Lies, Politics and Democracy: Jelani Cobb (interview) | FRONTLINE
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- Опубліковано 3 чер 2024
- Jelani Cobb writes about race, politics and history for The New Yorker. He is also the dean of Columbia Journalism School and the author of The Substance of Hope: Barack Obama and the Paradox of Progress.
The following interview was conducted by the Kirk Documentary Group’s Mike Wiser for FRONTLINE on July 5, 2022. It has been edited for clarity and length.
This interview is being published as part of FRONTLINE’s Transparency Project, an effort to open up the source material behind our documentaries. Explore the transcript of this interview, and others, on the FRONTLINE website: www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/in...
#Frontline #Interview #JelaniCobb
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CHAPTERS:
Early Claims of Election Fraud and the Republican Response - 0:00:00
Trump and the 2016 Election - 0:04:10
The Rise of Political Violence - 0:09:56
Trump, Cruz and the Republican Party - 0:17:37
Pence’s Calculation - 0:29:19
Trump’s Early Presidency and Charlottesville - 0:31:53
The First Impeachment - 0:41:31
Trump’s Response to the Black Lives Matter Movement - 0:49:02
Republican Response to Trump’s Claims of Election Fraud - 1:03:33
Pressure on Pence - 1:09:57
Jan. 6 and the Aftermath - 1:13:37
Watch the full documentary “Lies, Politics and Democracy” here: ua-cam.com/video/D2eTiE3k7ds/v-deo.html
Best new series. Skipping over some conservatives, may go back to them. But Robert Costa and Jelani Cobb are gems. Great interviews, by Wiser.
@@heatherc2939 I hope you listen to the interview with Mark Sanford.
@@maryrodger5130 oh I will then! Thanks Mary!
The dangers are increasing by the day because other political figures are now trying to emulate Chump and that places our society in a place where lies and deceit have become the cornerstone of governance. People have lost faith in the legitimacy of their institutions, including biased decisions made by the Supreme Court.
this documentary may have carried more honesty if some of the Trump supporters had been interviewed. this presentation is only one side of a many sided issue.
This background interview with Jelani Cobb is on a different level than the others, which are all strong in their own way. He has a command of historical, political and ethical knowledge that sets his analysis apart from the others. Talk about having the Big Picture. Superlative.
He is an intellectual giant on every level.
He always is.
Thank You, Sir.. Donald J. Trump must NEVER have access to Any Public Office in America Again.. !!!
Cobb is one of the best Journalists around. He’s the Dean of the Columbia Journalism school I believe.
This interview should be shared with high school students. He has articulated trumpism better than anyone I’ve ever listened to.
Trumpism..what a joke.
I live in Florida. Any high school teacher who shows it to students better look for another job. Sad fact.
@@smudgey1kenobey they'd call it CRT. Still not knowing what they fear.
Yes,yes,yes!
Good point. Our lack of civics or even personal rights culminates in disasters like 45. I'm in the south...a convo here with widened folks falls to pieces when history or politics comes up. Its downright painful.
So you all are falling for FRONTLINE's journalistic "slanting" which is obvious to those who have endured the 24/7 onslaught of dirt throwing, the past 6 years. Why have you closed your eyes to the voting machines, which have been proven to be controlled by Algorithms? Could it be that "innocent" seeming interviews are devised by the "controlling entity" narrative; slandering anyone who dares to oppose (like Trump) the "masters" who are seeking world dominance - the One World Order?? 🌎 And this election rigging seems to go way back years and years. JFK was on to the labyrinth being laid to intricately control the power of the USA, referring to it as the "Military-Industrial Complex."
Both Presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy had warned the American public about the Military-Industrial
Complex, or a "secret government," which was taking over the American government. It is full blown in our faces today and all it does, through the Media, is spin lies to cover itself up, but most True Blue Americans see the TRUTH, that the "Emperor has no clothes!"
Open your eyes! We are in an information war! Why else would there be blatant censorship? What kind of Power wants to silence all who are in opposition to it?
Make no mistake......this is NOT about Jelani Cobb, but about what he is saying. The comments keep leaning towards, oh how articulate he is and, "great speaker ". Bottom line is.......VOTE, VOTE, VOTE, And stop these Nazis and Fascists in there tracks
Mr. Cobb is a national treasure. Plain spoken truth. This interview needs to be watched by every American.
I never heard of this man before. He is amazing!
He's an amazing writer as well
I’m enjoying all of these interviews but I agree this man is awesome to listen to.
Please listen to him. trump is a SERIOUS threat to our democracy.
Thank you, Frontline, for sharing this interview with Jelani Cobb. He is a gifted writer and speaker.
He is one of my favorite orators. I read The Substance of Hope and have watched a lot of his videos. He really is an eloquent speaker.
@@valdavis7461 I agree 💯.
@@99jeuwwbe I’m not sure I understand exactly what you mean but I do agree something much more basic is going on in the minds of trumps supporters. No matter how comfortable the media and politicians are pretending it’s a matter of liberal vs conservative, democrat vs republican, really feels less accurate than regressive vs progressive. Literally those that want to learn from mistakes and those that don’t.
@@99jeuwwbe thanks for going into it more. Your English is far better than the curse words I could throw back in five different languages. I get your point now.
@@99jeuwwbe I partially agree with you. 2016 I believe for many had more to do with keeping Hilary out of the Whitehouse. Lowest African American turnout in a generation.
This man this man this man … Jelani Cobb is his name … I love Jelani Cobb … He tells it like it is …. If one was to give him power, he will make sure to use power the correct way. He will look at all the facts…… Thank you Jelani for being a beautiful voice of reason …. If you want to analyze American history, listen to him.
Does someone have a crush 🤭
You really need to count how many 'this man' are stated.This man is a great man. You can count mine.
@@CRWeaventure oh, it's me. Swooning for articulate wisdom.
🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯💯💯💯💯💯👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
This gentleman’s insight is deeply illuminating and frank. Thank you for showcasing his thoughts!
This man is a national treasure. Thank you PBS for posting all these interviews here for the record of history and for the education of the American electorate and all individuals interested in protecting democracy from its own self-destruction. Mr. Cobb’s clear and concise observations and telling of our collective story shows us just how vulnerable we are when enough supposed leaders are willing to remain silent and/or complicit with an authoritarian cult figure.
National TREASURE is an understatment!! Clear, concise, articulate.
Yes indeed!
It is so refreshing to have someone answer questions without dodging what was asked. My Hat is off to you for your honesty and integrtity.
I will never forget an assessment that a brilliant Uncle of mine made going as far back as the 1980s when radio stations across the country changed from a music format to a talk radio format. He warned that it could be Nazism in the making. This was at a time when WABC RADIO AM77 in NYC changed to a talk radio format. WOR RADIO AM 710 in NYC already was a talk radio station. Both stations progressed into right wing formats.Being that my Uncle was a critical thinker what was being said on both of these stations rattled him to the core. Not only the hateful diatribes from the callers,but the fact that the hosts offered no rebuttals at all to refute what many of the callers were saying. So he found himself so immersed that he began calling into these shows to offer a counter argument only to be demonized and ridiculed by the hosts. At the time my Uncle warned that if this should spread into the political sphere and the mainstream that Democracy itself could be at stake. Mind you he took note of the rise of David Duke running for office in Louisiana. And then the two incidents in NYC. The three Black men chased by a White mob in Bensonhurst in 1986,resulting in the death of Michael Griffith. Then the death of Black teen Yusef Hawkins by Whites. Both cases got extensive media coverage. And both cases became political footballs.But what was more frightening was the total lack of empathy and the vitriol towards the victims on the right wing talk show formats at that time. My Uncle said at this time that this will be a cancer that will never go away. That it may go into remission only to rear its ugly head later.He lived long enough to see Donald Trump's candidacy and election as President in 2016. Before the Presidential election I was confident that Hillary Clinton would win. After all I figured that the majority of the American people would listen to reason. He chuckled. Don't forget the electoral College, he said. Trump can target strategic areas of the country without winning the popular vote,he said. "He will win this election because yes it may be a country of reason, but is also a country of hatred and fear of the other. Centuries of hate culture that realizes that this is the opportunity for it to rise into the highest office in the land.He and his followers realize that they may never have this opportunity again. If the destruction of the country also meant that destruction of the other then it would be well worth the sacrifice. Hitler told the German people that in order for the 1,000 years Reich to take hold,certain sacrifices in the short term must be made ".So I asked my Uncle before he passed away in 2017 about the state of American politics. He said that it was beyond repair .That the only thing that could stop Donald Trump and his followers would have to be a cataclysmic event. But if the country still refuses to reconcile and come together after such an event then it is finished. It is going to be the litmus test. He also added that the aftermath will either be authoritarian in nature, or a parliamentary type system of government as a last gasp to save itself.
Intelligence decreases when you're ready to sell your soul for power
Mr Cobb brings welcome discourse to a troubled world.💯🙏
This was such a smart show....I could listen to Jelani's voice all day long
Yes! I could listen to him read the ingredients list on a loaf of bread and feel like I was being serenaded!
Frontline, 60minutes,and other true TV newsmagazines are hard hitting truth.
@@aytchle1593 Seriously? They're "magazines".
I am grateful that I have an opportunity to listen to important interview with Jelani Cobb.
His presence, his voice, his expansive knowledge of the era we are living in and his capacity to articulate the truth captured my full attention. He is a wonderful teacher Thank you ! We need many more of these types of conversation!
ALL of these full length interviews are a Must Watch... the 2-hr program uses precious little of each person's full accounting...!!! Vote Blue in '22
A good analysis of the present predicament. Frontline does good work.
That’s what narcissists do…. They lie immediately. They blame, shame and go on with their lives. The others suffer. The destruction left behind does not bother them at all. They always find “allies”.
K Cobb, great speaker
I wanted to hit that thumbs-up repeatedly throughout this thoughtful and cogent interview. Thank you.
Wow. What a wonderfully insightful and eloquent teacher Jelani Cobb is.
I sometimes find it hard to believe even now what happened, and is still happening.. totally nuts..
We're watching it happen right before our eyes. We're living through history...
We’d better believe it, or it’s too late.
The people who need to hear this are the ones who have and will continue to vote against this authoritarian movement.
They say that we didn't see what we all saw that disgusting day. We've been brainwashed by mainstream media. It's fake news or photoshopped or something like that. It was peaceful and loving. What, WHAT?!?!?!? I saw absolutely no peace or love. Only violence and hatred. These people have no problem getting violent. I've made it my goal to keep telling them the truth and boy howdy. Wow. They start with the name calling and the what about-ism. Any time they do converse with me, it's just spewed bile. If you ask a question they know you are correct about, that's when it turns to violence. I've been threatened by the magats. Death threats. They deleted it immediately so I couldn't report it. Magats threatened to kill me.
@@seanjones5682magats need to watch this. But even if they do, they will only make excuses for him.
Love these interviews as much as the actual documentary.
Fascism is here folks. No doubt about it. Vote Blue 22 to help Save our democracy!
Jelani Cobb is a rock solid American, imo. He has a way with factual words that is clear, concise, and effective. Thanks for providing this interview. Great stuff.
Spot on, 100%.
Whenever Cobb is on the New Yorker radio hour / podcast, I listen.
He is, but his speaking style is jumpy, pause-filled. Almost unlistenable for a modern audience.
@@stephenmellentine Um, I guess we can disagree. But, perhaps it is the 'modern audience' that is mostly at fault because THEY are jumpy and have short attention spans. Pretty prevalent.
@@stephenmellentine speed up playback dude,,
@@kbone8137 Right?!
I was going to say, most Americans can tolerate a 30 second video clip (maybe ten or fifteen minutes); however, the attention span doesn't go beyond that sadly.
Sir, you speak the truth so very clearly. Such a wonderful interview. Your understanding of the entire situation is so perfectly explained. Thank you, Mr. Cobb Look forward to more of your interviews. S. from Canada
J. Cobb for president.
@@michaelnestingen5899 I said the same! Cobb 2024!
@@michaelnestingen5899 love it.
In my opinion, the best interview in the series.
My Man is on POINT Across the board. (Salute)
Cobb is articulate, clearly helping us understand why and how we as a nation have come to be presently in such a moral and political mess.
Bullshit. Trump is a pig, Obama and Clinton are Wall Street employees and war criminals. Both statements are true.
Reply
I sincerely hope that the serial criminal ex-resident of the WH will be able to hear this insightful interview with Mr. Cobb while the grifter has time to digest it - as an incarcerated inmate.
@@ehayes7849 Unfortunately trump will never view a prison cell from the inside due to his complexion for protection.
Had Obama did a 10th of what trump has done especially with the top secret government documents plans would already be in the works for a prison specifically for him.
That racist would be licking their chops and the whole nation would have come to its senses so to speak. IMHO
@@ehayes7849 😳 Why would he want to listen to anyone who is sane? He certainly didn't on January 6, 2021.
Hes also grossly uninformed.
Absolutely amazing insights from Jelani Cobb. Incredibly powerful. What an amazing series this is.
Every eligible voter should listen to this series and research their candidates, and get their minds back into political races. This man is so intelligent and learned I want to see what he has to say about anything.
Thank you Frontline for your hard work in brining the truth to the public.
You are being lied to
.. wake up.
@@Rosasplaying53 You’re believing in conspiracies.
@@Rosasplaying53 Get help Rosa.
Yes. They deliver consistently excellent content. Money well spent. All of PBS programing is of better quality than their peers.
@@ph_low628Russia hoax? Was a conspiracy? Behave
An invaluable interview - Please preserve this for its historical contribution to the psychology behind Trump’s emerging and continued societal grips.
CLAPTRAP
A brilliant and incisive thinker, this Cobb. Thanks for your capacity to illuminate.
Thank you for bringing this highly intelligent and intellectual analysis of our present politics and state of our democracy - Jolani Cobb is outstanding!
I am so pleased and honored to get to listen to him!
Excellent interview! I would also be interested to hear his thoughts on what part the news media/journalism/social media played and continues to play in relation to the subject matter discussed here. Thank you, Frontline.
Agree without Fox TV and right wing radio's participation none of this would have happened
@@johnfitzgerald8633 They kept the big lie going LITERALLY 24/7. And used as incendiary language as they could possibly get away with. The FCC should pull their license. And I'm not saying that, just to be saying it. They are a clear and present danger to this country, just as tRump is. In light of the events that have unfolded recently, anyone who doesn't agree with that, I feel, are also dangerous to democracy as well. He is TRE45ONOUS and needs to be treated as ANY OTHER terrorist would be treated. I don't think it is out of order to present him to the gallows they had prepared for Pence on Jan 6. The irony would be delicious.
Rant over-sorry I just get very upset thinking about the danger he has put so many people in and the further damage to relations with our allies, beyond what he did during his administration.
@@johnfitzgerald8633 that is absolutely factual and the format all media gave to the corrupt monster
Problems remain with Corporate news. The voice of the oligarchs isn't really much better.
I am in aw of this interview. The questions were on the spot, but Mr. Cobb`s answers were literal, and possibly a panacea, because they were so precise, and honest.
Brilliant interview 👏 Professor Cobb is totally on point!
Cobb has a unique voice and his intellect is evident... He really should speak on a broader platform... His insight is valuable
Real Talk! Not propaganda.....
I could listen to Cobb speak all day long.
Brilliant, clear narrative and analysis.
Great Mind.......well articulated and very easy to follow....we need more media like this.
Thank you, Jelani Cobb. Excellent questions and excellent answers. His command of the situation and his answers are spot on. We need many more that have his command of the situation and a calmness in his answers. I think he would make an excellent teacher. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Cobb for this very thoughtful analysis.
Brilliant, measured commentary. Excellent assessment of our current predicament! Unchecked lies, become truths that are difficult to dismantle.
Thank you for this insightful interview.
Where has Jelani Cobb been my entire life?
What a brilliant man. I throughly enjoyed this conversation and I’m going to research more about him.
Have listened to this presentation many times over to understand what is happening in this country at this moment.
Jelani you are great! Thanks for your good work!
Jelani Cobb is brilliant. We need to see and hear more of him to explain to the people the temperature and status of the country and where it is heading
This guy makes everything so clear… love his voice as well
And everything about DT was alarming
Our of all the pundits, this guy has the most virtue of clarity
I thank you,Mr.Cobb for you standing up for the truth and explain things that others don't. And bring the TRUTH to us 😊 you have dignity and moral beliefs and are not afraid of Trump!!!; I'm absolutely your big fan
First I have heard of Mr. Cobb. I am so impressed. Thank you, Frontline.
I wish Mr. Cobb and others would take this message to the younger set. I have millennials and they are highly motivated but their friends don’t have a clue. I would love if Mr. Cobb would go on The Breakfast Club and inform the younger generation of what’s at stake.
Why not show them this conversation with Cobb?
You could share this link with the younger set. I am sending it to all my family members to deepen their understanding of what they think they already know.
Aloha this man has his head on his shoulders we should pay attention toCommon sense
The purest lecture of the current situation in now thus far 👌.
Thank you for quality journalism. Sadly most all public TV journalists or really emotional opinion broadcasters.
Great Interview💯 The immoral behavior is here @ the local & state level, the control is💯 SCARY FOR ME OUT THERE💯MOB💯
Jelani is absolutely fascinating to listen to.
This guy is very insightful, knowledgeable, and eloquent. Accurate. Not hyperbolic. I can imagine he is a great professor.
Jelani, I thoroughly enjoy listening to your professional, wise, and educated analysis. In a day and age where truth and wisdom are endangered species, you give me hope. Thank you.
This is a brilliant analysis! Thank you so much for sharing these insights!
Thank you for interviewing Great Speakers.
What a bright mind. His words are so precise, clear and on point 👏🏽
Excellent interview, with an Extremely Bright Person.
Thanks so much, frontline, PBS, for bringing this gentleman to my attention with brilliant insights and perspectives
I could listen to this man’s amazing voice for hours.
Thank you for this amazing series of interviews! it gives me such clarity in a complex, chaotic, confusing, and secretive period.
No it doesn't. At all.
Thank you for providing this in-depth information. This gentleman is calm, clear and knows his stuff. There has been so much grandstanding and hysteria...I am relieved to ENJOY listening!
I'm so glad to see/hear you because I've learned SO much from you. May I offer my suggestion?
In my biased opinion I think everybody NEEDS to READ/STUDY and understand the REAL meaning of the Oath of Office of the President. This will inform you EXACTLY what the requirements are of a president. IF you do you will see for yourself every requirement expected from a sitting president was broken by #45! Thank you.
Enjoyed this interview immensely
Thank you Frontline!
BSC/PHDS/8&3
wow this guy was very good. well said. well explained.
The truth feels so good!
Can this man be our next President?
ORAL SAX CLINTON
I would absolutely vote for Jelani Cobb if he ran for president. However, he's needed more in journalism and giving a voice to the disenfranchised. He's such a gifted writer and orator.
The habit of Americans of electing people who have not been serving politicians prior is responsible for the country's woes. In Australia you cannot be elected to premier or prime minister without first serving many years as an elected member of parliament. How can you possibly govern the country without experience in politics?
The more listen to this man I hope. More of American learn from him.
History unfolding. Great insight into the psyche of our divided nation.
Spot on!!!!
I am Flattered by the Intelligience of Mr.Jelani Cobb. He's so Brilliant that Listening to him was Pleasant.
Flattered? How?
Mr. Cobb is brilliant!
Mr. Cobb is such an impressive and intelligent man. I always enjoy listening to his views.
Jelani, your insights, delivery, and grasp all unite to educate those who care. Thank you.
Intelligent, articulate, insightful. Professor Cobb has the ability to put into perspective the state of our politics and how we got to where we are. Thank you Frontline for another great conversation.
Love ❤these interviews. More plzzz… and Jelani Cobb, excellent
folks share these interviews with ur family and friends and VOTE and write and share your views digitally. We must talk to save democracy!
Thank you for your intelligent, factual conversation. An adult in the room you are.
Impressive interview. I thought Cobb's point about Trump lacking humility is important. If he had any humility, we would not have been embarrassed at Helsinki or experienced the January 6th attacks, among many other disasters.
I want this man to read me a story every night while I fall asleep.
Can I join
Absolutely Brilliant, riveting, comprehensive, vital understanding of the feral power of the trump effect. Spoken in a voice gratifyingly intelligent and deep. A literally physical tone of voice that only amplifies his well-earned authority. Thank you.
Thank you for this interview. We all come from different backgrounds and perspectives. I appreciate learning to see what to me would mean nothing really as a "dog whistle" to others whose intentions are not the same as mine. It's good to be able to see what's right in front of me that I would otherwise have missed.
Amazing video. Was lead by my angels.. most intelligent interview, truth and wisdom.go hand in hand. A voice of reasoning, in the best wisest way.. jelani your heart and soul emote from your God given beautiful voice. Ty 4 truth!!!❤
Cobb 2024! Yes a white suburban housewife posted this. Insightful, intelligent and refreshing.
At 30:27 Mr. Cobb discusses Evangelicals. He rightly points out that it was surprising to many that Evangelicals supported Trump. But, to those who have watched the shift in the Evangelical community to the Prosperity Doctrine it's not at all surprising.
Religion and the churches and organizations that spring from it have always been hypocritical. Even so, the current Evangelical movement is not your Great Grandfather's Evangelical movement. The shift toward greed and political power that predates Trump made their support of him inevitable.
I'd take the comment of @Kate Hanley below one step further and say that I find many of these full interviews *more* interesting than the final, edited documentary. Not disparaging the final product at all. Rather it's a different process altogether listening to these. And it's one I often prefer.
Man, I wish I could have his voice! His vocal tone is amazing. Very competent journalist too.
8:00 it was obvious to anyone who:
A: was paying attention
B: had decent sense of history
Jelani Cob I respect your analysis 200%