
The 23 year-old political creator joins the group chat to talk about what “the youth” want from politicians and help answer your questions.
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Harry Sisson
Hey boss, how did we get these massage chairs?
Eugene Daniels
Easy. I saved big on the new Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra from Verizon business. The savings helped me buy the chairs. Oh yeah.
Simone Sanders Townsend
Oh yeah.
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Simone Sanders Townsend
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Harry Sisson
It sucks right now. It sucks. Every day we wake up, we see a terrible headline. But I think the future is bright is as long as we put in the work.
Simone Sanders Townsend
Ooh. Come on. I believe the children are the future. Teach them well and let them lead the way. Harry. Greetings and welcome back to Clock it this week in America. Well, the nationwide average gas price is very close to $4. Eugene Diesel is over dollars. J Fuel prices are up about 105% around the world.
Eugene Daniels
I was looking for a plane ticket.
Simone Sanders Townsend
You might be wondering why. Well, because Trump's Pentagon teamed up with Israel to attack a country with the ability to cripple the oil business.
Eugene Daniels
That's what happens sometimes when you do things like that. Even though the US Has a strategic reserve of oil, plus we now actually export more oil than we import. That doesn't mean we're insulated. I know you know that because you go and put the gas in. I don't drive. I'm bad at it. It's not great. I don't know if you caught Ali Velshi's show on Sunday, but he summed it perfectly. He was talking about how 20% of the world's oil has to go through the straight of Hormuz to hit the market. Listen to this.
Harry Sisson
Donald Trump may think that because we don't use that particular 20% of oil
Ron Reagan
doesn't go to American ports that it doesn't affect us.
Harry Sisson
That would be.
Ron Reagan
What's the word we use in Canada?
Harry Sisson
Stupid.
Ron Reagan
Because now that the strait is blocked, oil prices are going up across the board even for oil originating outside the Gulf. Oil originating in America, that stays in America because oil is priced globally.
Simone Sanders Townsend
Not ally Bill. She given the. If I am a bill, he is breaking it down. Okay, I think I've dated myself. Cause I the kids nowadays don't know nothing about Schoolhouse Rock chat at all.
Eugene Daniels
But you should. Cause it's very good.
Simone Sanders Townsend
You should. Okay, don't clock that. Look, the fact is that these prices were predictable from the second the first missile was fired. So this week we have invited somebody who feels similar to Velshi and the rest of us that not only did Trump not think this through, that the people running his messaging, they didn't either.
Harry Sisson
Now their talking point is just trust the plan. Short term pain, long term gain. Don't you guys see it? No. No we do not. People are suffering and they're either telling you that it's actually not happening or you just have to suck it up and vote for the Republicans again. It is insane what Trump and his buddies are doing right now.
Eugene Daniels
Y' all know Harry. Harry is a 23 year old political influencer, maybe a political creator with millions of followers. We wanted to have a conversation with him about, well, how to talk about what's happening in D.C. reach the youth. Cause we're old now so we have to get it.
Simone Sanders Townsend
I'm not old.
Eugene Daniels
Also we are the same age.
Simone Sanders Townsend
Youth is the size on a T shirt. We are talking about young leaders. Okay? The streets need to get it together. It's not the youth. So you know, our Gen Z cousin Harry is gonna join the group chat. We also ask y' all for questions, specifically questions that you have about the moment that we're in. We got some unrele related questions. Harry is going to help us answer some of those. But first, can we please get into these gas prices? Where is all that extra money going? It's a very important question. Okay. It's a key question. All week msnow reporters have been in the field, honey. And they have been talking to people pumping gas. Laura Hafley was in New Jersey on Sunday. My car here typically is only $35
Harry Sisson
to fill, but now it's in the
Ron Reagan
$45, $50 range and it's a little ridiculous.
Simone Sanders Townsend
Have you ever voted for a Democrat? I have not yet, no. Do you think you will now? I'd say I'd be more open to it. New Jersey's really a snapshot of something we see nationwide. Suburban swing districts that could determine control of Congress with cost of living front and center.
Eugene Daniels
People will blame you if their gas prices go up. I'm blaming Biden. That's Joe Biden.
Simone Sanders Townsend
I'm blaming people.
Eugene Daniels
Obviously, gas prices are hugely important. Politically. It is a kitchen table issue. People ain't got money in their pockets. Everything is connected. Childcare is expensive.
Simone Sanders Townsend
Even if you have.
Eugene Daniels
Groceries are very expensive.
Simone Sanders Townsend
Groceries. Beef is up what, 15%?
Eugene Daniels
This is a midterm year, y'. All. There's no end in sight to the climb of these prices. The impact is gonna last for months and months and months. And the recovery won't be instantaneous even if they do get the straight open tomorrow.
Simone Sanders Townsend
And this is something that's a very. Can you just pause? That's a very important point. Say it again.
Eugene Daniels
If the strait opens tomorrow, the prices are not changing immediately. Well, because this is a worldwide problem. Insurance companies have to be consulted again, because they're concerned. But what could happen to the boats that they are insuring? Right. The people who actually move the oil through the Strait of Hormuz also have to be. Are gonna be nervous for a while. So it's not gonna be immediate that things are gonna change.
Simone Sanders Townsend
I wanna be very clear. There was an economist, you know, the people that do this professionally, that said about a week ago, if the war were to end. Cuz we are at war.
Eugene Daniels
Correct.
Simone Sanders Townsend
Okay. We are at war, people. We're at war. If the war were to end today, like the next day after, it would take 200 days to recover. So that's almost a year. So I really think that it is important for people to understand that this ain't going away anytime soon and it is unnecessary. We did not have to be here.
Eugene Daniels
And this is the thing, Simone, you flicked at this, that this is something that everyone could have thought of before the missile hit. I talked to a bunch of Biden aides who worked on this specific issue in the Biden administration. And what they told me, what they said, they had a booklet, you probably saw something at some point.
Simone Sanders Townsend
Ones that are. Let's classify, Eugene. That's classified.
Eugene Daniels
They said they had lots of booklets and in the booklets were like all the things that could happen if they went to war or if we went to war with Russia or if we went to war with North Korea. Right. Like the Defense Department has all types of. Not just battle plans, but the impact on this.
Simone Sanders Townsend
It's called war gaming.
Eugene Daniels
Correct.
Simone Sanders Townsend
Because you have to. I mean, this is why a lot of people leave government and they go to places like McKinsey or any of these firms that do strategic or that are senior advisors. Right. And then outside companies. Because in the government, the government is all about continuity. There's a contingency plan for everything. Literally, there's a contingency plan, and it's
Eugene Daniels
handed off from administration to administration.
Simone Sanders Townsend
Hello, designator survivor. There's a contingency plan if we lose the leader of the country.
Eugene Daniels
Right, Right.
Simone Sanders Townsend
There is not a situation where we don't know what's going to happen in America if something else happens. The question is, is, are the people in charge equipped to execute on the
Eugene Daniels
plan, or are they listening to the
Simone Sanders Townsend
plan or did they even read the book?
Eugene Daniels
That's the issue.
Simone Sanders Townsend
Did they even know where the booklet is? Cause they fired all the people that would have known where the books are.
Eugene Daniels
That's part of the issue, is that you have a president who absolutely is in charge. Right. And this is what the man said.
Simone Sanders Townsend
I'm going to question it.
Eugene Daniels
I feel like this is definitely Donald Trump's plan.
Simone Sanders Townsend
I'm going to question him.
Eugene Daniels
And though he did blame his boy
Simone Sanders Townsend
Hegseth the other day, I just, I think that. Is it Donald Trump's plan or. I saw some reporting that it was Mohammed bin Salman. Yeah, okay. The crown prince. There's been questions about who was encouraging the president. And just from what we know from 40 years of prime Minister Netanyahu, when he was just Bibi Netanyahu talking about the threat that Iran poses to Israel and wanting to bomb Iran for the last 40 years, longer than we've been alive, I think Netanyahu wanted this. So is it Trump's plan or was he suckered into it? Either way, Americans are dying. The gas is too damn high. And it's not just the gas you put in the car. The airplane tickets are going up, baby.
Eugene Daniels
I went to look. I have. One of my best friends is turning 40 this year. OK. So we're doing a trip. We're going to. We want to go to France. I was looking.
Simone Sanders Townsend
Y' all might not be going to France.
Eugene Daniels
I also got them flights yesterday with my husband. The cheapest flight for one person. Economy. Yes, economy. Yes. We're men of the people. In my household, the cheapest flight was $982 for one.
Simone Sanders Townsend
The flight coach.
Eugene Daniels
And that was. Yes. And that was. And that was not a straight flight.
Simone Sanders Townsend
You had a layover. There was a layover where, baby? To go to Paris. You know what?
Eugene Daniels
I didn't even click on it.
Simone Sanders Townsend
You don't need a layover to go to Paris. But that's another story.
Eugene Daniels
I was like, where am I going.
Simone Sanders Townsend
Where are you laying over there for 10 hours before you get to Paris?
Eugene Daniels
No clue. It's terrible. So we would.
Harry Sisson
So y' all might not be going.
Eugene Daniels
Not be going.
Simone Sanders Townsend
Justice for Nate. Justice for Nate.
Eugene Daniels
My sweetie may be staying home.
Simone Sanders Townsend
Oh, goodness. To be clear, we are joking about it, but if we are complaining, you know, Eugene is not a broke chicken, ladies and gentlemen. So if folks who are. Who have, you know, a little extra cash, who have the means, are feeling it, I can only imagine about folks who are working two or three jobs. I'm thinking about the TSA workers. Rent is due on the first.
Eugene Daniels
Yes. Period.
Simone Sanders Townsend
On the first. Rent is due. And there are TSA workers that haven't. That haven't been paid. So it's insane. And you couple all of this together, and then you got these oil companies.
Eugene Daniels
Exactly.
Simone Sanders Townsend
The oil companies, they're making a record profit. While the oil is very expensive. They are going to keep making a profit, to be very clear, for at least the next little bit, for the foreseeable future. And there was actually a study about this. The last time oil was this high was in 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine.
Eugene Daniels
The net income. This is this paper you're talking about. The net income of publicly listed oil and gas companies reached 916 billion with a B dollars globally. That's a figure more than three times that of the preceding years, even excluding 2020, which was a raggedy year for lots of reasons.
Simone Sanders Townsend
Isn't there a point in here? We looking at all the research documents? Shout out to Khalil, how about all the fossil fuel profits in the US that year? In 2022, they went to the wealthiest 1%, the bottom 50% of households, which is 66 million families. Okay, got 1%, the top 1%. That's about 131,000 families received 26 times more than the entire bottom half combined. This is the whole argument Bernie Sanders has been making.
Eugene Daniels
Bernie and a lot of people now, right? Like there is a choice to make a lot of money while people are suffering, Right? Because these billions of dollars they're getting are going into coffers that already have billion dollars. They look at people who are working multiple jobs who are having trouble feeding their family, and they say, you know what? Too bad. Pay the money.
Simone Sanders Townsend
Well, you know what? There's a racial component to this, because there always is.
Eugene Daniels
Always is.
Simone Sanders Townsend
The racial breakdown is even starker. White households captured. How much you think I'm scared? 87% of the profits while representing 64% of the population. Black households got 3%. Hispanic households got even less 1% of the profits. This is a wealth transfer that is hiding in a gas price. And if this is what happened in 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine, think about what is happening right now. Again, the ramifications are going to be stark here. It's just not to get on a
Eugene Daniels
plane goes through the Strait of Hormuz. Okay, so eventually the veggies for you vegetarians and vegans out there.
Simone Sanders Townsend
I don't like a meat. Not for the veggies.
Eugene Daniels
I know I like a meat.
Simone Sanders Townsend
Are you trying to say the veggies are going well? You know what?
Eugene Daniels
Fertilizer.
Simone Sanders Townsend
The cows eat some of those veggies now. They ate the grass. It'll be more expensive. Yes, gonna be. Beef is already up 15%. Okay, it's even more.
Eugene Daniels
But when you talk about war, the dollar amounts of everything, it really starts to sound absolutely absurd. Secretary Hegseth said last week, quote, it takes money to kill bad guys. This is your money, real taxpayer dollars that you are paying this government and that this administration is spending however it wants. According to the center for Strategic and International Studies. That's a bipartisan think tank for those of you that aren't paying attention. They spent $16.5 billion by day 12 of this war. $16.5 billion, you guys, on day 12. That's more than a billion dollars a day.
Simone Sanders Townsend
That is. And the estimates previously said it was a billion dollars a day. So I need the. The gurus to get the calculators out. I just wanna just put this nugget in here from Nicholas Kristof at the New York Times. Three days of war spending could eliminate severe malnutrition globally and save 1.5 million lives of children a year. That is not rhetoric. Again, that is Nicholas Kristof from the New York Times doing the math. So to Eugene's point, we are making a choice. A choice about what to fund. A choice about what is appropriate, what is needed, what's important. I mean, not to mention that $200 billion would've. Of the health care subsidies.
Eugene Daniels
Hello.
Simone Sanders Townsend
It's people right now in America that were kicked off their health care at the beginning of this year because Congress wouldn't extend the subsidies for the Obamacare. But maybe that's another story.
Eugene Daniels
Yeah, maybe. But it's definitely connected because at the end of the day, this is a war of choice. The other story all over my feeds, probably yours too. People all in my phone. Two of them is the lines at the airports. Now this is terrifying for us to do that at times.
Simone Sanders Townsend
This is absolutely terrifying. To be clear, I'm definitely on the train this week. I am also on the train because we can't trust the flight. Just look at the crowds. For people who are watching this on the youtubes right now, we're gonna put some crowd VO up so that you could just see the lines and whatnot. This is crazy.
Eugene Daniels
The music.
Simone Sanders Townsend
I'm so crazy. It was so. Shout out. Who Is this on TikTok? Put this on the video. Shout out to Rachel.
Eugene Daniels
This is crazy.
Simone Sanders Townsend
But you know what? And the lines are long in New Orleans, in Atlanta, in Houston, in New York. The lines are insane in Denver and Chicago. And, well, we ain't even got to the point that ICE is also now at the airports. Not doing nothing.
Eugene Daniels
Armed, Armed.
Simone Sanders Townsend
Not doing anything. They're not alleviating the concern of the TSA agents. And to be very clear, for all the people out there talking about, you don't do politics. You don't do politics, but you've been standing in line at the airport for hours. You don't do politics, but you came to the airport at 2:00am for an 8:00am flight.
Eugene Daniels
Exactly.
Simone Sanders Townsend
Because. Because politics is doing you. So y' all might want to tap
Eugene Daniels
the new wrinkle this week. It's week five, y', all, of the DHS shutdown. We have ICE at the airport. Like Simone said, we are all thinking, who came up with this genius plan sending ICE agents to airports? People who are untrained to do the work of TSA agents. Let's listen.
Simone Sanders Townsend
Whose ideal was this?
Eugene Daniels
Mine. That was mine. That was like the paperclip. You know the story of the paperclip? 182 years ago, a man discovered the paperclip. It was so simple. And everybody that looked at it say, why didn't I think of that? Ice was my idea. I called.
Simone Sanders Townsend
First person I called was Tom Holman.
Eugene Daniels
I said, what do you think? He said, I think it's great. Then I saw today there was some masks on.
Simone Sanders Townsend
I just want to be clear first. First of all, I think the president is unwell because what the hell is a paperclip thing? Like, check on the president. We need to. I don't know if he needs water, a nap. Sometimes I get jumbled when I'm tired. So, I mean, seriously, like, I'm concerned about the president. But, you know, Angela Corazon from Media Matters was on our show earlier this week, and Angelo said that it was actually a caller into Jesse Waters radio show. Jesse Waters was on Fox News and suggested the Idea of putting ICE at the airports to help alleviate the lines. This was a couple days ago. Jesse Watters then went on his show that evening and said, oh, I had a caller that came in and suggested this. Da da da da. We know that Trump watches Fox News all day long. Trump watched it and then 24 hours later we've got this ice at the airports. And so the President said it was his idea. I'm sure the President did pick up the phone and call Tom Homan. The President was watching the news. And I use the term news lightly.
Eugene Daniels
I will also say the reason that other people didn't think of it is because it's a terrible idea. It's bad policy because it takes four months to train someone to be a TSA agent. These people are not trained. The people that are trained for ice, immigration enforcement, they're not trained for this. And so they're gonna be there standing around. It's also bad politically because the idea that you are gonna take a group of people that everyone's already scared of, cuz they shoot people in the streets, you're gonna put them at the airport. So people are already tense, people are already irritated and that is what you're gonna do. So we'll see what happens.
Simone Sanders Townsend
Oh, they're not bad happening, Eugene. To be very clear, they're trying to, for lack of a better term, they are grooming us to be comfortable with ICE in public places, perhaps at the polls. Oh, you know who said that?
Eugene Daniels
Steve Bannon talked about that.
Simone Sanders Townsend
Steve Bannon talked about that.
Eugene Daniels
And Mike Davis, a lawyer, a conservative lawyer that has a through line to
Simone Sanders Townsend
the White House who often goes on C. Bannon's show. So I just want people to be very clear, like this idea. Cuz there is some sound from folks who say, because you know, our reporters have been at the airport, folks who say, oh, I think it's great that the ICE agents are here, we support them. I want to be very clear. The ICE agents are being paid, the TSA agents are not. The ICE agents are not doing anything to alleviate the concern at the airport. And do not be fooled. America don't be fooled. They are trying to get you comfortable with the idea of armed government officials in various spaces and places. Why? Because I think they are trying to steal the next election. Okay. And I might sound like a conspiracy theorist. To be very clear, they see some ballots from 2020 about a couple months ago. Couple weeks ago. 2020 was six years ago. You think they'll do that in 2020? What do you think they're doing for 20, 26.
Eugene Daniels
And with that.
Simone Sanders Townsend
All right, well, we gonna stop right there, okay, because let me take my tinfoil hat off.
Eugene Daniels
I'm giving my girl some blood pressure medicine.
Simone Sanders Townsend
We're gonna take a break and then we're gonna come back and we're gonna talk about some of this with political and social media personality, basically our Gen Z cousin who is watching the same things we are. Harry Sisson joins the group Chat.
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Eugene Daniels
Welcome back. Joining the group chat now, our boy Harry Sisson. He is a recent college graduate. Congratulations, Sir. He is 23 years old, which makes me feel very old. But now working full time at influencing the politically engaged on just about every platform you can think X the site formerly known as Twitter. Cause again, we're old. TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, you name it. He's scrapping with somebody on there. Thank you, sir, for coming out tonight.
Simone Sanders Townsend
Greetings to our Gen Z cousin. First of all, Harry, do we qualify as old? Cause I don't think I'm auntie status. I feel like I'm a bitch.
Eugene Daniels
You are very auntie. When you came and brought my cake out that time for my birthday, you are very auntie coded.
Simone Sanders Townsend
No, Harry, up. I'm not an auntie. I'm a cousin.
Eugene Daniels
No, you're an auntie.
Harry Sisson
No, no, no, no, no. I.
Eugene Daniels
No, he just trying to be.
Harry Sisson
You guys don't look a day over 30. I would not guess over 30 whatsoever. You're not there.
Eugene Daniels
That's because of the makeup.
Harry Sisson
You're not there.
Eugene Daniels
That is the makeup.
Simone Sanders Townsend
Thank you, Harry. Thank you. Okay, I want to get into Harry's videos, but you know what? Like, I'm about to flip it because I don't follow directions. I think. I think we just gotta address the elephants and the donkeys in the room.
Eugene Daniels
I'm terrified right now.
Simone Sanders Townsend
You've got some of the journalists saying that creators don't belong on the red carpet, and then there's this whole situation happening with campaigns and that. All of my strategist friends are saying the biggest thing that they're concerned about for 2028 is creators who are being paid who? You don't know if the campaigns are paying them or not. You don't know who they're taking money from. And they're creating content, and it's spilling into what's happening in real life, in these races. So I just wanna put that on the table. Like, is that a concern? Harry, what do you think about all this?
Eugene Daniels
Harry's a good boy.
Simone Sanders Townsend
Harry is well liked by everyone.
Eugene Daniels
So what's to do? Well, I don't know.
Harry Sisson
Harry's like, well, I have some people that don't like me very much on both sides, but.
Simone Sanders Townsend
Really?
Harry Sisson
Yeah, No, I check my Twitter comments. It's the worst place on earth, so you'll find some things there. But in terms of, like, the creators versus, for example, we'll start with, like, creators versus traditional journalists. There's been a lot of conversation in creator circles that, like, oh, we're the media now. And like, those old Guys, you know, they're, they're not relevant to this conversation anymore. And I couldn't disagree more. I've always maintained that. I think it should be a harmonious relationship, as in, we can work together and we can do something great. And quite frankly, I would not exist and many of my peers would not exist if it weren't for the work of traditional journalists. Like, I'm not in Ukraine right now reporting on the war, getting my first Santa council. I'm on TikTok in my bedroom in New York City. And so there should be a working together as opposed to like, oh, you're bad, you're bad, you're not qualified, you're not qualified. I think we adapt together as the media adapts and go from there. I mean, it's certainly what the Republicans are doing. We have more beef on the left about this stuff, but yeah, it should never be one against the other. I think we can, we can do it together.
Eugene Daniels
Well, so to Simone's point, the question that I hear a lot when people are talking about like the, the content creator versus a journalist. Right. Is at what point is an influencer like a lobbyist? Right. Like, that's one of the questions that people often have. And I think more importantly, the fact checking for us, you know, we have standards. We be tussling with standards all the time.
Simone Sanders Townsend
Yeah. These people who come from on high and they say, you cannot say that.
Eugene Daniels
You cannot say that. You cannot say it this way. So they are very involved.
Simone Sanders Townsend
They want to keep us from going to jail.
Eugene Daniels
Correct.
Simone Sanders Townsend
Like out of court, to be very
Eugene Daniels
involved, going to jail, being sued.
Simone Sanders Townsend
This is a very litigious administration. Okay. They try to keep us out of jail. We appreciate your standards.
Eugene Daniels
Look at her. She trying not to get in trouble. Look at her. But Harry, I think you're probably one of the more responsible ones. Correct me if I'm wrong and you're irresponsible. We wanna know. But I think you're one of the more responsible ones. And so like, when you are going out and you're going to, you're, you're working on a video, you, you know, you throw the, you throw the phone up and you start talking to it. What is your process for gathering the information? And what responsibility do you feel like you have to be accurate to be right? Correct.
Harry Sisson
I feel tremendous responsibility. I, I think I, I love the standards that mainstream traditional media outlets have. I think it' responsible thing to do. I think there are other outlets who don't have the same standards as like, Ms. Now does that's pretty rigorous. And you go through legal, you go through standards, whereas other networks, Fox News, for example, just say it. You know, I don't think those guys really do as much fact checking or, you know, the, the newsmaxes of the worlds, the oanns of the world. But then it's even worse when it comes to content creators because there's no nothing holding us accountable. Right. It's kind of our own morality. And so I see this frequently on the right where, you know, you have this breaking story, this bombshell, and without any backing of it or any fact, they'll just get online and talk about it because they'll know it, generate views and they don't really care about whether it's factual or not. And so they just get online, they say Joe Biden's in the Epstein files or Joe Biden X, Y and Z, whatever lie they come up with. And there's that real incentive to lie about it because they'll get the views and there's nothing really holding them accountable and transparently on the right. I mean, if you lie, we see it all the time. People really just, just don't care and they'll move on and they'll say, oh, you got it wrong, and then we'll go to the next thing. And so, you know, I, I try to maintain those standards. I will not report on something, quote unquote, or talk about something unless it's been reported by like Ms. Now or NBC or CNN and, or the New York Times, because I know the standards are there. I know it's been vigorously fact checked.
Simone Sanders Townsend
You have a TikTok post from Sunday, actually, that we'll, we'll just play for, folks. This is an example of some of Harry's content for people that don't know.
Harry Sisson
There's currently a government shutdown for the Department of Homeland Security, and that includes tsa. So none of the TSA agents are getting paid. A lot of them are calling out sick because they don't want to work while they're not getting paid for obvious reasons. Democrats have introduced seven different bills to fund the tsa. Republicans have blocked every single one. So if you missed your flight or you got delayed or whatever it might be, thank Donald Trump and his buddies for that.
Simone Sanders Townsend
Very clear but actual, factual and very easy to digest. And frankly, I think Harry's doing the kind of content that the former strategist in me wants, like the Democratic elected officials to just, I want to get people to pick up their phone and just tell the people what's going on instead? They are dancing, Harry. It's insane.
Eugene Daniels
So Harry, what is your advice, like, for strategists for Democrats who are in this weird new world?
Simone Sanders Townsend
His advice is gonna be hire Harry. Yeah, exactly what you mean, Harry.
Eugene Daniels
Don't try to do what I do.
Simone Sanders Townsend
Let me do what I do. Give me the math.
Eugene Daniels
But for those of them who can't afford you, what do you say to
Simone Sanders Townsend
yesterday's prize is not today's prize.
Eugene Daniels
She's trouble. Don't listen to her. It is important for folks to understand, like, what kind of media environment they are in. And it feels like sometimes that politicians, lawmakers, sometimes their teams don't understand it. So what is your advice for someone who's like, we wanna break through. We want to give people actual information they can use and fight against disinformation and misinformation, but we don't know how to do it. How do you actually get people to pay attention in this media environment that we're in?
Harry Sisson
I mean, that's, you know, the question for every creator. I mean, it's the attention economy. Who can keep eyeballs the most? Who can get the most eyeballs? That's what I think every creator is trying to figure out and perfect every single day. But when it comes to these politicians, I always really emphasize authenticity, being straight to the point. As you said, Simone, just like tell people what's going on. I mean, people will really appreciate if you're direct to the point and you're not kind of BSing them in that video or just like wasting their time. And another thing I really need elected Democrats to stop doing is sometimes it's okay to participate in trends, other times it's just not. Baby, sometimes you can stay away from the TikTok trend.
Simone Sanders Townsend
Tell them, Harry. Tell em.
Eugene Daniels
That's just so funny.
Simone Sanders Townsend
We don't need. Okay, I'm not gonna call out any combined name, but you don't have to engage. I'm tired of the dances. Like, some of y' all don't got no business dancing. Some of y', all. Some of y' all have no idea about the song. It's just, it's embarrassing. I don't want my elected official embarrassing them. No, I don't want my elected officials talking about clock. And y' all know what clock it is.
Eugene Daniels
It's bad.
Simone Sanders Townsend
Let them know, Harry. They don't all need to participate.
Eugene Daniels
Everything is not for everyone.
Harry Sisson
No, they don't.
Simone Sanders Townsend
Some of this is not for Stay in your lane.
Harry Sisson
I gotta be honest, when I see like a straight White dude, member of Congress. And they're dancing and they have no rhythm. I'm like, this is not doing anything for anybody. You're not convincing anybody with this dance move right now. I need you to, like, do what you're good at. These people are great communicators. They don't have to engage in this, like, cringy stuff. Some of them are great communicators. You don't have to engage in this cringy stuff. And so, you know, it's multifaceted. But I think it's just be authentic and don't do things that are a little strange, put it that way.
Eugene Daniels
Sometimes. Sometimes they're authentic people and their authentic self is bad. That's why they don't know what to do anyway.
Harry Sisson
That's right.
Eugene Daniels
Well, there you go. One thing about the creators is that you guys are reaching folks that many people want to, which is young people, young leaders, as Simone likes to say.
Simone Sanders Townsend
Yeah, not the youth. Youth is the size on a T shirt.
Eugene Daniels
But they. They have. And they are cynical.
Simone Sanders Townsend
Right. I just want to know. Harry thinks I'm very funny, so you need to take some freaking notes.
Eugene Daniels
I.
Simone Sanders Townsend
Well, okay. I'm hilarious.
Harry Sisson
I think you're very funny.
Eugene Daniels
Harry just wants to come down. Harry knows how to get a friend, honey. But Harry, for folks who are young and that everyone who's trying to get young voters is, the first thing you have to get over is the fact they're cynical. Right. And they have reasons to be cynical. There's no student debt relief. Climate is getting hot as hell, and nobody seems to care. They don't see political change happening. It's not happening fast enough, and it's not happening at the same speed in which the problems are piling up. So, one, what do you say to a young voter who does feel played, who feels like no one's been listening to me, so why would I vote? And what do you say to politicians and lawmakers who do have to figure out how to get this next generation interested and excited to vote and engage in the process?
Harry Sisson
When it comes to young people who are cynical, I really try to. I mean, I'm a young person who feels the exact same way. I understand where they're coming from when they say, you know, the government just doesn't work for us. These things continue to hurt us, and it doesn't feel like we can move anywhere. And it's a correct analysis, but it's also a symptom of the people we've elected. So I. I do not think we would be in this position if we had Al Gore, you know, in 2000. And so if you look at folks like President Biden, they actually got things done that do help people. I mean, on climate change, you mentioned, for examp, he created the climate quorum. He invested the most amount of money ever in fighting climate change. And while it's easy to feel disconnected from that, it's something in the news that maybe you don't read. It's happening, it's real, and good leaders are doing these things. And so it's easy to feel cynical, it's easy to feel pessimistic, but there are actually good people out there who want to make a change. And when they get into government, they do the right thing. And that's what I say to young people especially. And I point to the different successful movements throughout history that have included young people that would not have been successful without young people that would not have been successful without people from different backgrounds, different demographics, different, you know, identities coming together and doing this. And it really takes all of us. And I really try to emphasize that as opposed to feeling cynical and removing yourself from the political process, because quite frankly, that's what Republicans want. I mean, that's what Donald Trump wants. The less young people involved, less they pay attention, the better for them. And then when it comes to politicians, if you want to get young voters out, you got to talk about young voter issues, whether it be, you know, talking to young women about reproductive rights and the importance of that. We're talking to young men about the issues that impact young men, and we saw that very present in the 2024 election. Talk about these issues. Don't be afraid to take a risk. Don't be afraid to meet young people in person and have these conversations, and don't be afraid to introduce policies specifically focused on young people. And I think that a lot of Democrats are now catching on to this stuff and getting a little bit more in tune with it. There's still progress to be made, but, I mean, there's a reason why young people feel disenfranchised and cynical. And it's not because of them. I think it's more so because of D.C. and politicians.
Simone Sanders Townsend
I agree. I'm a disenfranchised, cynical young person, but
Eugene Daniels
I believe a person who's.
Simone Sanders Townsend
I'm a young person.
Eugene Daniels
A person.
Simone Sanders Townsend
I'm a young person, but I have seen what it looks like from inside the machine and the machine working. You know, I'm a young person that went to work in campaigns and went to Work in government when I was an actual younger, young person. And I think that just a lot of folks who are Harry's age and even younger, they have not seen the appearance effects of people inside the machine working for them. And so they don't even want to work in the machine anymore. They don't want to work in the government.
Eugene Daniels
What's the benefit?
Simone Sanders Townsend
Too much debt. I mean, to be clear, what is the benefit? And so I think people do need to see that change can still be made. We need an inside, outside strategy. But some of y' all gotta go inside.
Eugene Daniels
The problem is it moves too slow. Right. Like, we live in a world in which everything is fast.
Simone Sanders Townsend
I can eat change. Is it. I'm sorry, that food that you could
Eugene Daniels
warm up, but that's.
Simone Sanders Townsend
That ain't the best food for you. You put the vegetables in the oven.
Eugene Daniels
It is important to note, though, that, like, young people have lived, only lived in the world. Right. Where things happen quickly. Right. All the good things happen quickly for them. Right. They can get. They can order something.
Simone Sanders Townsend
Harry, do you agree? The gen Zers and younger.
Eugene Daniels
Yeah. And this is. This is a part of the reason why. It's like. Like, everything that has happened that's good moves faster. And so they're looking at the government. They're like, why does it. Why is it so raggedy? And then they. They're hearing from people who are the same thing. They're hearing from people who aren't on their side. So Democrats are like, we have to move slow. Like, everything. There's a process. And the kids are like, well, we're not gonna have a world here soon. It's gonna end. So we can't move slowly.
Simone Sanders Townsend
You Trump ain't moving slow. That's for sure.
Eugene Daniels
Okay.
Simone Sanders Townsend
That's for sure.
Eugene Daniels
So, Harry, you're 23. Donald Trump has been around for 10 years. When you are 13 years old, right? When you are 13 years old, living overseas, if I remember correctly.
Harry Sisson
That's right.
Eugene Daniels
Yeah. That is when you saw Donald Trump elected. And so for 10 years of his, like, paying attention to politics, this is how government has worked. Democrats feeling, to a lot of people, feckless. And Donald Trump just bowling over everything. That is what they've seen. So in their head, they're like, move slowly. The other man ain't moving slowly. Moving fast as hell.
Simone Sanders Townsend
This is true. Okay, okay. You know what? This is why we took some questions from the streets, because Eugene and Harry are giving me another perspective. See, I spent too much time inside the machine.
Eugene Daniels
See, these insiders, but I do think
Simone Sanders Townsend
that it should move more quickly. I think that a lot of the red tape is, like, insane. And hopefully, I think if we've learned anything from Donald Trump. I can't believe I'm saying these words.
Eugene Daniels
It's crazy.
Simone Sanders Townsend
If I have learned anything from Donald Trump, terrifying. It's that I can do it and ask for permission later. Or maybe not ask for permission at all.
Eugene Daniels
Yeah. Ways for forgiveness there.
Simone Sanders Townsend
Okay, Harry, you should run for office. No, no, they cannot afford my. Okay. It's too many clips out here. Me, Harry. Okay. I'm a. Book it strong, Harry, you gonna run?
Eugene Daniels
Hey, would you ever run for office?
Harry Sisson
Maybe. Maybe. I. I feel though that, like, I'm more. I've been on the Internet for six years now. I feel like there must be a decent opposition book on me. Right. I feel like I've said so many things online and I don't know.
Eugene Daniels
Donald Trump is president.
Simone Sanders Townsend
Donald Trump is president. He shouldn't be our boss. That's right, Harry. I will vote for you. I think I will vote for you. I will vote for you.
Eugene Daniels
I need to see his policies.
Simone Sanders Townsend
Okay. I've watched Harry's videos. I think I'm familiar with who he is. We asked the streets to ask us anything and we said our Gen Z cousin would be here to help answer. So the first question. Eugene, who's this? Question?
Eugene Daniels
Rain. Alexander Rain Drizzle. This is on Instagram. They say, how is there not more pants around? Recent resignations or layoffs of qualified and experienced heads of government institutions that are being replaced by obviously underqualified or inexperienced loyalists, I. E. The nominee for FEMA or the head of the intelligence agency or dhs.
Simone Sanders Townsend
Oh, clock it. Rain Drizzle. Why is there not more panic around? Maybe people don't know.
Harry Sisson
Yeah, I think it's just one of those things where that is especially hard to communicate to people and I think especially hard to get people to care. I mean, there's so much chaos happening in the world right now. You're trying to think about Iran, you're trying to think about the Epstein files, you're trying to think about all these different issues. Your. Your mortgage, your. Your education, your debt. And then you need more information about, like, you know, FEMA or. Or the DHS and these nominees and their backgrounds. It's a lot of information for your average American to consume who is already so busy. And so I think it's hard to get that through the noise. When there is so much noise. It's like. Like the chaos economy or flooding the zone as Steve Bannon would like to say. And so I think it's just. I think it's hard to communicate that. But there should be more panic. I mean, people are talking about Mark Wayne Mullen as if he's like a good guy. He's like a good working caller. No, he's not.
Simone Sanders Townsend
You.
Harry Sisson
This guy's insane. He's. He's just as bad as Kristy Gnome. He's just as bad as any of these other MAGA lunatics. And if anybody really expects him to get in there and have like any major difference between him and Kristi Noam, I have a bridge to sell you. Maybe, maybe cologne or shoes or trading cards or whatever else Donald Trump has made. If a Democrat wins in 2028 and gets in 2029, the first thing they should do is fire all these people. Fire them, get them out, and then move forward.
Simone Sanders Townsend
Well, well, I would agree. I would agree. I hope people are listening. We had another question. This is from ravonne r h v o n97 on Instagram. Why are we not flagging that? The new U.S. postal Service mail processing system will also delay voter ballots. It's all on purpose. Some people in PA don't realize their mail is being processed and postmarked from Ohio. As I understand this is all deliberate. Well, Ravonne 97 is clocking it. Okay.
Eugene Daniels
We talk about it a lot, but I feel like there is not enough in the world conversation about what are the little things that are happening that will impact the election in 2026 and beyond. There's even not forget the Supreme Court's working on all types of little cases that have popped up and bubbled up there as well. So little.
Simone Sanders Townsend
There's a Civil Rights act from Mississippi being able to be counted after election day. The Supreme Court just heard that Louisiana having an entire new district that was created. Majority black voters that's in question.
Eugene Daniels
The Voting Rights Act.
Simone Sanders Townsend
The Voting Rights act is literally on life support and they might unplug. Get. Harry, do you do a lot of voting videos? You need to do one on the Postal Service, apparently.
Harry Sisson
I will certainly do one on the Postal Service. Now. I do cover, you know, these Supreme Court cases and there are so many of them that are, that they're trying to do right now. All these courts around the country are really just chipping away at this stuff. But yeah, especially around election time as well. In the lead up, I'll talk about, you know, voter registration deadlines and things like that. Really try to inform people on that stuff.
Eugene Daniels
Last one, Harry. This is from Ashley. Amta man on IG Amp to man. Amp to man. Sorry, Ashley.
Simone Sanders Townsend
Shout out to Ashley.
Eugene Daniels
Hit us straight. Are we going to survive this absolute shit show, Ashley?
Simone Sanders Townsend
Well, show of hands. Who thinks we are gonna survive the shit show? Okay, wait, okay. Perry was like, ugh. I think our hands are up because we have survived a lot.
Eugene Daniels
Yeah.
Simone Sanders Townsend
To be very clear, we survived slavery. We didn't survive slavery, but our people did.
Eugene Daniels
Correct. Correct.
Simone Sanders Townsend
And people in this country have overcome so much, but it has been because folks have been committed to overcoming. You know, Harry, we talked to Nicole Hannah Jones, who is absolutely amazing. She did our podcast, and she literally was giving us a roadmap about how we might be in the Valley for a little bit, but we can come out of the Valley, but we ain't gonna come out the Valley without doing some work.
Eugene Daniels
I feel like the difference is there. You said the word right there, Simone, is commitment. And so, Harry, the question that I always have is like. Like, does the world in which we live in right now have the same commitment to the values that the people who fought to abolish slavery, the people who fought to make sure that black people could vote or drink water from the same places? Like, is that same level of commitment still possible now this weekend, Harry, I assume you'll be there at one of these marches, but they have the no Kings rally.
Simone Sanders Townsend
No Kings rally right now. It's March 28th.
Eugene Daniels
Correct. And so, like, there is a movement, and so it does feel like at times there's that commitment. But do you. Does in your generation, do you feel like there is that commitment to moving forward?
Harry Sisson
I do. I think that in this social media era, there are some amazing positives and some really serious negatives. One of those serious negatives is that the most extreme voices are often the loudest in the room on social media. And so you see like a Nick Fuentes on your for you page or whoever, these people, you know, talking about these extremist views, putting down people of color, putting down different religions, and you're like, man, is that. That really what young people are feeling? Is that what so many are feeling? And there are some, but they're not all. And they're not even the majority. And those are just some weirdo incel losers who are sitting inside typing on their keyboard in their mother's basement, and that's that. I mean, they are. They are, you know, nobody significant. I have tremendous faith in the resolve and the commitment of the American people. And I also have a lot of faith in the people who are fighting this. So you guys, for example, you're part of this battle. Activists on the ground are part of the battle battle. People who are voting every day are part of the battle. And I have faith in those people. I have faith in our side that, you know, we'll. We'll do the work to get out of this. We'll convince people, we'll vote, and we'll make this country better. And it sucks right now. It sucks every day we wake up, we see a terrible headline. But I think the. The Future is Bright is as long as we put in the work.
Simone Sanders Townsend
Oh, come on. I believe the children are the future. Teach them well and let them lead the way.
Eugene Daniels
Hey, I know my twin show. Harry, thank you so much for coming on. We are gonna take a quick break, and after that, y' all know what it is. It's a side chat.
Simone Sanders Townsend
Thank you, Harry.
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Simone Sanders Townsend
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Simone Sanders Townsend
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Eugene Daniels
Wardrobe.
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Eugene Daniels
Yeah. Learned a little something.
Simone Sanders Townsend
Learned a little something from our Gen Z cousin. Okay, folks, it's time for the Side chat, where we want to stop talking about the news and start talking about reality television.
Eugene Daniels
Why? Why, Simone?
Simone Sanders Townsend
Okay. Because we were on Watch what Happens Live this week, and I'll get into
Eugene Daniels
it with Ms. Andy.
Simone Sanders Townsend
Eugene was at the bar.
Eugene Daniels
I was the bartender.
Simone Sanders Townsend
Okay. I was sitting here.
Eugene Daniels
This is me pouring taste.
Simone Sanders Townsend
Okay. Luckily, I did have a drink, but not the one Eugene made.
Eugene Daniels
No. Cause I'm a terrible bartender. Corre.
Simone Sanders Townsend
We did ask Andy to join the podcast, so stay tuned, Andy.
Eugene Daniels
We'll see you there.
Simone Sanders Townsend
Okay. We want to make good on the promise. I love Watch what Happens Live. This was my second time. This is your first time in the clubhouse. What'd you think?
Eugene Daniels
I thought it was. It was very fun. We had the homeboy from Summer House. This is a crazy scene. I don't know if you guys watch it. Matter of fact, watch a little clip
Simone Sanders Townsend
not from Summer House, but of us on Watch what Happens Live. It mattered because it also showed me that you learned a lot from the experience you had last year, which I, you know, is. No. Cause the streets had questions for you, West. They were like, you gonna ask. Yes, ma', am why he drew ciara like that? I'm like, I think he, you know,
Eugene Daniels
can I add in that?
Simone Sanders Townsend
There's a little more. There's a little more.
Eugene Daniels
Yes, I was a little more.
Simone Sanders Townsend
I mean, I felt like, first of all, we looked fantastic.
Eugene Daniels
Obviously.
Simone Sanders Townsend
Okay. We looked fantastic. We sounded great. So I'm just. I'm looking forward to more conversations with Andy.
Eugene Daniels
Yes.
Harry Sisson
And you know what?
Simone Sanders Townsend
The crossover is a thing because culture is politics. Politics is, in fact, culture. And Andy understands that. So shout out to Andy. Mr. Cohen, we appreciate you and we look forward to seeing you all again very much. Well, Eugene, Episode seven.
Eugene Daniels
We're still here.
Simone Sanders Townsend
We are still here. I don't think people were. I think we could say it now. We have been extended.
Eugene Daniels
Yes.
Simone Sanders Townsend
Okay. This is no longer a limited situation.
Eugene Daniels
Not a. No longer an experiment.
Simone Sanders Townsend
No longer an experiment. We are in this thing. So we just encourage you to keep watching, keep listening wherever you at your podcast, keep commenting.
Eugene Daniels
We read them.
Simone Sanders Townsend
Yes. Obviously some of you all's comments made it onto the show today, so thank you so much, Rachel. Wherever you get your podcast and like. And subscribe us like us, give us some comments. Okay, but if you're. Only if the comments are great.
Eugene Daniels
Yes.
Simone Sanders Townsend
All right, thanks. And we'll see you next week. Clock it is produced by Franny Kelly. Our associate producer is Iggy Monda. Additional production support from Brittany Ruff, Malcolm Thomas, Adrianna Thomas, Elijah Gibbs Jones and Colette Holcomb.
Eugene Daniels
Our director is Renee Amro and Lou Visconti and Emily Gaines are our control control room operators. Our stage manager is Brian Gessner, our lighting director is John Schertler and our Robocam operator is Taylor Hickman. Duriki Rice is our video operator, Michael Connell is our tech operator and Paul Driscoll is our tech production operator. Many thanks to Alana Lee. Our audio engineers are Greg Debbins II Hazik, Ben Ahmed Fared and Matt Bauer.
Simone Sanders Townsend
Katie Lau is the senior manager of audio production, Aisha Turner is the executive producer of MSNow Audio and Madeline Herringer is senior Vice President in charge of audio, digital and Long Form.
Eugene Daniels
Our theme music is by Jesse McGinty
Simone Sanders Townsend
and we're your hosts, Simone Sanders Townsend and Eugene Daniels. See you next week.
Eugene Daniels
See you next week.
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Episode Title: Trump Sends ICE to Airports to Stand Around and Harry Sisson Asks Dems to Stop Dancing
Hosts: Symone Sanders Townsend & Eugene Daniels
Guest: Harry Sisson
Date: March 26, 2026
This episode dives headfirst into the chaos and complexity of the current political landscape and its intersection with lived reality—from soaring gas prices triggered by a U.S. and Israel military operation to airport gridlock exacerbated by armed ICE agents "standing around." Symone and Eugene welcome 23-year-old political influencer Harry Sisson to decode Gen Z perspectives, the roles and responsibilities of creators versus traditional journalists, and how Democratic messaging often misses the mark online (stop. the. dancing.). Authenticity, accountability, and the emotional temperature of the electorate are all on the table, with real talk about policies, optics, and the everyday struggles Americans are facing.
[01:08]
[04:45]
[12:05]
[13:29]
[20:38]
[30:28]
[36:07]
[39:28],[42:04]
“Even though the US has a strategic reserve… that doesn't mean we're insulated.”
— Eugene Daniels, [01:42]
“If folks who have the means are feeling it, I can only imagine about folks who are working two or three jobs.”
— Simone Sanders Townsend, [09:03]
“Three days of war spending could eliminate severe malnutrition globally and save 1.5 million lives of children a year.”
— Quoting Nicholas Kristof, [12:43]
“ICE agents are being paid, the TSA agents are not… Do not be fooled. America don't be fooled.”
— Simone Sanders Townsend, [17:18]
“We're being groomed to be comfortable with ICE in public places, perhaps at the polls.”
— Simone Sanders Townsend, [17:16]
“There should be a working together as opposed to, ‘you’re bad, you’re not qualified.’ We adapt together as the media adapts.”
— Harry Sisson, [22:13]
“Sometimes you can stay away from the TikTok trend… I'm like, this is not doing anything for anybody.”
— Harry Sisson, [28:44]
“Trump ain’t moving slow. That’s for sure.”
— Simone Sanders Townsend, [34:11]
“We have survived a lot… but it has been because folks have been committed to overcoming.”
— Simone Sanders Townsend, [39:45]
“The future is bright as long as we put in the work.”
— Harry Sisson, [41:55]
Episode 7 is the epitome of what makes Clock It vital for politically curious listeners: unfiltered conversations about the way policy and culture collide, honest reflection from different generational vantage points, and a deep commitment to both calling out absurdity and calling in hope. Whether you're groaning at out-of-touch messaging, obsessing over the airport scrum, or wondering “Will we survive this shit show?”—this episode holds up the complexity of the moment with wit, rigor, and heart.
Listen for:
For those who missed it: This summary covers the substance, personality, and politics that define “Clock It.”