-We are -living under an oligarchy.

-Like we're coming up -to that.

-And the, -the whole -premise of it is that, -you know, -these are the richest people -in the world, but they -they cannot afford -jokes at their expense.

-They're really sensitive -and thin skinned.

-They don't want to be made -fun of.

-Whether it's Trump -or Elon Musk or Netanyahu, -they cannot handle that -at all.

-You know?

-And that's -what we can do -is ridicule them, -because that's -an intense power.

-And it is the power of -the oppressed is ridicule.

-This is someone -who may not need -an introduction from me, -Whether you're a Gen Xer, -a millennial, a baby boomer, -or Gen Z, her chances are -you've come across her -work or her influence.

-This is Margaret Cho.

-and she's been making people -laugh since the age of 14.

-Since then, she's toured all -over the world doing stand -up, starred in sitcoms, -racked up five Grammy -and Emmy nominations, -tackled -the world of Off-Broadway.

-And she feels to me -like someone who was just -always been around.

-Or, as her bio puts it, -when hasn't Margaret -and her voice been a part -of our consciousness?

-People didn't -listen to me -because I was this child -and I had to kind of -communicate with adults -who were mostly men -and mostly white, -who just didn't see me -if I wasn't incredibly loud, -incredibly forceful, -and also really, got -to the point, And then it, -it developed, it evolved into -a kind of style of comedy.

-Speaking of Margaret's -voice, it isn't a quiet -one on stage -anyway, Through her art, -she stands right -in the face of stereotypes -that try to box Asian women -in as being meek and quiet.

-To put it plainly, Margaret -Cho ain't no wallflower.

-Especially when it comes -to the stuff -that she believes in, -like anti-racism -and gay rights.

-And she's been lauded -for doing this work -in similar ways to the way -she's been lauded for her -other work, her comedy.

-She's been the recipient -of the Victory -Fund's Leadership Award, -the first ever Best -Comedy Performance award -at the Asian Excellence -Awards.

-The First Amendment Award -from the ACLU -of Southern California -and the Intrepid Award -from the National -Organization for women.

-PFLAG and LA pride -even gave Margaret -a lifetime achievement -award for leaving a lasting -imprint -on the LGBT community.

-So I think it's safe to say, -if Margaret cares about it, -you're -going to hear about it.

-If she gets a whiff -of systemic injustice, -she's going to work -to unearth that -and bring it into the light -by way of her work.

-Which is -why we're talking today, -because Margaret -is not pleased with the way -our country is being run.

-So she's doing what -she does best -and taking it to the stage.

-On a nationwide stand up -tour called Choligarchy, -a tour she describes -as a comedic blueprint -for fixing our country.

-I will roast the powerful, -comfort the menopausal -and explore what it means -to be human in a world ruled -by apps, men and injections.

-Oh yes, I have the right -to speak up.

-I have the right to fight -what I believe is wrong, -and I have a right to claim -that identity.

-So the more that they -sort of reject Dei -and all that right?

-It makes me really dig in -to Americanness.

-And it's so blatantly racist -and so sickeningly cruel -that I think it's got to be -an extinction first.

-Like, it's like, -how is it possible -that they think -it's going to work now?

-You know, -I don't know, but, -yeah, it just -makes me feel more American.

-From Vermont public, -this is homegoings.

-A show that invites you -to eavesdrop -on candid conversations -with people -who will challenge -what you think you know.

-I'm Myra Flynn, today -a conversation -with the indomitable -comedian Margaret -Cho about using comedy -as a megaphone -for the voiceless, -a spotlight on identity, -and sometimes a weapon -for change.

-This interview is happening -at the start -of her nationwide tour, -Choligarchy -and today we're going -to talk about all of it.

-This is homegoings.

-We're proud -member of the NPR network.

-Welcome home.

-Margaret, it's -so wild being here -talking with you.

-I mean, -it just feels like you've -just always been -a part of our -constitution for comedy -and for such a long time.

-And when when -I think about you, -I think about this, like, -really bold, sometimes -crass, -always hilarious comedian.

-you get right to the point, -right?

-You're not going -to sugarcoat it for folks.

-And I'm just wondering, -is this who you really are?

-Is somebody that is that -bold and brazen all the time?

-No, no.

-Thank you, thank you.

-But no, no, not at all.

-I really am not.

-That personality is -something that -I had to really develop.

-I'm actually really, -very much an introvert, -and I really crave solitude -and silence.

-I'm a really, avid -fan of quiet.

-And so it actually -takes a lot out of me to, -bring out this energy.

-That is what is my comedy.

-But, I mean, it's something -that I know -that I had to do.

-I think I developed it -when I was a -as I started comedy -when I was like 14.

-So people didn't -listen to me -because I was this child -and I had to kind of -communicate with adults -who were mostly men -and mostly white, -who just didn't see me.

-If I wasn't incredibly loud, -incredibly forceful, -and also really, -got to the point, like -I had to, people didn't -have any patience to listen -to, a small child of color, -basically, -unless I had something -really important to say.

-So that's why I think I was -able to distill my messages -into really, -almost like, -you know, it's racist, -but fortune cookie -style stuff.

-First.

Okay.

Yeah.

Yeah.

-You know, because people, -especially white people, -didn't accept it.

-And then it, -you know, it developed, it -evolved into a kind of style -of comedy.

-It evolved -into a kind of persona -which, does not take -as much energy for me to, -you know, continue on now.

-But it's something -that is an effort.

Yes.

-That's so interesting.

-Just like fun fact.

-What do you do for quiet -time?

-Like, -is there -anything that you do -that's like very much -wrapped -in solitude -that you can share with us?

-Yeah, I have a pretty strong -meditation practice.

-I do about an hour of day -of like just silence.

-And it's not there's -no chanting.

-There's no, like, -special chair.

-There's no position.

-It's just like, -just sit there -and it's like the best, you -know, and it's taken a while -to kind of build up to it.

-I used to have a very like -I had like a little room -that I would go into -and like, -I had a special little poof, -and I would -like to sit on the ground -and like my butt there, like -it was very like, -good to do it now, you know, -good to meditate now.

-And it's going to look like -the way that people do it.

-But now it's just -it could be -any physical position, -but it's really just quiet.

-And I think that -especially now in this world -that is so fast -and it really sapped -our attention span -to it's really healing.

-Because I'm also definitely -addicted to social media, -definitely addicted -to all that kind of stuff.

-I know -that has to change as well, -because I know that, the way -that social media is, -is changing -with the algorithms -and how it's all -sort of being taken over.

-I really need -to detach myself from that.

-Which is going to be -a challenge.

-So silence is going to be -even more important.

-Yeah.

And more rare, -it sounds like.

-Yeah, yeah.

-So when you speak -about these white men -who wouldn't listen to you -in this, in this field -you were in, right?

-That was predominantly -white and male.

-You could have gotten -more shy, right?

-You could have been silenced -further.

-But instead -you beat that back -and you were like, no, -I'm going to make you -listen to me.

-I don't think that -that's everybody's reaction.

-I'm curious, like, -did you get punished -for that along the way -in one way or another?

-What was people's -reaction to you -when you decided to come out -boldly -Well, it was always pretty -rewarding -because, you know, -when you're a performer, -you know, -when something's working.

-So as a stand up comedian, -I knew that it was working.

-Like I knew that I was -working with audiences.

-I knew that I got laughs -and that people laughed -at recognition or not -recognition out of the sheer -amusement of, oh, here's -this kid, this is cute.

-You know, -this is an interesting -perspective that I think -we didn't see before.

-And what I realized in -comedy that is identity.

-Identity is currency.

-The more -different you are, the -And so, -in a way, it became, -as opposed to being, -like, -you know, -like kind of like different.

-I became exceptional.

-It's like a -it was a very like it was -it was like -anybody who's -exceptional is different -by the fact -that they're exceptional.

-So that was like -my identity more so then, -being just different -so that I really, -I really flourish there -because I love -I love the persona -of a child prodigy.

-And I still believe, like, -that's what I am.

-Okay.

Just like grown up, -but just a grown up -child prodigy.

-Yeah, that was that.

Yeah.

-I guess like, -one thing -I wanted to ask you -about is, identities -like you stand -at the intersection -of multiple identities.

-You've not been shy -in talking -about being Asian-American, -and you've brought -that to the stage -and to your comedy -and to your work and, -pointing out societal -tropes and being a woman and -and being queer -and being an advocate -for for queer rights.

-And I think I just wonder, -like, right -now, in this time, well, -identity is so under fire.

-how is that -both making -you feel in your work, -but also in your body -while holding -all of these identities?

-Well, -what I think -that this current political -time has made me realize -is how American I really am.

-That's -the one for sure thing -that I know that I am -too, is the one thing -that my parents -always taught me, -because they had sacrificed -so much to come here and to -live here and to bring, -you know, our lives here.

-And I know, like -I was born here, -which is something that -my parents always stressed -was the most important thing -that I grew up here.

-And they, you know, -and in my -you really, -really like early childhood, -they would really limit me -speaking Korean -because they didn't -want me to have an accent.

-They didn't want me -to think in Korean -because I was an American.

-And so all this does -it really just underlines -the fact that I am an -American first and foremost.

-So I have the right -to speak up.

-I have the right to fight -what I believe is wrong, -and I have a right to claim -that identity.

-So the more that they -sort of reject Dei -and all that right?

-It makes me really dig in -to Americanness.

-And it's it's -so blatantly racist -and so sickeningly cruel -that I think -it's it's got to be -an extinction first.

-Like, it's like, -how is it possible -that they think -it's going to work now?

-You know, -I don't know, but, -yeah, it just makes me feel -more American.

-I wanted to dig a little bit -more to the role -of Asian Americans -because we are American, -as you say, -but also Asian Americans -and kind of how, -they've been represented -or not represented -in this broader fight.

-Because, like, -there's a long history, -for example, of solidarity -between Asian Americans -and black Americans, right?

-It's been, -something that has happened, -but sometimes gets left -out of the conversation -entirely.

-And when we had -our pre-interview, -you talked a little bit -about that siloed space -that Asian Americans can, -can kind of be in, or -that individual eyes space.

-And also not just in -like the day to day, -but in the current struggle -and what is happening -right now.

-I think it's just -really important -to have solidarity with -black people, with Latinos, -with everybody -who is othered -in our society.

-And that's something -that my parents thought -was really important, too.

-We always lived in black -neighborhoods.

-We always had businesses -in gay neighborhoods.

-You know, this was something -that, multiple -branches of my extended -family always did -because they I think -they had a very 1960s view -of the civil -rights movement, -where Asian liberation -was tied in very closely -with black liberation.

-what happened -is the status quo realized -that it was a disadvantage -to them for us to unite.

-And so this narrative -brought was brought forward.

-But the model minority, -if we can like, put -pit these minorities -against each other, -we're still going to be able -to hold on -to white supremacy.

-And so it's that notion of -there -even being a model minority, -that there is a way -to be oppressed, -that there is a way -that's more palatable -to white people, that -we can be like oppressed.

-It's a very it's -very detrimental.

-But it's also -feeds into the culture -of wanting to belong.

-There's an Asian -I think it's -kind of a Confucian quality -of desperately wanting -to belong to society -and wanting to do what -the status quo requires, -because it's almost like -a familial truth.

-It's Confucianism is like, -obey the laws, -obey the family, -obey your familial ties.

-And it's about -obeying -the structure of society -in order to find harmony -and peace.

-And that mixed with the idea -of a model minority -that's been very detrimental -to our liberation.

-Yeah.

-Can you say more about that?

-Because by that math, -I would think, wow, -like all of us -who are minorities, right -with would adhere to this -just for the sake -of assimilation.

-But you say -it's detrimental.

-How has that, not served the -Asian-American community?

-It's detrimental -because it's -sort of like silence -is the answer through quiet.

-Acquiescence, -we will gradually -gain power, -which is not true.

-And it's just something -that is never been true.

-this whole like Latinos -for Trump movement -is so painfully sad to me -because it's very much like -Asians for Trump.

-There's quite a lot of that.

-You know, these people -who believe that -siding with the oppressor -is going to lead -to their freedom, -and that is such a painful -reminder of it.

-Maybe it's -not Confucianism.

Exactly.

-Which informs -the Latino community, -but it's a similar impulse.

-Like if we just follow -the rules, -they're only going to take -the criminals.

-It's not the case.

It's -not the case.

-What happened -is they criminalized -all of us -with our own permission.

-We we permitted them -to criminalize us in order -to seek a better future.

-We actually like the ideas -that from prompted -it are kind of noble -because we just -want things to be better.

-So we think if we just -suffer for a longer, -it'll be okay -if we just align ourselves -with whiteness, -but they'll never really -allow us at the table.

-They'll never allow us -to be with them.

-And you know, -they're so betrayed.

-It's really sad.

-Well, yeah, I think, like, -I this makes me -want to talk about, -like, Aki, for sure, -because, all of your work -that I've seen -over the years, -from what I've seen of Aki -and just the trailer -and what's to come of this -upcoming tour of yours, it's -some of your boldest -work yet.

-So tell me.

-Tell me about the name -Aki, please.

-And also -what you're intending to do.

-Because I could sit here -and listen to -you talk like this.

-Like as a professor, -just straight to me forever.

-And and learn so much, -I think.

-But there's something about -comedy, right, -that hits different -with this kind -of information.

-So, yeah, -I have so much to learn -about why you chose comedy -and what you're up to -with this next to her -as an activist -and as a comedian.

-Well, thank you, -thank you.

Yes.

-Well, I think it's really -important.

-Chila Aki, as you say, -I love a pun.

-I'm so dumb.

-Like, I really love -like I like this.

-I have so many.

-Like, the show must go on.

-Like there's -so many so easy.

-Yeah, it's so easy -and so silly and, you know, -for me, it's really, -it's really satisfying.

-Like I thought, -oh, well, that's perfect -because we are living -under an oligarchy.

-Like we're coming up -to that.

-And the, -the whole -premise of it is that, -you know, -these are the richest people -in the world, but they -they cannot afford -jokes at their expense.

-They're really sensitive -and thin skinned.

-They don't want to be made -fun of.

-Whether it's Trump -or Elon Musk or Netanyahu, -they cannot handle that -at all.

-You know?

-And it's like these -rich people, -they can't afford that.

-So that's what we can do -is ridicule them, -because that's -an intense power.

-And it is the power of -the oppressed is ridicule -like we can't make -they can make us do -whatever they want -because they have -the financial means, -but we can't, -we can laugh at them.

-We can really make -fun of them.

-And that's really fun.

-And it's really, -I think what the show is, -and also -a lot of it -is a rejection of the fact -that so much of comedy was -moving this administration -along into power.

-Again, -you know, whether that's -the sort of bromance -sphere of podcasting, -all these guys -who are my old friends, -you know, these people -who I truly know -who I don't know why -they've decided to do this, -but it's a it's a huge, -sickening betrayal -of what comedy is about.

-We're supposed to be -about telling the truth and -being there for the people.

-so it's a means to fight -that, -you know, it's -a means to get under that.

-Like it's just so, -it's so bizarre, -so, yeah, it's like, -I think -when we can apply everything -that we have to change -and to -really change this country -to where we should be going.

-I think everybody has a -a job, -and this -everybody has a voice, -whether that's protesting, -whether that's talking -about it on social media -or whether that's doing -comedy about it.

-So that's this is my effort.

-This is your effort.

-Well, yeah.

-Speaking of your coming -to Burlington, Vermont.

-And Vermont is -where this show is made.

-I think you're coming -October 10th, -which is really exciting -at the Flynn Theater.

-And, you know, -Vermont is kind of known -for monolithically -being very blue, very, -very liberal state.

-Do you switch up your show -at all for a very red state -or very liberal state?

-Because I checked out -your tour.

-You're going everywhere.

-Yeah.

-Do you switch up -the messaging at all?

-Depending -on where you're at?

-No, because it's -a needed wherever I go, -whether it's in a place -like Vermont, which I love, -you know, -I used to go and visit -Howard Dean in his office, -that is.

-I mean, in fact, -why which is so great.

-I mean, he was a fan -and he was, like, -just so warm and invite ING -and like, -you know, like, I, -I just think -we would have been -so much better off -if we hadn't criticized him -for yelling that one time.

-I sure do you remember that?

-Yes.

Yes.

-And then were -going to Washington, D.C., -to take back -the white House!

-He just drank drank too much -coffee and he got excited.

-Like, -what did we -what did we think about -politics that we were -just so, able to quash -a very, very important -political voice -because he yelled too -much, right?

-He was excited.

-I mean, it's like he could.

-I think that's really -where we went wrong.

-I think that we could do -we could take it all back.

-I go, I think -that's where it happened.

-But now there's -so much more.

-But yeah, I think that it's -really important -to take your comedy -everywhere.

-Like, my last tour, -there was they issued -a travel advisory warning -for gay, gay people, queer -people to go to Florida.

-And because of that, -I booked -as many shows in Florida -as I could -because people in Florida -need to hear what -I have to say.

-Like, I, -we can't discount -parts of the country -because, -the image that we have -of the people that live -there is one that -is somebody -that may not agree.

-I don't think that's right.

-I think we have to -take our messages everywhere -because that's -still America.

-We still need to voice -their opinion.

-We still need -to have dissent.

-We still need -to have a way to agree.

-There are people out there -that need to hear you -and, people -that will welcome it.

-And I think also -what it is about -my shows is that -even if you disagree, -you have to laugh -because it's just so stupid.

-It's just so dumb.

-Like some of the things -that I say are so dumb -that you just have -you have to like, -cackle at the buffoonery.

-So that's what I try, -at least to make it -entertaining for everybody.

-Not that -I would ever be a bipartisan -entertainer in any way.

-Right.

-But there is -there is a point of entry -for people -who may be more centrist, -or even people who may be -right wing.

-Yeah, comedy -is the vehicle, right?

-It sounds like, -for all of it.

-are there any folks -or any of your peers -you feel are doing it -right right now that you're, -like, really excited about -Atsuko Okatsuka, -I love her.

-She's my baby.

-She's like my child, -like she's somebody -that I have been watching -for such a long time.

-And it's so exciting to see -her just soar in her career.

-But you know, -she just made a post -a couple of days ago about -the Riyadh Comedy Festival -and how how much -they were paying people, -but also, well, -she scratched that out, -but I could see -there was a lot of zeros -and, -all of the things -that they were demand doing, -all of the silence, -you know, like, -don't talk about this, -don't talk about that.

-You can't talk about that.

-Don't talk about that.

-Like, and she just wasn't -going to be, bound by that, -you know.

-So I thought it was so cool -of her to just kind of -put that forward.

-I mean, I don't know, all, -all things have a price, -I guess I have the luxury -is I would never be asked -to go to -the Riyadh Comedy Festival.

-I would never -I would never be.

-And why I'm.

-I'm too gay.

-I'm too, Rude.

-I'm just too.

There's no way -there's just no way.

-So I can talk about it -as much as I want -and sort of, like, -decry how I would never, -but they would never ask me.

-So it doesn't really matter -where you go.

-I think the next t shirt, -Margaret Cho.

-I'm too gay -and I'm too rude.

-You're gay.

I'm d rude, -I'm too crass.

-I'm just not.

-I'm just not what they -But yeah, it's it's -very interesting.

-All jokes aside, -are you concerned about -the state of our country?

-Yes, I am very concerned.

-I have various escape plans.

-I think that -the probably -the most logical one -is to go to Korea, which -I would definitely be like.

-I mean, I would, -I would be, I'm like, -talk about like how -they treated the Hyundai.

-They would, -they would send over -a private plane -for me and Bobby Lee -to go over in such luxury -like we would be.

-So I'd be -welcome back to the homeland -like you know, it would.

-It would just be really it -I yeah, I think it would be -incredible.

-We'd -be royalty.

But then also, -I think -I, I would love Canada.

-I actually really love -Canada.

-Part of my family is -Canadian to Canadian Korean.

-So that actually -makes a lot of sense.

-I spent a lot -of my childhood in Toronto, -so there is, -familiarity there.

-And of course, there's -always wonderful United -are going to Ireland.

-So my good friend Rosie -O'Donnell is there now.

-And, a lot of comedians -are going there.

-The citizenship is like, -I think, fairly simple.

-If you buy property.

-And now also, -I think if we really -are not able -to do what we want to do, -we'll be welcomed there.

-So, you know, there's a -there's a lot of places that -I've thought of, to go.

-And this -there's also Mexico.

-I do love Mexico as well.

-Mexico -City is one of my favorite -places in the world.

-So, you know, -they're great fashion week.

-Oh, the best.

Everything.

-The best.

-I have the luxury to.

-And the privilege to say, -well, I could do that.

-Like the my greatest -hardship is like, -how do I move all my cats?

-But that's -how many caffeinate I have.

-I have three cats -and they are the center -of my life.

-And, they're -really hard to move, but, -that that's the only thing.

-But, you know, it's like I -have the luxury to do that.

-So many people don't.

Right.

-And my concern is for them, -more than that, you know, -more than anything, -my concern also is for trans -people like this is a -I mean, -I don't think I've ever seen -I certainly not -our government, but like, in -any way that a government -that is in the sort of like -pro-democracy world -that has, -just dehumanized -a community -more than the trans -community, like it's -so terrifying to me, -and it's made me -want to reach out more -and help the trans community -as much as I can -to try to find a solution, -at least short term, -to help them feel safer.

-You know, -that, to me, is terrifying.

-There's so many trans -people in my universe.

-So, so many trans people -who are just, around me -that I need to secure, that -I need to, -and I want to, like, feel -like I can secure them -from the inside.

-Like I want them -to feel safe inside.

-There's so much terror -that the government -is causing -by calling them terrorists.

-And that's really, -something I've never seen.

-And I don't know why -it's not talked about more.

-So I think when we -when we spoke -during our pre-interview, -you'd talked a little bit -about this pendulum swing -and how like, -you might have -a little bit of faith -that things will kind of -even back out -as they should.

-Where are you standing in -that faith today?

-Is that still something -you're feeling -hopeful about that -we might -get on the other side -of this better, -stronger, faster, harder?

-I'm not sure.

-Or should we grab our caps -and get on?

-Get on the helicopter -with you?

-You know, I'm both.

-I'm both because I know -for a fact that it's -got a swing back left.

-That's just logical.

-And if you look at our own, -like, -lived history, like, -it's like the 80s and, -you know, Reaganomics -and the Reagan era -and the Aids crisis -and how devastating that was -and how -we were able to survive it -and come into power -politically, -like gay people -coming into power -politically after Aids, -which is so true.

-What a tremendous triumph, -you know, that it happened.

-And we continue to be able -to fight politically after -we were decimated, -not just politically, -but by a plague.

-So there there is hope.

-There is hope there.

-Even like after -nine over 11, -you saw the incredible, -disgusting Islamophobia -and this idea of like -homeland security -and this rise of the sort -of neo conservative -white supremacy.

-You still felt it come -back when we had Obama.

So -hope became the -word of the day, like 2008, -everything shifted to that.

-So now, you know, -you just see -the natural progression of -that's -the way the society works -and it has to swing back.

-It has to the -the question is -when -and can I wait that out?

-Will it be longer this time?

-Or will they change things -so much that it's impossible -to switch?

It's impossible -to swing back.

-Like will it be -gerrymandered to the -the place where -we can't even vote anymore, -Or this idea that after -what happened -at the beginning -of September, Democrats -we were somehow -vilified as the enemy.

-And they wanted -to call civil war on us.

-And they wanted us all -to be executed.

-That's like this thing.

-And they're still trying -to criminalize -this idea -of being a Democrat.

-And, you know, it's -I don't know, how -are we going to turn that?

-I don't know, -but it's got to happen.

-in When When you say -what happened in September, -you are talking about.

-death of Charlie Kirk.

-Yes.

Yeah.

-And the reaction.

-Right.

-on every side, -and I think -even speaking about it -is such a dangerous thing -because people want you to -come out so strongly on any -that my feeling is, is I, -I don't, -I don't want to speak on it -because I don't believe -that, -I need to have space -for him.

-I don't need to have a space -in my existence -for somebody -who is that way, you know?

-So I don't even, like.

-I wanted to say, like, -I don't want to comment -on it at all, because to me, -it's just so outside -of my realm of understanding -why anybody -would follow that or believe -in that or want that.

-So it's for me, it's -power to not speak of it -and to not put energy -into it -as as it's -instead to focus on -how can we uplift -our communities?

-How can we fight by rising, -you know, -because I just don't believe -in anything.

-He was about.

Right.

-I mean, -I've heard, of course, -as we all have, -like the pendulum -swinging analogy -over time in politics -and a lot of it, you know, a -resolve to the pendulum -has to swing in these ways -so that the needle can move.

-And I guess -one of the things -that kind of obliterates -the needle completely to me, -right, is free speech.

-And I think about you -as a comedian and how freely -you are able -to speak right now.

-And I also think about Jimmy -Kimmel right -now, in this moment in time -and are you -concerned about this at all?

-Because that would be -a very big change for -how you personally advocate -for some of the -people you're talking about.

-Yeah, it's hard.

-It's really hard.

-Like it's also tempting -to want to test it.

-Like I want to test to see -how far free speech can go.

-Like it -is an experiment now.

-Like, okay, well, like, what -can I say, what can I do?

-And how far will the -government go to silence me?

-Because they were -effectively able to silence -Jimmy Kimmel, -but only for about six days, -which is great -and it's very satisfying.

-Well, -I think I just want to know -one what's your -what's your piece of advice -for us?

-And by us, I also mean us.

-Like women of color.

-I also mean, -folks that maybe -have more privilege -and more power right now, -folks -that are willing to listen -and maybe even be skeptics, -folks that -are really scared right now.

-Well, I think that we -don't have anything to lose.

-Like we accept our -democracy, -like we are already going -to lose it -without action, like dog -wants to speak up to dog.

-I like to say she's more -of a communist actually.

-Like she's more of it.

-Like she's definitely -more leftist than I am.

-Okay.

Hey.

-Yeah, yeah.

-Come here.

-Good girl, -Oh, we a tomorrow?

-Yes.

-I, I am no, good.

-But she's got to get very -sensitive, fair hearing.

-Especially -when it's about politics.

-She loves to talk about -politics.

-Very, She's -more about the worker I see.

-But she's I, -I think that it.

-We have to fight now.

-We don't have a choice.

-Like we have to use -everything -that we have to hold on -to what we have -and get a lot of what -we have back, -what we used to have back.

-It's our country.

-America -is the dream of everyone, -not just a, white man -who's mostly orange, -who who, as he doesn't -really know what he's doing.

-is the -the dream of all of us.

-And it's only ours -if we fight for it.

-And I think we've had it -pretty easy.

-You know, I we've never been -free of racism.

-We've never been free -of sexism, -we've never been free -of homophobia.

-But for a time, we've done -okay.

-We, compared -to, like, other countries -compared to like, -the rest of the world, -we've kind of done.

Okay.

-So we have to fight now, -with whatever we have.

-And that can take all -sorts of forms, you know, -that can take all sorts -of ways of activism, -whatever you're able to do.

-But I think America -is worth fighting for -so we have -to fight.

We have to fight.

-Thanks -so much for joining us.

-If you want to continue -to be a part -of the homegoings family, -stay in touch at -homegoings.co -and subscribe to -the homegoings podcast -wherever you listen.

-Take good care.

-So those are -all my questions.

-Margaret, -thank you for your time.

-So great chatting with you -and good luck on tour.

-And I wish I was still going -to be in Vermont.

-But are you are you?

-I'll check out -your schedule.

-Just a fact -checking question.

-Is this a nationwide tour?

-Is it -blooming out beyond America?

-Yes.

For right now, it's, -this part of it -is nationwide.

-And then we will go beyond -amazing.

-Like it's so great.

-Well, best of luck to you.

-You don't need it.

-It's going to be great.

-Thank you.

Yeah.

-And then, Mike, -who's our director?

-Do you have any questions -for Margaret?

-Any final questions?

-Yeah, yeah.

I'm so glad.

-We could see her.

-Just like in case we.

-Very, very interested.

-And, Margaret, -is there anything -I didn't ask you that -you want to make sure that -you got a chance to say, -No, I think it's great.

-Yeah, I think we covered it.

-Okay.

Awesome.

-One of the honors of my -lifetime to interview you.

-So thank you.

-Oh.

You're amazing.

-Thank you, thank you.

-You, too, I thank you.

-Bye bye.

-So much.

-Yeah, I'm coming in.

Mike.