>>> NOW, OWNING A HOME, HAVING A STABLE JOB, AND A WELL-FUNDED RETIREMENT PLAN.

ALL OF THESE ARE KEY ATTRIBUTES OF AMERICA'S MIDDLE CLASS.

BUT MANY YOUNG AMERICANS FEAR ATTAINING MIDDLE CLASS STATUS IS INCREASINGLY OUT OF REACH.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO MICHELLE DICKERSON, AUTHOR OF "THE MIDDLE CLASS NEW DEAL: RESTORING UPWARD MOBILITY AND THE AMERICAN DREAM."

SHE TELLS WALTER ISAACSON WHY THE MIDDLE CLASS WAS ESTABLISHED AND WHY IT'S STRUGGLING TODAY.

>> THANK YOU, BIANCA.

WELCOME TO THE SHOW.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> YOUR BOOK IS "THE MIDDLE CLASS NEW DEAL."

IT'S FILLED WITH PRESCRIPTIONS FOR HOW WE CAN RESTORE A SECURE MIDDLE CLASS IN THE UNITED STATES.

LET'S START WITH HOW DID WE GET A MIDDLE CLASS IN THE FIRST PLACE.

IT'S NOT PART OF AMERICAN HISTORY.

IT WAS CREATED BY POLICIES.

>> IT WAS PART OF RECENT AMERICAN POLICY.

EVERYONE WANTS TO PRETEND WE'VE ALWAYS HAD A MIDDLE CLASS.

WE HAVEN'T.

POLITICAL LEADERS DECIDED AFTER THE DEPRESSION AND WORLD WAR II THAT WE NEEDED TO HAVE A STABLE MIDDLE CLASS.

WE NEEDED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE LARGE, SORT OF, SWATH OF PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY COULD BE STABLE.

AND THEY DID THAT BY CREATING THE MIDDLE CLASS.

>> AND THEY DID IT THROUGH THINGS LIKE HOUSING, YOU KNOW, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE NOT DOING NOW, RIGHT?

AND TELL ME ALL THE THINGS THEY DID.

>> YEAH.

THEY DECIDED THAT WE DON'T WANT TO KEEP THE DEPRESSION -- PRE-DEPRESSION MODEL, WHERE PEOPLE HAVE TO COME UP WITH 50% FOR A DOWN PAYMENT, WHERE THEY HAVE TO TAKE OUT A MORTGAGE LOAN THAT'S THREE TO FIVE YEARS, WHICH MEANT THAT AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS, PEOPLE DIDN'T OWN THE HOME.

THEY THEN HAD TO TAKE ANOTHER LOAN IN ORDER TO ACTUALLY BE A HOMEOWNER BECAUSE THEIR LOANS AT THAT TIME DIDN'T AMORTIZE.

SO, AT THE END OF THE FIVE YEARS, THEY STILL OWED MONEY ON THEIR HOMES.

ALTHOUGH WE THINK THE MORTGAGE LOANS WE HAVE NOW ARE THE NORM AND WE'VE ALWAYS HAD THAT, WE DIDN'T.

POLITICAL LEADERS DECIDED THAT THEY NEEDED TO GIVE BANKS ENCOURAGEMENT TO BE ABLE TO CONVINCE BANKS, LET PEOPLE TAKE OUT A LONG-TERM LOAN, REPAY IT OVER TIME, TO BE ABLE TO BUY HOMES.

SO, WHEN WE HAVE THE FHA PROGRAM, WHICH EVERYONE THINKS, OH, WELL, THAT'S THE WAY THAT WE CAN -- THAT WE'VE ALWAYS ALLOWED PEOPLE TO BUY HOMES.

NO.

WE HAVE THAT BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT CREATED IT.

>> YOU SAY IT CAME OUT OF THE DEPRESSION.

OF COURSE IN THE BOOK YOU ALSO DESCRIBE IT CAME OUT OF WORLD WAR II.

VETERANS COMING BACK.

SO, YOU HAVE VETERANS ASSOCIATION LOANS AND OTHER THINGS.

WHAT DID THE VETERAN-TYPE BENEFITS DO TO CREATE A MIDDLE CLASS?

AND WAS THAT DONE JUST INTENTIONALLY TO CREATE A MIDDLE CLASS OR JUST OUT OF OBLIGATION TO PEOPLE COMING BACK FROM WORLD WAR II?

>> I WOULD HOPE IT WAS OBLIGATION.

I WOULD SUSPECT -- I MEAN, I WASN'T THERE.

I WOULD SUSPECT IT WAS ALSO A BIT OF PR, THAT YOU NEED TO DO SOMETHING SO THAT THE SERVICEMEN -- AND ALTHOUGH THERE WERE SOME SERVICEWOMEN, IT WAS MOSTLY MEN -- COMING BACK FROM WAR CAN GET A NEW START.

SO, THEY DID THAT THROUGH THE GI BILL.

AND THE VA LOANS.

SO, BY ALLOWING RETURNING SERVICEMEN TO BE ABLE TO BUY HOMES CHEAPLY USING VA LOANS, TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THE MONEY WITH THE GI BILL, TO BE ABLE TO EITHER GO GET A BACHELOR'S DEGREE OR EVEN GET TRAINING THROUGH A TRADE SCHOOL OR A COMMUNITY COLLEGE-TYPE DEGREE, WE TOLD OUR RETURNING SERVICEMEN, COME BACK, GO TO SCHOOL, BUY A HOME, BUILD SOME HOUSEHOLD WEALTH, AND YOU'LL BE STABLE AND SECURE.

>> LET ME READ YOU A SENTENCE FROM THE BOOK TALKING ABOUT THAT NOT BEING THE NORM ANYMORE.

YOU SAY, BECAUSE OF MY PARENTS' GRIT, HARD WORK, AND DETERMINATION TO BECOME AND REMAIN MIDDLE CLASS, I AM FINANCIALLY SECURE.

BUT THE NEXT SENTENCE SAYS, I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR MY SONS, THOUGH.

YOU'VE GOT TWO SONS.

>> YES.

>> TELL ME WHY YOU'RE NOT SURE THIS WILL CONTINUE.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE SEEING IN THIS COUNTRY, I SEE IT A LOT BECAUSE I TEACH BOTH LAW STUDENTS AND I ALSO SPEND A LOT OF TIME WITH UNDERGRADUATES, MOSTLY STUDENT ATHLETES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, IS THE FEAR AND THE DESPAIR COMING FROM OUR YOUNG ADULTS.

MY SONS ARE 22 AND 25, SO THEY ARE IN THAT AGE BAND.

AND I WOULD SAY REALLY ALL THE YOUNG ADULTS UNDER THE AGE OF 40.

THEY'RE SAYING, WE DID EVERYTHING RIGHT.

WE GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL.

WE REALIZED WE HAVE TO GO TO COLLEGE BECAUSE THE TYPES OF JOBS THAT OUR PARENTS OR OUR GRANDPARENTS WERE ABLE TO GET WHEN THEY GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL, THOSE JOBS AREN'T THERE ANYMORE.

SO, THEY WORK HARD AND THEY GO TO COLLEGE.

MANY OF THEM HAVE HAD TO DROWN THEMSELVES IN STUDENT LOAN DEBT TO GET THE DEGREE.

BUT EVEN THOSE WHOSE PARENTS MAY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HELP THEM GO TO COLLEGE AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO TAKE OUT A LOT OF DEBT ARE NOW COMING OUT IN A MARKET WHERE THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATES FOR THE GRADUATES OF THE CLASS OF 2025 ARE -- WE DON'T SEE THOSE OUTSIDE OF A RECESSION.

SO, I WORRY ABOUT THE FUTURE THAT WE ARE LEAVING FOR OUR YOUNG ADULTS.

AND WE SEE THAT A LOT IN THEY'RE DESPAIR AND IN THEIR ANGER.

>> LET'S DEFINE THE MIDDLE CLASS.

WE DO IT IN THE BOOK SOMEWHAT BY INCOME, SAYING, THIS IS THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT A COLLEGE WILL GIVE YOU FREE TUITION, AND THAT'S, SORT OF, A CUTOFF PARAMETER FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS, RIGHT?

BUT WHAT'S INTERESTING IN THE BOOK IS YOU ALSO USE MARKERS, THE ABILITY TO OWN A HOME, THE ABILITY TO GET A GOOD EDUCATION.

EXPLAIN THE MARKERS TO ME OF WHAT IS A MIDDLE CLASS PERSON.

>> WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT THE MARKERS ARE AND WHEN PEOPLE ARE INTERVIEWED OR SURVEYED ABOUT WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE MIDDLE CLASS, THEY POINT TO THE ABILITY TO HELP THEIR KIDS GO TO COLLEGE.

THEY POINT TO THE ABILITY TO OWN A HOME.

I WOULD SAY NOW IT'S ALSO JUST THE ABILITY TO FIND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

A MARKER IS YOU CAN FIND A GOOD FULL-TIME 40 HOURS A WEEK JOB THAT HAS BENEFITS, AND YOU ARE CALLED AN EMPLOYEE AND NOT A CONTRACTOR.

IT'S THE ABILITY TO HAVE SAVINGS SO THAT IF YOU BLOW OUT A TIRE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE OUT A PAY DAY LOAN IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO REPLACE THE TIRE SO YOU CAN GO TO WORK.

IT'S THE ABILITY TO HAVE RETIREMENT SAVINGS SO YOU'RE NOT 55 OR 60 YEARS OLD AND THINKING, I MAY HAVE TO WORK UNTIL I DIE BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE A PENSION IN THE WAY THAT MY PARENTS HAVE A PENSION.

EVERY MONTH, MY PARENTS GET A SOCIAL SECURITY AND A PENSION.

THEY HAVE FOUR STABLE SOURCES OF INCOME.

AND THEN THE FINAL MARKER IS, SORT OF, THE FLIP OF YOU WANT TO HAVE SAVINGS, YOU DON'T ALWAYS WANT TO BE IN DEBT.

AND IT IS INCREASINGLY HARD FOR YOUNG ADULTS TO BE ABLE TO OBTAIN THE MARKERS OF THE MIDDLE CLASS.

>> WELL, LET'S START WITH THE FIRST OF THE MARKERS YOU TALK ABOUT, WHICH IS HOUSING.

NOW, WHEN I TURNED 30, THAT WAS THE AVERAGE AGE OF PEOPLE GETTING A HOME.

YOU SAY THAT, TOO, IN THE BOOK.

NOW AT 40, MOST PEOPLE DON'T YET HAVE A STABLE HOME.

HOW DO WE FIX THAT?

>> I'LL MENTION A SENATE BILL, A RECENT SENATE BILL THAT PASSED THROUGH THE SENATE.

I HAVEN'T READ IT IN DETAIL BECAUSE WHO KNOWS WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO RECONCILE THE SENATE BILL WITH THE HOUSE BILL.

BUT THE FEEL THAT I LOVE ABOUT THAT BILL IS -- WELL, THE MAIN THING IS THEY HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT HOUSING IS UNAFFORDABLE.

THE SECOND THING IS THEY'RE THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR THE FIRST TIME AT LEAST SINCE I'VE BEEN PAYING ATTENTION -- THIS IS QUITE A FEW YEARS NOW, THEY'RE ACTUALLY SAYING THINGS LIKE MANUFACTURING HOUSING.

NOW, DO I THINK THAT IS THE SOLUTION TO THE HOMEOWNERSHIP CRISIS OR THE AFFORDABILITY CRISIS?

NOT NECESSARILY.

BUT IT MAY BE THE SOLUTION FOR SOME PEOPLE.

SO, THE MAIN THING I'M ARGUING IN THE BOOK AND WHEN I TALK ABOUT, SORT OF, THE MIDDLE CLASS NEW DEAL IS LOOK AT YOUR COMMUNITY.

LOOK AT YOUR ZONING LAWS.

IS THERE SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR ZONING LAWS THAT MAKES IT EITHER HARDER FOR DEVELOPERS TO CONSTRUCT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, OR DOES IT ALLOW PEOPLE WHO ARE EXISTING HOMEOWNERS TO FENCE OUT THE MIDDLE CLASS AND MAKE SURE THEY CAN NEVER LIVE THERE?

SO, I WOULD LIKE PEOPLE TO THINK BROADLY AND ALSO TO FOCUS ON YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO SEE WHAT COULD YOU DO THERE.

>> THE SECOND MARKET YOU TALKED ABOUT WAS JUST A GOOD, SECURE JOB, NOT NECESSARILY THE HIGHEST-PAYING JOB IN THE WORLD, BUT ONE THAT YOU CAN COUNT ON AND MIGHT ACTUALLY GIVE YOU BENEFITS LIKE HEALTH CARE AND PENSION.

WHAT'S GONE WRONG WITH THAT, AND HOW DO WE FIX THAT PART?

>> TWO THINGS WENT WRONG.

THE FIRST WAS -- AND EVERYONE TALKED ABOUT, OH, IT'S GLOBAL OUTSOURCING.

THEY'RE SENDING OUR JOBS OVERSEAS.

AND THAT WAS TRUE.

THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED, SORT OF, EARLY -- '70s, EARLY 80s.

BUT AN INTERESTING THING WAS HAPPENING DOMESTICALLY THAT NO ONE WAS PAYING ATTENTION TO, AND I CALL IT DOMESTIC OUTSOURCING.

IT'S WHEN COMPANIES TOOK -- PULLED UNITS.

SO, THEY WOULD TAKE THE ACCOUNTING OR THEY WOULD TAKE THE LANDSCAPE, THE FOLKS THAT THEY USED TO EMPLOYEE TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROPERTY IF IT WAS A BIG BUSINESS, AND THEY BASICALLY SAID, WE'RE FIRING ALL OF YOU.

AND THEN THEY GO OUT AND THEY EFFECTIVELY REHIRE THE SAME PEOPLE BUT THROUGH A CONTRACTING AGENCY.

SO, THESE FOLKS WOULD SHOW UP, DO THE SAME WORK THEY ALWAYS DID, BUT THEY WOULD BE PRIVATE CONTRACTORS OR THEY WOULD BE TEMPORARY EMPLOYERS EMPLOYED BY THE CONTRACTING SERVICER.

SO, IF THE BUSINESS DECIDED THEY DIDN'T WANT TO USE THAT COMPANY ANYMORE, YOU LOST YOUR JOB EVEN THOUGH YOU DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG.

>> HOW DO WE STOP -- HOW WOULD ONE STOP THAT?

THAT SEEMS PART OF THE MARKET ECONOMY.

>> IT IS PART OF THE MARKET ECONOMY.

BUT AS ALWAYS, THE EXPRESSION I ALWAYS USE IS, WE CAN TELL WHO WE VALUE BASED ON WHO WE TAX.

YOU CAN MAKE CHANGES BASED ON WHO GETS CERTAIN TAX BENEFITS T. ONE I'LL POINT TO NOW IS WHAT WE'RE SEEING WITH A.I.

SO, WHEN WE HAVE COMMUNITIES OR STATES THAT ARE GIVING CERTAIN COMPANIES BENEFITS AND THOSE COMPANIES ARE EITHER COMING IN AND ELIMINATING JOBS COMPLETELY OR THEY ARE ELIMINATING THOSE JOBS BECAUSE OF A.I., IF THE STATE IS SUBSIDIZING THAT, STOP THE SUBSIDIES.

>> LET ME GO TO EDUCATION.

IF I WERE TO DESIGN A SCHOOL SYSTEMS, YOU KNOW, K-12 SCHOOL SYSTEM, THAT WOULD JUST BE A GUT PUNCH TO TRYING TO CREATE A MIDDLE CLASS, I WOULD SAY, OKAY, LET'S HAVE THE SCHOOL START AFTER PEOPLE ARE SUPPOSED TO GO TO WORK.

LET'S PUT THEIR KIDS ON THE STREET AT 3:00 IN THE AFTERNOON.

AND LET'S GIVE THEM THE ENTIRE SUMMER OFF SO THAT A WORKING CLASS FAMILY IS HITTING IT FROM ALL SIDES AND A WEALTHY FAMILY CAN HAVE ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS IN THE SUMMER, BUT THE MIDDLE CLASS JUST HAS THE KIDS IN THE SUMMER.

TELL ME HOW WE SHOULD BE FIXING EDUCATION IN THIS COUNTRY.

>> YOU HAVE DESCRIBED THE ABSOLUTE DISASTER, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT WE ARE DOING NOW.

WE'RE STILL PRETENDING AS IF WE'RE AN AGRARIAN ECONOMY WHERE YOU NEED TO HAVE THE KIDS OFF DURING THE WHOLE SUMMER BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT TO WORK THE CROPS.

THEY GO THERE FROM SUNSET.

YOU NEED THEM BEFORE SUNSET TO HELP YOU ON THE FARM, AND IT'S RIDICULOUS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I ARGUE IS DURING COVID, WE SAW THAT WE CAN BE VERY INNOVATIVE AS A COUNTRY.

WE CAN THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX.

WE CAN THINK OF ALL SORTS OF WAYS TO USE SCHOOL BUILDINGS.

WE USE THEM FOR TESTING CENTERS.

WE USE THEM FOR VACCINE DISTRIBUTION.

WE SHOULD LOOK AT OUR SCHOOLS AND SAY, HOW CAN WE USE THOSE BUILDINGS TO MAKE LIFE BETTER FOR MIDDLE INCOME AND POORER CHILDREN, SIMPLE THINGS LIKE, CAN WE USE THE BUILDINGS IN WAYS TO HELP THEM CATCH UP FROM THE SUMMER SLIDE, THE EDUCATIONAL LOSSES THAT ALL CHILDREN HAVE?

AS YOU MENTIONED, RICH KIDS REALLY DON'T HAVE TO WORRY SO MUCH ABOUT THEIR SLIDE BECAUSE THEIR PARENTS ARE GOING TO PUT THEM IN SUMMER CAMPS, ROBOTIC CAMPS, TUTORING, S.A.T.

PREP COURSES.

MIDDLE INCOME AND POOR CHILDREN GENERALLY DON'T DO THAT.

WELL, PUBLIC SCHOOL BUILDINGS, THEY'RE ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO HAVE ELECTRICITY AND TO HAVE WATER.

SO, WHY HAVE SUCH A TRUNCATED SCHOOL DAY IF WE CAN USE THE BUILDINGS THAT ARE ALREADY THERE TO BETTER HELP OUR LOWER AND MIDDLE INCOME CHILDREN HAVE A SHOT AT A MIDDLE CLASS LIFESTYLE?

>> WAS THE COLLEGE FOR ALL MINDSET A BAD IDEA?

>> THE COLLEGE FOR ALL MINDSET I THINK WAS A BAD IDEA ONLY BECAUSE IT WAS FORCED UPON US.

IT WAS FORCED UPON US BY BUSINESSES THAT DECIDED TO USE THE COLLEGE DEGREE, A BACHELOR'S DEGREE, AS THE CUTOFF FOR WILL WE EVEN INTERVIEW THIS PERSON.

SO, THE COLLEGE FOR ALL -- HIGH SCHOOLS BASICALLY STARTED TELLING -- OR STATES STARTED TELLING THEIR HIGH SCHOOLS, YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY SINGLE KID THAT GRADUATES IS READY TO GO TO COLLEGE.

THERE ARE SOME KIDS THAT EITHER DON'T WANT TO GO TO COLLEGE OR AREN'T NECESSARILY SUITED FOR A FOUR-YEAR PROGRAM.

WE'VE IGNORED THE BENEFITS THAT COMMUNITY COLLEGES HAVE DONE.

COMMUNITY COLLEGES -- AND I'M A HUGE FAN OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES, ALTHOUGH I TEACH AT A FOUR-YEAR -- BECAUSE COMMUNITY COLLEGES CAN PIVOT QUICKLY.

IF A NEW MANUFACTURING COMPANY IS COMING INTO YOUR AREA AND THEY NEED A TRAINED WORKFORCE, A COMMUNITY COLLEGE CAN CREATE A SIX- NINE- MONTH CERTIFICATE.

THEY CAN TAKE PEOPLE THAT ARE THERE, TRAIN THEM, GIVE THEM A CERTIFICATE SO THEY CAN WORK.

I OBVIOUSLY AM A HUGE FAN OF FOUR-YEAR COLLEGES.

I HAVE TAUGHT IT, TOO.

MY CHILDREN WENT TO THEM.

BUT I THINK THE COLLEGE FOR ALL MANTRA WAS USED BY BUSINESSES BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT, THIS IS THE EASIEST WAY FOR US TO ELIMINATE A LOT OF THE PEOPLE.

WE DON'T HAVE TO HIRE THEM.

WE DON'T NEED TO LOOK AT THEIR RESUMES OR WHATEVER HAPPENS NOW WITH THE ALGORITHMS ONLINE.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE A BACHELOR'S DEGREE, YOU'RE OUT.

>> WHEN I FINISHED YOUR BOOK, I REALIZED IT WASN'T JUST ABOUT, YOU KNOW, MIDDLE CLASS HAVING TO STRUGGLE IN AFFORDABILITY, ALTHOUGH THAT WAS HUGE.

IT WAS ABOUT A BIGGER SOCIAL CHANGE.

WHEN YOU SAY THAT THE MEDIAN AGE FOR BUYING A HOME IS NOW 40, THE HIGHEST IT'S EVER BEEN, AND THEN YOU LOOK AT THE FACT THAT PEOPLE AREN'T GETTING MARRIED, PARTLY BECAUSE OF THAT.

THEY'RE NOT HAVING CHILDREN BECAUSE OF THAT.

THERE'S NOT FAMILY FORMATION.

THEY DON'T FEEL THEY HAVE A SECURE JOB AT A SECURE WAGE.

TO WHAT EXTENT IS THIS MORE THAN JUST ABOUT ECONOMICS AND IT JUST ALMOST TEARING APART THE FABRIC OF OUR SOCIETY?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE MIDDLE CLASS HAS ALWAYS MEANT IN THIS COUNTRY, IGNORING THE WAY THAT I DEFINE IT IN TERMS OF INCOME, THE MIDDLE CLASS HAS ALWAYS MEANT NORM.

IT'S ALWAYS MEANT STABLE.

IT'S ALWAYS MEANT SECURE.

AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE A MIDDLE CLASS -- IF YOU ARE A PERSON THAT IS STRUGGLING TO BECOME MIDDLE CLASS OR YOU WAKE UP EVERY MORNING IN FEAR THAT YOU'RE GOING TO TUMBLE OUT OF THE MIDDLE CLASS, WE START GETTING INTO A SPACE OF EMOTIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL AND NOT JUST FINANCIAL.

TO IMAGINE THAT WE ARE IN A COUNTRY WHEN YOUNG ADULTS DON'T THINK THEY'RE EVER GOING TO BE ABLE TO MOVE OUT OF THEIR PARENTS' HOME AND LIVE INDEPENDENTLY UNLESS THEY HAVE TWO OR THREE OTHER ROOMMATES.

WHEN YOU HAVE YOUNG ADULTS THAT AREN'T DATING BECAUSE THEY DON'T THINK THEY CAN AFFORD TO GET MARRIED AND MANY THAT DO GET MARRIED, THEIR BABIES ARE FUR BABIES AND THEY'RE NOT GRANDBABIES FOR THOSE OF US THAT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE GRANDCHILDREN ONE DAY.

THAT IS A FUNDAMENTAL TRANSFORMATION OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY.

AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT OUR POLITICAL LEADERS REALLY NEED TO BE PAYING ATTENTION TO.

>> MICHELLE DICKERSON, THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME ON.