ron stallworth was modest about his accomplishments at the film's new york premiere.p, penetrating them was very easy because they didn't take time to recognise the signs that something was not right. you had two different voices talking to you, one in person, one on the phone, and they didn't recognise that they were being had. it wasn't difficult at all. you for the white race, ron? oh, hell, yeah. so it becomes a combined... both: ron stallworth. can you do that? with the right white man, you can do anything. spike lee was drawn to ron stallworth's story for many reasons, he was certainly impressed by him as a man. courageous, heroic. i mean, the klan don't play, they kill people, they murder people, which are acts of terrorism. homegrown terrorism. so, to do that back in the ‘705... i mean, it was no picnic. a key klan member scrutinised in the film is its former grand wizard, david duke, a pivotalfigure in the organisation. actor topher grace portrays david duke. thank you so much for never putting your country second. the first half of the film really shows more

ron stallworth in the '70she infiltrated the kkk. >> jimmy: ron stallworth.s a great name. >> stallworth. >> jimmy: ron stallworth, and w he's -- and, sn john david washington -- >> denzel's son. g he'sat performer. >> jimmy: denzel's son is the lead in this movie, and he's awesome. >> he's great. >> jimmy: john david. i go -- i never -- i don't know -- i never saw "ballers." i don't him that well, his acting but he was fantastic. so he's talking on the phone, t en it's adam driver who actually goes and has meets these guys, and those guys were great too. >> yeah, well -- >> jimmy: well acted. >> adam driver plays the white ron stallworth. >> jimmy: ron stallworth, yes. >> so, john david's character can only could talk to him on phone, but in person he can't do that. >> jimmy: p. >> so adam driver, those guys team up. >> jimmy: and they start kind of working on -- almost likeprn sion of each other's voice. so they can be like -- be like, "hey, how are yodoing?" he's like, "that's not how the way you sounded on the phone." it's like, ", no. that was -- well, i

. >> chief, black ron stallworth over the phone, white ron stallworth face to face, a combined ron stallworththat? >> i believe we can with the right white man we can do anything. >> spike lee has been america's most daring cinematic voice on race for nearly 30 years. and his latest film "blackkklansman" is like history written with lightning. based on the true story of a black colorado cop who infiltrated the ku klux klan in the early 1970s. the film is being hailed as the movie of this moment. driven by lee, examining race in america as only he can. i caught up with him earlier to ask about the significance of this film premiering under this president, known in spike speak as agent orange. spike, thanks for, first of all, doing this. >> thank you, my brooklyn brother. >> yes, sir. we come up, same generation in brooklyn. >> yes, sir. >> which is why i know there it was important to you for this blockbuster film to come out around the first anniversary of charlottesville. >> yes, i wanted the film to be released, "blackkklansman," on the one year anniversary. i knew people would be talking a

both: ron stallworth. can you do that? with the right white man, you can do anything. stallworth‘s story for many reasons, he was certainly impressed by him as a man. courageous, heroic. i mean, the klan don't play, they kill people, they murder people, which are acts of terrorism. homegrown terrorism. so, to do that back in the ‘70s... i mean, it was no picnic. a key klan member scrutinised in the film is its former grand wizard, david duke, a pivotal figure in the organisation. actor topher grace portrays david duke. thank you so much for never putting your country second. the first half of the film really shows more of what the modern—day idea of racist was at the beginning of the ‘70s, kind of beer belly, redneck dude. and then david, the most evil thing about him, he's really brilliant, he figured out a way to put a different face on racism. america first. all: america first! duke is heard using words that president trump has also uttered. throughout lee's film, there's connections to be made with events in the 1970s and the present—day, most notably when the film

, who infiltrated the klu klux klan in the 1970s. >> black ron stallworth over the phone, white ron stallworthallworth. >> can you do that? >> i believe we can. with the right white man. >> what was the film about for you. >> seeing a group of people help this african-american man achieve the goal to execute this mission. they believed in the case. they believed in him. they did not look like him in that time in colorado springs. >> the movie is funny, relevant, and at times tough to watch. most difficult scene in the movie for you? >> the banquet scene. >> the true white american race, the backbone from whence came our great southern heritage. >> it felt the most authentic, the hoods and the celebration of this institution. an institution of hate. talking and hanging out with fellow actors that were playing clansmen, we had to joke around between takes to shake it off because of how real it felt that day. >> "blackkklansman" isn't john david's first for ray into a spike lee film. at 9 he appeared in malcolm x co-starring with a certain other actor with the same last name. >> we didn't land on

i will continue in that role -- >> black ron stallworth over the phone and white ron stallworth face-to-facewith the right white man we can do anything. >> i love that >> spike lee and ron stallworth, we will talk about the movie, mr. lee, joins us now at the table. welcome, welcome and congratulations and we've all seen the movie and been talking about it all morning. that it started with a call from jordan peele and it sounds like a skit. >> i thought that's what it was. and thank you for having me this morning. >> what did he say to you? >> he called me up and said i want to pitch you something. you can't get more high-concept hollywood than this. six words. black man infiltrates kkk. >> but it was a true story. you'd never heard it. >> never heard of this guy, the story, nothing. >> yeah. >> go ahead, ron. the black man -- >> i have heard of spike lee. >> where did the idea come from? take us, you are in the department and you see what that makes you think i think i want to try to get in the kkk because you know they don't let black people there. >> i didn't know that. >> so take us ther

. >> black ron stallworth over the phone. white ron stallworth face-to-face.man, we can do anything. [ cheers and applause ] >> jimmy: "blackkklansman" opens friday. please welcome john david washington. [ cheers and applause ] ♪ >> jimmy: i have to say i'm a little disappointed you don't have that beautiful afro. >> oh, yeah, yeah. >> jimmy: that's the most perfectly shaped afro i think i've ever seen. >> shout-out to lawanda, they did a good job. everybody did a good job. >> jimmy: john, john david? >> i'm saying this right now, it's john david. mom hates it when people call me john. one name, only admmiddle name. johned, david, no middle name, washington. >> jimmy: you don't need a middle name. >> exactly. >> jimmy: is there space between them or all mashed up? >> it depends on the feeling. [ laughter ] >> jimmy: you go with the flow. >> yeah, yeah, yes. >> jimmy: so did you -- growing up did you have a lot of famous uncles and aunts around all the time that didn't seem weird to you? >> i mean, like -- so my favorite movie was "glory" growing up. [ cheers a

spike lee's message in the film i think his message is the same one that the real life officer ron stallworth wrote in his memoirs which basically he says i'm going to paraphrase if he has a black guy with the help of some decent white folks and some decent jewish folks managed to show white racists for the idiots that they are and triumph over them in that way then what could the country do if everyone can begetter but the talking about trying to divisions within american society in fit my lowest fear is talking about his latest documentary what's that about right like spike lee michael moore is of course a very political filmmaker whose movies are meant as a wake up call his new film is called fahrenheit eleven nine it's his attack on donald trump and how he got elected now along the way michael moore looks at hate groups at this he meets with victims of the school shooting this february and parklands florida and more continues to do what he does best which is painting broad polemical strong as acts of violence in this country like never seen. in the trailer moore says that trump will be th

this is based on the stranger than fiction story of ron stallworth.e formerly all—white colorado police force and decides to infiltrate the ku klux klan. he gets an advert from the press, phones up and says he wants to join. he works his way up the chain all the way to david duke, the grand wizard. when it comes to face—to—face meetings, they have to get someone else to play ron, so they pull in his partner, played by adam driver, who isjewish. they say, i will do the voice on the phone, you do it in person. they have different attitudes to the case initially. here is a clip. i'm not risking my life to prevent some rednecks from lighting a couple of sticks on fire. this is the job. what's your problem? that's the problem. for you, it's a crusade, for me it's a job. it's not personal. why haven't you bought into this? because you are jewish, brother. the so—called chosen people. you have been passing for a wasp. a dull white boy. why do some light skinned light—skinned black folks folks pass for white? the balancing act is between humour and horror. it

saying what he should have said immediately in the aftermath of what happened to miss heyer. >> ron stallworth"blackkklansman." it is based on his life. ron, thank you so much for taking time to be with us. >> my pleasure. thank you. >>> breaking news, representative chris collins has suspended his re-election campaign among insider trading charges. sarah westwood has the story. we'll be back with sarah in a moment. ♪[upbeat music] ♪now i'm gonna tell my momma♪ ♪that i'm a traveller ♪i'm gonna follow the sun♪ ♪now i'm gonna tell my momma ♪that i'm a traveller transitions™ light under control™ ♪ ♪ i can do more to lower my a1c. because my body can still make its own insulin. and i take trulicity once a week to activate my body to release it, like it's supposed to. trulicity is not insulin. it comes in a once-weekly, truly easy-to-use pen. and it works 24/7. trulicity is an injection to improve blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes when used with diet and exercise. don't use it as the first medicine to treat diabetes, or if you have type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis. don't take truli

this is based on the stranger—than—fiction story of ron stallworth.who in the 1970s becomes — he joins the formerly all—white colorado springs police force and he decides to infiltrate the ku klux klan, and he — initially he gets an advert from the press with the phone number, and he rings up and says "i'm a white supremacist and i want tojoin the klan", and they believe him, and he starts working his way right up the chain, right up to david duke, grand wizard. but when it comes to actual face—to—face meetings, of course, they have to get somebody else to play ron, so what they do is they pull in his partner, flip, played by adam driver, who isjewish, and they say "ok, well, i'll do the voice on the phone, you do it in person". but they have very different, initially very different, attitudes to the case. here's a clip. well, i'm not risking my life to prevent some rednecks from lighting a couple of sticks on fire. this is the job. what's your problem? that's my problem. for you, it's a crusade. for me, it's a job. it's not personal, nor should it be

denzel washington's son-- john david washington -- stars as ron stallworth. k-k-k leader david duke. "black-klansman" is rated "r." (lydia) coming up in the next hour... police are investigating a shooting that killed a man in castro valley. we'll have the latest in a live report. (lydia) plus... a mother and her two daughters are killed in a house fire. now investigators say it started... when the mother set áherself on fire.fire. a homicide investigation in castro valley.im live with the details. ( james ) plus ... the search is on for this man ... accused of sexually abusing a child. outside lands kicks off today...bringing hundreds of thousands of people to golden gate park. golden gate park. (darya) good morning i'm darya folsom..(james) and i'm james fletcher. lets start the morning with a check of weather and traffic... some changes in the forecast to look forward to in some changes in the forecast to look forward to in the way of cooler temperatures and improved air quality. temperatures along the coast will again be felt in the 60's and 70's with 80'

. >> this is ron stallworth calling. >> who am i speaking with? >> david duke.t david duke? >> god. last time i checked. what can i do you for? >> well, since you asked, i hate blacks. i hate jews. mexicans and irish. italians and chinese. but my mouth to god's ears, i really hate those black rats. and anyone else really that doesn't have pure white aryan blood running through their veins. >> i'm happy to be talking to the true white america. >> god bless white america. >> that was a scene from director spike lee's new film, "blackkklansman" out today purposely released one year after charlottesville's race riry ri riot. a true story of a black colorado springs police officer who successfully infiltrated the kkk. that officer would go on to strike up a relationship -- so joining me the man that portrays duke in the film, a pleasure. and congratulations on this film. >> thank you. thanks for having me. >> you have been acting for quite a while. a lot of roles. the grand wizard of the kkk. did it take you a minute to say yes? and once you did say yes, tell me why.

this is ron stallworth calling. who am i speaking with? this is david duke. well that they need to bring down the klan. and the language that john washington need to use when he impersonates a ku klux klan wannabe, it's quite harsh. how did he deal with having to say those words, be that character? that was the job. he's undercover. in fact, there's a scene where he's, like, holding the phone so the other guys can hear it and everybody‘s laughing. so there is humour in this film. and as people, especially white audience members, they're, like, looking around, like, "is it ok to laugh?" but they can laugh. ijust don't want people to laugh at the end of the movie. i find it interesting in the film, ron stallworth jokes that david duke could never be elected to president. that line made me laugh, it made me smile. intentional! we put a whole lot of things like that in the film. my co—writer, kevin willmott, automatically had people think, like... today, today. and we did that because we're firm believers of history repeating itself. this stuff you see in a film

you're talking about ron stallworth, the cop who infiltrated. on the phone. >> tofe ar grace. >> but it's david duke. watch this. ♪ >> hello? >> this is ron stallworth calling. >> who am i speaking with? is. >> this is david duke. grand wizard of the ku klux klan. that david duke? >> god, last time i checked. what can i do you for? >> well, since you asked, i hate blacks. i hate jews. mexicans and irish. italians and chinese. but my mouth to god's ears, i really hate those black rats and anyone else really that doesn't have pure white aryan blood running through their veins. >> talking to a true white america. >> god bless white america. >> let's talk about it. i don't want to give away the ending to the moo vie and what happened. this a true story. as i'm watching it, people were sitting in the theater going oh -- they were like, i can't believe this happened. did this really happen? i'm like, yes, this did really ma happen. >> and it's still happening today. i hope this film is -- i used the word, two words, wake up, in all my films and all go

no, early '70s, ron stallworth.jewish. >> right. played by the great adam driver. >> adam. driv and what ensues is fascinating, and it's also, you know, it moves you. because you see thend words the actions of the kkk. >> well, i haveay a felt that words hurt. i never believe that sticks and but what we try to do, even though the film takes place in the '70s, we still put stuff in the filmhat connects it to today. so this is a very, very contemporary -- it's about today, this film, about where we are in the urld i feel. >> no question you saw that through line and then the this powerful ending, which i don't think i'm giving a spoiler alert. >> peoplw kbout it. >> we go from this dramatic y story tha have told to images from charlottesville. >> and chising weekend will be the one-year anniversary. mi as i understand it, you were wrapping f about this time -- >> no, i got it mixed up in cannes. >> yeah. >> august 12th was the day of that horrific a of american terrorism. so we weren'thooting until the fall, but that

serious message at the heart of this movie and it's the same message that the real life officer ron stallworth wrote in his memoir when to try to paraphrase it basically he said that if he as one black guy with the help of some decent white white folks and some decent jewish folks manage to take down or triumph over the white racists by showing them to be the idiots that they really are than just imagine what the country could do if like minded people came together talking about betraying america as division another filmmaker who often does that is michael moore and he's got something out that's right and he does like spike lee michael moore is very political he's a filmmaker his movies are meant as a wake up call and his new film is called fahrenheit eleven nine not to be confused with his film fahrenheit nine eleven that was about w. bush this is about donald trump and he takes a look at america now he takes a look at hate groups he interviews survivors of the school shooting this year in part in florida and he does what he does best which is painting broad polemical strokes. now in the trai

. >> reporter: "blackkklansman" is the hollywood take on ron stallworth's take about his time as a polkkkow in the world did you come up with the idea to infiltrate the klan? >> i was talking to ken o'dell, the local klan organizer, on the phone and told him that my sister had recently dated a so-called n word. i hate that term. but had recently dated one. and every time he put his filthy black hands on her pure white body it made me cringe. and i wanted to do something to stop that abuse of the white race. his response to me was you're just the kind of man we're looking for, when can we meet? >> only in america. >> yeah. that's when i thought okay, what have i gotten myself into? i've got to do something. >> reporter: a black man infiltrating the kkk sounds like something from this famous dave chappelle skit about a black white supremacist. but in this case stallworth says it actually happened. he still carries his klan membership card with him today. >> i have a warped sense of humor. if i'm ever in a fatal car crash some poor cop's going to come on my mangled black body, go flu my pers

tom: the central character in "blackkklansman" is a real-life figure, ron stallworth, black police detectiveho infiltrated the white supremacist group the ku klux klan in colorado springs in the 1970's. he did it by striking up a relationship with klan members by phone, and then ate circuit police officer, a colleague, stood in for him in face-to-faceeetings. spike lee was drawn to the story for many reasons. he was certainly impressed by him as aan. spike: courageous, heroic. i mean, the klan don't play. theykilled people, murdered people, which are acts of terrotesm. homegroworism. to do that back in the 1970's, i mean, it was no picnic. >> grand wizard of the ku klux klan -- that david duke? k tom: a kn member the film isin former grand wizard david duke. >> america first. america first. tom: duke is heard using words that president trump also uttered. throughout lee's film, there a b connections made with events in the 1970's and the present day, most notably when it transitions from a fictional ku klux klan rally in the past to the very re protest in charlottesville a ye when white supr

this is based on the stranger—than—fiction story of ron stallworth. the 1970s becomes — he joins the formerly all—white colorado springs police force and he decides to infiltrate the ku klux klan, and he — initially he gets an advert from the press with the phone number, and he rings up and says "i'm a white supremacist and i want tojoin the klan", and they believe him, and he starts working his way right up the chain, right up to david duke, grand wizard. but when it comes to actual face—to—face meetings, of course, they have to get somebody else to play ron, so what they do is they pull in his partner, flip, played by adam driver, who isjewish, and they say "ok, well, i'll do the voice on the phone, you do it in person". but they have very different, initially very different, attitudes to the case. here's a clip. well, i'm not risking my life to prevent some rednecks from lighting a couple of sticks on fire. this is the job. what's your problem? that's my problem. for you, it's a crusade. for me, it's a job. it's not personal, nor should it be. why

hello, this is ron stallworth calling. who am i speaking with? david duque.ite environment trying to persuade racist colleagues as well that they need to bring down the klan, and the languagejohn washington need to use when he impersonates a ku klux klan wannabe, it's quite harsh. how did he deal with having to say those words, be that character? that was the job. he's undercover. in fact, there's a scene where he's, like, holding the phone so the other guys can hear it and everybody‘s laughing. so there is humour in this film. and as people, especially white audience members, they're people, especially white audience members, they‘ re looking people, especially white audience members, they're looking around, like, is it ok to laugh? but they can laugh. i just like, is it ok to laugh? but they can laugh. ijust want people to laugh at the end of the movie. can laugh. ijust want people to laugh at the end of the movielj find it interesting in the film, ron stallworth jokes that david duke could never be elected to president. that line made me laugh, it made me

i know he called ron stallworth, the man who the film is based on. >> it's ron stallworth's true story that's interesting. >> not getting ahead of it now, it comes out friday. i what's also interesting in the films also kind of funny. it's not a comedy, i wouldn' ll it a comedy but there's humor, a lightness to its touch. >> thiss what' so brilliant about spike lees he is able to take this subject matter that's so heavy and kind of open it to more people so his message gets out there. it's more -- it's a fun moviee and m devastating at the same time. >> i heard you had an unusual way of destressing. >> this got a little bit too much press. >> it's too late now. u've got to tel us. >> in my free time sometimes, this is only the geekiest hobby to have, but i will edit films -- not films i'm in. i have no want to be an i work with great editors who are much better than me. i thought you could edit together the whole hobbit movie. it's stupid. >> it's adorable. you take the whole six hours -- >> there's a lot more than that. there's like nine hours of hobbit. it was so depressing, this res

. >> this is ron stallworth calling. >> who am i speaking with?david duke. >> grand wizard of the ku klux klan, that david duke? >> last time i checked. what can i do for you? >> well, since you hate plans, i hate to allow you to go down and anyone else who doesn't have pure white arianne blood. >> talking about pure white american. >> god bless america. let's talk about it. i don't want to give way to the ending. this is true. >> yes. >> people are sitting in the theater like, ah, i can't believe this necessarily happened. i'm like, yes, this is nearly happening and still happening today so i hope this film to which wakeup, not all of them, going back to school days came out in '88. there's a lot of time but not for american. i don't know when it will be and also like that that what's happened the last 18 months, a few registered the vote. mid-term election. i dmoent what's going to make you want to vote. this is evidence what happens when you don't show up. i know there's others. i know there's shenanigans going on. >> when you listen to the rhe

. >> be sure to watch my interview with john david washington, the actor who plays ron stallworth, that'smorrow morning on the "today" show and of course right here on msnbc as well. this is the ocean. just listen. (vo) there's so much we want to show her. we needed a car that would last long enough to see it all. (avo) subaru outback. 98% are still on the road after 10 years. come on mom, let's go! (avo) right now, get 0% apr financing on the 2018 subaru outback. two index funds with a zero expense ratio. and zero account fees for self-directed brokerage accounts. at fidelity, those zeros really add up. ♪ saved by zero gimme two minutes. and i'll tell you some important things to know about medicare. first, it doesn't pay for everything. say this pizza... [mmm pizza...] is your part b medical expenses. this much - about 80 percent... medicare will pay for. what's left... this slice here... well... that's on you. and that's where an aarp medicare supplement insurance plan, insured by unitedhealthcare insurance company comes in. this type of plan helps pay some of what medicare doesn't. an

and we'll be speaking with ron stallworth. a that for today. we'll be back next week. press." >>> you can see more "end game" and "postgame" sponsored by boeing on the "meet the press" faceok page. >>> a number of mass shootings multiple deaths and at least 28 wounded in a bloody weekend in chicago. >> an earthquake str es a tourisstination. the casualty count rises. >> china calls out president trump over the infamous trump tower meeting.>> charlotte rae who played mrs. garrett on different strokesas died. >> a sea of dogs in california hanging 10. early today starts now. i'm frances

and we'll be speaking with ron stallworth. that's all for today. we'll be back next week.ress." >>> you can see more "end game" and "postgame" sponsored by boeing on the "meet the press" facebook page. . >>> this morning we're getting new pictures and details surrounding over 80 deaths resulting from a powerfully devastating 7.0 earthquake at a popular destination. >> a weekend with multiple plane crashes including one at a los angeles shopping center and one in switzerland. >> one of the most powerful vortex. winds topping 143 miles per hour in the middle of a firestorm. >> demi lovato speaks out for the 50 time since her overdose and hospitalization. >> the connection between certain dogoo

and we'll be speaking with ron stallworth. that's all for today. wewl be back next k.> you can see more "end game" and "postgame" sponsored by boeing on the "meet the press" fabook page. nhl, e olympic games, the the nascar playoffs, the triple crown, and primetime's number one show, sunday night football. only on nbc. ♪ >>> welcome to the u.s. bank nbc sports report. >> on the northwest coast of england, just a jewel of a golf course. royal lythamai and anne's, this weekend playing host to the women's british open. final round coverage is coming right up. hi, everybody. carolyn manno in our nbc sports studios. we'll get you to the course but

ron stallworth, i got to talk to him a lot.said he would use these trigger words that sort of invited hate. that's how he was able to start his sting operation. >> you portray that well. these two guys are in conversation and how you can say the things people think. again, back to the david duke thing which i think is really an interesting and understated part of this movie, that is that david duke wasn't driven by words that you necessarily associate with those klansmen. it's like he had a more sophisticated approach to racism, which is maybe the kind of racism we have today. >> this movie should not be more relevant today, which it is, than when it takes place. >> gentlemen, thanks very much for being part of this movie. it opens august 10th and it's worth a watch. john david washington and tofer grace. black klansman in theaters august 10th. >> a fascinating conversation to wrap it up for us here this hour. does that do it for me. please be sure to catch "kasie d.c." sunday's at 7:00 p.m. eastern here on msnbc. thank you so

. >> seth: so you had never heard of ron stallworth before the man -- >> never heard of him, the bookr those who don't know, john david washington is your star? >> yes, he is. and who is that? >> seth: he is denzel's son, yes? there you go. [ cheers and applause ] very much an incredibly impressive actor on his own. >> yes. he's been on "ballers." i think they're in their four -- fourth season but i offered him the part. he didn't have to audition. no meetin', no nothin'. i sent him the book and i said, "i'll see you in september." >> seth: wow! >> yes, i knew he could do it. >> seth: not only do you have this incredible cast, adam driver, john david washington, harry belefonte is in the film. >> right. >> seth: obviously, this is -- i hear of the civil rights movement -- >> yeah. >> seth: somebody you've known for a long time. >> long time. >> seth: you have a very moving scene where he recounts a tale of a lynching. >> real life, really happened. >> seth: a real life lynching that really happened. >> jesse washington in waco, texas, 1915, and he plays a character, his best friend wh

this is based on the stranger—than—fiction story of ron stallworth.ado springs police force and he decides to infiltrate the ku klux klan, and he — initially he gets an advert from the press with the phone number, and he rings up and says "i'm a white supremacist and i want tojoin the klan", and they believe him, and he starts working his way right up the chain, right up to david duke, grand wizard. but when it comes to actual face—to—face meetings, of course, they have to get somebody else to play ron, so what they do is they pull in his partner, flip, played by adam driver, who isjewish, and they say "ok, well, i'll do the voice on the phone, you do it in person". but they have very different, initially very different, attitudes to the case. here's a clip. well, i'm not risking my life to prevent some rednecks from lighting a couple of sticks on fire. this is the job. what's your problem? that's my problem. for you, it's a crusade. for me, it's a job. it's not personal, nor should it be. why haven't you bought into this? why should i? because you're

this is based on the stranger—than—fiction story of ron stallworth.klan, and he — initially he gets an advert from the press with the phone number, and he rings up and says "i'm a white supremacist and i want tojoin the klan", and they believe him, and he starts working his way right up the chain, right up to david duke, grand wizard. but when it comes to actual face—to—face meetings, of course, they have to get somebody else to play ron, so what they do is they pull in his partner, flip, played by adam driver, who isjewish, and they say "ok, well, i'll do the voice on the phone, you do it in person". but they have very different, initially very different, attitudes to the case. here's a clip. well, i'm not risking my life to prevent some rednecks from lighting a couple of sticks on fire. this is the job. what's your problem? that's my problem. for you, it's a crusade. for me, it's a job. it's not personal, nor should it be. why haven't you bought into this? why should i? because you're jewish, brother. the so—called chosen people. you've been passing

to play the lead in "blackkklansman," a movie based on real life story of colorado detective ron stallworthhat? >> i believe we can with the right whiteman. what was it like for you. >> seeing a group of people help th african-american m acleave the goal to execute this mission. they believed in the case, they believed in him, and they did not look like him at that timeo in co springs. >> the movie is funny, relevant, and at times tough to watch. most difficult scene in the movie for you. >> banquet scen >> the true white american race, the backbone from whee came our southern heritage. >> the banquet scene felt the most authentic, all those hoods and celebration of ts institution, institution of hate. talking and hanging out with fellow actors playing clansmen, we hadeo j around between takes to get out of it and shake it out because of how real it felt that day. >> black clansmen isn't the rst for ai into spike lee film. at nine he appeared at malcolm x. w co-starrinh a certain other actor with the same last night. >> we didn't land onh plymo rock, plymouth rock landed on us. >> john davi

ron stallworth pretended to be white on the phone and send in a white officer pretending to be him andng a good relationship with david duke and becoming head of the local chapter of the ku klux klan. a disturbing and powerful film. maria: there are new reports about the front runner to become the next james bond when daniel craig hangs up his tux he. this will be the first black james bond. what do you think? >> i would like to see it happen. they floated this before and supposedly the director of denzel washington's film had a conversation about it and she said it is inevitable. he is the best choice out there. maria: i like it a lot. we will see what happens. the russian foreign ministry has appointed stevens ago as an envoy to the united states. this is interesting, he was granted russian citizenship in 2016. what is your take on this? >> life is stranger than fiction. if dennis rodman could help us with korea, why not? it is a strange choice. nobody sees his movies anymore. maria: it shows you he is moving from acting to something else. >> you mean he was an actor? maria: you say