Oz Veloshian

Because Fareed, in my view, has been every bit as forthcoming and honest and speaking with authenticity and integrity as I have tried to over the last five years, but he's working for CNN.

Right, actually much harder for him to do it, much more consequential for him to do it.

And I speak to him about this a lot and how much I appreciate and respect the fact that he continues to speak truth to power.

And frankly, in some ways, it's kind of uncomfortable for him.

My natural personality is to be out there and say what I want.

You know, I get on stage and Farid is a little bit more buttoned up.

He's a little more cautious, right?

I don't think he'd wear a hoodie with a blazer.

I mean, that's just Farid, right?

But he understands the importance of the moment.

And for me, the optimism doesn't come from the system.

It doesn't come from the institutions.

The optimism comes from the people.

The optimism is that despite all of our lack of belief in the fact that so much of this is coin operated, so much of this is non-representative, that actually individuals, when you sit down and talk with them, are good people.

And they still want the truth.

And they want people to believe in.

And they can sniff it out when you're full of crap.

And they'll turn the channel when they think you're inauthentic.

And they want that.

They want people that they can really connect with.