>>> THIS IS "METROFOCUS" WITH RAFAEL PI ROMAN, JACK FORD AND JENNA FLANAGAN.

"METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY -- JAMES AND MERRYL TISCH, SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III, THE SYLVIA A.

AND SIMON B. POYTA PROGRAMING ENDOWMENT TO FIGHT ANTI-SEMITISM.

BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ, ROSALIND P. WALTER, BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG, JUDY AND JOSH WESTON.

DR. ROBERT SY AND THE TINA SONG FOUNDATION.

>>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "METROFOCUS."

I'M RAFAEL PI ROMAN.

>> I'M JACK FORD.

WELCOME, ALSO.

DOING A LITTLE SOMETHING DIFFERENT TONIGHT.

USUALLY YOU WOULD BE WATCHING EITHER RAFAEL OR ME HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH A GUEST.

WE DECIDED TO HAVE OUR OWN CONVERSATION, BETWEEN THE TWO OF US TONIGHT AND TALKING A SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE FLOATING AROUND THERE, THAT ARE CERTAINLY GENERATING GREAT INTEREST ON THE PART OF ALL OF YOU OUT THERE.

SO, RAF, LET'S HAVE A CHAT.

>> FIRST I WANT TO TALK TO YOU, JACK, WHAT'S HAPPENING TOMORROW.

THE CONFIRMATION BY THE SENATE, AND HOUSE MEMBERS, AND JOINT SESSION.

CONFIRMATION OF THE ELECTORAL VOTES OF THE PRESIDENT.

WHICH HAPPENS EVERY TIME.

THIS TIME 12 REPUBLICAN SENATORS AND MAYBE AS MANY AS 140 REPUBLICAN CONGRESSPEOPLE ARE GOING TO DISPUTE THOSE VOTES.

WHY ARE THEY DOING THAT?

WHAT CAN THEY ACHIEVE?

>> THIS SESSION A LOT FOR CONFOUNDING THAN USUALLY IS.

USUALLY IT'S A CEREMONIAL PROCEDURE WHERE ESSENTIALLY BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS, THERE IS A CEREMONIAL OPENING OF THE VOTES.

THERE IS A TALLYING OF THE VOTES.

THERE'S TWO SENATORS AND TWO HOUSE REPRESENTATIVES, PROVIDING THE NUMBERS.

ALL PRESIDED OVER BY THE PRESIDENT SENATE, WHO IS VICE PRESIDENT PENCE.

AND AFTER THAT, USUALLY, THERE IS AN AFFIRMATION AND DECLARATION BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, VICE PRESIDENT PENCE, AS HE IS THERE, THAT THESE ARE THE WINNERS.

AND, ACCORD TAGING TO WHAT WE K IT WOULD BE JOE BIDEN PRESIDENT, KAMALA HARRIS VICE PRESIDENT.

I SAY USUALLY LLY CEREMONIAL TH ARE TIMES IT'S NOT.

THIS IS NOT A CATCHALL SUPERSESSION WILL CONGRESS CAN SAY WE'RE GOING TO STID DECIDE WON THE ELECTION OR WHAT VOTES COUNT HERE.

THEY DON'T HAVE THIS ABILITY.

SENATORS SAY WE'RE DOING THIS BECAUSE OUR CONSTITUENTS ARE NOT HAPPY.

NOTHING SAYS CONGRESSPEOPLE CAN JUMP IN ON IT.

SPECIFICALLY AND BASED UPON WHAT HAPPENED BACK IN 1876, THE ELECTION BETWEEN RUTHERFORD B. HAYES, SAMUEL TILLVIN, CONTESTED BECAUSE THREE SOUTHERN STATES EACH SUBMITTED TWO DIFFERENT SLATES OF ELECTORS, AND CONGRESS WRESTLED WITH IT AND ULTIMATELY IN CONSEQUENCE, RUTHERFORD WAS READ.

AND STATUTES TO DEAL WITH IT.

THIS STATUTES THAT GOVERNS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN HERE SPECIFICALLY SAYS THAT CONGRESS GETS ESSENTIALLY ONLY TO MOUTH IF THERE ARE COMPETING SLATES OF ELECTORS THAT HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED BY ONE STATE.

IN WHICH CASE, THEN CONGRESS HAS TO DECIDE BASED UPON GUIDANCE IN THE STATUTE, WHICH SLATE OF ELECTORS THEY WILL ACCEPT.

ALL RIGHT?

NOW, WHAT'S IMPORTANT ABOUT THIS IS THAT'S GOING TO TAKE PLACE, NO INSTANCE OF COMPETING ELECTORS.

EACH STATE SELECTED ONE SLATE.

GONE THROUGH ALL THE PROCEDURES.

AUTHORIZED I THE APPROPRIATE GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES AND ATS AND THE GOVERNOR OF EACH STATE.

WHY THAT'S IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE THE STATUTE SAID SPECIFICALLY, I'LL READ THE LANGUAGE TO YOU.

ALL RIGHT?

IT SAYS, AND NO ELECTORAL VOTE OR VOTES FROM ANY STATE WHICH SHALL HAVE BEEN REGULARLY GIVEN BY I LECTORS WHOSE APPOINTMENT HAS BEEN LAWFULLY CERTIFIED TO ACCORDING TO THE SECTION OF THIS STATUTE FROM WHICH ONLY ONE RETURN HAS BEEN RECEIVED, SHALL BE REJECTED.

SO IT SAYS IF YOU GET ONLY ONE SLATE OF ELECTORS AND DONE APPROPRIATELY, CONGRESS CANNOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT'S CANNOT REJECT IT.

WHAT IS GOING TO BE TAKING PLACE HERE.

>> THE REPUBLICANS SAID THEY'RE LED BY TED CRUZ.

ONE, JOSH HAWLEY, HAS HIS OWN REASONS BUT THEY CLAIM, THEY SAY, LOOK.

WHAT WE WANT DONE IS WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THE -- THE WAY THEY SETTLED THAT RACE.

WE WANT AND INDEPENDENT COMMITTEE JOIN FOR AUDIT OF THE CONTESTED VOTES.

TEN DAYS COME BACK.

EVERYTHING'S COPACETIC WEEK VOTE.

YOU SAY THEY CAN'T DO THAT.

>> THEY CAN'T.

STATUTE DOES NOT ALLOW YOU TO DO THAT.

NOW, IF IN THE IF YOU CONGRESS SOMEBODY WANTS TO CREATE A COMMISSION AND THE MISSION WILL BE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS ELECTION, AND WHETHER THERE WERE ANY INAPPROPRIATE DHAUCONTACT T HAD AN IMPACT ON IT, CONGRESS HAS THE RIGHT TO INVESTIGATE, ALWAYS.

THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NOTHING IN THIS STATUTE THAT WOULD GIVE THEM THE AUTHORITY TO SAY, LET'S CREATE A COMMISSION.

THE STATUTE SIMPLY SAYS, YOU JUST -- YOUR OWN FUNCTION IS TO APPROVE THE SLATES OF ELECTORS, UNLESS YOU WOULD GET COMPETING SLATES.

THEN YOU HAVE TO RESOLVE THEM.

THAT'S WHAT'S BEEN -- WHY DO YOU HAVE 100 AND SOME MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE, AT LEAST 12 SENATORS SAYING, YOU GOT TO BELIEVE THEY KNOW HOW TO READ.

YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE THEY HAVE ABILITY AT LEAST, IF THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND IT, THEY HAVE GUIDANCE AND ADVISERS TO EXPLAIN IT TO THEM.

WHY DO YOU SEE THIS PLAYING OUT THIS WAY?

>> I THINK TWO REASONS.

ONE, OBVIOUS ONE.

POLITICS AND PEOPLE ARE PLAYING TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS.

MANY OF WHOM COME FROM STATES WITH BIG TRUMP VOTES.

THE OTHER THING IS THAT MANY OF THEM FEEL, AND I THINK THIS IS LEGITIMATE.

MANY OF THEM FEEL THAT, LIKE THE -- THE CHARGES OF FRAUD HAVE NOW BEEN PUBLICIZED, NOT SUFFICIENTLY AND THEY WANT TO HAVE THIS.

THIS, THEY CAN DO AND WILL HAVE IT.

HAVE A TWO-HOUR DEBATE IN EACH HOUSE OVER THE CLAIMS OF FRAUD, ET CETERA, ET CETERA AND MAYBE SOME OF LEGITIMATE WHEN THEY SAY THEY WANT IT AIRED OUT AT LEAST SO AMERICANS CAN FIGURE IT OUT.

THOSE ARE THE ONLY TWO THINGS I CAN COME UP WITH.

>> YEAH.

YOU KNOW, I LOOK AT IT.

THE SAME CONCLUSIONS THAT YOU DRAW.

I LOOK AT IT AND I SAID THIS.

I'M AN INDEPENDENT.

I VOTED IN THE PAST FOR REPUBLICANS.

VOTED IN THE PAST FOR DEMOCRATS.

MY CONCERN HERE AS A CONCERNED CITIZEN AND CERTAINLY AS A JOURNALIST AND AS A LAWYER IS THAT SOMEHOW WE PROVIDE A VEHICLE TO LET PEOPLE BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW THIS WHOLE ELECTION PLAYED OUT.

YOU KNOW?

IT'S -- THE KEY TO OUR DEMOCRACY HAS ALWAYS BEEN, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE A TWO-PARTY DEMOCRACY, THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE CONFRONTATION AND DISAGREEMENT.

SO, I'VE ALWAYS SAID THIS AS A LAWYER AND AS A LEGAL CORRESPONDENT.

I WOULD SAY, THIS IS WHAT THE MAJESTY OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM, IS, AT THE END YOU MIGHT HAVE PEOPLE DISAGREE WITH AN ELECTION RESULT OR DISAGREE WITH A VERDICT FOR THAT MATTER.

AS LONG AS THEY AGREE THE PROCESS WAS FAIR, THEN WE'RE WILLING TO MOVE FORWARD.

THAT'S THE ESSENCE OF A DEMOCRACY.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME VEHICLE TO THAT, FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.

YOU WOULD THINK THAT THE COURTS WOULD HAVE BEEN THAT VEHICLE AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY DEMOCRATS SAY, YES, THEY WERE THAT VEHICLE.

60-SOME CASES.

SOME OF WHICH ACTUALLY FOCUSED NOT ON THINGS SUCH AS WHETHER YOU HAD A RIGHT TO SUE BUT ON THE FACTS AND ALLEGATIONS, AND THERE WAS NEVER A FINDING OF ANYTHING SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE ELECTION.

WE HAD THE -- THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAY THAT.

WE HAD HEAD OF NATIONAL SECURITY SAY THAT.

YOU WOULD HAVE THOUGHT PEOPLE LOOK AND SAY THAT'S BEEN DONE.

FOR MANY PEOPLE APPARENTLY THAT'S STILL NOT DONE TO THEIR SATISFACTION.

I'D LIKE TO SEE SOME BIPARTISAN COMMISSION, IF THERE'S SUCH A THING ANYMORE THAT'S IN EXIS EXISTENCE.

TAKE A LOOK.

I MIGHT DISAGREE WITH ELECTION RESULTS BUT I UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS.

>> WE HAD THIS CONVERSATION YESTERDAY.

I'M FROM CUBA.

I HAVE OFTEN THOUGHT ABOUT WHY CUBANS IN CUBA HAD SUCH A DIFFICULT TIME WITH THEIR POLITICAL PROCESS.

>> ALLOW ME -- I THOUGHT WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT THAT, ELABORATE.

WAS FASCINATING.

GO AHEAD.

>> BUT THEY CAME TO THIS COUNTRY AND PLUGGED THEMSELVES IN AND WHY WERE THEY SUCCESSFUL POLITICALLY?

BECAUSE THEY PLUGGED INTO A SYSTEM WHERE PEOPLE BELIEVED IN THE RULES.

TRUSTED THE RULES OF THE GAME THAT EVERYBODY WOULD FOLLOW.

MY CONCERN, OF COURSE, IS THAT -- THAT IF IT WAS BELIEVED TO BE ILLEGITIMATE.

IF POLITICIANS MAKE IT LOOK EVEN MORE LEGITIMATE, THEN THIS FALLS APART.

ONCE THAT FALLS APART YOU CAN'T PUT IT TOGETHER AGAIN.

MY CONCERN.

ANYTHING THAT MAKES IT LEGITIMATE IS A VERY, VERY POSITIVE THING.

GO TO GEORGIA.

YOU KNOW, IT'S HAPPENING TODAY.

THE ELECTIONS, RUNOFF ELECTIONS.

WHAT REALLY IS AT STAKE HERE, JACK?

IS IT ARMAGEDDON AS SOME SAY?

>> WE TEND TO LOOK AT THE MOMENT.

AND WE TAKE THE CRISIS OF THE MOMENT AND WE EXPAND IT.

THAT'S UNDERSTANDABLE.

YOU AND I ARE OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT WE'VE LIVED THROUGH THESE MOMENTS IN THE PAST.

YOU KNOW?

I GO BACK TO WHEN, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE ARE, COLLEGE AGE, AND THE VIETNAM WAR IS RAGING.

AND YOU SEE -- IN TERMS OF PROTESTS ON THE STREETS AND EVEN VIOLENCE ON THE STREETS, AND WE LOOKED AT IT AND SAID, WE ARE BROKEN.

WE'RE IRRETRIEVABLY AS A NATION BROKEN, AND WE RECOVERED.

WE HAVE A HOPE WE CAN RECOVER FROM THIS.

IN TERMS OF THE MOMENT, CONTROL OF THE SENATE IS UP TO ARE GRABS IN THIS ELECTION, BASICALLY, TAKING PLACE IN GEORGIA.

AND PEOPLE THAT FOLLOWED IT KNOW IF DEMOCRATS WIN BOTH SEATS AND PUNDITS HAVE SAID COULD ABOUT REAL STRETCH BUT IN PLAY.

DEMOCRATS WIN BOTH SEATS YOU'LL HAVE A 50/50 SPLIT IN THE SENATE AND TIES DECIDED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, WHO IS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES WHICH WOULD BE KAMALA HARRIS.

SO THAT WOULD ESSENTIALLY GIVE DEMOCRATS IN MOST INSTANCES, DOESN'T MEAN EVERYBODY'S ALWAYS GOING TO VOTE THE SAME WAY.

GIVE THEM POTENTIAL TO CONTROL THE SENATE.

IT'S A SIGNIFICANT HAPPENING TAKING PLACE.

>> AND REPUBLICANS SAY IF THAT HAPPENS THEN THE DEMOCRATS ARE REALLY GOING TO VOTE TO END FILIBUSTERS IN TURN ALLOW THEM TO PACK THE SUPREME COURT AND ALLOW THEM TO ADMIT THE WASHINGTON, D.C. AND PUERTO RICO AS STATES WHICH DEMOCRATS BELIEVE WILL GUARANTEE FOUR EXTRA DEMOCRATIC SENATORS FOR YEARS ON, YEAR AFTER YEAR IS THAT FEASIBLE?

>> IS IT POSSIBLE?

YES.

MY SUSPICION BASED UPON WHAT WE'VE HEARD PEOPLE SAY THAT PRESIDENT-ELECT BIDEN SAID HE IS NOT A FAN OF TRYING TO PACK THE COURT.

IT'S BEEN ATTEMPTED BEFORE.

AGAIN, IT'S NOT SOMETHING HE COULD DO BY EXECUTIVE ORDER, BY THE WAY.

THE WHOLE CONGRESS HAS TO BE INVOLVED IN EXPAND THE NUMBER OF SEATS HERE.

I DOUBT THAT WOULD HAPPEN GIVEN HOW POLITICALLY CHARGED IT WOULD BE.

YOU KNOW?

FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT ATTEMPTED TO DO AND IT HE EVEN HAD A DEMOCRATIC-CONTROLLED CONGRESS, AND EVEN THEY SAID TO HIM, NO.

WE WANT TO, WE LIKE NINE.

STAY WITH THE NINE.

I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD HAVE A -- THE OTHER THING INTERESTING YOU MENTIONED.

A MOVE FOR PUERTO RICO, A SIGNIFICANT MOVE FOR BOTH PUERTO RICO AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, WASHINGTON TO ACHIEVE STATEHOOD?

I THINK YOU'LL SEE A BIG PUSH FOR THAT, AND'S THE DEMOCRATS WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT, BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE IT WOULD GIVE THEM, AGAIN, SOME ADDITIONAL DEMOCRATIC VOTES.

I THINK THAT'S THE AREA THAT YOU'LL SEE THAT THE FIGHTING TAKES PLACE HERE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL, JACK, UNFORTUNATELY WE'RE OUT OF TIME AND HAVE TO END IT THERE.

I HAVE SO MANY OTHER THINGS TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT.

>> I KNOW.

YOU AND I HAVE TO DO IT AGAIN.

BASICALLY WE GET TO TALK WITH EACH OTHER.

>> OKAY.

HAPPY NEW YEAR, BY THE WAY.

>> AS TO YOU.

HAPPIER NEW YEAR TO EVERYBODY.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

MY FRIENDS, BYE-BYE.

>>> WELCOME TO "METROFOCUS."

I'M JENNA FLANAGAN.

TO CELEBRATE IT'S 50th ANNIVERSARY PBS TRIED TO ANSWER ONE QUESTION.

WHAT DOES IT REALLY MEAN TO BE AN AMERICAN TODAY?

11,000 STORIES AND A GLOBAL PANDEMIC LATER, PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE STILL WEIGHING IN.

THEIR ANSWERS, COLLECTED AS PART OF THE STORYTELLING PROJECT PBS AMERICAN PORTRAIT CAPTURED THE REMARKABLE EVENTS OF 2020 THROUGH THE VOICES OF EVERYDAY PEOPLE FROM EVERY STATE AND TERRITORY.

THOSE SUBMISSIONS, YOUR SUBMISSIONS, ARE NOW THE FOUNDATION OF A NEW FOUR-PART DOCUMENTARY SERIES FROM PBS AMERICAN PORTRAIT.

IN JUST A MOMENT WE'LL BE JOINED BY TWO OF THE PRODUCERS BEHIND THE PROJECT, A COLLABORATION BETWEEN PBS AND RADICAL MEDIA.

FIRST A LOOK AT THE FIRST EPISODE, "I DREAM" EXPLORING THE MEANING AND STATE OF THE AMERICAN DREAM.

>> WHEN I THINK OF THE AMERICAN DREAM, I THINK ABOUT THE STORY OF MY PARENTS.

OF OUR FAMILY.

I REMEMBER MY MOTHER TELLING ME ABOUT HOW MUCH HOPE SHE FELT WHEN SHE FOUND OUT THAT WE WERE COMING TO AMERICA.

IT MEANT A NEW BEGINNING, A BEGINNING WITH FREEDOM, OPPORTUNITIES AND CHANCE.

A CHANCE AT A BETTER LIFE.

>> WE'RE ORIGINALLY FROM PANAMA.

AS A LITTLE GIRL GROWING UP IN INDIA, MY DREAM TO ATTEND ONE OF THE BEST MEDICAL SCHOOLS INNED WORLD.

>> I WAS 5 YEARS OLD MY PARENTS DECIDED TO BRING ME AND MY SIBLINGS TO THE UNITED STATES.

>> I CAME TO THIS COUNTRY IN 1949 AS A HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR.

>> REFUGEE AGE 15 TO ESCAPE COMMUNISM.

>> AND COMING ABOUT, MY MOM AND I, CHASE WHAT WE CALL THE AMERICAN DREAM.

>> AND I DO REMEMBER -- [ SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE ].

>> NEVER BEEN HERE BEFORE.

>> I HAVE NO FAMILY IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> NO ONE.

LOOKS LIKE ME.

SPOKE LIKE ME.

>> I WAS ALONE.

I WAS SCARED.

>> ME AND MY WIFE HAVE TO SACRIFICE WORKING SO HARD.

>> HARD WORK.

PHYSICAL WORK.

IN DIRE CONDITIONS ALONG WITH FACING DISCRIMINATION, BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T SPEAK ENGLISH.

>> [ SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE ].

>> IT WAS HARD.

IT'S DIFFICULT.

>> AND ANY GIVEN TIME I CAN BE DEPORTED BACK TO MY HOME COUNTRY.

>> THAT'S HOW STRICT THE LAW IS.

>> WE COULDN'T EVEN GO TO MY PARENTS' FUNERAL BECAUSE WE DIDN'T KNOW IF WE WOULD BE ABLE TO COME BACK INTO THE STATES.

>> A LOT OF SACRIFICES.

A LOT OF TEARS.

THERE WERE A LOT OF HARDSHIPS ALONG THE WAY.

>> BUT WE MADE IT THROUGH.

>> MY CHANCE TO LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> TODAY I'M A PROUD CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

>> I'M THANKFUL TO MY PARENTS, AND FOR THE SACRIFICES THAT THEY MADE.

>> BECAUSE IMMIGRANTS, MY FATHER INSPIRED ME TO BE THE BEST AMERICAN I CAN BE.

>> TO REPAY ALL THE SACRIFICES THAT MY PARENTS MADE.

>> I WORK HARD EVERY DAY TO CONTINUE THE FIGHT IN A HE STARTED WHEN HE TOOK THAT LEAP, QUITE LITERALLY, HALF WAY ACROSS THE WORLD, TO START A DREAM.

>> LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS ARE NOT EMPTY OR HOLLOW IDEALS TO ME.

>> I'M VERY HAPPY, BECAUSE NOW I GOING TO BE PART OF THIS COUNTRY.

BECAUSE THAT'S THE AMERICAN DREAM.

♪ >>> AND JOINING US NOW ARE PBS AMERICAN PORTRAIT EXECUTIVE PRODUCER CRAIG DENTRONE.

WELCOME TO "METROFOCUS."

>> THANK YOU.

THANKS FOR HAVING US.

>> AND SIRIUS PRODUCER MICHELE STEPHENSON.

WELCOME.

>> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> SO FIRST I JUST WANT TO START BY, AS WE ALL KNOW, WE'VE BEEN THROUGH SO MUCH IN THIS PAST YEAR, AND ON TOP OF THAT ISSUES OF RACIAL INJUSTICE COME INTO THE FOREFRONT AND THE AFTERMATH OF GEORGE FLOYD'S DEATH, AND, OF COURSE, AN ELECTION SEASON, SOMETHING THAT THIS COUNTRY HAS NEVER REALLY EXPERIENCED BEFORE.

WHY WAS NOW THE RIGHT TIME TO PRODUCE THE EPISODE OR AN EPISODE ON THE AMERICAN DREAM?

CRAIG, I'D LIKE TO START WITH YOU.

>> WELL, THIS PROJECT, "AMERICAN PORTRAIT" IT WAS CONCEIVED IN 2019, BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

AND ALWAYS CONCEIVED TO HAVE THE CROWD SOURCE STORYTELLING PROJECT AND ONE THAT WOULD TRY TO GET OUT THAT QUESTION THAT YOU MENTIONED.

WHAT DOES IT REALLY MEAN TO BE AMERICAN TODAY?

SO WE THOUGHT, WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

LET'S START THERE.

LET'S START WITH THE AMERICAN DREAM.

IT GETS AT THE QUESTION OF, WHAT THE AMERICAN CHARACTER IS.

IF THERE IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE IN COMMON, SUCH A THING AS THE AMERICAN WAY, WHERE THERE ARE AMERICAN VALUES.

IT GETS AT THAT.

I THINK THAT YOU SEE IN THE EPISODE, WHEN YOU SEE PEOPLE CHASING THEIR DREAMS, IN A WAY THAT THEY FEEL IS UNIQUELY AMERICAN, IT STARTS TO KIND OF ANSWER THAT QUESTION FOR YOU.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE AN AMERICAN TODAY?

>> WELL, MICHELE, I WANT TO KNOW, HOW DID THE PANDEMIC ALTER THE TRAJECTORY OF AMERICAN PORTRAIT AND THE STORIES THAT YOU WERE TRYING TO TELL?

>> WELL, INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH AS CRAIG NOTED WE WERE ALREADY SET IN 2020 TO GET A SNAPSHOT OF THE VOICES ACROSS THE COUNTRY OF AMERICANS.

AND WE WERE BOTH ON THE PRODUCTION END, GOING TO DO IT PARTIALLY REMOTELY AS WELL AS ON LOCATION.

WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT WHAT I FEEL HAPPENED IS, THE PROJECT BECAME THAT MUCH MORE URGENT AND IMPORTANT.

IN TERMS OF US ACTUALLY ENGAGING IN A PROJECT THAT WOULD END UP BEING SORT OF A TIME CAPSULE FOR 2020.

YOU KNOW?

A HISTORICAL DOCUMENT IN SOME WAYS, OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AMERICAN TODAY IN A MOMENT OF CRISIS AND UNCERTAINTY.

WHETHER IT'S THE AMERICAN DREAM, OR THE EPISODE COMING DOWN, "I WORK" OR THE ISSUES OF TRADITION AND WHAT WE HAVE TO CHANGE AND SHIFT IN THIS MOMENT OF UNCERTAINTY BECAME MORE HEIGHTENED.

AND WE WERE UNIQUELY PLACED, BECAUSE OF THE GROUNDWORK HAD ALREADY BEEN DONE TO REALLY GET INTO PEOPLE'S HOMES, SPEAK WITH PEOPLE AND PEOPLE SHARE FROM THEIR SPACE OF VULNERABILITY, HOW THEY WERE LIVING THEIR DAY-TO-DAY LIVES TODAY.

>> MICHELE, PAINT A LITTLE MORE OF A PICTURE.

YOU WERE SAYING YOU PRETTY MUCH HAD, LACK OF DESCRIPTION, THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE TO DO THIS SERIES.

IN 2019.

HOW DID YOU GO ABOUT EVEN FINDING THE INDIVIDUALS?

I MEAN, HOW -- HOW TOUGH WAS -- TALK US THROUGH WHAT THAT PROCESS WAS.

>> WELL, IT WAS MULTIPLE.

RIGHT?

I THINK CRAIG CAN ELABORATE ON THAT FOR US, BUT WE HAD A TEAM OF PEOPLE WHO WERE HELPING, DOING OUTREACH TO PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

WHO EITHER WERE -- WORKING ON SUBMISSIONS.

THEN THERE WERE ALSO ACTUAL SUBMISSIONS COMING UP ON TO THE WEBSITE.

THAT WE WOULD TAP INTO AND WORK WITH THE TEAMS WORKING ON THE WEBSITE TO SEE, WELL, THESE SUBMISSIONS WHAT STORIES STAND OUT AND WHICH COULD WE EXPLORE AND COLLABORATE WITH TO TELL A LARGER STORY FOR OUR SERIES EPISODES.

SO IT WAS BOTH A COLLABORATION WITH THE SUBMISSIONS HAPPENING ON THE WEBSITE AND SOME SORT OF TARGETED OUTREACH THAT WE ALSO DID ON THE SERIES END.

>> OKAY.

CRAIG WHAT WAS IT LIKE, ALSO, TO -- RELINQUISH, I GUESS, SO MUCH CONTROL?

USUALLY YOU KNOW WHEN YOU'RE THE PRODUCER, YOU'RE IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND AT LEAST IT FEELS AS IF THIS WAS SOMETHING WHERE -- NOT ALL CONTROL, BUT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF IT WAS TURNED OVER TO PEOPLE SO THAT THEY COULD TELL THEIR STORIES IN THEIR WAY, IN THEIR SPACES.

>> IT'S LIBERATING.

IT WAS AMAZING.

ONE THING THAT WE SAW THAT WE WERE -- WE KNOW THAT EVERYBODY IS A STORYTELLER.

RIGHT?

ALL HUMAN BEINGS ARE STORYTELLERS'S IT MAKES US HUMAN.

BUT A FILMMAKER?

OUT OF THE QUESTION.

SOMETIMES THE ANSWER WAS, YEAH, YEAH.

YOU SEE PEOPLE DOING THINGS THAT WE, YOU KNOW, WITH OUR TRAINING AND, YOU KNOW -- WE PROBABLY WOULD NEVER DO, BUT THEY WORK, AND THEY'RE GREAT.

WE SEE PEOPLE CAPTURES THEIR OWN LIVES IN WAYS WE NEVER WOULD HAVE CONCEIVED OF, AND THEN THAT ARE REALLY CREATIVE AND THOUGHTFUL AND INTIMATE.

AND IT'S JUST A -- FEELS LIKE A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT WAY OF TELLING A STORY, BY JUST TURNING IT OVER TO PEOPLE AND REALLY LETTING THEM BRING YOU INTO THEIR LIVES.

ALSO THE DYNAMIC, WHEN THERE'S NO CAMERAPERSON THERE, NO PRODUCER THERE, NO ONE INTERVIEWING AND PEOPLE ARE, A LOT OF TIMES, LITERALLY BY THEMSELVES RECORDING THEIR THOUGHTS.

THE DYNAMIC IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT, AND IT'S JUST, IT FEELS SO REAL AND RAW, BECAUSE IT IS.

>> THAT DEFINITELY I WOULD SAY, CERTAINLY COMES ACROSS.

THERE IS A SORT OF DIARY-LIKE FEEL TO IT AS IF YOU'RE ACTUALLY WATCHING OR LISTENING TO SOMEONE'S PERSONAL DIARY.

BUT FOR PEOPLE, AND THIS IS FOR BOTH OF YOU.

FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE WATCHING RIGHT NOW WHO, AND, AGAIN, AFTER THE CHALLENGING YEAR THAT 2020 WAS, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE FEELING THAT THE AMERICAN DREAM IS JUST DEAD.

OR IT'S JUST COMPLETELY UNACHIEVABLE.

OR THAT, OF COURSE, IT'S A DREAM.

YOU HAVE TO BE UNCONSCIOUS TO PARTICIPATE IN IT.

WHAT DID YOU FIND FROM THE STORIES THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO COLLECT, AND WHAT THAT VIEWPOINT AT ALL INCORPORATED?

IF THAT MAKES ANY SENSE.

>> WELL, WE FOUND, JUST AS OUR COUNTRY IS DIVERSE, DIVERSE OPINIONS ABOUT WHAT THE AMERICAN DREAM IS, AND OUR MISSION IS TO INCORPORATE ALL OF THOSE VISIONS AND ALL OF US IN SOME CASES, EVEN HESITATION AND DOUBT ARE COMPLICATED RELATIONSHIPS TO WHAT THE AMERICAN DREAM MEAN.

DEFINITELY WE INCORPORATED ALL OF THOSE VOICES IN TO THE EPISODE, BUT I THINK WHAT CAME OUT OF IT IS THAT, EVEN FOR THOSE WHO, WHO ARE SKEPTICAL ABOUT WHAT THE AMERICAN DREAM IS, AND POTENTIAL MYTHOLOGY OF IT, THERE IS A FAITH IN ONE'S OWN SELF, AND ONE'S ABILITY TO TRY TO ACHIEVE THROUGH ONE'S OWN RESILIENCE, RESISTANCE AND FOCUS AS WELL.

I THINK THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT SORT OF CAME OUT.

SO EVEN -- EVEN WHERE WE HAD DOUBT AGAINST WHAT THE DREAM MIGHT MEAN FOR ALL OF US, WHICH WE DEFINITELY LEANED INTO, THE IDEA OF FACING OURSELVES, I THINK IS WHAT SORT OF COMES OUT.

>> CRAIG, I'M WONDERING FOR YOU, WHAT IMPACT DID WORKING ON THIS PROJECT HAVE?

I WOULD IMAGINE THAT -- I KNOW AT LEAST AS A JOURNALIST IN THE PRESENCE OF SOMEBODY AND THEY'RE SHARING A COMPLETELY INTIMATE AND PERSONAL STORY, YOU -- YOU SORT OF PICK UP ON THAT.

I'M ASSUMING THAT THAT'S THE SAME AS WELL IF YOU'RE A FILMMAKER, BUT WORKING ON THIS PROJECT, AGAIN, REMOTELY.

JUST WHAT WAS THE IMPACT?

>> YEAH.

WE DO FEEL THAT IMPACT THAT YOU FEEL WHEN YOU'RE WORKING WITH AN INDIVIDUAL, AND YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE PART OF THEIR LIFE AND YOU CAN FEEL LIKE YOU STEP INTO THEIR SHOES A LITTLE BIT, BUT THIS PROJECT IS SO UNIQUE IN THAT THERE'S ALSO THIS COLLECTIVE EXPERIENCE THAT HAPPENS BY SEEING ALL OF THESE STORIES COME IN, PEOPLE SHARING THEIR PERSONAL EXPERIENCES FROM EVERY STATE AND TERRITORY OVER 12,000 OF THEM NOW.

WHAT STARTS TO HAPPEN FOR YOU -- STARTED TO HAPPEN FOR ME AND THEN I THINK HAPPENS FOR ANYONE WHO GOES TO THE SITE OR STARTS TO LOOK THROUGH ALL OF THESE STORIES IS THAT, A NEW UNDERSTANDING OF OUR COUNTRY EMERGES.

AND A DIFFERENT ONE.

ONE THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN THINKING ABOUT PROBABLY FOR A LONG TIME.

AND IT'S JUST ONE OF, WHAT OUR PEOPLE ARE LIKE.

YOU KNOW?

AND IT MAKES YOU APPRECIATE, I THINK -- I KNOW FOR ME, IT MADE ME APPRECIATE BEING AMERICAN.

IT WAS -- SOUNDS CORNY, BUT, I LIKE THESE PEOPLE.

I -- A LOT OF GREAT PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND WHO ARE DOING THEIR BEST, AND WHO ARE WORKING HARD, AND WHO ARE KIND.

AND -- WHEN YOU FEEL THAT CONNECTION TO THEM IT'S A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT KIND OF -- PRIDE IN THE COUNTRY THAN YOU DO WHEN YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT OUR LEADERSHIP OR OUR INSTITUTIONS.

>> WELL, WE'RE ALMOST COMING -- NOT ALMOST.

WE ARE COMING UP ON END OF OUR TIME TOGETHER, BUT MICHELE I WANTED TO GET YOUR TAKE.

IF SOMEONE IS WATCHING THIS SAYING, OH, SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING I'D LOVE TO PARTICIPATE IN, BUT, IT'S ALREADY DONE.

IT'S ALREADY PUT TOGETHER.

IS THERE STILL A WAY THAT SOMEONE COULD, PERHAPS, SUBMIT THEIR OWN STORY?

>> OH, YES.

ABSOLUTELY.

THE WEBSITE IS AVAILABLE AND OPEN AND CONTINUES TO BE SO.

YOU KNOW, PRETTY MUCH INDEFINITELY.

THERE IS MORE THAN ENOUGH SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO SUBMIT ON THE WEBSITE.

SO -- YES.

>> OKAY.

WELL -- WITH THAT IN MIND.

I'M SORRY, CRAIG.

WHAT WERE YOU GOING TO SAY?

>> I WANT TO ADD IN 2021 WE'LL BE PUTTING OUT A BOOK SO PEOPLE WHO CONTRIBUTE NOW AND WHILE WATCHING THE SERIES CONED UP IN THIS BOOK THAT'S GOING TO BE DISTRIBUTED NATIONALLY AND MORE DOCUMENTARIES TO COME.

>> OKAY.

WITH THAT IN MIND, I JUST WOULD LIKE TO REMIND OUR AUDIENCE IF YOU'D LIKE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT "PBS AMERICAN PORTRAIT" INCLUDING HOW TO WATCH HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE AT METROFOCUS.ORG.

THANK YOU, CRAIG AND MICHELE SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

♪ OH-OH, OH ♪ >> "METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY -- SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM II.

THE SYLVIA A.

AND SIMON B. POYTA PROGRAMING ENDOWMENT TO FIGHT ANTI-SEMITISM.

BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ, BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG, AND BY -- JODY AN JOHN HARDHOLD, AND THE MILSTEIN FAMILY, JUDE AND JOSH WESTON.

DR. ROBERT SY AND THE TINA SEW FOUNDATION.