culture says, shut up, you're toxic, You're part of the problem anyway. The masculiness culture says, shut up and take it because boys don't cry. And so you've got some unspoken epidemic of pain in the black male community, especially non college black men. And so far it's either uh, you know, from the right wing we blame the immigrants, or from the left wing really just shut up and vote, and I think it's not working.

I'm very concerned when you talk about the concerns for the black male vote, and I appreciate you saying that because I'm marry you sentiments wholeheartedly. I must ask you specifically, what do you think the black males are, you know, are what's the most bothersome to us at this particular moment in time. When you say you're concerned about the things that ail us, the things that bother us.

I'm very concerned when you talk about the concerns for the black male vote, and I appreciate you saying that because I'm marry you sentiments wholeheartedly. I must ask you specifically, what do you think the black males are, you know, are what's the most bothersome to us at this particular moment in time. When you say you're concerned about the things that ail us, the things that bother us.

What is it that you think specifically it is as this election approaches.

What is it that you think specifically it is as this election approaches.

I think that there's a unspoken wounded pride in the hearts of a lot of brothers. It's hard to provide for our families, and you often feel disappointed in yourself. You feel, you know, maybe you're coming up short, and there doesn't seem to be a lot of empathy or sympathy or strong encouragement or even acknowledgment of what we're going through. They might throw something at us about criminal criminal justice reform, as you know I'm a big proponent of that, might throw something at us about police misconduct, which nothing has been done about anyway. But you know, we need business loans, we need we want to be owners, we want to be entrepreneurs. We want to be able to put our shoulders back, we want to be able to be heads of household and to extend it. That is almost considered out of date or out of fashion or sexist to even want that for yourself. It makes it very, very difficult. And like I said that, I think that Kamma Harrison particularly has a huge opportunity just to even just to do a barbershop tour and just be seen showing up listening to brothers, talking with brothers, really curings, especially from Black fathers who are really trying our best to navigate a tough culture for ourselves and our children. I just feel that there's a need for some love and some honor and some respect and some appreciation for what we go through, and that just does not seem to be popular right now in either party.

I think that there's a unspoken wounded pride in the hearts of a lot of brothers. It's hard to provide for our families, and you often feel disappointed in yourself. You feel, you know, maybe you're coming up short, and there doesn't seem to be a lot of empathy or sympathy or strong encouragement or even acknowledgment of what we're going through. They might throw something at us about criminal criminal justice reform, as you know I'm a big proponent of that, might throw something at us about police misconduct, which nothing has been done about anyway. But you know, we need business loans, we need we want to be owners, we want to be entrepreneurs. We want to be able to put our shoulders back, we want to be able to be heads of household and to extend it. That is almost considered out of date or out of fashion or sexist to even want that for yourself. It makes it very, very difficult. And like I said that, I think that Kamma Harrison particularly has a huge opportunity just to even just to do a barbershop tour and just be seen showing up listening to brothers, talking with brothers, really curings, especially from Black fathers who are really trying our best to navigate a tough culture for ourselves and our children. I just feel that there's a need for some love and some honor and some respect and some appreciation for what we go through, and that just does not seem to be popular right now in either party.

Honestly, has it that always been the case when it comes to us though, I mean regard for many years. I mean when has that not been the case for us?

Honestly, has it that always been the case when it comes to us though, I mean regard for many years. I mean when has that not been the case for us?

Man?

Man?

You know, you might you may be correct. I think, you know, maybe we were able to project a little bit more when we had Obama in the in the in the batter's box and felt like, you know, by people honoring Obama that we were getting some kind of honor out of that. Yeah. Look, I think brothers want to feel respected. I think we want to feel appreciated. Even we're coming off short, we still want to feel respected. We want to feel that people believe in as they're pulling force. They want us to be good. We would, you know, just shut up and vote. How could you possibly not vote? Uh, that's it just it just feels I think like we're missing opportunities. For instance, the Small Business Administration could do a lot more to get loans to black folks. We could be doing a lot more to lift up mentorship programs because there are a lot of brothers out here who are doing well. Maybe not as well as some of our white peers, but we're doing well. We need some support sometimes of reaching back to the young people. I would love to see any politician actually act like they love us, Like we need some love, we need some appreciation, we need some help. And no black man is gonna say that. You know, we're gonna we're gonna bark or we're gonna be quiet. But the reality is we're thirty days in the selection and I still don't know does anybody care about us? I mean, I know that Kamala does, because I know Kamala. I'm talking about the campaign.

You know, you might you may be correct. I think, you know, maybe we were able to project a little bit more when we had Obama in the in the in the batter's box and felt like, you know, by people honoring Obama that we were getting some kind of honor out of that. Yeah. Look, I think brothers want to feel respected. I think we want to feel appreciated. Even we're coming off short, we still want to feel respected. We want to feel that people believe in as they're pulling force. They want us to be good. We would, you know, just shut up and vote. How could you possibly not vote? Uh, that's it just it just feels I think like we're missing opportunities. For instance, the Small Business Administration could do a lot more to get loans to black folks. We could be doing a lot more to lift up mentorship programs because there are a lot of brothers out here who are doing well. Maybe not as well as some of our white peers, but we're doing well. We need some support sometimes of reaching back to the young people. I would love to see any politician actually act like they love us, Like we need some love, we need some appreciation, we need some help. And no black man is gonna say that. You know, we're gonna we're gonna bark or we're gonna be quiet. But the reality is we're thirty days in the selection and I still don't know does anybody care about us? I mean, I know that Kamala does, because I know Kamala. I'm talking about the campaign.

Before we get into your work and some of the marvelous things that you're doing. It was announced that former President Barack Obama will be hitting the campaign trail for the Harris Walls ticket. Of course, do you think he'll help close the gap? She has been having a try, you know, in terms of attracting black men, the kind of black men that you just alluded to.

Before we get into your work and some of the marvelous things that you're doing. It was announced that former President Barack Obama will be hitting the campaign trail for the Harris Walls ticket. Of course, do you think he'll help close the gap? She has been having a try, you know, in terms of attracting black men, the kind of black men that you just alluded to.

What do you think he'll do for that?

What do you think he'll do for that?

Look, I think Barack Obama is magical. I think people write him off. Oh they don't. You know, he's passed ten Thi's out of touch or whatever. And then he starts talking people that, oh I remember this guy, Like oh shit, okay, all right. You know. So I think I think he can only do good and I think that I think people need to see him. Look, a lot of the greats, you know, whether they're talking about Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, or whatever, some of the great they weren't just they were pillars for American society. Uh. They represented. They were holding a torch that's been passed down for generations and generations of greatness, of excellence, of grace, of strength, of dignity, and you need, we need, you know. I was glad to see Oprah Winfrey jump into the into the chat. I love to see Barack Obama. I'd love to see Michelle Obama because it's not just good for Kama Harrison's campaign, it's good for for for the human soul to see people like that standing up and taking and taking a position that says we do we need to go forward and not backwards. So I think I think Barack Obama coming into the scene, uh, it will only do good.

Look, I think Barack Obama is magical. I think people write him off. Oh they don't. You know, he's passed ten Thi's out of touch or whatever. And then he starts talking people that, oh I remember this guy, Like oh shit, okay, all right. You know. So I think I think he can only do good and I think that I think people need to see him. Look, a lot of the greats, you know, whether they're talking about Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, or whatever, some of the great they weren't just they were pillars for American society. Uh. They represented. They were holding a torch that's been passed down for generations and generations of greatness, of excellence, of grace, of strength, of dignity, and you need, we need, you know. I was glad to see Oprah Winfrey jump into the into the chat. I love to see Barack Obama. I'd love to see Michelle Obama because it's not just good for Kama Harrison's campaign, it's good for for for the human soul to see people like that standing up and taking and taking a position that says we do we need to go forward and not backwards. So I think I think Barack Obama coming into the scene, uh, it will only do good.

See. I don't know if that's true. I hope it is.

See. I don't know if that's true. I hope it is.

And I believe in him, and I believe most of America loves him, revers him, believes in him, But do they believe in some of his contemporaries on the left. As a legitimate question, I know on this side of the fence, there's no way in hell.

And I believe in him, and I believe most of America loves him, revers him, believes in him, But do they believe in some of his contemporaries on the left. As a legitimate question, I know on this side of the fence, there's no way in hell.

I'm in no way in hell I'm supporting Trump. I can promise you that.

I'm in no way in hell I'm supporting Trump. I can promise you that.

But having said all of that, as a political pundit talking about you and the exceptional work that you've done over the years, I wonder, how are you feeling.

But having said all of that, as a political pundit talking about you and the exceptional work that you've done over the years, I wonder, how are you feeling.

I know you know, Kamala Harris. I'm not talking about.

I know you know, Kamala Harris. I'm not talking about.

The person, because I know you know her, and I know that you would and support somebody you didn't respect and you didn't believe in, So I'm gonna trust you on that. But I'm saying to you, in terms of Kamala Harris the candidate, how do you feel about the job she has been doing? Because Van, I'm on the record, I don't like the fact that you know, these rallies have been replacing interviews and stuff. I think she needs to go into the lions then and show folks what she's made of, because she's got it. She's got the track work. She's a vice president's forman senator, attorney general, former district attorney. She's got the track record, especially going up against him. She should be able to march into any place and let her thoughts and her perspectives speak for itself. And I don't think she's done enough of that.

The person, because I know you know her, and I know that you would and support somebody you didn't respect and you didn't believe in, So I'm gonna trust you on that. But I'm saying to you, in terms of Kamala Harris the candidate, how do you feel about the job she has been doing? Because Van, I'm on the record, I don't like the fact that you know, these rallies have been replacing interviews and stuff. I think she needs to go into the lions then and show folks what she's made of, because she's got it. She's got the track work. She's a vice president's forman senator, attorney general, former district attorney. She's got the track record, especially going up against him. She should be able to march into any place and let her thoughts and her perspectives speak for itself. And I don't think she's done enough of that.

What about you?

What about you?

Van? Hey, Look, I agree, and I agree because I have so much confidence her. She she whooped Donald Trump so bad it looked like elder abuse. If you can handle Donald Trump for ninety minutes, you can handle any of us for seven minutes. So I think. I think that also, when you don't do a lot of interviews, and each interview becomes more and more important, word of you, if you're like Donald Trump and J. D. Van's if you do ten interviews a day, even if you mess them up, you just but the volume of communication makes up for any you know, missteps in this thing. And you and I both know you can't be on TV as much as you and I are without stumbling over your words or saying something that's not accurate or you know, you know, getting upset and wish you could take it back. That's just life in this modern era. And so from my point of view, and I posted about this already, I posted a think and when Superviral said free Kamala Harris, let this woman talk. She should talk to right winger, left winger, little people, big people. She can get to get a little podcast with elementary school students. She should be able to meet the press, because she when you, when you, The more people see her, the more they like her. She doesn't always she can get into word salad, and she can sometimes misspeak, but so can I. But the more it's been shown, the more they see her, the more they like her, the more they get to know her, the more they like her. So I think I think they're And the other thing is, which I think is in the stake, is they also have been hiding coach Waltz. Coach Waltz got the position to be the vp UH to her by being on TV all the time and giving great interviews and calling folks weird and being relatable. After the convention, they put them in the refrigerator and you didn't see him again until the debate.

Van? Hey, Look, I agree, and I agree because I have so much confidence her. She she whooped Donald Trump so bad it looked like elder abuse. If you can handle Donald Trump for ninety minutes, you can handle any of us for seven minutes. So I think. I think that also, when you don't do a lot of interviews, and each interview becomes more and more important, word of you, if you're like Donald Trump and J. D. Van's if you do ten interviews a day, even if you mess them up, you just but the volume of communication makes up for any you know, missteps in this thing. And you and I both know you can't be on TV as much as you and I are without stumbling over your words or saying something that's not accurate or you know, you know, getting upset and wish you could take it back. That's just life in this modern era. And so from my point of view, and I posted about this already, I posted a think and when Superviral said free Kamala Harris, let this woman talk. She should talk to right winger, left winger, little people, big people. She can get to get a little podcast with elementary school students. She should be able to meet the press, because she when you, when you, The more people see her, the more they like her. She doesn't always she can get into word salad, and she can sometimes misspeak, but so can I. But the more it's been shown, the more they see her, the more they like her, the more they get to know her, the more they like her. So I think I think they're And the other thing is, which I think is in the stake, is they also have been hiding coach Waltz. Coach Waltz got the position to be the vp UH to her by being on TV all the time and giving great interviews and calling folks weird and being relatable. After the convention, they put them in the refrigerator and you didn't see him again until the debate.

Fair enough, Van, But was he the right was he the right choice instead of Shapiro out of Pennsylvania?

Fair enough, Van, But was he the right was he the right choice instead of Shapiro out of Pennsylvania?

Well, knowing about thirty five days, look, answer, answer, We'll know in thirty five days.

Well, knowing about thirty five days, look, answer, answer, We'll know in thirty five days.

You know, it's not just black you know, we brought up the issue. You brought up the issue of blackmails, and that's obviously a vote that she needs to attract more more as well.

You know, it's not just black you know, we brought up the issue. You brought up the issue of blackmails, and that's obviously a vote that she needs to attract more more as well.

She needs to do interviews.

She needs to do interviews.

We talked about that, show herself, show who she is and what she's made of. Without question, There's another thing that she has, another problem that she has. She has a problem with the unions. I mean, I'm just I'm just reading from some notes that you got some union leaders that back up, but many.

We talked about that, show herself, show who she is and what she's made of. Without question, There's another thing that she has, another problem that she has. She has a problem with the unions. I mean, I'm just I'm just reading from some notes that you got some union leaders that back up, but many.

Workers have backed Trump.

Workers have backed Trump.

You've got the team, says, and the firefighters choosing not to support either candidate. They're the backbone of the middle class and a lot of people's eyes.

You've got the team, says, and the firefighters choosing not to support either candidate. They're the backbone of the middle class and a lot of people's eyes.

What can she do to address that issue.

What can she do to address that issue.

This is a bizarre thing because you know, really the Biden Hairs administration has been so pro union, actually chased out of the party some of the billionaires in Silicon Valley who used to support US. Don't forget Elon Musk in twenty twenty was backing Andrew Yang, a Democrat, and he was backing up to the hill. Biden Harris has been so pro union that some people in the tech world see them as being anti innovation, anti corporate, and anti rich. And so you have not had There's no more that she could have done or he could have done to support labor and you know, the teamsters, they rescued them financially. Biden has walked on the pick and line. So the fact that there's still this under chub where major unions are backing away or staying neutral or you know, you know, staying up in the bleachers and not getting down here on the court is something I don't blame on Common Harris. There's something bigger going on here because Biden by himself has been more pro union than any presidents in FDR.

This is a bizarre thing because you know, really the Biden Hairs administration has been so pro union, actually chased out of the party some of the billionaires in Silicon Valley who used to support US. Don't forget Elon Musk in twenty twenty was backing Andrew Yang, a Democrat, and he was backing up to the hill. Biden Harris has been so pro union that some people in the tech world see them as being anti innovation, anti corporate, and anti rich. And so you have not had There's no more that she could have done or he could have done to support labor and you know, the teamsters, they rescued them financially. Biden has walked on the pick and line. So the fact that there's still this under chub where major unions are backing away or staying neutral or you know, you know, staying up in the bleachers and not getting down here on the court is something I don't blame on Common Harris. There's something bigger going on here because Biden by himself has been more pro union than any presidents in FDR.

You know, one of the other things that I point to when I look at when I look at her in her situation right now.

You know, one of the other things that I point to when I look at when I look at her in her situation right now.

You know, they've gotten on.

You know, they've gotten on.

Her about flip flopping, whether it's fracking, whether it's the border, whether you know it's healthcare. They've gotten on her about that, and I'm wondering about your thoughts on that. But I also look at her from the standpoint where I look at these wars going on in Ukraine and Russia. We know what's happening with hesbelin a mas and is real, and now Iran is into the mix and what have you. This is what I've said publicly Van Donald Trump, who's a master at one liners, a master at throwing insults, and a master at utilizing that to distract you from the real substantive stuff that we should be discussing. He'll sit up there and, dare I say, get a bit misogynistic to use that word. He'll sit up there and say, hey, look, I'm everywhere. Look at the interviews that I'm doing, look at the questions that I asked. I'm not running from anything. But where is she at on these issues?

Her about flip flopping, whether it's fracking, whether it's the border, whether you know it's healthcare. They've gotten on her about that, and I'm wondering about your thoughts on that. But I also look at her from the standpoint where I look at these wars going on in Ukraine and Russia. We know what's happening with hesbelin a mas and is real, and now Iran is into the mix and what have you. This is what I've said publicly Van Donald Trump, who's a master at one liners, a master at throwing insults, and a master at utilizing that to distract you from the real substantive stuff that we should be discussing. He'll sit up there and, dare I say, get a bit misogynistic to use that word. He'll sit up there and say, hey, look, I'm everywhere. Look at the interviews that I'm doing, look at the questions that I asked. I'm not running from anything. But where is she at on these issues?

You see?

You see?

Do you really trust that she'll be strong enough to handle these issues?

Do you really trust that she'll be strong enough to handle these issues?

These are tacit things.

These are tacit things.

That he could potentially use as advanta And you know this significantly better than me, just because we haven't heard much of it yet. It's October now, you know, over the next few weeks before the election, you going to see a tsunamia stuff coming down the pike.

That he could potentially use as advanta And you know this significantly better than me, just because we haven't heard much of it yet. It's October now, you know, over the next few weeks before the election, you going to see a tsunamia stuff coming down the pike.

Particularly as people get ready to go to the polls. Yeah, what are your thoughts or concerns about that?

Particularly as people get ready to go to the polls. Yeah, what are your thoughts or concerns about that?

Well? Look, I mean, the one thing that Kamlala Harris has that Donald Trump doesn't have is strength. Donald Trump is a blowhard. He's a bully, but he thought, I mean, he presents as strong, but a strong man would be able to say, you know what, we came up short in the last election. We're going to get it in this election. Here's what I've learned. Here's how we're going to improve. So whereas Kamala Harris, Look, I voted for Kama Harris for district attorney back when I was a young guy living in San Francisco. I voted for her for attorney general, senator, vice president, will vote for her for president. The one thing she is is tough. She is tough as now she putin would be should be very nervous if she's president because she is not. She's no pushover at all. But to your point, she's got to be out there now on the flip flop thing. I'm glad you raised cracking because this is one of the stupidest sound bites from the right that I've heard. They say, well, she's against fracking. Well, for four years, fracking has gone up in America, not down. Natural gas production has gone up in America, not down under Biden Harris. Oil production has gone up and not down under Biden Harris, even as they've been building out the green infrastructure and the electric vehicles and all that sort of stuff, which would let you know that there's something that the right wing is missing. What are they missing? The entire party shut up attacking cracking four years ago. The entire party has had nothing to say. It's not just Commin Harris. Why because liquid natural gas is a geopolitical weapon against Putin. Putin who controls all the gas in Europe that when the Ukraine War started, he was going to cut off all the gas and free these Europeans in their bids in the United States of America under Biden here and said no, you're not, and we sent liquid natural gas to Europe and saved Europe, kept the coalition together. How can we do that because of fracking in Pennsylvania. So the idea that for four years Democrats have not gone against tracking, we built out the green stuff, We've actually gone up on fracking, that we need this to stop puting. But suddenly, somehow Comm Harrison is going to change our mind and go into a different direction. The whole party matured on fracking. The whole party matured away from stupid stuff like defund the police. The whole party has matured over the past four years. That's not flip flopping. That's a party trying to govern and getting away from dumb ideas and embracing good ideas. And you know, so I wish that she would just come out and say stuff like that, because you know, I think what I'm saying makes sense to people they think about it.

Well? Look, I mean, the one thing that Kamlala Harris has that Donald Trump doesn't have is strength. Donald Trump is a blowhard. He's a bully, but he thought, I mean, he presents as strong, but a strong man would be able to say, you know what, we came up short in the last election. We're going to get it in this election. Here's what I've learned. Here's how we're going to improve. So whereas Kamala Harris, Look, I voted for Kama Harris for district attorney back when I was a young guy living in San Francisco. I voted for her for attorney general, senator, vice president, will vote for her for president. The one thing she is is tough. She is tough as now she putin would be should be very nervous if she's president because she is not. She's no pushover at all. But to your point, she's got to be out there now on the flip flop thing. I'm glad you raised cracking because this is one of the stupidest sound bites from the right that I've heard. They say, well, she's against fracking. Well, for four years, fracking has gone up in America, not down. Natural gas production has gone up in America, not down under Biden Harris. Oil production has gone up and not down under Biden Harris, even as they've been building out the green infrastructure and the electric vehicles and all that sort of stuff, which would let you know that there's something that the right wing is missing. What are they missing? The entire party shut up attacking cracking four years ago. The entire party has had nothing to say. It's not just Commin Harris. Why because liquid natural gas is a geopolitical weapon against Putin. Putin who controls all the gas in Europe that when the Ukraine War started, he was going to cut off all the gas and free these Europeans in their bids in the United States of America under Biden here and said no, you're not, and we sent liquid natural gas to Europe and saved Europe, kept the coalition together. How can we do that because of fracking in Pennsylvania. So the idea that for four years Democrats have not gone against tracking, we built out the green stuff, We've actually gone up on fracking, that we need this to stop puting. But suddenly, somehow Comm Harrison is going to change our mind and go into a different direction. The whole party matured on fracking. The whole party matured away from stupid stuff like defund the police. The whole party has matured over the past four years. That's not flip flopping. That's a party trying to govern and getting away from dumb ideas and embracing good ideas. And you know, so I wish that she would just come out and say stuff like that, because you know, I think what I'm saying makes sense to people they think about it.

Let me go to the debates for quick second, Van Jones. Number one, I want to know how you felt about the vice presidential debate early this week. But number two, I want to know how you felt about the moderating that took place during the debates, since that became such a big story as well.

Let me go to the debates for quick second, Van Jones. Number one, I want to know how you felt about the vice presidential debate early this week. But number two, I want to know how you felt about the moderating that took place during the debates, since that became such a big story as well.

Your thoughts on both.

Your thoughts on both.

Kamala whooped Trump mercilessly. JD. Vance did what everybody who went to Yale Law School, and as a Yeale Law School graduate, I could tell you he pulled every slick trick that we get taught so he could lie and look like he wasn't and we get taught, literally trained at Yale Law School to do what he did. So I was literally watching every slick trick that he was pulling out. But the reality is he lied the whole time. He lied and said that Trump saved Obamacare. He lied and said the US energy production was down when it's up. He lied about, you know, issue after issue. But he was smooth, he was slick. He looked confident. Meanwhile, Coach Waltz, everything he said was true, but he looked nervous and scared, and he was out of bresident looking all around, and so a lot of people just, you know, that's mean. So he looked like Chris Brawley up there. So that didn't work, and so luckily you en't have to debate again. But you know, people sometimes grade you more on style than substance. So I think that on the on the style, JD. Advance won convincingly on the substance. I'll quote ll cool J. He lied about the lies that he lied about. But you know, the moderating is hard. I've never had to moderate a debate. Uh. You know, we do it here at CNN quite a bit, Dana Bash and and Anderson and Jake. I've never had to do it. They I know they spend a whole week preparing, trying to figure it out and think about every potential answer to every question and and all that kind of stuff. What I will say is that if you're Donald Trump and you have been president the United States and you're crying about some moderators again, you're not strong. That you're not strong. Yes, maybe you know you'll get a situation where a couple of countries don't like you. You're gonna cry, and that what you're gonna do. So Donald Trump is not strong, He's only a weak man. Would lie that much, couldn't accept defeat, call people names, Kama Harris is and it showed once you put him face to face. Now, once you put him face to face, it was obvious who's the strong one, who's the weak one. She walked right over to him, shook his hand. He looked like a little schoolboy getting chatted outed by the principal and then she whooped him for ninety minutes. So this idea of strength versus the weakness is a false issue.

Kamala whooped Trump mercilessly. JD. Vance did what everybody who went to Yale Law School, and as a Yeale Law School graduate, I could tell you he pulled every slick trick that we get taught so he could lie and look like he wasn't and we get taught, literally trained at Yale Law School to do what he did. So I was literally watching every slick trick that he was pulling out. But the reality is he lied the whole time. He lied and said that Trump saved Obamacare. He lied and said the US energy production was down when it's up. He lied about, you know, issue after issue. But he was smooth, he was slick. He looked confident. Meanwhile, Coach Waltz, everything he said was true, but he looked nervous and scared, and he was out of bresident looking all around, and so a lot of people just, you know, that's mean. So he looked like Chris Brawley up there. So that didn't work, and so luckily you en't have to debate again. But you know, people sometimes grade you more on style than substance. So I think that on the on the style, JD. Advance won convincingly on the substance. I'll quote ll cool J. He lied about the lies that he lied about. But you know, the moderating is hard. I've never had to moderate a debate. Uh. You know, we do it here at CNN quite a bit, Dana Bash and and Anderson and Jake. I've never had to do it. They I know they spend a whole week preparing, trying to figure it out and think about every potential answer to every question and and all that kind of stuff. What I will say is that if you're Donald Trump and you have been president the United States and you're crying about some moderators again, you're not strong. That you're not strong. Yes, maybe you know you'll get a situation where a couple of countries don't like you. You're gonna cry, and that what you're gonna do. So Donald Trump is not strong, He's only a weak man. Would lie that much, couldn't accept defeat, call people names, Kama Harris is and it showed once you put him face to face. Now, once you put him face to face, it was obvious who's the strong one, who's the weak one. She walked right over to him, shook his hand. He looked like a little schoolboy getting chatted outed by the principal and then she whooped him for ninety minutes. So this idea of strength versus the weakness is a false issue.

I want to go back to your university, man. I want you to tell on ya Alma matter.

I want to go back to your university, man. I want you to tell on ya Alma matter.

Man.

Man.

I want you to tell on Yama Mata. I mean, this is what they teach you. I want you to elaborate on that. I mean, there's a lot of people out there that want to improve their debate skills.

I want you to tell on Yama Mata. I mean, this is what they teach you. I want you to elaborate on that. I mean, there's a lot of people out there that want to improve their debate skills.

I ain't saying any names.

I ain't saying any names.

I ain't saying any names, but there's a lot of people out there want to proved a debate skills. Van Jones, I mean, what is it that they teach y'all at Yale that JD Vance exercise with such fluidity? I mean inquiring minds what not.

I ain't saying any names, but there's a lot of people out there want to proved a debate skills. Van Jones, I mean, what is it that they teach y'all at Yale that JD Vance exercise with such fluidity? I mean inquiring minds what not.

Well, you know, one of the things that they teach you is to moderate your voice so that you always seem like you're the person who's in commanded and control that you really there's a lot of emphasis you know about basically just breath control. Some of the stuff is just psychological and so you know if uh so, the other thing that they do is you can speed you saw I kept doing things like I agree with you, I agree with you. That's disarming. But then you would say I agree with you and then turn around and say something is completely false. But in the mind of a juror, if somebody is willing to conceive this point, that makes you look more honest and trustworthy. So then your next points such, it's such a strong active character to agree with your opponent, So then the jurors and I think, well, the next point is probably accurate as well. This is a high integrity person. But if you combine the two, concede something that doesn't matter and then lie about something that does, you can convince the jury of anything. So he was so he was literally just working the jury with tried and true slit tactics that you know, I'm sitting there just put banging my head against the table, because if you know what's going on, you recognize this is a sign that this person's argument is extremely weak. It's extremely weak. That uh that you would when you see someone again concede something that is not important and then lie about something that is important. And from my how I was trained, that's then you go you directly. Now they've they've they've signal to you where they're weak. So when he's lying about healthcare this week, when he's lying about energy policy, he's weak. So he's showing you where his weakness is. But Wallace is not a skilled enough debate or to recognize. That's exactly when you when you go on the attack.

Well, you know, one of the things that they teach you is to moderate your voice so that you always seem like you're the person who's in commanded and control that you really there's a lot of emphasis you know about basically just breath control. Some of the stuff is just psychological and so you know if uh so, the other thing that they do is you can speed you saw I kept doing things like I agree with you, I agree with you. That's disarming. But then you would say I agree with you and then turn around and say something is completely false. But in the mind of a juror, if somebody is willing to conceive this point, that makes you look more honest and trustworthy. So then your next points such, it's such a strong active character to agree with your opponent, So then the jurors and I think, well, the next point is probably accurate as well. This is a high integrity person. But if you combine the two, concede something that doesn't matter and then lie about something that does, you can convince the jury of anything. So he was so he was literally just working the jury with tried and true slit tactics that you know, I'm sitting there just put banging my head against the table, because if you know what's going on, you recognize this is a sign that this person's argument is extremely weak. It's extremely weak. That uh that you would when you see someone again concede something that is not important and then lie about something that is important. And from my how I was trained, that's then you go you directly. Now they've they've they've signal to you where they're weak. So when he's lying about healthcare this week, when he's lying about energy policy, he's weak. So he's showing you where his weakness is. But Wallace is not a skilled enough debate or to recognize. That's exactly when you when you go on the attack.

Before I let you get on out of here, I want to transition to you for a quick second, because very proud of you over the years of the job that you've done, and and and I consider you a conscientious brother. Somebody that lose heart is consistently in the right place. And you know, whether we agree or disagree with the Van Jones, we're never gonna look at him and say he doesn't care, he doesn't know what he's talking about. You know, we we we get that from you. I want to get to your work in AI for the folks that may not get it, explain it and why we should all embrace it. I want to talk about that for a second for you, because it's one of the things that you're I believe you're attempting to.

Before I let you get on out of here, I want to transition to you for a quick second, because very proud of you over the years of the job that you've done, and and and I consider you a conscientious brother. Somebody that lose heart is consistently in the right place. And you know, whether we agree or disagree with the Van Jones, we're never gonna look at him and say he doesn't care, he doesn't know what he's talking about. You know, we we we get that from you. I want to get to your work in AI for the folks that may not get it, explain it and why we should all embrace it. I want to talk about that for a second for you, because it's one of the things that you're I believe you're attempting to.

Do just to give back. That's how I view it. That's how I view it.

Do just to give back. That's how I view it. That's how I view it.

Yes, look, I told you I have four kids, the two little ones buff in diapers. They're going to grow up in a different human civilization than you and I grew up in. Why do I say that? My little girls he's two years old, her first crush in ten years may well be an Ai. May well be an AI. My little guy, his best friend when he's at five or six years old, may be an AI. That's different than what you and I grew up with. Technology is moving to the point when it comes to biotechnology, when it's time for them to give us grandchildren, they might literally open up a laptop or a holographic interface and use biotools to design my grandchildren. This is not one thousand years now the kids I'm raising in my house today, God forbid eighty ninety years from years now when they're buried, my children, your children may be buried on the Moon or on Mars, because we'll be a fully space fearing civilization by the time you get eighty nine years out from now. Now. If there's going to be a new human civilization that our children are growing up there, the question we got to ask is is it going to be human? Is it going to be civilized? You know we're gonna have these godlike powers around cognition and genetics, but are we godly? Do we have any ethics or any morals with what we're doing? So I don't think that African American parents can stand back and not participate in what's going on with AI, and it doesn't have to all be negative. I think this is the first opportunity that I've seen, and I'm working with will I am Uh and using money that we got from Bezos to build a campaign called make What Kanda Real? Make What Conda Real? Anybody knows the superhero universe isn't exactly is an African nation where they use technology better than anybody on planet Earth. They are the leading technological superpower. I'm saying Atlanta should be what Knda Detroit, Chicago should be what kind of why Van Jones, you're crazy? Nine black kids I ain't think about AI. Nine nine percent of Black kids don't think about AI. You are correct, and white kids aren't either. White kids don't know what either. It's brand new. It's brand new. So that's called equal quality. For the first time, our kids are even stephen with everybody else's kids on planet Earth. We are all equally ignorant. Of all these new technology. Now, black folks are good with technology. Please, we're the most creative people in the world. We took two turntables and a microphone. That technology, two turntables in a microphone, plug it into a street life created and created hip hop music, which is the dominant cultural force on the planet. Now you're going to take the same community with the same deficits, the same challenges, the same creativity, the same magic, and the same need. And now it's not two turntables in a microphone. You're talking about chat, GPT, you're talking about rally, you're talking about mid journey. You're talking about free apps that can make whatever you're doing that you're doing, you can do it better, you can do it faster, you can do it quicker, you can do it cheaper. We should take over. This is the time that they may not give us reparations. They just gave us those five apps and here are free. I believe, I believe it's not a hardware problem. Everybody's got the same smartphones. It ain't a software problem. Anybody can download those apps. It's not hardware, it's not software. It's wetwear. If do you have a mindset that says something brand new on the earth. I can grab and I can beat my neighbors, I can beat my classmates. I can beat anybody to the punch and go. We should be encouraging our black kids to be playing not video games and play some video games, but play with these apps. Play with these apps. Show me it's Saturday morning, Saturday night. Show me what she made with these apps, and these kids are gonna go crazy because it's so intuitive. Chat gpt makes you think faster. Mid Journey is one of the apps that lets you create art with just words. Just say they make me this, make me this, draw me this, draw me that, runway. You can do presentations. Soo you can literally just tell SUNO write me a song about Steve Asmith I wanted to be in country music. I want you to mention his mother's name. I want you to mention his height, and then something about basketball, and in forty seconds the whole song is not just written. You can hit play this, which means our creative, super creative, supermaginative, super magical young people now have a magic Harry Potter's magic wand in their hands for free on the phone they already got. So this is why I'm so passionate about it, and will I am and I are so passionate about it. We could see our young people just outstripping the world and then using it for good, using it for justice, using it. If these people talk about they're gonna disrupt everything, they will disrupt everything wonderful. Can you disrupt poverty? Can you disrupt prisons? Can you disrupt pollution?

Yes, look, I told you I have four kids, the two little ones buff in diapers. They're going to grow up in a different human civilization than you and I grew up in. Why do I say that? My little girls he's two years old, her first crush in ten years may well be an Ai. May well be an AI. My little guy, his best friend when he's at five or six years old, may be an AI. That's different than what you and I grew up with. Technology is moving to the point when it comes to biotechnology, when it's time for them to give us grandchildren, they might literally open up a laptop or a holographic interface and use biotools to design my grandchildren. This is not one thousand years now the kids I'm raising in my house today, God forbid eighty ninety years from years now when they're buried, my children, your children may be buried on the Moon or on Mars, because we'll be a fully space fearing civilization by the time you get eighty nine years out from now. Now. If there's going to be a new human civilization that our children are growing up there, the question we got to ask is is it going to be human? Is it going to be civilized? You know we're gonna have these godlike powers around cognition and genetics, but are we godly? Do we have any ethics or any morals with what we're doing? So I don't think that African American parents can stand back and not participate in what's going on with AI, and it doesn't have to all be negative. I think this is the first opportunity that I've seen, and I'm working with will I am Uh and using money that we got from Bezos to build a campaign called make What Kanda Real? Make What Conda Real? Anybody knows the superhero universe isn't exactly is an African nation where they use technology better than anybody on planet Earth. They are the leading technological superpower. I'm saying Atlanta should be what Knda Detroit, Chicago should be what kind of why Van Jones, you're crazy? Nine black kids I ain't think about AI. Nine nine percent of Black kids don't think about AI. You are correct, and white kids aren't either. White kids don't know what either. It's brand new. It's brand new. So that's called equal quality. For the first time, our kids are even stephen with everybody else's kids on planet Earth. We are all equally ignorant. Of all these new technology. Now, black folks are good with technology. Please, we're the most creative people in the world. We took two turntables and a microphone. That technology, two turntables in a microphone, plug it into a street life created and created hip hop music, which is the dominant cultural force on the planet. Now you're going to take the same community with the same deficits, the same challenges, the same creativity, the same magic, and the same need. And now it's not two turntables in a microphone. You're talking about chat, GPT, you're talking about rally, you're talking about mid journey. You're talking about free apps that can make whatever you're doing that you're doing, you can do it better, you can do it faster, you can do it quicker, you can do it cheaper. We should take over. This is the time that they may not give us reparations. They just gave us those five apps and here are free. I believe, I believe it's not a hardware problem. Everybody's got the same smartphones. It ain't a software problem. Anybody can download those apps. It's not hardware, it's not software. It's wetwear. If do you have a mindset that says something brand new on the earth. I can grab and I can beat my neighbors, I can beat my classmates. I can beat anybody to the punch and go. We should be encouraging our black kids to be playing not video games and play some video games, but play with these apps. Play with these apps. Show me it's Saturday morning, Saturday night. Show me what she made with these apps, and these kids are gonna go crazy because it's so intuitive. Chat gpt makes you think faster. Mid Journey is one of the apps that lets you create art with just words. Just say they make me this, make me this, draw me this, draw me that, runway. You can do presentations. Soo you can literally just tell SUNO write me a song about Steve Asmith I wanted to be in country music. I want you to mention his mother's name. I want you to mention his height, and then something about basketball, and in forty seconds the whole song is not just written. You can hit play this, which means our creative, super creative, supermaginative, super magical young people now have a magic Harry Potter's magic wand in their hands for free on the phone they already got. So this is why I'm so passionate about it, and will I am and I are so passionate about it. We could see our young people just outstripping the world and then using it for good, using it for justice, using it. If these people talk about they're gonna disrupt everything, they will disrupt everything wonderful. Can you disrupt poverty? Can you disrupt prisons? Can you disrupt pollution?

About that?

About that?

Can you disrupt polarization? Well, since you're not going to, we are Because you're not going to, We're going to take the same tools and make the world better, which is what we always do. So I am very very passionate about closing this gap between AI, quantum computing, biotech, all that stuff in the black community, the status quo. It's not serving us anyway. So if you don't disrupt every industry good, you said, can go disrupt every industry good because they would leaving us out anyway. So all this could be something that is to our benefit.

Can you disrupt polarization? Well, since you're not going to, we are Because you're not going to, We're going to take the same tools and make the world better, which is what we always do. So I am very very passionate about closing this gap between AI, quantum computing, biotech, all that stuff in the black community, the status quo. It's not serving us anyway. So if you don't disrupt every industry good, you said, can go disrupt every industry good because they would leaving us out anyway. So all this could be something that is to our benefit.

And this is why you created the Dream Machine AI Academy Innovation Lab.

And this is why you created the Dream Machine AI Academy Innovation Lab.

Right, Yes, yes, sir, And we were very very lucky to get a purchance to partner with John O'Brien and also with the cats that earned your leisure. We went to Atlanta twice at the investmentest. They had fifty thousand people there, African Americans learning about business. We got a chance to run the whole AI learning track with you know, thousands and thousands of African Americans. And then they walked in skeptical and they walked out like pumps because all of a sudden, Oh, I'm not gonna have to pay for this. I'm not gonna have to pay for that. I can get all that stuff for free. I can make this business plan in three minutes. I can make this presentation in five minutes. They I mean people were literally almost doing cartwheels out of there. And so I believe we can. If we could turn Atlanta's Chicago Detroit into our own wakandas if every little black business, in black church and black community organization grab all these tools, I don't think that anybody can stop.

Right, Yes, yes, sir, And we were very very lucky to get a purchance to partner with John O'Brien and also with the cats that earned your leisure. We went to Atlanta twice at the investmentest. They had fifty thousand people there, African Americans learning about business. We got a chance to run the whole AI learning track with you know, thousands and thousands of African Americans. And then they walked in skeptical and they walked out like pumps because all of a sudden, Oh, I'm not gonna have to pay for this. I'm not gonna have to pay for that. I can get all that stuff for free. I can make this business plan in three minutes. I can make this presentation in five minutes. They I mean people were literally almost doing cartwheels out of there. And so I believe we can. If we could turn Atlanta's Chicago Detroit into our own wakandas if every little black business, in black church and black community organization grab all these tools, I don't think that anybody can stop.

Now.

Now.

You did before I let you get on out of here. You've worked with several hip hop artists. I'm curious to know your thoughts on the state of the industry, especially in light of the indictment of Sean P. Diddy Cohnes. With all the things that you're talking about with all the things all are change that ultimately could be made. One of the reasons that I have to bring that up is because we get so caught up in those salacious headlines and all the things that have transpired. I'm wondering, as you sit here and talk about the things that you talk about, are you fearful that people are not paying enough attention to that because of the kind of stuff we've been compelled to pay attention to. And I bring up Diddy because that was the latest in terms of what it's transpired, and I know that you're familiar to some degree with the hip hop industry your thoughts about all of that.

You did before I let you get on out of here. You've worked with several hip hop artists. I'm curious to know your thoughts on the state of the industry, especially in light of the indictment of Sean P. Diddy Cohnes. With all the things that you're talking about with all the things all are change that ultimately could be made. One of the reasons that I have to bring that up is because we get so caught up in those salacious headlines and all the things that have transpired. I'm wondering, as you sit here and talk about the things that you talk about, are you fearful that people are not paying enough attention to that because of the kind of stuff we've been compelled to pay attention to. And I bring up Diddy because that was the latest in terms of what it's transpired, and I know that you're familiar to some degree with the hip hop industry your thoughts about all of that.

I think we have to fear weapons of mass distraction, as black parents, weapons of mass distraction. First of all, there are people in hip hop industry, like for instance, a jay Z who I got a chance to work with to launch the Reform Alliance, Meek Mill and others that is right now helping people behind bars, and so there are people who are doing positive things. They should be lifted up. But as as I look at the world, I think we leave a lot of good undone. We leave a lot of talent and genius, unleveraged. I think hip hop can be and should be a force for good. I was born in sixty eight, so I remember, you know, poor righteous teachers. I remember Wuchang, I mean, I remember Brand Nubian. I mean, I remember you know, the names of people have forgotten when hip hop was really out here. I'll compete with CNN in term of telling the truth and letting people know what was going on. Public enemy. So I come out of that generation where hip hop was a weapon and a tool for the liberation of our people. It became something else. But even though it has become something else, there are still people in hip hop who are doing a good job. Ones that are doing a bad job. You know. That's that's for God and the course to work out. So the ones who are doing a good job, like jay Z, meet Milling, others need to be lifted up.

I think we have to fear weapons of mass distraction, as black parents, weapons of mass distraction. First of all, there are people in hip hop industry, like for instance, a jay Z who I got a chance to work with to launch the Reform Alliance, Meek Mill and others that is right now helping people behind bars, and so there are people who are doing positive things. They should be lifted up. But as as I look at the world, I think we leave a lot of good undone. We leave a lot of talent and genius, unleveraged. I think hip hop can be and should be a force for good. I was born in sixty eight, so I remember, you know, poor righteous teachers. I remember Wuchang, I mean, I remember Brand Nubian. I mean, I remember you know, the names of people have forgotten when hip hop was really out here. I'll compete with CNN in term of telling the truth and letting people know what was going on. Public enemy. So I come out of that generation where hip hop was a weapon and a tool for the liberation of our people. It became something else. But even though it has become something else, there are still people in hip hop who are doing a good job. Ones that are doing a bad job. You know. That's that's for God and the course to work out. So the ones who are doing a good job, like jay Z, meet Milling, others need to be lifted up.

Van Jones, you keep doing a great job your damn self. Okay, okay, I thank you, proud of You're happy for you. Keep doing keep doing your thing, and I look forward to seeing you down the road, especially as the election draws near. And feel free to come back anytime you want. Man, Thank you so much.

Van Jones, you keep doing a great job your damn self. Okay, okay, I thank you, proud of You're happy for you. Keep doing keep doing your thing, and I look forward to seeing you down the road, especially as the election draws near. And feel free to come back anytime you want. Man, Thank you so much.

I appreciate you. Let me say everything I have to say a lot of times on CNN we're busy fighting each other. I'll get a chance to get my point across as much as I want you, so good for me, hopefully, hopefully let me let me come back.

I appreciate you. Let me say everything I have to say a lot of times on CNN we're busy fighting each other. I'll get a chance to get my point across as much as I want you, so good for me, hopefully, hopefully let me let me come back.

Absolutely, you ain't got to worry about it being edited out either. Every word you said.

Absolutely, you ain't got to worry about it being edited out either. Every word you said.

Is gonna be right here. So thank you so much. Man, you take it, You take care.

Is gonna be right here. So thank you so much. Man, you take it, You take care.

Thank your brother any well.

Thank your brother any well.

Only Van Jones analyst extraorda there for CNN, right here on the Stephen H. Smith Show, over the Digital Areas YouTube, and of course iHeart Radio H

Only Van Jones analyst extraorda there for CNN, right here on the Stephen H. Smith Show, over the Digital Areas YouTube, and of course iHeart Radio H