>>> HELLO, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO AMANPOUR & COMPANY PICTURES WHAT IS COMING UP.

TERRIFYING SEEMS AS DEVASTATING WILDFIRES BEAR DOWN ON L.A., FORCING THOUSANDS TO FLEE THEIR HOMES.

THEN.

>>> WITH TRUMP MISSING MASS DEPORTATIONS ON DAY ONE, I SPEAK TO THE OUTGOING SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY, ALEJANDRA MAYORKAS, ON HIS RECORD AND THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FACING THE NEW ADMINISTRATION.

>>> ALSO AHEAD.

>> I BELIEVE IF THERE WAS SOME KIND OF UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE PLAN I WOULD STILL BE THERE.

I WOULD BE ABLE TO GIVE 100% AND BE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE.

AND MAYBE WE WOULD STILL BE OPEN.

>> Reporter: MICHELLE MARTIN SPEAKS TO A RESTAURANT TOUR ABOUT NAVIGATING SYSTEMIC INEQUALITY IN THE CULINARY INDUSTRY.

>>> AMANPOUR & COMPANY IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE ANDERSON FAMILY ENDOWMENT.

JIM ATWOOD AND LESLIE WILLIAMS.

CANDACE KING LEAR, THE SYLVIA A AND SIMON B.

POINT UP PROGRAMMING ENDOWMENT TO FIGHT AT A SEMITISM.

THE FAMILY FOUNDATION OF LAYLA AND MICKEY STRAUSS.

MARK J. LESHNER, THE FILM AND HIM.

D'AGOSTINO FOUNDATION.

SETON J MELVIN, THE PETER G PETERSON AND JOAN GANZ COONEY FUND.

CHARLES ROSENBLUM.

COMMITTED TO BRIDGING CULTURAL DIFFERENCES IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG.

JEFFREY KATZ AND BETH ROGERS AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU!

>> WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM, EVERYONE.

I AM CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR IN LONDON.

MASSIVE DESTRUCTION AND HARROWING ESCAPES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AS OUT-OF-CONTROL WILDFIRES SWEEP ACROSS LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

THE NOISE IS QUITE SOMETHING.

THE FIRES ARE SPREAD BY A FIERCE WINDSTORM WITH GUSTS REACHING HURRICANE STRENGTH.

AUTHORITIES SAY THEY HAVE CAUSED DEATHS AND SIGNIFICANT INJURIES.

TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ORDERED TO EVACUATE AND MORE THAN 1000 BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN DESTROYED.

FIRST RESPONDERS HAVE FOCUSED ON GETTING PEOPLE OUT OF HARM'S WAY, SAVING LIVES.

THIS WAS THE SCENE EARLIER IN PACIFIC PALISADES.

>> THE COMBINATION OF THIS WIND , WHICH IT DOES FEEL LIKE I AM STANDING IN A HURRICANE, EXCEPT FOR I AM GETTING PELTED WITH SAND BECAUSE THE OCEAN IS LITERALLY RIGHT THERE, AND ALSO I AM SURROUNDED BY THE SMOKE AND EMBERS THAT ARE FLYING OFF AND LITTLE PIECES OF ASH THAT ARE FLYING OFF AS WELL.

YOU CAN SEE THIS BUILDING HERE IS STILL ON FIRE.

IN FACT, EVERY NOW AND THEN, LIKE RIGHT NOW, I GET A WAVE OF HEAT THAT ACTUALLY COMES UP OFF THE BUILDING AND YOU CAN FEEL IT HERE EVEN ACROSS THE HIGHWAY.

WE WATCHED AS A PART OF THAT BUILDING BURNED DOWN THIS MORNING.

THE TOP RIGHT-HAND CORNER BURNED DOWN OF THAT BUILDING AND THEN WE SAW THIS FLOODING OF THE AREA BY FIREFIGHTERS.

FIRST RESPONDERS, WHO SHUT DOWN SUNSET BOULEVARD AND ARE NOT LETTING ANYONE GO UP THERE RIGHT NOW.

THEY ACTUALLY JUST RIPPED IT OFF.

SEE THAT WIND?

THAT WIND IS REALLY STRONG.

AND THEN MORE BACK HERE IN THIS CANYON ON THIS SIDE TOO.

IT IS UNBELIEF HOW THE LIGHTING HAS CHANGED, WHEN THE SUN WAS UP WE COULD NOT EVEN REALLY TELL.

THE WAYS OF DARKNESS HERE WHERE WE REALLY CAN'T SEE AND THEN IT CLEARS UP AGAIN BECAUSE THE SMOKE IS JUST SO THICK.

>> STEPHANIE ELAM REPORTING ON WHAT IT FEELS AND LOOKS LIKE OUT THERE.

EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS ARE ON THE RISE AND IS JUST ONE OF THE MANY THREATS ACROSS THE DESK OF MY FIRST GUEST TONIGHT.

ALEJANDRO MAYORKAS HAZARDOUS , SECURITY SECRETARY FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS WHEN AMICUS NUMBERS BECAME A MAJOR CONCERN FOR BOATERS INCLUDING IN THE ELECTION.

WHILE MUCH FOCUS HAS BEEN ON IMMIGRATION AND TRUMP'S PLANS FOR MASS DEPORTATIONS, THE DOMESTIC TERROR ATTACK IN NEW ORLEANS OVER NEW YEAR'S IS A REMINDER OF THE VERY REAL SECURITY THREAT THE DEPARTMENT HAS TO COMBAT.

HE, ALEJANDRO MAYORKAS, IS PREPARING NOW TO HAND OVER HIS BRIEF TO THE INCOMING TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

SECRETARY ALEJANDRO MAYORKAS, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FROM WASHINGTON, D.C. LOOK, I DO HAVE TO START BY ASKING YOU ABOUT ONE OF THE MAJOR THREATS THAT YOUR DEPARTMENT IDENTIFIES AND THAT IS THIS KIND OF WEATHER EVENT, PLUS CLAIMANT EVENS AND ALL THAT GOES WITH IT.

FIRST OFF WHAT IS THE DEPARTMENT DOING TO HELP IN THIS CURRENT EMERGENCY?

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

HARD FOR THE VICTIMS OF THESE FIRES THAT RAGED ON IN THREE DIFFERENT PARTS OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

MY HOMETOWN.

WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN NOT ONLY THE GRAVITY OF EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS BUT ALSO THEIR FREQUENCY.

WE HAVE SEEN THAT OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS IF NOT LONGER.

WE ARE IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA, GOVERNOR NEWSOM.

I SPOKE YESTERDAY WITH THE MAYOR OF LOS ANGELES.

ACTUALLY THIS MORNING.

WE ARE READY -- ALREADY HAVE BEEN PROVIDING RESOURCES IN THE FIGHT AGAINST THESE READING WILDFIRES.

WE HAVE ALREADY COMMITTED TO REIMBURSE FOR CERTAIN FIREFIGHTING COSTS, AND OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FIREFIGHTING COMMUNITY AS WELL AS THE LEADERSHIP OF THE STATE AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC WILL CONTINUE.

>> CAN YOU TELL US WHAT THE PROGNOSTICATION IS?

RIGHT NOW WE ARE CALLING THEM OUT-OF-CONTROL.

DO THE FIREFIGHTERS HAVE A CHANCE TO GET THEM UNDER CONTROL?

>> THESE FIREFIGHTERS ARE EXTRAORDINARILY EXPERT IN WHAT THEY DO AND THEY ARE ALSO QUITE HEROIC EVERY SINGLE DAY.

THEY WILL GET THESE FIRES UNDER CONTROL BUT RIGHT NOW THE SITUATION IS QUITE DIRE.

AS THE REPORTER JUST COMMUNICATED TO THE VIEWERS, THE WINDS ARE EXTRAORDINARILY STRONG.

IN ADDITION, THE AIR QUALITY HAS BEEN AN OBSTACLE TO OVERCOME IN TERMS OF OVER FIRE FIGHTS AND THE DELIVERY OF WATER TO SUPPRESS THE FIRE.

SO IT IS A VERY CHALLENGING TIME RIGHT NOW.

THEY WILL WRESTLE THESE FIRES TO THE GROUND.

THE KEY IS TO DO SO WHILE MINIMIZING DESTRUCTION AND CASUALTIES.

>> AND SOME OF THE MORE UPSCALE NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE THIS IS HAPPENING LIKE PACIFIC PALISADES, HERE SHOCKING ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE AND REPORTING OF A HUGE AMOUNT OF DESTRUCTION OF WHOLE AREAS THERE .

BUT IN TERMS OF A NATIONAL SECURITY THREAT OR THREAT TO THE HOMELAND, WHICH IS YOUR BRIEF, WHERE DOES EXTREME WEATHER MIGRATION OR DISPLACEMENT CAUSED BY IT REGISTER WITH THE DEPARTMENT?

>> WE HAVE SEEN, INTERNATIONALLY , IN OUR HEMISPHERE AND ACROSS THE ATLANTIC, THE INCREASED SEVERITY AND FREQUENCY OF EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS HAVE DRIVEN PEOPLE FROM THEIR HOMES.

IT IS ONE OF A SERIES OF CONTRIBUTING CHALLENGES THAT FINDS OUR WORLD WITH THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF HUMAN DISPLACEMENT SINCE WORLD WAR II.

THERE ARE OVER 80 MILLION PEOPLE DISPLACED IN THE WORLD TODAY.

CMAC THAT IS GOING TO MAKE THE MAJOR ISSUE THAT SEEMS TO BE ANIMATING VOTERS OVER MUCH OF THE DEMOCRATIC WORLD, INCLUDING IN THE UNITED STATES, THE ISSUE OF MIGRATION, EVEN MORE DIFFICULT, RIGHT?

>> I THINK THE MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE, THE MIGRATION OF PEOPLE IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE A CHALLENGE ON A GLOBAL SCALE.

I WILL SAY RIGHT NOW, WE ARE DELIVERING TO THE INCOMING ADMINISTRATION HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, THE LOWEST NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS ENCOUNTERED AT OUR SOUTHERN BORDER SINCE 2019.

THE NUMBERS ARE LOWER THAN THE AVERAGE IN THAT PRE-PANDEMIC YEAR AND THAT IS BECAUSE OF THE DECISIVE ACTION THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN TOOK IN JUNE 2024 AFTER CONGRESSIONAL INACTION AND THE WORK WE HAVE DONE WITH INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS TO ADDRESS MIGRATION, A CHALLENGE THAT IS NOT UNIQUE TO THE UNITED STATES.

AND THE LAWFUL, SAFE AND ORDERLY PATHWAYS THAT WE HAVE BUILT OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS, TO PROVIDE HUMANITARIAN RELIEF TO PEOPLE WHO QUALIFY UNDER OUR LAWS.

THE KEY IS TO BE STRONG ON ENFORCEMENT WHILE STAYING TRUE TO OUR VALUES AS A NATION.

>> SO YOU HAVE GOT A LOT THERE THAT I WANT TO PICK APART IN A MOMENT AND ASK YOU ABOUT.

BUT FIRST AND FOREMOST, IN TERMS OF THE NUMBERS, YOU SAY THAT YOU ARE DELIVERING A BORDER SITUATION WHERE THERE ARE LESS APPREHENSIONS, LESS MIGRANTS COMING IN, THEN THERE WERE WHEN YOU TOOK OVER.

BUT IN THE MEANTIME, IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT, IT TOOK YOU UNTIL 2024 TO ACHIEVE THAT.

THE NUMBERS WENT UP VERY, VERY STRONGLY.

AND YOU TALK ABOUT CONGRESSIONAL BLOCKAGE, BUT, YOU KNOW, PRESIDENT BIDEN DID IT EVENTUALLY, WITH OR WITHOUT CONGRESS.

WHY DID IT TAKE SO LONG?

>> WELL, REMEMBER WHERE WE WERE WHEN WE ASSUMED OFFICE.

WE WERE IN THE MIDST OF A PANDEMIC, FIGHTING TO OVERCOME IT.

WHICH WE DID MORE SPEEDILY AND EFFECTIVELY THAN ANY COUNTRY IN OUR HEMISPHERE.

BUT WE WERE IMPOSING TITLE 42 OF THE UNITED STATES CODE, THE PUBLIC HEALTH AUTHORITY THAT THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT CONTROLS AND THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP IMPOSED.

WE CONTINUED THAT IN MAY, 2023 UNDER BIPARTISAN SUPPORT TO DO SO.

AND THEN ONCE WE LIFTED TITLE 42, WE TURNED QUICKLY TO CONGRESS FOR SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING.

OUR IMMIGRATION SYSTEM, EVERYONE AGREES, IS FUNDAMENTALLY BROKEN.

IT IS ALSO PERENNIAL UNDER RESOURCE.

SO WE TURN TO CONGRESS FOR ASSISTANCE.

WE WERE DENIED.

WE WENT BACK TO CONGRESS AND AGAIN ASKED FOR SUPPLEMENTAL PERSONNEL, ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL , INVESTIGATIVE OFFICERS AND AGENTS.

IMMIGRATION JUDGES, ASYLUM OFFICERS.

ADDITIONAL FACILITIES.

TRANSPORTATION ASSETS.

WE WERE AGAIN TONIGHT.

WE MOVED QUICKLY INTO BIPARTISAN SENATE NEGOTIATIONS FOR A FUNDAMENTAL REFORM THAT HASN'T BEEN ACCOMPLISHED SINCE 1996.

WE ACTUALLY NEGOTIATED WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A TRANSFORMATIVE PIECE OF LEGISLATION, ONLY TO HAVE IT POLITICALLY KILLED.

PRESIDENT THEN TOOK EXECUTIVE ACTION, AND THE RESULTS HAVE BEEN DRAMATIC.

>> SO, IT WAS POLITICALLY KILLED, REMEMBER, EARLIER LAST YEAR, BY THEN CANDIDATE TRUMP.

BASICALLY TELLING HIS REPUBLICAN ALLIES IN CONGRESS THAT HE WANTS TO RUN ON THIS ISSUE.

AND AS WE KNOW, HE USED A LOT OF FORCE, FIGURES AND FALSE STATISTICS TO TALK ABOUT THAT BORDER.

AND ALSO, AND ABOUT MIGRATION FIGURES.

YOU JUST SAID WE INSISTED ON DOING WHATEVER WE DID LAWFULLY.

AND I AM WONDERING WHETHER YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL PROBLEMS, IF YOU THINK THERE WILL BE, WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP'S PROMISE TO DO MASS DEPORTATIONS PRACTICALLY FROM DAY ONE.

DO YOU THINK IT IS GOING TO BE POSSIBLE, AND WILL IT SUCCEED OR BACKFIRE?

>> I DON'T QUITE GET NO WHAT MASS DEPORTATION MEANS IN REALITY.

I UNDERSTAND THE RHETORIC VERY WELL AND WHAT IT IS CAUSING DOMESTICALLY.

BUT I DO NOT UNDERSTAND -- DO NOT REALLY KNOW HOW IT WILL MATERIALIZE.

WE WILL NEED TO SEE WHAT IT ACTUALLY MEANS IN REAL LIFE AND WHETHER IT DOES TRANSGRESS LEGAL AUTHORITIES.

IT MOST CERTAINLY WILL BE CHALLENGED IN THE COURTS.

I MUST SAY EVERY ACTION IN THE REALM OF IMMIGRATION IS CHALLENGED IN THE COURTS.

IT IS AN INCREDIBLY DIVISIVE ISSUE.

I DO HOPE TOGETHER AND PASSES FROM THE MENTAL REFORM.

NOT JUST WITH RESPECT TO THE MIGRATION OF PEOPLE IN TERMS OF THE HUMANITARIAN RELIEF, BUT ALSO TO ACHIEVE THE DESIRED OUTCOME OF FAMILY REUNIFICATION AS WELL AS ECONOMIC PROSPERITY.

WE DO IT USE THE IMMIGRATION SYSTEM EFFECTIVELY TO ADVANCE OUR ECONOMIC AGENDA AND LEADERSHIP IN THE WORLD.

>> AS YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE MOST HORRIFYING, FRANKLY, ASPECTS OF THE FIRST TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S IMMIGRATION POLICY, CALLED A ZERO TOLERANCE, SEPARATED FAMILIES AND CHILDREN.

AND THERE ARE STILL AT LEAST 1000, MAYBE MORE, CHILDREN ANGUISHING IN THE UNITED STATES YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE THEIR PARENTS ARE AND NOBODY CAN MATCH THE CHILDREN WITH THE PARENTS WHO HAVE PROBABLY BEEN DEPORTED.

I WANT TO PLAY A TWEET BECAUSE AT THE TIME YOUR PREDECESSOR, WHICH WAS SECRETARY KIRSTJEN NIELSEN TWEETED THAT WE DO NOT HAVE A POLICY OF SEPARATING FAMILIES AT THE BORDER, PERIOD.

NOW, THIS WAS FACTUALLY INCORRECT.

THIS IS A WILLFUL AND KNOWING FALSIFICATION OF WHAT ACTUALLY WAS GOING ON AT THAT TIME.

YOU SAID THAT YOU HAD BEEN TALKING TO YOUR SUCCESSOR, GOVERNOR CHRISTIE KNOWN.

HOW DO YOU THINK SHE IS GOING TO HANDLE THIS AND DO YOU BELIEVE THAT SEPARATIONS WILL CONTINUE OR, SORRY, BE REORGANIZED?

>> I CERTAINLY HOPE THAT FAMILY SEPARATION IS NOT DEPLOYED AS A TOOL TO DETER MIGRATION.

THE AMERICAN PUBLIC FOUND IT TO BE CRUEL AND ACCEPTABLE AND AS A RESULT, THAT PRACTICE WAS STOPPED.

WHEN WE TOOK OFFICE, THE PRESIDENT FORMED A FAMILY REUNIFICATION TASK FORCE WHICH I CHAIRED AND WHICH SUCCESSFULLY REUNITED MORE THAN 800 FAMILIES.

BUT THERE ARE THOSE, AS YOU CORRECTLY NOTED, CHRISTIANE, WHO CONTINUE TO SUFFER.

IT IS CERTAINLY MY HOPE THAT THAT CRUEL POLICY DOES NOT FIND ITS WAY BACK TO GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS.

>> BUT THE PRESIDENT ELECT AND SOON-TO-BE PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS INDICATED THAT THEY PROBABLY WOULDN'T NEED TO BE SEPARATIONS BECAUSE IT WILL JUST DEPORT WHOLE FAMILIES.

NOW, THAT PROBABLY MEANS AMERICAN CITIZENS WILL BE AMONG THOSE FAMILIES.

I GUESS PEOPLE WHO WERE BORN IN THE U.S. OR WHATEVER.

HOW DO YOU THINK THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE GOING TO REACT TO THAT?

AND I MUST SAY THAT THE LATEST POLL SHOWS EVEN DEMOCRATIC VOTERS WHEN THEY ARE ASKED, MOVING MUCH MORE TOWARD THE RIGHT ON IMMIGRATION THEY ARE MOVING MUCH FURTHER TOWARDS THIS , YOU KNOW, TOWARD THE RIGHT WING ON THIS ISSUE.

>> I THINK WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT TRANSPIRES.

WHEN THEY SPEAK OF DEPORTING AN ENTIRE FAMILY, I THINK WHAT THEY ARE SPEAKING OF IS IF, FOR EXAMPLE, THE PARENTS ARE UNDOCUMENTED BUT WELL HERE, RESIDENT IN THE UNITED STATES, THEY HAD U.S. CITIZEN CHILDREN, THE FAMILY WILL NEED TO MAKE A DIFFICULT DECISION OF WHETHER THE PARENTS WILL BE DEPORTED ALONE AND THE CHILDREN REMAIN HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, OR WHETHER THE FAMILY WILL ELECT TO STAY UNITED AND LEAVE THE UNITED STATES TOGETHER.

I THINK THAT IS A VERY DIFFICULT CHOICE TO PUT TWO PEOPLE, AND IT CAN AFFECT A GREAT DEAL OF SUFFERING.

BUT IF IN FACT THE POLICIES ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE RHETORIC AND THE PRACTICES FOLLOW THE POLICIES, WE WILL SEE HOW THE ELECTORATE RESPONDS.

BECAUSE WORDS ARE VERY DIFFERENT THAN SEEING THOSE WORDS MATERIALIZE IN HUMAN SUFFERING.

>> I WANT TO ASK YOU KNOW ABOUT ANOTHER ASPECT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, AND THAT IS TERRORISM, OBVIOUSLY.

WHEN THAT ATTACK HAPPENED IN NEW ORLEANS ON NEW YEAR'S DAY, A CERTAIN SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION AND LEADERS AND NOMINEES FOR SECURITY POSITIONS BASICALLY SAID THIS WAS, YOU KNOW, THE RESULT OF MIGRATION, PEOPLE HAD COME THROUGH THE BORDER, ETC.

TURNS OUT THAT IT WASN'T, BUT HERE IS WHAT MIKE WATTS, WHO IS DONALD TRUMP'S PICK FOR NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR, TOLD FOX TODAY AFTER.

HERE IS WHAT HE SAID.

>> I CAN'T UNDERSIZE ENOUGH, CLOSE THE BORDER.

SECURE OUR SOVEREIGNTY AND THAT IS COMPLETELY ACCEPTABLE, THE ENTIRE WORLD KNOWS THAT WE HAVE AN OPEN BORDER.

THE INTENT TO HIT US AND THEY ARE PUSHING PEOPLE INTO OUR INTERIOR TO DO JUST THAT AND THEY KNOW THAT IF WE ARE LOOKING INTERNALLY AT OURSELVES, WE CAN'T BE DEFENDING OURSELVES ABROAD.

>> SO, IT WASN'T, RIGHT?

YOU TELL ME, JUST REMIND THE VIEWERS THAT PERPETRATOR WAS AND HOW DOES THIS IMMEDIATE POLITICIZATION AND WEAPONIZATION OF THE BORDER EFFECT ACTUAL NATIONAL SECURITY?

>> CHRISTIANE, THE TERRORISTS WHO PERPETRATED THE HORRIFIC ATTACKS ON NEW YEAR'S EVE WAS A U.S.-BORN CITIZEN WHO SERVED IN OUR MILITARY.

THE ISSUE OF THE BORDER IS NOT RELATED TO THIS INDIVIDUAL'S ATTACK ON INNOCENT PEOPLE.

14 INNOCENT PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES, OTHERS WERE INJURED INCLUDING TWO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

WE HAVE TO GET TO A PLACE WHERE WE COME TOGETHER AS A COUNTRY IN TIMES OF TRAGEDY AND IN TIMES OF NEED AND NOT POLITICIZE ISSUES THAT SHOULD UNITAS.

AND WE HAVE TO BE UNITED IN THE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM, INCLUDING WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL BORN IN THE UNITED STATES IS RADICALIZED TO VIOLENCE BY A FOREIGN TERRORIST IDEOLOGY, AS APPEARS TO BE THE CASE IN THE NEW ORLEANS TRAGEDY.

>> AND FINALLY, SECRETARY MAYORKAS, ADMINISTRATIONS OUTGOING TELL THE INCOMING WHAT THE BIG CHALLENGES ARE, WHAT THEY THINK THEY SHOULD LOOK OUT FOR.

APART FROM WHAT WE HAVE DISCUSSED, WHAT OTHER ISSUES ON THE HORIZON ARE YOU ADVISING, THE INCOMING ADMINISTRATION TO LOOK OUT FOR?

ANY KIND OF INTERFERENCE OR BAD PRACTICE AND HARM TO THE UNITED STATES FROM OVERSEAS?

>> MOST CERTAINLY, CHRISTIANE.

I DESCRIBE THE HEIGHTENED THREAT LANDSCAPE AS CONSISTING OF THREE PRIMARY THREAT VECTORS.

ONE, THE THREAT OF FOREIGN TERRORISM WHICH PERSISTS AND THAT LED TO THE CREATION OF OUR DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY.

SECOND IS THE INCREASE THREAT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENT EXTREMISM, THE INDIVIDUAL ALREADY RESIDENT IN THE UNITED STATES RADICALIZED TO VIOLENCE BY EITHER A FOREIGN TERRORIST IDEOLOGY, IDEOLOGIES OF HATE, ANTIGOVERNMENT SENTIMENT, FALSE NARRATIVES, PERSONAL GRIEVANCES AND THE LIKE.

AND THE THIRD IS THE THREAT OF ADVERSE NATIONSTATES.

THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA, RUSSIA, NORTH KOREA, IRAN, AND THE ACTIVITIES THAT THEY HAVE LAUNCHED AGAINST THE UNITED STATES.

WE SEE THAT IN THE CYBER REALM MOST ACUTELY NOW.

>> AND I WANT TO ASK YOU ALSO ABOUT NATIONAL SECURITY IN TERMS OF WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS JUST BEEN SAYING AND IS CAUSING A HUGE AMOUNT OF AROUND THE WORLD, AND THAT IS ANNEX GREENLAND, RECLAIM THE PANAMA CANAL, TOLD CANADA IT IS GOING TO BE THE 51st STATE.

ALL TRUMPS IS BASED ON A NATIONAL SECURITY AND ECONOMIC IMPERATIVE.

TO YOUR MIND, A, IS EPIDEMIC?

DOESN'T THAT PUT U.S.

IN THE SAME BOAT AS PUTIN, FOR INSTANCE, ANNEXED HIS TERRITORY AND INVADES WILLY-NILLY WITH HIS MILITARY?

WHAT IS IT A NATIONAL SECURITY IMPERATIVE, DO YOU THINK?

>> WELL, CHRISTIANE, I READ THE NEWSPAPERS AND WATCH THE NEWS AND I HAVE HEARD OVER THE PAST DAY, INDIVIDUALS REPORTEDLY CLOSE TO THE INNER CIRCLE OF THE INCOMING ADMINISTRATION THAT THIS IS A TALK THAT IS A NEGOTIATING TACTIC.

LET'S SEE WHAT MATERIALIZES AND WE WILL ASSESS WHAT MATERIALIZES IN THE CONTEXT OF AMERICAN INTERESTS IN THE WORLD.

PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS BUILT A TREMENDOUS ALLIANCES AROUND THE WORLD AND THEY HAVE MATERIALIZED IN DEFENSE OF UKRAINE AGAINST THE INVASION OF RUSSIA.

AND SO HOPEFULLY THOSE ALLIANCES WILL CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN AND INCREASE AMERICA'S PROMINENCE AS A WORLD LEADER.

>> SECRETARY ALEJANDRO MAYORKAS, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, CHRISTIANE.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> NEXT WE MOVED TO AFGHANISTAN WHERE THE TALIBAN'S CRACKDOWN ON WOMEN'S RIGHTS IS WORSENING BY THE DAY.

THE LATEST IS CLOSING ALL NGOS THAT EMPLOY WOMEN, BANNING THE CONSTRUCTION OF WINDOWS THAT WOMEN MIGHT BE SEEN THROUGH.

AS THE COUNTRY ENTERS YET ANOTHER YEAR OF TALIBAN RULE, IT IS HARD TO FORGET THE CHILLING IMAGES OF THOUSANDS ATTEMPTING TO FLEE BACK IN 2021 WHEN THE U.S.

PULLED OUT.

BUT NOW, A DOCUMENTARY IS GIVING US A GLIMPSE INTO THE MONTHS THAT FOLLOWED.

THE EGYPTIAN FILMMAKER WAS GRANTED LIMITED ACCESS TO THE TALIBAN'S INNER CIRCLE FOR A WHOLE YEAR.

THE RESULT IS HOLLYWOOD GAIT WHICH IS NAMED AFTER THE ABANDONED CIA BASE THAT THE FILM CAPTURES.

TAKE A LOOK.

>> CAMERA.

I CAME TO SEE.

THIS COUNTRY WAS LEFT.

>> AFTER BECOMING A FESTIVAL HIT, THE FILM HAS NOW MADE THE OSCAR SHORTLIST FOR BEST DOCUMENT OR A FEATURE AND THEY SHOT RECENTLY CAME INTO THE STUDIO TO TALK ABOUT HIS EAR WITH THE TALIBAN.

WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM.

SO, JUST LET'S GO BACK TO THE BEGINNING.

WHILE THE U.S. WAS PULLING OUT, HE DECIDED TO PULL IN, SO TO SPEAK.

WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO DO THAT?

>> I THINK SEEING THE FOOTAGE OF THE AIRPORT OF THAT YEAR WHEN EVERYBODY WAS RUNNING TO THE AIRPORT AND SEEING THE FEAR IN THE EYES OF THE PEOPLE HAS EVOKED SOMETHING IN ME.

AND THEN WHEN I SAW THE IMAGE OF THOSE WHO CLUNG TO THE AIRPLANE AND FELL AND LOST THEIR LIFE JUST TRYING TO RUN AWAY FROM THE SITUATION, I COULDN'T RESIST, THERE IS SOMETHING INSIDE ME TELLING ME TO GO.

>> I THINK WHAT IS EXTRAORDINARY IS THOSE PICTURES, WHICH ACTUALLY SHOCKED THE WORLD, ALSO WAS -- LIT A FIRE UNDER YOU TO GO THERE.

HOW DID YOU CONVINCE THE TALIBAN?

I GUESS HE WANTED TO SEE WHO EXACTLY WAS INSPIRING ALL THAT FEAR IN PEOPLE?

>> I WANTED TO SHOW THE WORLD IN WHOSE HANDS THIS COUNTRY WAS LEFT.

I WANTED TO SHOW THE WORLD THE AFGHANISTAN THAT WAS THE PLACE THAT WAS CLAIMED TO BE A PLACE TO BUILD FOR 20 YEARS IS LEFT BEHIND NOW.

AND AFGHAN WOMEN WE ARE TOLD WE SHOULD BE CARING ABOUT THEM FOR SO MANY YEARS ARE NOW LEFT BEHIND ON THE TALIBAN AND THEY ARE THE ONES THAT ARE GOING TO CONTROL THEM.

YOU'RE GOING TO LET WOMEN BE FREE AND ALL OF THAT, ME COMING FROM THE REGION UNDERSTANDING WHAT IS GOING ON, I KNOW THAT THESE ALL WERE ALLIES TO TRY TO PLAY POLITICS BUT THAT WAS BEHIND IT IS WHAT HAPPENING TO THE AFGHAN PEOPLE.

>> WHAT I WANT TO DO IS PLAY CLIP.

THE CLIP WE ARE GOING TO SHOW HAS ONE OF THE COMMANDERS WHO YOU HAVE BEEN GRANTED ACCESS TO ESSENTIALLY SAYING THAT HE TOLD HIS WIFE TO GIVE UP HER CAREER AS A DOCTOR, OTHERWISE HE WOULDN'T MARRY HER.

HERE IS THE CLIP.

>> WHEN YOU WERE FILMING MATT, HOW DID YOU FEEL?

>> YOU KNOW, YOU FEEL SUPPRESSANT FOR WOMEN IN AFGHANISTAN, FEEL SUPPRESSANT FOR NORMAL PEOPLE IN AFGHANISTAN.

TALIBAN CLAIMS TO BE THE ONE WHO ARE TAKING CARE OF THE PEOPLE AND APPLYING RELIGION, YET PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE IN THE SAME RELIGION AND BELIEVE IN THE SAME FREEDOM OF WOMEN ARE NOT FACING ANYTHING EXCEPT OPPRESSION.

AND TODAY THE WORLD DOES NOT REALLY PAY ATTENTION TO AFGHANISTAN, SO DEFINITELY IT AFFECTS A LOT OF EMOTIONS IN ME.

IT EVOKES SADNESS, IT EVOKES ANGER, IT EVOKES A LOT OF EMOTIONS THAT I THINK ALL AFGHANS HAVE.

I THINK THAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE MOVIE IS TO SHOW THE PAIN AND SUFFERING OF THE AFGHANS AND THE BETRAYAL THEY HAD FROM THE WEST WHEN THEY LEFT THEIR COUNTRY.

>> AND THE LIES OF THE TALIBAN, BECAUSE IN THE YEARS SINCE YOU HAVE BEEN THERE, EDICTS HAVE JUST GOT HARSHER AND HARSHER AND HARSHER AND HARSHER.

WE SAW THE MASKS THEY HAD TO WEAR, THEN THEY WEREN'T ALLOWED TO SPEAK IN PUBLIC, THEN THEY COULDN'T GO TO THE PARKS, THEN THE TWO TRAVELED WITHOUT A MALE ESCORT.

AND KIDS OF SECONDARY SCHOOL CAN'T GO TO SCHOOL, GIRLS.

SO I WAS THERE WHILE YOU ARE THERE TO WHERE THE TAIL END OF YOUR VISIT IN MAY 2022.

SO, I WANT TO PLAY A SOUNDBITE FROM AN INTERVIEW I DID, IT WAS EXCLUSIVE, THE FIRST INTERVIEW I EVER GAVE WITH THE TOP TALIBAN LEADER.

HERE IS WHAT HE TOLD ME ABOUT WOMEN.

>> BUT MANY TELL US THAT THEY FEEL THAT THE TALIBAN WANTS THEM TO STAY AT HOME AND THEY ARE AFRAID OF SOME OF THE EDICTS THAT HAS A VERY CHILLING EFFECT.

>> WE KEEP KNOTTY WOMEN AT HOME.

>> OKAY, YOU NEED TO ASK MY MAGIC BECAUSE PEOPLE THINK THAT IS OFFICIAL POLICY, AND MAYBE IT IS.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN, NAUGHTY?

>> WHAT I AM SAYING IS THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IS RAISING THE ISSUE OF WOMEN'S RIGHTS A LOT.

HERE IN AFGHANISTAN, THERE ARE ISLAMIC NATIONAL, CULTURAL AND TRADITIONAL PRINCIPLES.

WITHIN THE LIMITS OF THOSE PRINCIPLES, WE ARE WORKING TO PROVIDE THEM WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK AND THAT IS OUR GOAL.

BY SAYING NAUGHTY WOMEN, IT WAS A JOKE REFERRING TO THOSE NAUGHTY WOMEN WHO ARE CONTROLLED BY SOME OTHER SIDES, TO BRING THE KIND GOVERNMENT INTO QUESTION.

>> SO, THAT IS THE RATIONALIZATION.

IN YOUR FILM, YOU DID NOT SPEAK TO WOMEN.

DID THEY TELL YOU YOU COULDN'T?

THERE ARE SOME SHOTS WHERE YOU PASS BY AND YOU CAN SEE ALL THESE POOR WIDOWS IN FULL BURQA BEGGING OUTSIDE BAKERIES AND OTHER PLACES AS WE KNOW FOR AFGHAN WOMEN HAVE HAD TO DO BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ALLOWED TO WORK THROUGHOUT THE TALIBAN RULE.

>> IT IS FOR SECURITY PURPOSES.

EVER COMES IN THIS MOVIE AS I TO THE TELEVISION, WE ARE RISKING THEIR LIFE.

AND WE DID NOT WANT TO BE RESOLVED BEFORE PUTTING SOMEONE AS CLOSE TO THE TALIBAN AS THIS.

I HAD THIS IDEA WHILE WE WERE SHOOTING, MAYBE I SENT ANOTHER CAMERAMAN TO FILM WITH THE WOMEN, BUT THEN I FELT THAT I COULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR HER LIFE AND I DID NOT WANT TO DO THAT.

>> BECAUSE I THINK SOME OF THE THINGS DURING THE FILM, WHERE YOU JUST HAVE A CAMERA ON THEM AND THEY ARE TALKING AND SOME OF THEM THINK THAT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND, AND YOU DON'T REALLY, BECAUSE YOU HAVE IT TRANSLATED, BUT THEY ARE SAYING, WHO IS THAT DOUBLE?

MEANING YOU.

WHO IS THIS GUY WITH A CAMERA?

WE SHOULDN'T BE LETTING HIM SEE THIS, WE ARE GOING TO KILL HIM IF HE SAYS THAT STUFF.

WHERE YOU BEING TOLD THAT IN REAL-TIME?

DID YOU KNOW WHAT THEY WERE SAYING ABOUT YOU AS YOU WERE FILMING?

>> FETES, NO, BECAUSE I ASKED THE TRANSLATOR NOT TO TRANSLATE THEM BECAUSE WHEN HE TRANSLATED WANTS I FREAKED OUT AND THE BRAVE GUY KEPT IT ALL FOR HIMSELF.

WHEN I PUT HIM OUT OF AFGHANISTAN AND BROUGHT TO BERLIN, I ASKED HIM, WHY DIDN'T YOU TRANSLATE THAT?

BECAUSE I DIDN'T REMEMBER TELLING HIM THIS AND HE TOLD ME, YOU TOLD ME NOT TO TRANSLATE.

>> LUCKY, RIGHT?

BECAUSE YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE KEPT FILMING.

>> HE KEPT IT ALL ON HIS SHOULDERS AND THAT IS WHAT THEY GET FROM AFGHANS, WHEN THEY TRUST YOU, THEY GIVE YOU THEIR LIVES.

THEY PUT THEMSELVES IN THE FRONT LINE FOR THE U.S. AND THE NATO WHEN THEY WERE THERE BELIEVING THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO HELP THEM AND THEY LEFT THEM ALL BEHIND AND TODAY NOBODY CARES ABOUT AFGHANISTAN ANYMORE.

>> SO YOU ARE DEEPLY CONFLICTED, RIGHT?

HERE YOU ARE SPEAKING FOR THESE AFGHANS WHO, AS YOU SAY, GAVE EVERYTHING FOR THEIR COUNTRY AND FOR THE FORCES THEY PRESUMED WERE GOING TO BE THE PERMANENT LIBERATION FORCES.

SO THIS IS CALLED HOLLYWOOD -- HOLLYWOODGATE AND IT IS BASICALLY ABOUT THE NAME OF A PARTICULAR AMERICAN BASE THAT YOU GOT TO SEE THROUGH THESE PEOPLE WHO YOU ARE FOLLOWING.

WE ARE GOING TO PLAY LITTLE CLIP AND THEN TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU FOUND.

>> SO RIGHT THERE, THEY ARE SAYING DON'T SHOW IT TO THE FILMMAKER.

HOW MUCH OF THAT WEAPONRY WERE YOU ABLE TO FILM?

AND WERE YOU SURPRISED?

DID THEY SEE SURPRISED?

WHAT DID THEY SAY?

>> I THINK WHAT I LEARNED THROUGH THE PROCESS OF FILMING THIS FILM THAT I WAS MISTAKEN ABOUT THE TALIBAN CONSIDERING THEY ARE IGNORANT.

WHEN I SAW THEM, FOR EXAMPLE, NOT BEING ABLE TO CALCULATE 67W100, I WAS LIKE, THIS IDEA WAS CONFIRMED IN MY HEAD.

THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED THROUGH THE YEARS WAS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT BECAUSE THEY WERE ABLE TO FIX A LOT OF THE WEAPONS THAT WERE LEFT BEHIND.

AND THAT MADE ME QUESTION MY POINT OF VIEW OF ME JUDGING THE OTHER AND DECIDING THAT IF SOMEONE IS NOT SOPHISTICATED LIKE, IN THE WAY THAT I DECIDE, THEN HE IS DOOMED TO BE IGNORANT AND I IGNORE THE FACT THAT THERE IS A DIFFERENT TIME OF INTELLIGENCE FOR US TO FIND A WAY TO BUILD A BETTER WORLD, WE HAVE GOT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENS ON THE OTHER SIDE.

>> THAT IS ALSO INTERESTING BECAUSE SOME OF THE WRITEUPS ABOUT THE FILM TALK ABOUT THESE MOMENTS THAT SHOW TALIBAN BUFFOONERY.

IN OTHER WORDS, HIS COMMANDER LITERALLY DID NOT KNOW HOW TO MULTIPLY 67 BY 100 AND COULD NOT DO MENTAL ARITHMETIC BUT YOU ARE SAYING, AND YET THEY COULD FIX VERY SOPHISTICATED WEAPONS SYSTEMS THAT THEY THEN STARTED TO USE.

BUT THERE IS QUITE A LOT THAT COMES ACROSS AS SIMPLE AND CHILDLIKE ABOUT THE TALIBAN.

THEY HAVEN'T SEEN A LOT OF STUFF THAT THE MODERN WORLD HAS SEEN.

EVEN WHEN THEY WERE ON THE TREADMILL, TELL ME WHAT WAS GOING THROUGH YOUR MIND.

I CAN SEE YOU SMILING.

>> THIS IS DARK COMEDY.

ONE OF THE BEST COMMENTS I HAVE SEEN SAYS THE MOVEMENT IS THE BEST FEEDBACK I HAVE SEEN ON THE FILM SAYING THIS MOVIE IS ONE OF THE SCARIEST EPISODES OF THE OFFICE.

BECAUSE THERE IS SOME DARK HUMOR BUT THIS DARK HUMOR BEHIND IT IS REAL LIFE, YOU KNOW?

>> YOU TALK ABOUT THE BURDEN.

YOU SAID YOU WENT OUT OCCASIONALLY TO GET, YOU KNOW, MENTAL HEALTH CARE, SO TO SPEAK.

ONLY ABOUT THAT.

>> I THINK WITHOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FINISH THIS JOURNEY.

I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SIT WITH YOU HERE TODAY.

>> WHAT WERE THE THINGS THAT MADE YOU FEEL, YOU KNOW, WORRIED ABOUT YOUR MENTAL HEALTH?

>> I HAD TO LIVE WITH THE TALIBAN FOR 7 MONTHS OVER THE COURSE OF ONE YEAR, DAY AND NIGHT, SLEEP IN THE SAME ROOM IN ONE ROOM, 16, 17 TELEGRAMS THROWN ON THE FLOOR AND THE TELEVISION BETWEEN THEM, CONSIDER IF THEY ALLOWED HIM TO SLEEP OVER.

THERE WERE SOME THREATS AND I UNDERSTOOD THAT.

THE IDEA OF REVENGE IS PRETTY MUCH COMMON AND IF SOMEONE DECIDED THIS GUY BETRAYED ME THEN HE WANTS TO COME AFTER ME, THERE'S DEFINITELY FAIR.

>> SO YOU'RE CONSTANTLY IN THIS STATE OF NERVOUS ANXIETY ABOUT YOUR LIFE, FRANKLY?

>> I ACCEPT THE RISK THAT I TOOK.

AND DECIDED TO LIVE THE REST OF MY LIFE WITH IT AND I KNOW THAT IT COMES WITH FEAR AND I CAN DEAL WITH THAT FEAR.

>> HOW DO YOU FEEL NOW?

>> THAT I AM DOING WHAT I AM SUPPOSED TO DO.

I AM STANDING BEHIND THE MESSAGE OF THE FILM THAT I WANTED TO DO WHICH IS -- >> AND THE MESSAGES WHAT, AGAIN?

>> THE MESSAGE IS THAT WAR BEGETS WAR BEGETS WAR.

FOR 20 YEARS THE IDEOLOGY WITH THE WEAPON YOU JUST MADE STRONGER AND TALIBAN DID NOT ONLY INHERIT FROM THE US THE WEAPONS THAT WERE LEFT BEHIND, HE ONLY INHERITED ALL THESE PROPAGANDA TOOLS THAT THEY ARE USING ON AFGHANS NOWADAYS, FORCING MANY AFGHANS TO EITHER FOLLOW THEM OR JUST STAY SHUT AND TALIBAN HAVE THIS MENTALITY OF EXPANDING, THEY ARE NOT WHAT THEY SAY FOR TALIBAN IN AFGHANISTAN, WE HAVE INTENTIONS TO EXPAND WHEN IT IS ALLOWED AND IF WE DON'T DEAL WITH THE SITUATION OF AFGHANISTAN TODAY WITH CARE AND FINDING A DIFFERENTLY THAN CONDUCTING A WAR, THEN WE ARE JUST REPEATING HISTORY.

>> DEVILS ADVOCATE QUESTION.

>> YES.

>> DESPITE ALL WE HAVE JUST SAID ABOUT THEM AND WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN AND I HAVE SEEN AND OTHERS HAVE SEEN THERE, THERE IS NO WAR AT THE MOMENT.

EVEN AT THE TIME, THE U.S., THERE WAS WERE STILL.

IS, WE WERE FREER, YES, WOMEN HAD THEIR RIGHTS, BUT THERE WAS WAR.

WHAT YOU SAY ABOUT THAT?

>> I SEE THAT AFGHANS ARE TIRED OF WAR.

WE HAVE SEEN 42 YEARS OF WAR, YEARS OF RULING OF THE TALIBAN, AT LEAST WHEN SOMEONE GOES OUT OF HIS HOUSE HE KNOWS HE IS NOT GOING TO BE BOUND.

THAT IS THE POSITIVE SIDE OF IT.

KNOWING THAT YOU ARE SAFE.

YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BE BOUND.

HOW LONG THAT IS GOING TO LAST FOR, WE DON'T KNOW.

I THINK WE HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO AFGHANISTAN, PUT IT ON OUR LIST OF NEEDS AND THAT IS WHAT WE DO IN OUR IMPACT GOING TO TALK TO THEIR PROBLEMS, GOING TO TALK TO POLICING TO THE CONGRESS AND GOING TO TALK TO DECISION- MAKERS AND POLITICIANS AND POLICYMAKERS TO TELL THEM THAT YOUR WORK TOWARD AFGHANISTAN IS NOT A CHARITY, IT IS ACTUALLY A MORAL OPPOSITION FOR THE YEARS YOU SPENT THERE, AN OBLIGATION FOR YOUR OWN SECURITY THAT IS UNIQUE TO AVOID ANY CONSEQUENCE OF JUST LETTING AFGHANISTAN [ INAUDIBLE ] >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

DIRECTOR, HOLLYWOODGATE.

IT IS A FASCINATING FLY ON THE WALL LOOK AT THE RECLUSIVE TALIBAN.

BEING A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER IN THE POST-PANDEMIC ERA IS NOT EASY.

BUT IT IS EVEN MORE CHALLENGING IF YOU ARE ALSO LIVING WITH A DISABILITY.

AND THAT IS THE STORY OF, WHO AT THE END OF 2024 PORT WINE FOR THE LAST TIME AT HIS ELEVATED NEW YORK RESTAURANT.

BENJAMIN HIGHLIGHT IN AN OPINION PIECE IN THE NEW YORK TIMES HOW INFLATION AND UNAFFORDABLE PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE WERE LARGELY TO BLAME FOR THE RESTAURANT CLOSURE AND HE SPEAKS TO MICHELLE MARTIN ABOUT THE MANY HOSPITALITY WORKERS ACROSS THE U.S.

FACING A SIMILAR PLATE.

>> THANKS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING WITH US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> TELL ME ABOUT THE RESTAURANT.

FOR PEOPLE WHO PERHAPS DON'T FOLLOW THESE THINGS, IT IS A RESTAURANT, IT WAS IN EAST HARLEM, IT WAS TWICE NAMED OF NEW YORK CITY'S 100 BEST RESTAURANTS BY THE NEW YORK TIMES.

AND THAT IS CERTAINLY SAYING SOMETHING BECAUSE I THINK AS EVERYBODY KNOWS, NEW YORK IS ONE OF THE WORLD'S GREAT CITIES AND RESTAURANTS ARE A BIG PART OF THE CULTURAL LIFE THERE.

YOU HAVE EARNED THE MICHELIN GUY AWARD, THAT IS QUITE AN ACHIEVEMENT.

TELL ME, WHAT DID YOU HAVE IN MIND WHEN YOU OPENED IT?

>> JUST TO GIVE A LITTLE BACKGROUND, I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS SINCE I WAS 13 YEARS OLD.

MY ENTIRE FAMILY, THEY ARE ALL FRENCH IMMIGRANTS, THEY CAME HERE FOR A BETTER LIFE AND THEY ALL WORKED IN HOSPITALITY.

THEY ALL WORKED IN RESTAURANTS AND OF COURSE I DECIDED TO FOLLOW THEIR FOOTSTEPS.

THEY WEREN'T TOO EXCITED ABOUT THAT BECAUSE LIKE EVERY IMMIGRANT'S DREAM, THEY WANT THEIR KIDS TO BE IN AN OFFICE WITH AIR CONDITIONING AND ALL THAT FUN STUFF.

AND SO I PURSUE THAT PATH.

OF COURSE THEY WERE VERY SUPPORTIVE.

AND FORTUNATELY AT THE AGE OF 25 YEARS OLD I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT THAT LEFT ME PARALYZED FROM THE WAIST DOWN SO OBVIOUSLY TRYING TO TRANSITION FROM A NONDISABLED PERSON WORKING IN HOSPITALITY TO A PERSON NOW USING A WHEELCHAIR FULL-TIME, IN AN INDUSTRY WHERE THERE ARE STEPS, THERE IS HOT OIL, FIRE, SHARP KNIVES, SPACE IS REALLY TIGHT.

WAS GOING TO BE VERY CHALLENGING AND THERE WERE GOING TO BE A LOT OF OBSTACLES.

BUT I DECIDED TO STAY ON THAT PATH BECAUSE I WAS SO PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS INDUSTRY AND I AM STILL PASSIONATE.

AND SO I CONTINUE TO PURSUE IT.

AND SO FINALLY WHEN I HAD THIS OPPORTUNITY AND I FOUND THIS LOCATION IN EAST HARLEM ON 88 EAST 111 STREET, TO OPEN UP THE SMALL LITTLE RESTAURANT AND WE CAN MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE, YOU KNOW, NOT JUST FOR THE PUBLIC BUT FOR PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF TO WORK THERE, IT WAS REALLY AN EXCITING VENTURE.

AND SO FOR ME, WHAT IT REPRESENTED WAS THE PERSISTENCE OF CONTINUING ON NO MATTER WHAT OBSTACLES YOU FACE, THE RESILIENCY, RIGHT?

AND ALSO A PLACE THAT WAS INCLUSIVE FOR OTHER PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

THAT THEY CAN COME IN THERE AND BE TREATED WITH THE DIGNITY AND RESPECT THAT THEY DESERVE.

>> SO IT WASN'T JUST ABOUT THE DELICIOUSNESS OF THE OFFERINGS, BUT ALSO ABOUT THE STORY?

>> 100%, IT WAS ABOUT THE STORY.

AND I THINK THAT IS WHAT FOOD IS ABOUT, AND THAT IS WHAT WINE IS ALL ABOUT.

THAT IS WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO CONVEY AS A TEAM.

>> SO HOW DID THINGS START TO GO WRONG?

I AM ASSUMING THAT THE COVID PANDEMIC , YOU KNOW, HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT.

>> FOR SURE.

AND THEN OF COURSE WE WERE READY TO OPEN, WE HAD MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT, WE WERE READY TO OPEN SOMETIME IN THE SPRING OF 2020, SURE ENOUGH, NEW YORK CITY WAS SHUT DOWN MID MARCH.

AND SO HERE WE WERE, WE HAD THIS RESTAURANT THAT WAS PRETTY MUCH COMPLETE AND READY TO GO AND SO WE JUST HAULED OFF, HELD OFF, HELD OFF.

BECAUSE WE KNEW IF WE WOULD OPEN, EVENTUALLY WE MIGHT BE SHUT DOWN AGAIN.

AND THAT WOULD BE THE NAIL TO THE COFFIN.

AND SO WE DIDN'T OPEN OUR DOORS UNTIL JUNE 10, 2021.

SO THROUGHOUT THAT WHOLE TIME WE STILL HAD TO PAY RENT.

WE STILL HAD TO PAY INSURANCE.

THERE WERE STILL SOME BILLS THAT HAD TO BE PAID EVEN THOUGH WE WERE NOT OFFICIALLY OPEN.

SO THAT WAS ALREADY THE FIRST OBSTACLE WE WERE FACING, RIGHT?

AND THEN ALL THESE RULES AND REGULATIONS, WE WERE STILL IN THE MIST OF THE PANDEMIC FOR CONSTANTLY CHANGING.

IT WAS OF MY VERY CHALLENGING AND TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO COME TO WORK AT THE RESTAURANT WAS ALSO VERY COLLOCATED.

>> BUT YOU DID IT.

AND THEN YOU ARE HIT.

>> WE WERE HIT, YES.

AND IT WAS QUITE INCREDIBLE.

I NEVER WOULD HAVE IMAGINED THAT WE WOULD HAVE GOT ALL THE PRESS WE RECEIVED.

IT WAS JUST UNBELIEVABLE.

I WAS SO GRATEFUL FOR IT.

>> WELL, HERE IS WHERE IT GETS KIND OF SORT OF TRICKY IS THAT IN YOUR PIECE FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES, YOU POINT TO A NUMBER OF FACTORS THAT LED TO YOUR HAVING TO CLOSE THE RESTAURANT.

ONE WAS INFLATION, BUT THE OTHER THING THAT YOU HIGHLIGHT IN YOUR PIECE IS HEALTH INSURANCE.

IS HOW MANY PEOPLE WHO WORK IN HOSPITALITY ACTUALLY HAVE TO WORK A SECOND JOB IN ORDER TO GET THE HEALTH INSURANCE THAT ALLOWS THEM TO WORK IN HOSPITALITY.

SO WOULD YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT, AND WHY THAT IS SUCH A BIG ISSUE?

>> HOW IT REALLY IMPACTED ME PERSONALLY, YOU KNOW, FOR THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF THE OPENING OF, I WAS THERE QUITE A BIT.

EVENTUALLY I HAD TO MAKE THE DECISION THAT I NEEDED A JOB TO PROVIDE ME WITH ADEQUATE HEALTHCARE.

NOW KEEP IN MIND, I AM A PERSON LIVING WITH SPINAL CORD INJURY, RIGHT?

SO IT IS NOT JUST THE FACT THAT I AM NOT WALKING BUT I NEED TO PAY FOR WHEELCHAIR EQUIPPED.

I NEED TO PAY FOR DURABLE MEDICAL A CLIMATE.

THERE ARE CERTAIN PRESCRIPTION DRUGS THAT I NEED, THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

SO I THINK THAT WHEN I TOOK ON THAT FULL-TIME JOB SO I CAN GET ADEQUATE AND RESPECTFUL HEALTHCARE, IT TOOK AWAY FROM MY ATTENTION OF CONTENTO, AND I DO THINK THAT CONTRIBUTED TO -- TO THE SLOWDOWN OF PEOPLE GOING THERE, BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE GOING TO GET 23 RESTAURANT TO COME SEE ME.

I WAS NO LONGER BELIEVE THERE.

I WAS HEAVILY INVOLVED WITH THE RESTAURANT BEHIND THE SCENES, BUT, YOU KNOW, I WILL TRY TO SAY THIS IN THE MOST HUMBLE WAY, I CERTAINLY WAS THE FACE OF THE RESTAURANT IN MANY WAYS BUT IF I AM NOT THERE, A KIND OF DEFEATS THE PURPOSE OF PEOPLE WANTING TO COME VISIT US, RIGHT?

BUT I HAD NO CHOICE THAT I NEEDED HEALTHCARE.

NO, I DO BELIEVE THAT IF THERE WAS SOME KIND OF UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE PLAN, I WOULD STILL BE THERE, I WOULD BE ABLE TO GIVE 100% AND BE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE.

AND MAYBE WE WOULD STILL BE OPEN.

I AM NOT SAYING FOR SURE, BUT I DEFINITELY BELIEVE IT WOULD HAVE INCREASED OUR CHANCES.

SO THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM THAT HAS PROVIDED FOR HOSPITALITY WORKERS AND THE SAFETY NET IS REALLY BROKEN AND I AM A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THAT.

>> IN YOUR PIECE, YOU POINTED OUT ONLY 40% OF FULL-TIME HOSPITALITY WORKERS HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE COMPARED TO 87% IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE WAX IN A RESTAURANT LIKE CONTENTO, WHAT DID THAT LOOK LIKE?

WHERE MOST OF THE PEOPLE WORKING OTHER JOBS IN ORDER TO GET HEALTH INSURANCE?

OR IS IT THAT PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THAT 40% INCLUDES PEOPLE WHO WORK AT THE BIG CHAINS LIKE APPLEBEE'S OR STARBUCKS?

>> I WOULD PROBABLY VENTURE TO SAY THAT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE RECEIVING HEALTHCARE IN HOSPITALITY ESTABLISHMENTS ARE PROBABLY WORKING FOR BIGGER COMPANIES OR RESTAURANTS THAT HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL OR IMMENSE AMOUNT OF FINANCIAL BACKING BEHIND THEM.

AS FAR AS CONTENTO GOES, MOST PEOPLE THAT WORKED THERE HAD SECOND JOBS THAT PROVIDED THEM THOSE RESOURCES.

WE AS A RESTAURANT WERE NOT ABLE TO DO SO.

>> THAT MUST HAVE BEEN HARD, HERE YOU ARE AS A PERSON WHO UNDERSTOOD ON A VERY PERSONAL LEVEL THE IMPORTANCE OF ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE ON A CONSISTENT BASIS.

I AM JUST THINKING THAT MUST'VE BEEN HARD FOR YOU.

>> I WILL BE VERY HONEST WITH YOU, IT IS THE ONE THING THAT I AM NOT GOING TO MISS ABOUT CONTENTO , BECAUSE IT WAS THE ONE THING THAT I STRUGGLED WITH ON AN EVERYDAY BASIS.

AS SOMEONE WHO REALLY BELIEVES IN HEALTHCARE, THAT I MYSELF AS SOMEONE WHO WAS PART OF CONTENTO , THAT I WAS NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE AND RESPECTABLE HEALTHCARE TO THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE JUST UNBELIEVABLE.

GREATEST HUMAN BEINGS.

AND NOT BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS HARD FOR ME TO PUT MY HEAD ASLEEP AND I STRUGGLED WITH THAT.

AND THE REALITY OF IT IS THAT MOST PEOPLE ARE GOING WITHOUT IT .

EVEN WITH THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, IT IS QUITE AN EXPENSE TO PAY INTO IT.

THE DEDUCTIBLES CAN BE QUITE HIGH, THE COPAYMENT CAN BE QUITE HIGH.

IT IS NOT EXACTLY THE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM.

IT IS A GOOD STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT LISTEN.

I DON'T KNOW WHY HEALTHCARE IS SO TABOO IN THIS COUNTRY.

I THINK THAT IF WE HAD ADEQUATE HEALTHCARE FOR ALL PEOPLE, YOU WOULD SEE ANXIETIES REDUCE.

AND I ALSO BELIEVE WE WOULD SEE MORE OF AN ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT.

I OFTEN THINK THAT PEOPLE ARE MORE CONSERVATIVE WITH THE DECISIONS THAT THEY MAKE BECAUSE THERE IS NOT THAT SAFETY NET TO BE ABLE TO DO SO.

AND SO HAVING TO HAVE HEALTHCARE I THINK SHOULD BE A PRIORITY FOR ALL OF US.

AND I FIND IT SHOCKING THAT IN THIS LAST ELECTION, NO ONE REALLY BROUGHT IT UP.

IT WAS NOT A TOPIC OF CONVERSATION.

I MEAN, WE HAVE 62 MILLION AMERICANS THAT IDENTIFY AS HAVING A DISABILITY, RIGHT?

AND I AM SURE THE NUMBER IS EVEN HIGHER.

THAT IS QUITE A BIT.

THAT MEANS ONE IN FOUR AMERICANS.

AND SO WHY ARE WE JUST KIND OF CONSTANTLY SWEEPING THIS UNDER THE RUG?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU SAY IS, IN THIS BUSINESS, PEOPLE MIGHT GRAVITATE TOWARD -- A BIG CORPORATE ENTERPRISE, NO SHADE HERE, BUT, LIKE, A STARBUCKS, BECAUSE THEY OFFER BENEFITS.

BUT THIS PERSON MIGHT BE TALENTED IN AN OTHER AREA OF HOSPITALITY WHO MIGHT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO OPEN A NEIGHBORHOOD RESTAURANT OR AN EATERY OR SOME OTHER ASPECT OF THE BUSINESS BUT THEY CAN'T BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO GO WITHOUT HEALTH INSURANCE.

HAVE YOU SEEN THAT?

HAVE YOU SEEN PEOPLE SORT OF FOREGOING MORE CREATIVE OPPORTUNITIES BECAUSE THEY HAD TO TAKE A JOB WITH BENEFITS?

>> I SEE IT ALL THE TIME.

I MEAN, I SEE IT ALL THE TIME.

I SEE PEOPLE THAT HAVE VERY CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR PRIMARY PHYSICIAN, WITH THEIR GYNECOLOGIST, WITH THEIR UROLOGIST, RIGHT?

AND THEN THEY GET OFFERED A JOB THAT IS THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY, RIGHT?

AND THEN THEY DO THEIR RESEARCH ABOUT THE INSURANCE THEY MIGHT BE OFFERED, BUT THEIR PRIMARY PHYSICIAN, THEIR GYNECOLOGIST, THEIR UROLOGIST, WHATEVER IT IS, IS NOW NO LONGER IN NETWORK BECAUSE THEY ARE BEING OFFERED A DIFFERENT PRIVATE HEALTH PLAN.

AND SO JUST THAT IN ITSELF IS A PROBLEM, YEAH.

AND SO PEOPLE AGAIN ARE MAKING DECISIONS THAT ARE LIMITED, THAT ARE LIMITING THEIR POTENTIAL.

AND THIS IS ALL -- A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH HEALTHCARE.

I THINK THAT WE ARE MISSING OUT ON SO MUCH TALENT OUT HERE, AND IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT PEOPLE IN HOSPITALITY.

IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT PEOPLE THAT ARE COOKS OR WAITERS OR BARTENDERS.

BUT I AM TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE THAT ARE FREELANCE WRITERS, I AM TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE THAT ARE SINGERS AND DANCERS AND ARTISTS I GREW UP IN NEW YORK, I GREW UP IN HELLS KITCHEN IN THE 80s AND IT WAS A HABIT FOR PEOPLE TO COME INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, RIGHT?

THEY CAN AFFORD RENT, THEY CAN PURSUE THEIR CRAFT.

GET A JOB PART TIME.

AND THEY HAD ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY AND PROVIDE FOR THEMSELVES TO REALLY PURSUE THAT CRAFT AND THEIR PASSION.

AND WE HAVE COMPLETELY LOST THAT.

AND IT IS A REAL PITY.

AND I REALLY DO BELIEVE THAT WE CAN GET BACK TO THAT POINT BUT WE HAVE ALLOWED GREED AND IGNORANCE TO CONSUME US.

>> SO HERE IS WHERE I HAVE TO ASK A HARD QUESTION.

THERE ARE THOSE WHO MIGHT SAY, THAT IS A SHAME.

BUT EATING OUT IN A NICE RESTAURANT IS NOT A PRIORITY FOR THE COUNTRY.

SO WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THAT?

>> WELL I WOULD SAY THAT I WOULD RESPECT THAT AND I CAN UNDERSTAND WHERE THAT IS COMING FROM.

WE ARE HONESTLY AN AMENITY IN MANY WAYS, RIGHT?

I AM NOT HERE TO SAY THAT WE NEED TO HAVE AND WE ARE GOING TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE WITHOUT A DOUBT.

I FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT ASPECT.

BUT ARE WE GOING TO SAY THAT WE DON'T NEED BROADWAY SHOWS?

I THINK ALL OF THESE ASPECTS, THEY BRING JOY TO OUR LIVES, RIGHT?

SO WHY ELIMINATE THEM?

I THINK THEY MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE.

DO I THINK THEY ARE A PRIORITY?

I DON'T KNOW.

BUT HERE IS WHAT I WILL SAY TO THIS.

WE KNOW THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY IS ONE OF THE FEW INDUSTRIES THAT GIVES PEOPLE A SECOND CHANCE, RIGHT?

PEOPLE THAT ARE CONVICTED CRIMINALS WHO ARE REFORM TO COME OUT AND ARE LOOKING FOR A SECOND CHANCE, RESTAURANT BUSINESS GENERALLY GIVE THAT TO THEM.

PEOPLE THAT ARE UNDOCUMENTED THAT ARE DESPERATELY TRYING TO FEED THEIR FAMILIES USUALLY THAT IS A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN PROVIDE THAT.

NOW WHETHER YOU AGREE WITH THAT OR NOT, IT IS A PLACE OF SECOND CHANCES.

AND THAT IS THE BEAUTY OF THE RESTAURANT BUSINESS.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS YOU TALKED ABOUT IN YOUR PIECE IS THE IDEA OF, I THINK MANY PEOPLE WILL REMEMBER DURING THE PANDEMIC THERE WERE A NUMBER OF SUBCOMMITTEES OFFERED TO BUSINESSES TO HELP KEEP THEM AFLOAT.

RIGHT?

ONE OF YOUR IDEAS IS THAT THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY COULD HAVE SUBSIDIES SIMILAR TO THE CARES ACT FUNDING FOR AIRLINES, WHEN THEY WERE IN SO MUCH TROUBLE AFTER THE 9/11 ATTACKS.

WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE?

AND HOW WOULD THAT WORK?

>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION AND IT IS A COMPLICATED ONE, BUT JUST TO KIND OF SIMPLIFY MY ANSWER TO YOU, BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, WHAT IF WE JUST ALL GOT TOGETHER, ALL THE BIG CHAIN RESTAURANTS, AND CREATED ONE BIG UNIFIED ASSOCIATION, RIGHT?

SO WHEN SOMEONE DOES GET SEVERELY INJURED, RIGHT?

THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WAITING FOR THEM AND WE CAN SUPPORT THEM.

AND THEN HAVING ONE BIG UMBRELLA WHERE WE ALL HAVE THE SAME IN NETWORK HEALTH INSURANCE.

JUST SOMETHING WHERE WE ARE ALL SUPPORTING EACH OTHER.

IN MY ARTICLE, I MENTIONED, STARBUCKS, APPLEBEE'S, ALL THESE BIG -- THEY ARE IMPORTANT.

THEY HAVE VALUE TO THEMSELVES, RIGHT?

AND I THINK THAT THESE BIGGER COMPANIES CAN REALLY HAVE A BIG POSITIVE IMPACT IF WE CAN INCORPORATE SOME OF THESE SMALL MOM AND POP RESTAURANTS.

AND I THINK THAT ONE HAND HELPS THE OTHER AT THE END OF THE DAY.

AND I THINK VICE VERSA.

AND SO I THINK THAT JUST TRYING TO CREATE ONE SOLID ASSOCIATION IS REALLY THE BEST WAY FORWARD.

>> SO IF YOU DON'T MIND MY ASKING, WHAT WAS THAT LAST DAY LIKE?

>> I THINK IT WASN'T SO MUCH THE LAST DAY.

I THINK IT WAS MORE, YOU KNOW, COMING TO THE REALIZATION AND HAVING TO SAY, WE HAVE GOT TO CLOSE.

THIS IS JUST NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

I THINK THE HARDEST PART OF HAVING TO MAKE THIS DECISION WAS THAT THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO REALLY BELIEVED IN ME, WHO SUPPORTED ME, WHO BECAME INVESTORS AND THEIR FRIENDS AND HAVING TO REACH OUT TO THEM AND SAY, I'M SORRY, BUT YOU KNOW, WE TRIED OUR BEST, BUT WE HAVE TO CLOSE THE RESTAURANT.

AND THEN HAVING TO MAKE THAT ANNOUNCEMENT BE A SOCIAL MEDIA.

AND THEN SEEING PEOPLE FACE-TO- FACE AND NO ONE DOES IT ON PURPOSE, BUT, YOU KNOW, I AM REALLY SORRY, THAT SORT OF, I FEEL SORRY FOR YOU KIND OF LOOK, AND THAT IS HARD.

IT IS KIND OF HUMBLING TO GO THROUGH THAT EXPERIENCE.

BUT IT IS WHAT IT IS.

AND I TELL PEOPLE, PLEASE DON'T FEEL SORRY FOR ME.

I WAS REALLY GIVEN A GIFT.

I FELT THE EMOTION OF WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO HAVE A GREAT RESTAURANT.

I FEEL LIKE WE HAD A GREAT IMPACT.

I THINK WE SHOWED THE WORLD THAT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES CAN BE PART OF THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY.

WE ALSO SHOW THAT IF YOU BUILD SOMETHING SPECIAL AND INCLUSIVE THAT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WILL COME TO YOUR ESTABLISHMENT.

LISTEN.

THE POPULATION, THE 62 MILLION AMERICANS, THEY HAVE OVER $1 BILLION OF SPENDING POWER.

LET'S NOT FORGET THAT.

I THINK IN MANY WAYS, WE DID PUT THAT AS AN IMPORTANT TOPIC AND I HOPE THAT OTHER HOSPITALITY ESTABLISHMENTS WILL CONTINUE THAT CONVERSATION.

>> SO WHAT IS NEXT FOR YOU?

>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.

I HAVE TWO BEAUTIFUL DOGS, I WANT TO PLAY WITH THEM MORE.

I WANT TO HAVE MORE MOMENTS OF STILLNESS WITH MY WIFE.

I WANT TO DO A LOT MORE WRITING.

I AM CURRENTLY WRITING A BOOK WITH A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE.

AND, TO TALK ABOUT MY EXPERIENCES, IN HOSPITALITY AND WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BE A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY AND NAVIGATING HOSPITALITY.

AND THAT IS IT.

REALLY, I HAVE A GREAT JOB RIGHT NOW.

I HAVE BEEN PART OF THE SAME PLACE FOR WELL OVER 12 YEARS ON AND OFF.

AND I LOVE IT.

I MEAN, LISTEN.

I'M GOING TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.

I AM SO GRATEFUL AND EVEN WHEN I REACHED OUT TO ALL MY INVESTORS TO LET THEM KNOW THAT I WAS CLOSING THE RESTAURANT, EVERYBODY, MIKE, WAS SO KIND.

EVEN ME TALKING TO YOU ABOUT THIS, I AM SO EMOTIONAL.

I AM THE LUCKIEST HUMAN BEING ON EARTH, DESPITE ALL OF THIS.

AND I CAN BE IN MUCH WORSE SITUATIONS.

I REALIZE THAT I HAVE TONS OF PRIVILEGE, BUT I AM GRATEFUL FOR EVERY MOMENT.

SO I AM GOING TO TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, MORE MOMENTS OF STILLNESS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TALKING WITH US.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>>> FINDING THE JOY.

AND FINALLY TONIGHT, THE JOY OF DANCE.

THE SALSA DANCES KICKED OFF THE SECOND EDITION OF BALLET BEYOND BORDERS IN HAVANA, CUBA.

THE U.S. AND CUBA MAINTAINED A STRAINED RELATIONSHIP SO THIS FIVE DAY FESTIVAL HOSTED BY AMERICAN AND CUBAN DANCE COMPANIES AIMS TO PROMOTE CULTURAL EXCHANGE THROUGH EVENTS AND MASTER CLASSES LIKE THIS ONE.

HERE YOU CAN SEE DANCERS OF ALL AGES LEARNING THE ROUTINE TO MICHAEL JACKSON'S THRILLER.

TAUGHT BY THE RENOWNED AMERICAN CHOREOGRAPHER, VINCENT PATTERSON.

HE HAD WORKED WITH THE KING OF POP HIMSELF.

PATTERSON BELIEVES THAT DANCE IS A UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE AND CAN BUILD BRIDGES ACROSS DIVIDES.

GOOD TO KNOW AS WE USHER IN THE NEW YEAR.

AND THAT IS IT FOR OUR PROGRAM TONIGHT.

IF YOU WANT TO FIND OUT WHAT IS COMING UP EVERY NIGHT, SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER AT PBS.ORG/AMANPOUR.

THANKS FOR WATCHING, AND GOODBYE FROM LONDON.