>> Braude: TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON": RUSSIA CLAIMS IT'S DRAWING BACK TROOPS FROM UKRAINE'S BORDER, BUT U.S. AND NATO LEADERS ARE SKEPTICAL, WARNING AN INVASION COULD STILL BE IMMINENT.

CONGRESSMAN JAKE AUCHINCLOSS, A FORMER MARINE AND A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL SECURITY, INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND MONETARY POLICY, JOINS ME ON WHAT MAY LIE AHEAD.

THEN, LATER, HARVARD PROFESSOR DANIELLE ALLEN ON HER DECISION TO DROP OUT OF THE GOVERNOR'S RACE AND HER VOW TO CONTINUE FIGHTING FOR CHANGES TO THE STATE'S DEMOCRATIC PARTY CAUCUS SYSTEM THAT SHE BELIEVES IS A VEHICLE FOR EXCLUSION.

PLUS, THE DUO BEHIND THE REVAMPED, RENEWED "MORNING EDITION" HERE AT GBH, PARIS ALSTON AND JEREMY SIEGEL ON THEIR NEW APPROACH TO THE LONG-RUNNING PROGRAM.

♪♪ >> Braude: WITH RUSSIA SEEMINGLY POISED TO INVADE UKRAINE AT ANY MOMENT, JOE BIDEN IS STILL PUSHING FOR A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION, SOMETHING VLADIMIR PUTIN HAS SAID HE'S OPEN TO AS WELL, RELEASING VIDEO OF WHAT HE'S SAID WAS RUSSIAN TANKS RETREATING BACK TO THEIR BASES.

BUT BIDEN AND NATO ALLIES ARE, UNDERSTANDABLY, NOT TAKING PUTIN AT HIS WORD AND ARE GETTING READY FOR ANYTHING.

>> WE HAVE HEARD THE SIGNS FROM MOSCOW ABOUT READINESS TO CONTINUE DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS, BUT SO FAR WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANY DE-ESCALATION ON THE GROUND.

ON THE CONTRARY, IT APPEARS THAT RUSSIA CONTINUES THE MILITARY BUILDUP.

>> Braude: AND ALTHOUGH BIDEN SAYS HE HAS NO PLANS TO SEND AMERICAN TROOPS TO FIGHT IN UKRAINE, HE'S TRYING TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT WE VERY WELL COULD FEEL THE CONSEQUENCES OF RUSSIAN AGGRESSION HERE AT HOME IN A VARIETY OF WAYS.

>> I WILL NOT PRETEND THIS WILL BE PAINLESS.

THERE COULD BE IMPACT ON OUR ENERGY PRICES.

IF RUSSIA ATTACKS THE UNITED STATES OR ALLIES THROUGH ASYMMETRIC MEANS, LIKE DISRUPTIVE CYBER-ATTACKS AGAINST OUR COMPANIES OR CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, WE'RE PREPARED TO RESPOND.

>> Braude: I'M JOINED NOW BY CONGRESSMAN JAKE AUCHINCLOSS OF NEWTON, A FORMER MARINE WHO SERVED IN AFGHANISTAN, AND A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL SECURITY, INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND MONETARY POLICY.

>> Braude: CONGRESSMAN, IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU T.THANK.THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Braude: HOW DO YOU ASSESS THE CURRENT SITUATION AT THE UKRAINIAN BORDER?

>> WELL, IT IS DIRE.

AND AMERICA IS NOT A FAIR-WEATHER FRIEND.

SO WHEN THE SITUATION IS DIRE, WE ARE GOING TO BE THERE.

WE ARE GOING TO SUPPORT A SOVEREIGN DEMOCRACY, STANDING UP TO A MUCH BIGGER, MORE HOSTILE NEIGHBOR, AND WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH OUR NATO ALLIES TO DEFEND THE TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY.

>> Braude: WHERE DO YOU FALL ON PUTIN SAYING THEY'RE WITHDRAWING TROOPS, AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAYING THEY'RE ACTUALLY ADDING TROOPS TO THE BORDER.

WHERE DOES THE TRUTH LIE?

>> THERE IS NO REASON TO BELIEVE ANYTHING PUTIN SAYS.

HE LIES.

AND WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO SEE THROUGH OPEN-SOURCE AND CLASSIFIED INTELLIGENCE, WHETHER OR NOT RUSSIA IS DE-MOBILIZING THE BULK OF IT'S 130,000 TROOPS AMASSED ALONG THREE DIFFERENT SIDES OF THE UKRAINIAN BORDER.

>> Braude: I THINK EVERYBODY WATCHING KNOWS THAT DONALD TRUMP WAS ESSENTIALLY PUTIN'S POODLE, AND THEN ENTER JOE BIDEN.

I WAKE UP THIS MORNING AND READ TOM FRIEDMAN SAYING BIDEN HAS BEEN BRILLIANT, HE IS OUTMANEUVERING PUTIN PUT, JUST DAYS AFTER THIS AFTER ACTION REPORT OF WHAT HAPPENED IN AFGHANISTAN, ESSENTIALLY QUESTIONING THE JUDGMENT OF BIDEN.

SAYING THAT THE WHITE HOUSE REJECTED THE ADVICE OF MILITARY LEADERS ABOUT PLANNING FURTHER AHEAD FOR THE EVACUATION OF KABUL, AND IT WAS REJECTED BY THE WHITE HOUSE.

SO HOW IS BIDEN DOING ON THIS EXERCISE?

A MAN WHO HAS HUGE FOREIGN POLICY EXPERIENCE.

>> JIM, I'M SO GLAD YOU RAISED THIS BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN AN UNDERDISCUSSED ELEMENT OF THIS CRISIS.

LET'S JUST COMPARE WHERE WE WERE IN 2018 VERSUS WHERE WE ARE IN 2022.

IN 2018, DONALD TRUMP GOES TO HELSINKI AND DOES A PRESS CONFERENCE WITH PUTIN, WHICH ONE OF HIS OWN PARTY DESCRIBED AS ONE OF THE MOST DISGRACEFUL PERFORMANCES IN U.S. HISTORY.

AND NOW WE HAVE JOE BIDEN OUTMANEUVERING VLADIMIR PUTIN, AND STANDING UP NOT JUST FOR THE SOVEREIGN DEMOCRACY OF UKRAINE, NOT JUST FOR NATO TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY, BUT FOR THE POST-WAR INTERNATIONAL RULES-BASED ORDER THAT THE UNITED STATES HELP BUILD AND THAT DONALD TRUMP DID SO MUCH TO DENIGRATE.

IT MAKES ME VERY PROUD TO WATCH PRESIDENT BIDEN IN ACTION.

NOW, WE SHOULD SAVE OUR CELEBRATION UNTIL WE ACTUALLY GET OUT OF THIS CRISIS BECAUSE WE'RE VERY MUCH STILL IN IT.

BUT IT IS ABSOLUTELY WORTH REFLECTING UPON.

TO YOUR POINT ABOUT AFGHANISTAN, IT IS A FAIR ONE AND A TIMELY ONE.

I THINK WE NEED TO DIVORCE THE DECISION THAT JOE BIDEN MADE TO EXIT THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN, WHICH WAS A HIGH, HIGH-INTEGRITY DECISION THAT HAD NO GLORY ATTACHED TO IT VERSUS THE EXECUTION OF THAT WITHDRAWAL.

THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT THE EXECUTION OF THAT WITHDRAWAL HAD DEEP FLAWS.

WE NEED AN AFTER ACTION NOT JUST OF THE WITHDRAWAL BUT REALLY OF THE 20-YEAR WINDOW, COVERING DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN ADMINISTRATIONS, TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WAS LIED TO AND MIRED IN A WAR WE COULD NOT WIN WITH MILITARY SOLUTIONS, AND ALSO LOOKING AT PARTICULAR TACTICAL DECISIONS MADE IN THE FINAL YEARS OF THE WAR.

>> Braude: I HAVE ZERO EXPERTISE IN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMACY, AND I DON'T HAVE MUCH DOMESTIC DIPLOMACY SKILL EITHER, BUT IT SEEMS TO ME TWO CRITICAL INGREDIENTS ARE, CONGRESSMAN, ONE, THREATS HAVE TO BE PERCEIVED AS REAL.

AND, TWO, THE LOSER, FOR LACK OF A BETTER EXPRESSION, HAS TO HAVE AN OFF-RAMP WHERE THEY DON'T TOTALLY GET HUMILIATED.

LET'S TAKE THEM ONE AT A TIME.

I SAW YOU ON C-SPAN TALKING ABOUT UNITY.

IT SEEMS FOR ME TOR A THREAT TO BE SEEN AS REAL, YOU NEED UNITY.

ONE, IS GERMANY STILL ON BOARD IN TERMS OF JUST SAYING NO TO THIS NATURAL GAS PIPELINE THAT RUSSIA DEPENDS ON?

AND, TWO, WHEN YOU READ STORIES ABOUT THE UNITED STATES SENATE CAN'T EVEN AGREE ON SANCTIONS, NOT THAT THE PRESIDENT CAN'T DO HIS OWN THING, YOU SAY TO YOURSELF THIS IS EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE OF UNITY.

ARE WE PRESENTING ENOUGH OF A UNITED FRONT FOR THE THREAT TO PUTIN TO BE REAL?

>> TO YOUR POINT ABOUT HOW HANDLE THIS DIPLOMACY, I THINK THERE ARE REALLY THREE LEVERS THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN CAN PUSH ON HERE.

ONE IS DETERRENCE.

SO IT IS PROMISING SANCTIONS SHOULD RUSSIA AG AGGRESS ACROSS UKRAINIAN BORDERS.

THE SECOND IS SENDING IN LETHAL AID AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO UKRAINE ITSELF.

AND THE THIRD IS RALLYING OUR NATO ALLIES AND PRE-DEPLOYING TROOPS ON THE EASTERN FRONTIER OF NATO TO ASSURE OUR ALLIES LIKE POLAND AND ROMANIA, THAT WE STAND BY ARTICLE 5 AND BY THE TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF THE CONFEDERATION.

AND PRESIDENT BIDEN IS USING ALL THREE QUITE ARTFULLY.

IS THERE UNITY IN NATO?

YES.

I THINK THE SHORT ANSWER IS THERE IS.

IT IS AN IMPORTANT CONTRAST TO FOUR YEARS AGO.

FOUR YEARS AGO NATO HAD TO LOOK TO ANGELA MERKEL TO HOLD IT TOGETHER.

NOW NATO LOOKS TO JOE BIDEN.

AND I THINK THAT'S A TELLING CHANGE OF THE LAST FOUR YEARS.

IS THERE ENOUGH UNITY IN CONGRESS?

THERE IS AN OLD SAYING THAT POLITICS SHOULD STOP AT THE NATION'S SHORE.

I THINK THAT IS HAPPENING TO A CERTAIN DEGREE.

I HAVE SEEN MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE, TO THEIR CREDIT, STAND UP AND SUPPORT THE PRESIDENT IN OUR BRIEFINGS.

IT IS NOT HAPPENING SUFFICIENTLY IN THE SENATE, AS YOU SAY.

WE NEED TO GET A SANCTIONS BILL PASSED THAT STRENGTHENS HIS HAND WITH VLADIMIR PUTIN.

AND IT IS CERTAINLY NOT HAPPENING ON FOX NEWS WITH TUCKER CARLSON.

>> Braude: HAVE WE PROVIDED AN OUT FOR PUTIN, SHOULD HE CHOOSE TO TAKE IT, WITHOUT HUMILIATION?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THE PRESS RELEASE THAT YOUR OPPONENT HAS TO BE ABLE TO DESCEND.

DESCEND PRESIDENT PUTIN PUT PROBABLY HAS A COUPLE OF PRESS RELEASES.

ONE IS TO THE RUSSIANS, HOW HE HAS BURNED RUSSIA'S IMAGE AND ALSO PROTECTED THEIR OWN ASSETS.

AND THE OTHER IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE BY RUSSIA'S NATIONAL SECURITY POSITION AND HIS CONCERNS ABOUT NATO ENCROACHMENT.

I KNOW THE INSPIRATION IS ADMINISTRATION IS LOOKING VERY CAREFULLY AT WHAT VLADIMIR PUTIN NEEDS WITHOUT LOSING FACE.

AND ONE IS TO ENSURE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE SANCTIONED TO THE DEGREE WE'RE THREATENING THEM WITH -- I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING -- FOR HIM BEING ABLE TO SAY I PROTECTED YOU FROM THAT WILL BUTTRESS HIS STANDING.

AND THERE WILL HAVE TO BE REALLY ART FULL LANGUAGE EMANATING FROM THE UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT ABOUT THEIR ENTHEIR INTENTIONS GOING FORWARD ABOUT NATO.

THAT IS REALLY TRICKY.

NATO HAS AN OPEN-DOOR POLICY, AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO CHANGE THAT.

AND YET IT IS A LITTLE BIT OF AN OPEN SECRET THAT UKRAINE IS NOT JOINING NATO ANY TIME SOON.

AND SO THREADING THAT NEEDLE IS GOING TO BE QUITE DELICATE.

>> Braude: CONGRESSMAN BEFORE YOU GO, I WAS GLAD TO HERE JOE BIDEN TALK ABOUT POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES IN THE UNITED STATES.

THE ONE I, AS A LAY PERSON, THAT CONSIDERS THE MOST FRIGHTENING IS COLONIAL PIPELINE ON STEROIDS, WITH THE CYBER-ATTACKS.

ARE WE REALLY PREPARED IN THIS COUNTRY FOR MASSIVE CYBER-ATTACKS AT CRITICAL PIECES OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE?

>> WE'RE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE PREPARED THAN WE WERE EVEN A YEAR OR TWO AGO.

MUCH WORK REMAINS TO BE DONE.

THE FEDERAL CYBER SECURITY INFRASTRUCTURE AGENCY IS WORKING WITH INDUSTRY, IN PARTICULAR INDUSTRY THAT CONTROLS CRITICAL ACCESS TO BUTTRESS THEIR CYBER-DEFENSES, AND WORKING WITH INSURANCE COMPANIES IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO GET THE BEST TECHNOLOGY THERE.

WE ALSO NEED TO HAVE A VERY STRONG OFFENSIVE DETERRENT, AND THAT IS MUCH MORE CENTRALIZED.

RUSSIA NEEDS TO KNOW IF THEY HIT WATER, UTILITIES, ELECTORAL SYSTEMS, THERE IS GOING TO BE A MASSIVE CYBER-RESPONSE THAT WILL DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACT THEIR OWN CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> Braude: THE 2022 VERSION OF MUTUALLY PREFERRED DESTRUCTION.

JAKE AUCHINCLOSS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR THOUGHTS.

>> NICE TO BE ON.

>> Braude: AND THEN THERE WERE TWO.

DANIELLE ALLEN, A HARVARD PROFESSOR AND THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR IN A MAJOR PARTY IN MASSACHUSETTS, IS ENDING HER BID, LEAVING ATTORNEY GENERAL MAURA HEALEY AND STATE SENATOR SONIA CHANG-DIAZ AS THE REMAINING DEMOCRATIC CONTENDERS.

BUT WHILE ALLEN MAY BE OUT OF THE RACE, SHE SAYS SHE'S FAR FROM OUT OF THE FIGHT FOR REFORM, SAYING IN A STATEMENT YESTERDAY: "THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR BALLOT ACCESS PROCEDURES THAT PUSH OUT QUALIFIED BUT NON-TRADITIONAL CANDIDATES AND ROB THE PEOPLE OF MASSACHUSETTS OF REAL CHOICE ON THEIR BALLOT."

DANIELLE ALLEN IS WITH ME NOW.

>> Braude: DANIELLE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> IT'S A PLEASURE.

NICE TO SEE YOU, JIM.

>> Braude: SO WASN'T EVEN, I DON'T THINK, TWO WEEKS AFTER WE ALL READ ABOUT YOUR PLAN TO DE-CRIMINALIZE SMALL AMOUNTS OF EVERY DRUG, THAT YOU DROP OUT OF THE RACE.

WHAT HAPPENED IN BETWEEN?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, IT IS JUST PURE MATH.

THE CAUCUS HAS STARTED AND WE HAVE A VERY IMPRESSIVE CANDIDATE IN THE FORM OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, AND SHE DID HER WORK, AND WE DID OUR MATH AND THERE WAS NO PATH.

WHEN THAT HAPPENS, YOU MAKE THE CALL.

BUT I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ZOOM OUT HERE.

IT IS GREAT TO GET A CHANCE TO TALK WITH YOU ABOUT OUR DEM SEEN HOW WE DEMOCRACY AND HOW WE GET THE TRANS CHANCE TO STRENGTHEN IT.

WE WANT FULL VOICES FOR EVERYBODY, AND THAT'S WHAT IT IS TIME TO TALK ABOUT HERE AS WELL.

>> Braude: I DON'T THINK WE'RE WORKING HARD ENOUGH NATIONALLY, TO BE FRANK.

BUT YOU SAID THE CURRENT SYSTEM OF PICKING NOMINEES, YOUR WORDS, THAT LEADS TO A SERIOUS IM POF IMPOVERISHMENT OF OUR DEMOCRACY.

YOU MENTIONED ANY CANDIDATE FOR A STATE-WIDE OFFICE HAS TO REACH A 15% THRESHOLD OF DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS-GOERS TO BE ON THE BALLOT.

IS THAT THE MAJOR FOCUS OF YOUR CONCERN?

>> THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE CONCERN, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO ZOOM OUT BECAUSE IT GETS REALLY HARD FOLKS.

FOLKS THINK THE ELECTION IS IN SEPTEMBER.

BUT FOR ALL OF THE WORK WE'RE DOING AROUND THE COUNTRY, THE KEY POINTER IS WE SHOULD BE MAKING VOICE AND ACCESS AS EASY AS POSSIBLE.

OUR DEMOCRACY IS UNDER THREAT, AND RESPONDING TO THAT IS ABOUT MAKING ACCESS AS EASE EASY AS POSSIBLE.

WE TALKED ABOUT VOTING RIGHTS, AND THE WAY WE CAN DO THAT IS BY MAIL-IN BALLOTS.

AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING HARD TO DRIVE UP PARTICIPATION AND SO FORTH.

IN DECISION TO VOTING RIGHTS, THERE IS A QUESTION OF RUNNING FOR OFFICE.

DEMOCRACY IS A BEAUTIFUL THING, THAT EMPOWERS US, BUT EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO VOTE AND TO RUN FOR OFFICE.

THE THING TO THINK ABOUT IS WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR GETTING YOUR NAME ON THE BALLOT.

AND IT LOOKS REALLY DIFFERENT IN DIFFERENT PLACES AROUND THE COUNTRY.

>> Braude: I WANT TO STAY IN MASSACHUSETTS FOR A SECOND, AND THEN WE CAN STEP BACK FOR A MOMENT.

THERE IS A WOMAN WHO HAS BEEN PRETTY SUCCESSFUL WHO HAS A WORK BACKGROUND NOT UNLIKE YOURS -- SHE WORKED DOWN THE STREET FROM YOU AT HARVARD LAW SCHOOL AND SHE IS NOW OUR UNITED STATES SENATOR.

THERE IS A GUY WHO WHEN I FIRST INTERVIEWED HIM, AND HE CAME IN MY STUDIO, NEW ENGLAND CABLE NEWS, I HAD NEVER EVEN HEARD HIS NAME, AND THAT WAS DEVAL PATRICK.

THEY WERE BOTH ABLE TO USE THE EXISTING SYSTEM AND GET FROM HERE TO THERE.

WHY DO YOU THINK IT IS GENERALLY UNFAIR IF OTHERS HAVE PROSPERED IN IT?

>> SO I'M NOT SAYING IT CAN'T BE DONE OR HASN'T BEEN DONE, BUT I'M SAYING THAT THE BARRIERS ARE UNNECESSARILY HIGH.

IN CALIFORNIA, TO GET ON THE BALLOT, ALL WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE IS PUTTING YOUR NAME ON THE BALLOT.

THAT'S IT.

WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT WINNING AN ENDORSEMENT OR WINNING THE RACE.

JUST CAN YOU RUN.

CALIFORNIA, IS COUPLE HUNDREDS -- ILLINOIS, 250 SIGNATURES.

MASSACHUSETTS, 10,000 SIGNATURES, PLUS A SET OF MAJORITY CAUCUS VOTES IN A SET OF TOWNS AND COMMUNITIES THAT ACCUMULATELY ADD UP.

14 MONTHS OF WORK IS WHAT IT TAKES IN MASSACHUSETTS VERSUS THOSE OTHER STATES.

>> Braude: I WOULD ASSUME BASED ON HOW YOU DESCRIBE THE CALIFORNIA SYSTEM, THAT MEANS EVERYBODY WHO IS UPRIGHT, I MEAN PHYSICALLY UPRIGHT, WHO CLUES TO RUN FOR A STATEWIDE OFFICE CAN.

IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING?

BASICALLY UNLIMITED ACCESS OF A MAN OR WOMAN, IF THEY BELIEVE THEY WANT TO RUN FOR AN OFFICE, THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO, PERIOD?

>> I AM MAKING THE CASE THAT WE SHOULD, IN THE SAME WAY WE THINK ABOUT VOTING RIGHTS, WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE'RE LOWERING THE BARRIERS, EASE OF ACCESS TO VOICE AND CHOICE, AND THE SAME SHOULD BE TRUE FOR BALLOT ACCESS.

AND, YES, YOU DEFINITELY WANT PRINCIPLES THAT ARE GOING TO WEED OUT CANDIDATES THAT ARE NOT SERIOUS, SO YOU HAVE TO DESIGN IT RIGHT, SO THE QUESTION SHOULD BE: WHAT IS THE RIGHT DESIGN?

LOTS OF FOLKS HAVE FOUND A DIFFERENT DESIGN FOR MAKING SURE YOU HAVE SERIOUS CANDIDATES AND GENUINE ACCESS.

>> Braude: YOU SAY WE DID A TERRIFIC JOB ON BEACON HILL.

THEY DIDN'T INCLUDE SAME-DAY REGISTRATION, WHICH ONE CHAMBER SUPPORTED AND ONE DID NOT.

MANY VOTING RIGHTS ACTIVISTS THINK THAT WAS A CENTRAL PIECE OF MAKING VOTING EASIER REFORM.

ARE YOU IN AGREEMENT WITH THEM?

>> SURE.

I'M A SUPPORTER OF SAME-DAY REGISTRATION, AND THERE IS MORE WORK TO BE DONE.

THIS BEAUTIFUL STATE IS THE BIRTHPLACE OF DEMOCRACY.

WE HAVE DONE SO MUCH GOOD WORK FOR DEMOCRACY.

WE ARE CURRENTLY DOING GREAT WORK FOR DEMOCRACY, AND THERE IS MORE TO BE DONE.

I THINK THAT IS WHERE THIS IS REALLY FOCUSED ON.

AND WE COULD HELP SET A STANDARD FOR THE COUNTRY ABOUT WHAT IT REALLY MEANS TO HAVE AN INCLUSIVE DEMOCRACY WHERE THERE REALLY IS VOICE AND CHOICE.

>> Braude: YOU'RE -- I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS AN ATTITUDE, YOUR APPROACH -- YOU COME OFF AS SO MUCH MORE POSITIVE THAN I FEEL ABOUT THIS VOTING RIGHTS EFFORT ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL.

ANY DIRECTION THAT I LOOK, IT'S AN UNMITIGATED DISASTER.

THE COWARDS IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE, THE 20-SOME STATES THAT ARE GOING OUT OF THE WAY TO SUPPRESS VOTING, A SUPREME COURT THAT PROBABLY IS ON BOARD WITH SUCH SUPPRESSION.

IS THERE A LIGHT THAT I'M MISSING SOMEWHERE IN THAT PICTURE?

>> MASSACHUSETTS, MY FRIEND, MASSACHUSETTS!

ALL RIGHT?

BECAUSE WE KNOW WHAT THE RIGHT THING IS.

WE KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO PROTECT THE VOTE.

WE KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO OPEN UP VOICE AND CHOICE.

SO LET'S DO THE WORK AND KEEP DOING THE WORK AND MOVE IT FORWARD.

I THINK THAT IS WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO DO THIS IN MASSACHUSETTS BECAUSE A LOT OF STATES ARE FAILING, ACTUALLY, AND WE AREN'T GETTING EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED OUT OF WASHINGTON.

SO ALL THE MORE IMPORTANT FOR US TO STICK BY OUR PRINCIPLES AND SAY WE CAN DO BETTER.

WE DON'T NEED THESE UNNECESSARY BARRIERS TO VOICE AND CHOICE.

>> Braude: A FEW MOMENTS AGO, YOU PRAISED THE VOICE OF MAURA HEALEY, AND SHOULD THAT LEAD ONE TO THE CONCLUSION THAT IS YOUR CANDIDATE?

>> I'M NOT MAKING ANY ENDORSEMENTS AT THIS TIME.

I WAS SIMPLY ACKNOWLEDGING A POLITICAL REALITY.

SHE IS CERTAINLY IN A STRONG POLITICAL POSITION.

>> Braude: WHAT HAS THIS EXPERIENCE BEEN LIKE FOR YOU, DANIELLE?

>> IT HAS BEEN SO FANTASTIC, JIM.

IT IS HONESTLY HARD TO EXPLAIN.

I HAVE LOVED EVERY SINGLE DAY OF THIS.

EVEN THE LAST FEW DAYS WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE MATH, AND HAD TO MAKE A CALL.

IT HAS BEEN THE HONOR OF MY LIFE AND THE JOY OF MY LIFE AND IT IS JUST THE BEGINNING.

>> Braude: DANIELLE, I JUST HOPE I WAKE UP TOMORROW AND I'M MORE LIKE YOU.

[LAUGHTER] >> Braude: I'M SERIOUS.

I LOOK FORWARD TO TALKING TO YOU A LOT IN THE FUTURE.

THANKS.

>> YOU'RE SO KIND.

THANK YOU, JIM.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

TAKE CARE.

>> Braude: IF YOU'VE LISTENED TO GBH RADIO 89.7 AT ALL THIS WEEK BETWEEN 5:00 AND 10:00 IN THE MORNING, YOU'VE HEARD A NEW PAIR OF VOICES.

PARIS ALSTON AND JEREMY SIEGEL ARE THE BRAND NEW HOSTS OF THE REVAMPED "MORNING EDITION" HERE AT GBH.

AND, LET'S PUT IT THIS WAY, IT'S NOT YOUR GRANDPARENTS OR, FOR THAT MATTER, YOUR TYPICAL N.P.R.

A VERY TIRED PARIS AND JEREMY JOIN ME NOW.

>> Braude: IT IS GREAT TO SEE YOU BOTH.

CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Braude: I'M RIGHT IN WHAT I SAID.

IT IS A VERY DIFFERENT KIND OF SHOW, IS IT NOT, PARIS?

>> YES, IT IS.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS FRESH.

THERE IS NEW PERSPECTIVE, AND IT IS REALLY DYNAMIC.

AND, OF COURSE, THERE ARE TWO OF US.

>> Braude: WHAT DO YOU WANT TO ADD TO THAT, JEREMY?

>> IT IS A REALLY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE.

AND BEYOND IT JUST BEING TWO OF US, WE WANT IT TO BE US AND OTHER PEOPLE, LISTENERS.

WE WANT TO BRING LISTENERS INTO THE CONVERSATION.

WE WANT TO MAKE IT NOT JUST TWO PEOPLE TELLING YOU THE NEWS OF THE DAY, BUT TWO PEOPLE HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE NEWS OF THE DAY THAT YOU CAN BE PART OF.

>> Braude: I LOVE N.P.R.

'S MORNING EDITION, I HAVE TO SAY THAT.

I AM LOOKING AT YOU TWO GUYS THIS MORNING HAVING A FABULOUS CONVERSATION WITH THIS YOUNG MAN, AN OLYMPIAN, AND AFTER YOU GUYS DO THIS THING WHERE YOU'RE PRACTICALLY STANDING OFF YOUR SEATS ON THE RADIO, THE NEXT VOICE I HEAR IS "LIVE FROM WASHINGTON, NATIONAL PUBLIC" -- AGAIN, I LOVE THE SHOW BUT IT WAS A DRAMATIC DEPARTURE.

HOW DO YOU KNOW THIS IS WHAT THE AUDIENCE WANTS?

>> ONE, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF POSITIVE FEEDBACK, PEOPLE WHO ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS NEW DAWN AND THIS NEW VIBE THAT IS ON THE RADIO, AND PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BE PART OF THIS NEW EXPERIENCE.

AND WE'RE ALSO GOING INTO THE COMMUNITY AND TALKING TO PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT THEY WANT IN A MORNING NEWS EXPERIENCE.

>> Braude: YOU DID THAT, ACTUALLY, ON DAY ONE.

YOU WERE OUT THERE AT THE TEE, TALKING -- IS THAT THE THING YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF REACHING OUT TO REAL PEOPLE?

>> THAT'S DEFINITELY THE KIND OF THING.

WE'RE GOING OUT AND TALKING TO PEOPLE ABOUT SOMETHING THEY CARE ABOUT.

WHO DOESN'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE TEE?

THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FOR SURE.

>> Braude: PARIS JUST MENTIONED A MINUTE AGO THAT THE FEEDBACK WAS GREAT.

THE ONLY FEEDBACK THAT I'VE REALLY HEARD ABOUT YOUR SHOW IS THIS: >> MY MOM SAYS, YAY IN ALL CAPS.

YOU AND PARIS WERE GREAT, IN ALL CAPS.

>> Braude: I HAVE A MOTHER, TOO.

IF YOUR MOTHER SAID ANYTHING OTHER THAN YAY, YOU WERE GREAT, WOULD YOU HAVE BEEN CRUSHED?

>> I DEFINITELY WOULD HAVE BEEN CRUSHED.

MY MOM HAS SAID WAY MORE THAN THAT.

PARIS HAS UPDATES EVERY HOUR.

SHE SENDS COMMENTS ABOUT EVERY STORY.

>> SHE IS VERY ACTIVE ON TWITTER.

SHE TALKS ABOUT EVERY SINGLE THING IN DETAIL.

SHE SAID I LOVED HOW BRIGHT THIS WAS.

>> Braude: THAT IS NOT WHAT SHE TOLD ME, BY THE WAY (laughing).

[LAUGHTER] >> Braude: YOU'VE BEEN IN TOWN, AND NOW YOU'RE BACK AT GBH.

WHY DID YOU WANT TO DO THIS SHOW?

>> IT WASN'T BECAUSE OF THE TIME, I'LL TELL YOU THAT.

IT WAS BECAUSE YOU CAN REPRESENT PEOPLE IN BOSTON WHO AREN'T ALWAYS AT THE FOREFRONT.

IT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO LOOK AND SAY THAT'S ONE OF OUR OWN.

I'M NOT FROM HERE, I'M A NORTH CAROLINAN, BUT I'VE IMMERSED MYSELF IN BOSTON, I LIVE IN IN DORCHESTER NOW.

I WANT THEM TO HEAR ME SMILING THROUGH THE RADIO, AND I HAVE A LOT OF FUN DOING THAT.

>> Braude: AND YOU ARE FROM A CITY THAT I THINK NEVER WON A SUPER BOWL, I THINK, CINCINNATI.

>> YOU HAD TO BRING IT UP.

>> Braude: WHY DID YOU WANT TO DO THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM, JEREMY?

JEREMY.

>> BECAUSE I LOVE PUBLIC MEDIA.

IT PROVIDES SUCH AN AMAZING SERVICE.

AND I THINK PARIS AND I WANT TO CONTINUE THAT SERVICE, BUT ALSO KEEP IT EXCITING.

AND I THINK THAT THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT IS NECESSARILY LACKING, BUT I THINK IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN BRING MORE OF TO THE TABLE, MORE EXCITEMENT, MORE UNEXPECTED MOMENTS IN RADIO.

>> Braude: I'VE FELT THAT IN THREE DAYS.

I'VE LISTENED TO ALMOST ALL FIVE HOURS EVERY DAY, TALK ABOUT PATHETIC.

DO YOU -- WELL, I GAVE YOU A SECOND OF YOUR BACKGROUND.

SPEND 30 SECONDS, FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T YOU KNOW YOU AS WELL THEY WILL HOPEFULLY KNOW YOU SOON, AND TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF.

>> OKAY.

AS A YOUNG CHILD, I WAS OBSESSED WITH ELVIS PRESLEY.

I'LL TELL YOU OFF THE BAT.

I LOVE TO PERFORM.

I ALSO SPENT YEARS AND YEARS AS A GYMNAST, COMPETING ON THE NATIONAL STAGE.

WENT TO THE JUNIOR OLYMPIC NATIONALS.

THAT WAS A LOT OF TIME, A LOT OF ENERGY.

IT WAS SOMETHING THAT I ABSOLUTELY LOVED.

AND IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS ALSO REALLY SCARY.

BUT IT WAS AMAZING.

>> Braude: HOW ABOUT YOU?

>> SO I GREW UP -- AS I SAID, I GREW UP IN NORTH CAROLINA.

I WAS A GIRL SCOUT.

I DID ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT RANDOM ACTIVITIES.

JAW ATI WAS AT JOURNAL CAMP.

>> Braude: WHAT IS THAT?

>> IT IS CALLED FOR THE PROGRAM FOR DIVERSITY IN MEDIA.

AND IT WAS A WEEK LONG WHERE WE LEARNED HOW TO WRITE AND A LITTLE ABOUT -- >> Braude: HOW OLD WERE YOU THEN?

>> 16 YEARS OLD.

>> Braude: WHERE WAS THAT?

>> AT U.N.C., AND THAT'S WHY I ENDED UP GOING TO COLLEGE THERE.

THEY REELED ME IN.

>> Braude: WHAT TIME DO YOU GET UP?

>> I WAS GETTING UP AT, LIKE, 3:00, AND I WAS, LIKE, THIS WAS NOT GOING TO WORK.

AND NOW I'M GETTING UP AT 2:30.

>> Braude: AND WHAT TIME DO YOU GO TO BED?

>> IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE 7:00,:30,, 7:30.

>> Braude: DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE WORD MASOCHISM IS?

HOW ABOUT YOU?

>> I SHOOT FOR 7:00 AT NIGHT.

TALK ABOUT MASOCHISM, YOU'RE THE ONE HAVING US ON AN EVENING SHOW.

>> Braude: I THINK THAT IS SADISM.

I WORRY WHEN I WAKE UP IN THE MORNING AND WE'RE TRYING TO FOCUS ON LOCAL STUFF, IS THERE ENOUGH?

YOU MADE CLEAR THERE IS A TON OF THINGS, BUT, AGAIN, BACK TO THE ISSUE.

IS THAT WHAT PEOPLE, YOU THINK, WANT AT THE START OF THEIR DAY?

THEY WANT TO STAY CLOSE TO HOME?

OR DO THEY WANT TO GO FURTHER AWAY?

>> I THINK PEOPLE WANT A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH.

AND SOMETIMES A LOT A BIT OF BOTH.

AND I THINK WE'RE TRYING TO DO THAT ON THE SHOW.

I THINK ALSO WHAT PEOPLE WANT IS JUST A GENUINENESS IN THE WAY THEY'RE HEARING ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING AT HOME AND WHAT IS HAPPENING FAR AWAY.

AND THROUGH THIS NEW FORMAT, THIS NEW WAY OF HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE NEWS, I THINK PARIS AND I ARE GENUINE PEOPLE, THAT PEOPLE ARE HEARING US TALK WITH THEM AND NOT JUST TO THEM.

>> Braude: DO YOU LIKE EACH OTHER OR IS IT A PHONY THING?

[LAUGHTER] >> Braude: OBVIOUSLY IT IS A PHONY THING.

GETTING BACK TO THIS CAMP THING, AS YOU'RE GOING THROUGH YOUR CAREER AT THIS POINT, IS THERE SOMEBODY YOU SAID HE OR SHE DOES THIS KIND OF JOB EXACTLY THE WAY I WANT TO DO IT?

WAS THERE SUCH A PERSON?

>> THERE WERE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE, BUT ONE WHO COMES TO MIND IS SUEDE CALLAWAY.

HE WAS A HOST ON MTV's TOTAL REQUEST LIVE.

AND SUEDE WAS ALWAYS REALLY COOL AND HIP TO ME.

I HAVE TWO OLDER BROTHERS AND THEY WERE WATCHING MTV, AND SUEDE WAS COOL, BUT HE WAS ALSO INFORMATIVE.

>> Braude: AND YOU HAVE, TOO.

>> THANK YOU.

>> GROWING UP, I WASN'T REALLY INTO THE NEWS.

I THINK THAT KIND OF INFORMED THE WAY I APPROACH HOSTING A LITTLE BIT.

I DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TO BE THE PERSON THAT YOU THINK OF ON TV.

[LAUGHTER] >> SO NOBODY, BUT HOPEFULLY THAT'S A GOOD THING.

>> HOW ABOUT HE'S NOT YOUR GRANDPARENTS.

>> Braude: I LOVED THE FIRST THREE DAYS.

EVERYBODY SHOULD TUNE IN.

CONGRATULATIONS.

I LOOK FORWARD TO FORWARD TO MANY YEARS TOGETHER, PARIS AND JEREMY.

>> THANKS SO MUCH, JIM.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Braude: PARIS ALSTON AND JEREMY SIEGEL, THANKS.

YOU CAN CATCH "MORNING EDITION" WITH PARIS AND JEREMY EVERY MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, FROM 5:00 A.M. TO 10:00 A.M. AND 89.7 GBH RADIO AND ANY TIME AT gbhnews.org.

THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT.

WE'LL BE BACK TOMORROW.

THANKS FOR WATCHING AND PLEASE STAY SAFE.

♪♪ Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org