Bari Weiss

I'm so happy to have you here. Well, I want to start out at the beginning of your life for those who have not yet encountered you as I have. So you were born in the UK, but then your family moved back to Lagos, Nigeria when you were very young and you were raised there for the first 16 years of your life. Now, in those years, Nigeria had a series of military coups. Inflation reached 40 percent.

Life expectancy was around 46 years old. And by the end of the decade, 43 percent of Nigerians lived below the poverty line. Tell us about your childhood growing up in Nigeria and how this political and economic context shaped your character and shaped your politics.

Life expectancy was around 46 years old. And by the end of the decade, 43 percent of Nigerians lived below the poverty line. Tell us about your childhood growing up in Nigeria and how this political and economic context shaped your character and shaped your politics.

Life expectancy was around 46 years old. And by the end of the decade, 43 percent of Nigerians lived below the poverty line. Tell us about your childhood growing up in Nigeria and how this political and economic context shaped your character and shaped your politics.

But they're not in oil. Your dad isn't.

But they're not in oil. Your dad isn't.

But they're not in oil. Your dad isn't.

Margaret Thatcher is running the UK at that time. What did your family think of her? And what were the politics like of your family growing up?

Margaret Thatcher is running the UK at that time. What did your family think of her? And what were the politics like of your family growing up?

Margaret Thatcher is running the UK at that time. What did your family think of her? And what were the politics like of your family growing up?

So 1996, you're 16 years old. You move back to London alone. You said your dad gave you basically his last hundred dollars.

So 1996, you're 16 years old. You move back to London alone. You said your dad gave you basically his last hundred dollars.

So 1996, you're 16 years old. You move back to London alone. You said your dad gave you basically his last hundred dollars.

Did she do fries? That was the kind of infamous thing she said is, I did the fries, which sounded very suspicious to everybody.

Did she do fries? That was the kind of infamous thing she said is, I did the fries, which sounded very suspicious to everybody.

Did she do fries? That was the kind of infamous thing she said is, I did the fries, which sounded very suspicious to everybody.

You joined the Conservative Party when you're 25 years old. Most people when they're 25 years old do not become conservative. And certainly most black women do not become conservative. Why join the Conservative Party? What made you a conservative?

You joined the Conservative Party when you're 25 years old. Most people when they're 25 years old do not become conservative. And certainly most black women do not become conservative. Why join the Conservative Party? What made you a conservative?

You joined the Conservative Party when you're 25 years old. Most people when they're 25 years old do not become conservative. And certainly most black women do not become conservative. Why join the Conservative Party? What made you a conservative?

Were there certain books or texts or essays that you were reading at the time? Yes, definitely. What were you reading that was formative in those years?