it is pleased to reach an agreement with the ftc, but added, it fundamentally disagrees with the facial recognition allegations in the complaint. and thank you so much for joining us this evening. king charles starts now. >> helello, yes, i it's charles barkley. >> were yoyou surprisesed that dodonald trumpmp -- amonong yoyounger voteters. >> y young voterers like a good come back, s story and t they ye -- > p politics, a anything can hahappen. >> a a personanal story -- >> i alwayays love thehe draram- >> all i w want for chchristmass you. anand you. -- y'all. >> from the cnn studios, in new york city, it's king charles.

>> we are not wasting time -- >> with gayle king -- >> and charles barkley -- tonight, astrophysicist neil de grasse tyson, writer director -- and from the new york times -- king charles starts now. >> going, in going in. welcome, welcome. we thank you for being with us tonight. and -- off the bat. charles, what's the name of your nba show i know -- >> inside the nba. >> okay, on tnt, i was watching that last night and you, he, you, sounded terrible. and i thought there's no way you can make it here tonight. >> gayle king, i'm never going to let you down. >> i was so worried about that. >> i'm gonna be here for you. >> i wasn't the only one who is worried that this is what your coworkers had to say about you last night. >> this can't be good. shaquille o'neal here --

we've got kenny, the jet smith. sick a lot. -- shaquille o'neal. >> why you got that mask on? i'm not trying to be sick on christmas. you're just disinfecting the area? >> >> chuck, let's not -- how we're used to seeing you. check, feel better. >> feel better at the -- he's not at the pub. >> no, he -- at the crib. >> the pub is the crib. >> so, the way i hear, they asked you to leave. they say, charles, you don't look so good, you don't sound so good. and you are asked to leave. >> yes, and i didn't go to the pub. >> where did you go? >> i went to bed. let me tell you something, if i am in bed at 10:30 at night, i am sick. >> how do you feel because i thought you had covid. i'm happy to say that he was tested and everything is fine. >> i do not have covid. i don't have covid.

ryan made sure that. today it didn't really care, though. they did say, check, stay home. he said we are gonna testy test you when when you get here. such a nice guy. >> i'm so glad. this is the thing, this is our last show before christmas. you want to tell people how you feel about christmas? >> i hate christmas, you know that. >> we are gonna talk about that a little later on. >> it's you have to give to people you don't like, all the people you give gift to, you don't like. >> i don't give gifts to people i don't like. >> and it's expensive. >> how much do you spend on christmas gifts? >> a lot, gayle. >> this is the thing, it's our last show before christmas. i had the idea, wouldn't be fun if we dress up in pajamas. and you said -- >> no! >> you said it just like that. you have a real whimsy? onesie. >> i do, and i have one for you too. it's a size six. we're gonna move along. you know why? we have a lot to get to tonight. i'm just glad you are healthy and right. all kidding aside, i'm very glad about that. donald trump, as you may have heard, was just kicked off

the 2024 ballot in colorado by the state supreme court, over what they deem was his involvement in the january 6th insurrection. the republican front runner's campaign has promised to appeal that decision to the u.s. supreme court. but that's not the only reason as the former president is in the news today. he has been facing criticism for saying that immigrants are, quote, poisoning the blood of the country. think about that for second, poisoning the blood of the country. last night, he addressed those criticisms. and then, he doubled down. >> and it's true, they are destroying the blood of our country. that's what they are doing. they are destroying our country. they don't like it when i said that, and i never read mein kampf, oh, hitler said that, in a much different way. >> something about those words, triggering for a lot of people, posing the blood of the country, because that is in the book mein kampf from adolf hitler. and while he may not have read it i think people close to him

may have read it. what did you think about those words? >> he's trying to make people fearful of immigrants, black people, hispanics, muslims. obviously, we have a lot of antisemitic stuff going on. i would even add jewish people. and i think it's a travesty and a disgrace that he's been able to do that. now, i do agree with this. we have got to fix immigration policy. you can't have people just rolling across the border 24/7 like they are now. but for a man who is running for the most powerful position in the world to use pseudo-racist rhetoric, that's one of the reasons i can't vote for that guy because, man, he just rubs me the wrong way. and people can vote to whoever they want to. but i just don't like it at all. >> yes, but he still has a lot of support. what is interesting to me is that even the opponents who are challenging him are saying that

-- >> they are scared. >> they are saying the courts should not decide what happens if trump should be on the ballot or not. trump supporters are very -- but there's other candidates need those in case something happens. they've definitely got to do it into iowa, new hampshire, and south carolina. they don't want to alienate any of the republican people. i'm not sure if they believe that or not. but who wouldn't want to take out the front runner? they are just afraid if the republicans are not gonna vote for them when they go to these caucuses. >> we are right in the middle of the political season. we are gonna do a deep dive into the 2024 election in just a couple of minutes. but we also need to talk about this. the senate aide was out of a job after he allegedly filmed a sex tape in a capitol hill hearing room. we're not gonna show you the details, but feel free to google if you are curious because it's there. i actually saw it. it's their. the aid, if you show it to me -- that aide who worked -- did you see it? >> no.

>> do you have any desire to see it? >> the aid who worked for democratic senator ben cardin said in a statement i have been attacked for who i love, to pursue a political agenda and while some of my actions in the past have shown poor judgment, i'll say, i love my job and would never disrespect my workplace. i thought, charles, that was a very interesting choice of words because i think the epitome of having sex on your job in a hearing room that is normally public is the ultimate disrespect for the job. what did you think when you heard this? >> i think having sex anywhere at any workplace is fireable offense. and he did not get fired because he used poor judgment. he got fired because he is just an idiot. and i say -- i said whatever i never -- will, that's not true. i'm always amazed when somebody does something really stupid. and he deserves to get -- you can't have sex at that workplace.

i mean, and he has nobody to blame but himself. and the one other thing that bothers me is one of the party, one of the republicans put a picture up, a poster, took the time to make a poster. he put the january 6th insurrection, and this guy having six on the other side, saying which one is worse? man, if you don't know which one of those is worse, you should not be a politician. gayle, i'm disappointed in amazed how stupid some people are. we all make mistakes. we're all human. but to do what he did is just -- >> in a workplace? >> in a workplace. that is an ultimate assigned to epitome. >> charles, this is the thing. i don't understand why anyone films himself in a public space. i think it's dicey to film yourself at home because you never know where the tape is gonna end up, or somebody gets that, they take the take. but i never understand filming

yourself in a public space. anyway, he is out of a job. and i think that's okay. >> we never talk about this before. >> what? >> i never understand why people take those videos, sexual videos. >> it's not something you've done? >> no. if you break up with us, that's going on the internet. >> the other reason i was really glad you are here today, in addition to your health, ja morant came back yesterday. that was your game last night. >> i watched the fourth before i checked out. and he had a buzz. buzzer-beater. it's great to have him back. >> so, he did the game-winning best. >> he did a game-winning shot. it was great to have him back. i just hope that he is tightening his circle up and have people -- the toughest thing about that, gayle. >> let's just see a bit -- of >> this is him m right there.

>> ja morant scores. >> look at that. -- >> but he said to infractions, do you think he's learned a lesson? i hope so. well, he's young. >> he's young but the thing that bothers me the most about ja morant -- >> you want to explain -- >> first of all, i never understand why anybody does that on social media because social media, for some people -- >> there are some redeeming values on social media. if you did not think people would say that. >> he filmed himself with guns, gayle. and the thing that i don't understand, first of all, if you have friends, when you take one of them and say, hey man, maybe we should -- he got suspended eight times the first time and then a couple of months later he does it again. >> if you got friends around -- he lost 8 million dollars. if you've got friends around you who think it's appropriate to film you with a gun --

one of the biggest problems we got in the black communities violence. >> yes. >> and for a guy who is that great a player to be focusing like who's made it in life, he's not a 9 to 5 guy. >> do you dismiss it, in addition to friends, hanging around, friends that don't have your best interest, do you think it's his age. because his 22, 23, right? >> yes, but let me tell you something. you do not need to film yourself with guns and things like that. >> i agree. >> it is just -- and i don't mind him having guns. he has guns, that's his own business. >> do you have a gun? >> i do, a lot of them. >> do you? >> i do. >> i am scared of guns. >> are you? they come handy one of the crooks are around. look, i feel safer with a gun, me personally. i don't touch my gun unless i go practice. i don't try to show it to anybody, but i feel safer with it. but i'm definitely not gonna put it on instagram like an idiot, especially after you

already did it one time, and less than two months later you did it again. and i never want to get on tv like a hypocrite. i am, i have a gun, yes. i feel safer with a gun. but i understand that my bodyguard, he is a cop. and we talk about it all the time. he says, hey, do not test that gun except for two reasons, if you're gonna practice or shoot somebody. i have never shot anybody else, gayle king. >> i mean, have you ever shopped the gun? >> yes, but i wouldn't want to shoot anybody. but if i feel threatened, and i will say, i have been arrested a few times for fighting. but i will never trust a gun unless my life depended on it. >> have you been arrested a few times for fighting? >> yes. >> i was young, gayle. >> i can't wait to hear that story. and you can get it is surging in early voting state. here's the question, could nikki haley grab the role and top that republican challenger. a lot of people think she can

do this. hopefully, new york times reporter astead herndon has an answer for us. he's joining us right after the break. you are watching king charles. ♪ ♪ ♪

so, we talk and limit about the former president at few minutes ago, but something has been brewing on the campaign trail for a different republican candidate. have you been watching this latest poll that shows that nikki haley is gaining ground on the former president in the state of new hampshire with 29% of likely gop voters saying they will vote for her as president. well, our next guest, we are lucky to say, was just in new hampshire talking to voters in the first in the nation primary state. we welcome you to king charles a stead herndon. >> thank you for having me, i really appreciate it. >> so -- >> go ahead. >> no, go ahead. >> my question is, what are you hearing, we've been reading a lot about the momentum for nikki haley. -- and when you look at the candidates up in the race, most of them are going in the wrong direction, ron desantis, vivek

ramos to, only the kind of other candidates who are not donald trump have mostly been receding. nikki haley is going to opposite direction. there's been donors, members of the party, the elite versions of republicans have really rallied around nikki haley. . >> and she's gotten some very big endorsements -- it's partially because of her debate performance. she's been looking strong in those and that's really helped her new hampshire which is a moderate statement has more voters. and it's more aligned with nikki haley. that's the good news. >> why do i hear a but coming? >> the bad news, when you look to the other state, it looks a lot harder for her. let's take her home state of south carolina when nikki haley was the governor. that's the place where donald trump still has a big polling lead and more importantly he has a lot of those state party activists, the people who won the primary, the people who get people to come to the polls. they're still very much with donald trump. so, there is good news for nikki haley in terms of being able to consolidate support from a slice of the party. it's much harder to see a path to that republican combination. and it's partly because donald trump has changed the party to such a degree. when we look from 2016 and now,

this is a different version of the republican party. and that version is really hard to see, be compatible with nikki haley. >> we have had a few politicians on, not politicians, news people on this show, and one of them, one of those first points was, why is president biden using so much in the black community? >> yes. i mean, that is really a central question of why biden's poll numbers look really bad right now. he's actually doing pretty good with people who are considered independents, swing voters. the kind of core of the democratic party, black voters, young people of color, young people specifically, where he has had some problems. and i think this goes back to some years. we have seen the numbers from democrats and black voters drop all the way back since 2012. there was kind of high-water mark in the second term of obama. and it's been going down little ever since. but when we talk to people specifically about joe biden, there is a sense among some folks when we tried to report on this, that they thought he would be a one term president. they thought that they were choosing a kind of emergency option. >> well, he did say in the beginning that he was gonna be

a transitional president. he did say that. >> that is a really underrated point. i actually talked to biden's chief campaign officer, and anita dunn about this. and she made the point, only said that once. and i think for a lot of people, that is something they held on to -- the thought there was an emergency in the donald trump -- >> at the time, didn't he say democracy is at stake, the slow of the nation is at stake. he needs to meet so many voters to think that this is the time to get us on the other side. he only said it once. is that what their say? >> the specific words, the ethos of the campaign, to a point, that he should choose this emergency never button, and that was gonna be something that he can provide. remember, he called himself a bridge to the next generation of democrats. i think for a lot of people there was an implicit one term in this, and so, when we talk to lot of voters, specifically younger voters, they feel like there is a kind of a broken promise that just makes them a little more uncomfortable with voting from a second.

now, it doesn't mean they won't do it, especially when it that reality of the choice comes clear next year. that doesn't mean in polling right now, they are little less happy about biden. i think that they previously were. >> the beauty of him being on here today, charles, you have your own focus group in the family. >> it is. >> set this up for us. thanksgiving dinner, you had a lot of people, friends, and family. >> for our podcast one of, i wanted to kind of follow up on these polling numbers because of the thing, bowling can tell you what people are thinking, but it doesn't give you why, the back story. doesn't give you how they are after that point. so i thought about why the black voters i know the best. it's my friends and family. over thanksgiving -- >> we have some tape. >> oh -- >> and then you can explain it to us on the other side. >> sounds good. let's see. >> why are black man more open to republicans, you think, then black women? >> i feel the democratic party has forgotten about the black male. what i mean by that is that one of the major demographics that we have as african american

woman amazing and strong, they come out in to the polls. but as african american men, sometimes we get left out. our needs, our desires, our wants are not always in the count. we kind of get pushed to the side. >> i want to say, i agree that black people and poor white people who are really in the same economic group -- i think that's one of the reasons they are running from the democratic party. making everything about race in this country, racism does exist, always has, and always well. we'll. but economic racism to me is the worst thing going on in this country. that's the reason, and i actually agree with what he's saying, even when i watch, when i'm watching the debates, they are like, well, let's worry about -- we really have to help the middle class. and i always say this, they never mention poor people. >> they never mention poverty.

>> that's a really important point. and that same conversation, i'm asking people, why do you think black people vote for democrats and such numbers. and the response was not about race, to your point. it was about they think that republicans are for rich people. it's a much more and a class think interesting. and i do think that some of the changes in that democratic party that we've seen over the last ten years might be more of an alignment with a more elite college educated language and some of those some of what we are seeing is attrition from black voters that may not be about race but may be about a kind of class difference that has changed. that totally came up in that conversation. >> i think it's interesting that it is all about the middle class. >> they never mention poor people. >> it is a really important point. when you listen in those debates, you're often here middle class, small business owners, those make some money. and for black americans, that is money that's not there -- i think for a lot of people, they are looking for who is gonna be the candidate that can speak to those interests. and i think that's gonna be, the onus is gonna be on democrats and joe biden to find that message that motivates them. >> you have the last word on that. thank you, mister astead

herndon. >> thank you all for having me. >> keep doing your thing, man. coming up next, congress passed and your law that might help us to find out if we are alone in the universe. so, charles and i went outside. we do this every time before the show. we go outside and d actually tak to youou, the peopople. > do you bebelieve in a alie? >> y yes, almostst certainlyly. ththe questionon is reallyly, ae they herere, right?? that's t the questioion, right?? > we see ststuff in thehe skl the time. >> you b believe in n aliens? >> howow do you bebelieve i amat one. >> b because you look k like a person. >> we have got an expert who can help us. she actually said that, how do you know i am not one, so with a straight face. astrophysicist neal de grasse tyson n is -- anand the way y her face l look.

i'm a little anxious, i'm a little excited. i'm gonna be emotional, she's gonna be emotional, but it's gonna be so worth it. i love that i can give back to one of our customers. i hope you enjoy these amazing gifts. oh my goodness. oh, you guys. i know you like wrestling, so we got you some vip tickets. you have made an impact. so have you. for you guys to be out here doing something like this,

it restores a lot of faith in humanity. can i just say, mr. butler barkley got jokes. he said to me, gayle, sound it out. welcome back! >> was that okay. >> welcome back, right before the break, you heard us asking people about aliens, that's because congress just passed legislation directing the government to release the records that it gathers on ufos within 25 years of collection. and we can't think of nobody better to talk about this with, world famous astrophysicist what's your name? >> neil degrasse tyson. >> he is the author of the new book, bestselling author, we should say, called to infinity and beyond. he's director of the hayden planetarium here in new york city. we are so glad you are here. we asked viewers to call you neil, and one of the most popular questions was -- >> it's dangerous, you know.

>> that's why we tape the call. >> come on tv live. >> but we would, we would. but this is one of the more popular questions. >> go for it. >> i, my question is, do you believe aliens exist in our universe? >> is that for me? so, i reserve the word believe for topics like religion and other things where -- >> why can't you just say yes or no? >> because not all questions have yes or no answers. >> -- >> none that i couldn't otherwise explained by natural causes. as being earthbound. yeah. there are things that look very odd to me but i know a lot about that sky, about whether, about climate, about lightning, about -- where venus is in the sky, what blimps look like in twilight. there's a lot of things, if i did not know this, i might confuse them for something

exotic or extraterrestrial. >> this is a very long answer. to me, it is such a simple question. >> i'll give you -- here it is. do you believe in aliens? you don't, because i haven't -- >> because i haven't seen one. >> but i presume something -- >> that is a good point, neil. >> first of all, that's not a good point. >> somebody else would have told me -- charles -- when they say take me to your leader, it will come to you. >> i just want to say this, i will tell you, it was an honor and privilege to meet you, okay? but if we had a person of color here who met an ailing, we wouldn't have you on the show. , okay, let me just say. >> i agree with you. i don't think you have to seen something to know that into exists. >> it's not about belief, it's about evidence. is there evidence? how compelling is the evidence?

do we need more for it to reach a tipping point where a skeptical scientist would say, there is good evidence for you. we are all in on this. >> science is always evidence based -- is their evidence? >> always. so, what we know is that the ingredients of life on earth, if you break it down atom by atom, hydrogen, oxygen, that is the water, h2o. we've got carbon, nitrogen, those are the most common chemically active ingredients in the universe. earth was opportunistic in its early moments, going from the primordial goo to life. >> just trying to figure out, are there, is there evidence there's aliens? >> not evidence that will convince a skeptical scientist, no. people holding their hands up, swearing to tell the truth in congress, that is not how we establish objective truths in science. we don't walk into a scientific conference and say, i swear this is true. give me a book i can swear on. that's not how we do this. you bring out the evidence. they did this in mexico.

they put the aliens on display in congress. if we have aliens, that's what they should do, try and say, we have got them in a locked box. now, in mexico, the next step is, you take tissue samples and send it to other labs. it's not just because one person and one lab says something, it makes it true. that's not what establishes the moving frontier of the objective truth of science. and he sent his to upset the universe will say, they're probably out there in the universe, i can't wait to find it. >> listen, i've never seen an alien either but i just find it hard to believe that we are the only ones on this planet. i do believe that we talk about ufos, and i do think they exist. but -- >> just to be clear, if there's something in the sky, you don't know what it is. of course it is a ufo. that is what the letter you stands for. you don't know what it is. and you just said you don't know what it is because you just called it a ufo, it doesn't then allow you to say i

don't know what it is, therefore it's visiting curious aliens. visiting our skies. >> i'm talking about in the sky. >> plus, there is six billion smartphones in the world. each of them is capable of high resolution photos and videos. if we had been invaded by aliens, that would have been crowd sourced long ago and it would have been on the internet. we have cat videos going viral on the internet. people had aliens flying near their airplanes, that will go viral too. >> thank you, gayle. thank you, gayle. >> there is a lot of things that are airborne -- >> you are welcome, charles. >> with a nice window -- >> i gotta ask you -- >> why is it that all the aliens are visiting navy pilots in restricted airspace? >> i got this question for you, and you just have to confirm how stupid man is. and i'm very proud to be a man. we have a list of who could land a plane.

>> there is a, police. >> 46% of men -- women were always smarter than men. only 20% of them said they can land a plane in an emergency. >> i think what's going on in the guy's head is i can be talked down to land this plane, if i have someone tell me, okay? not just come out there with no advice. so i bet the men are thinking, i can do this if i help, from the airport. but the woman are thinking, can you just land the plane? >> the question was, if there was an emergency, could you land the plane? the question wasn't if somebody talks you through it. >> i agree but i think the manner -- that's how we see it in all the movies. that's how they do it in the movies. >> let me tell you something -- men will be crashing and burning so fast. >> charles, even if somebody is

talking you through it, if somebody was talking you -- >> i think i can land a plane if someone stalking me through it. >> [laughter] [inaudible] seriously -- >> charles, if somebody was talking you through it, do you think you can do it. >> does it pull the lever, push the button, look at the knob. can you do that, charles. put you back on the basketball court. >> trust me, if i had that choice, i would have been out -- >> i think what they don't understand even somebody talking you through it in realtime, your brain can't focus and punch function like that. a regular person, you are like, what pushed this lever. there is a lot of levers up there. the real answer in this big 2024, the real answer is, you push autopilot, and that will land the plane all by itself. time for so at this point, --

>> all right, neil de grasse tyson. -- given what planes do by themselves. >> that's why you get paid the big bucks. >> much as much as i like you and respect you, if we have a person who's got aliens -- >> thank you, neil. >> and if you want to be like halle from wisconsin, who asked a question about aliens, we have our own special number here at king charles. what is it, charles? >> 18553434 king -- >> phoenix and philadelphia. those are his jersey numbers. 3434 is him. kane's me. >> that was gayle. in fairness. that was good. quick one -- cape canaveral in florida where they launch. you know the area code, 321. thank you. >> blast off. >> >> charles and i are very excited about this new movie. i can't wait for you to run or

walk to the theaters to see american fiction. it's got two golden globe nominations and it's getting huge oscar buzz. the director, cord jefferson, he's here. we will introduce you right after the break. ♪ ♪ ♪

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>> one of the scarves, you mean?

i do rag. exactly. that's the new movie, it's called american fiction. it's from in the award-winning writer. coy jefferson is his name. and -- it's getting a lot of oscar buzz with a capital b. you've got to hear the cast. jeffrey right, isa ray, tracey ellis ross, among others. we are very excited that -- jefferson is in the studio with us tonight, charles. >> i've got to ask, you how in the world to get this amazing cast together? >> people keep asking me that. i've never directed anything before the, 7 a written anything before this. but the thing that i say is the way that i got the ensemble's, this is what happens when you write real parts for black actors. i think there is a lot of what we talked about it every year, come awards we talk about how black actors are underrepresented and undervalued and underutilized. this was a movie that i really wanted to make sure that we have real parts for women cast. and so i tried to make sure that we stayed committed to character and we actually felt

-- real human beings, unfortunately a lot of people showed up to -- >> right now we can see the movie in new york. we can see it -- coming nationwide very soon. but what is the message that you want people to understand what this movie is about? >> because first, let me just say this, charles, he was on cbs mornings, and he had a flight back to l.a. at 6 or 7 o'clock tonight. i love this movie and -- i said, will you please, please, please stay? he stayed cousin view, he stayed because of me. but what is the movie? what is the message that you want people -- >> this movie, international, it's about what happens to people when they don't feel -- in themselves, and the strangest things that people always do when they feel they don't have the freedom to be what they want to be and there is a bunch of different themes and they are, but i think that one encapsulates -- >> it's a black writer, who are the story -- >> yes. >> the more outrageous and stereotypical it, is the more --

>> yeah, it's about a black author we've told at his work is never black enough. they want a black novel. and he says, what is a black novel? they say, you know, intercity crime, slavery, drug dealer, single mothers. and he says, well, i don't want to do any of that. i think that my stories are universal. they are black because i'm black. and so, why isn't that enough? one day, in the sort of fit of frustration, who voices very stereotypical book that he intends to kind of be a prank, and sort of embarrass the publishing world. but it instead turns into a huge success. >> so, when we were going over all the notes, you said you had to direct it. this is your first directorial debut. why was that really a important to you? >> why did you think you could do that? because some people say, charles, arrogance -- never done it before. >> neither really. i think it was just -- >> you know what you wanted? >> no. i think whatever they wanted

was to have control of the narrative, right? i think there is this general understanding in hollywood that films our directors medium and that you can be a writer and write a good script. but then if you give it to somebody and they -- attach a director to it that directive can just really change it the way they think it should say. >> and often does. >> and often does. i've talked to a lot of fighters who are pretty disappointed because i director sort of ended up creating a movie that they themselves were not proud of. and so, i just felt this story in my bones when i wear this novel and i had no piece of work, that ever resonated as deep as they had and still nothing -- as that novel has. i just felt like i knew the characters in the story so well as -- despite the fact i did know anything about lighting or cameras. >> go ahead. >> okay, i'm just talking, because i don't know what the heck i'm talking about. >> that's comforting, isn't it?

>> i love it. gayle king, he just can't say i'm a -- director. and go direct something. >> but he did. >> -- -- my question. who did you talk to about directing? >> a lot of different people. the first person who put the idea in my head was as he's ansari. i worked on him with the -- master of none season to. when we were talking about who is going to directly episode of the show, azeez -- i've never been to film school, i don't know anything about the technical aspects of it. and a.d. as he's ansari said, well, i had never come to film school, and i was nominated for a golden globe last year for directing. you don't really need to know those technical things. what you need is division. and you need to be able to articulate that vision to people who do know those technical things. and so, he really planted the seed in my head. >> that maybe i could do this? >> yeah.

>> look at your background though, cord. you've worked on watchman, succession, good place. master of none, as you mentioned. with that. so you still have a lot of rejection. >> oh, yeah. >> what happened when you got the green light? what did that feel like to you? how are you affected by that. >> it was incredible, and the movie -- when the meeting when they greening this film, i started to cry. >> tears? >> yeah, yeah. i was confident it wasn't going to happen. i have been pushing the rock appeal for so long, in the world of tv, and i had been rejected over and over and over again. i felt like, okay. maybe this isn't going to happen for me. when they finally -- the film. i was overjoyed. and it honestly felt surreal, like a dream. >> how much this of this movie is your experience? >> so much, so much. it's -- this idea that black writers are not really allowed to express themselves and come up over and over in my career for journalist and then in film and television.

3 months before i found the novel that i ended up with that thing. i got no from a tv executive that need to make a character who was black. and then i sort of said, what is black or me? you mean to explain what it means to be black? and the executive, of course, never followed up with that comment because to have that conversation is -- >> it's kind of ridiculous. >> also, it's a civil rights violation, i would imagine. it is insane. >> there is that, yeah. >> and so, yeah, there's a lot of the frustration that i felt about, again, not feeling i had the freedom to be -- the big work that i wanted to make in the big -- there's a lot of me in. their >> first, thanks for -- >> he's -- >> arizona type of thing, gayle king. >> i do know you had that or -- even nominated for a golden globe for best film and maybe the buzz continue cheering --

this is such a great movie and -- what's the name of it again? >> american fiction. >> american fiction is in theaters right -- now >> thank you so much. >> coming up next did you see this interview that -- ex congressman -- what's his name. >> can't wait. >> george santos? >> please go away. please don't go away. stay away. >> you've gotta discuss. this and -- take a break. we will be right back. >> we've got to discuss it?

in the words of lady gaga, you live for the applause. -- >> no. >> you would end? >> no. >> what can we get you to go away, stop inviting me tear to your gigs. >> so that happened. george santos broke the internet again. the ex congressman sat down with satirical talk show hosts ziwe for an exit interview of sorts. i think he raises a point, you want him to go away, stop asking him to do things. look, we're still talking about him. you have the last word. what do you say? >> number one, i definitely want him to go away, because he is not, quote unquote, famous for anything on good. the joke is on him. people not having him on the show because he's good. they're like, if i get this full on, i'll get ratings. you have to know when a joke is on you. hey, guys, this is our last

show of the year. >> of the year, yes. >> next year, i will say a merry christmas -- >> happy holidays -- >> and a happy new year and all that good stuff. i'll see you next year, but you can see her tomorrow on cbs mornings. >> i will be there, i will be. they're >> nice. >> looking forward to seeing you. i echo what charles says. have a great holiday. we'll see you in 2024, bye bye. [applause]

. man, when it rains it really, really pours. the supreme court better find themselves a really big umbrella. tonight, on laura coates live. so don't call it quite a throw back, but all of a sudden it feels like y2k. when the new year hits in 11 days from now, the supreme court will be saying bye to their free time. let's just say the supreme court will be a little bit busy. the nine unelected men and women that sit at the bench in the highest court in the