For the second time in two days, CBS This Morning managed to twist a light segment into something political. Co-host Gayle King interviewed Bruce Springsteen, but decided to goad the liberal singer into discussing 2020. After playing a recent clip of Donald Trump King, King pressed, “So he's going back to 2016. This is now 2019. Are you surprised that he's trash talking you after all this time?”
The journalist prompted, “I mean, a lot of people are very concerned about the direction of the country.” Springsteen replied, “It's just frightening. We're living in a frightening time. The stewardship of the nation has been thrown away to somebody who doesn't have a clue as to what that means.”
Regarding 2020, King attempted to find out which Democrat the singer supported: “Well, you know, you campaigned Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. Is there anybody if they called you said, ‘Okay, I'll go out?’”
Springsteen was a big backer of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. But, King is also a Democratic donor. No wonder it was a comfy interview.
On Thursday, CBS brought on British royal expert Tina Brown to supposedly talk about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Instead, the former Newsweek editor slammed the “racist” “Brexit England.”
A partial transcript of the segment is below. Click “expand” to read more.
CBS This Morning
10/25/19
8:22AM ET
GAYLE KING: The songs he's written are considered American classics and have been praised by presidents of both parties from Ronald Reagan —
RONALD REAGAN: New Jersey's own Bruce Springsteen.
KING: — To Barack Obama.
BARACK OBAMA: He's the only guy a president still has to call "Boss" others than the First Lady.
KING: President Trump, on the other hand, was not as kind at a recent campaign rally.
DONALD TRUMP: And I didn't need little Bruce Springsteen and all of these —
KING: He was implying that other people need to have all that help. He doesn't need that. So he's going back to 2016. This is now 2019. Are you surprised that he's trash talking you after all this time?
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN: Not really. Anything's possible.
KING: I know! I mean, a lot of people are very concerned about the direction of the country.
SPRINGSTEEN: It's just frightening. We're living in a frightening time. The stewardship of the nation has been thrown away to somebody who doesn't have a clue as to what that means.
KING: Uh-huh.
SPRINGSTEEN: You know. I mean, the United States of America is in your care. Do you know what — do you know what the stakes are? Do you know what hat means? And unfortunately we have somebody who I feel doesn't have a grasp of the deep meaning of what it means to be an American.
KING: Well, you know, you campaigned Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. Is there anybody if they called you said, “Okay, I'll go out?”
SPRINGSTEEN: I don't know.
KING: You still assessing yourself?
SPRINGSTEEN: I mean, I've kind of spent my chips on the folks I've helped in the past. But I always take it as it goes and see, see how it turns out or what comes up as we get closer to the elections and things.
KING: Elections and things. Bruce Springsteen, like many Americans, you know, watching the political races closely and carefully and still trying to decide which way they're going to go. I really enjoyed talking to him.
