HELLO EVERYONE AND WELCOME TO AMANPOUR AND COMPANY HERE'S WHAT'S COMING UP.

>>> I THOUGHT COMING OUT TODAY WOULD BE SOME SMALL WAY I COULD INFLUENCE THE ELECTION.

>>> OVER 55 MILLION AMERICANS HAVE ALREADY CAST THEIR VOTE.

WE GET THE LATEST.

>>> IN LEBANON NO ONE IS SAFE AND NO ONE IS SECURE SAYS THIS AUTHOR AND JOURNALIST.

SHE JOINS US FROM BEIRUT TO DISCUSS THE REALITY ON THE GROUND AND THE PROSPECTS OF A CEASE-FIRE.

>>> WASHINGTONS WOMAN IN LONDON GETS THE HOLLYWOOD TREATMENT IN THE DIPLOMAT FOR WE ARE JOINED BY CREATOR DEBORAH KOHN AND KERI RUSSELL TO TALK TWISTS AND TURNS IN SEASON NUMBER TWO.

>>> GETTING OUT THE VOTE IN MISSISSIPPI.

THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE STATE BLACK WOMEN'S ROUNDTABLE SAYS HOW SHE IS TRYING TO INCREASE TURNOUT AND COUNTER SUPPRESSION.

>>> WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM, EVERYONE.

THE PRESIDENTIAL CAVALCADE'S ARE HITTING NEVADA AND ARIZONA AS KAMALA HARRIS AND DONALD TRUMP TARGET KEY SWING STATES DAYS BEFORE TUESDAY'S ELECTION.

SOME GOOD NEWS CAME FOR DEMOCRATS AND THE WHITE HAS.

AND ECONOMIC DATA SHOWING INFLATION HAS FOLLOWED AGAIN AND PRICES ARE CLIMBING AT A SLOWER RATE COMPARED TO LAST YEAR.

SO FAR TENS OF MILLIONS OF AMERICANS HAVE ALREADY CAST THEIR VOTE.

HE PROBABLY HEARD THIS BEFORE A LOT, BUT THE ELECTION REMAINS ON A KNIFE EDGE, SO WHAT THE VOTES ARE STILL WINNABLE AND WHERE ARE THEY?

JOIN ME KNOW WITH THE VERY LATEST ON THE GROUND IN HARTFORD, WISCONSIN.

JEFF, WELCOME.

ANSWER THAT QUESTION FIRST.

ARE THERE UNDECIDED STILL OUT THERE?

>> BELIEVE IT OR NOT, AFTER MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF TELEVISION ADS IN CAMPAIGN VISITS THERE ARE SOME UNDECIDED VOTERS THAT WE DO STILL FIND IN OUR CONVERSATIONS.

THEY MAY BE UNDECIDED FOR A COUPLE DIFFERENT REASONS.

SOME ARE UNDECIDED WHETHER THEY WILL VOTE AT ALL.

THEY ARE FED UP OR NOT SET ASIDE WITH EITHER CANDIDATE.

SOME ARE THOUGH HERE IN THE SUBURBS OR IN MILWAUKEE WHERE SOME INDEPENDENCE AND EVEN MODERATE REPUBLICANS ARE STILL TRYING TO DECIDE IF VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS IS SUITABLE TO THEM.

THEY DECIDED AGAINST DONALD TRUMP BUT ARE STILL TRYING TO SEE MORE FROM HER.

BY AND LARGE I THINK MOST HAVE DECIDED, BUT THERE IS STILL THE SLIVER.

IN THESE RACES WHERE THERE IS NO CLEAR LEADER IN ANY OF THE SEVEN BATTLEGROUND STATES THOSE FEW VOTERS ACTUALLY COME UP.

>> YOU THINK THE ECONOMY WILL PLAY A BIG PART IN THEIR DECISION, AND WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT NEW DATA THAT WE JUST TALKED ABOUT, WHICH IS PRESUMABLY GOOD NEWS FOR THE WHITE HOUSE?

>> I AM NOT SURE ANY PIECE OF NEW DATA AT THIS POINT WOULD CHANGE ANY MINDS, BUT THE ECONOMY OVERALL CERTAINLY WILL.

AS WE HAVE BEEN DRIVING AROUND WISCONSIN FOR SEVERAL DAYS THIS WEEK AND CERTAINLY MANY TIMES THIS YEAR GASOLINE IS AT THE LOWEST PRICE OF ANY POINT DURING THIS CAMPAIGN.

GROCERIES ARE NOT AS HIGH AS THEY WERE.

A DO VOTERS FACTOR THAT IN?

SOME MAY.

INFLATION HAS BEEN A DRIVING ISSUE IN THIS CAMPAIGN.

THINGS ARE MORE EXPENSIVE COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC.

CLEARLY THE DEMOCRATS AND VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS MUST WELCOME THE STRONGER ECONOMIC NEWS, BUT PEOPLE ARE VOTING ON THEIR POCKETBOOK ISSUES.

KITCHEN TABLE ISSUES.

CERTAINLY SOME THINGS ARE A LITTLE MORE EXPENSIVE, BUT THIS IS NOT AS MUCH OF AN ISSUE DRIVEN CAMPAIGN AS IT IS ON SOME OTHER ISSUES LIKE DECENCY.

DEMOCRACY.

SO IT IS NOT A 10 POINT PLAN NECESSARILY.

I CAN TELL YOU STILL AS WE ARE DAYS AWAY FROM THE SELECTION THIS IS THE FIRST PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION SINCE THE DOBBS DECISION, AND THAT IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST DRIVERS OF MANY OF THE VOTERS THAT WE ARE TALKING TO HERE AS THEY MAKE DECISIONS BETWEEN VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS AND DONALD TRUMP.>> THAT IS REALLY INTERESTING BECAUSE CLEARLY HARRIS IS APPEALING ON THAT ISSUE, BUT THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN AND TRUMP HIMSELF I THINK IS TRYING TO REACH OUT.

SOUNDS LIKE IT ANYWAY.

TO WOMEN.

I WONDER WHAT YOU MAKE OF WHAT HE SAID JUST LATELY DECLARING HE WILL PROTECT WOMEN WHETHER THE WOMEN LIKE IT OR NOT.

THIS COMES A DAY AFTER NIKKI HALEY, WHO RAN AGAINST HIM AND NOW IS A SUPPORTER, SAID HIS CAMPAIGN IS MAKING WOMEN UNCOMFORTABLE.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM WOMEN ABOUT THAT, AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

HAVE YOU FIGURED OUT WHETHER THEY LIKE IT OR NOT?

>> THE ONES WHO WERE IN THE RALLY.

DONALD TRUMP SAID THAT RIGHT HERE IN WISCONSIN.

HIS SUPPORTERS LIKE ALMOST EVERYTHING HE SAYS.

THE CHALLENGE IS HE NEEDS MORE THAN HIS BASE TO WIN.

HE HAS TO REACH OUT TO SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT AT HIS RALLIES WERE HANGING ON EVERY WORD.

THAT IS WHAT IS CAUSING MANY MODERATE REPUBLICANS WE ARE TALKING TO TO CRINGE AT THE TYPE OF LANGUAGE HE IS USING WHEN TALKING ABOUT WOMEN.

ONE THING IS CLEAR.

THE GENDER GAP IN THIS PRESIDENTIAL RACE IS LIKELY TO BE THE HIGHEST THAT WE HAVE SEEN.

VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS HAS STRONG SUPPORT FROM WOMEN.

DONALD TRUMP HAS STRONG SUPPORT FROM MEN.

ABORTION-RIGHTS ALSO AN ISSUE.

DURING THE FORMER PRESIDENT TALK ABOUT WOMEN IN THAT WAY IS NOT SOMETHING HIS ADVISORS OFTEN LIKE TO HEAR, BUT OF COURSE HE DOES IT ALL THE SAME, SO I THINK THAT LANGUAGE IS NOT HELPFUL TO THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT YET DECIDED.

OUTSIDE OF HIS RALLY CROWDS IT'S LIKELY NOT HELPFUL AT ALL.

>> THERE ARE ALSO SOME RARE HOPE IN THE MIDDLE EAST TODAY.

AMERICAN ENVOYS IN THE REGION MAKING ANOTHER PUSH FOR CEASE- FIRES BETWEEN ISRAEL AND GAZA WITH THE DEAL TO END THE WAR IN LEBANON POTENTIALLY.

COULD NOT COME SOON ENOUGH AS CIVILIANS IN THE COUNTRY.

THOUSANDS OF LEBANESE PEOPLE BEING KILLED SINCE HEZBOLLAH AND ISRAEL BEGAN TRADING FIRE LESTER AND OVER 1 MILLION HAVE BEEN DISPLACED.

IN A RECENT PIECE FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES THE LEBANESE JOURNALISM AUTHOR SAYS THE SUFFERING IS NOTHING NEW.

THEY HAVE BEEN FORCED TO ENDURE IT FOR DECADES AND SHE JOINS ME NOW FROM BEIRUT.

WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM.

>> THANK YOU.

MANY THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> THE WAS INTERESTED BECAUSE YOU WROTE THIS PIECE.

WE TOOK PRIDE IN OUR RESILIENCE.

NOT ANYMORE.

LEBANON HAS ALWAYS BEEN KNOWN AS THE NATION THAT MANAGED CONSTANTLY TO RISE LIKE THE PHOENIX FROM ALL THE ASHES.

YOU SAID I WITNESSED SO MANY WARS AND TRAGEDIES HERE THAT I SOMETIMES FEEL 100 YEARS OLD.

LET'S START BY YOU EXPLAINING WHY THIS ONE SEEMED SO DIFFERENT AND SO MUCH HEAVIER THAN THE LAST ONE YOU REMEMBER.

>> THE LAST FIVE YEARS IN LEBANON HAVE BEEN HELLISH ENOUGH.

WE HAD AN UPRISING THAT DID NOT AMOUNT TO THE REAL CHANGE WE WERE HOPING FOR.

WE HAD AN ECONOMIC COLLAPSE THAT LEFT PEOPLE TO LOSE THEIR LIFE SAVINGS TO BANKS.

WE HAD AN EXPLOSION THAT LITERALLY SHATTERED MOST OF OUR CAPITAL.

AND A POLITICAL STALEMATE THAT HAVE BEEN SUFFOCATING THE COUNTRY FOR YEARS.

IN WHICH I HAVE TO SAY HEZBOLLAH WAS PLAYING A HUGE ROLE.

THIS IS ONLY OUR RECENT HISTORY STARTING 1975.

WE HAD A HORRIFIC CIVIL WAR.

A SERIES OF ASSASSINATIONS AND EXPLOSIONS.

SEVERAL CONFRONTATIONS BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HEZBOLLAH.

MANY OF US LEBANESE ARE THINKING NOW YOU HAVE TO BE KIDDING ME.

WE THOUGHT WE HAD REACHED THE BOTTOM OF THE PIT ALREADY, BUT IT SEEMS TO BE BOTTOMLESS.

WHY CAN'T WE JUST LIVE INSTEAD OF SURVIVING?

I AM SURE AT THIS POINT THEY WOULD SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

I AM NOT CLIMBING UP THAT MOUNTAIN WITH THE ROCK ON MY SHOULDERS AGAIN.

>> THAT SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE ALL GIVEN UP HOPE.

I JUST SAID, AND EVEN THE ACTING PRIME MINISTER THAT POTENTIALLY FOR YOUR COUNTRY THERE IS AN IMMINENT CEASE-FIRE AND WORKS.

>> DESPITE ALL THE TALK ABOUT THE CEASE-FIRE AND A POTENTIAL AGREEMENT THE BOMBING IS IN STOPPING, AND THERE IS A GREAT DEAL OF UNCERTAINTY ABOUT WHAT IS COMING NEXT.

WE ALREADY KNOW THE HEAVY PRICE OF WAR, BUT WHO KNOWS WHAT THE PRICE OF A CEASE-FIRE WILL BE.

WHO KNOWS WHICH DEALS ARE BEING MADE UNDER THE TABLE AT OUR EXPENSE.

CERTAINLY NOT A >> I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY THIS.

IT IS NOT A FIGHT BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL LIKE BOTH ARTIST TRY TO MAKE IT SOUND.

THIS IS A FIGHT OVER POWER AND INFLUENCE IN THE MIDDLE EAST.

A FIGHT MEANT TO TEACH LESSONS AND PUT THE OPPOSITE PARTY IN ITS PLACE.

IF I MEANT TO PROVE WHO HAS THE STRONGEST MUSCLES AND INSTEAD OF THIS HAPPENING IT IS MAINLY HAPPENING YET AGAIN ON OUR LAND IN LEBANON.

THEY ARE HITTING EACH OTHER SO GENTLY AND PRECISELY YOU WOULD THINK THEY ARE LOVELIES HAVING AN ARGUMENT.

THIS IS PROBABLY WHAT THEY ARE.

MEANWHILE WE ARE BEING ARBITRARILY DESTROYED.

THOUSANDS OF INNOCENT PEOPLE ARE SLAUGHTERED.

MILLIONS DISPLACED AND FORCED TO LIVE IN AND SECURITY.

THAT ARE CAUSING EACH OTHER MINOR BRUISES WHILE THERE ARE CAUSING US FOR DEVASTATION.

I SO WANT TO TELL THEM AND MANY PEOPLE AS WELL THAT WE ARE DONE BEING YOUR SANDBOX OR YOUR PLAYGROUND.

>> THAT IS VERY IMPASSIONED AND COLORFUL IN TERMS OF PAINTING A PICTURE OF WHAT YOU ARE FEELING AND WHAT LEBANESE CIVILIANS ARE FEELING.

TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OBVIOUSLY THE ISRAELI SAY THEY ARE GOING AFTER HEZBOLLAH, BUT WE KNOW THAT HOSPITALS ARE IN SOME OF THE KILL ZONE AREAS AND HAVE BEEN DAMAGED AND A LOT HAVE BEEN KILLED.

JOURNALISTS HAVE BEEN KILLED.

WHAT ARE YOU SAYING DIFFERENT THAN THE LAST TIME ISRAEL WAS AT WAR IN YOUR COUNTRY?>> I BELIEVE THAT THIS TIME THEY ARE NOT TO STOP.

WE CANNOT AFFORD THE LUXURY OF OPTIMISM.

MAYBE THIS IS WHERE WHAT I AM SAYING IS COMING FROM.

AT THE SAME TIME I REFUSE TO BELIEVE THERE WAS NO POLITICAL ALTERNATIVE TO THIS DISASTER THAT WE ARE GOING THROUGH.

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU KEEP SAYING HE WANTS TO GET RID OF THEM IN THE REGION WHETHER IT IS HAMAS OR HEZBOLLAH, BUT WHY DOESN'T HE CUT THE HEAD OFF DIRECTLY INSTEAD?

I AM SURE HE KNOWS THAT IF HE ONLY CUTS THE TENTACLES NEW TENTACLES WOULD GROW AGAIN LATER.

WHY DOES HE SPEND DAYS AND WEEKS CONSULTING , BUT WHEN IT COMES TO LEBANON HE IS HITTING WITHOUT HESITATION.

HE HAS THE NERVE AND INCIDENTS TO KEEP TELLING THEM TO RESIST AND GO ON FIGHTING THE SATAN THAT IS ISRAEL AND THE U.S., SO HE IS TELLING US TO KEEP DYING FOR HIM AND IRAN.

THESE ARE THE QUESTIONS THAT I AM HEARING AROUND.

WHY DOESN'T HE FIGHT THEM FOR REAL?

WHY DOESN'T HE SEND HIS MEN TO DIE AND TELL HIS WOMEN AND CHILDREN THAT IT IS OKAY TO LOSE EVERYTHING FOR THE SAKE OF THE GREAT CAUSE.

I THINK THEY ARE LIARS AND HYPOCRITES AND CRIMINALS.

>> TALKING SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE HEAD OF THE IRANIAN REGIME.

I WANT TO PICK UP ON THAT BECAUSE YOU DO NOT OFTEN HEAR WHAT YOU ARE SAYING FROM CIVILIANS IN THAT PART OF THE WORLD AND YOU JUST EXPRESSED REAL FRUSTRATION WITH HEZBOLLAH IN A COUPLE OF ANSWERS BEFORE, AND HE IMPLICATED THEM HEAVILY SINCE THE DISASTER THAT HAS BEFALLEN YOUR COUNTRY.

LET ME HEAR WHAT IT IS PARTICULARLY THAT YOU ARE ANGRY AT HEZBOLLAH ABOUT.

>> NOT TO MENTION THEY HAVE HELD THE STATE HOSTAGE FOR OVER TWO DECADES NOW.

THEY HAVE DRAGGED US INTO A WAR THAT IS COSTING US TOO MANY INNOCENT LIVES.

TOO MUCH DESTRUCTION.

I WANT TO ALSO RESPONSIBLE AS THE POLITICIANS BECAUSE THEY ARE COMPLETELY INEFFECTIVE AND HAVE BEEN AND HAVE BEEN CAUGHT IN THE QUAGMIRE OF SELF- INTEREST FOR SO MANY YEARS NOW.

DEBATES ARE OFTEN ABOUT POWER PLAYS AND POLITICAL GAINS.

I AM SO SAD FOR MY FELLOW COUNTRYMEN AND WOMEN AND THOSE WHO ARE AGAINST HEZBOLLAH BECAUSE THEY ARE GETTING THERE SUPPOSE IT BREAKOUT THROUGH AN EVEN MORE VIOLENT ENTITY.

WHO KNOWS WHAT WILL BE COMING AFTER ANYWAY IF THEY DO NOT GET IT TOGETHER ASAP.

AND BUILD A STATE THAT WOULDN'T ALLOW FOR SIMILAR MILITIAS TO FORM INTEGRAL ANYMORE.

THEIR OFFSPRING TURNS OUT TO BE WORSE THAN THEY EVER WERE.

ON THE OTHER HAND I AM SAD FOR THE LEBANESE WHO HAVE ALWAYS BEEN HARD HEZBOLLAH SUPPORTERS BECAUSE IT DOES NOT SEEM LIKE THEY HAVE LEARNED THEIR LESSON.

THEY ARE STILL IN FULL DENIAL MODE AND HAD PAID A HIGH PRICE FOR THE ALLEGIANCE TO IRAN GET THEY HAVE BEEN BRAINWASHED GENERATION AFTER GENERATION WITH THE USE OF RELIGION.

THE MOST EFFICIENT BRAINWASH HER THAT EVER EXISTED.

TO BELIEVE THAT LIFE AMOUNTS TO DEATH AND THAT THEY SHOULD JUST CLOSE THEIR EYES AND SURRENDER BLINDLY TO WHATEVER THEY WERE BEING TOLD.

THEY TRULY BELIEVE THEY ARE WAGING A RIGHTEOUS AND VICTORIOUS FIGHT, BUT A VICTORY IS JUST 1 MILLION DISPLACED TOWNS DESTROYED.

THOUSANDS DEAD AND INJURED.

HONESTY I WOULD CHOOSE DEFEAT.

THIS IS NOT THE PRICE OF WAR.

THIS IS THE PRICE OF ARROGANCE OF HEZBOLLAH.

THE IDEOLOGICAL EXTREMISM.

THE INDIFFERENCE TOWARD THE LIVES OF INNOCENTS IN CONSIDERING HUMAN BEINGS.

NOT TO MENTION A CRIMINAL GOVERNMENT THAT IS WAGING AN ABSOLUTELY INHUMANE WAR ON THE LEBANESE WITHOUT ANY DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN THOSE WHO ARE MERE PAWNS IN THE GAME AND THOSE WHO ARE TRULY RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT WE ARE GOING THROUGH.

>> YOU ARE REFERRING TO THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT.

YOU ARE SO ANGRY ABOUT THE VARIOUS DIFFERENCES HE SAID THAT HAVE HELD YOU HOSTAGE AND PREVENTED YOU FROM REAL STABILITY.

YOU KNOW THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT TALKS ABOUT RESHAPING THE MIDDLE EAST AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING IN LEBANON AND ALL OVER CAN ONLY BE TO THE BENEFIT OF THE WHOLE REGION.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THAT?

>> I DOUBT THAT.

IF THE WAR ENDS I AM REALLY WORRIED ABOUT WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN ON THE INSIDE IN LEBANON BECAUSE WE WILL BE LEFT WITH A HUGE PROBLEM.

HOW TO DEAL WITH HEZBOLLAH.

HOW TO REALLY REBUILD WITH A POLITICALLY CORRUPT ELITE THAT IS ACTUALLY DOING NOTHING AND HAS DONE NOTHING TO BUILD A ROLL THE STRONG STATE.

WE ARE NOW PAYING THE PRICE OF WHAT THIS CORRUPT POLITICAL IDIOT HAS BEEN DOING FOR YEARS.

ALL OF THIS TALK OF RESHAPING THE MIDDLE EAST AND MAKING BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SOUND LIKE THE LIBERATOR OF THE LEBANESE MAKES ME EVEN MORE ANGRY AND FRUSTRATED.

HE IS NOT A LIBERATOR.

HE IS A CRIMINAL.

THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN AND COULD HAVE BEEN A POLITICAL SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM IN THE REGION, BUT NOBODY WANTED THIS.

LET'S NOT FORGET THAT WAR IS ALSO A LUCRATIVE BUSINESS.

POLLUTED ARE VERY CYNICAL.

MONEY ARE MAKING MONEY OUT OF THIS.

THEY ARE GETTING FINANCIAL GAINS, AND WE HAVE TO ADMIT IT'S .

WE ARE NOT NAOVE ANYMORE.

WE KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING.

>> YOUR FAMILY COMES FROM A VILLAGE IN SOUTHERN LEBANON, AND IT HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY HARD- HIT.

I THINK THEY ARE BELIEVED TO BE HEZBOLLAH STRONGHOLDS.

WE HAVE PICTURES REDUCED TO CRATERS, AND HER FATHER IS BURIED THERE.

ACCORDING TO HIS WISHES.

DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THAT VILLAGE WHERE YOUR FAMILY COMES FROM?

>> IT DOESN'T EXIST ANYMORE.

MANY OTHERS ARE THE SAME.

OBVIOUSLY I'M NOT DENYING THE FACT THERE ARE TUNNELS UNDER THOSE TOWNS AND THAT THERE ARE WEAPONS HEADER UNDER CIVILIANS.

BUT IS THIS REALLY THE SOLUTION?

ISRAEL KEEPS SAYING IT IS THE ONLY DEMOCRACY IN THE MIDDLE EAST.

IS THIS OUR DEMOCRACY WORKS?

IS THIS JUSTICE?

GENOCIDE AFTER GENOCIDE.

LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING THAT I AM HEARING A LOT FROM PEOPLE AROUND ME.

HOW MANY TIMES CAN A PERSON BUILD AND STAND UP AFTER BEING KNOCKED DOWN AGAIN AND AGAIN?

I HAVE TO SAY IT IS UNBELIEVABLE.

IT IS INTOLERABLE.

THE TIMES THAT WE HAVE.

IT HAS BEEN DESTROYED SO MANY TIMES BEFORE.

MY FATHER'S VILLAGE.

PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS EXPECTED TO REBUILD.

HIM MANY TIMES CAN YOU REBUILD YOUR HOME AND LIFE AND THE ABILITY TO DREAM?

I KNOW WE HAVE THE REPUTATION OF BEING RESILIENT.

YOU MENTIONED THAT BECAUSE I SPOKE ABOUT IT IN MY ARTICLE.

OUR COUNTRY HAS MANY LIVES, BUT WE ARE TIRED TO GET UP AND GET KNOCKED DOWN AGAIN AND AGAIN.

I CAN FEEL THIS EXHAUSTION ALL AROUND ME.

MANY PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY LEFT THE COUNTRY.

HOW MANY MORE?

WE HAVE TO REALIZE HOW MUCH OUR GEOGRAPHY IN LEBANON IS A CURSE TO US.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT THIS ROLE EYEWITNESS EXPERIENCE AND TESTIMONY.

NOW IN A WORLD FULL OF CHALLENGES AND CRISES AT BLOCKBUSTER TV SHOW IS FOCUSING ON THE PEOPLE TRYING TO PUT THE FIRES OUT.

THE DIPLOMAT ON NETFLIX CENTERS ON THE U.S.

AMBASSADOR TO LONDON AND HER TEAM AS THEY TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHO IS BEHIND A DEADLY PART THAT COULD TRIGGER EVEN WORSE CONSEQUENCES.

HERE IS A GLIMPSE OF SEASON TWO.

>> EARLIER I SPOKE ABOUT THE SHOW WITH AT-RISK KERI RUSSELL.

AND ALSO WITH DEBORA CAHN WHO PREVIOUSLY WROTE AND PRODUCED EPISODES FOR WEST WING, GRAYS ANATOMY, AND HERE IS OUR CONVERSATION.

>> WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> DIPLOMAT FOR SEASON WAS A MASSIVE SUCCESS.

NOW THE SECOND IS DROPPING.

I GUESS I WANT TO ASK YOU FIRST SINCE YOU ARE THE CREATOR.

WHAT WAS IT THAT INSPIRED YOU?

>> WHEN I WAS WORKING ON HOMELAND WE MET WITH A LOT OF EXPERTS FROM ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT FIELDS.

ONE OF THEM WAS A FORMER INVESTOR WHO HAD COME IN TO TALK TO US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO WORK IN PAKISTAN.

SHE WAS A MILD-MANNERED UNASSUMING PERSON AND STARTED TALKING VERY QUICKLY ABOUT WHAT SHE DOES DURING A TYPICAL DAY.

IT JUST SOUNDED LIKE A SUPERHERO STORY.

THE AMOUNT OF ON THE FRONT LINE ACTION ACTIVITY THAT SHE WAS DOING TRYING TO MEET WITH THE WARLORD WELL BOMBS WERE DROPPING SO SHE COULD DELIVER A MESSAGE THAT MIGHT END THE CONFLICT.

IT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS A SHOCKING THE STORY HADN'T BEEN TOLD BEFORE.>> THE STATE DEPARTMENT DIPLOMATS TEND NOT TO GET THE CREDIT THAT OFTEN THEY WOULD USE SOMETIMES, BUT SOMETIMES YES.

YOU HAVE BEEN KNOWN ON TELEVISION FOR LEGENDARY THINGS LIKE FOR THE CITY.

THE AMERICANS.

HE PLAYED A RUSSIAN SPY AND THE AMERICANS.

NOW YOU ARE THE U.S.

AMBASSADOR TO THE UK.

WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO DO THIS?

IS IT BECAUSE OF THE EXPERIENCE IN THE AMERICANS OR WAS THERE SOMETHING MORE SPECIFIC?

>> MY ENTRY POINT WAS JUST THE WRITING.

THAT VERY FIRST EPISODE WAS TAKING A PEEK INTO THE STATE DEPARTMENT, WHICH I THINK WE HAVE SAID BEFORE AND REALLY MEAN IT.

THIS SHOW IS MEANT TO BE A LOVE LETTER TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT AND THE PEOPLE WHO DO THIS INCREDIBLE WORK.

IT WAS LIKE THE SPECIFICITY OF THIS CHARACTER THAT SHE CREATED WITHIN THAT WORLD.

THE MESSINESS.

THE FOUL MOUTH.

THE CRAZY MARRIAGE.

ALL OF THE FUN WITH THE SMART AND POLITICAL STUFF.

THE SPECIFICITY OF THIS MESSY, BOSSY, FUN PERSON.

>> THE SUBPLOT IS THAT SHE IS BEING GROOMED POTENTIALLY TO BE THE NEXT VICE PRESIDENT.

I'M GOING TO PLAY A CLIP.

YOUR CHARACTER IS TALKING TO HER KIND OF LIKE AN INTERVIEW JOB APPLICATION.

HERE WE GO.

>> I AM NO ONE'S FIRST PICK.

I KNOW I HAVE A LOT TO LEARN.

IF YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR IT.

THE SAYS YOU HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE.

IS BEEN GIVING YOU A CRASH COURSE WHAT HAVE YOU COVERED?

>> THE IS FANTASTIC.

WE HAVEN'T HAD A LOT OF TIME.

SO FAR HE IS HUNG UP ON THE PACKAGING.

I WOULD RATHER FOCUS ON POLICY.

LIKE CLOTHING.

MY HAIR.

>> I REALLY DIDN'T EXPECT HER TO SAY HE IS RIGHT.

I SAW YOU LAUGHING WHILE YOU WERE ANTICIPATING THAT PUNCHLINE.

HE STARTED BY SAYING THE MESSY HAIR AND CLOSE AND FOUL MOUTH.

WHO IS THIS MODEL ON?

>> IT IS MANY STORIES AND BOOKS THAT THEY HAVE READ.

I THINK THERE ARE CERTAIN PROTOTYPES.

WE HAVE CERTAIN HEROES THAT WE REALLY LOVE.

WE THOUGHT THAT WAS TOPICAL BUT WE DID NOT REALIZE HOW TOPICAL IT WAS GOING TO BE A YEAR AND A HALF AGO.>> I WANT TO ASK YOU BECAUSE SHE WAS THE BELOVED CJ OF THE WHITE HOUSE SPOKESPERSON FAME DURING THE WEST WING.

YOU CUT YOUR TEETH DURING THE WEST WING WRITING.

A >> I FEEL LIKE SO MUCH OF THE WAY WAS SHAPED AROUND WRITING FOR ALLISON.

SO MUCH THAT SHE CAN DO THAT SHE CAN DO IT ALL AT THE SAME TIME.

THAT CREATED AN INTEREST IN TELLING STORIES WHERE COMEDY AND TRAGEDY AND ABSURDITY AND EMBARRASSMENT AND OPTIMISM AND STRIVING WERE ALL PRESENT IN THE SAME MOMENT.

THERE AREN'T A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE WORLD WHO CAN DO THAT.

SHE IS ONE OF THEM.

DISCOVERING HER ABILITY TO JUGGLE THAT MATERIAL AND TURN IT INTO SOMETHING MAGICAL HAS BEEN THE GREAT GIFT OF THIS PROCESS AND THE IDEA OF BRINGING ALLISON INTO THAT IT SEEMS LIKE TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, AND I AM STILL SHOCKED THAT IT HAPPENED.

>> I WANT TO FINISH UP WITH YOU ON THE WEST WING PART BECAUSE I JUST INTERVIEWED MARTIN SHEEN A FEW WEEKS AGO DURING THE WHOLE CELEBRATIONS.

HE WAS SAYING WE REALLY REFLECTED OUR COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE AND AT THE TIME WE LOOK BACK AT HEROES LIKE JOHN F. KENNEDY AND DWIGHT EISENHOWER BASICALLY PEOPLE WHO PUT COUNTRY FIRST TO HAVE SERVED COUNTRY AND NOT DIVISIVE LEE AND DESPERATELY LIKE THEY ARE RIGHT NOW.

DO YOU FEEL THAT WHAT YOU ARE DOING MAY BE A PUBLIC SERVICE?>> THE PEOPLE THAT WE ARE WRITING ABOUT HAVE MADE A LIFELONG COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE.

THEY ARE OUT THERE REPRESENTING THE UNITED STATES AND THE IDEALS THAT SOMETIMES WE LIVE UP TO AND SOMETIMES WE DON'T.

WHETHER OR NOT THEY LIKE WHAT IS HAPPENING AT HOME OR WHETHER OR NOT THEY SUPPORT THE GOVERNMENT THERE REPRESENTING.

THAT QUESTION WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE YOUR COUNTRY IS DOING THE RIGHT THING BUT YOU START TO GO OUT EVERY DAY AND FACE THE REST OF THE WORLD AND SAY WE ARE DOING OUR BEST AND PLEASE BE PATIENT WITH US AS WE GO THROUGH OUR OWN GROWING PAINS AS A NATION.

HOW DO YOU CONTINUE TO WORK WHEN YOU ARE NOT SURE YOUR COUNTERPART STILL TRUST YOUR WORK?

>> MUCH OF THE FIRST SEASON WAS ABOUT WILL THEY WON'T THEY BOMB THE IRAN.

THE STORYLINE WAS ABOUT THAT AND RUSSIAN MERCENARIES WHO REARED THEIR UGLY HEAD.

DIPLOMATS AND OTHERS TRYING TO DAMAGE CONTROL.

THE UK P.M. IS A VERY BORIS JOHNSON ASKED KIND OF GUY IN THIS SERIES WHO USES ALL SORTS OF RHETORIC TO CONCEAL A LOT OF DEFICITS.

I WANT TO PLAY THIS BECAUSE THIS IS A CLIP WHERE THEY DISCUSS A BIG REVEAL OF THAT.

SEASON ONE.

HERE WE GO.

>> THIS IS A BRITISH HOSPITAL.

OUR PEOPLE ARE NOT SAFE HERE.

>> YOU THINK THE BRITISH PRIME MINISTER ORDERED A STRIKE ON HIS OWN WARSHIP THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE CONNECTED TO THE BOMB THAT WENT OFF?

>> I THINK THE CALL IS COMING FROM INSIDE THE HOUSE.

>> INSIDE THE HOUSE IS A BIT OF A TERM OF ART, BUT THAT IS PRETTY DRAMATIC.

>> YES IT IS.

IT'S A SHOW FULL OF SUSPENSE AND DRAMA.

THAT WHOLE ARC.

IT IS FICTIONAL.

WE ARE NOT SAYING ANYTHING ABOUT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT CURRENTLY, BUT IT'S EXCITING.

THE WAY OUR SHOW HAS GONE IS IT TAKES PLACE OVER VERY LITTLE TIME.

>> THE FOR SEASON WAS ONLY A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

>> IT ALLOWS FOR A LOT OF THE SUSPENSE AND EVERY LITTLE MOMENT TO BE WATCHED AND ARTICULATED, AND THAT IS THE FUN OF IT.

>> SOMETHING DETRIMENT TO THE MATURE IS THE IDEA WHEN WE LOOK AT GLOBAL CONFLICT I THINK WE ARE NATURALLY AS HUMANS INTERESTED IN FINDING SOMEBODY TO BLAME.

LOOKING AT AN ENEMY THE STORY IS BASED ON THE IDEA WE THINK IRAN HAS DONE SOMETHING TO US .

I THINK RUSSIA HAS DONE SOMETHING.

WE ARE INTERESTED INSTEAD OF PLAYING THE BLAME GAME.

>> YOU TALK ABOUT THE BRITISH MINISTER.

THERE IS A NEW ONE SINCE HE DID SEASON NUMBER TWO.

YOU GOT SOME ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE FROM THE CURRENT U.S.

AMBASSADOR TO THE UK WHO FAMOUSLY TELLS THAT SHE HAS BEEN AMBASSADOR UNDER AT LEAST FOUR PRIME MINISTERS.

WHAT DID YOU GET FROM HER?

I AM ACTUALLY GOING TO PLAY A SOUNDBITE OF WHEN I INTERVIEWED HER ABOUT THIS.

>> WHAT IS FASCINATING IS THE EXECUTIVE PRODUCER WHEN SHE STARTED THIS IT WAS BECAUSE SHE WANTED TO GET MORE WOMEN IN FOREIGN SERVICE, AND THAT WAS HER GOAL.

SHE TOLD ME WHEN SHE WAS FIRST APPROACHING COMPANIES WITH THIS CONCEPT SHE SAID ALL OF THEM SAID YES BUT THERE WOULD BE A FEMA AMBASSADOR TO THE UK.

YOU HAVE TO CHANGE IT.

AND SHE WAS WRONG.

>> THAT IS CUTE, AND YES SHE HAS PROVEN SHE IS, BUT VERY RARE.

I KNOW YOU WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT, BUT WHAT SPECIFIC FEEDBACK DID YOU GET?

YOU BEEN TO THE EMBASSY FOR THIS?

>> WHAT WAS MOST INTERESTING WAS HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH HER AGAIN ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED EARLIER THAT DAY.

SHE CASUALLY DROPPED HOW SHE MET WITH A DISSIDENT WHO WAS STRUGGLING TO GET A MESSAGE I WOULD.

IT ALL IS VERY MUNDANE FOR HER, AND EVERY CONVERSATION COULD HAVE BEEN A STORY IN ITSELF.

>> SHE IS ACTUALLY THE OPPOSITE OF YOUR CHARACTER.

ENDLESSLY DRESSED.

SHE IS A REAL POLICY PERSON.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SHE IS EFFORTLESS.

SO GRACEFUL AND EASY WITH EVERY SINGLE DIFFERENT KIND OF PERSON SHE COULD HAVE.

WE HAVE BEEN TO DINNER WITH HER WHERE SHE KNOWS EVERYBODY.

I THINK THE LAST TIME I DIED WITH HER SPORTSPEOPLE WERE COMING UP.

FINANCIAL PEOPLE IN TOWN FOR NEW YORK.

SHE JUST JUGGLES IT ALL EFFORTLESSLY.

>> A PART OF IT DOES ALSO SHOW YOU TRYING TO DO YOUR BEST TO SAVE THE WORLD INTO OUR COUNTRY FROM LEADERS EITHER AT HOME OR WHERE YOU ARE STATIONED OR ABROAD.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF IT HAPPENING RIGHT NOW?

GOING TO DROP FOR FIVE DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION.

>> IT IS TERRIFYING.

HOPEFULLY IT IS ASSURING THE IDEA THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR THE GOVERNMENT.

I CERTAINLY WORRY THE DECISION THAT IS GOING TO BE MADE IN A FEW DAYS AS A WORLD BUILDING OR WORLD UNDER ONE.

I THINK WHAT I FIND A LOT OF COMFORT AND AS I LEARNED ABOUT THIS WORLD IS THERE ARE THOUSANDS WORKING FOR OUR GOVERNMENT.

MOST OF THEM HAVE GREAT INTENTIONS AND VALUES.

WE ARE PROUD TO HAVE THEM OUT THERE EVERY DAY DOING MORE OF A RETAIL VERSION OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY IN THE WORLD THAN PERHAPS WHAT WE SEE HERE.

>> ON THAT NOTE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> SO NICE TO SEE YOU.>> GREAT TALKING TO YOU.

>> SEASON TWO OF THE SHOW IS OUT NOW.

AS THEY BROUGHT SOME SWING STATE VOTER TURNOUT WILL BE KEY.

THE NEXT GUEST IS DEDICATED SPECIFICALLY TO MOBILIZING BLACK WOMEN TO EXERCISE THEIR DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS.

THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MISSISSIPPI BLACK WOMEN'S ROUNDTABLE.

THIS CONVERSATION IS A PART OF OUR ONGOING INITIATIVE THAT REPORTS ON THREATS TO DEMOCRACY.

THE IMPACT OF CHANGES TO VOTING LAWS AND WAS CITIZENS NEED TO KNOW.

IT IS CALLED PRESERVING DEMOCRACY.>> AS WE ARE A COUPLE OF DAYS OUT FROM ELECTION DAY ALTHOUGH IN SOME PARTS OF THE COUNTRY PEOPLE ARE ALREADY VOTING, WHICH IS SOMETHING WE WILL GET TO.

HOW DID YOU GET THE IDEA FOR THE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING?

>> ONE OF THE GOALS FOR ME WHEN I WAS ASKED TO TAKE OVER THE ROUNDTABLE IN 2018 THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT DROVE ME AND THAT MY VISION WAS I NEEDED TO LIBERATE MY PEOPLE.

IT FELT VERY MUCH LIKE A CALL.

I ACCEPTED THAT.

FOR ME IT LOOKED LIKE A COUPLE OF THINGS.

I AM A POLICY ADVOCATE AND A SOCIAL WORKER.

ONE THING THAT I SAY IS POLICY IS THE WORK OF OUR DEMOCRACY, BUT THE VOTE IS THE HEART OF OUR DEMOCRACY.

FOR ME I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT LIBERATION REALLY STOOD TALL WITH VOTING.

WE TOOK THAT OPPORTUNITY AND BEGIN TO SAY HOW CAN WE INCREASE THE VOTING POPULATION OF BLACK WOMEN?

PARTICULARLY IN FREQUENT BLACK WOMEN.

WITH THAT INFORMATION WE DEVELOPED A VOTER ENGAGEMENT TRAINING PLAN ROOTED IN CULTURE STRATEGICALLY AND WITH THE INTENSITY OF A BOOT CAMP BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THAT OUR VOTING RIGHTS ARE UNDER ATTACK.

WE WANTED TO REALLY DESIGN IT IN A WAY TO WHERE IT FELT RIGOROUS AND SERIOUS BUT ALSO HAD A LOT OF JOY IN IT AS WELL.

>> WITH BACKUP BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WILL BE LISTENING TO OUR CONVERSATION WHO WILL BE ASKING THEMSELVES WHY THEY NEED THAT IN MISSISSIPPI.

IT'S 2024.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU SEE THAT THEY WOULDN'T KNOW ABOUT WHAT YOU SEE AS OBSTACLES TO THAT PARTICIPATION?

>> WHEN YOU ASK THAT QUESTION I AM REALLY GLAD YOU ASKED IT THAT WAY.

VOTING RIGHTS ARE STILL BEING SUPPRESSED HERE IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI.

WE HAVE REALLY REGRESSED THE VOTING LAWS HERE.

WE DO NOT HAVE EARLY VOTING IN MISSISSIPPI.

>> YOU HAVE AN EARLY VOTING AT ALL?

>> WE HAVE NO EARLY VOTING.

WE HAVE ABSENTEE VOTING IN MISSISSIPPI.

YOU HAVE TO QUALIFY FOR THAT BASED ON YOUR AGE AND DISABILITY AND HAVE A REASON TO DO IT.

THEN YOU CAN GO AND HAVE ABSENTEE VOTING.

>> IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING ALSO HAVE TO HAVE YOUR APPLICATION FOR ABSENTEE VOTING NOTARIZED, WHICH MEANS YOU HAVE TO GO TO SOMEBODY WHO IS A NOTARY PUBLIC AND GET THEM TO VALIDATE THIS.

>> ONE MORE THING IS THAT WE ALSO DON'T HAVE ONLINE VOTER REGISTRATION AND EARLY VOTING.

WHAT THIS DOES IS IT GIVES PEOPLE ONLY 12 HOURS IN THE DAY TO GO VOTE.

THAT IS PROBLEMATIC PARTICULARLY FOR BLACK WOMEN IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI THAT ARE WORKING 2 AND 3 JOBS JUST TO MAKE ENDS MEET.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT CHILDCARE AND ALSO TALKING ABOUT HAVING IN FLEXIBLE WORK SCHEDULES.

FOR US WE ARE SAYING IF THIS IS A DEMOCRACY AND WHERE THE VOTE IS SUPPOSED TO MATTER TO EVERYONE LET'S EXPAND VOTING ACCESS SO THAT PEOPLE CAN VOTE IN THEIR VOICE.

THAT IS IMPORTANT.

WE HAVE THESE RESTRICTIONS HERE THAT KEEP PEOPLE FROM DOING THAT.

LET'S NOT EVEN TALK ABOUT THE DISENFRANCHISING CRIMES THAT WE HAVE IN MISSISSIPPI WHERE PEOPLE HAVE LIFETIME VOTING RESTRICTIONS WHERE THEY CAN'T VOTE.

>> IS THE ISSUE THERE IS NO PROCESS FOR RESTORATION LIKE WHEN YOU'RE.

OF PROBATION IS COMPLETE THERE IS NO MECHANISM BY WHICH YOU CAN ASK FOR RESTORATION OF YOUR VOTE?

IS THAT THE MAIN ISSUE?

>> IS THAT IT'S DIFFICULT HERE.

YOU CAN ASK FOR RESTORATION.

BECAUSE WE ALSO HAVE A SUPER MAJORITY IN THE STATE THE PROCESS FOR GETTING PEOPLE'S VOTING RIGHTS RESTORED IS VERY DIFFICULT.

OUR PROCESS IS YOU HAVE TO GET LEGISLATURE TO WRITE A BILL AND THEN PRESENT THAT, AND THEY HAVE TO VOTE ON WHETHER THAT PERSON CAN GET THERE VOTING RIGHTS RESTORED.

THAT IS VERY HARD TO DO.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAD A HEARING BEFORE THE LEGISLATIVE BODY TO SAY THEY WANT TO PUT MORE RESTRICTIONS ON PEOPLE NOT BEING ABLE TO VOTE.

THEY WANT TO ADD MORE CRIME.

ANOTHER THING THEY WANT TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT BEFORE THEY CAN GET THERE VOTING RIGHTS WHISPERED THEY HAVE TO SERVE THEIR SENTENCING AND PAYBACK THEIR RESTITUTIONS AND FINES.

WE KNOW THAT WHEN FOLKS ARE COMING OUT OF PRISON THAT IS VERY DIFFICULT AND HARD FOR THEM TO EVEN GET A JOB.

WE KNOW THAT THERE PREDATORY ON FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES.

>> ONE THING THAT IS STRIKING IS IT HAS ONE OF THE LARGEST PERCENTAGES OF ELIGIBLE BLACK VOTERS IN THE COUNTRY.

SOME ALMOST 40% OF MISSISSIPPIANS ARE BLACK.

OR BIRACIAL.

AND YET THERE ARE NO BLACK PEOPLE IN STATEWIDE OFFICE IN MISSISSIPPI.

BOTH HOUSES OF THE LEGISLATURE ARE DOMINATED BY REPUBLICANS.

PERCENTAGE AND THAT BODY IS NOWHERE NEAR THEIR PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION OVERALL.

WHY IS THAT?

>> IT HAS TO GO BACK TO WHAT I THINK OUR VOTERS ARE PRESCIENT AND GERRYMANDERING.

YOU ARE RIGHT.

WE HAVE NOT HAD A STATEWIDE PERSON OF COLOR TO BE IN A STATEWIDE OFFICE.

NOT FOR NOT A LACK OF TRYING.

REPRESENTATION MATTERS, BUT IF YOU ARE DRAWING THESE LINES IN SUCH A WAY THAT DISENFRANCHISES THE VOTE THAT BECOMES AN ISSUE, AND THIS IS THE EFFECT OF THAT IS THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO HAVE A PERSON OF COLOR OR A BLACK PERSON TO SIT IN THAT STATEWIDE OFFICE.

>> WHEN HE SAID THIS IS VOTER SUPPRESSION HOW DO PEOPLE IN THE STATE RESPOND TO THAT?

DO THEY BELIEVE YOU THINK IT IS RIDICULOUS?>> MISSISSIPPI HAS 30,000 REGISTERED VOTERS FROM THE VOTER ROLLS.>> WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN?

>> LAST YEAR.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID THIS YEAR JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.

WE MET THE VOTERS WHERE THEY WERE IN THE RESTAURANTS AND CLUBS AND HAD A CHECK YOUR VOTER STATUS DAY.

WE PRESENTED THEM WITH AN iPAD AND SAID WE NEED YOU TO CHECK YOUR STATUS.

SURE ENOUGH SOME OF THEM CHECKED AND SAID IT CAN'T BE ME BECAUSE I VOTED.

THEY WERE NOT ON THOSE VOTER ROLLS.

WE HAVE MADE PHONE CALLS TO PEOPLE.

YOU ARE NOT ON THE VOTING ROLLS.

WE WANT TO HELP YOU TO REGISTER.

FOLKS ARE KNOCKING ON DOORS DOING THE SAME.

IT IS REAL.

>> WHAT IS THEIR ARGUMENT ABOUT WHY THEY WERE PURGED?

WHAT IS THE STATED REASON WHY THESE VOTERS WERE PURGED FROM THE ROLES?

>> WEATHER THE STEAL REASON THEY HAVEN'T VOTED IN THE LAST TWO ELECTIONS.

WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT SOME PEOPLE DID VOTE AND HAVE ALWAYS CONSISTENTLY VOTED.

SUPER VOTERS BUT YET THEY HAVE BEEN PURGED FROM THE ROLES.

>> I UNDERSTAND YOURS IS A NONPARTISAN ORGANIZATION, BUT CAN YOU GIVE US A SENSE OF WHAT DIFFERENCE IT WOULD MAKE -- CLUSTERS FOCUS ON THE BLACK VOTERS WHO ARE REGISTERED BUT FOR WHATEVER REASON DO NOT GET TO THE POLLS.

WHAT DIFFERENCE IT MIGHT MAKE IF THEY WERE ABLE TO GET TO THE POLLS?

>> IN 2018 THERE WERE SEVEN POINTS BETWEEN.

THAT IS A 60,000 VOTE DIFFERENCE.

THE CENTER BASE.

2019 THERE WAS FIVE POINTS BETWEEN.

THIS IS THE GOVERNMENT RACE.

SO THAT WAS 45,000.

IN 2023 THERE WAS A THREE POINT RACE.

THAT IS 26,000 VOTE DIFFERENCE WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT THE VOTING PERCENTAGES IS CLOSING.

WHICH ALSO MEANS THAT THERE IS OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO VOTE THEIR VALUES, AND IT ALSO MEANS THE RULES KEEP CHANGING BECAUSE IT IS THOSE PERCENTAGES GETTING CLOSER, AND ORGANIZATIONS LIKE OURS ARE DOING OUR PART TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS SO THEY CAN VOTE FOR WHO THEY WANT TO VOTE FOR.

>> SOME PEOPLE LOOK AT WHAT THEY CALL AN UNDER VOTE.

THEY SAY THE UNDERLOAD IS PEOPLE NOT INTERESTED OR BECAUSE PEOPLE AREN'T MOTIVATED ENOUGH TO VOTE.

YOU'RE SAYING THAT IS JUST NOT TRUE.

IN FACT MORE PEOPLE KEEP VOTING DESPITE THESE IMPEDIMENTS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

MORE PEOPLE KEEP VOTING.

WE SEE IT IN NEVADA.

I THINK WHAT IS ALSO DRIVING THIS IS ME KNOW THE OVERTURNING OF ROE VERSUS WADE CAME OUT OF MISSISSIPPI.

OUR ATTORNEY GENERAL BROUGHT THAT CASE TO THE SUPREME COURT.

PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE AND ON FIRE ABOUT THAT.

YOUNG PEOPLE ARE REALLY CARRYING THAT BANNER SAYING THIS IS IMPORTANT TO ME.

THEY ARE SHOWING UP TO THE POLLS AND HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS.

IT IS NOT THAT THEY ARE NOT SHOWING UP.

IT IS ABOUT HAVING THAT ACCESS AND CONTINUING TO MOVE THE NEEDLE THAT WILL CLOSE THE GAP.>> YOU TESTIFIED TO THESE MATTERS AND HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT THIS PUBLICLY AND HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR SOME TIME.

WHEN YOU SERVICE THESE ISSUES WHAT DO THE LEGISLATORS SAY?

HOW DO THEY DEFEND THESE DECISIONS?

>> LAST YEAR WE SAW DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION MANY OF OUR LEGISLATORS PARTICULARLY IN THE BLACK CAUCUS PERFORM LEGISLATION THAT WOULD RESTORE PEOPLE'S VOTING RIGHTS.

BUT IT WAS REJECTED.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THESE ISSUES THAT WE ARE SEEING IN COMMUNITY MANY OF THEM UNDERSTAND THAT AND SEE THAT, BUT WHEN WE GO OVER TO LESS FRIENDLY LEGISLATORS WHO REALLY WANT THE MORE RESTRICTIVE ONE OF THE THINGS WE HEAR IS WE WANT TO PREVENT FRAUD FROM OCCURRING.

WE KNOW THAT IN MISSISSIPPI THAT IS VERY FEW AND IN BETWEEN.

NOT A LOT OF DATA TO SUPPORT IT, SO THERE IS A LOT OF DISINFORMATION THAT IS OCCURRING.

WE JUST CONTINUE TO EDUCATE.

TO CONTINUE TO STAND TOGETHER AS A COALITION TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS BROUGHT TO THE POLICY TABLES SO THAT THEY CAN GET ACCESS TO THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

BECAUSE WHAT THIS REALLY IS ABOUT AT THE END OF THE DAY IS HOW WHO WE ELECT AN OFFICE REALLY HAS AN IMPACT ON WHAT HAPPENS TO PEOPLE'S KITCHEN TABLES.

MAKING SURE THEIR WAGES ARE INCREASED.

MISSISSIPPI HAS NOT HAD A WAGE INCREASE.

>> YOU'RE SAYING THE MINIMUM WAGE?

>> YES.

>> SOMETHING THAT IS SURPRISING TO HEAR WHERE THEY HAVE THESE.

THERE ARE POPULATION CENTERS BUT THERE ARE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.

DO YOU SEE THIS AS A WAY TO KEEP CERTAIN PEOPLE FROM VOTING?>> NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

WHEN YOU SEE THAT MANY PEOPLE REGISTERED TO VOTE AND HAS THE POTENTIAL TO ELECT SOMEONE THAT CARES ABOUT THEIR FAMILIES AND KITCHEN TABLES AND DRUG PRESCRIPTIONS.

CARES ABOUT PUTTING FOOD ON THE TABLE.

YOU ARE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO CHANGE THE RULES TO THE GAME TO ENSURE THAT THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THAT.

RACISM RUNS THROUGH THIS.

YOU CAN'T DENY THAT.

THIS IS WHY I THINK THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT IS SO IMPORTANT.

THERE WAS ONCE A TIME BEFORE IT WAS STRUCK DOWN WE HAD PRECLEARANCE.

BEFORE ANY RULES OR POLICIES OR ANYTHING WAS CHANGED A STATE OR JURISDICTION HAD TO GET CLEARANCE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO ENSURE THAT THERE WASN'T VOTER SUPPRESSION.

WIND THAT WENT AWAY WE DO NOT HAVE THE KIND OF PROTECTION NOW.

WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO PUSH HARD AND DO THE GROUNDWORK TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS TO CHECK THE VOTER STATUS AND LET'S HOPE TRY TO GET PEOPLE OUT TO THE POLLS WHILE ALSO WORKING AT THE SAME TIME TO PUSH FOR EARLY VOTING AND ONLINE VOTER REGISTRATION.

THOSE KIND OF THINGS.

>> I HAVE TO ASK WHETHER YOU THINK THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS DONE ENOUGH TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES LEGISLATIVELY.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PROPOSALS ON THE TABLE.

DO YOU THINK THE DEMOCRATS HAVE PUSHED HARD ENOUGH ON LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ADDRESS SOME OF THESE ISSUES?

>> WE ARE NONPARTISAN.

THIS IS WHAT I WILL SAY WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS DONE.

NOT JUST ABOUT THE ADMINISTRATION.

THIS IS AN ACT OF CONGRESS.

CONGRESS HAS TO DO ITS PART TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE A JOHN LEWIS VOTING RIGHTS ACT.

THE DEAL THAT WOULD STRENGTHEN LEGAL PROTECTIONS AGAINST VOTING POLICIES.

IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT THE ADMINISTRATION.

IT IS ABOUT CONGRESS.

BOTH PARTIES COMING TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT THE PEOPLE'S FREEDOMS ARE CENTERED IN THIS DEBATE IN THIS POLITICAL CONTEXT.

>> WHY SHOULD PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF MISSISSIPPI CARE ABOUT THIS?

>> THEY SHOULD CARE BECAUSE IT IS HUMAN NATURE TO CARE ABOUT PEOPLE.

THIS IS JUST MY STORY.

MY MOM MAKING $2.13.

HAD TO HIDE ME IN A UTILITY CLOSET AT HER JOB IN THE EARLY 70s WHILE SHE GOES OUT AND CLEANED UP THE FLOORS BECAUSE SHE WAS A MAID AT A STATE AGENCY.

THAT WAS IN THE 70s.

THIS IS STILL HAPPENING TODAY.

THIS IS MISSISSIPPI, BUT WE ALSO KNOW THIS IS HAPPENING IN THE SOUTH AND AROUND THE WORLD.

PEOPLE SHOULD INVEST IN A PLACE LIKE MISSISSIPPI AND A PLACE LIKE THE SOUTH.

YOU SHOULDN'T WRITE US OFF.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TALKING WITH US TODAY.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>>> TODAY THE FESTIVAL OF LIFE BEGINS IN INDIA.

MILLIONS ALONG THIS RIVERBANK NEAR A FAMED HINDU TEMPLE.

OF COURSE IT IS ALSO HALLOWEEN.

WELL CHILDREN WILL BE STUFFING BUCKETS WITH CANDY THESE ZOO ANIMALS ARE GETTING PUMPKIN TREATS OF THEIR OWN.

MEXICO CITY IS GEARING UP FOR THE DAY OF THE DEAD THIS WEEKEND WITH PEOPLE DONNING FLAMBOYANT SKELETON COSTUMES AND FAMILIES PREPARING OFFERINGS TO HONOR THEIR DECEASED LOVED ONES.

JOY EVEN AT THE END IS AT THE HEART OF ALL OF THESE THE CELEBRATIONS AND A SENTIMENT WE WANT TO LEAVE YOU WITH.

ALSO DO TUNE IN TOMORROW FOR MY INTERVIEW WITH THE UKRAINIAN TENNIS STAR WHO IS IN CANADA RIGHT NOW ON A DIFFERENT KIND OF MISSION.

A SPECIAL AMBASSADOR TO HELP BRING UKRAINE STOLEN CHILDREN BACK FROM RUSSIA.

HERE IS WHAT SHE TOLD ME ABOUT IT.

>> IT TAKES CARE OF THE KIDS THAT HAVE BEEN KIDNAPPED.

THERE ARE OVER 20,000 KIDS THAT HAVE BEEN STOLEN FROM UKRAINE.

KIDS ARE OUR FUTURE.

THEY ARE OUR HOPE.

>> THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING, AND GOODBYE FROM LONDON.