Jon Stewart on Dems' Accusations of Fascism, China's New A.I. | Royal Ramey

Summary

Summary of "The Daily Show: Ears Edition" Episode Featuring Jon Stewart and Royal Ramey

Podcast Information:

• Title: The Daily Show: Ears Edition
• Host/Author: iHeartPodcasts and Paramount Podcasts
• Description: Jon Stewart and The Daily Show News Team cover today's biggest headlines. The “Ears Edition” features full episodes, extended content, exclusive interviews, and more.
• Episode Title: Jon Stewart on Dems' Accusations of Fascism, China's New A.I. | Royal Ramey
• Release Date: January 28, 2025

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I. Jon Stewart's Political Commentary

Market Turmoil and Technological Rivalries [00:45 - 05:16]

Jon Stewart opens the episode with a satirical take on the current economic and technological landscape. He humorously critiques the volatile stock market, particularly the sell-off of tech stocks, and highlights the emergence of China's new AI tool, Deepseek, juxtaposing it against giants like OpenAI and Google.

• "Deep Seek. We're getting our asses kicked by Deep Seek. Who names an AI company after the thing it actually does?" (03:15)

Stewart mocks the rapid development and cost-efficiency of Chinese AI advancements, emphasizing concerns over U.S. technological dominance.

Trump Administration's Purge of Inspectors General [05:16 - 12:00]

Shifting focus, Stewart addresses President Trump's controversial decision to fire 17 inspectors general, framing it as a strike against governmental accountability.

• "Donald Trump's decision to fire 12 of the federal government's independent watchdogs is a glaring sign that it's a golden age for abuse in government and even corruption." (07:22)

He humorously navigates the legal intricacies, questioning the administration's actions and the potential erosion of checks and balances.

Accusations of Fascism and Authoritarianism [12:00 - 17:17]

Stewart delves into the charged rhetoric surrounding Trump's leadership, debating whether his actions border on fascist. He critiques the overuse of "fascist" labels by Democrats, using sharp humor to dissect political exaggerations.

• "He's the Hitler. He's the thing. Stop doing it. That's terrible. What would you do?" (16:11)

The segment intertwines mock-serious discussions with playful jabs, maintaining a critical yet humorous stance on current political tensions.

Trump's Governing Philosophy and Public Perception [17:17 - 21:54]

Continuing his satirical critique, Stewart examines Trump's governance style, highlighting his unconventional appointments and executive actions. He juxtaposes Trump's authoritative demeanor with absurd scenarios to underscore his points.

• "Trumpieski. Was it shitty? Yes. Should you have let some of those terrible people. No." (09:45)

Stewart emphasizes the need for Democratic responses grounded in actionable policies rather than mere denunciations, advocating for constructive opposition.

II. In-Depth Interview with Royal Ramey

Introduction and Background [22:24 - 25:09]

Jon Stewart transitions to a heartfelt interview with Royal Ramey, a formerly incarcerated firefighter and CEO/co-founder of the Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program. Ramey shares his transformative journey from prison to public service.

• "When you out there fighting fires and you have to rely on the next person, you know, it does take a lot, you know, it takes a lot of courage..." (26:15)

Prison Firefighting Programs and Rehabilitation [25:09 - 29:06]

Ramey elaborates on the firefighting programs within the California Department of Corrections, emphasizing their role in rehabilitation and reducing recidivism rates. He highlights the program's impact, where participants earn up to $26 a day, fostering skills and teamwork.

• "Recidivism rate on those who have been inducted into this program is less than 10%." (26:11)

Stewart and Ramey discuss how these programs provide meaningful employment and purpose, challenging stereotypes about incarcerated individuals.

Challenges and Gatekeeping in Firefighting [29:06 - 34:04]

Ramey addresses the systemic barriers faced by formerly incarcerated individuals in entering the firefighting profession. He underscores the importance of certifications and transparent processes in overcoming societal biases and institutional gatekeeping.

• "It's a gatekeeping thing, I think. And a lot of folks don't understand the actual process." (29:08)

The conversation delves into the prejudices within public service sectors and the necessity for programs that facilitate genuine reintegration.

Building the Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program [34:04 - 37:56]

As co-founder of the Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program, Ramey discusses the organization's mission to support formerly incarcerated individuals in transitioning to professional firefighting roles. He emphasizes teamwork, professional conduct, and changing public narratives around ex-offenders.

• "I wanted to make sure that they looked at me as a human being first and not just based off of what my previous experiences were when I was in prison." (35:30)

Stewart commends Ramey's efforts to create sustainable pathways for rehabilitation, highlighting the transformative power of employment and community involvement.

Conclusion and Call to Action [37:54 - End]

Jon Stewart wraps up the episode by praising Ramey's initiatives and encouraging listeners to engage with the Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program. He also teases upcoming segments and additional podcast content, maintaining the show's blend of humor and insightful commentary.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• "Deep Seek. We're getting our asses kicked by Deep Seek. Who names an AI company after the thing it actually does?" — Jon Stewart (03:15)
• "Donald Trump's decision to fire 12 of the federal government's independent watchdogs is a glaring sign that it's a golden age for abuse in government and even corruption." — Jon Stewart (07:22)
• "He's the Hitler. He's the thing. Stop doing it. That's terrible. What would you do?" — Jon Stewart (16:11)
• "Recidivism rate on those who have been inducted into this program is less than 10%." — Royal Ramey (26:11)
• "It's a gatekeeping thing, I think. And a lot of folks don't understand the actual process." — Royal Ramey (29:08)
• "I wanted to make sure that they looked at me as a human being first and not just based off of what my previous experiences were when I was in prison." — Royal Ramey (35:30)

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Final Thoughts: This episode of The Daily Show: Ears Edition masterfully combines Jon Stewart's incisive political satire with an inspiring interview featuring Royal Ramey. While Stewart dissects current political upheavals with his signature humor, the conversation with Ramey offers a poignant look into rehabilitation and the power of second chances. The episode underscores the show's ability to entertain while informing and advocating for meaningful societal change.

For more detailed discussions and exclusive interviews, listen to The Daily Show: Ears Edition available on various podcast platforms, Comedy Central, and Paramount+.

Transcript

[Jon Stewart]

You're listening to Comedy Central. From the most trusted journalists at Comedy Central, it's America's only source for news. This is the Daily show with your host, Jon Stewart.

[Royal Ramey]

Hey, everybody.

[Jon Stewart]

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Daily Show. My name is Jon Stewart. We got a show for you tonight. Our guest tonight, a formerly incarcerated firefighter, Royal Ramey, is going to be here to discuss his journey from prison firefighter to organizer. But first, I just want to very clearly state to you guys something I found last week exhausting. The return to 1600 Trumpilvania Avenue was as disorienting as and chaotic as I imagine. But then we had a weekend serenity now, and we can finally catch our breath, begin to move forward with intentionality. Namaste.

[Royal Ramey]

Chaos on Wall Street.

[Jon Stewart]

We are in the middle of a market. Sell off tech stocks sent the markets into a tailspin today. Tech stocks have just taken a battery. Will there never be peace? No. What has happened to Luvda? What the. I was promised a new era of American prosperity and greatness. What happened? A powerful new Chinese AI tool called Deepseek is threatening the US dominance of this emerging technology. Deepseek is on par with what OpenAI and Google have made. Even though those companies are sinking billions of dollars, tons of years and lots of development into this space. Deep Seek did it for cheaper in a matter of months. Hey, who would have expected the Chinese to do it cheaper? I can't believe it. It's as though when you don't have labor laws or rights. And by the way, Deep Seek. Deep Seek. We're getting our asses kicked by Deep Seek. Who names an AI company after the thing it actually does? Where are your random letters? Where's your GPT? Your grok? Deep Seq. Sounds like what you might use it for. China's even beating us at naming shit, by the way. I do know this is bad news financially, but is anyone else somewhat excited that AI had its job replaced by AI? That's something. But listen, man, this is a minor setback. We will bounce back. Russia had Sputnik and it spurred us on to land on the moon. I'm sure it's not going to be that bad. Has Chinese AI put American AI out of a job? I mean, who knows? I'll find out. Siri, how bad is it? John, check out my only fans. No, send me a link. But enough about the apparently tenuous underpinning of everything we've banked our entire future economy on. What's the news freaking out about closer to home Friday night Massacre. Late Friday night. Purge. A chilling purge. The purge. Trump has ushered in the purge. I, for one, will take full advantage by doing some unpermitted lawn work. Yo, God is powerless. Although, just in case I'm misinterpreting, what is this purge about exactly?

[Royal Ramey]

Breaking news.

[Jon Stewart]

The mass firing of government agency watchdogs. Trump fired at least 17 inspectors general. No, he got rid of 17 inspectors general. That only leaves. No one knows how many left. I. I have no idea. Oh, I'm sorry. Did I break the illusion? You don't. You know, here's a nice thing at home. You don't know if that's the axe or my desk. Which one is fake, I'll never tell. The point is, we have 17 less inspectors general. Who knows how many generals will now go uninspected. Democrats inspire my anger in the least charismatic way possible. Donald Trump's decision to fire 12 of the federal government's independent watchdogs is a glaring sign that it's a golden age. And Donald Trump's decision to fire 12 of the federal government's independent watchdogs is a glaring sign that it's a golden age for abuse in government and even corruption. He started again, right? He said it twice like no recognition. Just started again. Is that what happened? Normally, humans in that scenario would go, oh, God, I'm sorry, what? Where was I? Let me take that from the top. And maybe this time I'll look up. Can you. Are you. Can you legally just restart without acknowledgment? Is Schumer AI. Is he deep seek? But regardless of how slowly NPC Chuck Schumer laid it out, what Trump did violated the law. He can't just fire these people. Title V, Section 403 of the U.S. code, Federal Law. An inspector general may be removed by the president. What? What's the purge? What's the matter? Why do I have an axe? There is a specific law that requires notice, 30 days and a statement of reasons, substantive and detailed rationale. What? I'm sorry, what? Oh, apparently you can fire them, but you have to give them 30 days notice. Oh, so that's what we're upset about. Oh, you can do it, but not in that font. That's Hitler's font. But this is the cycle we find ourselves in. First law of Trump O Dynamics. Every action is met with a very not equal overreaction, thus throwing off our ability to know when shit is actually getting real. Like last week's pardons. These pardons are sick. They are offensive. They are un American.

[Royal Ramey]

This is one of the most egregious.

[Jon Stewart]

Despicable acts in American history. This is Textbook Authoritarian Takeover 101. I knew I should have taken that class and not majored in submissive liberal crying 101. Do what you will. Trumpieski. Was it shitty? Yes. Should you have let some of those terrible people. No. Is it an abuse of pardon power? I don't know, but that is his constitutional power. Again, for some reason, we have given presidents the power of a king, and then we say, oh, by the way, like, with that power, you're not gonna get all, like, kingly and shit on us, right? To put that in constitutional terms, if I could. Don't hate the player. Hate the founding Fathers. That's not. Why do we even have it? Because I don't know if you've met Donald. He pushes Shit. President Trump deploying executive action to end birthright citizenship. This unconstitutional un American attack, shredding our Constitution was to be a strongman, authoritarian. Birthright citizenship was very specifically tailored to send a message to people that America was a place, an idea. It wasn't for one race, it wasn't for one gender. Citizenship in America was based on where you were, not who you were, and to just. Stroke of a pen. Finally, I agree, that is authoritarian. We do begin tonight with the federal judge blocking President Trump's executive order that would end birthright citizenship. And we're back. See how easy that was? It was a dictatorship. And then the judge went, mm. It's like when you have an electric fence. You never check it and you're not really sure if it works. Cause. Cause you have a good boy. You have a very good boy. But then one day, zap. By the way, I fundamentally disagree with the use of electric fences. It is true. I prefer to discipline my dogs with a series of passive aggressive comments about their weight. Really tearing through the bowl tonight, huh? Take a breath, Tubbs. It's called kibble, not gobbled. By the way, my dog's name is Tubbs. Anyway, birthright citizenship is back.

[Royal Ramey]

No, obviously, we'll appeal it.

[Jon Stewart]

Damn you. Constitutionally enshrined judicial review of executive action and its relief through the appellate process. Look, we are facing a deluge of these executive actions, and certainly we must be prepared for. For those most vulnerable to the consequences of these actions. But the this is all fascist argument has become almost a reflex for the left. Donald Trump promised to be a dictator on day one, and he's carried that forward through the entire week. Five days into this administration, the abuse is already rampant. Throughout the rest of the week, shredding the Constitution as he went on a fascism scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being peak fascism. How would you rate Trump's first week scale of Mussolini to the Holocaust? You know, I would say it's not fascism. Do I not understand what fascism is? And also, if I may, and this may be petty, why are we asking someone who at the end of January still has his Christmas trio? Why? Why are we asking him anything? You know who used to leave their Christmas tree up all the time? Hitler. Somebody in the audience literally jumped my Hitler joke. You know who used to do that, by the way? Pol Pot. Now, look, I have a lot of fear that as this term goes on, things are going to get a little fascisty and we must be vigilant. But part of vigilance is discernment. Republicans control the House, the Senate, the Executive and the judiciary. And just about every move that has been made till this point, we have granted them electorally. It's our fault. And the constant drum. Yeah, it's just our fault. And the constant drumbeat of encroaching fascism will erode the credibility we will need if. Hopefully if and not when it hits. But the truth is that for now, his most objectionable actions have taken place almost entirely within our designed democratic system, like the confirmation process. Despite claims of meritocracy, Trump has put forth some of the least LinkedIn people you could imagine. I don't know what responsible hiring process you can create that looks at this. I'm going to get another refill. Hold on. I feel good, you know, I'm just adding a little bit of extra. It's already in there anyway, what do we care? Down goes Seth Dunkin.

[Royal Ramey]

Dad on New Year's Eve.

[Jon Stewart]

Who's that guy? I want him leading defense. And how did this individual, who has never so much as successfully managed a Waffle House, pop up? Gonna run the 3 million people department of Defense. But he wasn't foisted upon us by a dictator. There was no authoritarian end run, no royal edicts. This shit happened to us as designed, advise, but mostly consent. Passed through the Armed Services Committee, put through a Senate vote. Three Republicans, of course, made a show of. This is the most outrageous. I cannot good conscience. Because they knew they could lose three. It was a performance. And J.D. vance broke the tie democratically. Trump's using the almost absolute power we have constitutionally granted him and the Republicans. Because this is Trump's theory on governance. He's already laid it out to not President Bush in 2005. Back when he was still accessing Hollywood. And when you're a star, they let you do it. You can do anything.

[Royal Ramey]

Grab him by the pussy.

[Jon Stewart]

That's his governing philosophy for all of it. Appointing people, firing people, writing executive orders, taking Greenland, making Wikipedia, like edits to the literal globe. But unfortunately, as of now, he's pretty much just democratically grabbing our pussy. Yeah, yeah. We said yeah. He has the consent of the people, for God's sakes. His deportation orders are so popular, they have Collabs. TV personality Dr. Phil tagged along on a Chicago raid.

[Royal Ramey]

You've never been deported before, Dr. Phil. Look, Dr. Phil.

[Jon Stewart]

Yeah. How do you know me?

[Royal Ramey]

No, I seen Dr. Phil, you know, on TV. Yeah, yeah.

[Jon Stewart]

How do you know me? You've been in one thing. How do you know I'm Dr. Phil? Cause you're on the Dr. Phil show. You're Dr. Phil. How do you know me? Oh, weren't you in Goodfellas? No. You're Dr. Phil. I'd know that. Little egghead anywhere. Little bald mustache, Southern drawl. What are you doing? I was doing that. How do you know me? That picture. I guess Dr. Phil finally cashed someone outside. How about that? Wait, no, no, no, no, no. Let me go. Let me finish. Let me finish. Let me finish. We're almost done. Look, the Trump administration was clearly ready for this. It was almost as though they had some project for what they might do in 2025. And they're so emboldened, they're not even stopping on American shores. The president said he thought more than a million Palestinians in Gaza could be moved to nearby Arab countries. What the. What the. He's so emboldened, he wants to start deporting people from other people's countries. Meanwhile, Dr. Phil will be down in Gaza. How you know me? How you know me, sir? Habibi? I don't have a television. I don't know you. I don't know, habibi. Look, I really hope the Democrats figure out a way to contain this guy. The question is probably not how dare he? Though the question should be, what are you learning from this? How would you use this power? What's your Contract with America? Democrats exist outside of him. Tell people what you would do with the power that Trump is wielding, and then convince us to give that power to you as soon as possible. That's the goal. It's enough with the. He's the Hitler. He's the thing. Stop doing it. That's terrible. What would you do? And if not, you know what? If you don't have any of the answers. Maybe AI has a solution for you. Hey, Siri, what can Democrats do to stop Trump? It's too late. When we come back, Royal Ramy will be here. We'll be right back. Hey. Welcome back to the Daily Show. My guest tonight, I'm like this, a formerly incarcerated firefighter who is now the CEO and co founder of the Forestry and Fire recruitment program, also the subject of the forthcoming documentary Firebreak. Since World War II, there's been a growing reliance for imprisoned people to do some of the front work of firefighting. We were both formerly incarcerated in fire jam. When we got out, we were dedicated to become firefighters.

[Royal Ramey]

I fell in love with it, but I didn't have a blueprint. I was just.

[Jon Stewart]

Please welcome to the program Royal Ramey. Sir.

[Royal Ramey]

Let's go.

[Jon Stewart]

You know, very. A lot of times we get economists on the show. Judges very rarely do they go, come on, people. It's so nice to see you and so nice to meet you. When I heard the story, not even just your story, but just the general story, right, of incarcerated firefighters that were. I was very surprised. And I'll run the thoughts that were going through my head and I'll have you speak to them. One was, oh, my God, the bravery that these folks who don't have their own liberty are showing on our behalf is astonishing. Right? Number two, I bet they're paying them shit. And is this indentured servitude and is this being coerced? And then number three was, if I wanted to escape from prison, I would light a fire. How do they keep them from not running away in the middle of the fire? And then everybody being like, where's Slim Pete? And then they're like, so run this through. Ahmed, you were in this program. What is this? Why did you get into it? What made you get into the firefighting program from prison?

[Royal Ramey]

So honestly, around the time that I went to prison, it was overcrowded in California. So I end up getting transferred to Arizona and then Mississippi. And I was in prison for about 20 plus months, close to two years in Mississippi. Like, so I went to Arizona first. So it was like that time of being out of state, you know, it was an opportunity for me to go back to California, see my family, because I didn't see them for that amount of time. Oh, wow. And, you know, obviously I heard the rumors around, like, it's better food. You know, you have a dormitory, you know, setting. When you out there, it's not like you behind us, you're in the cell and you're not. Or you, you can be able to get the most money that, that you can earn in prison. Which is a dollar an hour on fires. Right?

[Jon Stewart]

Which is a dollar an hour on fires is the most money. Like. Yeah.

[Royal Ramey]

So you make about around $26 a day when you out there fighting a fire. So that's the most money you can make in prison.

[Jon Stewart]

Okay, so here's where it's gonna get, here's where it gets ugly for liberals. Right. Cuz the liberal reaction is how brunette exploit the incarcerated. But in prison it's so bad that this is great. Is that it?

[Royal Ramey]

Yeah, this is the best, it's one of the best programs that California Department of Correction rehabilitation has actually. Especially when it comes down to when you, you know, you, most people, when they come home, they come home with $200 of gate money.

[Jon Stewart]

Right, right.

[Royal Ramey]

And then have an opportunity to go to fire camp, you know, get a. Gain a family winning career in the fire sector. Right. That's like monumental. A lot of folks don't, you can't even fathom of like never having a job like that. Like having a career, you know, just, just having that felony, you know, in your record.

[Jon Stewart]

Right, right.

[Royal Ramey]

To being able to possibly have a six figure career, benefits retirement and be able to be, take care of your family, you know, for, for a long time.

[Jon Stewart]

So I mean, in some ways it's a new model of rehabilitation. You know, I was reading that the recidivism rate generally is pretty high, 50%, sometimes 60%. The recidivism rate on those who have been inducted into this program is less than 10%. Is that correct?

[Royal Ramey]

I know that for my program.

[Jon Stewart]

Right, but that's amazing.

[Royal Ramey]

Yeah, it is, it is. It changed my life, honestly, John. It gave me an opportunity to know what a team kind of feel like. And when you're out there fighting fires and you have to rely on the next person, you know, it does take a lot, you know, it takes a lot of courage and being able to like, you know, come together when it's all, you know, when it's the fire's raging and you out there on the line and you, you know, you putting your life on the line, it does give you a sense of teamwork and partnership with folks that you probably never have had a communication with in a positive light when you out there in the streets. Because you gotta think about it, it's folks that's been in gangs. Right, right. Had, you know, some trauma in their life and it's a lot of segregation within you Know, California prisons, there's a lot of politics in it.

[Jon Stewart]

Right.

[Royal Ramey]

So, you know, race, you know, is a big thing. And when you. When you in fire camps, you have.

[Jon Stewart]

In prisons, it's very segregated to a white gang, Hispanic gang, a black gang.

[Royal Ramey]

Absolutely.

[Jon Stewart]

And firefighting. None of that.

[Royal Ramey]

Nah, you have to. You have to put that all to the side and you. You accrue. So you have a mixture of folks.

[Jon Stewart]

It's amazing. Did you, you know, did you not believe that you could do it? Is the idea that people in that environment have been so lack the network and confidence and competence that goes along with things that this is a revelation for themselves that I'm. Oh, I'm worthy. I'm actually worthy. That's the deal.

[Royal Ramey]

Yeah, absolutely. I think so. When you out there on those big, you know, fire campaigns, you know, you see signs that says, thank you, firefighters. And then when you actually, you know, doing the work, the same thing that you would see a hotshot crew do or type two crew that do, like, you're doing pretty much the same work. So, you know, you do feel that sense of pride and purpose, and it gives you a way to be able to utilize the knowledge, skills, and abilities that you learned in fire camp to transition into the fire service professionally. And that's what the forestry and fire, you know, recruitment do. Like we.

[Jon Stewart]

So your. Your organization tries to take that training because you're not. If you go through the prison program, are you certified to fight fires at that point in California?

[Royal Ramey]

No. You still got some more certifications that you would need in order for you to be able to be a professional firefighter.

[Jon Stewart]

Even though they've already put you in fires, you're already doing the job.

[Royal Ramey]

Right.

[Jon Stewart]

But they're saying to you, yes, you can fight the fires, but you're not qualified to fight the fires.

[Royal Ramey]

Yeah, it's some, you know, some things to that, definitely. Right, but. Right, but, you know, it's definitely things to that.

[Jon Stewart]

And that's what I love how diplomatic you're being.

[Royal Ramey]

Right, right. I love it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So, you know, just being transparent and real is definitely like. It's a gatekeeping thing, I think. And a lot of folks don't understand the actual process. Right. Like, you have to have the certifications to be able to apply to these positions. You have to understand, you know, what to put on a resume.

[Jon Stewart]

Right.

[Royal Ramey]

How to apply to the job, like making sure that you read everything right. And then.

[Jon Stewart]

But they train you.

[Royal Ramey]

Yes, okay. Yes, you get to train.

[Jon Stewart]

They don't just get prisoners and go.

[Royal Ramey]

Like, come on, let's go.

[Jon Stewart]

Yeah.

[Royal Ramey]

They give you minimum training. They do, but is there anybody in.

[Jon Stewart]

There, like, for arson? They're on there, and you're like, hey, Phil, what would you do in this situation?

[Royal Ramey]

Right?

[Jon Stewart]

Nah, nah, you're not allowed to. I would think of you.

[Royal Ramey]

Nah, you can't have arson and you can't have, like, a sick. Hey.

[Jon Stewart]

It could be the dumbest question I've.

[Royal Ramey]

Ever asked in a sex crime. That's one of the two major things. I think they're trying to revisit some things around certain violent crimes, but they trying to, you know, evaluate. And my big. My best friend. One of My best friend and mentor, Ralph Diaz, he would kill me and Fred Money.

[Jon Stewart]

Oh, don't worry. He won't see this.

[Royal Ramey]

Right. They tell me that I was rugged up. But no, it's definitely. They have some requirements for you to be able to be.

[Jon Stewart]

For the prisoners. How do they view that bargain? That bargain of. Look, they are. The state exploits prison labor. I mean, I think that's just straight down the line.

[Royal Ramey]

Common fact.

[Jon Stewart]

Yes, common fact. Yeah. That's a good. And. And the penalties on felony makes it almost impossible for people to reintegrate into, like, our prison system, as, you know, as you are have experienced.

[Royal Ramey]

Right, right, right.

[Jon Stewart]

Is. And obviously, like, I'm not a sociologist thing, but I think the word is.

[Royal Ramey]

I love you, man. I love you, Jon.

[Jon Stewart]

But it is true. So how do they. How do they console each other in that. How do you guys talk to each other about what this opportunity means and what the system is doing to you guys while that's all happening?

[Royal Ramey]

You ready for the real deal? Holyville? Be honest with you. I didn't know what the I was getting myself into.

[Jon Stewart]

Really.

[Royal Ramey]

They say fire camp. I'm a kid from the inner city. Like, fire camp.

[Jon Stewart]

Fire. Okay.

[Royal Ramey]

Around a camp, like you thought.

[Jon Stewart]

You know what I'm saying? Like, I didn't know you had gotten into a program. Right. I didn't know, like, you were gonna make s'mores.

[Royal Ramey]

Right, right, right. I didn't know. Like, honestly, like, it wasn't like, oh, you're gonna be on the front lines. You're gonna be fighting fire. You're gonna carry this pack. You're gonna be having this tool, and it's dangerous. Right? You're gonna be working 24 hour shifts. You're gonna be doing, you know, like, I'm like, what? Like, that's wild. Fighting fire. Like, and when I first got to camp and it was like, here, you know, gave my Equipment and we start hiking. I'm like. It was like, yeah, here's these boots. And I'm like, I'm used to wearing Nikes, right?

[Jon Stewart]

Like. Like, boots.

[Royal Ramey]

Like, okay, then did I get the boots? And, okay, they gimme a pack and a tour and we hiking. I'm like, man, I got, you know, I need acro pump around here. I'm like, whoa. Like, this is intense. But I end up talking to one of my captains, and he was like, ramey, you're one of the youngest dudes on the crew, and you're the slowest one, you know, dude on the crew, right? And I'm like, you know, just being from the inner city, you know, in so many words. He was like, you calling me a, you know, a sissy in this sense, Right?

[Jon Stewart]

I gotta tell you, in that story, when you were going there, I really thought you were gonna be like, you pulled me aside. And he said, I like you, son. You've really got something. I can't believe he pulled you aside. And he's just like, what the man get off here.

[Royal Ramey]

Right, right.

[Jon Stewart]

How long did it take you to acclimate to this? And how long was the training?

[Royal Ramey]

So to answer the second question first, so the training was about a couple of weeks, just like physical training that you get. And then you go into, like, a classroom setting where you get the S190. I know a couple people gonna kill me for this. But it's the entry level position or entry certification for wildland fire behavior. And then from there you kind of like get a pack and you gotta make sure you hike within a certain amount of time. And then once you complete that, then you're eligible to go to a fire camp. That was when I was, you know, there in 2012.

[Jon Stewart]

So you guys are wildland firefighters? Certified firefighters. And very different from like, what, LA County Urban fire, residential fire. So your role in this is more in those areas where the. Maybe the chaparral is or where the wilderness stuff is. Is that generally where the incarcerated guys?

[Royal Ramey]

Yes, yes. So it's a couple of things. So you got. So the main objective is to they pretty much train and deploy folks that's incarcerated to fight wildland fires.

[Jon Stewart]

Right.

[Royal Ramey]

And then when you're not fighting fires, you out there doing fire prevention work or projects within the community. So that's one of the pluses too, is, like, you're not actually in the cell, you're actually in the community doing different work or whatever. It could be a project, you know, could be laying, you know, cement somewhere.

[Jon Stewart]

Right, right.

[Royal Ramey]

You could be, you know, doing cutting brush or you can do weed abatement.

[Jon Stewart]

These are necessary jobs that they do have trouble finding candidates for and people for. You know, it's been so interesting and I wonder how you sort of process this in your head, but this idea of like, dei, like, oh, the Los Angeles fire only happened because she's a lesbian. Like, you're on the other side of that where you're like, we want to get into this business. There are a lot of gatekeepers that keep us out, but, boy, we're capable.

[Royal Ramey]

Right, right.

[Jon Stewart]

And how do you reckon that?

[Royal Ramey]

So you just. So I'm a doer, right? So when I first was in fire camp, obviously it was a transition for me, mentally, emotionally, you know, spiritually. And, you know, I grew to love it and I fell in love with it. And it was that one thing in my head. It was like, man, like, I want to do this. I want to do this in my career. I want to make this happen. Right? And me and my co founder, Brandon Smith, he, you know, we was talking one day and it was like, look, man, you know, you want to be able to do it, I want to do it. Let's figure this out, you know, and be like the modern day Harriet Tubman's the fire service.

[Jon Stewart]

Right, right. Underground fire camp. Right, right. Because you KN that generally those jobs are, you know, connections play a large part in them and it's relatively homogenous in those areas. Right, right. And it was going to be tough to break through.

[Royal Ramey]

Yeah, yeah. And just the cultural thing, too, and understanding that, you know, you're going to have to do, you're going to put in the work. You got to make sure that you understand the culture, understand how to be a professional. Because you got a lot of folks that consider people that's been incarcerated. That's zeros. Right. And then when you look at them as a hero, it's like a, you know, a public nuisance and a public servant. Like, that kind of like, doesn't mix. Our, you know, prison and public service don't mix. And you have to change that narrative with people. Because once. Cause I remember when I was actually, I went to my first pretty much like, month on my job with Cal Fire, and one of my captains was like, hey, we went on this fire. I was cutting with the saw and stuff. He was like, man, you did a pretty good job with that. Like, where did you learn that from? Like, usually. And usually folks like myself learn that in camp. Right. I was like, you know, I kind of shied away from it. Yeah. I worked for the Forest Service first, so it was like, you know, I kind of had that kind of spiel. But I wanted to make sure that they looked at me as a human being first and not just based off of what my previous experiences were when I was in prison.

[Jon Stewart]

Right. It's incredibly impressive. Maybe what's the most impressive thing about it is that you took that knowledge and you took that experience and you have created this organization to make sure that you keep the ladder down for people, the fire ladder to help other people up. And I love that prison to public service road because so often in this country, it's public service to prison. That's a political thing. It goes the other way. It's so, so good to meet you. The more information about the forest recruitment. Check out the link below. Chief Royal Ray, Quick breaking of the event. Come on. Hey.

[Royal Ramey]

That's our show for tonight.

[Jon Stewart]

But as always, before we go, we're going to check in with your host for the rest of the week, Michael Kosta. Michael, what do you got for us for the rest of the week, Michael Kosta. John, we'll be going through all the secret files on jfk, MLK and rfk. You know, Trump declassified them last week and we're already learning some really shocking stuff. For example, John, did you know that RFK is RFK Jr. S dad? I did know that. Okay. I thought that was news. But check this out. Check this out. Did you know that JFK and RFK were brothers? Both of their last names were Kennedy. But, John, the K in MLK is not for Kennedy. This is crazy stuff. Also, they all fake their dads and they're living in Oregon. But other than that, well, at least we have some closure. Check out Michael Kosta this week. Here it is. Your moment is that, you know, there are a lot of things that Donald Trump has done in his first week in office that Americans do support. This ain't one of them. This ain't one of them. I don't know what the heck he's doing because not only did that judge spank him like he was a young child back in the 1960s, but the American public ain't with him either. Explore more shows from the Daily show podcast universe by searching the Daily Show. Wherever you get your podcast, watch the Daily show weeknights at 1110 Central on Comedy Central and stream full episodes anytime on Paramount plus Paramount Podcasts.