MONDAY NIGHT AT NINE A CLOCK EASTERN ON C-SPAN. "WASHINGTON JOURNAL" CONTINUES. HOST: AT OUR TABLE THIS MORNING, THE PRESIDENT OF THE MOST ACTION, HEATHER MCGHEE. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. EXPLAIN WHAT DEMOS IS. ...

GUEST: DEMOS IS A PUBLIC'S ORGANIZATION THAT WAS FUNDED IN 2000. THE NAME IS THE GREEK WORD FOR THE PEOPLE, THE ROOT WORD OF DEMOCRACY. OUR MISSION IS TO WORK FOR AMERICA WHERE WE ALL HAVE AN EQUAL SAY IN OUR DEMOCRACY AND AN EQUAL CHANCE IN OUR ECONOMY. ...

DEMOS ACTION IS OUR SISTER ORGANIZATION THAT ALLOWS US TO FIGHT ABOUT CANDIDATES' POSITION ON ISSUES. HOST: HOW ARE EACH FUNDED? GUEST: DEMOS IS ABOUT A $10 MILLION ORGANIZATION THAT IS MAINLY FUNDED THROUGH FOUNDATIONS, AS WELL AS SMALL AND LARGE INDIVIDUAL DONORS. ...

DEMOS ACTION IS FUNDED THROUGH A SIMILAR SORT OF MIX. HOST: ANY BIG-NAME WEALTHY DONORS OUR VIEWERS WOULD RECOGNIZE QUESTIONER -- RECOGNIZE?

GUEST: THE KELLOGG FOUNDATION, FORD FOUNDATION, OPEN SOCIETY FOUNDATION. NONE OF OUR MAJOR DONORS, INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE, ARE SORT OF BIG KNOWN.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR FUNDING COMES FROM THOSE FOUNDATIONS. HOST: WHAT ARE YOU PROMOTING? WHAT ISSUES ARE IMPORTANT TO THIS PROGRESSIVE DEMOS GRIP? GUEST: IT IS AN EXCITING MOMENT RIGHT NOW AND OUR COUNTRY. ...

DEMOS WAS FOUNDED TO ADDRESS ISSUES OF INEQUALITY IN OUR DEMOCRACY AND ECONOMY. WE MEAN THE FACT THAT IT IS HARD FOR A REGULAR WORKING FAMILY TO BE HEARD, AND THE ISSUES THAT KEEP THEM UP AT NIGHT ARE NOT THE ISSUES THAT ARE FRONT AND CENTER ACROSS THE ...

COUNTRY, AND THE FACT THAT IT IS REALLY HARD FOR A REGULAR WORKING FAMILY TO GET AHEAD FINANCIALLY. WE THINK THOSE THINGS ARE INTERRELATED. WE THINK THE PUBLIC POLICY PLAYS A ROLE IN MAKING SURE THERE IS A FAIR SHOT FOR EVERYONE AND THAT THERE IS AN EQUAL VOICE FOR EVERYONE. WE ARE REALLY TRYING TO DRIVE A NEW STORY AT THIS MOMENT WHEN, FRANKLY, A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT ARE SAYING, I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THE SOLUTIONS AND STORIES. WE ARE A NEW GENERATION. DEMOS IS SORT OF A YOUNGER PUBLIC POLICY GENERATION AND WE'RE LOOKING FOR NEW SOLUTIONS. WHEN WE USE THE WORD PROGRESSIVE, I THINK TODAY THAT MEANS THINGS LIKE GET FREE PUBLIC COLLEGE FOR ALL, WHICH IS AN OLD IDEA. THINGS LIKE EXPANDING SOCIAL SECURITY TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS MAKING UP FOR THE FACT THAT, UNLIKE MY GRANDPARENTS, MY GENERATION IS NOT GOING TO HAVE A DEFINED BENEFIT PENSION ON THE JOB. IT IS SOLUTIONS THAT ARE IN MANY WAYS RESPONDING TO THE ECONOMIC STATUS OF PEOPLE IN AMERICA, SAYING WE NEED TO REBUILD THE LADDERS OF OPPORTUNITY, AND SAYING WE PROBABLY WILL NOT BE UP TO DO THAT UNTIL WE CLEAN UP WASHINGTON AND ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF MONEY AND POLITICS. AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY CAN VOTE, NO MATTER THEIR CLASS, AGE, THAT GROUND, THEIR WORK SCHEDULES. HOST: DEMOS ACTION FUND, HOW MUCH MONEY HAVE YOU RAISED, AND HOW ARE YOU SPENDING THAT? ARE YOU SUPPORTING HILLARY CLINTON? GUEST: WE HAVE NOT ENDORSED ANY CANDIDATE HERE IT WE DO NOT THINK IT IS NECESSARY. ...

WE DO NOT HAVE A LOT OF GROUND TROOPS. I DO NOT KNOW THAT THEY NEED OUR ENDORSEMENT. BUT IT IS CLEAR THAT THE RESEARCH IDEAS WE PROMOTE, THE PUBLIC POLICY SOLUTIONS WE HAVE BEEN RELOADING, PARTICULARLY IN THIS ELECTION CYCLE, MONEY AND POLITICS, WE WANT TO SEE SOLUTIONS FROM CANDIDATES. FOR EXAMPLE, SMALL DOLLAR MATCHED PUBLIC FINANCING, WHICH WE KNOW WORKS AT THE LOCAL AND STATE LEVEL AND COULD WORK AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. ...

THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS ADOPTED THAT IS HILLARY CLINTON. RETURNING TO DEBT FREE PUBLIC COLLEGE, WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE REPUBLICANS TAKING UP THAT IDEA BECAUSE IT IS A VERY COMMONSENSE IDEA. VIRTUALLY EVERYONE IN CONGRESS WENT TO COLLEGE AT A TIME WHEN IT WAS DEBT-FREE. PEOPLE COULD WORK ABOUT 10 HOURS A WEEK OR A SUMMER JOB. IT IS BECAUSE THE PUBLIC PAY FOR IT, AND WE SAW IT AS A PUBLIC GOOD. HOST: WE WANT TO GET YOUR ACTION TO DONALD TRUMP ON TUESDAY REACHING OUT TO BLACK VOTERS AND TELLING THEM THAT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS NOT BEEN GOOD FOR THEM. [VIDEO CLIP] ...

MR. TRUMP: WE REJECT THE BIGOTRY OF HILLARY CLINTON WHICH PANDERS TO COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND SEES THEM ONLY AS VOTES. THAT IS ALL THEY CARE ABOUT, NOT AS INDIVIDUAL HUMAN BEINGS WORTHY OF A BETTER FUTURE. ...

THEY HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] MR. TRUMP: SHE DOES NOT CARE AT ALL ABOUT THE HURTING PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY OR THE SUFFERING SHE HAS CAUSED THEM, AND SHE, MEANING SHE AND HER PARTY OFFICIALS. ...

THERE HAS BEEN TREMENDOUS SUFFERING A COUSIN OF WHAT THEY HAVE BROUGHT. -- SUFFERING BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY HAVE BROUGHT THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY HAS BEEN TAKEN FOR GRANTED FOR DECADES BY THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, AND LOOK HOW THEY ARE DOING. IT IS TIME TO BREAK WITH THE FAILURES OF THE PAST. I WANT TO OFFER AMERICANS A NEW AND MUCH BETTER FUTURE. IT IS TIME FOR RULE BY THE PEOPLE, NOT RULE FOR THE SPECIAL INTERESTS, WHICH WE HAVE RIGHT NOW. HOST: HEATHER MCGHEE? GUEST: DONALD TRUMP IS A FANTASTIC MARKETER, AND EVERYTHING THAT HE JUST SAID, YOUR HEAD HAS TO NOD, RIGHT? IS IT TRUE THAT POLITICIANS HAVE TAKEN ...

MANY LOTS OF VOTERS FOR GRANTED? IS IT TRUE THAT AFRICAN-AMERICAN FAMILIES ARE STRUGGLING BECAUSE OF DECISIONS MADE IN WASHINGTON? IS IT TRUE THAT NEITHER PARTY HAS DONE WHAT IT TAKES TO CREATE THE AMERICAN DREAM AT HOME FOR THE FOLKS WHOSE ANCESTORS, IN MANY CASES, HELPED BUILD THIS AMERICAN DREAM UNDER A SYSTEM OF SLAVERY? ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. THAT SAID, THERE WEREN'T ANY IDEAS ABOUT WHAT WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE. SO AT DEMOS, WE DO A LOT OF RESEARCH INTO THE ISSUES THAT REALLY AFFECT WHAT WE CALL THE SORT OF NEW AMERICAN DEMOS, WORKING-CLASS FOLKS, WOMEN-HEADED HOUSEHOLDS, PEOPLE OF COLOR. AND ONE OF THE MAJOR ISSUES IS THE RACIAL WEALTH GAP, SOMETHING THAT IS NOT OFTEN TALKED ABOUT, BUT IT IS A MASSIVE ISSUE IN TERMS OF FAMILY ECONOMIC SECURITY. SO BECAUSE OF, HISTORICALLY, VERY DISCRIMINATORY POLICIES AROUND WHO COULD GET MORTGAGES, AROUND WHAT NEIGHBORHOODS THE GOVERNMENT WOULD INSURE MORTGAGES IN, AROUND RACIAL SEGREGATION AND DISCRIMINATION IN HOUSING HIM AND UP UNTIL THE 1980'S AND 1990'S, THE BIPARTISAN DESIRE TO CURRY FAVOR WITH WALL STREET AND BIG BANKS HAVE CHANGED THE RULES TO MAKE IT SO THAT BROKERS AND LENDERS COULD CUT FAMILIES WHO WOULD OTHERWISE QUALIFY FOR GOOD AFFORDABLE HOMES. AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND LATINO FAMILIES WERE STEERED MULTIPLE TIMES OVER COMPARED TO WHITE FAMILIES AND TO THOSE SUBPRIME LOANS. WHAT YOU SAW WAS THAT DURING THE RECESSION, YOU KNOW, ALL FAMILIES WERE SUFFERING. IN PARTICULAR, AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND LATINO FAMILIES LOST ABOUT HALF OF THEIR WEALTH, HALF OF THEIR WEALTH. THOSE RULES THAT MADE A BOTH EASIER TO GET LOANS BUT MORE EXPENSIVE AND DANGEROUS TO GET THOSE KINDS OF LOANS JUST AT THE TIME WHENEVER YOU IN AMERICAN FAMILIES WERE FINALLY BEING ABLE TO OWN THEIR PIECE OF THE AMERICAN DREAM WAS A BIPARTISAN DECISION. THE QUESTION IS RIGHT NOW, NOW THAT IT IS CLEAR WHAT THE COSTS HAVE BEEN. WHICH PARTY IS MORE FOCUSED ON MAKING OF FOR THAT KIND OF LOSS? CLEARLY, IT IS THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY RIGHT NOW. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE REPUBLICANS SAYING, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A HOME OWNERSHIP TARGET OF 60% FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN FAMILIES. RIGHT NOW, IT IS ABOUT 20 PERCENTAGE POINTS BELOW THAT. BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE THAT LITTLE LEG UP, LOTS OF FAMILIES CAN JUST SAY, OH, MY GRANDPARENTS WILL GIVE ME A $10,000 INVESTMENT TO HELP ME WITH A DOWN PAYMENT. WHEN YOU'RE DOWN -- WHEN YOUR GRANDPARENTS ARE LIVING IN SEGREGATED SOUTH, THEY DID NOT HAVE THAT. HOST: TOMMY IN TENNESSEE, INDEPENDENT. CALLER: YES, I JUST, AS A PERSON WHO IS LIBERTARIAN, I ...

AM VERY IMPRESSED WITH YOUR PROGRESSIVE VIEWPOINTS AND THEORIES. THE QUESTION I HAVE IS, IS MR. OBAMA AS PROGRESSIVE AS HE CLAIMS TO BE, IF SO, WHY ISN'T THERE A BLACK WOMAN ON THE SUPREME COURT? THANK YOU, AND HAVE A BLESSED DAY. GUEST: ARE YOU TRYING TO GIVE ME A JOB? JUST KIDDING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION, AND THANK YOU FOR BEING ENGAGED IN THIS ISSUE. AT THIS POINT IN OUR POLITICS, SOMETIMES I THINK THE EASIEST THING TO DO IS ACTUALLY WITHDRAW AND THROW UP YOUR HANDS AND SAY THAT THE WHOLE THING IS BROKEN. ...

SO I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU BEING ENGAGED. I THINK THAT RACIAL CONVERSATIONS DURING THE OBAMA PRESIDENCY AND IN OUR MEDIA CLIMATE HAVE BEEN FAR MORE CAUSTIC THAT ANY OF US WOULD HAVE WANTED AND ANY OF US BELIEVED IN IN A MOMENT IN 2008 WHEN MANY OF US BELIEVE WE WERE COMING TOGETHER AS A NATION. SHOULD THERE BE AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN IN THE COURT, AS THERE HAS NEVER BEEN? EVEN THE DIVERSITY OF OUR COUNTRY, I THINK OUR HIGHEST BENCH SHOULD REPRESENT THAT. DO I THINK HIS CHOICE OF MERRICK GARLAND, WHO IS STILL SITTING WITHOUT A SINGLE HEARING FROM THE DIVIDED SENATE THAT WANTS TO HOLD HIS NOMINATION AND NOT DO THEIR JOB, DO I THINK THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN EASIER THAN WITH AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN? I DON'T THINK SO. I THINK HE WAS LISTENING TO WHERE THE POLITICS ARE IN THIS COUNTRY, WHICH IS UNFORTUNATE. HOST: OUR GUEST HEATHER MCGHEE HAS A LAW DEGREE FROM CALIFORNIA. IN 2008, SHE SERVED AS JOHN EDWARDS DEPUTY POLICY DIRECTOR. IN 2009, SHE COCHAIRED A TASK FOR WITH AMERICANS FOR FINANCIAL REFORM THAT HELPED SHAPE PROVISIONS OF THE FRANK -- OF ...

DODD-FRANK. MARCIA, YOU ARE NEXT. CALLER: MS. MCGHEE, YOU ARE A BREATH OF FRESH AIR. I AM A MOTHER LIVING IN CHICAGO WITH FOUR GRANDCHILDREN WHO WERE ALL...

THEY ARE ALL LIVING AT HOME BECAUSE THEY CANNOT FIND WELL-PAYING JOBS. IT IS SO DISCOURAGING. I AM REALLY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY. WE ALL ARE. AND THERE ARE MANY OF US THAT ARE NOT FLOCKING TO HILLARY CLINTON. IT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. JUST TOO MANY PROBLEMS AND NOBODY HAS ANSWERS. RATHER THAN JUST BLATANTLY GIVE HER OUR VOTES, AND THAT IS WHAT WE ARE DOING -- THEY ARE, WE ARE NOT NONE OF MY FAMILY IS VOTING FOR HILLARY CLINTON. IT IS JUST A MATTER OF WE HAVE GOT TO MAKE SOME -- WE HAVE GOT TO START MAKING DEMANDS. HOW COME WE ARE THE ONLY GROUP THAT NEVER GETS ANYTHING? WE NEVER GET ANYTHING. HOST: I WILL HAVE HEATHER MCGHEE JUMP IN. GUEST: FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN. I AM FROM CHICAGO, AS WELL. YOU KNOW, THAT SENTIMENT, THAT IDEA THAT WE ARE AT A PLACE ...

WHERE NEITHER PARTY IS SERVING THE NEEDS OF A GRANDMOTHER WHO HAS FOUR GRANDCHILDREN WHO PLAYED BY ALL THE RULES AND WENT THROUGH COLLEGE AND ARE LIVING AT HOME BECAUSE THEY CANNOT FIND WELL-PAYING JOB, WE DO NOT FEEL LIKE ANYONE IN THE STATEHOUSE IN SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, OR IN WASHINGTON IS REALLY BREAKING THROUGH WITH REAL COMMON SENSE SOLUTIONS, THAT IS ABOUT THE MOST WIDELY HELD VIEW IN AMERICA RIGHT NOW. PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT THE SYSTEM OF MONEY IN POLITICS. HERE IS A GOOD EXAMPLE -- THAT IDEA THAT YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO WORK HARD, PLAY BY THE RULES, AND GET AHEAD AND FIND A GOOD PAYING JOB, THAT A FULL TIME JOBS AND NOT KEEP YOU IN POVERTY, THAT IS A COMMONSENSE IDEA THAT BOTH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS SUPPORT. THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO DO NOT SUPPORT IT, THE ONLY SORT OF PARTY THAT DOES NOT SUPPORT IT, IS THE VERY WEALTHY THE RIGHT NOW HAVE AN OUTSIDE INFLUENCE IN WASHINGTON. WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF WORK WITH POLITICAL SCIENCE RESEARCHERS OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS TO REALLY LOOK AT, DO THE PEOPLE WHO FUND CAMPAIGNS, AND THIS IS A FRACTION OF THE RICHEST 1% OF THE COUNTRY WHO ARE GIVING BIG CHECKS, OVER $200 CHECKS, TO FEDERAL CANDIDATES, DO THEY ACTUALLY THINK DIFFERENT THINGS ABOUT THE ECONOMY AND ABOUT OUR SOCIETY? THE ANSWER IS YES, PARTICULARLY ON THE TYPES OF POLICIES THAT WOULD EXPAND THE MIDDLE CLASS AND THE QUESTIONS OF TAX POLICY, QUESTIONS OF INVESTMENT IN EDUCATION, QUESTIONS OF HOW HIGH THE MINIMUM WAGE SHOULD BE. THAT FOR A LOT OF FOLKS, LOOKING AT THAT RESEARCH, AND THERE IS A SERIES OF REPORTS ON DEMOS.ORG, AND A LOT OF FOLKS SEE THAT RESEARCH AND IT MAKES SENSE. EVERYONE HAS HEARD IT IN THIS COUNTRY, BUT WE NOT SEEING BREAKTHROUGHS ON SOLUTIONS. EVEN MORE THAN TAXPAYERS WHO PAY EVERYDAY SALARIES OF ELECTED OFFICIALS, THOSE PAYING FOR THE CAMPAIGNS, HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN CAMPAIGN FUNDING, THEY HAVE DIFFERENT PRIORITIES. FORTUNATELY, WE CAN REFORM A SYSTEM OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE. THAT IS THE THING THAT WOULD GET CITIZENS UNITED, TO ACTUALLY SEE BIPARTISAN CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM. HOST: NEXT CALL FROM OHIO, REPUBLICAN. CALLER: YES, THANKS FOR TAKING MY CALL. I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU THAT NOBODY SEEMS TO ASK ANYBODY ABOUT. ...

THE UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE UNITED STATES IS AT 4.

9%, SOMEWHERE IN THAT AREA, BUT EVERYBODY KNOWS THE RATE FOR THE BLACK MAN IS MUCH HIGHER. IT HAS BEEN HIGHER, AND I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY 96% OF THE BLACK PEOPLE WANT TO VOTE FOR A DEMOCRAT WHO DOES NOT WANT TO HELP WITH UNEMPLOYMENT. THEY WANT TO IMPORT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS INTO THE COUNTRY, AND WERE DOES THE BLACK MAN BENEFIT FROM HAVING ALL THESE IMMIGRANTS IN THIS COUNTRY? COUNTRY?' GUEST: I THINK IT IS GOOD FOR US TO DISCUSS THESE ISSUES. YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT THAT BLACKMAIL UNEMPLOYMENT -- BLACK ...

MALE UNEMPLOYMENT IS HIGHER THAN IT SHOULD BE. THEY ARE TWO DRIVERS FOR THAT. THE FIRST ONE IS JOB DISCRIMINATION. THERE ARE STUDIES THAT SHOW THAT A WHITE MAN WHO WALKS INTO A JOB SCREENING IS GIVEN A CALLBACK, EVEN IF HE HAS A CRIMINAL RECORD THAT HE PRESENTS WHEN HE WALKS IN AT A HIGHER RATE THAN A BLACK MAN WITHOUT A CRIMINAL RECORD. THE STEREOTYPES AND BELIEVES THAT WE HAVE ABOUT THE CRIMINALITY OF BLACK MEN, THEIR CHARACTER, AND FRANKLY PAINFUL FOR ME AS THE DAUGHTER AND BROTHER AND SISTER OF A BLACK MAN. ARE AFFECTING THE JOB MARKET. WE HAD A BLIP OF TIME IN WHICH WE HAVE HAVE BEEN SWIMMING IN THE SEA OF NEGATIVE STEREOTYPES THAT JUSTIFY A SYSTEM OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL APARTHEID IN THIS COUNTRY. WE REALLY NEED TO WORK ON THAT. THE EEOC, PART OF THE GOVERNMENT THAT SUPPORTS -- SUPPOSED TO TACKLE JOB THIS COMMISSION HAS BEEN UNDERFUNDED FOR A LONG TIME. THE ABILITY TO DO CLASS-ACTION LAWSUITS AGAINST EMPLOYERS TO TRY TO BRING FOLKS TO THE TABLE FIND SOLUTIONS, TO BE ABLE TO SAY YOU HAVE TO COME TO THE TABLE BECAUSE WE'RE SEEING ALL THIS JOB DISCRIMINATION AMONG YOUR WORKERS. IT HAS REALLY BEEN HELPFUL. THAT IS ONE PIECE OF JOBS COMMISSION. THE OTHER PIECE IS THE FACT WE HAVE A SYSTEM RIGHT NOW WHERE VIRTUALLY EVERY AMERICAN HAS BROKEN SOME LAW OR OTHER AT A TIME. THERE ARE SOME COMMUNITIES, PARTICULARLY COMMUNITIES THAT ARE JUST INVESTED -- DISINVESTED AND ARE SIMPLY NO POLICE. JAYWALKING BECOMES AN ARREST OR WORSE. I BELIEVE IT AT AN ARREST. JAYWALKING BECOMES AN ARREST. ONCE YOU HAVE THAT ARREST, IF YOU'RE AFRICAN-AMERICAN WITHOUT A CRIMINAL RECORD, YOU DO WORSE THAN A WHITE MAN WITH A CRIMINAL RECORD. IMAGINE IF YOU HAVE THAT KIND OF ARREST. ONE OUT OF EVERY THREE AMERICANS HAS SOME KIND OF ARREST RECORD. IT'S PARTICULARLY BAD IN THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY BUT IT'S AN EPIDEMIC FOR ALL OF US. WE HAVE TO REALLY TURN THE PAGE ON THE SYSTEM OF MASS CRIMINALIZATION AND OVER POLICING AND FINES AND FEES FOR SIMPLE INFRACTIONS. THIS IS NOT THE KIND OF AMERICA WE BELIEVE HE WANT TO SEE. THERE IS ANOTHER PLACE WHERE WE HAVE A PLACE FOR BIPARTISAN REFORM. I DON'T GET A THINK I'M DODGING THE QUESTION. THIS IS A COUNTRY OF IMMIGRANTS. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A COUNTRY OF PEOPLE WHO COME TO SEEK OUT OPPORTUNITY. THERE ARE A LOT OF REASONS WHY IMMIGRATION FROM LATIN AMERICA WAS DRIVEN UP IN THE 1990'S. NAFTA IS ONE OF THOSE REASONS. THIS PRESIDENT HAS DEPORTED MORE PEOPLE THAN ANY OTHER PRESIDENT IN HISTORY. THE IDEA THAT HE HAS IN THIS ADMINISTRATION -- AND THIS ADMINISTRATION HAVE BEEN LOOSE ON IMMIGRATION IS A MYTH. YOU CAN TALK TO MANY IMMIGRANT FAMILIES WERE LIVING IN FEAR WHO 20 YEARS AGO WOULD HAVE HAD A PATH TO CITIZENSHIP AND TODAY DON'T AND ARE LIVING IN FEAR OF DEPORTATION TO HUMANIZE THIS CONVERSATION. HOST: RICHARD FROM SPRINGDALE, ARKANSAS. INDEPENDENT. CALLER: GOOD MORNING, WASHINGTON JOURNAL. I HAVE A QUESTION FOR HEATHER. ...

PLEASE LET ME FINISH. IT WILL TAKE LONG.

ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS SHE SAID WAS OUR DEMOCRACY. AS FAR AS I KNOW WE ARE A REPRESENTATIVE REPUBLIC. AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. SHE IS HIGHLY EDUCATED. NOT ONLY GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL, SO PLEASE SOMEBODY EXPLAIN TO ME AT WHAT POINT IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES DID WE BECOME A DEMOCRACY. GREECE IS A DEMOCRACY. LOOK AT THEM. GRETA, YOU ARE THE MODERATOR. YOU SHOULD LET THEM SAY THESE THINGS. -- SHOULDN'T LET THEM SAY THESE THINGS. AND WHAT POINT IN THE HISTORY OF THIS COUNTRY DID WE BECOME A DEMOCRACY? I WAS A FALLEN ASLEEP AND MISSED SOMETHING. HOST: THE FORMAT ALLOWS YOU TO CHALLENGE THE GUESTS THAT ARE SITTING HERE IN A CIVIL WAY. GO AHEAD. ...

GUEST: THANK YOU FOR YOUR CALL AND THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION. I DO THINK DEMOCRACY IS A WORD THAT IS THROWN AROUND, INCLUDING BY THE FOUNDERS OF THIS...

YET WE HAVE TO LIVE EVERY DAY TO GIVE IT MEANING. WE ARE A REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY. DEMOCRACY DOESN'T MEAN DIRECT DEMOCRACY. WE DON'T HAVE NATIONAL REFERENDUM ON EVERY ISSUE. WE ARE A REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY WHERE THE BUILDING I CAN SEE HERE OUT OF THE WINDOW IS WHERE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN ELECTED BY THEIR CITIZENS IN THEIR DISTRICTS COME TO REPRESENT IDEALLY THE DEMOCRACY -- REPRESENT THE VIEWS OF THEIR CONSTITUENTS. WHAT WE KNOW IS THIS COUNTRY WAS NEVER MEANT TO REPRESENT EVERYONE WHO LIVES HERE, WORKS HERE AND IS A CITIZEN. I CAN GO INTO A LOT OF HISTORY THAT I DON'T THINK RETTA WANTS ME TO GO INTO -- GRETA ONCE ME TO GO INTO. THAT HAS MANY STRUGGLE SINCE IT WAS FOUNDED. THE WORD DEMOCRACY DOES NOT MEAN EVERY SINGLE PERSON VOTES ON EVERY POLICY ISSUE AND LAW. WE IDEALLY ALL HAVE A FREE AND FAIR AND UNFETTERED ACCESS TO THE BALLOT AND VOTE FOR REPRESENTATIVES. HOST: GRACE IS NEXT FROM LAS VEGAS. A DEMOCRAT. CALLER: I'M AN OLD WHITE WOMAN. I COULD WRITE A BOOK ON RACIAL DISCRIMINATION. ...

IT IS TRUE, BLACKS ARE TREATED BADLY.

THEY NEED TO PULL THEMSELVES OUT. WE NEED TO HELP THE GET THEM SOME EDUCATION AND HELP THEM GET A JOB BECAUSE THEY ARE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST. A WHITE MAN WILL GET A JOB BEFORE A BLACK PERSON DOES. I LOOK ON THE ALL WHITE HERE AUDIENCE OF DONALD TRUMP AND I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT DONALD TRUMP IMPORTS HIS EMPLOYEES. HE DOESN'T CARE ABOUT MINORITIES. DONALD TRUMP LOVES HIMSELF. IF HE STARTS SCREAMING SHE BIT ME, WE BETTER RUN FOR THE HILLS. HOST: WE WILL LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS THERE AND I WILL HAVE YOUR RESPONSE. FREDDIE FROM MARYLAND, INDEPENDENT COLLEGE. CALLER: THANK YOU SO MUCH C-SPAN FOR GIVING US A VOICE. ...

I'M CALLING AS AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN WHO VOTED FOR BARACK OBAMA TWICE. I AM SHOCKED WHEN I SEE HOW BLACK PEOPLE ARE JUST ALL FOR HILLARY KNOWING HOW BAD THE PROBLEM IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY IS. ...

WE DON'T THINK. ON EVERY ISSUE WHAT IS DONALD TRUMP OFFERING? HE HAS NOT GIVEN AS AN ALTERNATIVE. WHAT ARE HIS POLICIES ON THE ECONOMY? THINGS ARE BAD IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THE WORLD HAS BECOME SUCH A BAD PLACE. I DON'T KNOW WHY WE JUST GO FOR DEMOCRATIC PARTY. WE DON'T EVEN THINK. . THANK YOU SO MUCH GUEST: THANK YOU FOR YOUR CALL. I THINK THAT IS BEEN A THEME AMONG SO MANY CALLERS. I WILL SAY I THINK THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY HAS A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY THAT ISN'T UNTHINKING. IT IS A CRITICAL RELATIONSHIP. ...

NO COMMUNITY HAS A WORKING AND MIDDLE CLASS THAT IS SHAPE THE DIRECTION OF EITHER PARTY. THAT IS REALLY BECAUSE OF WHO FUNDS THE PARTIES. THAT SAID, WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT, AND IS THE COLOR BEFORE SAID, AS YOU LOOK AT THE IDEAS PEOPLE ARE OFFERING UP, THE POLICY PLATFORMS OF THE REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC PARTIES, YOU WILL SEE THAT MORE OF THE CONCERNS OF WORKING MIDDLE CLASS FOLKS WHERE MOST AFRICAN-AMERICANS ARE, VERY FEW WERE IN THE TOP 1% BUT THERE ARE SOME, MOST OF THOSE CONCERNS HAVE MORE REALISTIC COMMENTS IN SOLUTIONS AND THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY PLATFORM. THINGS LIKE FREE COLLEGE. THAT'S ANOTHER PLACE FOR THAT RACIAL BENEFIT IS SHOWING UP. AFRICAN-AMERICANS, LATINOS AND WHITE AMERICANS ARE ALL CLAMORING TO GET A COLLEGE DEGREE. MY GENERATION AND YOUNGER GENERATIONS KNOW THAT IS A TICKET FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS IN THE WAY IT WASN'T IN PREVIOUS GENERATIONS. YET BECAUSE WE HAVE FOR THE PAST 25 YEARS DECIDED TO GIVE TAX BREAKS TO THE WEALTHY CORPORATIONS AT THE STATE LEVEL INSTEAD OF INVESTING IN SUPPORTING THE COST OF PUBLIC EDUCATION, THEY HAD CUT PUBLIC EDUCATION BY $.26 ON THE DOLLAR PER PUPIL OVER THE PAST GENERATION. THAT BIG DROP IN MONEY GOING TO YOUR STATE COLLEGE, WHERE IS THAT MONEY BEING MADE UP? INTUITION AND LOANS. THIS ISSUE OF CAN WE CAN INVEST IN SOMETHING WE KNOW IS GOOD FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTRY, THIS ECONOMIC GROWTH, IT IS GOOD FOR SMALL BUSINESSES. WHICH IS EVERYBODY HAVING NOT ONLY A COLLEGE DEGREE, BUT NOT BEING SADDLED WITH DEBT WHEN THEY COME OUT. THAT SHOULD BE A COMMON SENSE, NO-BRAINER SOLUTION. IT'S ONLY IN ONE PLATFORM RIGHT NOW. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT CHANGE BUT THAT IS WHERE WE ARE. HOST: THE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM IS WHAT YOU ARE SAYING. WHAT HAPPENS IF HILLARY CLINTON FOLLOWS THE ADVICE OF COLUMNIST TOM FRIEDMAN WHEN HE WROTE, IT IS TIME THAT HILLARY PIVOTED. THE COUNTRY TODAY DOESN'T NEED THE FIRST FEMALE PRESIDENT. ...

AND HIS THE FIRST PRESIDENT IN A LONG TIME WHO CAN GOVERN WITH THE CENTERLEFT, CENTER-RIGHT COALITION AND ACTUALLY IN THE GRIDLOCK ON A FISCAL POLICY IN A SMART WAY. IF DONALD TRUMP CONTINUES TO MELT DOWN INTO A PUDDLE OF BILE, MORE REPUBLICANS WILL BE UP FOR GRABS. WITH THE RIGHT PROGROWTH ECONOMIC POLICIES, CLINTON WOULD HAVE AN OPENING NOT ONLY TO ENLISTED TO HELP HER WIN, BUT TO BUILDING GOVERNING COALITION FOR THE MORNING AFTER. " GUEST: I THINK WE SHOULD UNPACK SOME OF THE TERMS IN THERE. HE SAID HE WAS TO DO A CENTERLEFT FISCAL POLICY. THIS IS WHAT I SAID AT THE BEGINNING. IT FEELS LIKE OUR POLICIES ARE SHIFTING. ...

FOLKS MIGHT THINK THE CENTIMETERS THE CENTER OF WHERE THE DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS IS IN THE CENTER OF WHERE THE REPUBLICAN CONGRESS IS. THAT CENTER IS NOT PRO-INVESTING IN THE COUNTRY AND MAKING THE WEALTHY AND CORPORATIONS, MANY OF WHOM PAY ZERO TO LITTLE TAXES, THAT IS THE CENTER IDEA AMONG THE POLITICAL CLASS. IS A CORPORATE TAX REFORM THAT DOESN'T RAISE TAXES ON ANY BUSINESSES THAT ARE CURRENTLY OFFSHORING. IF YOU WALK OUT OF THIS TOWN TO VIRGINIA OR MARYLAND AND GATHER A REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE OF AMERICANS WHO ARE REPUBLICAN, DEMOCRATS AND INDEPENDENTS, THAT SAID IT WOULD SAY ABSOLUTELY WE THINK CORPORATIONS THAT PAPER LOBBYISTS AND CEOS ONE AND THEY PAY TO THE COUNTRY TO HELP MAKE THEM STRONG SHOULD HAVE TO PAY MORE IN TAXES. THAT IS THE CENTER. THIS IS THAT QUESTION RIGHT NOW WHERE WE ARE SEEING MORE OF A GAP NOT BETWEEN LEFT AND RIGHT IN THE COUNTRY BUT BETWEEN THOSE TWO ARE ALREADY WEALTHY AND POWERFUL AND HAVE THE RULES PRETTY WELL RIGGED IN THEIR FAVOR AND THOSE OF US WHO HAVE BEEN LEFT BEHIND. DO I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A CENTRIST FISCAL POLICY? YES. NOT IF IT'S THE CENTER OF THE LOBBYISTS AND THE -- HOST: TED, YOU ARE NEXT. CALLER: I WANT TO MAKE A COUPLE OF STATEMENTS. I WOULD LIKE TO MEET WHOEVER RAISE HEATHER. ...

I THINK THEY DID A GREAT JOB AND IT REALLY COMES ACROSS. WHAT TROUBLES ME IS A C 94 MILLION AMERICANS OUT OF WORK.

I SEE BLACK YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT AT 40%. YOU ARE EMPHASIZING COLLEGE, WHICH IS FINE, BUT THEY NEED TO GO INTO THE TRADES LIKE PLUMBERS, MASONS, THINGS LIKE THAT. MY CONCERN IS THIS. YOU SEEM TO BE FRONTING BOTH PARTIES AND THAT IS TRUE, BUT YOU ARE PULLING MORE FOR THE DEMOCRATS. I AM WONDERING HOW TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE YOU WILL HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE IF THEY DO GET ELECTED AGAIN AND ALL THESE INNER CITIES AND ON THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT AFTER EIGHT YEARS, IF WE WILL HAVE MORE OF THE SAME. WHO DO YOU ADMIRE LIVING THAT AN ACTION PERSON THAT YOU LOOK TO DOUBLE GET SOME OF THESE THINGS DONE THAT I AGREE WITH YOU ON? GUEST: PERSONAL, MY MOTHER AND -- FIRST OF ALL, MY MOTHER AND FATHER THANK YOU. [LAUGHTER] ...

SO, HOLDING THEM ACCOUNTABLE. I THINK THAT IS REALLY THE QUESTION. THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAVE WITHIN THEM LOTS OF DIFFERENT IDEOLOGIES AND FACTIONS AND COMMUNITIES. I THINK WE NEED TO START THINKING ABOUT THE SAME WAY THERE ARE CAUCUSES WITHIN EACH PARTY, REALLY ELEVATING THAT IDEA TO VOTERS. YOU CAN SAY, WHAT KIND OF DEMOCRAT ARE YOU? IN NEW YORK STATE WE HAVE SOMETHING CALLED THE WORKING FAMILIES PARTY, WHICH IS ABLE TO DO SOMETHING THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE IN MOST STATE ELECTION LAWS WHICH IS TO CROSS ENDORSE. YOU CAN VOTE FOR THE GOVERNOR AS A DEMOCRAT, OR YOU CAN GO FOR HIM AS A WORKING FAMILIES PARTY PERSON. IF THE PARTY DECIDES TO ENDORSE HIM. IT SENDS A MESSAGE THAT SAYS YES, I AM VOTING. IF YOU CAN VOTE IN SAY I'M VOTING FOR HILLARY BUT I AM VOTING FOR A PLATFORM THAT IS ACTUALLY ABOUT WORKING FAMILIES. AND I WANT TO HOLD HER ACCOUNTABLE TO WORKING FAMILIES PARTY AGENDA. IF YOU CAN PULL THAT LEVER IN ADDITION TO JUST PULLING A LEVER BETWEEN DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS AND NOT HAVE IT BE A SPOILER THIRD-PARTY CANDIDATE, I THINK THAT WILL GO A LONG WAY TO HAVING A SENSE OF THE COUNTY -- ACCOUNTABILITY FOR A STRONG SET OF POSITIONS. U.S. ABOUT JOBS. I THINK THIS IS CRUCIAL. WE KNOW A COLLEGE DEGREE IS IMPORTANT. IT IS A TICKET -- YOU CAN'T HAVE A MIDDLE-CLASS LIFE IN THIS COUNTRY EXCEPT A FEW SMALL SECTORS OF UNIONIZED JOBS ABOUT A COLLEGE DEGREE. WE THINK EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE A COLLEGE DEGREE IF THEY WANT ONE AND SHOULD NOT PUT THEM IN FINANCIAL RUIN. WE NEED A MASSIVE JOBS PROGRAM IN THIS COUNTRY. AFTER THE GREAT DEPRESSION, THE FIRST MASSIVE RECESSION AND GREAT DEPRESSION IN THE COUNTRY, WE HAD A PROGRAM THE PUT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE TO WORK. EVERY SINGLE PERSON LISTENING TO THIS NOSE OF PROBLEMS THAT NEED TO BE SOLVED. WHETHER IT IS PARK CITY TO BE REBUILT, CHILDREN AND THE ELDERLY THEY NEED TO BE WATCHED, ROADS THAT NEED REPAVING, WATER SYSTEMS THAT NEED IMPROVING. THE LIST COULD GO ON AND ON. INFRASTRUCTURE, HUMAN AND HARD INFRASTRUCTURE IS NOT BEING FIXED. FOR LESS THAN THE COST OF THE BUSH TAX CUT IN ONE YEAR CUT OVER -- PUT OVER ONE MILLION PEOPLE BACK TO WORK DIRECTORY SERVING THE COMMUNITIES. IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL TO SEE A MASSIVE NEW JOBS PROGRAM. IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL TO SEE INVESTMENTS IN INFRASTRUCTURE. THIS HAS SUPPORT FROM BOTH THE AFL-CIO, THE LABOR FEDERATION AND THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. IT IS NOT LEAVING BECAUSE OF CONGRESS RIGHT NOW. WHO DO I ADMIRE? I ADMIRE REVEREND WILLIAM BARBER, WHO IS NOT AN ELECTED OFFICIAL BUT HE IS THE HEAD OF THE NAACP IN NORTH CAROLINA. HOST: AND A GUEST ON OUR SHOW. GUEST: REGULAR LISTENERS WILL BE ABLE TO RELATE TO THAT. I THINK HE HAS BEEN ABLE TO. ...

A MULTIRACIAL COALITION IN NORTH CAROLINA THAT HAS BEEN FIGHTING BACK ON AMERICAN SET OF POLICIES --

UNAMERICAN SET OF POLICIES THAT TRY TO DEGRADE THE ENVIRONMENT OF MY CAROLINA AND TRY TO MAKE IT HARDER FOR PEOPLE TO VOTE BECAUSE THEY WERE AFRICAN-AMERICAN. THAT HAS BEEN PROVEN BY THE COURTS. HIS MORAL MONDAY'S MOVEMENT IS IMPRESSIVE AND SHOWS THE WAY FORWARD. HOST: YOU CAN WAS SET ON C-SPAN.ORG IF YOU MISSED IT. ARNOLD, A DEMOCRAT? CALLER: HELLO. ...

HOST: YOU ARE ON. GO-AHEAD. CALLER: THANKS. I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT WHEN THE NORTHERN DEMOCRATS PASSED THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT THE SOUTHERN DEMOCRATS OVERCAME REPUBLICANS. ...

A REALLY GOOD REASON. THANK YOU. HOST: LET ME HEAR FROM GARY IN NORTH CAROLINA, INDEPENDENT. CALLER: HI. GOOD MORNING. I WAS HOPING YOUR GUEST DID HELP ME CHANGE MY MIND ABOUT SOME THINGS. I AM A WHITE MALE. ...

I AM PREJUDICED. THE REASON IT IS IT IS SOMETHING I LEARNED. WHEN I OPENED UP THE PAPERS I GET VERY DISCOURAGED AT ONE YOUNG BLACK MALES ARE DOING TO EACH OTHER AND THE CRIME RATE. I UNDERSTAND THEY LIVE IN AN ENVIRONMENT WITH A LOT OF DRUGS. YOU HAVE TO GET MONEY FOR DRUGS. IS AN ISSUE THAT GOES BEYOND THAT. I HAVE THE DIFFERENT FEARS. I DON'T WANT MY FEARS TO COME TRUE. I TRY TO AVOID THAT. I COME OFF AS BEING PREJUDICED. I JUST HAVE FEARS. I DON'T LIKE TO BE FORCED TO LIKE PEOPLE. I LIKE TO BE LED TO LIKE PEOPLE THEIR EXAMPLE. WHAT CAN I DO TO CHANGE, TO BE A BETTER AMERICAN? HOST: HEATHER MCGHEE? GUEST: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HONEST AND FOR OPENING UP TO THIS CONVERSATION. ...

IT IS SIMPLY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ONCE WE HAVE TO HAVE IN THIS COUNTRY.

WE ARE NOT A COUNTRY THAT IS UNITED BECAUSE WE ARE ALL ONE RACIAL GROUP THAT ALL DISSENTED FROM ONE TRIBE IN ONE COMMUNITY. THAT IS WHAT MAKES THIS COUNTRY BEAUTIFUL, BUT IT IS OUR CHALLENGE. WE HAVE THE MOST MULTIRACIAL, MULTIETHNIC, WEALTHY DEMOCRACY IN THE WORLD. ASKING THE QUESTION YOU ASKED, HOW DO I GET OVER MY FEARS AND MY PREJUDICES, IS THE QUESTION THAT ALL OF US, PEOPLE OF ALL RACES AND ETHNICITIES AND BACKGROUNDS HOLD ONTO THESE PREJUDICES. MOST ARE UNCONSCIOUS. YOU SAY I'M NOT PREJUDICED, BUT OF COURSE WE ALL HAVE THAT. YOU ARE ABILITY TO SAY THIS IS WHAT I HAVE, I HAVE CERTAIN PREJUDICES AND I WANT TO GET OVER THEM IS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL THINGS WE CAN DO RIGHT NOW AT THIS MOMENT IN OUR HISTORY. THANK YOU. SO WHAT CAN YOU DO? GET TO KNOW BLACK FAMILIES WHO ARE NOT EVEN ANY MAJORITY INVOLVED IN CRIME AND GANGS. TURN OFF THE NEWS THAT NIGHT. SORRY, GRETA. HOST: WE ARE NOT DELIVERING THE NEWS. THAT IS FINE. GUEST: WE KNOW THAT NIGHTLY NEWS IN MEDIA MARKETS OVER ...

REPRESENT AFRICAN AMERICAN CRIMES HAPPENING BY WHITE PEOPLE. JOIN A CHURCH IF YOU ARE A RELIGIOUS PERSON THAT IS A BLACK CHURCH OR A CHURCH THAT IS INTERRACIAL. START TO READ ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY IN THIS COUNTRY. FOSTER CONVERSATION IN YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE YOU ARE ASKING THOSE KINDS OF QUESTIONS. THIS FEAR OF COMMUNITIES THAT WE DO NOT LIVE NEAR, WE ARE STILL A VERY SEGREGATED COUNTRY. MILLIONS OF WHITE AMERICANS LIVE IN PLACES WHERE THEY RARELY SEE ANYONE OF A DIFFERENT RACE. THEY FEAR -- THIS SET OF IDEAS IS TEARING US APART. WE KNOW IN ORDER TO BE, OUR NAME MEANS THE PEOPLE, IN ORDER TO BE UNITED ACROSS LINES OF RACE AND CLASS AND GENDER AND AGE WE HAVE TO GET TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER. WE ARE ALWAYS SURPRISED WHEN WE BUILD RELATIONSHIPS ACROSS THAT. HOST: REPUBLICAN, GOOD MORNING. CALLER: I WOULD LIKE TO SAY I HAVE NEVER BEEN WHAT YOU WOULD CALL A DEMOCRAT OR A REPUBLICAN. ...

BUT I FEEL LIKE WE NEED A CHANGE.

I WAS RAISED WITH MY MOTHER AND A COTTON PATCH IN ALABAMA. MY DAD DIED WHEN I WAS FIVE AND A HALF MONTHS OLD. MY MOTHER RAISED ME ON $30 A MONTH. IF WE PICKED COTTON AND MAKE MONEY, SHE HAD TO TURN THAT IN. THEY SAID THAT ALL FOR $30. -- THEY TOOK THAT ALL FOR $30. I WENT TO WORK IN FORT PAYNE, ALABAMA WHICH WAS THE SALT CAPITAL OF THE WORLD. WHEN BILL CLINTON SIGNED THAT NAFTA BILL MY JOB LEFT. IT WENT OVERSEAS. WE WERE ALL DEVASTATED. I MEAN DEVASTATED. THAT WAS OUR LIVELIHOOD. WE WERE KNOWN AS THE SALT CAPITAL OF THE WORLD. NOT THAT WE MADE A LOT OF MONEY, BUT WE SURVIVED. I WANT TO SAY TO THIS LADY I AM NOT PREJUDICED. I AM NOT. I HAVE SOME VERY CLOSE BLACK FRIENDS. I HAVE A SON THAT IS THIRTYSOMETHING YEARS OLD. HE HAS THE MINDSET THAT EVERYBODY OWES HIM SOMETHING. TO ME SOME WHITE PEOPLE AND SOME BLACK PEOPLE, EVERYBODY OWES THEM SOMETHING. I AM NOT TALKING OUT OF SORTS. ANYWAY I AM VOTING FOR DONALD TRUMP BECAUSE WE NEED A CHANGE. HOST: WE WILL LEAVE IT THERE. GUEST: THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR STORY. THE COUNTRY IS FULL OF AMAZING STORIES OF GRIT AND DETERMINATION. ...

THE SYSTEM OF SHARECROPPING YOU ARE REFERRING TO IS ONE OF THOSE MANY EXAMPLES IN THIS COUNTRY OF WIRED SYSTEMS THAT WERE SET UP PRIMARILY TO DISADVANTAGE AFRICAN-AMERICANS, SHARECROPPING REPLACED SLAVERY IN THE COTTON SOUTH, ALSO HURT WHITE FAMILIES AS WELL. WE HAVE SYSTEMS WHERE WE TRAIN THE SWIMMING POOL IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE BLACK FOLKS DON'T GET THE SWIM. WE SET UP A SYSTEM AND OUR PAST, PARTICULARLY TO HER BLACK FAMILIES AND KEEP THEM BEHIND. A LOT OF POOR WHITE FOLKS GET TRAPPED IN IT AS WELL. YOU SAY WE ARE AT A PLACE WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE THINK SOMETHING IS OWED TO THEM. I WANT TO INSTEAD OF JUST REJECTING THAT SAY IN SOME CASES I THINK THAT IS RIGHT. WE ARE A COUNTRY WHERE THE BASIC IDEA THAT YOU COULD GET A JOB, HAVE IT THE ONE WHERE YOU CAN SUPPORT A FAMILY, MAYBE NOT A LIFE OF LUXURY BUT YOU CAN AFFORD A HOUSE, RENT, SAVE A LITTLE BIT FOR THE FUTURE. YOU MIGHT HAVE HEALTH CARE ON THE JOB EVEN IF IT WAS A MIDDLE-CLASS JOB OR A WHITE-COLLAR JOB. YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO RETIRE WITH DIGNITY. THOSE ARE THINGS THAT YOUNG PEOPLE ARE SEEING THAT THE GRANDPARENTS HAD, EVEN IF THEY WERE NOT BUT WE THINK OF IS GOOD WHITE-COLLAR JOBS. THEY HAD SOME SECURITY. I THINK THEY DO FEEL LIKE THEY SHOULD BE OWED THAT. PEOPLE FEELING YOUNG PEOPLE -- PEOPLE FEEL THAT IF THEY WORK HARD THEY SHOULD HAVE SOME LEVEL OF SECURITY IN RETURN. YOU ARE WISE TO TALK ABOUT NAFTA AS SOMETHING THAT FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGED THE RULE AND MADE IT SO THAT OUR CORPORATE SECTOR CAN LOOK FOR THE CHEAPEST POSSIBLE LABOR. THAT NOT ONLY CHANGED THE COMMUNITY, THE SALT CAPITAL THE WORLD THAT YOU WERE WORKING IN, IT ALSO CHANGED THE BALLOTS -- BALANCE OF POWER IN WASHINGTON'S. INCYTE CORPORATION'S COULD WRITE THEIR OWN RULES. WE'RE SEEING EVEN MORE TRADE DEALS ON THE TABLE, ONCE IT WOULD EXPAND THE RIGHTS OF CORPORATIONS VIS-A-VIS THE RULES WE CREATE IN OUR GOVERNMENT EVEN MORE. THAT IS WHERE I THINK DONALD TRUMP HAS HIT A NERVE. THAT IS WHERE I THINK WE ARE AT THIS MOMENT WHERE POLITICS ARE SHIFTING AND YOU ARE SEEING THE BASE OF BOTH THE DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN PARTY SAY WE WANT A DIFFERENT SET OF RULES AROUND TRADE IN THIS COUNTRY. IT IS NOT THAT WE WANT TO BUILD WALLS AND NOT EXPORT ANYTHING AND NOT IMPORT ANY GOODS. WE WANTED TO BE SOMETHING THAT TAKES INTO CONSIDERATION THE STANDARD OF LIVING OF WORKERS. NOT JUST HERE IN THIS COUNTRY, BUT BANGLADESH AND MEXICO WERE PEOPLE ARE BEING PAID PENNIES ON THE DOLLAR. HOST: HEATHER MCGHEE. IF YOU WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HER AND HER GROUP, YOU CAN FOLLOW THEM ON TWITTER AT DEMOS ...

ACTION. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE CONVERSATION. GUEST: THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN. HOST: WE WILL TAKE A SHORT BREAK. WE ARE GOING TO OPEN PHONES. YOU CAN CALL IN WITH WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WITH HEATHER MCGHEE, CLIMATE CHANGE OR ANY PUBLIC POLICY ISSUE. WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK. (music) ...