the author of the new novel, while justice sleeps, which is now number one on the new york times bestseller list for affection. thank you very much for joining us tonight. we really appreciate it. congratulations on the bestseller list. i want to get a word in about the book after we discuss voting rights and these issues of the day at this moment. i want to start with what senator manchin is trying to do in the senate now which is to reauthorize that provision of the voting rights act that the supreme basically squashed. what is your reaction to that effort at this stage? >> i think it's an important step to take. we do need to reauthorize the voting rights act because it is the only way to preclude new laws that will erode access to the right to vote. the challenges that it is not enough on its own. we have to be both prophylactic with this, but we also have to respond to and neutralize the bad bills that are passing at