Nelini Stamp

Summary

Podcast Summary: Senses Working Overtime with David Cross – Episode Featuring Nalini Stamp

Podcast Information:

• Title: Senses Working Overtime with David Cross
• Host: Headgum (Hosted by David Cross)
• Guest: Nalini Stamp
• Release Date: October 10, 2024

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1. Introduction

In this episode of "Senses Working Overtime," host David Cross engages in a profound and dynamic conversation with Nalini Stamp, an activist and organizer with the Working Families Party. The discussion traverses various facets of political activism, organizational strategies, historical movements, and contemporary political landscapes.

2. Guest Introduction

Nalini Stamp introduces herself, providing background on her roots and professional endeavors. Originally from Brooklyn and Staten Island, New York, Nalini emphasizes her passion for activism and her role at the Working Families Party.

• Nalini Stamp [01:06]: "I'm originally from Brooklyn and Staten Island, New York. Wu Tang forever. I always have to note my love for Staten Island. And I'm an activist and organizer and I work at the Working Families Party, my day job."

3. Working Families Party and Activism

Nalini delves into the inception and growth of the Working Families Party, highlighting its national expansion since 1998. The party's foundational goal to raise the minimum wage is underscored, showcasing its impact over the years.

• Nalini Stamp [02:28]: "In June of 1998, the goal was to raise the minimum wage because it was $5.15 at the time... We got it up to $7.15. Yeah, $7.15. We got it up to $7."

David acknowledges the success of these efforts, reflecting on broader political maneuvers that impede such progress.

• David Cross [02:48]: "It's amazing that some of these simple, basic truths undeniable, didn't resonate more... Because there is a well-oiled, well-funded machine that's been in place for literally hundreds of years that's only gotten stronger."

4. Political Machines and Campaign Strategies

The conversation shifts to the influence of established political machinery, particularly within the Democratic Party, and its resistance to policies like minimum wage increases. Nalini and David critique the narratives spun by corporate lobbyists to undermine such initiatives.

• Nalini Stamp [04:48]: "They have corporate lobbyists who are talking to the democratic machine and they're like, 'No, no, no, you can't do this. You can't do a rent freeze.'"

• David Cross [04:32]: "It's just garbage. It's just a lie. It's just not true."

5. Reflecting on Occupy Wall Street

Nalini shares her experiences with the Occupy Wall Street movement, discussing its aims, challenges, and the mixed legacy it left behind. The movement's decentralized nature and lack of clear, practical solutions are examined.

• Nalini Stamp [05:22]: "I remember I was a part of Occupy Wall Street, and people are like, y'all are insane. There's not a problem with the economy..."

David echoes these sentiments, appreciating the movement's role in sparking conversations despite its perceived aimlessness.

• Nalini Stamp [07:07]: "We didn't actually know how to discuss and debate in a constructive way."

6. Impact of Organizations like Project Veritas

The discussion touches upon the actions of Project Veritas and its attempts to dismantle organizations like ACORN, highlighting the challenges grassroots movements face from external interference.

• Nalini Stamp [14:25]: "Andrew, you know, they're just trying to destroy ACORN. And even I was in office."

• David Cross [14:36]: "And it's all bullshit, and it's all spliced and it's all false information."

7. UK Politics and Leadership of Jeremy Corbyn

Nalini recounts her time in the UK, interacting with figures like Jeremy Corbyn, and the complexities of political leadership amidst media scrutiny.

• David Cross [23:04]: "I went to Washington as part of the Creative Coalition... I was starting to get really, really anxious."

• Nalini Stamp [24:53]: "She knows everybody, so... you were scheduled in to do shows, her book had come out and she would schedule that stuff."

8. Vice President Kamala Harris and Current Political Climate

The conversation broadens to discuss Vice President Kamala Harris, her political maneuvers, and the anticipated challenges in the upcoming elections. Nalini emphasizes the importance of continued organization and grassroots activism regardless of election outcomes.

• Nalini Stamp [42:57]: "If we're looking at everything and especially the past like 10 years, like we do not know if there's going to be one judge somewhere."

• David Cross [43:00]: "And with COVID and all that shit. And it's a shame because the ideas are good, but he is not the right person."

9. 2024 Elections and Future of Activism

Nalini and David discuss strategies for the 2024 elections, stressing the necessity of focusing on local politics and maintaining momentum within activist circles. They highlight the pitfalls of identity politics overshadowing class issues and advocate for a return to grassroots organizing.

• Nalini Stamp [43:20]: "I haven't got the power, but I'm canceling you."

• David Cross [44:01]: "So, like, if we just do the... We're just playing into what the right wing uses to divide us."

10. Concluding Remarks

As the episode winds down, Nalini and David share personal anecdotes and discuss the importance of staying engaged and organized. They encourage listeners to participate in local elections and remain steadfast in their activism.

• Nalini Stamp [53:44]: "No, no, no, we don't want more. It's like, funny, because sometimes, you know, they're the Democratic machine or, you know, corporations are like, we want people to buy stuff."

• David Cross [55:27]: "Nothing is guaranteed. But to see them so flat-footed... So forget that."

Notable Quotes:

• Nalini Stamp [02:28]: "We got [the minimum wage] up to $7.15. Yeah, $7.15. We got it up to $7."

• David Cross [02:48]: "Because there is a well-oiled, well-funded machine that's been in place for literally hundreds of years that's only gotten stronger."

• Nalini Stamp [05:22]: "I was a part of Occupy Wall Street, and people are like, y'all are insane. There's not a problem with the economy."

• David Cross [14:36]: "It's all bullshit, and it's all spliced and it's all false information."

• Nalini Stamp [43:20]: "I can't go back to just, like, identity issues and parades."

Conclusion

This episode of "Senses Working Overtime" offers a deep dive into the intricacies of political activism, the challenges faced by grassroots movements, and the evolving landscape of American politics. Nalini Stamp's insights, combined with David Cross's probing questions, provide listeners with a comprehensive understanding of the current state of political organizing and the path forward.

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Note: Advertisements and non-content sections were omitted to focus solely on the substantive discussions between the host and guest.

Transcript

[David Cross]

This is a headgum podcast choice of. Oh, this is whatever you want.

[Nalini Stamp]

Whatever feels comfortable right there. Oh, my God. I was in the belly to hold.

[David Cross]

That's fine. I'll sit here then. Or do you care?

[Nalini Stamp]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's great. How's Marlo doing?

[David Cross]

She's good. Yeah. Getting ready for school next week. Yeah. Nalini Stamp, why don't you introduce yourself to everybody?

[Nalini Stamp]

Yes, My name's Nalini Stamp.

[David Cross]

Well, I think I established that.

[Clark]

All right.

[Nalini Stamp]

I'm originally from Brooklyn and Staten Island, New York. Wu Tang forever. I always have to note my love for Staten island. And I'm an activist and organizer and I work at the Working Families Party, my day job.

[David Cross]

Okay, cool. And then. And I know you through my wife, who's a factivist, which is a feminist activist. I just coined that guy's factivist, if you'd like it.

[Nalini Stamp]

T shirts. Put on T shirts.

[David Cross]

Well, you got to clear it through me, but femactivist or factivist? Factivist, I think is better. So my wife is a factivist and. But you're more of an activist. You're more active. More active in your act. Yeah.

[Nalini Stamp]

On the scale of. Yeah.

[David Cross]

Like you. Actually, your day job is to.

[Nalini Stamp]

Day job is to organize people to work in politics, specifically to recruit and find new candidates and to get more people involved in movement and politics and.

[David Cross]

Working Families Party is national, not just here in New York.

[Nalini Stamp]

Yeah, we're a national organization. We're in about now 20 states, which has grown from our New York origins in 1998.

[Clark]

When did it start?

[Nalini Stamp]

1998. In June of 1998, the goal was to raise the minimum wage because it was 515 at the time. Federal.

[David Cross]

Crazy. Yeah, we got it up to $7.

[Nalini Stamp]

715. Yeah, 715. We got it up to $7. And it stood that way federally.

[David Cross]

It's really. I know, you know, Bernie Sanders, who I was a big supporter of and I think my wife would have him if he were a woman. But he's not a woman, he's a man. So doesn't. Let's. Let's put policies aside, let's go with the gender and. But he was always. It's amazing to me that some of these simple, basic truths undeniable, didn't resonate more like the idea that there is a well oiled, well funded machine that's been in place for literally hundreds of years that's only gotten stronger where extremely rich people can convince struggling people that it's in their best interest not to get more money. Because they need. It's amazing that it works.

[Nalini Stamp]

And convincing them that the problem is someone who maybe doesn't look like them, as opposed to.

[David Cross]

That's a separate thing.

[Clark]

That's a different.

[David Cross]

Yes, you're right. But that is a different thing from going to somebody in Macon, Georgia, and saying, do not vote to raise. Don't raise the minimum wage, because it's gonna make things more expensive. And the Chick Fil A's are gonna have to close down.

[Nalini Stamp]

Eggs are gonna be expensive.

[David Cross]

Eggs are gonna, you know, and it's just garbage. It's just lie. It's just not true. Wanted to make them. Those things less expensive. You could make those things less expensive. And it's worked. It's worked for generations.

[Nalini Stamp]

100%. I mean, this is.

[David Cross]

You know, Bernie Sanders was always mentioning that, but it just never really resonated with the right people.

[Clark]

With the machine.

[David Cross]

The Democratic machine.

[Nalini Stamp]

Yeah, with the machine. I mean, I think it resonated with a lot of folks, which is why they were frustrated in 2016. And some people stood out. Some people thought that Trump was the solution because he had a message that resonated with working class people, even if it was lies. And so, yeah, and it. And it. And it sucks. And also, you know, I think that we've seen some shifts which have been good. Some shifts have not been good in people's perception of class. Like, I remember I was a part of Occupy Wall street, and people are like, y'all are insane. There's not a problem with the economy. Like, the 1% is fine. Like, all of these things. And then, you know, years later, to have people Talk about a $15 minimum wage, to talk about.

[David Cross]

Well, who was saying who. Be more specific with who was saying Occupy Wall street was. I know that there were some issues, but I felt. Do you ever hear Doug Stanhope's bit? It's absolutely brilliant. It is one of the best bits in a world of great, clever, smart takes on things. His whole bit about Occupy Wall street is spot on. And I urge you to listen to Doug Stanhope. Genius. And anyway, I think a lot of the issue, and this was fed by. And it bled over into journalists who were writing about, well, what do you want? What's your point? You know, because you're. You're about. You got about four or five days left of goodwill, and then you guys are gonna really overstay your welcome. Right? That kind of feeling.

[Nalini Stamp]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, I think it's. Yeah, I think that there was that part, and that was definitely a Huge argument like, what are your demands? What are your, you know, what are your goals? What are you here for? But a lot of folks also when.

[David Cross]

But what were the answers to that? Because outside of a handful of things, there weren't real practical answers.

[Nalini Stamp]

That's right. Yeah. I mean, I think that there was one practicing direct democracy when none of us are really taught that way and we're dealing with the problems of the world, like gender, all, like different dynamics. Race is really hard. And we didn't know how to do that. Like, we didn't actually know how to discuss and debate in a constructive way.

[David Cross]

Well, okay, so let me ask. Do you think. In retrospect.

[Clark]

I don't wanna make this.

[David Cross]

A binary choice, but the idea that perhaps, I mean, we Occupy Wall street was good. Cause it stimulated a conversation and showed this thing could happen, but perhaps it was prematurely done.

[Nalini Stamp]

I think about this daily. This is a thing that lives rent free in my head of what if it would have been four years later.

[David Cross]

Right now, how much rent would you charge for an idea that seems crazy to me. And what the payment and how does that work?

[Nalini Stamp]

I mean, this idea is just. It's just always. It's always there. So it lives rent free.

[David Cross]

No, I understand what you. The words you said, but when you.

[Nalini Stamp]

But how.

[David Cross]

Well, what's the.

[Nalini Stamp]

I think I charge probably an average of like $5 for.

[David Cross]

To your own idea. And then do you pay yourself?

[Nalini Stamp]

Yeah, in my imaginary. In my imaginary bank. My imaginary bank. You have a bank? Yeah. You have an imaginary piggy bank?

[David Cross]

So is it like a Venmo thing or is it just.

[Nalini Stamp]

No, no, it's just like an actual big piggy bank that like, is like, oh, piggy bank. Like from had when I was a kid, but it's just a huge one. Wow. Lives in my head. But I think that if it was four years later, like, things could have been a lot different. I do think that for a lot of people, when I meet people these days in movement who maybe joined afterwards, whether it was from Ferguson and, you know, Michael Brown shooting or whether it was women's march or stuff. Like a lot of people say I didn't get Occupy then, but I get it now, right? You know, like, I actually encounter a lot.

[David Cross]

I got the anger and the sentiment, of course, but I just thought it was aimless.

[Nalini Stamp]

Yeah, it was. And what was. Because it was so distributed, some people did make aims like occupier home saved about 20 people. Still not a lot, but from home foreclosure right in Minnesota. And In Georgia, where they were really successful at actually going up against SunTrust, going up against the, like, the big banks that were in. That were home to those states. And so there was. And then we also had.

[Clark]

Georgia was.

[David Cross]

Sorry to interrupt along that path of discussion. There was a, an act. I'm not going to remember the name, a company that was buying up housing.

[Nalini Stamp]

Blackstone.

[David Cross]

Blackstone. Okay.

[Nalini Stamp]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[David Cross]

And just booting people out.

[Nalini Stamp]

Blackstone.

[David Cross]

Yeah, it was. Yep, it was. And of course it's, it's, it's highly unethical, but it's perfectly legal. I mean, that's how America works. And if you want to do that, you can do that and make a lot. And those are the people who are saying, don't try to raise the minimum wage. You guys are going to screw yourselves. Do you like Ranch Doritos? Because those are going away, my friend.

[Nalini Stamp]

Right. They have corporate lobbyists who are talking to the democratic machine and the machine and they're like, hey, no, no, no, you can't do this. You can't do a rent freeze. You know, you can't do eviction. Like, you know, eviction freezes. Especially during the pandemic. They were the first ones.

[David Cross]

Yeah.

[Nalini Stamp]

Because they wanted to take advantage of people leaving their homes because they couldn't afford it. Because, you know, because of the height of the pandemic, I mean, we're still in a pandemic, obviously, but the height of it in 2020, when we were inside a bunch people couldn't afford. And even the most conservative governments like to be like the Tories and the uk, the Conservatives, they gave people like eight months pay.

[David Cross]

Well, but, I mean, America's the only one who doesn't do that. I mean, I was having this.

[Nalini Stamp]

Their standards are different.

[David Cross]

Yeah, yeah. The bar is a different bar. They have an nhs. I know they're trying to get rid of it. The. The stories are, they will not be successful. And I'm not a huge Starmer fan, but he's. Corbin, he's certainly better than. Well, Corbin just dropped the ball in numerous ways and he, you know, it's like one of those things where he just, he. The press in England or the UK is even worse than it is here. It's bad here, yes, but it's really bad there. And he just. They walked all over him. They dictated every motherfucking thing. I know this is, to a lot of people listening or watching. This is the most minutia. I'm invested. I'm somebody who enjoys and avails themselves of News about politics and things like that. I mean, I hate most of the politicians and the whole way it works, but I'm fascinated by it. Have been since I was young. And then I lived in the UK.

[Clark]

For several years.

[David Cross]

And just immersed myself in that stuff and just in the way that I would. I'd read the paper, read the Internet, whatever, and I just. That's where I was living. Those are choices that affected me. And so I, you know, I just. I have followed it and continue to follow it. But yeah, Corbin just really just let the press dictate every. Every fucking thing about him.

[Nalini Stamp]

Yeah, I got to spend a lot of time there. We had a bunch of exchanges with folks who were in Momentum, which was the group that got Corbyn elected within the Labor Party. And we were just trying to show lessons learned because then after we had the Bernie Sanders mom and we were, you know, working families had endorsed Bernie Sanders in 2016. And so we were having these like, crossed, like cross the special relationship, but on the left, we would say. And it was just. There was just such momentum and such grassroots. Like people were so excited. People had never volunteered before and it just kind of went.

[David Cross]

Yeah.

[Nalini Stamp]

And that was really sad to see.

[David Cross]

Well, there was also the legitimate. I mean, it needed context. But the anti Semitic stuff is in. And people in his cabinet, you know, the, the. Or it's not cabinet there. It's the shadow. Shadow government.

[Nalini Stamp]

Shadow government.

[David Cross]

But any, you know.

[Nalini Stamp]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[David Cross]

The.

[Nalini Stamp]

Yeah, yeah. But here they tell us, you know, here. And you know, with Occupy, like, it's. To me, again, I think it was. It was a little bit too premature. And I still glorify in the things that we were able to do, which is shift conversations and inspire. Like we inspired the fast food workers for organizing. They started downstairs from. We had this office on Nevin street in Brooklyn. In Brooklyn. In Brooklyn.

[David Cross]

And upstairs, far away from Wall Street. Yeah, I'll occupy it, but I'm not gonna occupy it.

[Nalini Stamp]

Yes, exactly. Like I'll occupy it, but like, come on, we're on Flatbush and Devon and you know. And downstairs is an organization that still exists. New York Communities for Change that came from roots of ACORN years ago. And they inspired by another.

[David Cross]

Like they managed to shut down acorn.

[Nalini Stamp]

That was our office. The video that. That was filmed in.

[David Cross]

Oh, I didn't know that.

[Nalini Stamp]

Yeah, it was downstairs where Project Veritas got all that footage completely.

[David Cross]

I mean, the guys in. In. Is he in jail or is. He's been.

[Nalini Stamp]

No, no, he was saying he was at the. I mean, Project Veritas is not a thing anymore, so that collapsed. But James O'Keefe.

[David Cross]

Yeah, but didn't. He was. He was found guilty of a couple different things. Or am I thinking of Probe the other guy, Jack Probusek?

[Nalini Stamp]

I think you're thinking about Jack Probusack.

[David Cross]

Yeah.

[Nalini Stamp]

I mean, there's.

[David Cross]

But it's all bullshit.

[Nalini Stamp]

Yeah, it's all bullshit, and it's all spliced and it's all false information. And that happened. Yeah, that happened below. I mean, that was my, like.

[David Cross]

But it worked.

[Nalini Stamp]

Second year in politics, and it worked.

[David Cross]

Dirty, dirty, dirty, dirty.

[Nalini Stamp]

It worked. I mean, there was one here. I had to sit in the.

[David Cross]

Lee Atwater is smiling and he's in heaven. I know people think he's in hell, but he's in heaven.

[Nalini Stamp]

Oh, no, not Lee Atwater in heaven.

[David Cross]

Yeah. He's looking down, thumbs up, smiling.

[Nalini Stamp]

He's like, good job, everyone. You've completed my legacy. Keep going.

[David Cross]

It's a different kind of heaven. He's.

[Nalini Stamp]

What kind of heaven is. There are multiple heavens.

[David Cross]

He's fucking Bea Arthur. It's a weird. It's a different kind of heaven. Some people's heaven, some people's hell. Whatever.

[Nalini Stamp]

Yeah. There was a moment where, in that year, I had to sit in front. We could not let anybody into our building without checking them and making sure that they were in. They were. They were meant to be there and looking for people, because we just had. Because that came, and it just. Everyone just went, let's try to destroy acorn. And even I was in office.

[David Cross]

I know it was in a, like, localized activist thing. Helping people. Not helping people. Nothing.

[Nalini Stamp]

My aunties got their home because of mutual housing, and there are people, like, shut it down. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. We don't want more. It's, like, funny, because sometimes, you know, they're the. You know, the Democratic machine or, you know, corporations are like, we want people to buy stuff. No, but not that way, right? Not with help. Not with, like, you know, not with actually, like, looking at the. The law and seeing which things that will age you. They just want people to buy stuff.

[David Cross]

Yeah, well, it's America.

[Nalini Stamp]

That's. And that's. That's the.

[David Cross]

Were you part of the faction at the DNC that subverted Bernie's chances and. And shifted everything to Hillary Clinton in 2016?

[Nalini Stamp]

Yeah, no, we were.

[David Cross]

I mean, I'm kidding. I don't.

[Nalini Stamp]

I was like, no, I don't.

[David Cross]

I don't really think that you were.

[Nalini Stamp]

Part of, like, a lost child. In 2016. And you know what's really funn. And I don't think I've ever. I think I told Amber the story once, but when I first met Amber, I was like. Because she was such a Hillary person.

[David Cross]

And I, oh, dude, she was, you know, I'm sure she told you about some of the fights we had. I mean, serious, serious arguments.

[Nalini Stamp]

So I met her in 2017 at the women's convention, and I. And, you know, and I've had my own things with like, Women's March and just like, feminist spaces in general, because I just, just. It's so devoid of class politics in a lot of ways. Like, modern feminist space. Like, there's no dialogue to really actually talk about class. And to me, I just.

[David Cross]

Which is more important than anything globally. In the whole world. The whole world would be better off. And that includes women, children, people of color. I mean, if, If a candidate who truly, they were passionate about that and weren't beholden to other strings, the whole world would be better off. The things that you want will happen, but not through this lady. Not gonna happen with this lady.

[Nalini Stamp]

I know. And I remember, I think she said, I thought this was a Hillary convention. And I went, ah. And then I, then I got to like, actually befriend her years later, and I was like, you know, oh, my.

[David Cross]

God, we would have it fucking out, I'm sure. And she never took the bait on this, but I would say, especially when they're friends. And when I was out on tour and she was doing a accompanying book tour, so any of the cities I was scheduled in to do shows, her book had come out and she would schedule that stuff. So we were on tour together, which was awesome. It was really, really nice. And then, you know, she knows everybody, so. And I'm, you know, antisocial and grumpy and, and so we go somewhere, it didn't matter where. You know, Richmond, Virginia, or she knows. She knows people there, right? So. And she. And also people who were.

[Clark]

Or friends.

[David Cross]

Of friends who were working to register voters or anything, kind of, you know, civic engagement activities, benign, innocuous things, whatever. And by far, I'd say nine out of ten of them were Hillary supporters. And I was very vocal about not. And I didn't like Hillary Clinton. I mean, I did not like the Clintons. I'm not a neoliberal. I don't believe those are good policies, for sure. And, and, and also, she's a war criminal, I believe. I, I think I, I feel very, very strongly. It's, it hasn't gone away since, you know, after 9, 11. But the people who knowingly voted to go to war in Iraq, knowing that all that stuff was bullshit, as we all knew. Well, all of us didn't know, but most. Most people, you know, have blood on their hands. Innocent. Also women, you know, I mean, not. I mean, yeah, American women didn't die, but, I mean, unless they served. But plenty of other women and children died. So, anyway, I'm going off. I'm digressing, but So I would say in these conversations, I'd go. Because I would say, oh, I'm a Social Democrat. Here are the things that I believe are the best policies for America and the world. And I'd say, oh, well, you know, Amber is a neoliberal centrist. She's more of a centrist.

[Clark]

She never took the bait.

[David Cross]

I probably tried it 20 times. Never took the bait. But I was like, well, I mean, yeah, you're voting for a centrist, you know, whose, you know, policies have ruined lives. But, yeah, I'm more of a Social Democrat. Spread. Spread stuff around. Yeah.

[Nalini Stamp]

Never took the bait.

[David Cross]

Never took the bait.

[Nalini Stamp]

Not once. I mean, she's good like that.

[Clark]

Yeah.

[David Cross]

I mean, you know, eventually I stopped, but I kept trying.

[Nalini Stamp]

You're like, I'm gonna keep trying. Keep trying. Yeah. I mean, I think that, you know, this is. I mean, this is the future of, like, what we're talking about. And even this whole, you know, obviously things have changed, and a lot of things have changed, and July was a full month of things. It was. I felt like it was 10 years and just.

[David Cross]

It was. I mean, you cannot dismiss. Regardless of what you think of Paris or. And a lot of this is only because of the rival candidate. So, yes, if it was, you know, Romney, whatever. Right. Boy, that's weird. Okay.

[Nalini Stamp]

I guess.

[David Cross]

But the. The fire it lit under a lot of people who were. Who. It. What it did is. It's like any scene in a movie where people are coming out of a. The government is drugged them, and people start. It's like coming out of Logan's Run. Remember when they come out, they're like, oh, it's like they're all waking up going, oh, I feel better now. And. And, you know, it's not the solution, but it just made people who were like, oh, yeah. And I. I did podcast with. What was the guy's name from Pod Save America? John Favreau.

[Nalini Stamp]

Oh, I love it.

[Clark]

Yeah.

[David Cross]

John Lovett. Very nice guy. Enjoyed. There's a little bit of, you know, conflict I didn't know who he was. And I think he was like the first guy I had on that I had or maybe the second person that I don't really know. And, and we were talking about. This is before the Harris switchover. I had been at a.

[Clark]

At the White House.

[David Cross]

I was. I went there as. Went to Washington as part of the Creative Coalition, which you can't say lobbies because it has a legal. So we were act advocating different representatives of Congress to fund the arts. And we went to specific. It was great. I'm so glad I did it. It was. Everything surrounding it was kind of goofy. And I'm not a big. You know, I was invited to the DNC and I said, no, I'm not. This is not my thing. I just can't. I was getting really anxious to. To a level where like, I. Something's wrong, you know, with me. And I've. I've had that before and I've gone to therapy, I'm on medication, but I was starting to get really, really like.

[Nalini Stamp]

I have had the same things.

[David Cross]

Anxious about. This is. I'm gonna. I'm gonna. I'm gonna drink too much and I'm gonna subvert myself. I'm gonna do something stupid and say something dumb because I don't like this. I don't like these people. And I feel weird and it is creepy to me. And, and you're all a bunch of fucking ass. You know, whatever. So I didn't go. I said. I said no. But the Creative Coalition, the thing that, that, that was, there was a purpose and it was a good thing that I was doing. And, and it was, it actually worked, you know, it was, it was, you know, we were able to change some.

[Clark]

Minds and it was great.

[David Cross]

I'm glad to be a part of it. And I would happily do it again. This was more about like, hey, take with Tobias. You know, And I had no interest in that. But, yeah.

[Clark]

So I was there.

[David Cross]

And while we were there and there weren't a lot of people, I'm going to say, I'm going to guess like 30ish, maybe. And we were in one of the color rooms, like the green room or whatever, which are small, you know, and President Biden came in and we're like, hey, President Biden's here. And it was, you know, not. Maybe three times the size of this room was small. And he starts talking. And I was talking to John about this, and I talked to some other people too, afterwards, who all had. Internally, all of us had the same experience, like, oh, my God. Stop talking. Stop talking. You're going to say something really like.

[Clark]

You could see he was on the.

[David Cross]

Verge of the thing that people were scared of. He's old and his brain is not as sharp. His ideas are fine.

[Clark]

His ability to get that from inside.

[David Cross]

To outside is concerning. And he even like there was something. Had something to do with Iraq war that he said. And we were like, does he mean Iran or like. It was, it was like a thing. We're like. And I'm just sitting there going. And I'm, you know, mere feet away from him and I'm going inside, I'm just going, stop talking. Stop talking. Please stop talking. Stop talking.

[Nalini Stamp]

Yeah, when I watched the debate, I kind of. I was with a group of people. We were in LA at a retreat and so we were like, let's go into the room and watch it. And I just like immediately.

[David Cross]

That's really where you should watch all presidential debates is retreats. Right. It's good for your soul.

[Nalini Stamp]

Retreats. And I'm gonna be totally honest.

[David Cross]

I like, I appreciate your honesty.

[Nalini Stamp]

He started and I took like, I had like a mushroom chocolate and I took a little bit of it because that was the only way I was gonna get through watching it. And I just was like. And then I was like, you guys, is this my mushrooms or is he actually. And they're like, no, this is bad. And it was so I just, it was. And it wasn't just the debate. There was lots of things that just like that just added up to it. And in a moment I was like, I also feel that and because even folks that I did not like, like Dianne Feinstein, did not like her policies, but sometimes I'm like, is this elder abuse? Like, why are we keeping. Like.

[David Cross]

No, I mean, she stayed in on own accord. You know, I don't know if it.

[Nalini Stamp]

Was a. Oh yeah, it was our team's thing. But.

[David Cross]

Oh no, I mean both. Yeah, it. But yeah, there really does. This is. And I'm glad it. It happened because it is a thing that we need to discuss, especially we as a country, especially with the Supreme Court is you shouldn't. Yeah. 90 year olds shouldn't. You know, I Biden. I is. I was pleasantly surprised by a bunch of his policies that I truly. I didn't see them happening. Especially with such a tight Congress and the ability. Yeah. Of Manchin and cinema. And then, you know, things were decided sometimes by the Vice president single vote that he was still able to get through. I mean it. I think time will be very friendly to Him. I really do. Especially what he inherited. And then with COVID and all that shit. And it's a shame because the ideas are good, but he is not the right person. And the relief that also immediately translated to kind of optimism and spark was. I mean, it was unlike anything I'd ever seen. I remember the closest I could say was, at least from a left perspective was Obama beating Hillary. And I think that was a surprise. And like, oh, great. Cause he's a really good dynamic speaker. So. Yeah.

[Nalini Stamp]

Yeah. No, I mean, it was. There was. I just felt a sense of relief, like on every call that I was on afterwards too. Like there was just. Cause it just. I mean, everything happening, then the shooting happening. It just like everybody.

[David Cross]

How the. If you were to script this thing.

[Nalini Stamp]

Oh my God.

[David Cross]

And then there's some kid. And the kid didn't even have an allegiance to anybody. He was a school shooter guy.

[Nalini Stamp]

Yeah.

[David Cross]

He's like an incel.

[Nalini Stamp]

Yeah. Yeah.

[David Cross]

I'm just gonna kill people.

[Nalini Stamp]

Lone wild wolf. Like, I'm reading too much shit on the Internet. That is probably false information. And he looked up both. When he just went to the nearest one.

[David Cross]

He just Even know if it's about. I don't. From the little. I know. I don't think he was radicalized so much as.

[Nalini Stamp]

Oh no.

[David Cross]

But his whole thing was school shooter. Fuck you. I can't get laid. You know, I'm gonna take her buddy out.

[Nalini Stamp]

Yeah. Yeah. Which is still on the Internet. That's what I just mean. I don't think it was like he was. You know. Cause he looked up both of their addresses, was like, this is the closest one.

[David Cross]

Like, literally.

[Nalini Stamp]

That's what happened. This is the closest one. You cannot. You cannot script this. The whole thing is so mind boggling. And then to have the RNC come after it. They make it all about Biden.

[David Cross]

Yeah.

[Nalini Stamp]

And then just it just.

[David Cross]

And here's the thing. I don't feel I would. What's the word? Not. I wouldn't feel sorry for them, but I would understand and empathize with their frustration. You know, I mean, what. What happened was perfectly legal in this country and the way it works. But I can understand going like, what the fuck? We spent all this.

[Nalini Stamp]

Yeah.

[David Cross]

And now you're gonna switch it up.

[Nalini Stamp]

All of our campaign plans are about this.

[David Cross]

But they had been saying for, I mean, months like, oh, you know, Biden's not even gonna make it. The old man's not gonna make it. They're probably gonna have to replace. They've been saying this for months. So they should have had a plan in place. And it's shocking that they had that it happened and they're still, they're still trying to throw out nicknames and see what sticks.

[Nalini Stamp]

Yeah, yeah.

[David Cross]

You know, it's amazing. They had no, they had no plan for the thing they had been saying is going to happen.

[Nalini Stamp]

Have been saying this like they'd be like, oh yeah, he's not gonna even make it. Well, we'll even see who it is. Like, you know, they have to do this, they have to do that. And then all of a sudden, and.

[David Cross]

Then still I don't feel bad. I mean any, the, the, the shred of empathy I'd have for like, man, that's a tough situation to be in. I don't like your guy. But that's, that's kind of fucked up. But no, that's all gone. I mean, I don't know.

[Nalini Stamp]

Just. And also I don't think that they realized the Project 2025 stuff was gonna hit.

[David Cross]

Yeah.

[Nalini Stamp]

Because that all also was hitting at the same time. And so they got, they got completely flat footed. And it's still like, I mean look, it is still going to be. I mean it's, it's. Nothing is guaranteed.

[Clark]

Zero.

[David Cross]

Nothing.

[Nalini Stamp]

Zero is guaranteed.

[David Cross]

And we have, it's an electoral vote.

[Nalini Stamp]

Yeah.

[David Cross]

You know, if it was popular vote just like last time.

[Nalini Stamp]

Yep.

[David Cross]

If it was popular or the last two times, I should say. Right.

[Nalini Stamp]

Nothing is guaranteed. And you know, if we're looking at everything and especially the past like 10 years, like we do not know if there's going to be one judge somewhere. I mean, I don't even want to say things because. Right. But like so nothing is guaranteed. But to see them so flat footed, to see them even just like you know, in my. Another rent free image is just JD Vance with like he had Kamala behind him but it said something like negative about her. And Ayatzi was like, this is why you have Ayatzis. Because it basically only said it looked like he was rallying for Kamala but it said something bad about her underneath. Just like you can't make this stuff up. That continues to happen. They, I mean they look flat footed but again nothing is guaranteed. So I'm just, you know, and they.

[David Cross]

Like no, they've already got things happen.

[Nalini Stamp]

And I'm just, oh, forget that.

[David Cross]

It's all about the, the, the statewide. Forget federal statewide election certification. Yep.

[Nalini Stamp]

Certification. And so December is going to be, December's going to be.

[David Cross]

Yeah, it's going to be ugly.

[Nalini Stamp]

Gonna be a month. It's gonna be a month. And you know, I'm just, I just.

[David Cross]

Whatever happens and I, you know, look, I got dual citizenship. I'm out of here. Yeah.

[Nalini Stamp]

That'S real nice. I should have, should have got it when I had the chance.

[Clark]

I'm going to labor land.

[David Cross]

And yeah, I 2025 is here.

[Clark]

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[David Cross]

I bet something you might not be.

[Clark]

Planning is learning the local language. Well, with Babbel, you only a few weeks to learn unless you're going to Arkansas this year. Speak like a whole new you with Babbel, the language learning app that gets you talking. Learning a new language is the pathway to discovering new cultures. So why not embark on learning something new? Babbel's quick 10 minute lessons, handcrafted by over 200 language experts, get you to begin speaking your new language in three weeks or whatever pace you choose. And because conversing is the key to really understanding each other in new languages, Babbel is designed using practical real world conversations. Spending months with private teachers is the old way of learning languages and nothing screams tourist like holding a phone translation app up to your face all day. Babbel's tips and tools are inspired by the real life stuff you actually need when communicating. Where's the poo poo room? For instance, with a focus on conversation, you'll be ready to talk wherever you go. For instance, I'm going to be in Europe on my European leg of my tour and I plan on going to England so I am going to speak English there.

[David Cross]

If I was going to.

[Clark]

Three Gorges.

[David Cross]

Where the dams come together, I don't.

[Clark]

Know the section in China, I'd use.

[David Cross]

Babel to learn that they speak there.

[Clark]

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[David Cross]

Hey guys, want to learn a new language?

[Clark]

Well, the best way is to uproot your entire life. Drop yourself in the middle of a new country and figure it out from there. But. But if you're not ready for that, you can still learn a language the next best way. That's with Babbel. Speak like a whole new you with Babbel, the science backed language learning app that gets you talking. Wasting hundreds of dollars on private tutors is the old school way of learning a new language. And Babbel's 10 minute lessons are quick and handcrafted by over 200 language experts ready to get you talking your new language in three weeks or trois weeks. Because talking is the key to really knowing any language. Designed by real people for having real conversations, Babbel gets you talking. Babbel's tips and tools are grounded in the real life stuff you'll actually need Everything is focused on conversation. So you'll be ready to talk whenever you go and wherever you go. Not necessarily whenever, so evening, sure. But also where. Hey, don't just take my word for it. Studies from Yale, Michigan State University and beyond continue to prove babbel works. Now one study found that using babbel for 15 hours is equivalent to a full semester at College. With over 16 million subscriptions sold. Babbel's 14 award winning language courses are backed by a 20 day money back guarantee. So no pressure. Here's a special limited time deal for our listeners right now. Get up to 60% off your Babbel subscription. But only for our [e-mail] senses get up to 60% [e-mail] senses spelled b a b b e l.com census rules and restrictions may apply Now.

[David Cross]

It's going to be ugly either way.

[Nalini Stamp]

Yeah.

[David Cross]

And Harris isn't a panacea. But it's just not this, the other thing that's so shocking to me. I shouldn't say shocking. It's. It's infuriating because he's. People ascribe him with this kind of manly macho thing and he's the biggest pussy whining little bitch I've ever, ever seen in politics.

[Nalini Stamp]

100%.

[David Cross]

On local level, national level. He's a fucking whiny little bitch.

[Nalini Stamp]

I mean I grew up with him here in New York as a figure.

[David Cross]

Yeah.

[Nalini Stamp]

You know, and I was always just like, who is this?

[David Cross]

Like the guy wears spray tan, he.

[Nalini Stamp]

Has flats, comb over.

[David Cross]

He has comb. I mean he's the most. He's, he's the opposite of this thing, this tough guy and you know, the m. And he's a superhero and he's Rambo and like. No, he's not.

[Nalini Stamp]

Old statues of him. I'm like, what are you doing?

[David Cross]

Whiny little.

[Nalini Stamp]

He's so whiny and he complains about everything and he, you know, anything is, oh well, they didn't do that. They didn't do this. And it's just like, it's like a bad Rodney Dangerfield skit. Like, it's just like, he's just so, it's just so. It's terrible.

[David Cross]

Right. So where, where do you, where do you go from here? Regardless of what happens?

[Nalini Stamp]

I mean, look, at the end of the day, I want the best organizing terrain for organizers and for people. Because just because someone wins, especially when they have a D next to their name, doesn't mean that we're going to get.

[David Cross]

Oh no, right. That's what I was saying, I was kind of politely surprised that a lot of these things that Biden actually got done, like, again, it's not. And there's always going to be people to. And corporations that try to subvert things and Supreme Court actions that subvert those things. That. That, hey, look what. Look what we're gonna do.

[Nalini Stamp]

But I do think that it was on all fronts, like, coming into politics in 2008, everybody was just kind of like a lot of organized forces, whether it was organized laborers. Everybody was kind of like, healthcare. Healthcare is the thing. And so there wasn't a lot of attention to all these other issues that because of the financial crisis, because of the Great Recession, were unfurling, like housing. And so everybody was so focused on healthcare. But in 2020, so many people were focused on so many things, and that organized force continued. And so that's also why there was also an organized force still advocating for climate, for, you know, for police reform, for all of that stuff after Biden got elected. Which gives you space as a politician to move things. Right? Like, when you have organized people who are. Who are demanding more, who are demanding these, you know, demands, when you have labor saying, we want the, like, protect the right to organize act to be able to organize more labor unions in this country, you're gonna. You might not get that. We haven't got that yet, but you get a better nlrb, right? The National Labor Relations Board, you get rules changes to actually make it so that labor can advocate more. And so I think, to me, the biggest thing is that I fundamentally believe that, like, if, you know, hopefully, when Vice President Harris wins, then I said hopefully.

[David Cross]

But, you know, we said hopefully win.

[Nalini Stamp]

And we hopefully win. We continue to put pressure and organize, and if, unfortunately, she loses, we need to. I mean, I think there's a lot of things that we need to take a look at, but also, we still need to stay organized. And what I think is really important is that we don't make it. I think in 2016, one of the biggest mistakes the movement made was that it became all about identity. And we did lose class again.

[David Cross]

Oh, for sure.

[Nalini Stamp]

Just, like, all of these things.

[David Cross]

Oh, man.

[Clark]

Oh, yeah.

[Nalini Stamp]

Every. And I just. I. I really felt like.

[Clark]

Yep.

[Nalini Stamp]

It just like, I was like, what is everybody doing? Like, and it's not that. Yes, of course. Like, my dad's an immigrant. He was not. You know, he didn't have papers. Of course I care about these things. I'm not like. Right. It's not that I don't care, but if we. If we. If we just do the. We're just playing into what the. The right wing uses to divide us.

[David Cross]

We are playing into 100.

[Nalini Stamp]

What. Millions of people. And the reality is, is, like, we even did, like, a study that we saw. We did a working class study. And that most people care about housing right now.

[David Cross]

Yeah.

[Nalini Stamp]

In this country. So, like, if. If. I mean, I will lose my actual shit if I. If everybody starts to. Like, that's when I'll really be like, eff it. I don't have the power, but I'm canceling you.

[David Cross]

Like, when you say so, like, diarrhea or when you.

[Nalini Stamp]

I think my head might actually combust. Like, I might spontaneously combust. Like, Like, I just. I just.

[David Cross]

I don't think that's gonna happen.

[Nalini Stamp]

I can't. I cannot. I cannot. I can't go back to that. I can't go back to just, like, identity issues and parades. Like, I just can't go back to that.

[David Cross]

Oh, man. That should be a bumper sticker. Identity issues and parades. 2024.

[Nalini Stamp]

I'm gonna make a little lawn slide for my law, but I can't go back to that.

[David Cross]

Okay, so let me. So what does that mean, you can't go back? What does that mean for you and the people like, you and the actors? I mean, right now, which are many.

[Nalini Stamp]

I mean, right now is like, what I'm doing is anything in my power and, you know, working families power and the communities that I also organize with outside of that to elect Harris and also to plan, like, scenarios.

[David Cross]

What I'm saying is, should that not happen, what do you. What does I'm over it mean to you?

[Nalini Stamp]

Oh, yeah. Well, to me, it just means that actually having those hard conversations with people and being like, no, we gotta. Class is the thing. And also if they steal it, that ready to just do things that are probably more radical in action.

[David Cross]

Take up arms.

[Nalini Stamp]

Oh, no. I mean, I just.

[Clark]

Well, they will, so you better.

[Nalini Stamp]

I know they will. You know, I think that for me, it's.

[David Cross]

We got a preview not too long ago.

[Nalini Stamp]

I know we got a preview. I mean, look, I definitely have gone to the. I'm a good shot. I got to the shooting range and, you know, the years that I lived in Georgia, it taught me. Taught me I needed.

[David Cross]

Where'd you live in Georgia?

[Nalini Stamp]

I lived in Atlanta. I lived in Lakewood.

[David Cross]

Oh, okay. That's where I'm from. Not Lakewood, but for a couple.

[Nalini Stamp]

Yeah, No, I know you are. For a couple years, I lived down there in 2414 and can I, can.

[David Cross]

I, if, if things are really bad, sketchy bad, whatever. Can I make a recommendation?

[Nalini Stamp]

Sure.

[David Cross]

And I don't just say this to you. I say this to Everybody. Go to officialdavidcross.com and check out my tour, which is called the End of the Beginning of the End tour. All the dates will be there. Got 44, I believe, cities, towns in America, Canada and then, then Canada, then Europe, UK and then back here for some more. So there'll be about a hundred shows. So take a look. You know, it's a, it's a. I'm not cheating anybody out of it. I don't go up there and do, you know, 48 minutes and walk off. I'm doing a full show. I got, I've been to your show, special guests.

[Nalini Stamp]

Yeah.

[David Cross]

And one did. Did you go to a show you went to?

[Nalini Stamp]

I went with Amber and, and Philly, the last one.

[David Cross]

Oh, that was a bad show that. Yeah, Philly's. Philly's not great. I've done a number of shows over the years, over the decades and Phil never the hit. It's just.

[Nalini Stamp]

I got to see you in a different. Okay, you tell me where, you tell me where this time.

[David Cross]

Wait. Yeah, cuz we went to that place that. Oh wait, wasn't that where the, the. What do you call it, the swingers couple, the porn guys?

[Nalini Stamp]

Yeah, there was like this.

[David Cross]

This, that guy's story was fascinating.

[Clark]

He was a military guy.

[Nalini Stamp]

Yeah.

[David Cross]

And. And his girlfriend or wife, I don't remember. They were young. Oh God. I've only got little pieces of it. It was, it was quite the night. But his, he. Because he, that's. He's like a sex worker guy and, and then his girlfriend, they do stuff together. It's right.

[Nalini Stamp]

Like they like they can not get contracted together, but they'll do work together.

[David Cross]

Yeah, yeah. And, but his whole story was fascinating. Oh. And he wanted, he wanted to do stand up. He was curious about doing it in a show. I was like, fuck yeah, man. You, if you did a one man show about this, this would.

[Nalini Stamp]

Yeah.

[David Cross]

I mean just what you've told me and then you get somebody to help you punch it up. I mean, you put this together, I mean this will be a really amazing show and you'll do, I think very well. But I. Who knows where he is now? Probably, if you're out there, probably going down on somebody who knows. I don't know.

[Nalini Stamp]

Look, it's work right?

[David Cross]

In this economy.

[Nalini Stamp]

Yeah.

[David Cross]

So yes, I do remember hanging out there. Was, Was Clark there this Clark. No, Clark. Clark. Clark.

[Nalini Stamp]

Is Clark still there?

[Clark]

There he is.

[Nalini Stamp]

Oh, he's running here.

[David Cross]

How's it going? Good. All right. Are you guys on air still or. Yeah, yeah, we were just talking about. I met the Leanie through my wife and they were at a show. Not a good show, Sean Patton and I did in Philly, and then we were talking about the people who were there and I was like, was Clark there? No, no, she already said no. I did live in Philly for a second, though. Well, nobody gives a shit about that. That wasn't a question. That was not. Okay, great. Now what? All right, thank you. No, I'm good. I got a thank you.

[Nalini Stamp]

But wait, you didn't finish. So go to your show.

[David Cross]

Go to my show regardless of what happens.

[Nalini Stamp]

Yeah.

[David Cross]

And you'll feel better for at least, you know, 90 minutes, if not longer. You'll forget about your cares, you'll laugh. Oh, I love that. And part of $2 from every ticket goes to. I always do a donation thing. Last time it was. What was it last time? Oh, justice for people who are wrongly accused. I. That's a clunky way of. But this one is for Check my ads. Are you familiar with them?

[Nalini Stamp]

No.

[Clark]

Oh, they're great.

[Nalini Stamp]

Check my ads.

[David Cross]

Check my ads is. They are working to make these huge companies right, Google and all of the search engines and all the people and meta and who put advertising to make sure they're aware of and to stop these awful sites that are on there that are just spew hatred, antisemitism, neo Nazis, right wing people who advocate abusing women. So a lot of these companies are not aware through the algorithm of what that. And these companies are. Are like Nabisco, like, do you want to be affiliated with literally the Klan? And so they're very good at cracking through the algorithm and pointing that out because then they've been very effective where people like, you know, they're somewhat behind the. Hey, just so you know, you know, Sleepy's mattresses are advertising on Tucker Carlson's.

[Clark]

Other page, which he.

[David Cross]

You know, whatever the thing is, whatever, however they.

[Nalini Stamp]

Yeah, yeah.

[David Cross]

And it's linked to this, which is linked to that, which is linked to that. So just so you know, you guys are helping support what, you know, whatever the thing is. So check my ads.

[Nalini Stamp]

That's great.

[David Cross]

And they're. They're total. Just start with two women. And let's not hold that against them. They were born the way they were. Okay. And we all can't be men who are smarter and stronger. Oh, God. These two really great women who. And now they've got like more of a staff and stuff and they could use the help. But they're great.

[Clark]

What they do is really.

[Nalini Stamp]

That's awesome. I mean, that's super. Needed.

[David Cross]

Another reason to go. OfficialDavidCross.com has all the dates. Check it out. The end of the beginning and the end tour. Nalini, is there anything you'd like to send people to look at?

[Nalini Stamp]

Yeah, I mean, look, check out workingfamilies.org you can find out. Because I think one of the big things too, we've talked a lot about. But local politics is really, really important. Who you're city council globally, act locally. And so you can. Next week after the Labor Day holiday, we will have our.

[David Cross]

Well, let's not tell. We don't. This is a magical thing where we don't know when it's happening. It could be happening right now.

[Nalini Stamp]

It could be happening right now.

[David Cross]

Because Labor Day was awesome. What'd you do for Labor Day?

[Nalini Stamp]

I went to the West Indian Day, period. Great. So working. So yeah, check out workingfamilies.org we will have. If you put in your zip code, you will find out all of our locally endorsed candidates in your. And also ballot initiatives because those are important too. Abortions on the ballot in a lot of states and to. And reproductive freedom as well. But also there are so many local elections.

[David Cross]

So if I go there's a ballot with. And I. If I tick off the one of the boxes, I can have an abortion.

[Nalini Stamp]

You know, you have to consult your doctor with that.

[David Cross]

Oh, really?

[Nalini Stamp]

Yeah, yeah.

[David Cross]

Seems like an extra step.

[Nalini Stamp]

I mean, maybe a state senator will join you in your doctor appointment, you know.

[David Cross]

Absolutely. I like that.

[Nalini Stamp]

To make sure that everything is really.

[David Cross]

Good, let's get the gay guy from Montana. There you go. Larry. Larry. Greg. Was that his name?

[Nalini Stamp]

Oh, I forgot his name.

[David Cross]

The wide stance guy. Yeah, I have a wide stance.

[Nalini Stamp]

Wide stance. But yeah. You know, you go onto the website and you will find. You put in your zip code and you'll find all of our endorsed candidates and ballot initiatives and find out what it is. Yeah, locally that's going on because you're gonna hear so much noise about presidential, you know, and there's just so much that you can decide on locally. And those are really by a few votes. It doesn't have to do an electoral college. You're not dealing with that. Those are really decided by a few hundred votes.

[David Cross]

It's the down ballot.

[Nalini Stamp]

Down ballot it down ballot for it. Down ballot. I feel like we need to, like, rename it, though, because down just seems like it's degrading. Yeah. It's lesser than down upon you.

[David Cross]

The other ballot.

[Nalini Stamp]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[David Cross]

But it also is literally down.

[Nalini Stamp]

It literally is, Bob.

[David Cross]

So maybe.

[Nalini Stamp]

Well, actually, some places, I guess, if.

[David Cross]

You have enough and then you turn the page.

[Nalini Stamp]

Yeah. In California, there's like, 15 different.

[David Cross]

Up at the top.

[Clark]

Yeah.

[Nalini Stamp]

California page two. Don't folks, like, vote in, like, 50 pages? Because they vote for everything in California but California.

[David Cross]

Like, so I was.

[Nalini Stamp]

I've never voted in California, so that's.

[Clark]

I did.

[David Cross]

And it was. It was open primary, open party, so I didn't. I was registered as an independent, and it's one of those things when I moved to New York, and I. In order to vote in the primary, out of register as a Democrat, and it just. It still bothers me because I'm not a fucking Democrat.

[Nalini Stamp]

You're like, it's still a little fairy dies inside.

[David Cross]

Like, but in order to, you know, try to get Bernie Sanders on the.

[Nalini Stamp]

Yeah, yeah.

[David Cross]

Didn't do a lot of good.

[Nalini Stamp]

Yeah.

[David Cross]

And I also vote in upstate and Sullivan county, where my vote goes a little further.

[Nalini Stamp]

Yes. We love that.

[David Cross]

Okay. Love a good Sullivan County Nini stamp. Thank you. And yours. Now, I end every podcast by asking a question from my daughter, Marlo.

[Nalini Stamp]

Oh, okay. Okay.

[David Cross]

And here is.

[Nalini Stamp]

She called me a makeup artist the last time I saw her, and I was very. I was very.

[David Cross]

I was very A makeup artist.

[Nalini Stamp]

She said, are you a makeup artist? And I said, no. She was like, your makeup looks very pretty. I was like, whoa, that was a very big compliment.

[David Cross]

Clark. Clark. Where is he?

[Nalini Stamp]

I don't know.

[David Cross]

There he goes. Hey. So my daughter complimented the last time she saw Nini on her makeup. What do you think of her makeup? I think it looks great. Really? Yeah.

[Nalini Stamp]

I don't have to say that.

[David Cross]

Okay. Okay, guys.

[Nalini Stamp]

Okay. What's the question for Marlo?

[David Cross]

I'm gonna ask you too, Clark. Step in. I end every podcast with a question from my daughter, who's 7, and I'm gonna allow you to jump in here. Wow, we're running. Okay, here's. Here's your question from Marlo. Why is lightning attracted to metal? She wants to know, ooh, why is lightning attracted to metal?

[Nalini Stamp]

Why is lightning attracted to metal? Good question. And I failed science sense.

[David Cross]

You failed lightning school?

[Nalini Stamp]

I failed lightning school.

[David Cross]

Clark, you got any Harry Potter?

[Nalini Stamp]

I'm just kidding.

[David Cross]

Where are you going? What are you doing? Where are you? It's also attracted to water, so I'm Currently trying to find.

[Nalini Stamp]

Yeah, that's what. That's what sand makes.

[David Cross]

What does metal and water have in common? Oh, not to answer the question with another question. Well, a lot of the same letters. You got a T and E and A. Is there an E in metal? Oh. Oh, no. I thought you meant metal and water. And what are those?

[Nalini Stamp]

Why is it attracted to metal?

[David Cross]

A T and E are your common letters. That's T or 8. Right. Or your ETA, estimated time of arrival. So let's do the QAnon thing. So you got 8, T and E and estimated. So what time are you going to eat your tea? Tea is also a euphemism for, like, 60s cannabis. So what time are you getting high after this?

[Nalini Stamp]

I don't know.

[David Cross]

Well, there's your answer.

[Nalini Stamp]

5Pm tonight.

[Clark]

There's your answer. I will tell you this.

[David Cross]

I discovered recently that lightning is not attracted to metal. Metal is a conduit which makes it spread, you know, quickly. And it doesn't seek metal out.

[Clark]

It will seek whatever's right there.

[David Cross]

Whatever the tallest thing is. So that is a bit of a myth buster.

[Nalini Stamp]

I always do the lightning and the sand thing that makes glass. Yeah, that's what I. That was my fun fact when I was a kid.

[David Cross]

All right, guys. Thank you, Clark. It was a pleasure to have you in this room. Your presence was felt. Your absence was felt even more. Don't. Enough. It's not your mic. And and we'll see you all next time here on Sense. All right, bye bye.

[Clark]

Sense is working Overtime is a Headgum podcast created and hosted by me, David Cross. The show is edited by Katie Skelton and engineered by Nicole Lyons with supervising producer Emma Foley. Thanks to Demi Druchin for our show, Art and Mark Rivers for our theme song. For more podcasts by headgum, visit headgum.com or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and maybe we'll read it on a future episode.

[David Cross]

I'm not gonna do that.

[Clark]

Thanks for listening.

[David Cross]

That was a Headgum podcast.