Rosie Perez (3:17)

Yeah.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (3:18)

And I sat there and was like, wow, I don't think anyone's ever advocated for me the way Rosie just did.

Rosie Perez (3:23)

I left because I said, if you don't make her the point person, then I'm out. And then I told everyone they were fucking idiots. That's what. Yeah, I did. I said, I said, she's gonna be an anchor. I said, you're gonna feel really stupid and look at you now.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (3:38)

Yeah, but it wasn't like, I would never have said that and advocated for myself. Politics is all sort of behind your back, behind, you know, and this was just a world I didn't really know that much about. And I'd never seen anyone sort of use their power for somebody else like that. Thank you for doing that.

Rosie Perez (3:54)

Well, it's my pleasure. I don't do it for everyone. It's just when it's well deserved. Yes. I'll tell you, when things change between you and I, it was for me, I made a statement about George W. Bush. Right. And you kind of smirked my way. And I go, what? And it wasn't a great comment, let's just say that. And you said, I bet if you met him in person, you would like him. I said, no, I wouldn't. You can go, yes, you would. I said, no, I wouldn't. He said, yes, you would, because you are much more of a moderate than you want to admit you are. And I went, oh, shit, she figured me out.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (4:32)

I mean, it takes one to know one.

Rosie Perez (4:33)

Yeah, yeah, right. And then you said, you see both sides of the argument. And that's when I started looking at you differently. I just was like, wow. Because somebody else, if they would have presented that statement to me, I would have maybe taken it the wrong way. But there was. It wasn't combative in any kind of way. There was no agenda. Behind was just a funny statement that held truth. And so I remember I looked at you and I went, ah, I don't know. And you started laughing.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (5:13)

Well, because someone else there was so agitated by the idea that behind these policies she hated was a human being. And I mean, that's Rosie o', Donnell, obviously, and I'm not a Republican anymore, but being a Republican and moving to New York and going to the View as a person, that there was some preconceived notion that I was always going to carry the Republican water. At the time that the Republican Party was being taken over by Donald Trump, in some ways, we were like a canary in the coal mine. Right? And I get fired because I wasn't Republican enough. Which is funny to me, because George W. Bush, when I first moved to New York, was loathed for a lot of decisions that were very right. And I also remember, you know, I got fired in Variety, and I remember calling and I said, is it true? You're like, of course it's true. It's fucking variety. Like, I don't know. But it was such a journey, you know?

Rosie Perez (6:08)

It's funny, though. It's like we're talking about not being so absolute. That's what the problem is right now, is everybody is so polarized and no one can see the gray area. And the gray area is what used to make us great.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (6:23)

It's also where, like, 90% of people live, right? Like, yes. Like, most Americans are not able to say, I hate everyone that voted for Trump because they've got a partner or a parent or boss or they have to live in a world. And I'm hardline on what I think Republicans have done. But you can't go about your life. You can't cut out from your life everyone who voted for someone that you didn't.

Rosie Perez (6:47)

I agree partly with that statement. I think that that probably holds true for the people who are in office, the Republicans that are in office. But we're starting to see that even there's cracks there. And from what I see on the ground, because I go into neighborhoods that nobody wants to go into, even when I campaign for Mikey Sherrill, which people are like, what the hell are you doing? Unless we have to have her win. And I'm going into these neighborhoods. And even when I was on the campaign for Kamala, which was. I'm just gonna be honest, it wasn't a good campaign. And I told you that, and you.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (7:22)

Told me that, and I didn't wanna hear it.

Rosie Perez (7:24)

You didn't wanna hear it. Nobody wanted to hear from me. I kept. Remember I said, she's going to lose.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (7:28)

And the calls and you. And you knew it on the calls.

Rosie Perez (7:31)

I knew it on the calls from what people were telling me. Because I have learned through people who are MAGA in my family and some people who are friends, I have learned to stop yelling and I've learned to listen more. And when I was on those calls and I'm listening to people who are Democrats and independents and Republicans, they were all saying the same thing. They wanted the same thing. It was the economy, stupid. That was it. Nobody cared about social issues or anything like that. They were struggling, and they wanted something to change on that level. That was it. And it blew my mind that so many people were on the same page, regardless of party. And I just kept trying to tell the campaign that, and nobody was listening to me.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (8:24)

How do they feel now?

Rosie Perez (8:25)

I've gotten apologies. Not from everybody, but I've gotten apologies.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (8:30)

How do those voters feel now, though, if the economy was what they wanted? Do they feel.

Rosie Perez (8:35)

They feel disappointed. They feel disappointed because they truly believed in Trump and saying that on day one, he was gonna fix the economy. And that is not the case right now. So they feel disappointed. And that's even some of the magas in my family. You know, I have one particular MAGA person in my family. You know, she told me the other day, all right, listen, I'm just gonna be honest. I said, what? And she goes, I don't agree with everything that this man is doing right now. And I went, oh, my God, what date is it today? I'm gonna write this down. She goes, if you keep on, I'm gonna hang up. I said, okay, okay. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Sorry. And the number one issue was the economy. For her, it was the economy. And then the second issue, to my surprise, was ice. I said, really? Because that was the second reason why she voted for him. One was the economy. So second was immigration. And so my point is, is that there's so many Americans right now are feeling the same way, and we're not talking to each other, and that is a disservice to us as a nation. It really, really is. Because if we start to figure out that we're having common ground, we could work from there. Like, to everyone's surprise, I love Joe Rogan. And people go, oh, my God, how can you love him? I said, he's great. He's great on the ufc. I just think he's a funny guy, and I don't think he's a bad guy. I don't agree with everything that he says, but that doesn't mean I have to hate him for it. And I hope he doesn't hate me because of my political views. But I sat there watching a clip of him saying, the treatment of American citizens, even the treatment of undocumented, is going too far. My mouth just dropped on the floor. And I said, wow, this is great. And then someone says, are you shocked? I go, you know what? Not really, because I think he's a decent guy. And that's where we're at. Everyone is terrified right now. Everyone is terrified to speak their mind, to come on podcasts like these in fear of the consequences. And the consequences are real right now. You know, two people are dead right now. There's been multiple people who have died because of immigration and freedom, of your right to protest and what have you, but to live in fear and not having the wherewithal to push through it is where we are right now, and that's why we're not moving forward as a nation. You know, the fear is real. The fear is real. But when I think about what history has taught us, you think about someone like Martin Luther King, right? He knew. He didn't know concretely, but he knew his day was coming because he took a stand when I was listening to Terry Gross on Fresh Air. This is Terry Gross on Fresh Air. Sorry. I love how she said that. And Jane Fonda was on. You know, criticize her all you want, but at least this woman takes a stand. And in the interview, Terry Gross was telling her, oh, my God, you're so brave. And Jane Fonda goes, no, I'm not. No, I'm not. I'm not brave. I'm scared. Like Jane Fonda says she's scared. And she goes, but I'm more scared if I don't do something. And I think that if we all admit our fear, I think that we could really come to some place. And the fear is coming from both sides. Hello. It's not just from the far right. It's also the far left. And I know that's very controversial to say, but there it is. It's like I'm afraid to say it. That's pathetic. You know what I'm saying? If I say one thing, the far right is gonna call me a libtard, Which I didn't know what that was. I had to find out what that meant. And then if I say something else, the far left is gonna say that I crossed over or I'm a hypocrite or how dare you. And both sides want to cancel me because I have an opinion what the fuck is going on?

Podcast Host (Nicole) (12:35)

I think that's right. And look, as someone who's out there 10 hours a week, you look at everything you say through that lens. And I guess the difference is a lot of the threats of violence that members of Congress say they face is from just one side, and it's the right.

Rosie Perez (12:51)

I'm not saying the two sides are Equal. I am not. What I'm saying is, is that you could place blame on both sides. The degree of blame is not the same. I won't give you that. The degree of blame is not the same.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (13:04)

What about the ICE policies? What is your thinking about what's happening in Minneapolis right now?

Rosie Perez (13:12)

Well, in regards to ice, I think that we do need a level of immigration enforcement. I do believe in that. I think that if we get rid of it entirely, that's like throwing the baby out with the bathwater. That said, having masked law enforcement is insane. You think about all the dictators, what history have shown us, all their henchmen, all their footmen. Did they ever wear masks? They've never worn masks. And in the United States of America, we have law enforcement that is being paid by our tax dollars wearing masks. We can't even tell who they are. And then making statements like, raise your voice once again and I'll erase your voice. It's like, what is going on? That's what I mean. It's like everything has gone way too far. And it has resulted literally in the death of two people and the shooting of many and people in the detention centers, and then there's no accountability and then they're defying court orders and on and on and on. The insanity just needs to stop. It really does. And then if I say that I'm anti American, if I say that I'm a libtard or libertad, however they want to call me, it's ridiculous. First of all, you know, I'm not a liberal by any means. And so what's going on is really, really scary. It really is scary. And if you're not scared, take your head out of the sand and wake up. Really, it's terrifying. That's my opinion on it. And it goes back to forever of the need for immigration reform. You can't have ICE be the number one funded law enforcement in the entire nation. How many billions of dollars are they being given?

Podcast Host (Nicole) (15:12)

Gazillion.

Rosie Perez (15:13)

Yeah. And you just can't do that and just give them this absolution of power. It's not American. It really isn't. And I have to say it again, people, you may disagree with me. That's fine. It's my right to say it as an American. We do need some type of enforcement on immigration. We do. And we do need to get hardened, violent criminals out of our country. We do. But somebody who has applied for asylum and is going to court and following the paperwork, you're really going to do that. To them, you're going to put them on that same level. It's sad. It's really, really sad. And I've texted you, I'm crying. My husband goes, please, Rose, turn off the tv because I'm watching this and I'm literally sobbing. My friend Peter came over to dinner. He goes, you all right? I said, no, no. I've been crying all day. I've been crying all day. It's just, it's too much.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (16:11)

I mean, I think that what people feel, when you look at the numbers, just on the Trump side, the promise is to remove the worst of the worst. The worst of the worst are primarily in jail. They're adjudicated criminals. By and large. The people they're targeting at preschools and at landscaping jobs and at schools and in hospitals are not people who've committed any crimes, let alone violent crimes. And I think the people on the streets and Renee Nicole Goode was blowing a whistle for the people sort of targeting people who are parts of our communities. But this issue of going into schools and using a five year old as bait and going into hospitals and people afraid to take their severely ill children to the hospital because they're afraid they'll get separated. Either the child deported or the mother deported or, you know, does feel like an effort to break the fabric of our society.

Rosie Perez (17:05)

Yeah, I think when I saw the five year old Liam, that's what broke me. Yeah, that's when the tears came because I have a grandson, I couldn't imagine the fear that little kid was going through. That blank stare of shock that he displayed, that's what broke me, you know? But I think that it really started when actors were calling me, asking me to stand up. And I said, well, are you gonna stand up too? No, I can't. Cause I have a deal in place. And I go, I understand.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (17:55)

Explain that to me.

Rosie Perez (17:57)

They need to make a living, just like you and I need to make a living. They have families, they have mortgages, they have car payments, they have insurance payments. And we don't get work on an everyday basis. You may get one, two projects a year and the next year you may not work. So we're in an environment now that if you make a stand, if you speak up, that can be in jeopardy. Right. So you may not work for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 years. So that's where the fear comes in. And I don't judge it. I really don't. I understand it. I really do. And it's also just regular people too. Look at that guy that stood up to Trump in the factory, right? He got fired. He got let go. That's the fear. He's a regular Joe. That's what I'm saying. It's like what's going on in America is terrifying. It's terrifying. You know, when I started in the AIDS movement, my friend and mentor, God rest his soul, Dennis de Leon, I was berating another actor for not taking a stand in the fight against aids. And he came over to me and he put his finger in my face. He goes, who the hell do you think you are? Are you God? Are you judge and jury? You just potentially lost somebody to the fight. You have to allow them to come to the table. You don't force anybody to the table. Did anybody force you? No. He goes, so who the hell do you think you are? Don't ever do that again in my presence, ever, ever, ever again. You don't know what they're contributing or not. That's their path. That's their journey. They're going to have to stand up to God at the end of their life, but it's not your job.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (19:55)

We're going to take a quick break here. When we come back, much more with my dear friend, phenomenal iconic actress Rosie Perez. Stay with us.

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Podcast Host (Nicole) (20:54)

El Programa Nacional de Vecas a Serde McDonald's. Explain the internal process because I covered the Golden Globes where I thought it was notable, especially after all the big speeches in 2017, 18, 19, 20, including.

Rosie Perez (21:43)

From Hollywood, is crawling with outsiders and foreigners. And if we kick them all out, you'll have nothing to watch but football and mixed martial arts, which are not the arts.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (21:58)

And there was obviously a different tone at the Golden Globes. And it happens the day after Renee Nicole Goode is shot and killed by ice. Nobody who one said anything about the people of Minneapolis in their speeches. And I thought that was newsworthy. Obviously Something shifts between the Golden Globes and the Grammys. And I know it's a different group of creatives in a different industry with different pressures perhaps, but it seemed notable that one of the biggest winners of the night, one of the biggest winners of the year, Bad Bunny, uses his speech to say ice out.

Rosie Perez (22:34)

Before I say thanks to God. I'm gonna say, eyes out. We're not savage, we're not animals, we're not aliens. We are humans and we are Americans.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (22:59)

What's going on behind the scenes that we don't appreciate?

Rosie Perez (23:03)

I think what I stated in the music industry is completely different than the television and film industry. Right. And I also think, quite honestly, it's an issue of access to the world. They have the world listening to them. Bad Bunny has the world listening to him. He is incredible. He really is incredible. And I also think it's part because he's Latino. Is the Puerto Rican spirit there as well? But then you look at somebody like Billie Eilish, she does it too, you know, so it's Lady Gaga and Lady Gaga and everything like that. They have armies behind them of support where a lot of actors do not. I do have to say that, but I will give you that there are a lot of actors out there that are extremely privileged, extremely well off, constantly working and can afford maybe a couple of years of not working. But they're still fearful.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (24:05)

I mean, if you're not in the industry, it's hard to understand what the changes in ownership mean for you, for creative people. What does it mean to have, I know Jane Fonda put out, you know, had a position about some of the mergers. What is the consolidation and the presence of really Trump friendly people in the mix mean for actors?

Rosie Perez (24:26)

We don't know yet because we haven't seen anything concretely that would point to, ah, see, now they're in control. This is what's happening. I want to just wait and see. But it is troubling. It is very, very troubling.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (24:43)

And I mean, it's happening in our world too, obviously.

Rosie Perez (24:46)

And then also it's like fewer people making the bigger decisions.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (24:51)

Right?

Rosie Perez (24:51)

That's troubling. You know what I mean? So you don't have as many various different platforms that you can say, oh, they don't want me. Well, maybe this, this platform may want me or what have you. But I just want to wait and see what happens, to see if that is the case. But everybody in Hollywood is going, oh, my God, what the fuck? Just be honest. They are.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (25:14)

They're scared.

Rosie Perez (25:15)

Everybody's scared. I'm scared. Everyone's scared. That's the whole thing, is that, you know, everyone thinks, like, I'm talking to you, and I look so brave. I'm terrified.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (25:24)

Yeah.

Rosie Perez (25:24)

I'm terrified of what?

Podcast Host (Nicole) (25:25)

Like, one comment will be taken out of context and attacked by the right and the left. Or both or all or not. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Rosie Perez (25:32)

And it's just like, you know, you take a chance. You take a chance, and it is scary.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (25:36)

Yeah.

Rosie Perez (25:37)

It is a scary place to stand in.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (25:39)

Yeah.

Rosie Perez (25:39)

And, you know, and I just hope if anybody takes anything away from our conversation is what I went back to in the beginning, even Martin Luther King was scared.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (25:49)

It's not what you do or don't do because you're scared. It's like it's baked in that we're all scared. It's a scary moment. And then what do you do while you feel afraid?

Rosie Perez (25:59)

Yeah. Yeah.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (26:01)

You vote. And I guess I have covered the institutions, obviously, for the last nine years, and I watched one by one as they fell. For me, it was sad that the Republicans in Congress didn't believe anything they said they believed. Right. And so for me, watching all the institutions fail, and Eric Holder said it in last week's podcast that the Republicans in Congress failed. The Congress, by and large, failed. The Justice Department has fallen. The Pentagon appears to be falling under Hegseth. And so to me, to see the people of Minneapolis be the ones that say, this stops with us, and, you know, I don't know the minds of every single voter in Minneapolis. I'm sure they feel, as you do, that we have to have, you know, we're a country of laws. We have to have laws when it comes to immigration, but they're not targeting people who've broken any laws. They're just rounding up people who, you know, don't look like white people. That is what the people of Minneapolis have said. And they've drawn this line. To see them out there with literally whistles and cell phones, in a span of 17 days, two of them pay with their lives. It is a remarkable thing that as scared as we are, we get to have this conversation. We have, you know, all sorts of privileges that people out there walking the streets, businesses that close and can't really afford the losses, but they close because it matters. What's happening in their community does feel like a different story than the ones we've sort of told over the last 10 years.

Rosie Perez (27:27)

Yeah.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (27:28)

Does it feel different to you?

Rosie Perez (27:29)

It feels completely different to me. I'm thinking back what you had asked Me. What's the difference between the Golden Globes and the Grammys? I think that short period of time.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (27:39)

Yeah. The country changed.

Rosie Perez (27:41)

The country changed, you know, that short period of time. Because I've recommitted myself. I told you this, too. I've recommitted myself to the fight against AIDS by rejoining God's love we deliver, by advocating for safe sex. Still, people just don't get it. It boggles my mind. But also, rejoining the Democrat Party in regards to getting the vote out, because at the end of the day, we have our voice, and we have our vote, and our vote is our voice. Right. And I just think that the price that those two individuals did pay with their lives, the price that the individuals, like you said, who got shot, who are suffering in detention right now, it has woken up America up. It really has. It's made everyone get up and look in the mirror and say, man, what am I doing? What am I doing? And I think that whatever you're doing, you may not have to go out and protest, but you can go out and vote or you can cancel stuff.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (28:47)

Like, Scott Galloway has got all these things that you can do from your keyboard. And I think there are a whole bunch of people who are really afraid and who are now afraid for themselves and their kids to be out in the streets, because it's clear that ICE has no qualms using force. I think the reason the country changed is because the price of protests became clear. You could pay with your life.

Rosie Perez (29:09)

Right? Pay with your life.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (29:10)

And I think that's what woke people up. The people are out there. It's also freezing. Like, it's freezing in New York. It's whatever is 10 steps beyond freezing in Minneapolis. And they're out there every day.

Rosie Perez (29:22)

Every day.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (29:23)

But I think that the space that I'm trying to understand better is what people can do in the safety or privacy of their own homes, in terms of changing their patterns, their spending patterns.

Rosie Perez (29:32)

Yeah. Because brick and mortar is not really a thing as it was before. So you can force companies to change. Like with the Jimmy Kimmel, it was all you had to do was this. That was your protest.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (29:45)

And no knew.

Rosie Perez (29:45)

Right. And nobody knew. Nobody knows your name. There's not gonna be someone on Twitter.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (29:50)

But there was safety in that scramble.

Rosie Perez (29:53)

You, you piece of shit. You cancel Disney. You, you liberal. You are lefter.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (30:00)

I feel like someone on the left has to, like, reappropriate. Like, the right is so good with the smears, they just make you feel like an idiot. But I don't even know what the. Like you call someone maga. They're happy, they're proud. Why are liberals so afraid of being called like people? I'm not a liberal. Why did that become so negative?

Rosie Perez (30:17)

Because of their campaign. They're just good at branding. They're good. They're not standing so much on a righteous level. They're standing more on a cunning, I bet you this is gonna work level. And I think the left has tried that and they failed miserably. You even mentioned to me you said you don't tweet as much as you used to. I said, yeah, I do. I still tweet boxing. And you were like, come on, you were calling me on it. And I said, well, you're absolutely right, because for me, it just wasn't effective. And I was becoming a part of an algorithm that I didn't want to become part of. And there were people who were on the far left who were telling me what to tweet. And I'm like, I'm not going to tweet that. You guys sound stupid. But it's. It's. I don't know. I don't know why they're better at it, but they are.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (31:07)

They are, they are. They're good at the trash talk. What is your boxing world for people that don't know you in that world?

Rosie Perez (31:15)

I would say that there are a lot of things politically and economically that are changing in the boxing world right now. There's people who are advocating to eliminate or to amend the Muhammad Ali act, which will hurt fighters immensely. So people know that I'm against that. They want to amend it so that it would benefit the promoter and managers much more than the fighters. And so that's why it was in place from the get go. So that's really troubling to me.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (31:49)

And that's like an old fashioned sort of labor fight, right?

Rosie Perez (31:51)

Yes.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (31:52)

Like, if you are looking for like a parallel.

Rosie Perez (31:54)

Yeah, but with boxing. To me, boxing is so honest in its depravity. You know what I mean? I have learned in boxing, just sit back and wait this out. They're gonna come back around because they know that I don't have an agenda. I don't have a soapbox that I'm standing on outside of that soapbox advocating for the fighters. That's all I am a super insane fan who wants to stand up for the rights of these people who are getting bashed in the face for our entertainment, who are literally putting their lives on the line for our entertainment. And so that's it. I say to myself, they'll come back around. Because what I'm standing on is you can't really criticize it. You really can't. Because I'm a fan who loves fighters and think fighters should get their due. In America, the one thing about sports, whether it be boxing or football or soccer or whatever, is that it's tribal. It's pure American tribalism. Right? You are inside a stadium or an arena where you don't know who the hell has voted for who, right? It doesn't matter.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (33:15)

It's suspended for.

Rosie Perez (33:16)

It's suspended. Everybody's there just as fans. Everybody's there just as Americans. You know what I mean? And that's it. But politics. Get out of here. I want to see someone get punched in the face. You know, I remember even the Kamala campaign, I said, hey, I could get your ringside seats to this big fight in Las Vegas. You should go, oh, no, we're gonna have a voter registration booth there, outside on the fight. What? But if they see that she's there, that she's enjoying and she's saying, yeah, I'm American. Let's put politics aside. I'm just here to enjoy the fight, people may look at her differently. No, that wasn't gonna happen. They wanted to.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (33:56)

Trump understands. What you just articulated.

Rosie Perez (33:58)

Trump understands. Trump is very smart. If you're gonna give him something, say that he'. You know, he's there at the NFL.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (34:04)

He's there at those fights.

Rosie Perez (34:05)

He's there at the ufc. He's going to be there at the fights. Now, he went to the US Open. Some people booed him, but it was a smart move.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (34:14)

Who in the Democratic Party has that sensibility that can go to a fight and sit there or that understands and appreciates its importance? Your silence answers the question. I mean, do you think there's anyone who could be made to appreciate. I mean, John Halman always says this politics exists downstream from culture. Do you see anyone in the Democratic Party who sees it that way and could appreciate the importance of culture to prevailing in politics? I mean, you're campaigning for Mikey Sheryl. I mean, she and Abigail Spamberger. Just one big.

Rosie Perez (34:51)

Yeah, those two women. Yeah. If they showed up at the fight, nobody would be like, boo. Get out of here. Well, maybe there will be some booze, whatever. But they would accept them. It wouldn't be like, what the hell are they doing here? I would say that. I would say that about Josh Shapiro. I would say that about kind of Gavin Newsom. Some people don't take him at his word yet.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (35:12)

But I think, like, they'd be suspicious that he was there. Because of the politics.

Rosie Perez (35:16)

Yeah, because of the politics. I know a person that nobody really talks about, Andy Bashir.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (35:21)

Yeah.

Rosie Perez (35:22)

I think if he showed up, people.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (35:23)

Be like, people like him?

Rosie Perez (35:25)

Yeah, people like him. You know, he's a very likable guy. That's about it. That's a sad statement.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (35:29)

When you campaigned for Mikey Sherrill, what was your pitch for her?

Rosie Perez (35:33)

My pitch for Mikey Sherrill was the economy. That was it.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (35:37)

And you think that that's the thing, that one unites people and two makes a difference for people that are sort of like that each side has their tribes and for the people that are up for grabs. Is it your argument that that's it? Economy, economy, economy, economy, economy, economy.

Rosie Perez (35:53)

And the places that they sent me out to were from the middle class all the way to the poverty stricken Latino and African American neighborhoods and West Indian neighborhoods as well. Those are the places that they sent me to, the places that most celebrities don't want to go to. Like, they want to be standing next to Cheryl, you know what I mean? They asked me, they go, mikey, Sheryl, she's going to show up here and then Obama's going to come. I go, no, I got to go to Perth Amboy, right? I was like, what the hell is Perth? And boy. And they go, well, they have these. Okay, I'm there. You know, none of the other celebrities.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (36:28)

I want to like, knock on the door. And you're like, hi. Sometimes take me through a day in the life of Rosie on the campaign trail.

Rosie Perez (36:36)

Well, like when I went to Pennsylvania, I remember that. Yeah, that I'm knocking on the doors. I'm not going, hi. And to be quite honest, you called me after those. Yeah. Oh, God, I was depressed. I think I was crying. I think I was crying on the phone. You knock on the door, you're terrified because you don't know who's going to answer.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (36:53)

Just knocking on a door is scary these days.

Rosie Perez (36:55)

It's very scary.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (36:56)

Because if it's not Amazon, they do not want to see you.

Rosie Perez (36:58)

They do not.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (37:00)

Right?

Rosie Perez (37:00)

Yeah, yeah, yeah. On Amazon.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (37:02)

Not exactly.

Rosie Perez (37:03)

Yeah, yeah, yeah. And, you know, going into Latino neighborhoods and it sounds shallow, but any Latino will understand. I go, my hair has to be done. I got to do my hair. You're running late. I got to do my hair. Leave me alone. I know what I'm talking about. And I need lip gloss, you know, and so it's knocking on doors. It's going to community centers, it's going to restaurants, dive diners, going to campaign headquarters, trying to reinvigorate the people there. You just want to say, rah, rah, rah, let's go.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (37:34)

And she won huge. Mikey Sheryl won huge.

Rosie Perez (37:37)

Yeah. And the thing is, when I went to these neighborhoods for Mikey Sherrill, there was a difference. People wanted to listen to me, whereas.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (37:47)

A difference from 24 to 25.

Rosie Perez (37:49)

Yeah.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (37:50)

Why?

Rosie Perez (37:51)

I think because what they may have voted for has not turned out the way they wanted it to.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (37:58)

They got scammed.

Rosie Perez (37:59)

They were promised something, and that promise has not been delivered as of yet. Right. Even the canvassers, the people that are going to go out on knocking on the door. When I went to Perth Amboy, I wasn't going out with them and I'm trying to give them the rah, rah speech. And they're like this, right? And I go, wait a minute, you don't want to talk to me. You don't want to hear me talk. You just want to get out there. And this girl goes, yeah, we're ready to go. And I went, what? There was a different type of surge, a charge in numbers among these.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (38:29)

But you're speaking about both the campaign and the voters. You. Yes, okay.

Rosie Perez (38:33)

Yes. The people that volunteered to go door to door for the campaign, there was a different sense of, we got this. We know what to say. We don't feel like it's doomsday where on the other campaign it was. That was the feeling. Also, the people, they were leaning out their doors, they were rolling down their windows.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (38:53)

So they were open.

Rosie Perez (38:54)

They were very open to what I had to say.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (38:57)

Is that a Mikey Sherrill versus Kamala thing or 25 versus 24 thing?

Rosie Perez (39:01)

I think it's both. I really do. And also, not for nothing, because Mikey, Sheryl and Abigail Spamberger, they were more centrist, they were more in the middle. They were slightly progressive, but they weren't far left. And I think that that's why the American people will be like, okay, I'll listen to you.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (39:23)

My conversation with Rosie Perez continues right after the break. We'll be right back.

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Podcast Host (Nicole) (40:37)

El Programa Nacional de bececas Hacer the McDonald's A beneficiado mas de vieciones de dolares. Esta es ma historia de generaciones Estudiantes, Quebec. Do you think Harris is far left?

Rosie Perez (41:15)

I want to be quite honest with you, and it's no disrespect to the former vice president. I never got a hold on what she was. I really didn't. I couldn't figure it out. I'm just being honest. I think that her heart was in the right place. I think she really cared for the American people. And what I was feeling on the ground and what I was feeling myself is nobody was really sure as what she stood for and who she was as a person. And I don't know why that was with Kamala. I really don't. Because she was exuding this joyfulness, this when we fight, we win kind of spirit. But yet something wasn't clicking. And I don't know what that was. There was something missing and I couldn't figure it out. And I usually can figure people out, you know, And I was just like, huh, this isn't good. So I hope whoever is going to be our next candidate is clear.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (42:10)

You know, I think what you think.

Rosie Perez (42:11)

That the nation is ready for a woman?

Podcast Host (Nicole) (42:13)

I mean, I don't know. And after 16, I'm totally out of the prediction business. I do think there will be a woman. We're just gonna run out of men. And like anyone, anyone looking at what's going on now and is like, yeah, more of this should have their head examined. I think your story of doing what you've always done and you were involved with the AIDS movement at a point when it wasn't just not popular, it was viewed as a potentially risky association.

Rosie Perez (42:40)

It was viewed as a career killer. That's how it was viewed. And I was Scared then, to be.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (42:45)

Honest, just sort of tell me how to scale that. Doing a thing that you're afraid of doing because it'd jeopardize your dream. I think some things are so true. Everyone's afraid. Unless you're part of the 36% who approve of the job Donald Trump's doing. Where does that come from in a person? In you. To do the thing you're afraid of, to fight for the thing that you want. That's better.

Rosie Perez (43:09)

Because other people fought for me when I was a kid, and it made a difference in my life.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (43:13)

Who?

Rosie Perez (43:14)

Sister Margaret Frances. She left the order. How scandalous is that? She left the order. She was a nun, and she left the Catholic Church. She turned in her habit because she didn't agree with certain things and how the children were being treated. She stuck up for me. She's the woman that told me, put your head down. Study education is your way out. Do not give up. She's the person that fought for me to just be seen in a room, and she didn't have to do that, and she wasn't supposed to do that, and she did anyway. There are people in my life, such as politicians, who fought for certain type of policies that would protect children, that we couldn't get hit anymore, you know, that you had to treat us a certain way in regards to food and shelter and kindness. They literally passed policy for that to happen. People don't understand. Like, I know I look cute, but I'm old. I'm next to clearing my senior citizenship, okay? That's how old I am. And back then, people had the right to beat me. They had the right to do certain things to me, and there was no law to say no. And people fought for that to happen and could have jeopardized their livelihood as well, and it didn't. There were teachers that stood up for me because I was treated poorly in schools, because I came from the child welfare system and the foster care system. There's so many people that stood up for me and fought for me, and that's what gives me the courage. But also, I have to tell you, it's because I am who I am. I was born this way, and I knew it from day one. We have a suffragette in our lineage, which I never knew. And I went, oh, well, that makes sense.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (45:03)

Yeah.

Rosie Perez (45:03)

You know what I mean? I just think that's who I am. But I think, most importantly, the reason why I push through my fears is because I've been stomped on. I have been stomped on. I've been forgotten about and everything like that. And I don't want anybody else to feel that, ever. It's a shitty place to live. And there's a lot of people living in that place right now. And when the AIDS movement came about, and one of my good friends, my ex boyfriend, passed away from aids. And before he passed, he told me, rose, show up for the cause, not the cameras. Fuck your hair. And it changed me because it immediately made me remember of all those people that stood up for me and took a chance. And at the time, I had representatives telling me, during the AIDS movement, could you stop? Could you be quiet? And I go, no, I can't. Well, you're not gonna get this job. And I would cry. Really? Is that real? Yeah, you're not gonna get this job. You're too controversial. And I'm not gonna say I was so brave and like, yeah, well, I don't care. I did care. It did hurt. I remember those days today. I remember those days. But if I didn't stand up then what? You know, look at how far the AIDS movement has come now. You know what I mean? And my latest thing is to stand up for. Gillag has this new drug, but it costs so much money. How can we figure out to make that more affordable, you know? Or how can we put the message back out there that people are still suffering from aids, regardless of all the latest, you know, medications and advancements in the field? How can we put out the message that STDs are, like, running rampant? People, young people and old people and old people. Oh, my gosh, you know, and so all those things, that's why. That's why I do it. And I can't. I can't stop. Even though I cry. I cry every day, Nicole. I do. But I gotta pick myself back up and say, okay, let's go. Let's go. Somebody out there needs someone to stand up for them, you know? And I am inspired by Minneapolis. I am inspired by those people because it is terrifying. It's terrifying what's going on. And I'm also inspired by the American people. People are saying, the American people have lost hope. No, we have not. No, we have not. Look at what is changing. We're starting to come together. Whether we want to admit it or not, we are right. If we could do that, like, even in the Democratic Party, it pisses me off what's going on, you know, what are they doing? Oh, if you're not a Democrat, socialist.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (47:45)

Oh, in New York?

Rosie Perez (47:46)

Yeah, in New York. Be like, what? And if you say something, you're against the mayor because you're against the dsa. No, I'm for the people, and so is everyone else. You know what I'm saying? Like, there are other Democrats that are calling me and say, can you say something? Why don't you say something, bitch? You know what I'm saying?

Podcast Host (Nicole) (48:05)

About Mamdani or just about anybody.

Rosie Perez (48:07)

I don't have nothing against a man.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (48:09)

Yeah, I don't. Trump loves him. He loves him so much. Someone says, do you still believe he's a fascist? And Trump's like, just say yes.

Rosie Perez (48:16)

Oh, my God, what did you do? Yeah, that was funny. That was funny.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (48:19)

It was incredible.

Rosie Perez (48:20)

Yeah. But my point is, is that I've criticized Eric Adams, and Eric Adams was my friend. I've criticized de Blasio. I've criticized Bloomberg and Giuliani. I even criticized David Dinkins, who I adored. You know what I mean? And that's what we should be as Americans who care about what's going on in the world. We cannot be so absolute on either side. Stop it. It's irritating already. It is. It's stopping progress. It is.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (48:50)

Yeah. I mean, some of that is what you said before. The algorithms of social media makes everyone so agitated that their nervous system's, like, over fried. And so they hear any criticism from inside their coalition and they freak out. I have to ask you about do the Right Thing. When was the last time you watched it? Like, have you watched. You were so fucking hot. And, I mean, you're still hot. You're hot, grandma. But do the right Thing. Like, can you just take me through, like, your life before do the Right Thing, your life after. And are you and Spike Lee friends?

Rosie Perez (49:16)

We're still friends. Me and Spike are still friends to this day. Actually. He was texting me during the latest fight, the big, big fight. He was saying, where you at? Everybody's asking for you. And that made me feel really nice. But my life prior to do the Right Thing, I was a college nerd. I was a college nerd. I was a biochem major who used to sneak out of lab class at 9pm So I could go to the club and I would change out of my nerdy khaki pants. I used to wear khaki pants, you know?

Podcast Host (Nicole) (49:45)

Used to dress like a Republican.

Rosie Perez (49:47)

Stop it. Don't say that. You see how she is? You see? You see, folks? Oh, my gosh. Okay, well, maybe so. But anyway, I would go in there, and then during our lunch break, I would break. I would change into my hoochie mama dress, you know, and hit the clubs. So I was just this confused person that was very happy. I was very content prior to meeting Spike Lee. I meet him in a nightclub and my whole life changes, literally. And people think, oh, he gave you that role? No, he made me audition to make sure. Because he's smart like that. He literally has changed my life, and I am so grateful for it. And that movie. I didn't know what the hell I was doing. I really didn't. If it wasn't for God rest his soul, Danny Aiello, I don't think I could have pushed through. I really couldn't. And Ernest Dickinson as well. They taught me so much. So, so much. Any actor out there listening, it's like Danny said, come here, come here, come here. Tomorrow's your day off. I go, yeah. He goes, don't sit at home. Come to set. Sit next to me and watch. That's how you're gonna learn. You watch. You sit there. Just be quiet. Don't say nothing. Cause Spike will get annoyed. Just watch. And I did. And my life changed. And it wasn't easy. People think, like, bang. Everything happened. No, I was still living in Bed Stuy, in my sister Carmen's house, with the bar downstairs where, you know, the pimps would come with their ladies. I was still living that life for at least two, three years after do the Right Thing, people did not know that. Yeah. So it was hard, but it was so worth it. And I'm so grateful for it.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (51:19)

I love you so much.

Rosie Perez (51:20)

I love you, too. Thank you very much. Did we say everything we were supposed to say? I don't know.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (51:24)

Is there anything else? I mean, I guess the only thing that we didn't get to talk about were, you know, all of your amazing roles and all your amazing projects and what you're working on now.

Rosie Perez (51:33)

Oh, there's several things I'm working on. But, you know, what I want to say is I'm working on a podcast.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (51:38)

Oh, you are?

Rosie Perez (51:39)

They hired me to narrate this podcast about the funnier All Stars. That's the Willie Colon, Hector Lavo, Johnny Pacheco, Celia Cruz, La Lupe. It's about the record label. I couldn't believe that they asked me to be the narrator.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (51:56)

Why?

Rosie Perez (51:56)

So I thought they were gonna ask someone like Bad Bunny, you know what I mean? And probably they were like, yeah, but you old, you know, maybe that'll make it more legit, you know, not old. Cause they're from the 70s. That whole. It changed everything. Newbin blades.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (52:11)

Yeah.

Rosie Perez (52:11)

Yeah, he's in it. It's just that's what I'm working on and I'm really, really proud of it. But lastly, and most importantly, I want to say thank you for you being my friend. There was a lot of things that happened when we first met and some of those people I'm in touch with, some of them are not. But me and you have stayed constant and I love you. I love you and I adore you. And my husband says hello, I love you.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (52:36)

My husband gets to say hello to you all the time because he gets to have you as a friend too, which I think is one of his favorite things about being married to me. Gets to be friends with Rosie.

Rosie Perez (52:43)

Perfect us.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (52:44)

I love you.

Rosie Perez (52:44)

I love you too. Thank you, thank you.

Podcast Host (Nicole) (52:51)

Thank you so much for listening to the Best People. Remember to subscribe to Ms. Now Premium on Apple Podcasts to get this show and other Ms. Now originals ad free. You also get subscriber only bonus content. All episodes of this podcast are also available on YouTube. You visit ms.ms. now the best People to Watch the Best People is produced by Vicky Vergelina. Our Associate producer is Rana Shabazzi, with additional production support from Query Robinson. Our audio engineers are Greg Debbins and Hazik Bin Ahmad Farad. Katie Lau is our Senior Manager of Audio production, Pat Berkey is the senior Executive Producer of Deadline White House, Brad Gold is the Executive Producer of Content Strategy, Aisha Turner is the Executive Producer of audio and Madeline Herringer is Senior Vice President in charge of audio, digital and Long form. Search for the Best People wherever you get your podcast and be sure to follow the series. El Programa Nacional de bececas hace serde McDonald's a beneficiado mas de vieciciente mil estudiantes con maztoria de generaciones estudiantes quebes and McDonald's punta com yagonal Azer.