-- chavez union and favored stalin. and when he went on vacations he went to vote very a to the promised land and he really liked to discuss politics and my mother did not. i was not interested in politics at all from boring and uninteresting and.

stalin and bus brescia have seed so serious all the time -- pic they have the portraits in the house. >> my father was a member of the organization like the friends of the ussr. so whenever they make the new general secretary of the communist party. he was touched by this. then he started talking with my mother.

and it's where the rationale should be. [inaudible] hanging out at the seller smoking. of course my father affected me like a father does in many ways,

and so when i became a teenager and i discovered punk music, especially what fascinated me was the anarchists and and that seemed to be like the positive alternative. i can't say i like the music. [laughter] it was more of the movement and philosophy of the movement and the idea behind the punk movement and the class with

great emphasis on the feminism peace and anarchy. >> you say that they are two sides of the same coin. surrealism means believing unconditionally in your dream. how does that get into the picture for you? that is something that i got very fascinated with and it's something that just grabbed my attention when i saw it and the others and there was something

very fascinating about this. so, i started digging into and felt the manifesto and i was fascinated by the whole idea and it was also very political and in a way that manifesto was an inspiration. there are guidelines and very clear instructions. >> before you got to that it took you a lot of other places.

>> there are 350,000 people but it only takes a haircut to make you a celebrity. [laughter] so when i get a mohawk -- [laughter] they knew who i was. everybody knew who he was and i was in a band. >> from there to comedy and acting you had an immensely popular television show that was so popular the bbc picked it up.

in the midst of all of this, you do something else. as i mentioned, it starts in 2008 and there is the pots and pans revolution and something about that clicked for you? you didn't want to join it, that you wanted to do something. >> i was confused like everybody else. there was a lot. we have to keep in mind that this was in the beginning of the so-called global financial crisis. that is due to the fact that they were the weakest link and it all kind of just happened in a day or two.

and as a result of that there was that confusion people did not understand what was going on. they were angry at each other politically and people started losing the apartments into the cars and stuff was being confiscated and suddenly it was

useless and we didn't know what was going to happen, so the protest so-called pots and pans revolution started in the parliament every day. they demanded that the government resign and it took a household and thinks them together to make noise and it kept escalating more and more people and it got more and more violent. i forgot to mention that my father he was a policeman and i was following this and we lived very close by the parliament and

i would go down there sometimes and i could see in the crowd many of my friends angry and shouting and throwing stuff with their shields into their helmets and gas and stuff like that and i could see fear in their eyes also and behind the police there would be parliamentarian members peeking out the windows and there was fear everywhere and i just felt it was like an energy like a balloon and it is just a matter of time. somehow it occurred to me that maybe this is something that

somebody like me can step into and maybe i have some sort of a duty to step into this and somehow take this amount of energy that nobody knows what to do if and somehow challenge. i don't know if that makes sense. i wanted to channel this energy into something positive and maybe people will accept that instead of just breaking into the parliament and getting in fights with the police and maybe they can get rid of the fear and everything by voting for me. [laughter] and i would take all of this

energy and, you know, people would feel that we did something. it's a protest that everybody knows i'm a very nice guy. [laughter] is a win-win. i'm a nice guy that i come up with this nonsense idea and so instead of fighting each other we are going to have fun and -- >> let's talk about that moment because in the book you talk about creating the political party you are interested in people feeling and powered that way. in a moment of conception if you can say there was a moment when

you thought about cuts create a political party were you conceiving it as an actual political effort? in other words maybe i have a chance of actually winning this and people will vote for me or were you making more of an artistic statement thinking we can influence by coming at it as an artist to cause that's really what you were at that point. >> it was a little bit of both. i was aware that i might get elected and this might actually work. and i was pretty outspoken from the beginning. but i also was aware i might not get elected. it's kind of depend on how things turned out how it would

evolve. so i started to -- and i just had so much fun doing this. i stayed up at night writing articles that i would publish on my blog or webpages and it was like articles about the financial system that i had no knowledge of. ..

>> >> i am not sure yet. [laughter] yes. it was laid back.

do want a photo? no. amazon the facebook page. that is the list of people for the national registry, add the name and then i started to have political rallies started to appear in every dressed up in a suit in i had never war nasute and we tried to make it to have as much fun as possible. i wanted it to be corny. and it would be photoshop to so much that it was obvious

that it was voter shopped. and end to come up with the thumbs-up the universal symbol of i.m. find. [laughter] >> but it was extra long. >> and my son is a graphics designer. and then to have some content i went to the other side of the other political parties and by copy and paste it text from their pages so a was consistent

from all political parties. >> host: you issued proclamations of the moral code and we show everyone respect we don't but reacted as if we did. then we assure him what had great guy he is even if he calls a stupid. [laughter] >> i had a lot of fun playing with political correctness. and how very often especially with politics to

find to be politely disrespectful. but in a very subtle and a polite way. so with us because it us controversy for more women and the elderly. so i made up most of it. or i still live from the other campaign.

it was like the dinosaurs from jurassic park. i will set a meeting hall from all representatives in this absolutely ridiculous. everybody knew no family theme park would be built. it said was nonsense. its was just an ally. along with the dinosaurs from jurassic park. civic andy promised disneyland? >> yes. i am friends with

mr. disney. [laughter] and also listed not cost anything. nobody sponsored us. with those expenses out of their own pockets. >> yes. it was very important to to make get with the local. said you could see but when we would start getting together and would realize

is that we might to win reid decided it was a nine dennis and we realized we were a part of something that was bigger. that we were going to be honest. and willing to be dedicated. for the purpose to try to reunite people.

just to create more chaos. and anything else. >> and you had a wonderful manifesto. right after being elected. in which you said you have an appointment with the future and we would meet meet.with a new friend. how does that work out? >> is the emotional for me.

i felt sorry for many people. and i have been very successful with like comedy. >> then to have some tough years. i was prepared to offer my optimism and my energy to do

that. >> host: you had to do difficult things. you were taking over when the worst was hitting from the previous administration on the verge of bankruptcy like the public utilities. that had a disastrous possibility waiting for you. what was that like with that harder decisions you had to make? >> after the elections. we had meetings with city officials with the reality of a situation. and that was just terrifying. i did not realize the situation was so serious.

and we had to make a budget before december. so we had to find ways to close the budget. instead of the free tallows and i promise i raised this service fees of. >> one of your campaign promises everybody could get into the public pools for free and have free tallow's. >> everything should be free. [laughter] >> that was a broken promises. >> i promise to break all my promises. i was open and honest. i can promise would ever because i will break all my promises.

>> we had to raise service fees everything that could be raised maintenance especially roads and public parks in the we had to do layoffs. and then we realized and then had to run the schools properly. but the conclusion was we

could do it by merging tour three schools together we did that. and that the same time cut the overhead instead of the education. and that costs a lot of debates and in anger when we announced that. it had neighborhood meetings with parents and teachers and everyone said you don't have to do this but i have

to explain why we we're doing the s&p able to explain that we were forced to duse's so of course, the e has no idea where he is doing he is the clown. that was a terrifying time. >> host: it sounds absolutely awful. and just talking about fatigue with the office of mayor i have never been so tired of my life as an end this jobs the debate with the toes in the hearts and

the brain and the eyes. and that was also due to the decisions postponed for so long there was a big political race. so i did not intend to to have a career in politics. it was just reality something that had to be done. but i had to understand it

why i was doing it. so we had meetings that lasted 20 hours have people sat it in the office at city hall people would fall asleep exhausted. we would have pizza valens coffee. -- and coffee. after that i was so tired. i remember one moment in particular i was so exhausted. i have a very, i had difficulties as a teenager. i was sent to a special institution for troubled

teenagers in a remote place where i spent two and a half years. >> host: they believed to have learning disabilities? >> guest: yes. and possible brain damage for something. today it is called a day ht -- adhd. i had problems. and when i came back from over two years from this remote place and i felt so lost a.m. i had no contact

with anyone. i did not have a role. but there were like people light teenagers of similar circumstances that picked me up because i was living and sleeping in just roaming the streets. sleeping in the bus station. and the people from the city picked me up and took me to the teenage shelter to give

me soup and cocoa and conversation. one day with this process process, when we we're doing the budget so long meetings to the point of exhaustion exhaustion, i was headed meeting where there was exactly, zero woman awarded for her work for troubled teenagers. and i as mayor handed her the award. and everybody knows about this is an icelandic.

most people are familiar with my story. because i could not remember maybe that was a decision i had made a decision to close down the things that saved my life. i was trying because i did not know. but i have these times when i was so exhausted and tired and i have never experienced anything like that in my life having to understand something. [laughter] i have problems with numbers a and i am also dyslexic.

but we were not closing it down fortunately. >> in addition to the financial problem you made some radical decisions for of marriage to make -- a mayor to make that you attended some important defense and called for iceland and refused to receive the official on foyers -- when one boy and banned the cia use of the rate of thick -- reykjavik airport to. most of these word national importance how do do this as

the mayor even though it is a large city? how was it received when you come down on big national issues like that? >> i have been inactive pacifist and human rights activist, i a consider myself to be a feminist, . >> host: this is something that you have a real partnership with your wife throat the campaign and your time in office and she was not as public as you are you describe it does the true partnership and those initiatives were done in cooperation with her.

>> and every step of the way. she is as much a part of this as i am. and to the floor and make any decisions i would counsel with her. in to end to go under the name the spiritual leader. [laughter] >> host: this is part of the big national decisionmaking? >> yes. i have been active all my life and i have protested

against wrongful incarceration so after i became mayor, i thought should i put this aside now? or should i use the opportunity while i am the mayor to give it even more leverage? i decided to do that. when i started as mayor, that is something that happens when you become the mayor, the ambassadors will meet with you. so when i met with the ambassadors from the

country's that have capital punishment i had a very polite letter i would give on capital punishment to the ambassadors of you that but -- of the united states. but then there was this delegation from china that came for a visit and i had of being with them. from the communist party so are used the opportunity to oppose the wrongful incarceration and get the nobel prize for literature and regarding nato, i have

always been opposed i am not opposed to nato i have an understanding but i don't see any reason we have nothing to contribute to it. so i tried to explain to people. i think we should have nothing to do with it. not sure where nato is going. that we should invest in peace to declare iceland

maybe not iceland but propose to declare reykjavik the first military free zone in the world. and i made an agreement regarding military aircraft with the bay and the fall military aircraft ht airport in reykjavik. >> host: did that happen? >> no. they don't respect it. [laughter] there is still a military items. and it was customary end the

war ships from the harbor that the mayor would have a reception and i did not feel comfortable with that. and i don't think they care. [laughter] that come was a lot of controversy feeling that i was being disrespectful to other countries nobody could say i was a rude and disrespectful i was always polite but this is just my opinion. everybody took it well except for chinese.

they were insulted. >> host: what was the best part about being mayor? >> the best part was to be able to have a positive impact on people's lives to say something on facebook and i was not prepared for international attention. that was not something was prepared for. solos that came as a surprise to me.

i didn't take people noticed outside advice land but when i started. >> you got all kinds of notice not just political attention and to the cultural we also have lady gaga the mayor of vice land even noam chomsky my favorite mayor. no competition. >> we really did go world wide? and what is lovable is we come not of this does a real champion of participatory

democracy and the book is full of quotes about that you'd have to be a politician politics must attract a of a wider range of people in an anarchist criticizes from the comfort of his armchair the cannot leave science to scientist for the occupancy to politicians simic that is great. did i say that? [laughter] >> host: your words. how obviously a champion of participatory democracy that you held on to that coming out in you have ideas.

>> but what we have been successful in doing just like a gnome chomsky we have managed to create something that works so what is the best party? is the typical protest but it is not political protests party are usually hateful looking for someone to blame we would not blame anyone.

end others will say the local celebrity every said the votes for him because he is the celebrity. and the most exceptional thing is that we lasted the whole term, for years years, nobody quit and they all stayed friends. it worked. that is something that is very much important now with the alternative because part

of that is the alternative. ended is the universal old globe will need. let's take this negativity and channel into positive. or the clown party. [laughter] or the happy party. >> host: the party has continued the people that remained in office from that made the election.

>> but that party is no more. those to continue in politics merged into a new political party that is called a bright future that is now the second or third the largest political party in because it is not a political party but to do something it is a combination but it is not democratic.

i say it is not possible. but you can help some poor person because that is the spirit. >> you also advocate for the next digital democracy? what is that? >> we implemented the

software and we found the budget where the citizens can come up with ideas. and we are touche throat these ideas serves the system. so in a city council member comes up in the exact same way in the best part is in my mind into that dysfunctional circumstance it is like the intervention

the dysfunctional family the professional comes from outside to stay with the family for a period of time to get them touche talk together and to get them more functional but then they do not become a member of the family. [laughter] even though everybody loves him or her it would like them to stay but this person has to leave. so i see it as an intervention.

so if we were to continue that would be the best possibility and my job is done. i paid did what felt was my duty to do and i took it as far as i could. >> host: would you do would again? >> i don't know. i am not sure. i cannot say really. i don't know. >> host: last question before we open to the audience. how does comedy fit into a tall as it is that the core of your being? leading tear acting even in the politics in a way.

>> comedy for me is a a mecca it is an aspect to end in my opinion he ritchie is probably what comes closest to free will. so i think we should try eighth to use it to our it vintage as much as possible and to the least in my country culturally with the lack of intelligence the

more you smile though less intelligent you are. but i have always been my experience i have always felt my humor and optimism has helped me to overcome obstacles and it has saved me many, many times to see the funny side of the. to see many personal

difficulties through comedy and just like to mention to the - - cent ritchie rigorously popular in icelandic. >> un not be recognized beyond. [laughter] >> but shaved heads? i would not have known it was you i'd like this show i would have no idea it is you. you are very good actor but it doesn't even look like you with that physical resemblance. >> it was like being that

guy. and i was him more or less three or four years. >> host: did pc yet? was seized around? >> to recognize himself? that must of been interested in. [laughter] >> he didn't talk about it but he realized but my mother talked about it everybody saw it as we had seen from my family fascines from my family in the series but it was more than just him.

so just brutally it was not just him. there were many other characters and when i was home practicing guidelines before shooting because i shaved my head i had hair here so looks like i could take off of costume then

realize when i was brushing my teeth in the morning sometimes i would snap into the character with my family and my wife would snap back me and say snap out of it. [laughter] because i would turn into him and he took over like being obsessed. >> host: an amazing performance you shall watch. any questions? any answers? >> do you feel like you're empathy as an actor and understanding humans helps you to do negotiate what you needed to do as a politician

to get things done? >> and to play a different characters to be able to emphasize with that. in even if i had a trouble some relationships with my father i empathize with him because he had a hard life and that made him into what he was. so i would say that my whole

experience helped me enormously as the politician because like being a stand-up comic that i don't know how that will react to me. and that is the same with politics. and how do you say in english? to reach the clouds? you could see it in people's eyes and that is what we

have done successfully as a politician to see the people then i realized what was going on. >> were you surprised by the interest in your time because mayor of reykjavik? andy you think your experience as the possibility of an american jon gnarr? >> i was surprised how well

the book has been received and out inspirational rice story -- my story and a very good chance from with the u.s.. probably not at a national level but the policy level and it would not surprise me in this city like teacher '08 and i would see signs i have been in contact with

germany and austria. bent on of many is a policy level. and we would tend to sink big but sometimes it is better to sync small and as i have said before to be in the world of the dinosaurs. and to be any threats to the dinosaurs but it's i feel a

wave, there is a sense of people being tired with politics. and they want politics to change. and i sense that people want to receive more apathy is maybe more cooperation also a lot of energy because some people don't agree on something that we don't get what we need.

and i am thinking maybe i could write another book or a manual. >> hello. did the dinosaurs change in any way that they regarded you with the way they

watched to implement the policies? did they start to watch the wires? with great promises what did they learn from you? >> yes. with many ways. and also with the social democrats in iceland on icelandic politics. to say that i have changed politics in ice land forever and we would never be allowed to go back.

i don't know if that's is true but to prove that it is possible and even if we don't agree on everything everything, we can still communicate in a non-violent way without being rude or aggressive. end what people say, politicians are communicating indifferently. if it will last, i don't know. it is too soon to say.

>> host: all right. i will actually ask the last question. there is a lot of talk about you coming back to iceland with politics weather running for mayor or president. will that happen? >> i don't know. honestly i do not know. there has been talk of it and many people who were interested. but i don't know. five have not made up my mind. [laughter] it is just one and a half months since i have quit. i guess i have not come to

the distance that i need to make the decision. but i am a very responsible person. i tried to be a very responsible person. >> host: you have proven that. >> and if i feel strongly it was my responsibility that this is something you have to do than i could do that but if i don't answer that i will not do it just to do it but only if i feel the responsibility. i have carried so much responsibility i have been avoiding responsibility for the past one and a half months.

no responsibility. [laughter] empty your mind. [laughter] that is what i am trying to do to see where i float. >> host: i will keep my fingers crossed. in the meantime thank you for coming out also '02 jon gnarr not only for the book but for his career. [applause] . .

and especially hillary clinton. so, your book now comes out and the angle that you take is fascinating because the suggestion here is that the clintons are not just a marriage of 38 years, but in fact a political worship and a business

enterprise. i think you say that the clinton foundation have $214 million last year, something like that? that's an incredible way of looking at the business. so, help us to understand what are the dimensions? >> guest: like many businesses there are several leaders and they are bill and hillary clinton although they are emerging leaders we can get into and i also suggested that it's not just the primary goal of money like other corporations though that is a major goal but it's also the political fortune that since leaving the white house in the cloud of scandal and impeachment and all of these unsavory things have really fought their way back and they have created this organization which is a multimillion dollar and anyway multinational and they are now sitting on top of the political and global elite. whether she decides to run or ends up running or becomes

resident doesn't really matter because i think the story is so fascinating anyway but as you suggest this has never been done before. no other political couple have achieved so much success in so little time and come from such an idea to where they are that is as pinnacle as i suggest. >> you mentioned they have the wealth and power and you say that the subtitle is meant to kind of skewer them because you talk about the audacious rebuilding so given that they are coming from the point they went through the impeachment and the scandal, you don't see this as a good thing you see this as an evidence of people that are shameless in a way. >> any sort of politician requires the shamelessness to stand up on the stage and say i'm the best politician there is nobody better than me and trust your kids future in me and my

abilities that there is a bit of shame but it's not all bad. one of the keys to the success has been this philanthropy or this vision of them giving philanthropy that has been enormously successful and perhaps in some way it has helped people and sort of trickle down to how people need across the world so there is a shamelessness for sure. it's not totally shameless. it's a more complex and i hope more nuanced approach than just a single label to these political couples. >> host: newt gingrich decided the title should be clinton inc. what did he suggest? >> guest: he suggested how the mutual marriage -- >> host: it just strikes me that conservatives at the moment are preoccupied with hillary clinton but the clintons in

general and part of their preoccupation is the idea that the liberal media is insufficiently critical of the clintons and part of that is in your book people are reluctant to talk about clinton inc.. >> guest: this is the conundrum. what they are saying now is for political gain but as i was reporting the bug i was struck by how many republicans had only nice things to say about those bill and hillary and how they have this systematic approach. bill clinton obviously is mp tried republicans, not democrats. they realize when they lose the white house that their problem is with republicans, not democrats. so he calls up all of these republicans and has these late night phone calls with newt gingrich and whenever he sees one united states senator he says great job on tv last sunday. just a small compliment that are