Interview Only: Former President Obama Speech Writer discusses the future of America - Straight Shooter with Stephen A.

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[00:00]
Greg Rosenthal
What's up, everyone? It's Greg Rosenthal, and I'm teaming up with the king of spring, Daniel Jeremiah. He requires me to say that we're going to be bringing you 40s and free agents, the only podcast you'll need this NFL draft season. From DJs mock drafts to my top 101, free agents will have it covered for you with all new episodes every Thursday, keeping you up to date as we head to the NFL Draft. Listen to 40s and free agents starting on March 6th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
[00:31]
Julie Swerbinks
What's up, everyone? Julie Swerbinks here along with former NHL player Nate Thompson.
[00:36]
Nate Thompson
We're doing a new podcast together. Here we go.
[00:38]
Julie Swerbinks
The name Energy Line with Nate and jsb.
[00:42]
Nate Thompson
Each week we'll get together and talk about hockey life. All topics are fair game, right?
[00:47]
Julie Swerbinks
Exactly. And you'll never know who will drop by to join us.
[00:51]
Nate Thompson
Julia's pretty well connected. She has text threads going that you wouldn't believe.
[00:55]
Julie Swerbinks
Listen to Energy Line with Nate and jsb on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
[01:06]
Stephen A. Smith
My next guest served as the head speechwriter to former President Barack Obama. Since then, he founded the crooked media podcast platform and host Pod Save America and Offline with Jon Favreau. Please welcome to the Stephen A. Smith show, the man himself, Jon Favreau. What's going on, John? How are you, man? Pleasure to meet you. How's everything going?
[01:27]
Nate Thompson
Pleasure to meet you, too. I'm doing well. You know, it's election. Election eve nerves, but other than that, I'm feeling good.
[01:34]
Stephen A. Smith
Well, I gotta admit, man, you got a smile on your face. What the hell is the smile about? Because everybody else in the world look nervous and what have you. You got this smile on your face is looking for. It's like. It's like you can't wait.
[01:44]
Nate Thompson
I have been in politics for 20 years. I've been doing campaigns since 2004. Won some, lost some. And I get so nervous before every single election day. And I decided that this time around, my anxiety is not going to change the outcome. So I might as well just be calm and if, you know, if the outcome doesn't go my way, I have plenty of time to be miserable after. After the votes are, I got you.
[02:06]
Stephen A. Smith
I got you. That makes perfect sense. We're one day away from a consequential election. Obviously, you've had a very unique vantage point serving in the Obama administration. Your thoughts on where the country stands right now.
[02:18]
Nate Thompson
I think it's pretty close. It's gonna be a pretty close election. That's no surprise. That's what all the polls are showing. But look, I think here, here's how I see it. The Kamala Harris and the Democrats are facing a political environment that is pretty brutal, which is, you know, post pandemic incumbent governments all over the world. Incumbents have been losing partly because of. Of the post pandemic sort of malaise, hangover from inflation, prices still too high, immigration issues. And that's. Those are some headwinds that Kamala Harris and the Democrats are facing. That said, Donald Trump is, you know, Donald Trump and he. And, and the. There's an anti maga coalition in this country that has turned out since 2016 to be Donald Trump and Trump Republicans in every single election since 16. And he is pretty toxic to voters. And I think that if it turns out that Kamala Harris wins, it's going to be because Donald Trump is an undisciplined, extreme candidate that people do not want to see in office for another four years and that women who are upset with the Dobbs decision is. And Americans were very upset with, with Trump and the threat he poses for democracy are going to come out once again and turn out in big numbers and, and win a close election. So that's sort of how I see it. I see that the political environment is tough, but Trump presents a real opportunity for Democrats just because he is such a undisciplined bad candidate.
[03:55]
Stephen A. Smith
What about the opportunity Kamala Harris presents to the other side when you consider the fact that she didn't endure a primary, that ultimately Biden had to step away on July 21, and a lot of people on the right are saying it was essentially handed to her. And you think about the war in Ukraine, between Russia and Ukraine, and you think about the Israeli Palestinian conflict or Hamas and Hezbollah and all of that stuff. And now Iran is in the mix and Trump with his cold words or with his rhetoric is like, do you really want her? Are you sure you want her instead of me? What about the threat to her winning the election that that may pose?
[04:34]
Nate Thompson
Yeah, that's. That's her. That's probably the biggest challenge she faces. Right? And look, I do think when you talk to voters who have not made up their minds yet, it's not necessarily that they're buying into what Trump and the Republicans are saying about her, but they just don't know enough about her is what you'll hear from people. So they'll say oh, yeah, she just, she just sort of came out of nowhere, and I don't really know what she stands for. And I was actually in. I was knocking on doors in Las Vegas over the weekend, and I talked to someone who works at one of the hotels there, and I asked her if she was voting, and she's like, yeah, I think I'm going to vote for Trump. And I was like, oh, well, why are you voting for Trump? And she said, well, I just, I don't know much about, about Harris. Like, she, it's like she just appeared out of nowhere. And so I started talking about Kamala Harris's record, not just as vice president, but when she was Attorney general. And I said, you know, she took on these big banks. She got homeowners a lot of money from the banks who they were trying to screw homeowners over. And then there were these for profit colleges that scammed veterans and, and college kids, and she won money from them, too. And then all of a sudden, this woman starts being like, you know what? I didn't know all that about Kamala Harris. That's pretty good. I'm gonna, I'm gonna look at, I'm gonna look up some more information on her. Maybe I'll. Maybe I'll vote for her now instead of Trump. So those are the decisions that the undecided voters are actually making right now. And those of us who pay super close attention to politics, like, we hear the, the Democrats argument and the Harris argument a lot, and we hear the Trump argument a lot, but most people who aren't paying close attention to politics, they're just sort of tuning in now and, and making up their mind. So that's, you know, there's probably 4 to 5% of voters in the swing states who are truly undecided, and there's maybe about 10% who are what we call persuadable voters, meaning they might be leaning towards Harris or leaning towards Trump, but can still have their minds changed.
[06:16]
Stephen A. Smith
You were the primary speechwriter of Obama's iconic 2009 inauguration address. That was a fabulous speech. No question about that. You two come from vastly different upbringings as well. How involved was he in handing. In handing over the authority of his words to people like yourself? How lenient was he in that regard?
[06:35]
Nate Thompson
Well, it's funny, because when I started speechwriting for him when he got to the Senate in 2005, I had been a speechwriter on John Kerry's campaign, and when I sat down with him the first. For the first time, he said, you know, I write all my speeches myself, and I don't really think I need a speechwriter. But, you know, my. My communications director says that I'm going to need to learn to work with someone because now I'm going to be too busy to write all my own speeches. He's like, and, you know, you seem nice enough, so let's give this a whirl. So I think. I think at first he didn't think that he was going to need a speechwriter, but as he got busier and busier, I got to really know him, and I got to sit down with them. And, of course, he's written two books. And so I didn't just learn, like, how he writes and how he speaks, but I sort of ended up learning how he thinks. And eventually, over time, he started trusting me with, you know, writing his speeches. And that still meant that when there was a big speech, he would get really involved, and he and I would go back and forth on drafts, and, you know, he would do a lot of writing on his own. He would, like, handwrite, you know, pages and pages of. Of. Of. Of speechwriting and then give it back to me, and then I'd have to incorporate it into the draft. But, you know, the two of us got to know each other and went back and forth. And I think the key to any. The key to really speech writing, well, for someone is to not use them as like a vessel to talk about what you want to talk about, but to really get inside their mind and to really try to empathize with what they want to say, what their life experiences are and. And how they want to communicate.
[08:09]
Stephen A. Smith
I have to ask you, because I think that Obama is one of the great speakers in American history. When this man gave a speech, when he still gives a speech, in most instances, if not all, they're incredibly riveting. And you, being a speechwriter for him, you'd obviously have a clue about who needs more help than the others. I think that in this particular election, it's clear who needs more help than the other, because I watched Trump ramble on and on and on, put me to sleep during the Republican National Convention. But nevertheless, there have been times where you've looked at Kamala Harris, and she's done an exceptional job giving a speech. Yet in the same breath, people have challenged the authenticity of it all because of the manner in which it was delivered. Is it really her, or is it the speechwriter? Is it the Democratic Party? Coming across this way, how do you feel about her as a speech giver and how glaring is it, if at all, in your mind, are the words of others being put in her mouth?
[09:18]
Nate Thompson
So I know her speechwriters quite well. Her head speechwriter was the first person I hired on the Obama campaign. And so he. So I know what their process is like. And she's also someone who, you know, really digs in on a speech as well. I think what's different this campaign is because she's only had 90 days as the candidate, it is such a tightrope that she has been walking right. Like, everything has to go right for her. I mean, you brought this up earlier, right? Like, the, you know, Joe Biden was a very. Is an unpopular incumbent president. She usually, most candidates have a year to, you know, do interviews and do speeches, and you practice and you screw up and you, you get better and better. And then finally when everyone starts paying attention, you know, you've had enough practice. And she just was, like, shot out of a cannon with 90 days to go. And so I think in her speeches, they sound sort of more on message than you might expect from someone who's run a whole campaign, because she just doesn't have that much time. And she had so much to do. Right. She has to define herself just to remind people of the stakes, just to talk about what she wants to do, and she has to talk about what Trump will do and if he wins again. And she's doing all this in the glare of the national spotlight while she's giving speeches, doing interviews, doing all the rest of it. So I think that the speeches are probably more tightly structured and there's less room for, like, improvisation, probably because she doesn't want to screw up because she's, she knows that, you know, one misstep or stumble here and Trump could win. And I think she feels the weight of that acutely. I can tell the responsibility she feels. So I think that there is an element of, like, playing it safe, only in that, like, you're not going to start thinking, okay, what kind of interesting argument do I want to make this time? Because you're like, all right, what is the most important thing I want to tell people? What is the message I need to hammer home? And how do we just go win this thing?
[11:12]
Stephen A. Smith
I got a couple of more questions about a few more questions, actually, before I let you get on out of here. Number one, I just wanted to remind the audience you co founded the progressive political platform cricket media in 2017 with three other Obama staffers. And then I'm looking at crooked media. It has more than 440 shows and engages directly in political activism. According to my research, including advocating for center left policies and candidates, billionaire George Soros, liberal billionaire, has a minority stake in the company. Here's my question to you. If half the country is conservative, how does anything get accomplished in a divided America? Especially I mean, when you consider again, you know, you got, y'all are liberals and you're dealing with a bunch of conservatives right now. And Tom seemed to be crazy. I imagine that in today's generation, it's harder than ever before to get anything done. How do you.
[12:03]
Nate Thompson
Yeah, it's a great question. Look, the country is, like you said, it is divided. And I think my view on this, and I think this comes from having a campaign background and especially working for Barack Obama is, you know, even though we're a left leaning media company here at Crooked, my goal when we're talking to people, when we're putting out content, is to try to persuade people. And so, you know, people, people know that we're liberal, right? Like that's, we're not trying to hide it. But that doesn't mean that I'm not going to work.
[12:33]
Stephen A. Smith
Can I pause you? You're talking about getting things, you know, why would you call yourself crooked? And how do you think that's gonna help you get things done? I'm just interested in that. I mean, it just threw me off. It just threw me. I was like, I hope I'm pronouncing this right. I hope I'm reading this right. Is this true? Is it Crooked Media I name? I'm just saying you just talked about getting things done, you know, and, and convincing an inordinate amount of American citizens to flow along with you all. But you call yourself Crooked Media.
[13:04]
Nate Thompson
Well, that was our, that was our tongue in cheek name that we gave ourselves in the wake of Trump winning in, in 2016. That's when we founded the company. So Pod Save America is our flagship podcast, which is, you know, probably. And we do Vote Save America. That's our outreach and mobilization that you talked about. So those names are a little easier probably than Crooked. But one of the most important things about this company is we want to use humor. So because we do think that like, you know, when you go to someone, you're trying to convince them and you're just yelling at them all the time or you're, you're just assuming you're right, all that kind of, it's tough. And so I do think you need some humor. You need to be friendly, you need to show empathy to people. You need to have be understanding, you need to listen to people. Those are all, I think, strategies to try to persuade people. Because you're right, if we're not persuading people and we're just yelling and we're just yelling our talking points, then we're never going to break the division of the country. We're never going to get anything done.
[13:58]
Stephen A. Smith
What is your closing pitch to voters who still undecided one day before this election?
[14:03]
Nate Thompson
My closing pitch is whatever you may think of Donald Trump's first term, the Donald Trump that would return to the White House is completely different. He has become more extreme. The people who used to work for him, even four star generals, even conservative Republicans are trying to warn us that he is more unhinged than ever. And the people around him in the next White House are going to be some of the most extreme people who've ever worked in the government. And they are going to want to institute a national abortion ban. They're going to want to slap a 20% tax on everything we buy that's imported. They want to give a huge tax cut to rich people. That's the entirety of his economic plan for everyone thinks he's good for the economy. He's not putting more money in your pocket. He's going to take money out of your pocket and he's going to try to take away your health care and prescription drugs as well. Kamala Harris is, when she was attorney general in California, she fought for people and she took on big, powerful interest banks for profit lenders. And she did it on behalf of working people. And she has an agenda to actually lower costs for people, whether it's health care, whether it's food. And she also wants to make sure that we have reproductive freedom again in this country because right now, one in three women are living under a Trump abortion ban. And so to me, it's an easy choice even if you're a Republican, even if you don't usually vote for Democrats. Donald Trump, he's in it for himself, he's not in it for you. He's never, he's never cared much about anyone but himself. And, and Kamala Harris is the better choice.
[15:29]
Stephen A. Smith
Last question. With everything that you just said, if Donald Trump were to win this election, what possible, what possible hope would folks on the left have moving forward if their ingrained belief is exactly what you described and as a result of it, that's what they feel they have to look forward to over the next four years? How you overcome that?
[15:59]
Nate Thompson
Well, I would say that there's two. There's two responses to a Trump victory, Right? One is to give up, sit back and say, you know what? This is what I have to look forward to the next four years. I don't want to do anything about it. I want to just sit here and unplug. And if we do that, you can guarantee that not only will the next four years be bad and every, you know, everything that liberals don't want, but that the four years after that will be bad, too, because if we just give up, they're going to win. If, on the other hand, we respond by saying, okay, this is a divided country and we have to go figure out how to persuade people and change their minds so that for the next election that we can actually win and that it's possible to change minds. And the reason it's possible is because the country is so closely divided, on a nice edge, that just a couple thousand votes in a couple swing states can change an entire electoral outcome. And so if you want to quit and you want to give up, that's fine. But if you actually want to work for the future that you believe, then you got to keep going and you got to get involved and you got to go out and talk to people who might not agree with you.
[17:02]
Stephen A. Smith
John, I got to get on out of here for now. I need a favor because you're somebody I know I'm going to enjoy talking to a lot about this country moving forward. And I really, really want to have you back on, specifically after the election, sometime over the next few days or so. I can't wait to talk to you once the outcome is decided. I can't wait to talk to you more about Pod Save America, because it's called no bullshit conversation about politics. And I love no bs. So I love all of that.
[17:28]
Nate Thompson
I know you do.
[17:28]
Stephen A. Smith
I want to thank you for coming on. I want to thank, but I want to, I want to emphasize that I'm really looking forward to talking to you again in the near future and having a lengthier conversation about where you think this country is going after we know who's going to be in the White House come January.
[17:43]
Nate Thompson
All right, that sounds good. I'd be happy to. I'd be.
[17:45]
Stephen A. Smith
Love to come back, man. Thank you so much. I appreciate the one and only Jon Favreau. You can catch Pod Save America and offline with John Favreau wherever you get your podcast. Tomorrow's election day. There's still time to make your voice heard. So get to the polls, go out and vote and make John happy. Nothing wrong with making John happy. Nothing wrong with that at all. Thanks a lot, John. Appreciate you.
[18:07]
Nate Thompson
Take care, Stephen.
[18:15]
Greg Rosenthal
What's up, everyone? It's Greg Rosenthal and I'm teaming up with the King of Spring, Daniel Jeremiah. He requires me to say that we're going to be bringing you 40s and free agents, the only podcast you'll need this NFL draft season. From DJs mock drafts to my top 101, free agents will have it covered for you with all new episodes every Thursday keeping you up to date as we head to the NFL Draft. Listen to 40s and free agents starting on March 6th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.
[18:46]
Julie Swerbinks
What's up everyone? Julie Swerbinks here, along with former NHL player Nate Thompson.
[18:51]
Nate Thompson
We're doing a new podcast together. Here we go.
[18:53]
Julie Swerbinks
The name Energy Line with Nate and jsb.
[18:57]
Nate Thompson
Each week we'll get together and talk about hockey life. All topics are fair game, right?
[19:02]
Julie Swerbinks
Exactly. And you'll never know who will drop by to join us.
[19:06]
Nate Thompson
Julie is pretty well connected. She has text threads going that you wouldn't believe.
[19:11]
Julie Swerbinks
Listen to Energy Line with Nate and jsb on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Summary6 min read

Podcast Summary: The Stephen A. Smith Show Episode: Interview Only: Former President Obama Speech Writer Discusses the Future of America
Release Date: November 5, 2024

Introduction

In this episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show, host Stephen A. Smith engages in an in-depth conversation with Jon Favreau, the former head speechwriter for President Barack Obama. Favreau offers his expert insights on the upcoming election, the current political climate, and the future trajectory of America. Throughout the discussion, Favreau draws from his extensive experience in politics and media to provide a nuanced analysis of the challenges and opportunities facing the nation.

Election Landscape

Stephen A. Smith welcomes Favreau and immediately probes his optimistic demeanor on the eve of a consequential election.

Quoted at [01:34]:
"I get so nervous before every single election day. And I decided that this time around, my anxiety is not going to change the outcome. So I might as well just be calm..." – Nate Thompson (Jon Favreau)

Favreau anticipates a tight race, noting that current polls reflect a closely contested election. He highlights the unfavorable political environment for Vice President Kamala Harris and the Democrats, citing lingering issues from the post-pandemic era such as inflation, high prices, and immigration challenges.

Quoted at [02:17]:
"Kamala Harris and the Democrats are facing a political environment that is pretty brutal... Donald Trump is... pretty toxic to voters." – Nate Thompson

Favreau underscores that despite these challenges, Trump's divisive presence could inadvertently benefit the Democrats by mobilizing voters who oppose his extremism.

Kamala Harris's Candidacy

Stephen A. Smith delves into the dynamics of Kamala Harris's campaign, questioning the legitimacy of her rise and the potential pitfalls she faces against Trump's rhetoric.

Quoted at [04:33]:
"Most people who aren't paying close attention to politics... are just sort of tuning in now and making up their mind." – Nate Thompson

Favreau explains that many undecided voters remain uninformed about Harris's background and accomplishments. Through grassroots interactions, such as door-to-door conversations, he illustrates how informing voters about Harris's track record can sway opinions in her favor.

Quoted at [04:55]:
"Kamala Harris took on these big banks. She got homeowners a lot of money from the banks who they were trying to screw homeowners over..." – Nate Thompson

He emphasizes that informed voters are more likely to appreciate Harris's efforts to protect working people, potentially shifting their support away from Trump.

Speechwriting for President Obama

The conversation transitions to Favreau’s tenure as Obama’s speechwriter, shedding light on the collaborative process and the depth of understanding required to effectively convey Obama's vision.

Quoted at [06:35]:
"I think the key to really speech writing... is to really get inside their mind and to really try to empathize with what they want to say." – Nate Thompson

Favreau recounts how initially, Obama preferred to write his own speeches but gradually trusted Favreau's expertise as his responsibilities grew. This partnership was pivotal in crafting memorable and impactful speeches, including Obama's legendary 2009 inauguration address.

Perception of Kamala Harris's Speech Delivery

Stephen A. Smith raises concerns about the authenticity of Kamala Harris’s speeches, questioning whether her delivery feels genuine or overly managed.

Quoted at [09:17]:
"I think the speeches are probably more tightly structured... there's less room for, like, improvisation." – Nate Thompson

Favreau acknowledges that Harris's limited campaign duration—only 90 days—has necessitated highly polished and strategically crafted speeches. While this approach ensures consistency and minimizes risks, it may also give an impression of being overly scripted, leading some to question the authenticity of her delivery.

Role and Mission of Crooked Media

The discussion shifts to Favreau's role in founding Crooked Media, a progressive media company aimed at influencing political discourse and activism.

Quoted at [12:03]:
"When we're talking to people... try to persuade people." – Nate Thompson

Favreau explains that despite being a left-leaning platform, Crooked Media strives to engage a broad audience by using humor and empathy to bridge partisan divides. The company’s mission involves not just informing but also persuading voters through relatable and accessible content.

Quoted at [13:03]:
"We want to use humor... you need some humor... show empathy to people." – Nate Thompson

He elaborates that humor and empathy are essential tools in making political conversations more approachable, thereby fostering a more unified and engaged electorate.

Closing Thoughts and Advice to Voters

As the election approaches, Stephen A. Smith seeks Favreau’s final advice for undecided voters.

Quoted at [14:02]:
"Whatever you may think of Donald Trump's first term... Kamala Harris is the better choice." – Nate Thompson

Favreau passionately argues against Trump’s potential return, highlighting his increasingly extreme policies and personal motivations. He contrasts this with Harris’s proven track record of fighting for working people and protecting reproductive rights, positioning her as the preferable candidate even for typically conservative voters.

Responding to a Potential Trump Victory

Stephen A. Smith inquires about the implications of a Trump victory and the path forward for liberals.

Quoted at [15:58]:
"There's two responses to a Trump victory... give up... or... persuade people and change their minds." – Nate Thompson

Favreau outlines two possible reactions to a Trump win: capitulation or active engagement. He advocates for continued effort to persuade and mobilize voters, emphasizing that persistent involvement is crucial for future electoral successes and the preservation of democratic values.

Conclusion

Stephen A. Smith wraps up the interview by expressing eagerness to continue the conversation post-election and commends Jon Favreau for his insightful contributions. Favreau reiterates his commitment to fostering informed and engaged citizenship through media and political activism.

Quoted at [17:03]:
"If you actually want to work for the future that you believe, then you got to keep going and you got to get involved and you got to go out and talk to people who might not agree with you." – Nate Thompson

Smith encourages listeners to participate in the electoral process, emphasizing the importance of every vote in shaping the nation's future.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

[01:34]
"I get so nervous before every single election day. And I decided that this time around, my anxiety is not going to change the outcome. So I might as well just be calm..." – Nate Thompson
[02:17]
"Kamala Harris and the Democrats are facing a political environment that is pretty brutal... Donald Trump is... pretty toxic to voters." – Nate Thompson
[04:33]
"Most people who aren't paying close attention to politics... are just sort of tuning in now and making up their mind." – Nate Thompson
[06:35]
"I think the key to really speech writing... is to really get inside their mind and to really try to empathize with what they want to say." – Nate Thompson
[09:17]
"I think the speeches are probably more tightly structured... there's less room for, like, improvisation." – Nate Thompson
[12:03]
"When we're talking to people... try to persuade people." – Nate Thompson
[14:02]
"Whatever you may think of Donald Trump's first term... Kamala Harris is the better choice." – Nate Thompson
[15:58]
"There's two responses to a Trump victory... give up... or... persuade people and change their minds." – Nate Thompson
[17:03]
"If you actually want to work for the future that you believe, then you got to keep going and you got to get involved and you got to go out and talk to people who might not agree with you." – Nate Thompson

Final Thoughts

This episode offers a comprehensive examination of the current electoral landscape through the lens of a seasoned political strategist and media entrepreneur. Jon Favreau’s insights provide listeners with a deeper understanding of the intricacies of campaigning, the power of informed voting, and the role of media in shaping political narratives. As America stands on the brink of a pivotal election, this conversation underscores the importance of engagement, empathy, and strategic communication in navigating the nation’s future.

Loading summary

Transcript42 lines

[00:00]
Greg Rosenthal
What's up, everyone? It's Greg Rosenthal, and I'm teaming up with the king of spring, Daniel Jeremiah. He requires me to say that we're going to be bringing you 40s and free agents, the only podcast you'll need this NFL draft season. From DJs mock drafts to my top 101, free agents will have it covered for you with all new episodes every Thursday, keeping you up to date as we head to the NFL Draft. Listen to 40s and free agents starting on March 6th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
[00:31]
Julie Swerbinks
What's up, everyone? Julie Swerbinks here along with former NHL player Nate Thompson.
[00:36]
Nate Thompson
We're doing a new podcast together. Here we go.
[00:38]
Julie Swerbinks
The name Energy Line with Nate and jsb.
[00:42]
Nate Thompson
Each week we'll get together and talk about hockey life. All topics are fair game, right?
[00:47]
Julie Swerbinks
Exactly. And you'll never know who will drop by to join us.
[00:51]
Nate Thompson
Julia's pretty well connected. She has text threads going that you wouldn't believe.
[00:55]
Julie Swerbinks
Listen to Energy Line with Nate and jsb on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
[01:06]
Stephen A. Smith
My next guest served as the head speechwriter to former President Barack Obama. Since then, he founded the crooked media podcast platform and host Pod Save America and Offline with Jon Favreau. Please welcome to the Stephen A. Smith show, the man himself, Jon Favreau. What's going on, John? How are you, man? Pleasure to meet you. How's everything going?
[01:27]
Nate Thompson
Pleasure to meet you, too. I'm doing well. You know, it's election. Election eve nerves, but other than that, I'm feeling good.
[01:34]
Stephen A. Smith
Well, I gotta admit, man, you got a smile on your face. What the hell is the smile about? Because everybody else in the world look nervous and what have you. You got this smile on your face is looking for. It's like. It's like you can't wait.
[01:44]
Nate Thompson
I have been in politics for 20 years. I've been doing campaigns since 2004. Won some, lost some. And I get so nervous before every single election day. And I decided that this time around, my anxiety is not going to change the outcome. So I might as well just be calm and if, you know, if the outcome doesn't go my way, I have plenty of time to be miserable after. After the votes are, I got you.
[02:06]
Stephen A. Smith
I got you. That makes perfect sense. We're one day away from a consequential election. Obviously, you've had a very unique vantage point serving in the Obama administration. Your thoughts on where the country stands right now.
[02:18]
Nate Thompson
I think it's pretty close. It's gonna be a pretty close election. That's no surprise. That's what all the polls are showing. But look, I think here, here's how I see it. The Kamala Harris and the Democrats are facing a political environment that is pretty brutal, which is, you know, post pandemic incumbent governments all over the world. Incumbents have been losing partly because of. Of the post pandemic sort of malaise, hangover from inflation, prices still too high, immigration issues. And that's. Those are some headwinds that Kamala Harris and the Democrats are facing. That said, Donald Trump is, you know, Donald Trump and he. And, and the. There's an anti maga coalition in this country that has turned out since 2016 to be Donald Trump and Trump Republicans in every single election since 16. And he is pretty toxic to voters. And I think that if it turns out that Kamala Harris wins, it's going to be because Donald Trump is an undisciplined, extreme candidate that people do not want to see in office for another four years and that women who are upset with the Dobbs decision is. And Americans were very upset with, with Trump and the threat he poses for democracy are going to come out once again and turn out in big numbers and, and win a close election. So that's sort of how I see it. I see that the political environment is tough, but Trump presents a real opportunity for Democrats just because he is such a undisciplined bad candidate.
[03:55]
Stephen A. Smith
What about the opportunity Kamala Harris presents to the other side when you consider the fact that she didn't endure a primary, that ultimately Biden had to step away on July 21, and a lot of people on the right are saying it was essentially handed to her. And you think about the war in Ukraine, between Russia and Ukraine, and you think about the Israeli Palestinian conflict or Hamas and Hezbollah and all of that stuff. And now Iran is in the mix and Trump with his cold words or with his rhetoric is like, do you really want her? Are you sure you want her instead of me? What about the threat to her winning the election that that may pose?
[04:34]
Nate Thompson
Yeah, that's. That's her. That's probably the biggest challenge she faces. Right? And look, I do think when you talk to voters who have not made up their minds yet, it's not necessarily that they're buying into what Trump and the Republicans are saying about her, but they just don't know enough about her is what you'll hear from people. So they'll say oh, yeah, she just, she just sort of came out of nowhere, and I don't really know what she stands for. And I was actually in. I was knocking on doors in Las Vegas over the weekend, and I talked to someone who works at one of the hotels there, and I asked her if she was voting, and she's like, yeah, I think I'm going to vote for Trump. And I was like, oh, well, why are you voting for Trump? And she said, well, I just, I don't know much about, about Harris. Like, she, it's like she just appeared out of nowhere. And so I started talking about Kamala Harris's record, not just as vice president, but when she was Attorney general. And I said, you know, she took on these big banks. She got homeowners a lot of money from the banks who they were trying to screw homeowners over. And then there were these for profit colleges that scammed veterans and, and college kids, and she won money from them, too. And then all of a sudden, this woman starts being like, you know what? I didn't know all that about Kamala Harris. That's pretty good. I'm gonna, I'm gonna look at, I'm gonna look up some more information on her. Maybe I'll. Maybe I'll vote for her now instead of Trump. So those are the decisions that the undecided voters are actually making right now. And those of us who pay super close attention to politics, like, we hear the, the Democrats argument and the Harris argument a lot, and we hear the Trump argument a lot, but most people who aren't paying close attention to politics, they're just sort of tuning in now and, and making up their mind. So that's, you know, there's probably 4 to 5% of voters in the swing states who are truly undecided, and there's maybe about 10% who are what we call persuadable voters, meaning they might be leaning towards Harris or leaning towards Trump, but can still have their minds changed.
[06:16]
Stephen A. Smith
You were the primary speechwriter of Obama's iconic 2009 inauguration address. That was a fabulous speech. No question about that. You two come from vastly different upbringings as well. How involved was he in handing. In handing over the authority of his words to people like yourself? How lenient was he in that regard?
[06:35]
Nate Thompson
Well, it's funny, because when I started speechwriting for him when he got to the Senate in 2005, I had been a speechwriter on John Kerry's campaign, and when I sat down with him the first. For the first time, he said, you know, I write all my speeches myself, and I don't really think I need a speechwriter. But, you know, my. My communications director says that I'm going to need to learn to work with someone because now I'm going to be too busy to write all my own speeches. He's like, and, you know, you seem nice enough, so let's give this a whirl. So I think. I think at first he didn't think that he was going to need a speechwriter, but as he got busier and busier, I got to really know him, and I got to sit down with them. And, of course, he's written two books. And so I didn't just learn, like, how he writes and how he speaks, but I sort of ended up learning how he thinks. And eventually, over time, he started trusting me with, you know, writing his speeches. And that still meant that when there was a big speech, he would get really involved, and he and I would go back and forth on drafts, and, you know, he would do a lot of writing on his own. He would, like, handwrite, you know, pages and pages of. Of. Of. Of speechwriting and then give it back to me, and then I'd have to incorporate it into the draft. But, you know, the two of us got to know each other and went back and forth. And I think the key to any. The key to really speech writing, well, for someone is to not use them as like a vessel to talk about what you want to talk about, but to really get inside their mind and to really try to empathize with what they want to say, what their life experiences are and. And how they want to communicate.
[08:09]
Stephen A. Smith
I have to ask you, because I think that Obama is one of the great speakers in American history. When this man gave a speech, when he still gives a speech, in most instances, if not all, they're incredibly riveting. And you, being a speechwriter for him, you'd obviously have a clue about who needs more help than the others. I think that in this particular election, it's clear who needs more help than the other, because I watched Trump ramble on and on and on, put me to sleep during the Republican National Convention. But nevertheless, there have been times where you've looked at Kamala Harris, and she's done an exceptional job giving a speech. Yet in the same breath, people have challenged the authenticity of it all because of the manner in which it was delivered. Is it really her, or is it the speechwriter? Is it the Democratic Party? Coming across this way, how do you feel about her as a speech giver and how glaring is it, if at all, in your mind, are the words of others being put in her mouth?
[09:18]
Nate Thompson
So I know her speechwriters quite well. Her head speechwriter was the first person I hired on the Obama campaign. And so he. So I know what their process is like. And she's also someone who, you know, really digs in on a speech as well. I think what's different this campaign is because she's only had 90 days as the candidate, it is such a tightrope that she has been walking right. Like, everything has to go right for her. I mean, you brought this up earlier, right? Like, the, you know, Joe Biden was a very. Is an unpopular incumbent president. She usually, most candidates have a year to, you know, do interviews and do speeches, and you practice and you screw up and you, you get better and better. And then finally when everyone starts paying attention, you know, you've had enough practice. And she just was, like, shot out of a cannon with 90 days to go. And so I think in her speeches, they sound sort of more on message than you might expect from someone who's run a whole campaign, because she just doesn't have that much time. And she had so much to do. Right. She has to define herself just to remind people of the stakes, just to talk about what she wants to do, and she has to talk about what Trump will do and if he wins again. And she's doing all this in the glare of the national spotlight while she's giving speeches, doing interviews, doing all the rest of it. So I think that the speeches are probably more tightly structured and there's less room for, like, improvisation, probably because she doesn't want to screw up because she's, she knows that, you know, one misstep or stumble here and Trump could win. And I think she feels the weight of that acutely. I can tell the responsibility she feels. So I think that there is an element of, like, playing it safe, only in that, like, you're not going to start thinking, okay, what kind of interesting argument do I want to make this time? Because you're like, all right, what is the most important thing I want to tell people? What is the message I need to hammer home? And how do we just go win this thing?
[11:12]
Stephen A. Smith
I got a couple of more questions about a few more questions, actually, before I let you get on out of here. Number one, I just wanted to remind the audience you co founded the progressive political platform cricket media in 2017 with three other Obama staffers. And then I'm looking at crooked media. It has more than 440 shows and engages directly in political activism. According to my research, including advocating for center left policies and candidates, billionaire George Soros, liberal billionaire, has a minority stake in the company. Here's my question to you. If half the country is conservative, how does anything get accomplished in a divided America? Especially I mean, when you consider again, you know, you got, y'all are liberals and you're dealing with a bunch of conservatives right now. And Tom seemed to be crazy. I imagine that in today's generation, it's harder than ever before to get anything done. How do you.
[12:03]
Nate Thompson
Yeah, it's a great question. Look, the country is, like you said, it is divided. And I think my view on this, and I think this comes from having a campaign background and especially working for Barack Obama is, you know, even though we're a left leaning media company here at Crooked, my goal when we're talking to people, when we're putting out content, is to try to persuade people. And so, you know, people, people know that we're liberal, right? Like that's, we're not trying to hide it. But that doesn't mean that I'm not going to work.
[12:33]
Stephen A. Smith
Can I pause you? You're talking about getting things, you know, why would you call yourself crooked? And how do you think that's gonna help you get things done? I'm just interested in that. I mean, it just threw me off. It just threw me. I was like, I hope I'm pronouncing this right. I hope I'm reading this right. Is this true? Is it Crooked Media I name? I'm just saying you just talked about getting things done, you know, and, and convincing an inordinate amount of American citizens to flow along with you all. But you call yourself Crooked Media.
[13:04]
Nate Thompson
Well, that was our, that was our tongue in cheek name that we gave ourselves in the wake of Trump winning in, in 2016. That's when we founded the company. So Pod Save America is our flagship podcast, which is, you know, probably. And we do Vote Save America. That's our outreach and mobilization that you talked about. So those names are a little easier probably than Crooked. But one of the most important things about this company is we want to use humor. So because we do think that like, you know, when you go to someone, you're trying to convince them and you're just yelling at them all the time or you're, you're just assuming you're right, all that kind of, it's tough. And so I do think you need some humor. You need to be friendly, you need to show empathy to people. You need to have be understanding, you need to listen to people. Those are all, I think, strategies to try to persuade people. Because you're right, if we're not persuading people and we're just yelling and we're just yelling our talking points, then we're never going to break the division of the country. We're never going to get anything done.
[13:58]
Stephen A. Smith
What is your closing pitch to voters who still undecided one day before this election?
[14:03]
Nate Thompson
My closing pitch is whatever you may think of Donald Trump's first term, the Donald Trump that would return to the White House is completely different. He has become more extreme. The people who used to work for him, even four star generals, even conservative Republicans are trying to warn us that he is more unhinged than ever. And the people around him in the next White House are going to be some of the most extreme people who've ever worked in the government. And they are going to want to institute a national abortion ban. They're going to want to slap a 20% tax on everything we buy that's imported. They want to give a huge tax cut to rich people. That's the entirety of his economic plan for everyone thinks he's good for the economy. He's not putting more money in your pocket. He's going to take money out of your pocket and he's going to try to take away your health care and prescription drugs as well. Kamala Harris is, when she was attorney general in California, she fought for people and she took on big, powerful interest banks for profit lenders. And she did it on behalf of working people. And she has an agenda to actually lower costs for people, whether it's health care, whether it's food. And she also wants to make sure that we have reproductive freedom again in this country because right now, one in three women are living under a Trump abortion ban. And so to me, it's an easy choice even if you're a Republican, even if you don't usually vote for Democrats. Donald Trump, he's in it for himself, he's not in it for you. He's never, he's never cared much about anyone but himself. And, and Kamala Harris is the better choice.
[15:29]
Stephen A. Smith
Last question. With everything that you just said, if Donald Trump were to win this election, what possible, what possible hope would folks on the left have moving forward if their ingrained belief is exactly what you described and as a result of it, that's what they feel they have to look forward to over the next four years? How you overcome that?
[15:59]
Nate Thompson
Well, I would say that there's two. There's two responses to a Trump victory, Right? One is to give up, sit back and say, you know what? This is what I have to look forward to the next four years. I don't want to do anything about it. I want to just sit here and unplug. And if we do that, you can guarantee that not only will the next four years be bad and every, you know, everything that liberals don't want, but that the four years after that will be bad, too, because if we just give up, they're going to win. If, on the other hand, we respond by saying, okay, this is a divided country and we have to go figure out how to persuade people and change their minds so that for the next election that we can actually win and that it's possible to change minds. And the reason it's possible is because the country is so closely divided, on a nice edge, that just a couple thousand votes in a couple swing states can change an entire electoral outcome. And so if you want to quit and you want to give up, that's fine. But if you actually want to work for the future that you believe, then you got to keep going and you got to get involved and you got to go out and talk to people who might not agree with you.
[17:02]
Stephen A. Smith
John, I got to get on out of here for now. I need a favor because you're somebody I know I'm going to enjoy talking to a lot about this country moving forward. And I really, really want to have you back on, specifically after the election, sometime over the next few days or so. I can't wait to talk to you once the outcome is decided. I can't wait to talk to you more about Pod Save America, because it's called no bullshit conversation about politics. And I love no bs. So I love all of that.
[17:28]
Nate Thompson
I know you do.
[17:28]
Stephen A. Smith
I want to thank you for coming on. I want to thank, but I want to, I want to emphasize that I'm really looking forward to talking to you again in the near future and having a lengthier conversation about where you think this country is going after we know who's going to be in the White House come January.
[17:43]
Nate Thompson
All right, that sounds good. I'd be happy to. I'd be.
[17:45]
Stephen A. Smith
Love to come back, man. Thank you so much. I appreciate the one and only Jon Favreau. You can catch Pod Save America and offline with John Favreau wherever you get your podcast. Tomorrow's election day. There's still time to make your voice heard. So get to the polls, go out and vote and make John happy. Nothing wrong with making John happy. Nothing wrong with that at all. Thanks a lot, John. Appreciate you.
[18:07]
Nate Thompson
Take care, Stephen.
[18:15]
Greg Rosenthal
What's up, everyone? It's Greg Rosenthal and I'm teaming up with the King of Spring, Daniel Jeremiah. He requires me to say that we're going to be bringing you 40s and free agents, the only podcast you'll need this NFL draft season. From DJs mock drafts to my top 101, free agents will have it covered for you with all new episodes every Thursday keeping you up to date as we head to the NFL Draft. Listen to 40s and free agents starting on March 6th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.
[18:46]
Julie Swerbinks
What's up everyone? Julie Swerbinks here, along with former NHL player Nate Thompson.
[18:51]
Nate Thompson
We're doing a new podcast together. Here we go.
[18:53]
Julie Swerbinks
The name Energy Line with Nate and jsb.
[18:57]
Nate Thompson
Each week we'll get together and talk about hockey life. All topics are fair game, right?
[19:02]
Julie Swerbinks
Exactly. And you'll never know who will drop by to join us.
[19:06]
Nate Thompson
Julie is pretty well connected. She has text threads going that you wouldn't believe.
[19:11]
Julie Swerbinks
Listen to Energy Line with Nate and jsb on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.