Steve Inskeep

I just want to underline for people, Mississippi, traditionally right near the bottom in education.

And it's a very conservative state.

Let's note that as well.

So what are they doing right?

I just want to note, you're a Democrat, you went to an overwhelmingly Republican state.

Is there anything partisan about what you're saying?

Anything at all?

You mean national Republicans, I assume, since you're praising Mississippi, but go on.

To Rahm Emanuel, reading is far more important than divisive social issues, which he says Democrats have focused on too much in the past.

This was the subject of a much debated comment that he had when appearing on Megyn Kelly's podcast last year.

Can a man become a woman?

Thank you.

No.

After a break, we discuss that quote and ask Emmanuel what he meant.

You have argued that your party was missing its priorities on education, arguing, and I paraphrase here, that Democrats were spending too much time on who goes into what school bathroom and not enough time on the kinds of issues that you have raised.

Too much time on trans issues, to be blunt.

You, a few months ago, were on a Megyn Kelly podcast, and she asked you a yes-no question.

And as I recall, the question was, can a man become a woman?

You said no, then said you were heading for the Witness Protection Program.

Yeah.