Announcer: Major funding for "Chat Box with David Cruz" is provided by the members of the New Jersey education Association, making public schools great for every child.

Promotional support is provided by Insider NJ, a political intelligence network dedicated to New Jersey's political news.

Insider NJ is committed to giving serious political players an interactive forum for ideas, discussion, and insight.

Online at insiderNJ.com.

♪ David: welcome to "Chat Box," I am David Cruise.

It is not our intention to make a comparison between politics and comedy.

It is just going to look that way.

We talk to actor, comedian, actor George Lopez in the second half of our show, but we begin with Russell and Jones, Republican political strategist Chris Russell of checkmate strategies, and democratic state committee chairman, Roy Jones, of 1868 public affairs.

Welcome back to the show.

>> Great to see you back.

David: Chris Russell, this is as hyped as I have seen state Republicans in a long time.

What is the nature of this GOP glee?

Chris: I think the nature of it is, we had a great year legislatively in 2021, and there is a feeling of momentum, and more importantly, I think the issues are on our side.

Whether it is parental rights and the issues surrounding our schools.

Whether it is energy, which has been a big issue this week with what happened yesterday in Orsted and the governors looking to ban the purchase of gas cars and stoves by 2035 in some cases.

And issues of taxes and affordability with the larger state budget, $54 billion in spending, and they all portend to Republicans.

I think our people are energized and activated, and they see an opportunity to pick up a couple more seats.

David: We are going to get to a couple of those things.

Chairman, you heard Chris Russell talk about it, Republicans are jumping for joy over it, the collapse of the OØrsted offshore wind projects.

It is tough to downplay this news, even though the state has not lost any money in this deal, the perception is that we are out like $1 billion.

How big a blow is this for your side a week before election day?

Chairman: Well, you know, if it was months before election day, I think that would probably be a bigger issue.

I had to hold back a yawn as Chris went through his litany of issues that have gotten the Republican Party in such a glorious mood.

You know, which are -- have been extreme issues that have been nothing but scare tactics to parents, as well as students on the verge of voting.

David: Let me stop you there because we will talk about those things in a minute specifically, but you are saying that this Orsted news has less impact six days before election date and it would have had?

Chairman: I think it is an issue that voters have to have time to absorb and consume and understand what that is.

We are a couple days out from election day.

Many people have already voted.

We have been very aggressive on vote by mail.

Early voting has been underway.

I do not see that as, you know, as an electrifying issue that will cut across, you know, most of New Jersey.

Particularly in the targeting districts.

David: Chris Russell, you guys also think you have successfully made the point on affordability and parental notification, huh?

Chris: When I think back to what Leroy said, these campaigns have been talking about this issue for months, so it is not something that just popped up.

Right now, the collapse of the OØrsted deal in every thing around it is kind of the cherry on top of the Sundae.

This issue has been talked about all along by Republican campaigns.

And I believe on the one side of it, so it is not just something that popped up.

Chairman: This is not a kitchen table issue.

Chris: I disagree.

Chairman: Affordability is an issue, and Democrats have been on the leading end of making New Jersey more affordable.

The state of New Jersey has been at the precipice of what we are looking to do in the future.

You know, the anchor programs, the Murphy and legislative leadership has been steadfast on keeping property taxes down.

Those are the things that people talk about at their kitchen tables.

Those are the Taco Bell issues -- talkable issues.

Chris: You were not kidding about the comedic standings of Leroy.

David: They say that the anchor jacks and the stay in J are gimmicks.

That is not an affordability agenda.

Are they right?

Chairman: Absolutely no.

That is what they do.

They tried to create the boogie man.

They try to scare you.

That is only a gimmick.

This is not going to happen.

You know, they kind of take extreme tactics, like we are going to take your gas stove.

We are going to make you drive electric cars.

Chris: Leroy, he is going to make us drive electric cars.

By 2035, 100% electric mandate the governor has.

That is not far away.

2035 -- Chairman: That is not taking anybody's car.

Chris: But you will not be able to purchase -- Chairman: You need to scare people.

It is not working.

And we will see that, the close of Tuesday.

David: I am struck every time I hear Republicans say that the GOP is the Big Ten party, but even some of your moderates are talking about nibbling away at the edge of abortion rights if they get a majority.

I am looking at Bob's union and Anthony bubo, who have made -- I am looking up Bob and Anthony, who have made comments about tweaking abortion rights in New Jersey.

Should abortion rights advocates be concerned?

Chris: I think what the Senator and chairman have said, and there was an op-ed on this a couple of weeks ago, listen, Republicans have said that according to the reproductive freedom act, there are some very extreme pieces on it.

And that was expanding access to abortion up to the moment of birth.

It had no parental notification for a minor.

If a 15-year-old girl in our state gets pregnant, she should not be telling her parents about the abortion, but she needs permission to get ears pierced?

That doesn't make sense.

Republicans are saying there are some limits in the latter stages of pregnancy that should be put in place.

That is something that people across the spectrum believe.

Early in pregnancy, listen, people have different views.

There are pro-life and pro-choice people.

Most people I talk to, and all the guys I see, early in pregnancy, people recognize the need for access.

Later in pregnancy, that flips.

Even Democrats will tell you, most Democrats do not want to seek abortions past the 20th week.

And certainly believe in -- I am the father of two daughters.

I hope they do not get pregnant before they are married and teenagers, but if something like that happens, the fact that they could keep a secret from the and the state is OK with that, and I have to sign Sunday for them to go on a ski trip?

That is nuts.

David: Should abortion rights advocates be concerned about what they are hearing from Republicans on this?

Chairman: Yes, they should because that mimics the national move that you see, the national Republican Party looking for total bans on abortion, and, you know -- Chris: No one is talking about that here.

That is not -- nobody said that.

They will not have the votes.

Chairman: I am going to let Chris keep interrupting me, but I will get my point in.

David: You are saying it is a slippery slope?

Is that what you are saying, chairman?

Chairman: Statewide, New Jersey has been the only firewall to protect a woman's right in her reproductive freedoms, and that is why we need more women in our legislature because when you have, once again, and I have said this before, three men talking about a woman's right, just totally, totally wrong.

David: Let me move on.

Either way, is the party going to pick up the tab for the governor's Taylor Swift party?

Yes or no?

Chairman: To be determined.

David: OK, good to know.

Let's get into some of the races.

Chris Russell, you are all over the state.

2, 4, 8, 11.

Let me start with 4, where you are all up in arms over phantom candidate.

Can you stop someone from running for office even if they have no plan to win or campaign?

Chris: Two things on that.

I am happy to talk about it, Leroy set me up.

In district 4, it is the Democrats versus a white guy, African-American, and a woman.

So they are the diverse party there.

David: You are a Big Ten party.

Chris: Absolutely.

Go look at that ticket.

No, what we are talking about in district 4 is the Democratic Party in South Jersey, which has a history of this, they recruited and got on the ballot candidate who does not want to win the race and has no interest in winning the race but is on the ballot to siphon votes away from Republicans, and in our mind, defraud voters and interfere in the election.

I do something they have done over the past.

Not just to Republicans but Democrats and primaries.

In this case, it is with a dark many group that refuses to share -- dark money group that refuses to share and is outspending its money and flouting election laws.

I know a lot of Democrats talk about this stuff.

There should be transparency.

David: Chairman, do you agree?

Or is this just Republicans whining?

Chairman: I do agree with Chris on the transparency issue.

I do take exception that, you know, anyone who is a citizen of this state, you know, who is a qualified individual to put themselves before the electorate, certainly has that privilege.

That is our democracy, and we do not want to try and trample on the democracy.

Those are some of the things we hold dear, being Americans and in New Jersey.

Chris: This will be the last time I interrupt you.

I promise.

When a Democrat is put on the ballot to run as a Trump conservative, it is a farce, and they are making it one in the district.

David: We are running out of time, so let me get you to tell Chris where they are going to get surprised this year.

What district?

Chairman: Look, I believe we are going to take back four.

They think they are going to make headway in 11.

David: Three and four?

Pick one.

Chairman: Three and four, both.

David: Chris Russell, where are the Democrats going to get a shot?

Chris: Listen, I don't think they will be shocked, but I think district 4 is a flip up.

If there is a shocker, it is that if the environment is good enough, we get five.

Steve with the history of of his team, they run a good campaign.

That is a doable one.

An uphill battle but one that would shock people.

David: Chris Russell and Leroy Jones, thank you.

Chairman: Good seeing you.

David: A programming note, join us on election night, Tuesday, beginning live at 8:00 with a special edition of "Reporters Roundtable," with Steve, Bob, and many more names.

At 9:00, the entire news team takes over for live coverage throughout the night with reports from key districts and expert analysis.

It starts at 8:00 on NJPBS and all of our streaming platforms.

We will take a bit of a turn.

Comedian and actor George Lopez was in town recently for a show at NJPac and we had a chance to catch up.

Here's a look at the conversation.

George Lopez, a pleasure to meet you.

Welcome.

George: Thank you.

David: You have been doing this a long time.

I think back to the 1980's.

There must've been a time or was there a time before all of this when you thought that you might be something else?

George: You know, wow, that is a really good question.

You know, I came from a place where people settled in.

There was a generous -- general plan, and when guys got in there, they were there the duration of their lives because that is where their fathers and grandfathers were.

I cannot think that for me, when all of my friends wanted to work there, doing whatever, and I started writing down things on the back of like the gas bill and the light bill, jokes, and things that I would remember, and, you know, I do not think I was better than my friends, I just thought I was different than my friends.

David: Starting out, you could not have had too many Latino role models.

Freddy Prince?

Cantinflas?

Antonio Vargas?

Cheech Marin?

Who did you look to?

George: Antonio Vargas, in the things that people think about now, manifesting their life or dreams, when I was maybe 13, my grandfather's family came from Mexico, and we took the Universal Studios tour, and we watch them film, and Antonio Vargas was leaning against Blake's car was the whole hat and everything, which is literally 100 feet from where my dressing room is now.

So, yeah, Cheech was a big influence, one of my greatest friends for over 30 years.

Canteen class -- Cantinflas, Ch apolin, all of the Mexican movies my grandmother would watch, things like that.

Maybe they don't mean anything to you at the time, but later on in life, you may be bank those things and they start to serve their purpose.

David: They kind of are forming you're really without you even knowing.

-- forming you really without you even knowing.

George: You know, when so many people come and go out of a person's life, in order to protect yourself from the damage and hurt that causes, people put a bit of a shield up.

In relationships, business or with their children.

That layer of armor that I needed to put up to get through my childhood was a thing that may be so good when I started to stand up and started to catch a little bit and get consistency while other guys who were nervous or afraid of being up there, I had no feeling either way.

The downside to that is of all the things that have happened to me, maybe I have not celebrated them the way that a normal person would because I think that thing is still up there.

So it is hard to get through that, but I do appreciate it.

I don't look the way other people look, but I still have it.

It has been quite a journey.

David: You say you are a big Richard Pryor fan, yeah?

George: Yeah.

You know, that life in Long Beach show I watched all the time, they -- my grandma would watch me, silently turn her head, she would come back from work and I would still be watching it, it would more of a voice in the house.

The voice was not that -- the house was not that big.

I met Richard Pryor in 2006.

When he passed, there was a half completed statue in Peoria.

I put together a show and tour, and the money used from that show was used to complete Richard Pryor statue where it stands and prio Peoria on the river and on the street where his grandmother had the house he grew up in.

David: Legends, nice.

Non-Latinos often assume Latinos are just Latinos, but West Coast, East Coast, there is a very big difference.

Is there something about jersey that is distinct?

I am going to Jersey, somebody will act a fool.

George: There is a difference between basic training and combat situations.

Jersey has a strong comedy following.

Great comedians have come out of their.

-- there.

When they come to see you, they are coming to see a funny show.

And you make sure you give them where they are coming to see.

There has been earlier times in my life, where I had not gone to the East Coast much because I felt like I was not at that place yet, but now that I have done it 43 years, I welcome it, and I am excited to go back.

David: This has got to be as good a time right now for you as ever really.

I mean, you took out Barbie with that, and now you are in a franchise, and now "Lopez and Lopez," how good does it feel to be rocking it like that?

George: I was playing golf with Anthony Anderson, Don Cheadle, and Chris Spencer, and Don was talking about that marvelous franchise going from London to Australia in an effort to, you know, $10 million, and the way he was talking, it is like, this dude is in Marvel movies, and I was in my car, and by the Hollywood bowl, I literally said, David, out loud, what do you have to do to get a franchise movie and lo and behold, less than one year later, I got a call from my agents about being in "the blue beetle -- "The Blue Beetle," and almost like a USO now because of the sidings, I am ready for a skin walker to pick me up and take me to the D.C. universe.

David: I dig it.

And now you are an author.

"ChupaCarter," what, do you work for the chupacabra Association?

It is dangerous!

George: I guess it is almost like people think they see Elvis or somebody, but growing up, and the reason for the book is I spent a lot of time alone, I spent a lot of time looking at the moon.

I dedicated all three books to the moon.

I thought the moon was always looking out for me, but the reason for the book is I think that kids -- first of all, they don't read enough.

But I want them to understand that wherever you come from and whatever your situation, you are not a lost cause, and no one should give up early or at all in life about wanting to change your situation or being something you have always wanted to be, or being in a different place.

David: Talking about "Lopez versus Lopez," it is with your daughter and you play essentially yourselves, but it comes after estrangement with your daughter.

How does it feel to get that back together?

George: You know, I don't think it is necessarily a bad thing, but I came from people who would rather not see a person for the rest of your life than to take responsibility for the things they have caused, whether it is marriage, whatever, and nobody ever taught me that particular skill.

My grandmother one time at the market wigged out and said, this way!

I said, what is going on?

My grandmother never move that fast.

She said, my sister is over there.

I said, I do not know you had a sister.

I went around the corner and looked, and it was a younger version of my grandma.

They looked alike.

Her name was Charlotte.

They never spoke.

And they lived in the same area.

For Mayan, I had to, for the first time, deal with the thing I did to cause my own child's pain-and-suffering.

It was a difficult road, but, David, I do not know what it is for other people, but I, thankfully, do not let it go on more than three years I think.

David: Talk about how long you have been in the business, has it changed a lot starting out?

I imagine you did 1000 open mics and then small clubs.

Now, you have a setting on your laptop that creates a nightclub for you.

Is it different, is it easier?

George: There are so many more.

There are millions of people and they turn over every day.

Somebody on TikTok might be viral and have something going on but two days later, it would be 70 else.

So, yeah, -- it would be somebody else.

So, yeah, the scope is wide.

There is a dating app, you don't even have to be your own self.

You can lie about your weight, your age, I mean, so the thing is almost like when somebody says to walk a mile, we actually had to leave the house to perform.

And thank God for that, but if there is one mystery in my life, it would be how an 18-year-old kid who was afraid of his own shadow was not comfortable speaking around more than five people at the same time, how that kid kept going back to a club for years and years, not being good and not quitting, when everything about me thinking about it now makes me wonder why I just did not pack it up?

I thought maybe there was something better for me, but it is the one mystery of how the least likely kid became somebody who millions of people know by name.

David: Very good to meet you.

George: Thank you, David.

Nice to meet you, too.

Appreciate it.

David: That is "Chat Box" this week.

Thank you for those who joined us.

You can follow me on twitter and get more content, including full episodes, when you scan the QR code on your screen.

I am David Cruz, for the entire crew here, thank you for watching.

We will see you next week.

Announcer: Major funding for "Chat Box with David Cruz" is provided by the members of the New Jersey education Association, making public schools great for every child.

Promotional support is provided by Insider NJ, a political intelligence network dedicated to New Jersey's political news.

Insider NJ is committed to giving serious political players an interactive forum for ideas, discussion, and insight.

Online at insiderNJ.com.

♪