Episode Overview

Podcast: The Political Scene | The New Yorker
Host: David Remnick
Guest: Hillary Clinton
Date: September 18, 2017
Episode: David Remnick and Hillary Clinton discuss “What Happened”

In this episode, David Remnick interviews Hillary Clinton about her book What Happened, her defeat in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, Russian interference, media coverage, gender, and the dangers she perceives in the Trump administration. The conversation is wide-ranging, candid, and at times deeply personal, with Clinton offering both detailed reflection and broader warnings about American democracy’s future.

Main Themes

• Hillary Clinton’s perspective on her 2016 loss and the events that shaped the campaign
• The impact of Russian interference and WikiLeaks
• The role of the FBI and James Comey
• Media influence and gender dynamics
• The present dangers and challenges facing U.S. democracy under Donald Trump
• Clinton’s reflections on individuals like Julian Assange, Edward Snowden, Bernie Sanders, and figures in the Obama administration
• Her continued political engagement and hopes for the Democratic Party

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Aftermath of the 2016 Election

• Clinton’s concession speech and regrets:
  Clinton describes her decision to concede, emphasizing the peaceful transfer of power while expressing deep concern about Trump’s presidency.

  • [01:32] David Remnick: “Are we at the point where you're ready to say that? Are we in the dire straits that Masha Gessen is asking you to describe?”
  • [02:35] Hillary Clinton: “I think the president and his administration pose a clear and present danger to our democracy.”

• What does “clear and present danger” mean?
  Clinton details her concerns about ongoing assaults on facts, truth, and democratic norms.

  • [03:31] Clinton: “Several things... First, the ongoing assault on facts, reason, truth, which is insidious and deeply antithetical to a democracy.”

Russian Interference and WikiLeaks

• Russia’s methods as ‘warfare’:
  Clinton labels the Russian campaign as a new form of war, emphasizing its unprecedented nature.

  • [04:12] Clinton: “Yes, I do [use the word war]. And it was right out of the playbook of Putin…”

• Obama’s Response – Did He ‘Blow It’?
  Clinton discusses the dilemma faced by President Obama regarding Russian interference:

  • [06:19] Clinton: “I'm very understanding of the position he found himself in, because I've been in that Situation Room. I know how hard these calls can be...”
  • [08:15] Clinton (retrospectively): “I would have... wished that he had said something, because I think the American people deserved to know.”

• The October 7, 2016 ‘Perfect Storm’:
  Remnick and Clinton dissect the cascade of events – the Access Hollywood tape, Russian hacking revelations, and WikiLeaks’ Podesta email dump.

  • [09:12] Clinton: “…within an hour, the email dropped. So it seems clear to us that the Russians were again being guided about our politics.”
  • [09:28] Clinton: “Someone was offering very astute political advice about how to weaponize information... They were given very astute advice.”

WikiLeaks, Assange, and Snowden

• Clinton’s assessment of Assange and WikiLeaks:

  • [11:42] Clinton: “I don't think [Assange] is that mysterious. I think he is part nihilist, part anarchist, part exhibitionist ... who is either actually on the payroll of the Kremlin or in some way supporting their propaganda objectives ... He claims to be acting in furtherance of transparency, except they never go after the Kremlin ...”

• Assange and Snowden compared:

  • [12:40] Clinton: “With Snowden and Assange, I do put them in the same bucket and they both end up serving the strategic goals of [the Kremlin].”

• Election consequences of WikiLeaks and Comey’s letter:
  Clinton argues that the drumbeat of WikiLeaks email releases combined with the Comey letter in the final days swayed swing voters, especially suburban women.

  • [16:20] Clinton: “I went from, I think, 26 points ahead in the suburbs of Philadelphia to 13 points ahead… I needed to win by about 18 to cover Western Pennsylvania.”

Media, Sexism, and Narrative

• Media scrutiny and perceived bias:
  Clinton reflects on a long, contentious relationship with the press, singling out even traditionally supportive outlets for undue negativity.

  • [18:37] Clinton: “…one of the objects of your criticism and even anger in this book is not Breitbart, not the Drudge Report, but the New York Times.”

• Gender and double standards:
  Clinton discusses how being a woman seeking power, rather than serving someone else, shaped public and media perceptions.

  • [20:14] Clinton: “I was running something in service to someone else, a man… I would face what women face when you are not serving someone, but you are seeking power yourself.”
  • [20:39] Clinton: “No, I think it was Clinton specific, plus sexism and misogyny.”

Trump, Authoritarianism, and Policy Dangers

• Trump’s presidency and threats to democracy:

  • [25:34] Clinton: “I think Trump has behaved in a deplorable manner both during the campaign and as president. I think he has given permission to others to engage in deplorable behavior as we did see in Charlottesville and elsewhere… That’s part of the clear and present danger...”
  • [27:36] Clinton: “I think he is immature with poor impulse control, unqualified for the position that he holds... makes him dangerous.”

• North Korea and foreign policy vacuum:
  Clinton criticizes the lack of diplomatic expertise in the Trump administration and overreliance on the military.

  • [29:52] Clinton: “There are no diplomats at home. There are no China experts. I don't know who is left in the government at any level of experience and seniority…”

• Engagement with Putin:
  Clinton shares vivid anecdotes about her meetings with Putin, his strategic use of power, and lessons for U.S. policy.

  • [32:33] Clinton (on Putin): “He would manspread. He would make very belligerent comments… he would just not look at me.”
  • [38:20] Clinton (Putin’s story): “…He proceeds to tell me a story that no Russian expert that I've ever told this to had ever heard before...” (about Putin’s family in the siege of Leningrad)

• On managing Putin:

  • [39:23] Remnick: “Were we mush?”
  • [39:24] Clinton: “I think we were mushy. And what I fear is we still haven't gotten to the bottom of what the Russians did…”

The Road Ahead for Democrats

• Republican complicity and the risks of not looking deeper into Russian interference:

  • [40:17] Clinton: “The Republicans have just as big a stake in this as Democrats. Putin can turn on Republicans and members of Congress... No one should rest easy just because it was aimed at me…”

• Target of both right and left; manipulation via social media:

  • [41:31] Clinton: “For whatever combination of reasons, some I think I understand, others I don't, I am viewed as a threat to powerful forces on both the right and the left. ... Russia has really targeted, through their trolls and bots, a lot of accounts, a lot of Twitter accounts, Facebook accounts of people on the left feeding them a steady diet of just nonsense.”

• Bernie Sanders, party unity, and moving forward:

  • [43:03] Clinton: “I think [Sanders] is not a Democrat ... he riled up so many people who supported him with all kinds of innuendo and artful smear about me that he was reluctant to do for me what I had done for President Obama.”

• Onward Together: Clinton mentions her new initiative to build the next generation of Democratic leaders, focusing on recruitment and support, especially for young people and women.

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On Trump and danger to democracy:
  • “I think the president and his administration pose a clear and present danger to our democracy.” — Hillary Clinton [02:35]
• On Comey’s letter impact:
  • “I went from ... 26 points ahead in the suburbs of Philadelphia to 13 points ahead ... I needed to win by about 18 to cover Western Pennsylvania. The Comey letter blanketed the traditional media.” — Hillary Clinton [16:20]
• On WikiLeaks and the power of fake news:
  • “They not only dropped them into the middle of our presidential campaign a month before the election, they weaponized them again, suggesting ... guidance, cooperation ... between political actors and WikiLeaks and the Russians.” — Hillary Clinton [13:07]
• On media and gender:
  • “I was running something in service to someone else, a man ... I would face what women face when you are not serving someone, but you are seeking power yourself.” — Hillary Clinton [20:14]
• On Trump’s persona:
  • “I think he is immature with poor impulse control, unqualified for the position that he holds. ... At the end ... makes him dangerous.” — Hillary Clinton [27:36]
• On Putin’s tactics:
  • “You take a bayonet and you push. If you hit mush, you keep going. If you hit steel, you stop. He is someone that has to be managed every single day...” — Hillary Clinton [39:22]
• On her continued political engagement:
  • “That's why I've started this group called ONWARD Together to help recruit, train and support people who will run, particularly young people and especially young women.” — Hillary Clinton [43:28]

Timestamps for Major Segments

• [01:16-02:35] Opening: Reflection on concession speech and Trump’s danger to democracy
• [04:12-09:28] Russian interference and election “warfare”
• [09:08-16:20] October 7 events, WikiLeaks, Access Hollywood, and electoral impact
• [17:42-22:27] Relationship with the press, gender, and media bias
• [25:34-29:46] Trump as president, breakdown of character, and dangers of his administration
• [29:52-32:12] North Korea and U.S. foreign policy under Trump
• [32:33-39:23] Putin, personal anecdotes, and managing Russian relations
• [40:17-44:04] Democratic Party strategy, Sanders, and Clinton’s plans for the future

Conclusion

This episode presents a deeply reflective and sometimes urgent portrait of Hillary Clinton’s view on her loss, what went wrong in 2016, and what’s at stake for American democracy. Clinton is candid about regrets, including within her own party, highly critical of the media and adversaries foreign and domestic, and insistent on the need for vigilance, new leadership, and activism. The conversation is full of striking anecdotes, sharp political analysis, and memorable moments for those interested in the past, present, and future of U.S. politics.