Transcripts For KQED Charlie Rose The Week 20170304

Information services worldwide. Captioning sponsored by Rose Communications rose is it luck at all or is it something jeels behaving in a certain way. Rose whats the object lesson here . I think he did them a favor. Rose tell me the significance of the moment. Glor this was the week President Trump addressed a joint session of congress. Snapchat made its wall street debut. And moonlight won best picture at the academy awards. Here are the sights and sounds of the past seven days. Hollywood is remembering actor bill paxton. Paxton will be remembered for the numerous hits he starred in. Two women will be charged with the murder of the halfbrother of north Korean Leader jim youngun. Pump will boost defense spending and to do it he will slash funding for other agencies. We are one people with one destiny, and we all are made by the same god. I feel like tonight, donald trump became the president of the United States. A security warning is out for jewish institutions acrosslet United States after another wave of bomb threats. The Parent Company of snapchat, now valued at over 35 billion after a hugely successful i. P. O. A deadly plane crash in southern . Huge flames out here. Take a look at the devastation of that house fly me to the moon spacex announced plans to take two private citizens to the moon. This will not be an inexpensive trip. People were angry about this photo of Kellyanne Conway sitting with her feet up in the oval office. What could possibly be holding her attention on that phone. Is it too late to say sorry im sorry. No, theres a mistake. This is not a joke. Moonlight has won best picture. This is very unfortunate what happened. Personally, blame steve harvey for this. Glor we begin tonight with politics. After delivering a wellreceived address to congress on tuesday night, President Trump and his administration are mired in controversy again. On thursday, attorney general Jeff Sessions recused himself from any investigation into charges that russia meddled in the 2016 president ial election. This follows new revelations that sessions met with russias ambassador to the United States in the leadup to novembers election. Sessions addressed the situation at a News Conference late yesterday afternoon. I have now decided to recuse myself from any existing or future investigations of any matter relating in any way to the campaigns for president of the United States. Glor several Top Senate Democrats have called for sessions to resign. President trump has remained stoutly behind him. Joining us now from washington, is eric liplou, of the New York Times, and karen tumilitiy of the washington post. Thank you both for joining us here. Karen, let me start with you. Whats next on the sessions front . Well, i think that what is next is is what has been going on all along, which is the sort of drip, drip of more and more reports of contacts of people in the president s circle with the russians, or with russian officials. The trump team seems to have not sort of gotten its arms around what the facts are here, you know, who had contacts, how many, and if they dont, this appears like it could be headed toward some sort of outside, even a, you know, select either a select committee or some kind of outside investigation. There is talk on the hill i dont know how far that would get about the need for some kind of special prosecutor in this. But unless the white house, unless the the president can get ahead of all of these revelations, you know, it is going to it is going to turn into something bigger. Glor eric, lets talk about this circle of russian contact. Karen mentioned that it, obviously, is wider than just Jeff Sessions. How wide is that circle right now . Well, were learning more every day about Trump Campaign people who had contacts with russian Officials Service the big one this week. Mike flynn two weeks ago. He was fired for not being candid about his relations with the same ambassador, with kislyak during the transition. Were hearing other names, carter page, gordon. As karen said, drip, drip, drip. Thats certainly the daily impact of all is this. And its notable, i think mostly because of all the the denials from the white house, from trump himself, and his aides that there have been any contacts. Glor car fren your reporting and what you have seen there, how much disappointment, frustration is there from the white house right now that that the week that they had and the positive notes they had have sort of turned sour . I think theres a great deal of frustration, not only from the white house, but from the republican allies on capitol hill because, you know, one of the antidotes to all of this is for the president to be seen governing, for the conversation in washington to switch from this to his policy agenda. And if, you know, if so many of those initiatives werent running into trouble on capitol hill, that might actually happen. And that was what he was trying to do with his speech earlier this week. How the hell did this happen . That is the title of the book by p. J. Orourke. The subtitle of that book, the election of 2016. It is an acrosstheaisle critique of the candidates, the press, political punditry, and even analysis of how he, a conservative lib teern, ended up endorsing hillary clinton. P. J. Spd orourke joining of joins us from new hampshire. Let me start with this. You say, if my book lacks a coherent narrative, its because i couldnt find one. You have found one yet . Yeah, i looked everywhere. I looked behind the couch. I looked in all the places i usually leave my cell phone. No, the coherent narrative wasnt there. Well, thats not really true. Were in the midst of a worldwide sort of lets call it a rebellion. Brexit is part of it. The neomaoism in china is part of it. Putin is part of it. Glor a big part of this rebellion is this populism. And a lot of book is funny, very funny. But you do sort of take, i think, a more serious look at this populism at the end of this book. And what do you make of it . It makes me extremely uncomfortable. It really does. Populism can end up being sort of William Jennings bryan, incompetent and kind of funny and comic. Tore can end up the way it did so many places between world war i and world war ii. Can go wind up really, really ugly. Im hoping were having, you know, history occurs first as tragedy, and then again as comedy. I hope thats whats going on at the moment. But im not laughing really hard. Glor how long do you think . And might we be able to assess all thats happened here in the last two years . When a new president comes into office, things are always some degree of a mess. And theres a sort of extra partisanship that comes in. Usually its in the form of a honeymoon. Stories from the first month or so of obamas i seem to recall repeated reports of his walking on water and so on. But actually, even george w. Bush was was i can remember somebody saying something positive about dan quayle right at the very beginning of george h. W. Bushs. This is a little unusually negative. But the truth is, the beginning of all administrations are a mess. And, i mean, we certainly have to give it 100 days. This is a particularly incoherent i mean, one of the things that bothers me about having donald trump as president is that it seems to be absolutely intellectually incoherent, ideologically incoherent. Glor you also say in the book, individual freedom is about bringing things together. Politics is about dividing things up. This is not a new concept yeah, i mean, thats what makes glp. Glor but it seems pretty important right now. Yeah, well, thats my fundamental the reason i am basically a libertarian im a conservative, but my ideology is libertarian, because i worry about big government. And i think we have a perfect example here for everybody across the spectrum. I worry, you know i watch liberals build a bigger and bigger government and now im watching them when somebody else has gotten behind the wheel of this monster truck government, turned it around, and run them down with it, you know. And theyre all shocked and weepy. And im going, like, make it a kiddie car shrink the size of the monster truck. Then worse, it smacks you in the shins. Glor uberhas had a rocky few months. The company came under fire. It will be investigated by eric holder after a former employee, susan fowler, published an expose blog last week claiming she had been sexually harassed for years while woorkt uber. The debate whether drivers should be classified as employees or contractors conditions. The c. E. O. Had more criticism after a published verbal altercation with an uber driver last month. For more we turn to our panel. I think its telling that uber, rather than say this is not a news story or responding in some more aggressive way apologized because what they realize is that this is this is a real thing that their drivers are really talking about. As angry as its driver was, i imagine, i think he did them a favor by putting this out there. And i think you know, a lot of times, this more transparent world that we live in is better for the world than it otherwise would be. I think the central issue for the Tech Industry is trust. You know, look at facebook and rent they part of they orke election outcome . And whats the future for germany and france on fake news, just as an example. And i really believe deeply tha the smart tech company will put this on their badge and say, we are going to be trusted by our constituents, by behaving in a certain way as a company that sees 10 years out, and takes on the big issues of the time, and really has our chief executive in leadership as opposed to just to wall street and making money. And i think theres a bigger expectation somehow of Tech Companies that they were sort of born of the people, and they really have to represent the people. One thing about uber, one reason theyve been very successful is that theyve been able to overcome opposition from basically taxi industry lobbyists and unions, you know, in a lot of cities, the taxi industry, private cars are heavily reg laipted. And theyve adopted this very aggressive approach. And theyve been really, really almost unbelievably focused on growth at all costs. So i think when you look at the Sexual Harassment thing, you have a company that and i dont know exactly whats going on, on the inside of the company, but i think when you talk to people there, you have a company that is singulary focused on growth to the point where they dent i dont think they really cared about anything other than hiring a lot of people very quickly, and the whole function of h. R. At a place like uber is hiring. It isnt making sure that bosses are behaving appropriately. It isnt policing these kind of things. And i think, you know, unfortunately that comes from the top. And some of that is on the c. E. O. And the senior managers and also on the board of directors. Richard, your job is to go around firefighting and deal with companies that have messed up spectacularly. You dont represent uber. First of all, if you were advising travis right now what, on earth would you recommend that he do . I think he was really smart in trying to staunch the bleeding. And apologize wholeheartedly and without reservation. And i think it was so dont quibble. Year, it was very clear that he had messed up and that he had a lot of work to do. But i think theres much more to play out here. I think max is correct that the Sexual Harassment kind of initiative that ariana huffington, and the former attorney general of the iewts, holder are, leading is deeply important for the company to get done. I think it will be a fundamental look at do we have a problem . If so, what are we going to do about bit . And, further, i think travis has to establish himself as a person who accepts that hes running a big company that that hes not just an entrepreneur anyone g. M. Im curious, richard, you are in the business of dealing with nightmare problems. What do you do about the women in Silicon Valley . I think the women in Silicon Valley are part of a bigger exercise for the Tech Industry. This is the industry that in fact, in my meend, is going to be at the greatest risk from President Trump, i think has the biggest challenge on supply chain, on immigration. I think the Tech Industry has to lead the fight na way, for that which is america as part of the world, and america as the sort of leader in decency, and the values that are global values, and at a time when thats not necessarily so popular. And i think all the c. E. O. S in Silicon Valley have to, in a way, work with the administration, but also stay true to what they believe in so that they keep their please. Because, otherwise, they lose, that theyll really be in trouble. Glor jay wright is head coach of the villanova wildcats Mens College Basketball team. The wildcats defeated North Carolina in last years n. C. A. A. Tournament in dramatic buzzerbeater fashion. Whats ahead for the wildcats in this years march madness tournament, and his new book attitude. Were just a few weeks away from the start of the tournament. Is it a wideopen race and how does villanova fit into that . It is a wideopen race, and i think each year its becoming more and more that way. Last year when we won it, it was wide open. I think its more wide open this year. Kansas is one of the top teams, gonzaga is one of the top teams. Were one of the top teams. Anyone can be beaten and its been proven but any one of us can win it. I think there are up to 16 teams that can win it this year. Theres an interesting line in your book and you dont expand on it i thought i was better than i was. Yeah. How did you go about the journey to find out how good you were, and in a way, you who you were when you think about that young coach who or young player who thought he was perhaps better than he was . I think we all do that when we when we attain some levels of success. We only look at what we did to get there, whether it be individually, or even a team. Team, a team not recognizing that all the other people around them, that theyre a part of that. And most importantly, the culture thats around them. And i think there was a time when we went to our first final four where i thought ive got this now. I got it. I know what we have to do. And i didnt Pay Attention to as much the process of every day Getting Better and continuing to improve and evolve. And it caught up to us. We had a bad year. And i think as long as guback to being honest and assessing your role in everything right first, before you look at someone elses thats around you. I think you can grow and get better and you can always recover. Who were you when you were a 25yearold coach . And royou today, many years later . How have you changed . 25 years old i was assistant to coach mass mino at vill nova, watching this great coach who won a national championship, do some things and think at 25, why the hell would he do that . You know i got all these ideas. I would never do that. And all these years later, i find myself doing some of the same things. Turning into your father. But understanding what you need to do as head coach is define your culture. If your culture is defined and your values are clear, your decisions are easier. And i found that as a leader, what i have to do is define how were going to live, not just how were going to play basketball, but what is our what is our motto going to be . What is our core values going to be . How are we gog live every day, not just as coaches and players but as a family and as men in this world . Glor what the New York Times describes as the best new musical to open on broadway since hamilton is in fact a musical based on a passage from tolstoys if war and peace. Allison stuart talked to the two stars of the show, and its creator. What in your mind went from the story war and peace to musical theater . How did you make that bridge . I really had an e55 me as i was reading the section. It wasnt something that came to me years later. Specifically, this section, i got to the end of the section where pierre has an incredible moment with a comet and tears were dripping down my face. And yeah i just had an epiphanys what i just read was a Perfect Piece of musical theater. And i think i diligently went and googled to make sure no one else had done it because i couldnt believe no one else had done it because it was such a perfect story, and the way the story paralleled these two very different stories. D a middleaged aings steestory, philosophical story, and the way they collide at the end, year, it felt like such a musical to me. Tell me a little bit about the story for folk folks who hat seen it so they can understand the conversation. There are two tales. Natasha is young, which is one of the lir friction the first song, and she is newly engaged to this man, andre, who is off fighting in the war, and she is visiting her godmother in moscow, and being introduced to Moscow Society while waiting for her fiance. And while waiting she neets a notorious rogue and hijinks ensue. Meanwhile, an old family friend of theirs, pierre . Pierres tavern. Tell me about pierre. Whats going who pierre . Well, theres all this vanity and narcissism happeningarchs he said, in this Moscow Society, where theres war outside the gates and everybody is just concerned about the high society, the balls and the opera and all that. Pierre is searching for neeng his life. Hes you know, hes i think a little bit of a depressive. He drinks a lotarchs he mentioned many times in the lyrics. And hes searching for some kind of meaning after having been thrust into wealth oh, god, was it something hes got this unexpected money. He married somebody who he is very attracted to but knows doesnt love him very much. While everybody is at war with either napoleon or society, pierre is at war with himself. So theres this wonderful arc and wonderful songs that are so gratifying to sing as pierre. So its yeah, i think we all see a little bit of ourselves in these characters. What moves you about the show . I think for me its the grace that the characters offer each other at the end. Its like they make terrible decision, and they break peoples hearts, and they break their own hearts and sort of at a place where forgiveness might not comeacy easley. And even in the entirety of the book of the characters that do these terrible things and you end up seeing their humanity. You are so good for me. There is a talk back with kids yesterday, and its like, its hard, because i like natasha but she makes bad decisions and i just dont know how to feel about her. And i was like thats kinds of like life. Its kind of like life and the people that you love and the grace that they offer each other at the end. And they see the humanity in each other and he reminds her that shes still worth something. That gets me every time. You make those diswrigz you think youve ruined your life and someone tells you youre worth it, youre worth another chance. And i think thats magnificent. Now heres a look at your weekend edsheeran releases his third studio album divide. The National Golf expo runs all weekend in boston. And the Miami International Film Festival gets under way in miami, florida. And heres a look at the week ahead sunday is the annual iheart radio music awards in englewood, california. Money is the start of the indian wells masters tennis tournament in indian wells, california. Tuesday is the opening day of the houston livestock and rodeo show in houston, texas. Wednesday is International Womens day. Thursday is the day Fortune Magazine publishes its list of 100 best companies to work for. Friday is the sixth anniversary of the death of osama bin laden. Saturday is the annual jack kerouac Birthday Celebration in lowell, massachusetts. Glor that is charlie rose the week for this week. For all of us, im jeff glor. Thanks for watching. We leave you this evening with a look at the forthcoming documentary patsy cline, american masters. The film about the life and legacy of the famed Country Music singer on pbs march 4. You can check your local liftsings. Well see you next tiems. I go out walk after midnight my grandmother realized my mom had talent, but i dont know if she ever knew just how much talent there was. It would have been amazing to see how she would have developed. We got cheated out of that. Anybody cares to shake leg, go ahead. We dont care which one it is. She was just kind of a tough girl, you know, singing these really sensitive songs. So its kinds of a cool juxtaposition there. I feel like you could go out and have a drink with her, but she could also beat your ass down by the riverside down by the riverside you have this sing frer the other side of the atlantic back then, and it transends all boundaries. It was more than good. There was something there that set her apart, and you cant describe it. Or i cant. Her voice is kind of the beginning of it for me. Captioning sponsored by Rose Communications captioned by Media Access Group at wgbh access. Wgbh. Org rose funding for charlie rose has been provided by brought to you in part by viewers like you, and you, and you, and you. Ha, ha thanks so much youre very kind. Hey both what . Come over here the cat in the hat is about to appear hes whizzing over to whisk you away on a fabulous journey today hes coming and now hes arrived in the thingamajigger the thing that he drives hes a cat and hes oodles of fun with his hairy helpers, thing 2 and thing 1 yoohoo whoa woohoo