>> Braude: TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON:" CONGRESSWOMAN AYANNA PRESSLEY JOINS ME ON HER FORMER BOSTON CITY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE MICHELLE WU'S HISTORIC VICTORY, WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE A WOMAN AND PERSON OF COLOR IN THE CORNER OFFICE AT CITY HALL, WHAT IT MEANS FOR DEMOCRATS IN 2022 THAT REPUBLICANS WON IN A STATE IN WHICH JOE BIDEN CRUISED TO VICTORY JUST ONE YEAR AGO, AND WHAT IT MEANS THAT PROGRESSIVES IN THE HOUSE ARE NOW READY TO VOTE FOR BOTH OF THOSE BIG BIDEN INFRASTRUCTURE, SOCIAL SPENDING AND CLIMATE ADDRESSING BILLS IN CONGRESS.

THEN LATER, DO KIDS EVER DESERVE LIFE SENTENCES, EVEN FOR THE MOST HORRIFIC CRIMES?

FOR KATHARINE BLAKE, WHO DUG INTO THIS ISSUE IN THE "WASHINGTON POST," IT'S PERSONAL, AND IT'S COMPLICATED.

SHE JOINS ME ON WHY.

>> Braude: IT'S BEEN A DONE DEAL FOR MONTHS: BOSTON'S NEXT MAYOR WOULD MAKE HISTORY, ON MULTIPLE FRONTS.

AND NOW IT'S OFFICIAL.

MICHELLE WU IS THE FIRST-EVER WOMAN AND PERSON OF COLOR ELECTED TO LEAD THE CITY, AFTER NEARLY 200 YEARS OF WHITE MEN.

>> ONE OF MY SONS ASKED ME THE OTHER NIGHT IF BOYS CAN BE ELECTED MAYOR OF BOSTON.

THEY HAVE BEEN, AND THEY WILL AGAIN SOME DAY, BUT NOT TONIGHT.

>> I KNOW THIS IS NO SMALL FEAT.

YOU KNOW THIS IS NO SMALL FEAT.

I WANT HER TO SHOW THE CITY HOW MOTHERS GET IT DONE.

>> Braude: WU WON BY NEARLY 30 POINTS, A CLEAR MANDATE IN A RACE OFTEN PAINTED, FAIRLY OR NOT, AS A CHOICE BETWEEN HER BIG, ASPIRATIONAL POLICY GOALS, AND WHAT ANNISSA ESSAIBI GEORGE FRAMED AS HER OWN MORE PRACTICAL, ACHIEVABLE PROPOSALS.

THE OUTCOME WASN'T A HUGE SURPRISE TO ANYONE WHO'D SEEN WU'S DOUBLE-DIGIT LEADS IN THE POLLS IN RECENT WEEKS.

BUT A FEW OTHER RACES IN THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT DID BUCK EXPECTATIONS.

LIKE THIS ONE, IN PARTICULAR.

>> ALRIGHTY, VIRGINIA, WE WON THIS THING!

>> Braude: THAT'S GLENN YOUNGKIN, WHO VAN JONES APTLY NOTED REPRESENTS THE DELTA VARIANT OF TRUMPISM, AND WHO BEAT FORMER GOVERNOR TERRY McCAULLIFE TO BECOME VIRGINIA'S FIRST REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR IN MORE THAN A DECADE.

JOINING ME TO WEIGH IN ON ALL OF THIS, IN ADDITION TO THOSE $2 TRILLION-PLUS BILLS, IS MASSACHUSETTS CONGRESSWOMAN AYANNA PRESSLEY, A FORMER CITY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE OF BOTH WU AND ESSAIBI GEORGE.

CONGRESSWOMAN GOOD TO SEE YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JIENING ME.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> Braude: TO YOUR ENDORSED CANDIDATE WON IN A LANDSLIDE YESTERDAY IN BOSTON.

WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF FINALLY BREAKING THIS, I DON'T KNOW, 200 YEAR OLD STRANGE EL HOLD WHITE MEN HAVE HAD ON THE MAYOR'S OFFICE IN BOSTON?

>> YEAH, WELL JIM, LET'S BE CLEAR, YOU KNOW, THIS HISTORIC VICTORY OF MICHELLE WU IS-- BEGAN LONG BEFORE THIS ELECTION CYCLE.

I MEAN THIS IS REALLY A TESTAMENT TO DECADES OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZING, OF MOVEMENT BUILDING AND ALSO OF THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE HER, SO I DO WANT TO LIST OF THOSE WHO RAN LIKE MEL KING AND RITCHIE, THOSE WHO WERE ELECTED CITYWIDE LIKE BRUCE BOWLING AND-- ARROYO AND THIS IS ALSO A TESTAMENT YOU KNOW, TO THE ORGANIZERS.

AND WE SAW SOME IMPRESSIVE AND HISTORIC DIVERSE REPRESENTATION NOT ONLY IN THE CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR, FOR CITY COUNCIL BUT ALSO IN WHO WAS RUNNING THOSE CAMPAIGNS.

>> SO WHAT IS HER MANDATE?

WHEN YOU HAVE THAT KIND OF MARGIN YOU HAVE A MANDATE, WHAT IS IT?

>> YEAH, I THINK THAT THE VOTERS SENT A CLEAR MESSAGE THAT WE FIND OURSELVES IN AN UNPRECEDENTED MOMENT AS A COUNTRY, A COMMONWEALTH AND A CITY.

AND THAT THEY WANT A VISIONARY LEADER WHO WILL TACKLE AND CON FRONT-- CONFRONT OUR HARDEST CHALLENGES.

WITH BOLDNESS.

AND I HAVE KNOWN MICHELLE TO BE AN INNOVATOR, TO BE DISRUPTIVE IN A SENSE THAT SHE DOES NOT TAKE THE STATUS QUO USUAL RESPONSE TO THINGS, AS ACCEPTABLE.

AND I SAW WHAT SHE DID ON THE WITH BOSTON CITY COUNCIL AS A COUNCILLOR AND A STRONG MAYOR FORM OF GOVERNMENT, WHERE SHE WAS ABLE TO TACKLE TOUGH THINGS AND TO MAKE THEM REAL.

LIKE PAID LEAVE.

LIKE DISABILITY ACCESS, FROM THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS.

WORKING WITH ME TO ISSUE A NEW MANDATE WHEN IT CAME TO OUR STAND WITH MINORITY CONTRACTORS, SO WHAT SHE WILL BE ABLE TO DO AS AN EXECUTIVE IS EXCITING AND PROMISING.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TALKED TO HER ABOUT ON THE RADIO THE OTHER DAY WAS THE FREE T, WE ASKED HER WHERE DOES THE MONEY COME FROM, ONE OF THE THINGS SHE MENTIONED WAS FEDERAL LEGISLATION.

IF CONGRESS IS ABLE TO PASS THE TRILLION DOLLAR BIPARTISAN BILL THE ALMOST $2 TRILLION SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE SLASH CLIMATE BILL, IS THERE GOING TO BE AN APPETITE TO DO ENOUGH MONEY ON THE TRANSPORTATION FRONT TO ENSURE THAT THINGS LIKE FREE TRANSPORTATION ON THE T IN BOSTON ARE A REALITY?

>> WELL, FIRST AND FOREMOST, JIM, AS THE COFOUNDER OF THE FUTURE OF TRANSPORTATION CAUCUS, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY I FOUGHT FOR THOSE INVESTMENT AND LANGUAGE IN THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE TBIL, FIGHTING TO ENSURE THAT IT TWOO NOT JUST BE HIGHWAYS ROADS AND BRIDGES BUT ALSO INCLUDE PUBLIC TRANSIT.

MICHELLE SHARED THAT COMMITMENT BECAUSE TRANSIT JUSTICE IS FUNDAMENTAL TO I BELIEVE ADDRESSING BOTH OUR CLIMATE CRISIS BUT ALSO ROOTING NOW THE RACIAL INEQUITIES AND DISPARITIES THAT EXIST THROUGHOUT THE MASSACHUSETTS AND CERTAINLY IN THE CITY OF BOSTON WHERE YOU HAVE BLACK BOSTON BUS RIDERS RIDING AN ADDITIONAL 64 RIDERS A YEAR EXIERED TO WHITE BEER, BLACK BOSTON BUS RIDERS RIDING, WAITING AND TRANSFERRING LONGER TO GET TO, WITHOUT, TO HEALTH CARE APPOINTMENT, TO GET TO CHILD CARE, TO GET TO SCHOOL.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS CONTRIBUTE TO THAT 50,000 DOLLAR CONTRACT IN MY DISTRICT FROM CAMBRIDGE TO ROXBURY IN MEDIAN WEALTH, 50,000 DOLLAR DROP, AND ALSO IN LIFE EXPECTANCY.

SO MICHELLE HAS LONG BEEN A TRANSIT JUSTICE ADVOCATE.

THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS I COMMEND HER FOR FOR HER TIME ON THE COUNSEL IM.

PEOPLE SAID IT IT WAS A STATE ISSUE, SHE SAID ANYTHING THAT WAS AN HAS AN APPEARANCE OF CONFLICT OF THE PEOPLE I REPRESENT, IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO CARE B SHE HAS THROWN HER SHOULDER IN ON THOSE ISSUES.

SHE IS GOING TO BE A GREAT PARTNER WHICH IS ANOTHER REASON WHY I WAS SO PROUD TO ENDORSE HER.

BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT AS I FIGHT TO SUCCESSFULLY SECURE THESE FUNDS FOR THE MASSACHUSETTS SEVEN, AROUND AND FOR THE CITIES OF BOSTON, THAT WE HAVE I FISCAL STORE THAT WILL CENTER EQUITY AND JUSTICE IN THOSE ALLOCATIONS.

>> Braude: YOU THINK THE FEDERAL MONEY WILL BE THERE FOR HER?

>> I'M CERTAINLY GOING IT KEEP FIGHTING FOR IT TO BE.

AND I AM ENCOURAGED BY THE CONVERSATIONS THAT I HAVE HAD WITH OUR SENATE PARTNERS INCLUDING SENATOR MARKY, AS WE FIGHT TO KEEP THE LANGUAGE IN THIS PACKAGE.

>> Braude: YOU KNOW AS WELL AS ANYBODY THAT THERE WERE OF THE FIVE CANDIDATES THREE OF THE CANDIDATES WERE BLACK, NONE OF THEM MADE THE FINAL, VIRTUALLY EVERY BLACK LEADER LEAD BY YOU MAYBE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF FORMER POLICE COMMISSIONER WILLIE DRAW WHO ENDORSED MICHELLE WU, WHAT SHOULD BLACK VOTERS IN THE CITY EXPECT FROM A WU MAYOR SEE.

>> I THINK THEY SHOULD EXPECT AND I SAID TO HER THAT YOU KNOW, I'M OF THE STACEY ABRAMS SCHOOL OF THOUGHT THAT WE DON'T ELECT SAVIORS, WE ELECT LEADERS AND PARTNERS AND I EXPECT THAT WE'LL HOLD HER ACCOUNTABLE TO AGAIN ACTUALIZE RAILINGS JUSTICE STO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HAVING A THRIVING BUSINESS COMMUNITY, THAT WE KNOW THAT THAT CANNOT BE TRUE, IF WE DON'T HAVE A THRIVING BLACK BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

AND SHE WILL BE COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THAT OUR SMALL BUSINESSES OF EVERY ITERATION HAVE A ROBUST RECOVERY, THERE HAVE BEEN PROJECTIONS OF 40% OF SMALL BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES WILL REMAIN PERMANENTLY SHUTED ERRED.

I KNOW SHE WILL PRIORITIZE GROWTH OF BLACK HOME OWNERSHIP BECAUSE THAT IS CRITICAL TO COMBATING THE RACIAL WEALTH GAP.

I KNOW SHE WILL PRIORITIZE INVESTMENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRES WHICH HAVE PLAYED A CRITICAL ROLE IN COMBATING HEALTH DISPARITIES, SO THOSE ARE JUST THREE THINGS THAT I WOULD LIFT UP.

BLACK HOME OWNERSHIP, BLACK BUSINESSES AND BLACK CONTRACTING.

AND I DO BELIEVE SHE WILL ALSO HAVE A CABINET THAT IS REFLECTIVE AND REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CITY OF BOSTONS-- IT-- BOSTON SWRZ WHEN YOU WERE A CITY KOINLER, DID YOU WANT TO BE MAYOR?

>> NO.

>> Braude: REALLY NO?

>> NO.

>> Braude: WHY?

WHY, IF YOU WANTED TO REPRESENT THE CITY, WHY WOULD YOU NOT WANT TO REPRESENT THE CITY AS ITS LEADER?

I'M SURPRISED TO THARY YOU SAY THAT.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, WE'RE HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT-- THIS HISTORIC MAYORAL SEASON BUT I WILL JUST SAY THAT LISTEN, IT IS PAINFUL AS IT NAY LOOK TO YOU, JIM, FROM THE OUTSIDE LING IN, AS YOU SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE IN WASHINGTON, I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THE CHALLENGE OF LEGISLATING AND POLICY IS MY LOVE LANGUAGE AND DO I BELIEVE IT IS THE ONLY WAY TO AFFECT YAIT TRANSFORMATIVE SYSTEMIC CHANGE BECAUSE THE HARM THAT MY COMMUNITY AND MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES HAVE EXPERIENCED IS RESULT OF POLICY AND USUALLY FEDERAL POLICY.

>> Braude: I WANT TO GET TO FEDERAL POLICY AND VOTES IN A SECOND BUT ONE MORE ELECTORAL QUESTION.

THE CONVENTIONAL WISDOMK I THINK IT ST FAIR TO CITY, OUT OF YESTERDAY, PARTICULARLY VIRGINIA, WAS AN UNMITIGATED DISASTER FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND MID TERMS IN 2022.

AN POSSIBLY IN 2024.

DO YOU SUBSCRIBE TO THAT ANALYSIS?

>> WHAT HAPPENED IN VIRGINIA IS, YOU KNOW, A CONSISTENT AND HARD LESSON THAT DEMOCRATS ARE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO GET THROUGH OUR THICK SKULL, THAT ULTIMATELY THE ULTIMATE PERSUASIVE TOOL IS IMPACT.

AND DEMOCRATS WIN WHEN WE DELIVER.

AND ESPECIALLY WHEN WE DELIVER TO THE BASE AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHY MYSELF AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE CONGRESSIONAL PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS, CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS HELP ALIGN TO ENSURE THAT WE WILL LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND AND THAT IS WHY WE DID NOT ON SEPTEMBER 27th MOVE ON A PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE WITHOUT MOVING ON A BOLD RECONCILIATION PACKAGE TO TRUELY BUILD BACK BETTER, TO LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND AND THAT INCLUDES THE DIVERSE COALITION OF VOTERS LEAD BY BLACK VOTERS WHO MADE THIS DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY POSSIBLE.

AND THAT'S WHY WE NEED THESE INVESTMENTS IN CHILD CARE AND CHILD CARE WORKERS FOR MOSTLY WOMEN OF COLOR.

THAT IS WHY WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING FOR HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES FOR THE DISABLED AND ELDERLY BECAUSE MANY OF THOSE WORKERS ARE WOMEN AND WOMEN OF COLOR.

AND TWO MILLION PLUS WOMEN, JIM, HAVE LEFT THE WORKFORCE, ECONOMISTS ARE CALLING THIS MORE THAN A RECESSION, IT IS A SHE-SESSION AND MANY OF THEM ARE WOMEN OF COLOR BECAUSE THEY DID NOT HAVE ACCESS TO CHILD CARE AND PAID LEAVE.

SO THAT IS WHY WE HAVE TO FIGHT THOR THESE INVESTMENTS AND HOUSING, BLACK WOMEN ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE TO EVICTION.

WE HAVE TO EXPAND AND PRESERVE OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

WE HAVE TO NAKE THOSE INVESTMENTS IN PUBLIC HOUSING.

I HAVE SENIORS IN MY DISTRICT, JIM, LIVING IN PUBLIC HOUSING THAT HAVEN'T SEEN ANY IMPROVEMENTS SINCE THE 1930S WITH RAW BACKUP SEWAGE, BLACK MOLD, GROWING INFEST-- RO-- RODENT INFESTATION TRK IS UNACCEPTABLE.

SO DEMOCRATS WIN WHEN WE DELIVER, AND I WILL SAY THIS FINALLYK I WILL NOT STAND FOR THE PROGRESSIVE OR BLACK VOTERS BEING BLAMED FOR THAT VICTORY.

DEMOCRATS WIN WHEN WE DELIVER.

NO COMMUNITY, NO MARGINALIZED COMMUNITY THAT HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN THE MOST RELIABLE TO THIS PARTY WHILE ALSO WOEFULLY DISENFRANCHISED THAT IS FIGHTING RIGHT NOW STILL, FOR ACCESS TO THE BALLOT IN THIS FIGHT FOR VOTING RIGHTS, SHOULD BE MALIGNED IN THIS.

YOU KNOW.

>> BUT IF I MAY.

>> IT IS IMPORTANT, YOUR PARTY PLAYS BY TOTALLY DIFFERENT RULES THAN THE REPUBLICANS DO.

I MEAN YOU LOOK AT VIRGINIA, AND CRITICAL RACE THEORY WHICH ISN'T EVEN BEING TAUGHT IS A CATCH-ALL FOR ANY CULTURAL ISSUE THAT BOTHERS YOU.

THE DEMOCRATS CAN'T CONVEY WHAT THEY ARE FOR.

IN THE SENATE MITCH McCONNELL HAS NO PROBLEM DUMPING THE FILIBUSTER TO CONFIRM THREE TRUMP NOMINEES FOR LIFE-TIME APPOINTMENTS.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATESK A DEMOCRAT, CAN'T EVEN SAY WE SHOULD GET RID OF THE FILIBUSTER SO THAT WE HAVE VOTING PROTECTION IN THIS COUNTRY.

THAT IS A REAL PROBLEM ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE.

>> JIM, LET MAY SAY THRK I DO BELIEVE THE ADMINISTRATION IS MOVING ON THAT.

AND THE REASON WHY THEY ARE MOVING ON THAT AND THERE IS DISCUSSION HAPPENING IS BECAUSE OF THE STRENGTH OF THIS MOVEMENT WHICH IS SAYING THAT WE CANNOT ALLOW THIS JIM CROW FILIBUSTER TO OBSTRUCT PROGRESS WHEN IT COMES TO EVERYTHING FROM POLICE REFORM TO VOTING RIGHTS, TO AN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL.

AND WHAT IS AN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL, THAT IS THE OTHER THING, THERE HAS BEEN SO MUCH TALK ABOUT NUMBERS AND THE TITLING OF BILLS THAT PEOPLE ARE LOSING SIGHT OF WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.

THIS IS ABOUT CREATING TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE AND IMPACTING PEOPLE CAN FEEL IN THEIR LIVES EVERY DAY LIKE CHILD CARE, LIKE PAID LEAVE, LIKE HOUSING, LIKE CLIMATE INVESTMENT.

AND THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO SPEAK TO OUR BASE AND THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO BENEFIT EVERYONE, AND THAT IS WHY WE WILL BUILD BACK BETTER WHEN WE MOVE ON BOTH OF THESE BILLS.

BUT WHEN IT DOMES TO THE DOG WHISTLE, AND IT IS NOT EVEN A DOG WHISTLE, IT IS A BULL HORN, THAT TOOK PLACE IN VIRGINIA, IF THAT IS A BELL WEATHER OF WHAT IS TO COME AND A PREDICTABLE PLAY, THE DEMOCRATS WE HAVE GOT TO CONFRONT RACE HEAD ON AND BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT IT.

AND THOSE ARE A LOT OF THE DISCUSSIONS THAT ARE ALREADY TAKING PLACE INTERNALLY.

AND FINALLY, JIM, THE ELECTIONS IN BOSTON SHOULD BE A BELL WEATHER FOR THIS DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF WHAT IS TO COME.

IF WE LEARN THE LESSONS AND FOLLOW THAT BLUE PRINT, WE SAW IT IN BOSTON YESTERDAY, THE FIRST ELECTION OF A HAITIAN AMERICAN, THE SECOND ELECTION OF AN AFRO LATINA TO THE CITY COUNCIL, THE ELECTION OF THE FIRST MUSLIM AND OUR FIRST WOMAN AND WOMAN OF COLOR ELECTED.

AND THAT MANTLE WILL THEN BE TURNED OVER TO HER BY KIM JANNEYK A BLACK WOMAN.

THIS IS A NEW DAWN, THIS IS A NEW DAY, AND IT IS POSSIBLE WHEN WE ORGANIZE FOR IT AND WE DO A POLITICS OF TRANSFORMATION, NOT TRANSACTION, AND WE ARE IN COMMUNITY IN A DEEP AND MEEFNING.

WAY, AND THEN JIM, DOING MORE THAN OFFERING FLOWERY STATEMENTS WHICH ESPOUSES OUR PRINCIPLES BUT WE ARE PRACTICING THEM WITH POLICIES AND BUDGET.

THOSE ARE THE ONLY RECEIPTS THAT MATTER TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE RIGHT NOW.

>> SO SPEAKING OF THIS TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE.

AS RECENTLY AS A FEW DAYS AGO, THE LEADER OF THE PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS, MADE IT CLEAR RELENTLESSLY AS DID MANY MEMBERS OF THE CAUCUS, WE DON'T VOTE ON THESE BILLS UNTIL WE KNOW THAT 50 DEMOCRATS INCLUDING MANCHIN AND SINEMA ARE GOING TO VOTE FOR THEM TOO.

MANCHIN GIVES A PRESENTATION TO THE PRESS ON MONDAY SAID I'M NOT GOING TO BE HELD HOSTAGE BY THOSE PEOPLE IN THE HOUSE.

AND LOW AND BEHOLD THE NEXT DAY THE PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS SAYS WE GOING TO VOTE ON BOTH OF THOSE BILLS EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T HAVE A COMMITMENT FROM MANCHIN AND SINEMA.

YET-- WHAT CHANGED?

THE RAW CONSENSUS THAT WE THOOD TO MOVE ON THESE BOTH OF THESE BILLS, WE NEED BOTH, AND THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

WE JUST STAY AT THE TABLE AND KEEP WORKING, CASE IN MOINT, PAID LEAVE HAD BEEN TAKEN OFF OF THE TABLE.

WE CONTINUE TO ORGANIZE, CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR THAT.

AND NOW THAT IS BACK IN.

>> MANCHIN SAID TODAY HE WON'T DO T CONGRESSWOMAN, I'M SORRY, HE SAID YOU CAN TRY TRK I'M PARAPHRASING AS MANY TIMES AS YOU WANT, I'M NOT DOING IT.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT, JIM, HONESTLY, I THINK THAT WE GIVE MANCHIN TOO MUCH OXYGEN.

AND I THINK THAT RATHER THAN OUR OFFERING PUNDITRY AND ANALYSIS ABOUT HIS RATIONAL, PEOPLE SHOULD ASK HIM WHY, AS A MEMBER OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, IS HE SO KEEN ON BEING AN OBSTRUCTIONIST OF THE PRESIDENT'S AGENDA.

WHICH BY THE WAY, IS THE PEOPLE'S AGENDA.

AND BY THE WAY, THESE POLICIES ARE NOT FRINGE, MARGINAL THINGS.

THEY ARE WILDLY POPULAR.

AND THEY ARE WILDLY POPULAR BECAUSE THEY ARE SOARLY NEEDED.

REDUCING THE COST OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, CLIMATE INVESTMENT, HOUSING JUSTICE, PAID LEAVE, CHILD CARE, THESE ARE NOT NICE TO HAVE, JIM, THESE ARE MUST-HAVE, THE INFRASTRUCTURE ARE THOSE THINGS THAT ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE FUNCTIONING OF OUR SOCIETY.

AND I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU HAVE A GRK DP OR PRESERVED FAMILY WITHOUT CHILD CARE.

OR WITHOUT PAID LEAVE.

SO THESE ARE NOT NICE TO HAVE, THESE ARE MUST-HAVES, I WOULD ENCOURAGE JOE MANCHIN AND KYRSTEN SINEMA TO TALK TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT I DO EVERY DAY.

AND THEY TELL ME TO KEEP FIGHTING AND KEEP GOING BECAUSE THEY NEED THESE INVESTMENTS.

AND I DO THINK WE SHOULD A POLISH THE FILL BUST ERR AND I THINK WHEN WE HAVE THE PALESTINIAN NOT RULING IN OUR FAVOR BY THE WAY, THAT SAY NONBINDING RULING, THEN WE SHOULD, THE-- FIN KSH CHALLENGE THAT.

IN THIS MOMENT I THINK THE POINT IS THAT DEMOCRATS HAVE THE HOUSE.

WE HAVE THE SENATE, AND WE HAVE THE WHITE HOUSE.

AND BEING IN THE MAJORITY MUST MEAN MORE THAN A TALKING POINT.

AND SO WE'RE ARRIVING AT THAT INFLECTION POINT.

BUT FOR NOW WE JUST HAVE TO KEEP WORKING, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR MOVING BOTH OF THESE BILLS OUT OF THE HOUSE.

>> WE ONLY HAVE 45 SECONDS LEFT.

WOULD YOU MIND TELLING PEOPLING WHY YOU ARE WEARING THAT INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL FLOWER, DO YOU MIND SAYING WHY?

>> I DON'T.

BUT I WILL JUST BEGIN BY SAYING THAT MY NAME AYANNA IS A SWAHILI NAME WHICH MEANED BEAUTIFUL FLOWER, IS THE INTERPRETATION OF THAT.

AND MY MOTHER OFTEN GIFTED ME WITH FLOWERS.

AZ A REMINDER OF THE MEANING OF MY NAME, I WAS THINKING OF HER, SHE WAS A PROUD DEMOCRAT, A SUPER VOTER, I WANT TO SAY THIS, JIM I HAVE HAD THE HONOR TO SERVE WITH BOTH ANNISSA AND MICHELLE, AND I HAVE HISTORY AND RELATIONSHIP WITH BOTH OF THEM AND DONE GOOD WORK WITH BOTH OF THEM.

AND AS I CLOSE THIS OUT, TALKING TO ME ABOUT MY MOM, WHEN ANNISSA SAID I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING A PARTNER WITH MICHELLE IN HER SHOWING THE CITY WHAT MOMS CAN DO AND HOW THEY LEAD, VERY APPROPRIATE NOTE WITH WHICH IT TO END THIS ON, VERY CONSISTENT WITH THE ANNISSA THA I KNOW.

AND WHEN MICHELLE SAID YES, WE CAN DO BIG THINGS AND TAKE CARE OF POTHOLES TOO, I THINK THAT ABOUT SUMS IT UP.

THAT IS WHAT THE CITY OF BOSTON IS LOOKING FOR IN THIS MOMENT.

AND THAT IS WHAT MICHELLE WU WILL DO AS MAYOR.

>> A AYANNA PRESSLEY, APPRECIATE YOUR TIME, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

LGT'S WILDLY ACCEPTED THAT THE DECISION PART OF THE BRAIN DOESN'T DEVELOP UNTIL AGE 25 OR EVEN LATER.

SHOW THE U.S. JUSTICE SYSTEM HAS NOT FULLY CAUGHT UP TO THAT SCIENCE.

AND IN FACT THE CURRENT SUPREME COURT IS PUSHING EVEN FURTHER LINED A SERIES OF PAST LED TO 31 STATES AN DC BANNING LIFE DRN DRN OR NOT HAVING ANYONE SERVING SUCH A SENTENCE BECAUSE THE HIGH COURT DECLARED JUDGES HAVE TO CONSIDER HOW A DEFENDANT'S AGE EFFECTS CULPABILITY.

WITHIN A FEW MONTHS BACK THE NEW CONSERVATIVE MAJORITY ISSUED ANOTHER RULING THAT MAKES IT EASIER TO SENTENCE MINORS TO LIFE BEHIND BARS, TO DIE IN PRISON SAYING ESSENTIALLY THE JUDGES DO NOT HAVE TO JUSTIFY THEIR DECISIONS IN SENTENCING.

AS AUTHOR AND LAW SCHOOL PROCH CERTIFICATE KATHARINE BLAKE WRITES, THE UNDERLYING RATIONALE IS THAT SOME CHILDREN TOO BAD TO BE TREATED LIKE CHILDREN OR TO EVER BE-- AFTER A 16 YEAR OLD COUSIN SUFFERED WHAT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A SKY COTTIC BREAK, MURDERED A NINE YEAR OLD BOY, WAS CONVICTED AS AN ADULT AND SENTENCED TO LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE.

SHE GOES ON TO WRITE WHAT IS A CHILD DESERVE, WHO HAS TAKEN ANOTHER LIFE, ARE OUR AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM SPEAKS VOLUME.

WE ARE THE ONLY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD THAT SENTENCES IT YOUNG PEOPLE TO DIE IN ADULT PRISON.

KATHARINE BLAKE JOINS ME, ALSO AN ADJUNCT PROFESSOR AT VERMONT LAW SCHOOL CENTER FOR JUSTICE REFORM AND THE AUTHOR OF THE UNINNOCENT, NOTES ON VIOLENCE AND MERCY, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE MUCH.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> HOW OLD IS YOUR COUSIN NOW AND HOW IS HE DOING IN PRISON?

>> SO HE IS, LET ME THINK ABOUT THIS, LET ME DO THE QUICK MATH, THE CRIME WAS COMMITTED IN 2010.

AND SO HE 27 YEARS OLD.

>> HOW IS HE COULDING.

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK HE'S WORKED REALLY HARD TO BUILD A LIFE FOR HIMSELF.

WE ARE IN TOUCH PRETTY FREQUENTLY, BUT I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR HIM.

I THINK IT IS NOT A GOOD PLACE TO BE, OBVIOUSLY.

AND IT IS REALLY HARD WHEN END UP THERE YOUNG, AS HE DID.

BECAUSE-- GO AHEAD.

>> Braude: YOU WRITE THAT MOSES JUVENILES, WHILE HE IS TAKING BIBLE DLASES AND SEEMS TO BE GROWING AND MATURING, THAT MOST JUVENILES IN ADULT PRISON DON'T FARE SO WELL.

>> MANY DO NOT.

OF COURSE IT DEPENDS ON WHERE THEY END UP BUT IN GENERAL INCARCERATION IS NOT GOOD FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL AS YOU MENTIONED, THE BRAIN SCIENCES, THEIR BRAINS ARE STILL DEVELOPING SO IF YOU INCARCERATE SOMEBODY WHOSE BRAIN IS STILL DEVELOPING, THAT IS NOT, THAT DOESN'T FACILITATE REHABILITATION, JUST FULL STOP.

>> Braude: DO I REMEMBER A NUMBER RIGHT FROM YOUR PIECE THAT THE SUICIDE RATE FOR JUVENILES AND ADULTS IS 36 TIMES WHAT IT IS FOR JUVENILES WHO PUT IN PRISON SPECIFICALLY FOR YOUNGER PEOPLE?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> Braude: AND ALSO YOU WRITE THAT NOT SHOCKINGLY FOR ANYONE WHO READS OR THINKS ABOUT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, YOU'RE MOCH MORE LIKELY TO BE SENTENCED TO TAN ADULT PRISON OR TRANSFERRED IF YOU ARE A JUVENILE, IF YOU ARE BLACK AND MUCH MORE LIKELY TO BE SENTENCED TO LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE AS A JUVENILE IF YOU ARE BLACK, CORRECT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

I THINK 62 PERCENT OF PEOPLE SERVING LIFE SENTENCES WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY FOR PAROLE ARE BLACK.

>> Braude: I MENTIONED IN THE LEAD TO US THAT YOU LAID OUT THAT THE SUPREME COURT WAS MOVING IN ONE DIRECTION FOR A YEAR.

DEATH PENALTY FOR JUVENILES WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

MANDATORY LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE THEN WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

AND THEN AS IS NOT SURPRISING AS THEY APPEAR TO BE ON THE VERGE OF DOING IT ON A NUMBER OF ISSUES THEY REVERSED COURSE, BUT AS I MENTIONED HALF THE STATES HAVE BANNED LIFE WITHOUT PONT OF PAROLE.

WHAT IS THE RATIONAL IN THOSE, I KNOW THERE IS NOT COMMON IN EVERY SINGLE ONE, IS IT TOO YOUNG TO BE UNFIXABLE, INCORRIGIBLE, WHAT IS THE DOMINANT THEME THAT GETS LEGISLATURES OR COURTS IN STATES THERE?

>> WELL, I THINK THE SUPREME COURT'S MOMENTUM WAS ACTUALLY QUITE PERSUASIVE IN TERMS OF CONVINCING STATES TO TAKE ACTION AT THE STATE LEVEL.

THEY MADE IT QUITE CLEAR WHAT THEY BELIEVED.

THEY STOPPED SHORT OF DECLARING LIFE SENTENCES UNCONSTITUTIONAL FOR JUVENILES BUT THEY SAID THAT THIS SHOULD BE DONE EXTREMELY INFREQUENTLY, ONLY IN THE RAREST CASES.

AND I THINK MANY STATES WERE PER SITUATED BY SUPREME COURT REASONING.

WHICH IS BOTH-- THEY ARE SORT OF TROO-PRONGED.

ONE YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE AN ENHANCED CAPACITY TOKING CHA, BASED ON THEIR YOUTH.

AND THEN TWO, YOUNG PEOPLE ARE MUCH MORE VULNERABLE BASED ON THEIR AGE ESPECIALLY IF THEY END UP IN ADULT FACILITIES.

>> WE SHOULD SAY THE MASSACHUSETTS SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT, OUR HIGHEST COURT DID DETERMINE LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE FOR A JUVENILE ACROSS-THE-BOARD WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

I'M READING YOUR PIECEK I WAS REALLY SURPRISED, MAYBE I SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN WHEN I GOT NEAR THE END AND YOU WROTE THE FOLLOWING.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN TO HIM, MEANING YOUR KOWSIN, YOU MAKE A REALLY POWERFUL CASE THAT SENTENCING A YOUNG PERSON NO MATTER HOW HORRIFIC HIS OR HER CRIME IS FOR LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE IS, YOU DON'T SAY CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUFNISHMENT, THOSE ARE MY WORDS AND I DON'T MEAN THEM AS TERM OF ART, MAYBE I DO.

WHY DON'T YOU KNOW?

WHY ARE YOU IN DOUBT AS TO WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN TO YOUR COUSIN?

>> YOU KNOW, IN PART I THINK BECAUSE I'M SO CLOSE TO THE STORY, AND BECAUSE I CARE ABOUT HIM, I DON'T TRUST MY OWN DESIRES IN THIS DEPARTMENT.

SO IT IS TOO CLOSE FOR ME TO KNOW IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE.

I ALSO THINK THAT WITH CERTAIN KINDS OF MENTAL ILL,S, IT IS REALLY HARD TO KNOW WHETHER SSH IS HEALED, IS WHOLE, OR IS STILL QUOTE UNQUOTE BROKEN.

AND BECAUSE I'M NOT A DOCTOR I CAN'T KNOW THAT.

AND BUT, BUT DO I BELIEVE THAT HE SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PAROLE, ABSOLUTELY.

YEAH, I THINK HE SHOULD HAVE A CHANCE, YEAH.

>> HOW RELEVANT IS IT, I MEAN YOU SHOW, WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE AN APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF UNDERSTANDING OR SYMPATHY I GUESS I SHOULD SAY, FOR VICTIMS IT WITHOUT DO WANT JUSTICE AND JUSTICE TO SOMEONE WHO LOST SOMEONE THEY LOVE, I'M ASSUMING, I MIGHT FEEL THIS WAY TOO, I DONE CARE IF HE IS 16 OR 116, THE PERSON I LOVE IS GONE BECAUSE OF HIM.

YOU DO SHOW A LOT OF SYMPATHY AND AT LEAST ATTEMPT AT UNDERSTANDING OF THOSE EMOTIONS.

>> THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WAS NOT WHAT MANY PEOPLE WHO READ THAT OP ED ACTUALLY THOUGHT.

MANY PEOPLE WHO READ THE OP ED SEEMED TO THINK THAT I WAS INSENSITIVE OR JUST INCONSIDERATE OF THE VICTIM'S PERSPECTIVE.

I A GOT A LOT OF THAT FEEDBACK.

BUT I THINK THERE IS NO WAY TO JUDGE A PERSON WHO IS EXPERIENCING THAT KIND OF UNIMAGINABLE PAIN.

SO.

>> YOU KNOW, YOU SEEM TO BE, BASED ON WHAT YOU SAID A MINUTE AGO ABOUT YOU ARE TOO CLOSE TO THE SITUATION WITH YOUR COUSIN, IS THAT, AM I CORRECT IN SAYING THAT YOU THINK THAT THERE SHOULD NOT BE AN ACROSS-THE-BOARD RULING LIKE THE SJC IN THIS STATE DID BUT RATHER IT SHOULD BE A CASE BY CASE, PERSON BY PERSON, DEFENDANT BY DEFENDANT ANALYSIS?

IF YOU COULD WRITE THE LAW WHAT WOULD IT IT BE?

>> NO, I-- YEAH, SO ABSOLUTELY THERE SHOULD BE A CAT GOR KAL BAN ON JUVENILE LIFE-- LIFE SENTENCE WAS PAROLE, I DON'T KNOW IF HE SHOULD BE RELEASED FROM PRISON BECAUSE I CAN'T POSSIBLY MAKE THAT DETERMINATION, BUT SHOULD HE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PAROLE, ABSOLUTELY.

AND ALL PEOPLE SHOULD.

>> THAT WOULD BE ACROSS-THE-BOARD THING.

DO YOU GET A SENSE, DO YOU WORRY ABOUT, AS A FOLLOWER OF THE SUPREME COURT I'M SURE YOUR WORK AND OBVIOUSLY YOUR PERSONAL.

DO YOU WORRY THAT THE SUPREME COURT IS GOING IN THE ABSOLUTE OPPOSITE DIRECTION ON THIS ISSUE BASED ON WHAT THEY DID IN THE SPRING?

>> YEAH.

I THINK EVERYONE SHOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT THE SUPREME COURT GOING IN ALL SORTS OF DIRECTIONS.

>> YEAH, SOME OF US ARE, KATHARINE BLAKE, THANKS FOR THE PIECE, PEOPLE SHOULD READ IT ITK I CAN'T WAIT TO READ YOUR BOOK, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, I REALLY APPRECIATE IT TWNS THANK YOU, THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Braude: THANK YOU.

THAT IS IT FOR TONIGHT TRK WE'LL BE BACK TOMORROW, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND OF COURSE PLEASE STAY SAFE.

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