NBC Late Night host Seth Meyers welcomed Sen. Bernie Sanders on to his Monday-taped show to discuss the midterms, how his socialist policies make him an economic genius, and how much Meyers appreciates him. Naturally, there was also plenty of trashing of Republicans and warnings of aspiring authoritarians.
During the interview, Meyers lamented that Sanders’s views on economics are not widely shared, “It must be frustrating for someone like you that has a real understanding of the minutiae of the economy, how it affects so many people, and yet you must also appreciate that you're at the mercy, come election day, or we might be he mercy, of what the gas prices are that day that not every American looks at the stock market ticker every day, but most of them drive by and they see a number. And that number indicates something.”
Right on cue, Sanders responded by proving that he is not an economic heavyweight, “That's right, you're absolutely right and yet what we should understand is that while gas prices have soared -- they're going -- have gone down considerably -- the oil companies are making record-breaking profits. When people go to the supermarket and see the high price of food, understand that you got a handful of food companies that control the industry that are also making record-breaking profits.”
Sanders then proceeded to argue that if you do not agree with him and his inflation-causing policies then you are opening the door to strongmen:
And I'll tell you something, Seth, if we are not successful in doing that, you're going to see more and more people saying, ‘I don't believe in democracy. Why are you telling me about government you give me a 30 second stupid ad on TV, and yet I can't afford to send my kid to college, I can't afford rent, I can't afford to buy a house. Don't tell me about that crap anymore. I want a strongman who's going to get things right, get the trains to run on time.’
And you see that in Italy recently so, you know, this is not just an economic issue. It's a political issue, and that we can lose our democracy unless you have a government that stands with the working class of this country and not just wealthy campaign contributors.
Later in a second segment with Sanders, Meyers further lamented not only that it took Dobbs to motivate Democrats, but also that Republicans are polling well on economic issues, “if I can just bring it back to midterms one more time, it does seem like, you know, the left has been -- I don't know, energized by the worst possible reason, which was Dobbs. And then you have -- so maybe the left is surging ahead based on abortion. But it does seem like the right dominates the economy as it gets closer and closer to an election. What do politicians in the Democratic Party have to do?”
After Sanders responded by giving his typical socialist spiel, including how $15 an hour is no longer a sufficient minimum wage, Meyers concluded by thanking Sanders not just for being on the show, but for being a left-wing senator, “Well, I really appreciate you making the time as always. Keep up the good fight in D.C. for us, and we'll see you next time.”
Sanders would continue that “fight” on Tuesday’s CBS Mornings where he again ran through his usual talking points and was not asked if his inflation-causing policies might have anything do with the high cost of living.
This segment was sponsored by Claritin.
Here is a transcript for the September 27 show:
NBC Late Night with Seth Meyers
9/27/2022
1:01 AM ET
SETH MEYERS: It must be frustrating for someone like you that has a real understanding of the minutiae of the economy, how it affects so many people, and yet you must also appreciate that you're at the mercy, come election day, or we might be he mercy, of what the gas prices are that day that not every American looks at the stock market ticker every day, but most of them drive by and they see a number. And that number indicates something.
BERNIE SANDERS: That's right, you're absolutely right and yet what we should understand is that while gas prices have soared -- they're going -- have gone down considerably -- the oil companies are making record-breaking profits. When people go to the supermarket and see the high price of food, understand that you got a handful of food companies that control the industry that are also making record-breaking profits.
So I think what we have to deal with is this issue of corporate greed, of billionaire control of our political system, of concentration of ownership, and we've got to tell the American people that we're going to fight. And it's not going to happen tomorrow but the fight has got to be for a government that works for all of us and not just for the people on top.
And I'll tell you something, Seth, if we are not successful in doing that, you're going to see more and more people saying, "I don't believe in democracy. Why are you telling me about government you give me a 30 second stupid ad on TV, and yet I can't afford to send my kid to college, I can't afford rent, I can't afford to buy a house. Don't tell me about that crap anymore. I want a strongman who's going to get things right, get the trains to run on time.”
And you see that in Italy recently so, you know, this is not just an economic issue. It's a political issue, and that we can lose our democracy unless you have a government that stands with the working class of this country and not just wealthy campaign contributors.
…
1:13 AM ET
MEYERS: So, what -- you know, I think -- you know, if I can just bring it back to midterms one more time, it does seem like, you know, the left has been -- I don't know, energized by the worst possible reason, which was Dobbs. And then you have -- so maybe the left is surging ahead based on abortion. But it does seem like the right dominates the economy as it gets closer and closer to an election. What do politicians in the Democratic Party have to do?
SANDERS: Look, what you have to say is, be honest about what Republicans stand for. Republicans have made clear, Mitch McConnell and others, that they want to cut Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. I think that's a horrible thing to do, but it's bad politically.
The entire world is worried about the crisis of climate change, and these guys are really indebted to the fossil fuel industry. They're not gonna do anything on it. Many of us want to raise the minimum wage to a living wage. I introduced legislation for 15 bucks an hour, which is not enough now. We had zero Republican support.
So, I think if you look at the Republican Party, issue by issue, you know, it is clear that they are the party that represents the wealthy and the powerful. Are the Democrats doing enough for working people? No, but I think the contrast between the two is strong enough that I would hope that all over this country people reject this right-wing extremism and put Democrats back in office in the House and the Senate.
MEYERS: Well, I really appreciate you making the time as always. Keep up the good fight in D.C. for us, and we'll see you next time.
