a cheeseburger, the family gave away the rest. that is why my kid never gets a hold of my phone, that's it for me i'm yasmin vossoughian, i'm back here next saturday and sunday 2 pm eastern. symone starts right now. 2 pm eastern. symone starts right now. greetings you're watching symone, today we are gonna be on the beltway, we're early voting numbers for the primaries are in and they're hitting an all-time high. parents help is on the way for some of you, much-needed baby formula finally arrived today in the states. we've got nbc's meagan fitzgerald, she's live in indianapolis, plus candy burris is here, we're talking everything from brockway, to business, and you know that include season 14 of the real housewives of atlanta. i'm symone sanders, and i have something to say.

georgia voters are mortified than ever with the primaries just two days away, we've got new numbers from georgia secretary of state brad raffensperger's office, and it shows early voting in the peak state surged ahead of tuesday's primaries. 2022's total is up to 112% from 2020. and 2020 was a presidential election year, so that's pretty good. now let's look at the party lines, we've got republicans who cast nearly 500,000 early ballots, while democrats cast just over 368,000. so, what insight can early voting numbers and the primaries actually tell us about how things will shake out in the general? i'm so glad you asked, because we have nbc news correspondent ellison barber, on the ground in hot land to break it down, welcome ellison. okay, so nearly 900,000 people voted early in a primary, in a

midterm here. what is happening and what can this mean for november? >> yeah, i, mean it's a really big deal for me when i look at those numbers and think, what does it mean as we move past tuesday's primary. it tells me the people here are incredibly engaged, at the numbers and i know you touched on them, they're so big, i'm gonna say it again anyways, over 850,000 georgians turned out to vote early. that's children 12% more than in 2020, 100 and 68% more than we saw in 2018. remember, georgia passing incredibly controversial voting law back in 2021, critics of that law, democrats as well as voting rights groups say that that law was voter suppression or, plain and simple. now because of these early voting numbers, you have republicans and supporters of that controversial law, pointing to the numbers to say, voter suppression is not happening here, because the numbers are so i. on the flip side of that you have democrats and critics of

that bill saying, no, no, no that's not what's happening here because of that law we need to work harder, we had to work differently in order to mobilize voters and get them to the polls. just because we've worked very hard to get more people out to vote, that doesn't mean the hurdles are gone. they say that voter suppression is still an issue for the state, but voters here are very engaged, they're paying attention, and head into the november election you've got to expect to see high turnout here. >> voters do seem to be very fired up, alison, democrats they did hold a fund-raiser last night, governor terry -- stacey abrams are there also senators don -- what can you tell us about that fund-raiser? >> yeah, i was really interesting because for me it felt like it was one of the first early senses of where they're gonna take the campaign as we head into the general election. stacey abrams, doesn't have the challenger, but last night you

would've been forgiven if you thought that the primaries had already happened because she didn't talk about purdue, she did talk about the other republicans, she specifically attack and criticize governor kemp. that tells you who democrats are expecting to be there likely challenger, that's with the pillow poll shows as well. despite donald trump endorsing david perdue it hasn't been a lot to pump him up in the polls. cam within over 50% lead ahead of him, as we're days away from this listening to incumbent seven or raphael warnock, he talked about abortion, that's a huge issue here, remember georgia passed the heartbeat bill which essentially makes abortion illegal for most people know they're pregnant. that is going to be a very big issue in this race, the likely republican count on the senate, herschel walker, he supports all a bad of abortion. we saw warnock do last night was described himself as pro life, but say i don't think that the government has a place in the doctor's office. and he specifically went on to

say that if he's candidate claim they're pro-life, if they're pro-life, they would support medicaid expansion. we're gonna hear a lot of that as we move ahead, things are ramping up, simone. >> nbc's ellison barber, giving angelic vibes from live from atlanta, thank you so much. i want to bring in our political panel, we have democratic congressman and secondary vice chair of the congressional hispanic adriano espaillat of new york, immigration have an executive director sergio gonzales, and writer and large for the bulwark tim miller, welcome, welcome everyone. congressman, i actually want to start with you, you know the pulse, which you say should always be taken with a grain of salt they do show that republican incumbent georgia, brian kemp, running away with the primary over his trump endorsed opponent david perdue. alison just finished telling us all about the massive turnout that we're seeing there, what does this signal to you ahead of the midterm elections?

congressman if you're speaking we cannot hear you, we're gonna keep the conch -- >> it says basically, that the trump candidates are a mixed bag. in some cases but they work, in some cases they don't. it's not a complete sweep, to be backed by former president trump and i think that a lot of it has to do with the party elders, and elders are running away from it they don't want to be associated with -- and vice president pence and now they want more moderate republican party. it seemed to be walking away from the former president, so, it's a mixed bag and we see what's happening in pennsylvania, and we've seen other places across the country were trump back candidates have lost. so, there's a reaction within

the republican party to walk away from president trump. i think the very much split. >> i see lots of heads nodding here on my screen. you know, tim, let's go to you at least 15 people have pushed false claims of the 2020 election they are running for attorney general, running for states, one of them is the trump endorsed attorney general john gordon, in georgia, who definitely bowed to open a new investigation into the conspiracy theories if he is in fact elected. you know, if you were working on a campaign this cycle i'm just wondering how worried would be about the possibility of some of these folks getting elected, these election deniers, tim, come on? >> yeah, symone, i'd be very worried about it, i disagree with the congressman and what's really happening in these republican primaries right now. what you're getting is that candidates that are either, basically a few different slavery is of trumpism, you

have altered trump, you've got trump regular, and then you got trump light. nobody who's actually running away from him in a meaningful way, that's why those endorsements aren't working because even the candidates who do not have his endorsement, are co-opting. let's look at the georgia governor's race for example, we had a focus group at bulwark, listen to republican primary arsenals into them to let that say, and there with brian kemp because they think that he stuck with trump. he passed a voter suppression law, after the election, and kind of went along with some of the and they're lying element of the big law. he tingle all the way there, he didn't do it david perdue is doing, and barrett virus himself, and essentially go pro coup. but he did enough to tap into the maga base, i think that's what you're saying in these primaries, certain states wonderful maga, some said that they had before -- but we saw in pennsylvania where they nominated mastriano to be the governor.

i think in georgia you're seeing an incumbent governor, people are happy with him, he didn't do the covid restrictions like they did in blue states. he passes voter suppression bill, that's good enough, those are the two different kinds of brands that the republican party right now and -- running away from them is just a matter but whether you're going full hearted of. >> let's bring you to discover that's talk about the democrats, sergio, for folks that don't know you were a senior policy adviser to vice president kamala harris when she was in the senate. you worked for way too many heavy hitters and politics for me to name right now, all lose all my time in a second if i ran down your rap sheet, i'm wondering from you from the democratic side of this, what issues do you think, where do you think frankly the democrats could be successful in the south, this cycle? >> well,, i think there's a few major things the democrats can do number one, we know there are some major issues that are really important to the base,

and to latino voters, to vet black voters things like health care, -- this means ensuring that people have the ability to pay the rent, have food on the table, so there's a lot of these unresolved issues whether we're talking about -- so democrats really need to find their messaging. if they're gonna turn out those base borders on these critical races -- >> i agree, let's go to texas, texas also has an election on tuesday, and let's talk about the republican attorney general primary. they have a scandal, kim paxton, and he's facing off against texas land commissioner george p bush. now tim, you know a couple bush is okay, you work for a former florida governor jeb bush. i'm wondering if you think the bush name still carries a hefty weight in texas? >> i wish it dead, symone, but unfortunately not. >> you hesitated tim, you

hesitated. >> look, back in 2015 iran when i was working for jab, one poll that stood out we asked -- what was the thing that in like about it the most. we are trying to figure out what was blocking us from getting the traction that we wanted. and about 40% of the people who responded that poll said the thing they didn't like about him was that he was a bush. it was just his family name. -- that is just ready to be finished with bushes. i think that no matter how much you stack up to trump, if you're someone like george be, jeb sign, the voters just aren't gonna look past that -- trying to move on from. and so, i think that's why you're gonna see unfortunately george p lose to a scandal like you said kim paxton, who went on with the insurrection. i think frankly, in just one man's opinion, he may have been better off running as an infinite instead of trying to challenge the coalition a smaller portion of republican party, sums --

he decided to take the trump route, he basically got out trump by the trump attorney general. >> all, right let's talk january six. because the committee investigating the insurrection there now ruffling feathers. because they have rejected the justice department's request for transcripts of closed-door interviews. the committee chairman is -- and he says that the requests were premature but there are some people who are skeptical. this former house judiciary committee counsel mike conway, and he actually did an op-ed for nbc news and he said that the committee's decision is quote, a big blunder, he warned that it could jeopardize justice departments effort to hold investigation investigators permanent countable down the line. congressman, you're not on the committee but can you give us any insight on what your colleague strategy might be here? >> that committee has engaged in a very deliberate and

professional investigation, and process and thousands upon thousands of people have been subpoenaed, have come before the committee, others have not come before the committee the justice department has requested transcripts, but i think at the end of the day, the committee will cooperate with the justice department at the right time. and they will hand over important information that they're asking for. but that means is no matter what happens in the future, the department of justice will have the evidence to proceed a potential criminal investigation. so, i don't think this is a complete door shut down, i think the committee needs to be deliberate and he needs to move forward and not -- cross all the eyes across all the t's before the add more material to department of justice. >> congressman, you have the last word there, new york congressman adriana espy auto -- thank you all very much for

joining us. coming up, the fight, not the fight but the first flight that is carrying more than 70,000 pounds of baby formula, it has arrived now this is relief to some parents in need but this isn't the first solution to the very terrible situation where i am. we're gonna get into it. and later, my culture corner with comedian loni love, an actor and producer christian keyes, we're gonna get into a revelation from viola davis, and the turnover on saturday night live. but first my colleague -- other top news stories. cory. >> stories we're watching this hour, russian forces are intensifying their assault on eastern ukraine as focus grows on the last ukrainian stronghold of luhansk. a ukrainian military officials said, hospital net area only has three doctors and enough supplies for ten days. ukraine president volodymyr zelenskyy is pressing allies for more military support, and called the situation in the donbas quote, extremely difficult. president biden arrived in

japan today as part of his first visit to asia as president. he's expected to emphasize the u.s. japan lines including collaboration on economic issues during talks tomorrow with prime minister and emperor. and new york, new video out of new york city where police say one man was shot and killed today on a moving subway train. the gunman opened fire while the train was in manhattan on -- police are still searching for a suspect. more symone after the break. ymone after the break. this is art inspired by real stories of bipolar depression. i just couldn't find my way out of it. the lows of bipolar depression can take you to a dark place. latuda could make a real difference in your symptoms. latuda was proven to significantly reduce bipolar depression symptoms and in clinical studies, had no substantial impact on weight. this is where i want to be. call your doctor about sudden behavior changes or suicidal thoughts. antidepressants can increase these in children and young adults. elderly dementia patients have increased risk of death or stroke.

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emergency in new york city because of the shortage of baby formula, merrick eric adams, made a declaration today to try to prevent price gouging many formal available in the city. new york's joining the state of new york new jersey in declaring an emergency. also today, a military plane landed in indiana carrying 132 pallets of formula that will

give relief to some, only sam, american families. meanwhile, abbott the company that shut down formula production which help with the shortage were they released a statement in the form of an op-ed in the washington post. abbott ceo robert fold writes quote, the company sorry for its role in the formula shortage. he also said quote, we're making significant investments to ensure this never happens again. now here's my two cents, abbott could have, should've done more to help head off the formula shortage. it's nice that they're offering us the statement, but it's not enough, it doesn't cut the mustard. but let's talk a bit of that input -- we have nbc's meagan fitzgerald, she's at the airport in indianapolis where the formula arrive just a few hours ago. now meghan, would everyone wants to know is who's getting this formula, how will they get it, when and when will regular inferred formula becoming? >> well, symone, it's great to be with you.

those are great questions that everybody wants to know. the answer is, it just really depends because what we saw today's 70,000 pounds of this hypoallergenic formula, this is gonna go to those babies who can't tolerate the former that you would go to your store to purchase. what we know is that it's fda approved, but that nestle also does their own quality control testing, they tell us that there's a portion of the shipment that we received today that those results are really coming in the next coming days, they will then ship that out to hospitals, health care providers, because this of course is a prescription based formula. so, in the coming days there's gonna be some families a little to receive that. but for the rest of that shipment that we saw today, it could be several weeks before those test results come back, and of course distributed to families. but earlier today with a chance to talk to the secretary of agriculture tom vilsack, he says look the federal government doing everything they can to try and get this formula in the country and in the hands of parents. take a listen to what he has to say. >> the reason why we are doing

this, it's obvious the critical need that is out there it would take approximately two weeks for the normal commercial process to work. to get it from zurich, switzerland, and distributed as a result of the united states military's involvement, we're gonna get this here in a matter of days. and a matter of days means a lot to moms and dads who are worried. >> now, the secretary also said that we can expect to see another aircraft coming from europe, carrying gerber formula, that's the form of that you can go into stores and get, and he said that we will continue to see these aircrafts coming from europe to united states with the formula, because again, this is all hands on deck effort to try to get this formula, to give relief to the parents. more on, edge symone. >> megan, thank you so much nbc meagan fitzgerald's, she's live from the airport in indianapolis, thank you, thank

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and helping you plan for future generations. this is "the planning effect" from fidelity. i'm very excited about my next guest. she has been letting cameras record the nitty-gritty of her life almost 14 years. now take a look. >> i've got so -- she cries when i hang up. >> candy burris has been a staple on the very popular real housewives of atlanta bravo, but she is also a producer, a music artist, an actress, a business woman. she's all that and she is here. candy, welcome. you've got a lot going on, right? i mean it's a lot, it's safe to say. >> yes. a whole lot going on right now, and even more to come in the next coming year.

>> let's just run the rap sheet for the people that don't know. you have won a grammy for the number one single that convinced everyone in the late 90s to given a love to -- you are part of a-scape. you help break racial barriers on the play thoughts of a colored man i, broadway play. now you've got to play the piano lesson making its broadway debut in september with some little names like samuel l. jackson. talk to me about this, particularly broadway. >> yes, well you know, i've always had a love for broadway. i am like super excited to be coming on as a producer. from childhood i went to the school of the arts and when i was in high school i -- a lot of people don't know that i had a musical theater background. and as a child it was in

theater arts program. i always wanted to be an actress. i wanted to do broadway when i grew up. so known to be a producer is the major thing for me, and i not only am getting a chance to do it once with thoughts of a colored man, but now i'm doing it while being able to be a producer on the piano lesson. i'm so excited, because now with this new production with samuel l. jackson starring in it, i mean, my god. i am a fan, obviously. >> aren't we all? who is not? danielle, you have some heavy, heavy hitters. in addition to parts, you are also -- your candy the business woman. a line of baby products. i didn't even know you had baby products. we did the research. i'm like candy got the baby products know? you've got cosmetics. you've got a restaurant. i'm just wondering, how do you

make the decision to foray into some of these different areas? >> well, with my restaurant, my husband convinced me to go ahead and let's do some southern soul food. my family always cooked. that was something we always wanted to do, but we never did it. my husband was like let's just go ahead and do it. it has been super successful for us. we have multiple locations now. we even have a television show about our restaurants. it's called candy and the gang. the restaurant is old lady gang, but the show is called candy and the gang. it's been great for us. but for me it's kind of easy because we just really do things that i think it's natural things that we love. everybody loves the eat, right? who doesn't love to have fun in the bedroom? i mean, you know?

>> that's a fact. >> beauty products can -- women love to be beautiful. i'm a woman. i'm a mother. i have kids. everything or things that are natural to me. >> it's personal. let's talk a little bit more about some of the personal, because the real housewives of atlanta, it has been standing the test of time. we see a lot of the personal there. we're going to the 14th season, now? >> yes, season 14 right now. >> wow. . >> i didn't think i was going to be here this long. i've been here 13 of the 14 seasons, which is crazy! okay? it's a long time. it's been good for me. i met my husband by doing this show. i had my kids. people have seen my kids grew up on the show. i've been really connected with the fans by doing this show, so

even though i've had some -- on the show as well, i just feel like my lows -- my heights have definitely outweighed my lows. and just continue to do it. >> you've got a preview for us for what we can expect on the show tonight? >> tonight, we will see a little bit about bedroom kandi, but actually, i'm taking the girls to new york, because they will see and get a chance to take them to the plate tonight. i'm taking them on the trip. you will see also -- they'll be putting some heat on drew's husband. she's having flashbacks of all the things that she went through with their own husband. that's why she's given drew's has been such a hard time. >> okay, well i'll be watching. i am a real housewives avid watcher. i appreciate you. i can't wait.

i'm will tweet you. and instagram. you kandi thank you for being here. we appreciate you. >> thanks for having me. >> after the break, the coauthors of a new book about george floyd and the struggle for racial justice are joining me right here at the table for very deeply personal discussion. the painful story that brought the book to life and where they uncovered hope. stay with us. the uncovered hope stay with us stay with us ier looks like? cvs can help you support your nutrition, sleep, immune system, energy ...even skin. so healthier can look a lot like...you. cvs. healthier happens together. right now, we're all feelin' the squeeze. we're having to get creative. find a new way. but birthdays still happen. fridays still call for s'mores. you have to make magic, and you're figuring out how to do that. what you don't have to figure out is where to shop. because while you're getting creative, walmart is doing what we always do.

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for nine minutes and 20 seconds he suffered. to the police officer knelt on the back of his neck. george floyd was a victim of police brutality. it was caught on video which forced all of us to witness the murder of a 46 year old black father. now, two years later, we more ghana versus three of his death. i remember watching that video like so many of you on 2020. i actually connected the call between the floyd family and president biden during the 2020 presidential campaign and i remember then candidate biden promising that georgia's death would not be in vain. it was the worst stretch of my work life that i have ever had. listening to that call. -- many principles before, but i had never seen sobbed silently

on the call, listening to that call between president biden and the floyd family. i remember that week, because after seeing black murder after black murder after black murder, we'll still have to keep on working. it is cumbersome but i know so many people out there feel the same. people are wondering, is this ever going to change? is this making a difference? i'm excited about our next two guests, because washington post reporters tolu and robert. very excited about this. they have broad context to would happened on may 25th, 2020 in their new book. his name is george floyd. one man's life and the struggle for racial justice. authors are joining me now. i spoke with him about this book will i was working in the white house. told, oh i want to come to you first because i remember

talking to robert, particularly, about why did i need to give an interview for this book, and he gave such -- i mean, he convinced me about which makes this book special. so i want you to share with the audience what makes this book more than just a biography of george floyd? >> this is a book not just about the nine minutes and 29 seconds that we all saw, floyd suffocating, it's about the slow death that america essentially inflicted on floyd over several decades, and we wanted to show deep reporting ways of how floyd struggles, how he's tried, how he had ambitions, how he had dreams, of flesh and blood, not just a symbol or protest sign. he was a human. we take it all the way back to the 1800s to document how his family was a proud family of wealth that was stripped away from it because of racism, and he came into the world porn still strived. how he struggled amid the impacts of systemic racism. we want to show how he was

suffocated way before he met derek chauvin. how he had to strive in the midst of the hard pressure he faced and how how black americans driving to -- despite all the efforts that are made to keep black people down. he continued to strive and black people continue to strive even if the aftermath of his death. >> robert, would moments and george's life, prior to his murder confirmed your alarm, if you will about how systemic racism threatens to corrupt the spirit of every american? it's something you said in the washington post today. >> when i heard about george floyd's relationship to his -- he was given the gift of height, he was given the gift of speed. those things that were natural to him, that were supposed to be used as a way that got him a scholarship to pull his family

out of poverty. when that didn't happen it became a threat to everyone. george floyd had to spend the rest of his life trying to convince people that he was not a threat. one of the things we talked about in the book is the book starts with the words i love you. we start with those words, because that is something george floyd said to everyone. everyone who knows him would say that. he did that, because he did not want to lose his hope in this country. also, he didn't want people to lose their faith in him. >> you know, so often i think the narrative about black fathers and america, specifically, is really reduced to being absent or negligent. tolo, can you tell us about the impact of his father figure? >> floyd was a father figure before he was a father. he was someone who was looked up to in his community, his family.

helping to take care of his younger siblings and nieces and nephews. when he became a father he was so committed to trying to do right that he left his home town because he felt that in houston he couldn't make a living for himself. he had a criminal record and texas was an especially tough place for people with records to try to get work, so he left. he went to minneapolis chasing opportunities, wanting to be a better provider, a more present father. he met his and in minneapolis because the police officers there did not see his humanity. but he was someone like i said earlier, was striving. part of that striving was wanting to be a better father and having to leave his community to try to provide, because his home state was so discriminatory towards people like him, that he had to leave. that showed how much he wanted to help and wanted to be a present father. it was unfortunate that he had to run into directional van on the day he did, and now his daughter has to live without a

father. >> you know, i said it in the opening to this conversation with the two of you that i think the book that you wrote is very important. it's not just a rehashing it would happen, but it really gets context, and analysis. i also think it's important, because two young black man authored this book about another black man in america about one of the largest papers in our country. i think it speaks volumes that it is the two of you that put the story together. what does it mean to you that the washington post not only gave you the greenlight but put the sources behind you and this very particular way to tell the story? robert, you first, then toluse. >> well, we are thrilled that we had a news organization that saw us and able to see our time. but the story could bring to

people -- what it could bring to people. i want to let your viewers know that toluse and i were very conscientious about producing a story that could be reduced to the idea of pain and pity. we know that is not the full nature and context of our people. one thing that we want people to read, and we hope folks can understand is the persistence that happens, the persistence that people take on george floyd's cause because despite all the pain they've been through, they still believe in the idea of the american providence and george floyd, and begging with the officers with the agents of the state, anyone who knows him with tell you he could bicep or curl 100 pounds. he made it to the end believing there was grace in the american system. we were delighted to bring that

message to the world. >> toluse? >> i will just quickly add to that. there is this common phrase among people of faith. but there for the grace of god collide. robert and i know we've not had lucky breaks in life. if we hadn't had lucky breaks in life, we would've been in the same place as george floyd. we are journalists, not activists. we don't represent anyone in the story, but we do bring a level of empathy, and we thought it was important to write the story researched with empathy and accuracy to tell the whole story, not just the snippet, not just a soundbite. not just the stereotype. we hope people pick up the book because we feel we did that over the course of 400 pages, including more than 400 years of american history. >> toluse and robert samuels, thank you so so much. again, their book is his name is george floyd and it's available now. a program note.

reverend sharpton will be talking to george floyd's brother, felonious, and that is coming up on politicization. you do not want to miss it. i'm going to head into the culture corner and we will get into a couple of headlines getting a lot of talks on the group chats this week, including the via -- revelation about viola davis with the director once called -- it's insane. please make sure you check out diamond hands, the legend of wall street. it tells the story of the gamestop short squeeze, and the people who took on the most powerful financial institutions in america. you can see this tonight at 10 pm eastern or msnbc or streamed on peacock. i saw it. i promise, you it is amazing. saw it i promise, you it is amazing i promise, you it is amazing ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

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stiff or uncontrollable muscle movements, which may be life threatening or permanent. these aren't all the serious side effects. now i'm back where i belong. ask your doctor if latuda is right for you. pay as little as zero dollars for your first prescription. it's that time again for segment we call the culture corner. we're gonna have some wonderful culture critics with me today. our comedian is here and actor producer is here. let's get into it. hey, lonnie. hey christian. first, we're going to talk about oscar winning actress viola davis. we will talk about which she said and then we will talk about that show. so, she talked a variety about the barriers that were made for black actors in hollywood. check out hermès --

>> people can't reconcile the blackness with spiritual awakening. and sexuality. it's too much. it's too much when you look like my made louise. i say that, because i have a director who did that to me. he said louise! i've known him for like ten years and he called me louise. i found out his names -- his made's name was louise. >> his made louise? lonnie, how does this happen? >> all we need is a name. we just want to talk. she would not release the name. we just want to talk. this is really -- i understand what she was saying but it feels like it was a bigger point that she was trying to make. which he was also saying is this is part of a story where she was saying that as a black female, i can go to hollywood and i can be a mother with sons

and compton. i can make that movie. i cannot make a movie being a 56 year old black woman in tuscany trying to reinvent my life. then that is when it came that she said, he said, he called me louise. it bet -- it means he basically looked at her as help. this is a whole new day. let's stop it. this is why we need viola davis. she is always transparent. she's always outspoken. she's not afraid to talk about which she has been through, and these are some of the horrific, stupid stories that she has had to deal with. >> it is truly and saying. christian, what would you have said if you are in viola davis's six shoe asian? >> well first, i'm glad she was class enough -- she took the high road by not giving the director's name. secondly, as a man with seeing with black women go through in

the industry, i think it's been a long time thing to wear. black women have had to almost asked permission to be excellent. and that silver. it's a new day. i'm offended for her. had that been me, the way my spirit is set up, i would have corrected the person as politely as possible. i would have tried to, but that's not okay. as someone who creates content and rates well, treating black women as anything less than is not okay. it's not appropriate. that day is over. they don't need to ask our permission to be phenomenal. to be great. to be legendary. we need to check that. >> and the thing is, simone, we don't know when this was done, so it could have been at the beginning of her career when she didn't of which she could to say a voice, and don't worry, christian, twitter detectives will find out who that director is. don't you worry.

>> it's the fbi. ha. i want to stay on viola davis. she got grief for her portrayal of former first lady michelle obama and a new show prime series called the first lady. viola responded to the chat and she told bbc news that the black backlash was quote, incredibly hurtful, but she did as she understands it's part of the job. y'all, i watched it. honestly, it did come off as a caricatured of the former first lady. did you all see it? >> did you watch the whole thing? did you watch all of it? >> i'm not done yet. i've been halfway through. i'm not done. but, loni, it was given extra. >> it gets better. christian can talk about this more. he's an actor. i think that was an acting choice, but it does get better. the thing i'm upset about based on twitter is that they based

it off of one little video that they saw. one. and they all went crazy. they didn't look at the whole thing. i want people to watch all the episodes. i think it's like six or eight. it gets better. >> okay. it gets better. christian, i want to ask you as an actor and i want to turn it over quickly. forecast numbers of saturday night live's have left the sketch show, and i'm talking kate mccann, in davidson -- among the form. here's a look at kate's goodbye last night. i wanna play this for you. >> earth. i love you. thank you for letting me stay awhile. live from new york, it's saturday night. >> christian, do you think these departures are gonna hurt the show? >> i do think they may, because these people are brilliant and sketch comedy is very, very tough. but i think saturday night live

isn't going anywhere for a long time. >> okay. >> simone, can i just say -- i know we've got a little time, but saturday night live has always been a stepping stone. they said the same thing about tina fey, will ferrell, it will go on and provide a stepping stone for other comics to come through. it is a good thing. kate will be missed. she will make movies. they don't make a lot of money, because it's not prime time, so this is a way for them to open up and make other projects. i think it's a good thing. >> loni love, and christian keys, thank you. we will be right back. keys, thank yo we will be right back. verizon just gave us all a brand new iphone 13. (dad allen) we've been customers for years. (dad brown) we got iphone 13s, too. switched two minutes ago, literally right before this. (vo) iphone 13 on us. on any unlimited plan. for every customer. with plans starting at just $35. all on the network more people rely on. you know liberty mutual customizes your car insurance, so you only pay for what you need? oh, like how i customized this scarf? wow, first time?

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of your saturday with me on this edition of simone. i'm simone sanders and you can catch me right here on msnbc every saturday and sunday at 4 pm eastern and anytime over on peacock or i have new episodes of the msnbc hub on mondays and tuesday's. but right now, i want to hand things over to my good friend, reverend sharpton. hey, rev! >> hey, simone. thank you for handing it over to me tonight is always. good evening! welcome to politicsnation. tonight's lead, bell weather. >> right now, early