All right, everyone, we are live on YouTube. How's it going? It's so great to be with you here today. This is my first ever YouTube live, actually. Of course, I'm Jennifer from J Forest English, and this video is all about improving your pronunciation. Now, I have these two words right here on the whiteboard. And this is what we're going to be talking about today. We're going to talk about your pronunciation of these two words, okay? Now, try, try just saying them out loud to yourself because I don't wanna see them yet. I wanna hear how you pronounce them before I give you the actual pronunciation. So try this one. Okay, you got it. Now try this one. Did you get it? Okay, well, we'll see. So hold on to that pronunciation, and then we'll compare to mine. Now, first, let me ask you, what is required for correct English pronunciation? So just what do you need? So list some of the characteristics that you need. Put it in the comments. What do you need for correct English pronunciation? Hmm, any ideas? Can you think of three things? Three things that you need to make sure you have correct pronunciation so you're understood the first time clearly without having any mispronunciation or without your accent getting in the way. What do you need? Any idea what those characteristics are? So put those in the comments, okay? Let me see if I can pull up my comments. I'm not sure if I can review your comments while we're doing this, but let's see. Okay. Okay, so for correct pronunciation in English, we need to think of your mouth position and how you produce the sounds. And there are two distinct sounds we need in English. Of course, there's the vowel sound, okay, and the consonant sound. Now both of those need to be correct in English and how you produce that sound really depends on your mouth position, including what your tongue is doing and what your teeth are doing and what your lips are doing, okay? So you need to think of this whole area and then we also have to think about where the sound is. Is it low in your throat? Is it up high? So there's a lot to consider when we're talking about producing the correct sound and it might sound a little overwhelming at first to think you need to pay attention to all of this different things at once while you're talking naturally, right? But of course, with anything, it's just that practice and repetition and you're definitely gonna have no problem with it. Just think the first time you learned to drive. It was probably so difficult to do different things at once while you were driving but now after practice, it's easy. So the same thing with producing correct mouth position, okay? Now, in addition to mouth position, we need to think about syllable stress, okay? Every single word that's more than one syllable has a stress pattern to it. And do you know, can you write in the comments, what is stressed? Is it vowel sounds, consonant sounds? Both can be stressed. What do you guys think? So put that in the comments. Vowels, consonants, both, what can you stress in English? Any ideas? Hmm. Well, it is the vowels, okay? We're talking about vowel sound when we're talking about syllable stress in English. That's why vowel pronunciation is so important. Hey, Raja, how's it going? Okay, so I can see some comments coming in. Hi, Manny, how are you doing? Hi, Asa. Okay, so Asa just said both. So hopefully you heard me, Asa. It's actually vowels. So you can't stress a consonant in English, which makes it maybe a little bit easy for you. Hi, Tiago from Brazil. Okay, so that might make it a little bit easy in the sense that we don't stress consonants. But that means because vowels are what's stressed in a sound, that means your vowel pronunciation has to be correct. Because that's what a native English speaker hears the most in pronunciation, okay? And we're going to talk a little bit about these two words because the difference between them is really about the vowel, like many words in English. Okay, so for correct pronunciation, we need correct mouth position, sounds of vowels and consonants, and we need the correct stress as well, remembering that it's the vowel sound that's stressed, okay? And then maybe a little more advanced of a topic, but you need to know how to say the individual sentence or the individual word, as well as this word in a sentence, because your pronunciation is going to change based on what's coming before or what's coming after. And that has to do with linking and reductions, okay? But as an advanced topic, we're not going to touch on that today, but just something to keep in mind. And if you're already at that advanced level, well, then you can listen in my speech, listen in the sentences I say for those reductions and that linking as well, okay? Plus, I have lots and lots of videos on my channel about linking and reductions. So you can definitely go check out those videos after this one. Okay, now what else? Okay, so we talked about correct pronunciation, what you need to have to produce the correct sound. Okay, so now let's talk about these two words specifically. Now, why did I choose these two words? Any idea? Well, because they're very difficult words to say, two words that I hear mistakes with quite often and also because these two words really are going to show us a lot about syllable stress, vowel sound, how vowel sounds change and how the incorrect vowel sound can cause the incorrect pronunciation. And we're going to see how spelling and pronunciation are very different as well, okay? So these are two great words to illustrate a lot of the different points we need when we're talking about pronunciation in general. Okay, so on a scale of one to 10, 10 being the hardest, one being the easiest, how difficult do you think these two words are to pronounce in English? From one to 10, 10 is the hardest, one is the easiest. What would you say? What about this one? On a scale of one to 10, what would you say? And how about this one? On a scale of one to 10, do you think one of them is easier to pronounce than the other? A four, three, okay, okay, awesome. Now we're using these two words because one of my students, Angeline, hi, Angeline, how's it going? So she was doing one of our speaking challenges that I do with the students in my Business English Academy, my premium online course. Now she is on day 20 of the 30 day speaking challenge which is just amazing, which means she's practicing her English, speaking English every day for 20 days so far and still has more to go. So day 20's topic, I asked her, the topic was of the speaking challenge. One possession you can't live without, okay? That was the topic of day 20 of the 30 day speaking challenge that my students do in the Business English Academy. So why don't you tell me, right in the comments, what is one possession that you can't live without? So take a second, think about that and then write down your possession in the comments, okay? One possession you can't live without, hmm.  I don't wanna hear 20 people say their cell phone. Really, let's be a little bit creative, guys. Oh, your cat, that is creative. I like that, my, or did you say car? It's gone now, I think it said cat. Okay, now, so that was the challenge. And Angeline being a mother, okay. So being a mother, that's not a possession.  So possession, something you own, okay? So clarify what possession is. Possession is something you own. Now, I'll be honest, guys, we don't usually refer to people as possessions, okay? An animal, like the cat example, Daniel said cat, that's okay. I could refer to my cat, my dog, my fish as a possession, but I'm probably not going to refer to my best friend or my, you know, my father or whatever as a possession because people are not possessions. In fact, that's actually a pretty negative connotation to say like, she's your possession or he's your possession. We don't use that language in English.  Because we're independent. We don't belong to anybody, that's freedom, right? So we don't refer to people, our children, our spouses, our friends, our parents. We don't refer to them as possessions, okay? So I've seen a lot of people, right? You know, they're people, you can't do that. So a possession is a thing, something. Remember, I even said, what's a possession? Something, not someone, something, okay? So if I wanted to know about a person, my question would be, who is one person? Who is the most important person in your life? Or who is one person in your life that you couldn't live without? Maybe that's how I would word it, but I would not use possession. Okay, so just to clarify that. So now, thinking about that, that a possession is a thing. So far, we've had some cars, money, that's pretty general. I can think of something a little more specific, I think. A cat, I like that, books. Okay, so what are some other possessions you can't live without? House, someone said house, all great possessions. Okay, so going back to my story, now, Angeline, day 20, 30-day speaking challenge. She's already improved her speaking skills so much, feeling really comfortable and confident speaking in English on a wide variety of topics. Problem is, when she started her video, I didn't really understand what she was talking about because I thought she said, position. And it wasn't until, because she did a little introduction before she mentioned what the possession was, okay? So it wasn't until she mentioned the possession that I understood, oh, she's not saying position, she's saying possession. So it did cause a misunderstanding on my part, simply because of pronunciation. And that's really common in English, especially when we have two sounds that are so similar, okay? So let's talk about these two words. Now, remember, let's see, can I do this? This upside down E, does anyone remember what this is called? There's a name for this. It's one of the letters in the international phonetic alphabet, okay? Does anyone remember what this is? Or why it's so important in English pronunciation? That is, what is the role of this? Okay, what is the role? What does this do? I got some answers coming in already. The correct answers, awesome job, virtual high five guys. So this is the schwa. Now, why should you care? Why should you care about the schwa? Why is this important? Why do you need it for pronunciation? Hmm, well, it's because this, the schwa is the unstressed vowel, okay? So the unstressed vowel, the pronunciation of that vowel changes and it becomes the schwa.  That's important. The sound is uh, uh, just imagine a sound you would make when you're just like uh, uh, uh, like just really lazy. Uh, uh, uh, it's not even a sound really.   There can't be any tension in your throat or your jaw and the sound of the schwa, it needs to come from your throat, okay? Uh, uh, uh, uh. So that's the sound of the schwa, okay? This sound slightly changes from vowel to vowel. So there is slight variations, but it's all a very relaxed, lazy sound that comes from your throat and really your lips aren't engaged at all, uh, uh. So your lips are just in a neutral resting position, uh, uh. So try that, try it, get your whole body into it, uh, uh, okay? That is the schwa. And the fact that a native English speaker uses the schwa in almost every single word, but students do not is one of the ways that you have an accent, okay? Now, an accent generally doesn't impede understanding. Like, usually I can understand a student even if they have an accent, but it just is a sign that you're using your native pronunciation in English, okay? And if, if students could master the schwa, I would say that, you know, 80% of their accent would probably be gone. Yeah, at least 80%, maybe even higher. It's a big deal. And it's in almost every single word in English, as we'll see with this. Okay, so that's your schwa, uh, uh, lazy. Now, it's the unvoiced or unstressed vowel sound, okay, in a word. So let's take this one. There's a schwa in here and there's a schwa in here as well. Any ideas where the schwa is? So remember, the schwa has to be with a vowel, okay? So we have one, two, and these are together, okay? So three, one, two, oh, it's hard doing it backwards. One, two, three. So where's the schwa? Is the schwa at one, is the schwa at two, is the schwa at three? Let me know in the comments, one, two, or three, okay? And same with here, we have one, two, three, three, so where's the schwa? One, two, or three, hmm. Well, first you need to know where the stressed syllable is, okay? So let me say this word and you tell me where is the stressed sound, okay? Possession, possession, possession. Where's the stressed sound? Am I stressing the first, second, or third? Possession, possession. Now, here's how you can tell. You can exaggerate the stress on different points of the word and see how it changes. If I stress the first sound, it would be possession. So tell me, is that correct? Possession, possession, okay? If I stress the third, it would be possession, possession, possession, is that correct? And if I stress the middle one, it would be possession, possession, possession. So which one is it? Where's the stress? Hmm, what do you guys think? One, two, or three, where's the stress? The stress is possession, possession, possession, okay? So if we know where the stress is, now I know, okay, my schwa is not here. My schwa cannot be at number two because the schwa is always unstressed. Always, no exceptions. So if the schwa is unstressed, it cannot be where the stress is. Hmm, now, where's the schwa? Well, maybe a little bit of a trick because there's actually two schwas. Both of those sounds become the schwa. So you see this oh, right?  Po, possession, po, possession. But it's not, because look, when I say oh, po, my lips are engaged, right? Oh, po, but remember I told you that the schwa is relaxed, neutral. Your lips cannot form an oh shape if you're doing the schwa. So instead, I have to say po, uh, po, po, po, possession. Po, possession. Now notice for here, okay? Po, po, po, possession. So notice in the stress sound, you see my lips form the vowel. Po, po, possession, eh, shin, eh, in, shin. Okay, so this, I would say the pronunciation sounds like shin, shin, eh, eh. But it's still the schwa because look, eh, eh, eh, shin, shin, shin, eh, eh. My lips aren't moving, right? But it's a different sound than here. The vowel sound is slightly different. So it's a shin, shin, repeat? Shin, okay, good. So we have possession, possession, possession. Okay, try that, possession. Okay, awesome. Now, how about this one? Where is the stress? Is it one, two, or three? Okay, I'll say the word, position. Position, position. Is the stress one, two, or three? What do you think? One, two, or three, position. Hmm, any idea? We have the right answer already and a wrong answer, couple right answers. Yeah, okay, so again, if it was the first one, it would sound like position, position. Is that correct? Position, if it was this one, it would be position, position, position. Is that correct? If it's the middle one, it would be position, position, position. So which one is it? Is position? No, it's not position. That's probably a way a student would say it because they're not using the schwa sound, but it's position, okay, position. So this becomes our schwa. And this, I-O-N, and this C-I-O-N, it's the same pronunciation, okay? So it's also pronounced shin, in, in, in. Notice my lips are not moving. They're relaxed, they're just neutral, okay, shin. So what do you notice here? We have these O's are being pronounced as the schwa. And both of these last sounds, even though the spelling is different, that doesn't matter, right? Because English pronunciation is not based on spelling, it's based on sound. So even though the spelling is different, the pronunciation of this is both shin, shin, okay? So that means that these two words are identical in pronunciation except for one thing. And that's the sound of the stressed syllable, okay? That's the only thing that's different between these two words, the sound of the stressed syllable. And that stressed syllable is in the exact same location. So that means if you don't get that one sound correctly, you will be misunderstood, right? Because that's the most important sound, that stressed syllable. And this word sounds identical to this word except that one sound. And that's why knowing where the stress is and being able to pronounce that vowel sound correctly is so important. If you are going to do one thing and only one thing to improve your pronunciation, I would focus on the schwa, syllable stress and vowel sound. I know that sounds like three separate things, but they're one category of thing. I would do that one thing and your pronunciation would be improved by maybe 70%. Okay, so what's different here? Of course, one's an I and one's an E, okay? Now, again, spelling doesn't really matter. It's about the sound. So I want you to really pay attention to what's going on in that middle sound, okay? Pz, ih, ih, okay? Pz, shin. Oh no, sorry, sorry, sorry. Ignore that, that's this one. See, even I get confused with these because that one sound is different. That's pz, ih, pz, shin, okay? Pz, ih, ih, ih, pz, shin. So my sound, I'm doing this because that's where the sound is on my face. So look at what my mouth is doing. Pz, ih, and the sound is up here. Pz, shin, pz, shin, pz, shin, ih, ih. So try that sound, ih, pz, shin, pz, shin, okay? Now this, pz, ih, ih. Now look at the difference. Did you just see that? Like how noticeably different my mouth position was. I'll do this one. Pz, pz, pz, pz, pz, pz, pz, pz, shin, pz, ih, ih, okay? Eh, ih, eh, ih. So the sound, maybe you don't even hear much of a difference, okay? So don't worry if you don't hear it, but you can see it, right? You can see that ih and eh are different mouth positions, right? So obviously the sound is going to be different. So even if you can't distinguish between that sound too much, it sounds very similar. You can stand in front of a mirror and look at your mouth and make sure when you say position that you're saying ih. And when you say possession, you're saying eh, right?  You can see if you're matching the same mouth position. And if you are, well then chances are the sound is going to be pretty close, okay? So try that. Definitely after this is done, go into your bathroom or ladies, pull out your mirror and try the difference between these two. Okay, now we'll try this one again. Possession, possession, position, position, okay? Now I didn't talk about it too much because we are really focused on the schwa, the vowel sound, the syllable stress, but let's talk about the consonants a little bit, okay? So about, you know, we have a double S here and a single S here, but really spelling doesn't matter for either of these. And the sound is actually a Z, okay? A Z sound, it's a Z because if it was a S, the difference between an S and a Z, okay? Now, don't worry if I've already lost you with all of this. And now we're moving on to something else. So if this is a little too advanced, don't worry about it, okay? Just forget about it, focus on the schwa for now. Focus on just identifying the syllable stress for now. Take it slow, one step at a time.  So the only difference between a Z and an S is the fact that one of them is voiced, which means your vocal cords are engaged and your vocal cords are vibrating when you say the sound. And one of them is unvoiced, which means the sound is coming from your lips and your vocal cords are actually not doing anything, okay? So it's really just air coming out of your lips, okay? So for example, let me say, okay, try that. Now is P, is that voiced or unvoiced?  So it's unvoiced, the sound is coming from your lips. And you can even tell because you can go, P, P, try it, P, P, and you can feel the air, P, P, okay? Unvoiced. Now, so if I was going to say S, like snake, snake, okay? S, snake. I can feel air coming out and my vocal cords aren't doing anything, okay? So S is unvoiced, but then zzz, zzz. Feel your vocal cords, zzz, zzz. They're vibrating, possession, position, zzz, zzz. So you have that vibration in the sound, okay? So this double S for single S doesn't matter. Like look, possession is such a long word as position, but they're the exact same number of sounds. The length of the sounds are the same. How many letters is irrelevant? It doesn't matter. Okay, so I thought this was really cool. And again, this all came down to my student Angelene in our 30 day speaking challenge for my business English Academy. She was on day 20 and the question was, what one possession you can't live without? And then when she mispronounced it and said position, and then I wrote down those two words because I wanted to learn how to teach her the correct pronunciation, okay? And then as I was writing them down, I'm like, oh wow, no wonder why she pronounced them wrong. These are two really similar sounds in English. And then I thought, you know what, these two words really show a lot of the different elements that are required for correct pronunciation. And the last one, of course, is that spelling and pronunciation are totally different. So one more time before I sign off, possession, position. And now you can teach your friends all about correct English pronunciation. Teach them about the schwa. So when you're listening to native English speakers, really think about where the stress is, how they're changing their vowel sounds, things like that become a little bit of a pronunciation detective. It will be really useful for you to really improve your listening skills and the first step to improving your pronunciation is just to be able to hear these sounds and understand what all of this means for overall pronunciation. Now, before I go, if you haven't already, head on over to my website, make sure you check out this free guide, okay? It's all about providing you with some tips and advice to help improve your speaking skills, all right? So this is completely free. Just go on over to my website, jforceenglish.com and download your free guide. And one final thing before I go, so so many of my awesome students have already filled out my survey, but if you haven't yet and you don't know what I'm talking about, you don't know what this survey is. So I'm creating, right now, I'm creating this really awesome program where we're going to study native English speakers to learn all of the expressions, the idioms and the phrasal verbs that they use. So you can sound like a native English speaker, understand English on TV, movies and everywhere outside of the classroom. And so you can stop sounding like a textbook and start sounding like a native English speaker. And of course, correct pronunciation of these expressions is necessary, right? You can't know the expression, but then not pronounce it correctly. So correct pronunciation is absolutely necessary. Now, this is a program I'm developing and I'm developing it for you, for the students. I'm not developing it for me or my friends. We're native English speakers. I don't need it, right? It's for you. So I need your opinions. I need your advice and I need your feedback. So I make sure I create a program that you want, that teaches you exactly what you want to learn in the way you want to learn it, okay? So I have a very short 10 questions survey. It will take two to three minutes to fill out. I'll put the link in the comments as soon as I'm done this lesson. And for everybody who completes this survey, you're going to be entered into a draw for a chance to win a free membership into this new program once it's available. So three minutes of your time could definitely be worthwhile for you. And even if you don't win, you get to help me plan this program and that is just something you should be proud of. You get to be part of this. You get to know that your ideas and this program was created the way you wanted to, right? Because it's a program for students created with the help of students. And that's you. So I'll put the link in the comments. Just click that and fill in the survey and I would really love it. Thank you in advance to everyone. Okay, everyone have an awesome rest of the day and I will see you in my next video. Happy studying.


Now that the Australian Open is done and we look forward to the next couple of events because there are some huge events on the WTA, some new events that have been upgraded to 1,000 status as well. So it gets really, really hectic in the next couple of weeks. Let's go have a look at the big five players that I've picked to keep an eye on their schedule over the next few weeks.  Now next week, the 5th of February, we're expected to see Rabakina play because of course, she did lose early at the Australian Open. So we're going to get into some form really quickly. Saka's also expected to play that event, but the other three are not playing until later in the month. So they won't be in Abu Dhabi, which is a 500 event. Then we go to Qatar, which is a 1,000 event. Now it used to be every second year it would alternate with Dubai, but this time it's been upgraded as a permanent 1,000 event for every single year from now on. So that's where we're expected to see everybody. Shviantex, Sabalenka, Goff, Rabakina and Osaka. It is a 1,000 event and it's also I think mandatory. So everybody has to play that event unless they have some reason not for playing like an injury. Then on the 19th in Dubai, we got back to back 1,000 events. And again, everybody's expected to play that one because it is another mandatory event. So back to back 1,000 events kind of feels like a slam. They're only going to be a week long. So they're not going to be those two week events that we have in March, but it's going to be a hectic couple of weeks in the Middle East for this new double 1,000 event that goes back to back. Then at the end of February, we have the San Diego Open and a tournament in Austin. Now at this point, we don't know who's going to be playing those events. There is no entry list for those, but you'd expect it after two weeks of craziness in the Middle East. Most of these players won't be playing that event unless they really need some form going into Indian Wells and Miami. There it is. That is the schedule for the next month, I guess, of the tour. And with those 1,000 events, those mandatory 1,000 events in both Qatar and Dubai or Doha and Dubai, it's going to be really, really crazy to see because this is the first time we've had both of those tournaments with a 1,000 status. They're going to be expended draws as well. They're going to be 56 player draws, so big, big tournaments expected everybody to play as well, whereas back in the day, well, last year, I should say, we had Doha as a 500 and Dubai a 1,000, and then they'd alternate between the two every other year. So now it's a little bit easier to understand to the fans, but it's a lot more work for the players. Let me know down in the comments below. Who are you most excited to see back on court? Obviously, I'm excited about Sabalenka. I want to see what she does straight after the Australian Open. If she can continue that form going into the Middle East. I also want to see her back in a bounces back from a, and Fiontech really, from a bad Australian Open. You know, they both lost really early, but let me know down in the comments below who you most excited to see in February. It's going to be a crazy couple of weeks.


thing that popped up a little risk like thing going on right now but it's all cleared up now and I'll be good to go for tomorrow. When did you first feel it? A few days ago and just kind of told them and we just took care of it for a few days and took a couple days off and now I feel good. Did they take care of it strictly time off or was there more that you did? Yeah just a precautionary stuff in the train room and it's about it or something specific. So one more pitch. No it just popped up and then we just took a couple days. Is there something kind of common that can happen just in the season and it gets better with a rest? Yeah I think the rest will help for sure but I've never had it before. Did you get a shot? No, no shot. Karen said it was tendonitis? Yeah, that's how we first ruled away.


The daily problems of most teachers are not restricted to the ones they face at school. Our Miss Brooks, who teaches English at Madison High School, is no exception to this rule. No, indeed. Many of my problems don't begin until I leave school or before I start to school. This, in spite of the fact that my home life consists of just A, my landlady, Mrs. Davis, and B, our cat, Minerva. Unfortunately, A is extremely absent-minded and B is allergic to cat hair. Last Friday morning, the three of us were having breakfast together. Careful dear, don't drink so fast or you'll get milk all over you. Thanks for reminding me, Mrs. Davis. May I have that napkin, please? Here you are, Connie.  Well, we wouldn't. Oh, you're talking to Minerva. Yes. All finished, Minerva. Meow. There's a good girl. Now go on into the kitchen and wait for me. Meow. While you're out there, do the dishes. Meow, meow. All right, I'll do the dishes. Oh, don't bother, Connie. You better get ready to go to school. Walter Denton should be picking you up any minute. Of course, you could dust the living room for me if you've got a minute. Those and irons I bought yesterday are pretty dusty. And irons? But Mrs. Davis, we haven't got a fireplace. That's what I told the salesman, Connie, but he carried them all the way up to our door by then. From where? From his car. He said it was his first time in this neighborhood. A door-to-door and iron salesman. Well, that's a new wrinkle. Yes, he was, Connie, and rather gray too. That's why I just had to buy them. You'll find the set over by the piano. There's a brush and a sifter came with them. Well, what are we waiting for? Let's burn the piano. I'm sorry, Mrs. Davis, what you buy is your own business, but I don't like to see people take advantage of you all the time. But, Connie, nobody takes advantage of me. Certainly they do. You're always doing favors for somebody, and most of the time they're practically strangers. Like that night you consented to sit for that couple down the street. You sat all right till five in the morning. But they couldn't find anybody else to stay with their children. A fine litter it was, too.  Oh, it wasn't so bad. They had a lovely phonograph, and I listened to music all evening long. It had a record changer in everything. You probably said a few changing records yourself that night. Mrs. Davis, you've just got to learn how to say no to people. I guess I'm just an easy mark. Well, I'll get on with these dishes. Oh, that's probably Walter now. Coming! Yes? Miss Brooks, isn't it? I'm a neighbor of yours. Mrs. Evans, George and I live about a mile from here. Are you asking me or telling me? Come in, neighbor. Oh, thank you. Come into the living room. Sit down, Mrs. Evans. Oh, you still don't know who I am, do you? Let's see. Belmont Laundry. Does that do anything to you? Well, they tear my slips once in a while. I knew that would do it. It is good to chat with you again, Miss Brooks. Again? When did you chat with me last, Mrs. Evans? Right after the holiday. The Easter holiday? No, dear. Last Thanksgiving. We were both at the Belmont Laundry to complain about the service, and on the way out, we had a conversation. I said, isn't this Laundry getting terrible, and you agreed with me? Now do you remember? Of course. I just forgot some of the details. I know you'll forgive me if I'm brief, Miss Brooks. I've been rather upset, ladies. It's George. It is? Yes, my husband, he isn't a bit well, and that's why we have to make this trip. The doctor seems to think that a week in the country will do him a world of good, so we're going upstate this afternoon. Molly has a farm up there, you know. It's a beautiful place. If there's one thing Molly knows, it's how to pick a farm. Oh, but she didn't pick it. Uncle Fred left it to Molly, but George is so attached to peanuts and, well, Miss Brooks, for just this one week, will you take care of peanuts for us? Well, it's all according. How many bags of them are there? No, you don't understand. Peanuts is our dog, the cutest thing you ever saw, and he's no trouble at all. I've got him right outside in our station wagon. Come on out and take a look at it. Oh, but Mrs. Evans, the door... We take him with us, but Molly's afraid of dogs. Come along, Miss Brooks. I took the liberty of parking in your driveway. Yes, I see. Who's that at the wheel, your husband? No, that's Peanuts. Did he drive you down?  He's a dain, of course. I should have known. He's built just like Lauret's Melchior. How can he get out? The windows are closed. He opens the door with his teeth. We taught him how when he was just a little puppy and he's never forgotten it, he's got a wonderful memory. He should have. His father was an elephant. Where are you going, Miss Brooks? I left a crossword puzzle up this tree. Don't be afraid. He likes you. You see, he wants to make friends. He's talking to you. Is that all I got to all his friends? Come on, come on, Peanuts. There's the good one. Miss Brooks, you're Paul Peanuts. No, thanks. I've got a couple. Look, Mrs. Evans, I don't think we can talk to you. Well, let's go in the house now so I can give you a few last minute instructions. Come on, Peanuts. You might as well get used to your new home. You're going to be here for a week. Oh, but Mrs. Evans, I can't accept the responsibility for a dog this size. Besides, this isn't my house. I just ran a room here. Mrs. Davis owns the place and she couldn't possibly have a dog that size. Well, I finished the dishes, Connie, and oh, I didn't know you had company. Who are these folks, Connie? These folks, Mrs. Davis, are Mrs. Evans and her dog Peanuts. How do you do? So we meet again, Mrs. Davis. Again? We all take from the same laundry.  He's really a lab dog, you know, but he doesn't require any special attention whatsoever.  I hope he's got his own toothbrush. Look, Mrs. Evans, this cottage belongs to Mrs. Davis and it's up to her. Oh, don't think about me, Connie. If you want this lovely dog, please take him. Good night, all. Oh, thank you, Ms. Brooks, and you won't be sorry. Peanuts is loads of fun. Well, I'd better be running along now. Oh, but where do we get in touch with you if Peanuts hasn't... Well, you won't have to get in touch with us. We'll contact you as soon as we return from the farm. Goodbye, my dear. Now you've done it, Mrs. Davis. I've done it. Why, Connie, Mrs. Evans is your friend. My friend? I only met her once in my life. Well, it's done now, Connie. Might as well make the best of it. By the way, where is the dog? He's probably in the kitchen. The door is the jar. Well, that's funny. I left it closed. He opens it with his teeth. They taught him when he was a puppy. Come on. There was a whole leg of lamb on the stove, Connie. Well, that's right, Mrs. Davis. Peanuts, you didn't eat that whole leg of lamb. Oh, Mrs. Davis, we can't afford to feed this dog. Not if we want to eat too. That's Walter Denton, Connie. Shall I answer it? No, I'll let Walter in. Walter?  Not that I know of, Connie. A kid like that? I bet he'd love the idea of taking care of peanuts for a week. His folks have a big backyard, too. It would be just the thing. Coming, Walter. Now, whatever you do, Mrs. Davis, keep the dog out of sight until I prepared him. Well, Walter Denton, come in, Walter. Come in. Thanks, Mrs. Brooks. I'd have been here sooner, but I was dog-tired this morning. That's a coincidence. Walter, who would you say is a fella's best friend next to his mother? Stretched snot grass. Well, he's mine anyway. Why, Mrs. Brooks? I mean in the animal kingdom, Walter, who is man's best friend? Well, out west, they say a horse is. Right. And next to a horse? Uh, a dog, I guess. Right again, Walter. Now, what would you do if you could get an animal combining the best features of both? I'd get it, Mrs. Brooks. You will, Walter. But one week I'm offering you absolutely free of charge the opportunity to look after, play with, and be a pal to a wonderful creature named Peanuts. Peanuts? Oh, where is he? Right in the kitchen. A friend of mine left him here, but, well, when I thought of how much bigger your backyard is, I just couldn't help it. I knew I'd have to make the sacrifice. Call him, Walter. Call Peanuts. Well, if you say so, Mrs. Brooks. Peanuts! Here, Peanuts! Walter, come down off that piano. You sure he won't bite? Positive. Come on now, just pet him. He likes you, Walter. Oh, but I couldn't take him home even for a week, Mrs. Brooks. My folks have started a garden out in the back. A garden? Yeah, that's why I haven't got my own dog right now. I wish I knew what to do with him. Frankly, Walter, I just can't afford to feed him for a week. I've got an idea. How about leaving him at Snodgrass's pet shop, you know, stretch his old man. He's got all kinds of animals down there, and I'm sure he wouldn't mind. Perfect, Walter. Then when Mrs. Evans comes back, she can pay his food bill. Come on, Peanuts. Oh, just one thing, Walter. I'd better drive today. You can sit in back with Peanuts. In back? But there isn't room back here for both of us, Mrs. Brooks. Sure there is. He's a lap dog, Walter. You can sit in his lap. Mrs. Brooks, we can... Oh, golly, I forgot. What? It's closed. Stretch told me his pop was going away for the weekend. Oh, that's just dandy. Now we'll have to take Peanuts to school. To school, but, Mrs. Brooks, Mr. Conklin doesn't allow dogs at school. If he saw Peanuts, he'd blow his top. Our beloved principal will just have to make an exception, Walter. Besides, this dog is completely outside of Mr. Conklin's jurisdiction. Well, what do you mean, Mrs. Brooks? He happens to be a Danish citizen. Here, Mrs. Brooks, starring Eve Arden, will continue in just a moment. But first, here is Vern Smith. Here's wonderful news, ladies. Wonderful, wonderful news. Now there's something thrillingly new in Pamalef soap's famous beauty lather. Yes, something thrillingly new. Pamalef's famous beauty lather now brings you new fragrance, new charm, new allure. Millions of women will prefer beauty lather, Pamalef, over all other leading toilet soaps the minute they try it. But Pamalef soap's famous beauty lather now has a new, clean, flower-fresh fragrance for new allure, new charm. So, ladies, forget all other beauty care and use Pamalef soap the way doctors advised for a lovelier complexion.  Then rinse. That's all. All types of skin, young, older, oily, respond to it quickly. Don't wait another day to try Pamalef's beauty lather. You'll be thrilled by its new fragrance, new charm, new allure. Thrilled again by the fresher, brighter complexion doctors prove may soon be yours. For new loveliness all over, use big, bass-sized Pamalef in tub or shower. In spite of my enforced bravado, I was pretty squeamish about getting peanuts into school without Mr. Conklin finding out about it. Fortunately, we were early and while Walter parked his car, I was able to hustle the dog into the supply room with a minimum of incident. Of course, a few students we did encounter in the halls will spend the remainder of their adolescence with hanging jaws and bulging eyes, but that was unavoidable. Stretch Snotgrass, Madison's star athlete, known to the faculty as the body beautiful and the head empty, was in charge of the supply room when peanuts and I arrived. Hi, Miss Brooks. Quiet, quiet. This is peanut stretch. Oh, I didn't notice them. Nice pooch. Pooch? But you're not seeing him at his best, Stretch. He usually carries a barrel around his neck with a Saint Bernard in it. Stretch, we've got to keep him out of sight. Mr. Conklin mustn't find out that he's in school. Oh, he won't. Mr. Conklin's at the doctor's office. Harriet told me when she gave me the key to the supply room. Her father's getting tested for aller... Aller... Allergies? Yeah. He won't be in for an hour yet. Harriet said she'd talked to him on the phone and he's half shot. Translation. He's only through with half the shots the doctor's giving him. But don't worry about peanuts, Miss Brooks. I'll keep them right here in the supply room. Oh, look, Miss Brooks, he's scratching his own back. Isn't it cute? He smiles while he does it. Don't you? I wonder what he's got back there. It's probably just a mild case of hives. Well, it's certainly clever the way he takes the hives with one paw and beats them to death with the other. Don't make a great watchdog if I have to leave this place for anything. Can you imagine what a gag it would be if somebody just wandered in to snitch a pencil or something? Yeah, a great gag. They'd probably get hysterical permanently. I've sent for you, Miss Brooks, because I feel that you, of all the personnel at Madison, can keep a cool and level head in time of crisis. Well, thank you, Mr. Conklin, but what... I'm trying to be calm myself, Miss Brooks. I shall make every effort to acquaint you with the facts in as brief and concise a manner as is possible. Yes, sir. First of all, I returned from the doctor's office about an hour ago, some allergy shots. I was jotting down some possible prizes for the community chest raffle and found myself in need of another notebook. Yes, Mr. Conklin. Pending your opinion, Miss Brooks, I have so far failed to notify the police or fire departments. It is my belief that if we can successfully avoid any and all panic, we can ourselves remove the student body and faculty to a place of safety from this danger. What danger? Miss Brooks, there's a leopard in the supply room. I mean, that's impossible, Mr. Conklin. Impossible? But I tell you, I saw it. Mr. Conklin, you said yourself you've just had some shots. Isn't it possible that what you saw could have been an illusion? Miss Brooks, I slammed the door on the creature as soon as I saw it, but not until I'd gotten a good look, when I think of those slavering jaws, what they could rend. What they've already rended. That is, I'm sure the shots had something. Come with me, Miss Brooks. I'll prove to you the shots had nothing to do with it. But for the life of me, I don't comprehend. Miss Brooks, what do you suppose that leopard is doing in the supply room? Maybe he ran out of something. Careful, Miss Brooks. That puny door could never hold him if he becomes enraged. Let's tiptoe up to it and listen to the beast. The beast hasn't got a bad voice. Oh, stretch. It's us. Mr. Conklin and I, open up. Okay. Where is it? Where's what, Mr. Conklin? The beast. It was a big... It had... Oh. How long have you been in this room, Snotgrass? All right along, Mr. Conklin. All morning. You see, Mr. Conklin, it was those shots after all.  But I can't understand it. I saw him as clearly as I see you. Clear it. Maybe I'd better get back to my office at that. A lot to do today. I've still got to find a suitable prize for that raffle. Maybe I'll call my doctor. Yes, that's what I'll do. I'll call the doctor. That's what I'm going to do it. The doctor. Stretch. Quick stretch. Get him out from under and let's go. Get who out from under what, Miss Brooks? Peanuts.  Well, no, Miss Brooks. Peanuts blue. He blue? Yeah. I didn't want to admit it in front of old man Con... Oh, Mr. Conklin. But I left the supply room for about 10 minutes and when I got back, the dog had taken a powder. He could use some powder. Oh, but this is terrible stretch. We've got to find him before Mr. Conklin sees him again. You'd better go directly to the cafeteria and look for him. Cafeteria? But it isn't lunch period yet, Miss Brooks. For him, it's lunch period all day. Some of our younger students are still pretty tender, you know. I'll look in Mr. Boynton's biology laboratory. Maybe something in the lab attracted peanuts. I know there's something that attracts me in there. Now, suppose you get going, Stretch. Okay, Miss Brooks. I'll report back to you if I find him. Yes, do that, Stretch. I'll just close up this supply... Oh, excuse me, Miss Brooks, but I just ran into Daddy in the hall. He's very overwrought. Well, that's better than being underwrought. Your father's just a little nervous, Harriet. He's been to the doctor, you know. Yes, I know. That's why he asked me to tell you that you've got to pick out a prize for the community chest raffle tickets we sold last week. Me? Yes, the drawings this afternoon. Get her on, Harriet. Right now I've got to see a real man about a real dog. Excuse me, Mr. Boynton. I hope I'm not interrupting anything. Not at all, Miss Brooks. I was just going to have a little snack. Brought some milk and pastry from home. It's Danish. Danish? Well, don't bite it till you see if it's wearing a license. All right. I'll skip it, Mr. Boynton. Do you mind if I look around the lab? I know, Miss Brooks, but what are you looking for? I'd rather skip that, too, Mr. Boynton.  No, I won't, honestly. Well, I lost a dog. It's a great dane, Mr. Boynton. I brought him to school this morning. You brought a great dane to school? Why did you do a crazy thing like that? I knew it, but it's too late for explanations now, Mr. Boynton. I've got to find him. Of course, and I'll do everything I can to help you, but let's approach this problem in a scientific manner. Take the habits and customs of the creature and go from there. Fine, but do you know the habits of a great dane? Miss Brooks, I'm a biologist. If I say so myself, I know the habits of animals from A to Z. Or perhaps I should say from oddbark to zebra. That's a little joke we scientists like to tell. Well, tell it later on, will you? Right now we've got to find peanuts. That's his name. Oh, well, the great dane, also called Boarhound, has a keen sense of smell. He is an excellent dog for hunting. I know. I've been hunting this one all morning. Tell me, Miss Brooks, where was he when you last saw him? In the supply room. Now, now, let's consider for a moment the dane's remarkable sense of hearing. It's five times greater than a man's, you know. Do you think he might have heard anything that made him run away? Just the one about the oddbark and the zebra. Wait, Miss Brooks, I'm trying to help you. The dane was originally developed to hunt boars, hence the name Boarhound, and he was a cross between... Oh, pardon me, Mr. Boyden, but you've just given me a very important lead. You say the dane likes to hunt boars. That's correct. Then all I have to do is put myself in his place. Now, if I was hunting for a boar, where would I go? I'm sure I don't know. I do. I'd go to the office of the biggest boar at Madison. Mr. Conklin, here I come. Hello, Mr. Conklin. Could I talk to you for a moment? I suppose so, Miss Brooks. Sit down. This has been a trying day for me, a very trying day. Yes, I know, Mr. Conklin. They haven't been able to isolate my particular allergy, and the doctor says it may take some time. Excuse me. Hello. Mr. Allergy speaking. Conklin. Hello, Mr. Conklin. This is Mrs. Davis. I wouldn't disturb you at school like this, but it's terribly important. I've got to speak to Miss Brooks. Oh, she's right here, Mrs. Davis. It's for you. Thank you. Hello, Mrs. Davis. Hello, Conny. I've just some distressing news for you. Mrs. Davis called and said her husband's doctor discovered that he's allergic to dog hair. Mrs. Evans? What? Naturally, they can't keep peanuts any longer. So Mrs. Evans told me to tell you that he's yours. Mine? Oh, but I can't. Where is Mrs. Evans? I'll call her back. I'm afraid that's impossible, Conny. They've just left town for the summer. Left town? But, well, I'll talk to you about it later on, Mrs. Davis. Thanks if you'll forgive a lie for calling. Everything all right, Miss Brooks? Huh? Oh, yes. Everything is dandy, Mr. Conklin. Good. Good. Now, about this prize for the community chest raffle, I've been racking my brain. Have you been able to think of anything? Pardon me. What did you say, Miss Brooks? Me? I didn't say anything, Mr. Conklin. What did you say? I said, I said, here, Mrs. Evans! I thought that's what you said. Mr. Conklin, I think I've got the answer to both your problems. What? What? Ah! Well, first, your allergy. Mr. Conklin, do you hang your coat in the closet over there? Oh, yes, I do. And did you wear a tan top coat to school today? That's right. How tall is it? Tall? Has it got soft brown buttons? Yes, I think they're brown. With long eyelashes? Miss Brooks, what are you trying to do? Grip the arms of your chair tightly, Mr. Conklin. Peanuts! Here, peanuts! Let me! Meet Mr. Conklin Peanuts. Mr. Conklin, shake hands with the first prize in the community chess raffle. Our Miss Brooks returns in just a moment, but first... Tonight, show him how much lovelier your hair can look after a luster cream shampoo. Only luster cream brings you K. Dumont's magic formula blend of secret ingredients plus gentle lanolin. Gives loveliness lather even in hardest water. Glamourizes your hair as you wash it. Luster cream. Not a soap, not a liquid, but a dainty cream shampoo. Leaves hair frequently clean, free of loose dendruff, glistening with sheen. Soft, manageable. Gives new beauty to all hairdos or permanents. Four ounce jar, one dollar. Smaller sizes, either tubes or jars. Tonight, try luster cream shampoo and be a... Cream girl, beautiful luster cream girl. You owe your crowning glory to a luster cream shampoo. And now, once again, here is our Miss Brooks. Well, the drawing for the grand prize occurred in assembly that afternoon. Attention, everyone. Quiet. Quiet, please. Quiet. I'm happy to say that every member of the student party and faculty has contributed something to our community chest drive. And as we promised, there will be a prize for the holder of the winning number, which is... 644. Miss Brooks, let's see your stub. My stub?  I never won a raffle in my life. Well, you've won this one. 644. Oh, no, Walder. There's a winner right here, Mr. Conklin. It's Miss Brooks. Well, congratulations, Miss Brooks. Is there anything you'd like to say? Just one thing, Mr. Conklin.  Our Miss Brooks, starring Eve Arden, is produced by Larry Burns, written and directed by Al Lewis, with music by Wilbur Hatch. Mr. Boynton is played by Jeff Chandler, Mr. Conklin by Gail Gordon. Others in tonight's cast were Jane Morgan, Dick Crenna, Gloria McMillan, Leonard Smith, Mary Jane Croft, and Pento Kohlweg. Men, do you shave with a lather or brushless shave cream? Palm olive shaving cream comes both ways. And whichever way you prefer to shave, you'll find that using either palm olive brushless or palm olive lather shaving cream can bring you more comfortable, actually smoother, shaves. Here's the proof. 2,548 men tried the new palm olive way to shave described on the tube. And no matter how they had shaved before, 3 out of every 4 got more comfortable, actually smoother, shaves. Get palm olive brushless or palm olive lather shaving cream today. For mystery liberally sprinkled with laughs, listen to Mr. and Mrs. North, the exciting, fun-packed adventures of an amateur detective and his beautiful wife. Tune in Tuesday evening over most of these same stations. And be with us again next week at this same time for another comedy episode of Our Miss Brooks. One good reason to be proud we're Americans is that we're always free to tell our government how we feel about its actions. But let's not forget that freedom is everybody's job. All of us must work to keep our individual rights and freedoms by voting in an informed way so that the best men and women are placed in office. We must serve willingly on juries and public committees and take an interest in the development of our community, state, and country. For by being better citizens, we can show the world that America is a strong, successful democracy. Stay tuned now for People's Choice, which follows over most of these same stations. This is CVS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.


Boys are home. Oh man, in catch-up mode, trying to figure out things, getting back in the rhythm, back to, you know, a little bit of normalcy after Nolan's, after the attempt on the mountains. You know, it's a big mental challenge, so just, uh, entering back into the vlog life a little bit, so bear with me, um, it's probably gonna take two, three, four, five days to really recover mentally, physically, from that effort up there, which was about 43 miles, 20,000 vertical feet, um, up, which means 20,000 vertical, vertical feet down. Yeah, it was a beast. So, two love and I are going a little date night, Nana's here, um, gonna go get some Cudoba, but Cudoba. It was a favor. I gotta open up the door for your lady. Come on now, fellas. I found it. So, I'm gonna try this video of me, right? These maps. No. Or do you want to, yeah. Jesus, why? You've duped me, Lord. And I let myself be duped. Han, what was it like? It's a big moment, honey. To crew Nolan's 14. By the way, we're back for the mountains as you know. We're getting caught up with life and it's just nice. We're just slowing life down a little, entering into Cozolik season soon. If you don't know what that is, we'll explain once it's truly Cozolik season. I took before an hour and a half today. Oh, making up for Nolan's time. We, it was so amazing to crew for the most talented man on the planet. I got lost. I got lost. That was no good. That was a bum deal. So, I'm sorry that happened. You know. Basically, Seth is the most incredible person and he thought ahead, he planned everything. I don't know much about crewing. Never crewed. And he printed off all my maps, gave me step-by-step directions. He bought all the stuff that was necessary and had it organized and loaded in the back. And literally, like I'd be like, do any chapstick? And he'd be like, yeah, I'm like, oh, where's that?  But I was telling him on the way home, I felt bad that I wasn't as helpful maybe as I could have been.  Yes. Yeah, he liked my style of just kind of like sitting there waiting to be told what to do and kind of laid back. Yeah. Well, Han, thank you for helping. It was so fun to be with you. It's a tough moment. Tough moment. That was so disappointing. Because you train so hard and you work so hard. Yeah. But then... 100% he was going to break the record by at least seven hours. At least. And so, you know... That's known as an FKT. Fastest known time. Just so you know. And a Spangord has it right now.  You just never want to go back to ice cream or frozen yogurt or sherbet or... Or any other dessert on the planet. Or any other dessert. It's like custard. Custard is where it's at. Made fresh by the hour. By the hour. So that's also probably why. And also just a tip, don't get anything else next in even though there's a thousand cool things like peach and root beers and blueberries. No. No. Key lime? I got key lime high once. It was good, but it wasn't great. It wasn't as good as straight vanilla custard. Just getting back into a rhythm, folks. Just getting back into a rhythm. I have not given up. You don't worry. You do not worry in there. YouTube. Han, seek beauty or card. Love each other. See you tomorrow.


Good afternoon everyone. We'll get started in just a moment, but now it'd be a great time to silence your mobile devices I'd also like to remind you that we'll take questions after mr. Gandhi makes his remarks Please write them on the cards on your seats or one of the press club attendants can can hand you a card And the pass them to the front of the room when I'll ask as many as I can as time permits Please print legibly. I can't ask what I can't read And I'll ask as many questions as I can Just started just one moment Okay, good afternoon everyone and welcome to the national press club the place where news happens I'm Kerry O'Reilly co-vice chair of the press clubs events committee And I'm also a senior managing editor at sight line media group publisher of defense news and military times We're delighted today to welcome India's main opposition leader Rahul Gandhi who heads the Indian National Congress Party in March a court in India's Gujarat state sentenced mr. Gandhi to two years in prison for defaming Prime Minister Narendra Modi While he was granted bail and remains free on appeal India's Parliament expelled him from the legislature where he had served for 19 years The defamation case stemmed from a 2019 campaign speech in which mr. Gandhi Reference the Prime Minister surname Modi in connection with two high-profile criminals with the same last name How come all these thieves have Modi as their common name? He asked a legislature a legislator from the Prime Minister's Party Also with last name Modi suit The Gandhi family name is synonymous with a political dynasty that has produced three Prime Ministers so far Role Gandhi is the son and grandson and great-grandson of legendary politicians both his father Rajiv Gandhi and his grandmother Indira Gandhi Were assassinated their party the Indian National Congress ruled India for most of the years since the country's independence But the once unshakable Gandhi dynasty may have met its match in mr. Modi who crushed the traditional ruling party in a 2019 landslide Mr. Gandhi will challenge mr. Modi again when elections are held in 2024 Many people in India and around the world have always concerned about mr. Modi's consolidation of power in the world's largest democracy Mr. Gandhi has emerged as one of mr. Modi's fiercest critics Accusing him of using the power of his government to silence opposition candidates journalists and Organizations such as Amnesty International and Oxfam yet Prime Minister Modi appears poised to win a third term Morning consults global leader approval rating tracker ranks mr. Modi as the world's most popular leader Data collected the week of May 17th shows him with a 70% of 77% approval rating by comparison President Joe Biden clocks in at 41% Today we welcome the opportunity here from mr. Gandhi's perspectives on the state of India's democracy Please join me in giving a warm National Press Club welcome to mr. Rahul Gandhi Just go right into questions. Yeah, I mean Thank you very much for inviting me here I believe my great-grandfather came here and my grandmother came here My father came here. So it's an honor for me and I'm looking forward to your questions. Okay Let me just remind everyone that I'm happy to take our questions But please write them on the cards provided and hand them before shouted questions will not be picked up by our microphones And if you deserve this proceeding, well, we will be escorted out. So just want to make that clear Okay, so since since mr. Modi has come to power India's economy has improved according to independent economic assessments What's your take on the current government's economic policies? Have they improved the company the country's position? I mean What we see on the ground is Massive unemployment and dramatic increase in prices and these are this is One of the reasons we won the Karnataka election was that there was a feeling in India that There is a set of people who have a huge amount of wealth and Then there's a large mass of Indian people who are poor and struggling huge income disparities and Unemployment I think it's it's a 40-year high for unemployment. So to say that the economy is doing well I don't quite agree with it And There are particular policies that are cause for concern or that should be changed I think the central the central difference between how we We see it and how the BJP sees it is we believe in decentralization of power We believe in supporting the small and medium industries and we believe that they are the engine of growth in India And they tend to Concentrate a power and wealth in few limited people. So that's I would say broadly That's the difference in the economic perspective. Okay, if your party were to return to power What changes would it seek to implement to ensure the rights of minorities in India? I? mean India has a very robust system Already in place That system has been weakened right, but it's not that that system Doesn't exist if the conversation that of the democratic conversation is allowed to be fostered Then these issues will settle themselves. So so the rule of law is in place. It just perhaps isn't it's you You have to have an independent set of institutions that are not Pressurized and controlled and that that's been the norm in India. This is An aberration what is taking place? What is taking place in India? So from our perspective the the foundations of democracy in India very strong and The protections exist but they are being sort of disturbed You see that if If Congress came to power that could quickly be restored quickly, I don't know but The Congress party is is the institution that conceptualized them in the first place, right? So we we don't view them as our institutions we view them as institutions of the state and so we ensured that there was independence and and Neutrality in these institutions and it's not difficult to do if that's what you're trying to do Let me ask you about what again welcome to the press club and let me ask you about press freedom very important important issue for us all What? Yeah, and I should full disclosure my colleague Vivek Raghavanshi Was arrested several weeks ago and charged with and accused of espionage. He's an Indian citizen and What does that? He's been working for my company for more than 30 years and as a journalist and I wanted to ask you what that says about the state of press freedom in India when someone you know can be just accused of You know even after it was someone such a reputation can be accused in such a cavalier manner No, I think the fact that There is a weakening of press freedoms. This is not hidden. I mean everybody knows it It's it's apparent in India The rest of the world can see it and I think Press freedom is very very critical for a democracy. I mean one should be one should be open to criticism and One should listen to criticism. I mean, that's the feedback loop that that builds democracies and Definitely, there is a weakening of press freedom. I mean and it's not just press freedom It's on multiple axis on multiple axis there is a there is a clamp down on the institutional framework that that Allowed India to talk that allowed the Indian people to Negotiate I view I view India as a negotiation between its people between different languages different cultures different histories and the architecture that Mahatma Gandhi set up was to allow that negotiation to be carried out fairly and freely and That structure that allows the negotiation Between India's people is coming under pressure. I mean, this is a question. You you should ask mr. Modi So more apt, okay, I don't know how you'll get there as soon as we get him here I don't know. I don't know how you'll get there, but yeah, I think we better question directed at him. Okay What are your concerns with regard to the use of the citizenship law to expel Muslim Indians who have lived in India for generations? I think other things differently. I think All Indian people right Have a right to expression all Indian people Have a right to religious freedom all Indian communities should feel free to Express themselves. So I I don't differentiate between any community any caste I think India as I mentioned just now is a conversation and the freer and more open that conversation the more powerful India becomes okay You have said that Modi's BJP engages in the politics of hatred and violence. Can you explain what you mean by this? I mean explained in in the sentence right they they sort of generate a Certain amount of hatred in society. They polarized society and They're not inclusive. They don't they don't embrace everybody And they they divide society that's That's what that's yeah, and that's and that's damaging in my view to India because India has always had a tradition of of Conversation of openness all our great leaders spiritual political Mahatma Gandhi Buddha all of them promoted harmony promoted peace promoted Conversation so it's in our culture it's in our history to sort of bring people together and and Have these dialogues So that that's I think it's a difference in ideology between us and the BJP we feel India should be allowed to express itself and we feel that political leaders should be comfortable in sort of being questioned And and and should learn from that question. So I mean it's just a difference in viewpoint For for such a divisive figure Modi maintains Very high levels. In fact worldwide high levels of popularity. What why do you think that's the case? Why why does so many Indians support the Modi government? I mean there is a There is a definite Capture of the institutions of the country. There's a definite capture of the press in the country. I'm not convinced that You know, I don't I don't believe everything I hear I walked across India worked from Kanya Kumari to Kashmir and Talked directly to millions of Indian people millions of Indian people and They didn't seem very happy to me and they were very clear That there were serious issues with regards to unemployment. There was massive price rise. So there was a there was an angst in the people and you know Look at the Karnataka election and wait and watch the next three or four state elections that I think is a better indicator of what's going to happen You're you're here in Washington Washington has been sort of has a Cosing up if you will to the Modi government. Do you feel that this is a mistake? Do you feel like this is this is not up? Who am I to advise? Who am I to advise? Washington and what they want to do, you know, I Mean it's their choice. It's they have to they have to decide about these things It's pretty clear from from our perspective Where we've got to go There are certain values that we protect And we're very serious about protecting those values As I said the conversation between the people of India The idea that all Indians should have space equal space equal expression These are things that for us are non-negotiable and we fight for them and we pay the price What is your comment from the audience here What is your reaction to Prime Minister Modi's statement that not an inch of land has been lost to the border with China And and can you talk about India's relationship with China and how it's changing? I mean the fact of the matter is China is occupying our territory It's an accepted fact. I think 1500 square kilometers land the size of Delhi is occupied by them and I think you know absolutely unacceptable Prime Minister seems to believe otherwise. I don't know. I don't know.  We don't know I'm gonna ask about Kashmir India is positioning Kashmir as a tourist destination while Certain populations are persecuted Do you see this as the path to prosperity for that for that region? No, I think I Think everybody in India Has a democratic right every single person in India should be allowed to be part of the conversation I Think there are things that can be improved in Jammu in Kashmir with regards to that conversation And we are committed to improving the conversation the democratic conversation in Jammu in Kashmir It says you were you talked about secularism and democracy while opposing the Hindu party BJP However, Congress in Kerala has been in alliance with the Muslim Party Muslim League in Kerala the state of the state from which you are you were MP for more than I'm sorry The state you are the MP for more than 70 years Muslim Muslim League is a completely secular right. There's nothing There's nothing non-secular about Questions a little disjointed. Sorry about that. I think I think the person doesn't hasn't studied the Muslim League Back to politics how United is the opposition in India and why isn't Congress supporting? Kedriwal and the ordinance on the ordinance issue. Well, that's it. That's an internal discussion. We are having The opposition is pretty pretty well united and I think it's getting more and more United we are having conversations With all the opposition, you know, and I think quite a lot of good work is happening there Okay, there's I mean, it's a complicated it's a complicated discussion because There are there are spaces where We are competing also with the with opposition. So it's a little bit of give and take is required But I'm confident that that'll happen So given the electoral strength of the BJP Would Congress now be willing to consider being part of a coalition government that it does not lead Well, I mean, these are these are questions That need to be asked to the Congress president because he's the he's the decision maker I think the Congress party will do very well in the next election. I think it'll It'll surprise people because I think there is a Hidden undercurrent building and I think will surprise people and I'm not entirely Convinced about this idea that mr. Narendra Modi is going to win the 24 elections. I think it's Not as simple as people make out If you just do the math a united Opposition will defeat the BJP on its own without any, you know, electoral map What what can the international community? What role is there for the international community and to prevent a slide towards authoritarianism? This is see it's our job right, it's our business and It's our work To fight the battle for democracy in India and it's something that We understand we accept and we do But the thing to remember is that Indian democracy is a global public good because India is large enough That a collapse in democracy in India will affect will will have an impact on The world so that's for you to think about how much you value Indian democracy, but for us It's an internal matter and it's a fight that we are committed to and we are going to we're going to win President Biden will host Prime Minister Modi for an official state visit later this month The White House said in a statement of the visit will strengthen both countries shared commitment to a free open prosperous and secure Indo-Pacific and deep and strategic partnerships and defense clean energy in space. What impact do you see the visit having? I mean, let's see. Let's see what happens. Let's see what happens in the visit I think Let the Prime Minister come here and let the visit take place and then let's see and I don't want to Sort of pre-judge this Yeah, but I do think the relationship between India and the United States is very very important I think it's also important that we broad-based the relationship It's important to have Have a defense relationship But I think we need to also consider other areas and we need to have a vision For other spaces other than defense Do you see India as a you know us a Center between Russia and China and US interests. Do you see it? Benefiting from the interplay of these countries or do you see it taking almost a leadership role in the end of Pacific in terms of economic issues or Look, India has to do what's in itself interest, right? And that's what guides. That's what will guide us but as a people We are committed to a democratic vision. So I myself am not entirely convinced About the sort of autocratic Vision that is being promoted and I think that it's very important that Democracy is protected on the planet So India has a role there India of course Has its view on things and I think that that view should be put on the table But I don't think one should think about these things as or you the center of things. I think that's Could be arrogant We understand the strengths that we bring to the table, right? Democratic values data These are some of the things that technology a Highly educated Technically educated population. These are strengths and I think we have to chart our course based on these trends And this is a question from the audience India started as a secular state But it's currently leaning toward a Hindu state. Is that a threat to democracy? Is India losing its original ideology from your From your perspective, I think there's there's a Fight on in India There are two visions of India. There is the vision that the BJP has It's a centralizing vision It's a polarizing vision and then there's another vision equally strong in fact, if you ask me much stronger, but not expressing itself that effectively right now Which is a decentralized view an embracing vision a sensitive compassionate vision and I'm Absolutely convinced that this is a transitional phase and the true nature of India To true democratic nature of India Compassionate nature of India will try I have no doubt in my mind and By the way, we've gone through this phase before, you know, so it's not that it's a new thing The Congress party face this exact same thing in the 30s and we decimated it and we will do the same again People are impatient, you know people are like Very impatient BJP has been in power for 10 years. Well, okay, we were in power for 10 years before that Why did nobody say, you know in you pay to when we when we had been in power for eight years Why did nobody say oh my god, the BJP is going to evaporate? After all the same, you know, we were in power for 10 years. So there is a tendency for the media to sort of exaggerate these things There are reasons for it also But we are committed to the democratization of India and we are committed especially to the emancipation of the poor people of India the lower caste backward castes These communities I think I think you heard you say you described the media in India somewhat captured by the Powers that be I mean, I think you could remove the word somewhat What so what if Your party comes to power what steps would be taken to to free up that press and make it less I Mean You don't really need to do much you need to just stop interfering and stop pressurizing, you know, and if you look at the up a period We didn't interfere. We didn't pressurize And it worked perfectly fine. So if the if the leadership of the country decides that a free press is valuable Then it'll fall into place Got a question for you on Bangladesh here How do you view Bangladesh's situation as the country's struggles for democracy voting rights freedom of expression and human rights? No, I think I mean Bangladesh is a friend of India But you know, it's it's for Bangladesh to decide these things it's not my place to tell Bangladesh how they should live their life Okay Let's see Says this question from the audience in nine years of BJP rule India has become Has a 3.5 trillion repeat or dollar economy India is one of the most and yet India is one of the most impoverished Countries so So how do you how do you see India addressing its many many problems, you know, given the challenges of democracy given the challenges of the the divisive rule of What's the way forward in terms of specifically addressing poverty and you know the deep 3.5 trillion India has a particular growth rate. So that's just a natural consequence of that growth rate The question is how is the wealth of India distributed is India creating jobs are Indian people Feeling that they can express themselves. Are they happy is their general tranquility in the country Congress Party has a record for doing this. I mean, it's not maybe we've done it for many many years I think a good model is to let the people of India get to work Let them let them do what they're best at doing and not to sort of, you know Pressurize them and threaten them and and do that with there's There's a historical record for this, you know, I mean after all India did extremely well In the early 2000s What do you see is the main drivers of there's a cost. You see there's also something that people don't realize Is that there's a massive economic cost to this dish on me, right? to this Non-conversation that filters out So saying that Indian economy is doing well, that's that doesn't take in the full picture What are the other costs that you're creating? Those are not being factored in right we ran We had better economic growth than the BJP created more jobs than the BJP and had complete harmony in the country what you see is the biggest drivers of The economy in the in the in the short term and they've been the in the years ahead in the coming years. I think What the BJP's policies have done Particularly demonetization and what we consider to be a flawed GST they have Weakened the small and medium businesses in India and we believe that the small and medium businesses Are actually the backbone of economic activity in India if you want to create jobs if you want to Have a 21st century Economy you have to empower these people and turn them from being small and medium businesses to large businesses So in our mind, it's taking these these businesses and scaling them up and and having hundreds if not thousands of these businesses become large businesses So that that's where we fundamentally differ with the BJP They believe that you don't need these small and medium businesses that you can Build the Indian economy with three or four huge massive businesses Unfortunately Having three or four massive businesses doesn't translate into jobs. It can't So that's really at the heart of the economy the difference between the two visions So and you can see it. So I mean the the growth during the up a period is much better than the growth now and there's massive levels of unemployment in India now and it's a real problem because our people They need to be put into productive activity, you know It's a it's a it's a huge waste of the most valuable resource on the planet Can India go it alone to build those small medium and small businesses or do they need? No, I think more open to outside. No, I think the United States. I think that's when I was talking about Broad basing the relationship I Was talking about that that the United States and India have synergies that if they come together can be very powerful what we are What we are facing is a a particular vision of the world Chinese vision of the world that offers productivity Prosperity but under a non-democratic framework right that's not acceptable to us because We simply cannot thrive under a Non-democratic structure, so we have to think about productive production and prosperity in a democratic framework and I think That's where the bridge between India and the United States can play a very important role For us for you, and I think also for the planet to show to show the rest of the world that production manufacturing In a democratic environment is Possible and can actually be competitive with the Chinese model and this and also while keeping in the environment in mind That is the environment of a major concern of yours going going into the next lecture. Yes, as I said as I said you can't Ignore costs and pretend they don't exist Right and when you're thinking about these things You don't want to think about them in the one year to your five-year time frame as a country You'd like to think about them in a 20 30-year time frame And if you're if you're looking at that span then the environment is fundamental you can't get away from it saying that The world is in a transition So we are we are moving from internal combustion engines to electric motors There is an energy Transition taking place. So we have to be we have to adapt ourselves to benefit from those transitions And I think India is very well placed to do that Would you consider a big increase in exports one way of measure that or is that really about? Innovating the economy to to take advantage of these new technologies It's both right if India Starts manufacturing starts producing It will start to export as well, right? I think I Think there is a Opportunity for India to successfully compete with the Chinese on manufacturing We might not end up doing it the way they do it. So it not we might not end up having huge factories You know we might end up having smaller factories With High technology embedded in them. So the system will probably look different but the end result Would be similar that we would we would compete with China and and You would see made in China and you would see made in India Can you can you do it without Chinese not more Chinese investment? Is there not money coming in from elsewhere? Yeah, no, that's that's where that's where the India-US relationship should be looking I mean that to me is what the conversation should be about How do we how do we build this? alternative production system alternative manufacturing system and and I think there's a lot of interesting things there Because of our size Because of data because of our technological capabilities your technological capabilities so I think the strengthening of the bridge between the United States and India and the Widening it, you know making it taking it from a two-lane highway to a 10 15 20-lane highway Is how I think about it does the US tendency to flirt with the debt ceiling and so on give you pause as far as Partnering with America and these things there are there are always there are always stumbling blocks There are always no Relationships like that between the United States and India. They will they will move very fast and they'll slow down They'll move very fast But as long as the progression is in the right direction and you're focusing on the right things I think you end up resolving the problems More questions from the audience here if you believe the BJP pushes hard propaganda How do you wish to how do you tackle the government messaging heading into 2024? Well? we had been struggling with this for some time and We he came across we we we came across this very simple idea Which was to walk from? Kanya Kumari to Kashmir and it was Shocking at how effective that idea was I was I was just frankly blown away because When we went directly to the people No amount of force Worked I mean the the BJP was trying everything they could to Not allow the Yatra to be successful. It didn't work. So it was very interesting I think All this propaganda doesn't work if you go close to the people If you're far from the people, it's very easy But once you start going close to the people and you start having conversations you start working on the streets You start physically meeting people it doesn't work It's quite a revolution to me and I think It sort of made me understand what Mahatma Gandhi was doing with you know the Champaran movement or the Dandi March I Think as I was saying in Stanford yesterday In in the West and in India there is a distance between the people and the political class and I think That's where the propaganda comes into play if you bridge that gap But can you get your message out with the with the media? We got the message out with the Yatra in an explosive way. I mean Fantastic, so the people of India are hearing your hearing your message loud and clear. Yes, and I mean it's it's obvious It's obvious to every single person in India that the Yatra the message of the Yatra India needs to stand united India needs to work together Resonated resonated with BJP people some days back I had a I was someone I had one of the spokesman of the BJP who just bumped into me and she said that this is a very powerful thing that you did All right, why should religious minorities see your party as an alternative to the BJP's politics? Because it's not just religious minorities. It's everybody because we are we give space to all ideas in India all communities all religions Our our party is and the design of our party and our original Designer Mahatma Gandhi designed the party to be based on truth and non-violence compassion affection So it's a completely different Philosophical architecture than the BJP So it's a different vision of India it views India as a conversation it views India as multiple ideas a bit like You know the melting pot idea in the United States where everybody comes together and you have a conversation And then you know you negotiate So it everybody's comfortable in it Some several related questions. Here's one India has been a country of particular concern in the international religious freedom report for several years and it talks about the Policies against Muslims and so on what would your party do in power to heal or to bring bring the Muslims and other religious minorities Together into the coalition into it into I mean into the group You just have to look at look at our record Our record speaks for itself We don't we don't even have to say what we're gonna do. Just look at what we've done, right? We were the ones Not we but the Congress party is is the institution that united India in the first place That that that fought the British defeated the British and built the entire architecture for this conversation So we are we are it's in it's on it's in our DNA. We are committed to this And they as I said the the framework For this is is present in India. It's not that it it's absent. It's not that it needs to be constructed It needs to be nurtured and protected, which we know how to do This is another question from the audience So as the way you were disqualified from parliament and what is happening in Pakistan Do you see any similarities here? And what does that say about politics in the region? I don't know I mean look As you said I Asked a rhetorical question I Asked the question why But you described it, right? I'm I'm fighting a court case. I have to be careful, but I asked a rhetorical question and I'm the first person in India to be given a the highest Punishment for a deformation case is the first case. I'm the first person in Indian history since 1947 Right. Nobody has been given the maximum sentence on deformation and that too on the first offense Right. So that that should explain What's going on here? and My disqualification happens Quite interestingly after I make a speech about Mr. Adani and Parliament. So you can do the math Let's say But you know my disqualification is not really It's okay. It's not The most important thing the most important thing is the Thousands and thousands of other voices civil society Government bureaucracy Who are being frightened into submission? That's much more important to me than my disqualification My disqualification in in many ways is an advantage for me. How so? Because it it opens up completely new spaces for me You know it it allows me to Completely redefine myself And I think they've given me a gift frankly. They don't think to realize it, but they have Politics not linear You know, it's like it's it can suddenly go off into another direction. It's asymmetric So I think I I think they've they've given me a gift. It's not apparent right now, but I think they have some So you come from a political family The Gandhi's have been compared to the Kennedy family here in the US both in terms of highest heights and Unfortunate assassinations. What keeps you going? What keeps you? Involved in politics at despite what what can be great risks. I Defend an idea I Love the people of my country In particular the People who are struggling I have a bias towards them and I completely Empathize with their struggle It disturbs me when I when I see the pain in India and I have no choice because that That creates a response emotional response in me that I can't fight so It's it's it's an actual And also I've I've grown up with a sort of Narrative about my country Gandhian narrative Of what the country is What it should look like What is important? so That's what drives me. I'm not concerned really about You know threats of violence and assassination and stuff. I mean everybody's got to die You know, so I mean that's what I that's what I learned from my grandmother and my father So you don't you don't back down because of something like that Here's a question that just in India's relationship with Russia has been controversial since the war in Ukraine began How would Congress administration handle this relationship or the situation you think I think I don't know if you like my answer But I think similar to how the BJP would or did Are we would be we would be responding in a similar way? To BJP Because we have Sort of a a relationship with the Russians that you know can't be denied it is there So I think our policy would Would broadly be similar From your perspective as the relationship with Russia changed since The war in Ukraine began. I think in some ways it might have Yeah, I think it might have changed in some ways But there is a there is a Old historic relationship with the Russians and you know we have we have We buy weapons from them. So there are also those type of reasons For this. Mm-hmm. Yeah, but I don't think I don't think a Congress government would be dramatically different Then what the BJP is doing right now in terms of Russia Got time for a couple more questions Let's see you asked a lot. Oh, yeah, you got through a lot. There's a lot of a lot of interest here in you, sir You have you've compared so I'm gonna put you to these names. Please forgive me. You have compared with the guru Nanak audacis Driving your speech in in San Francisco while the SGPC has raised questions on your statement What would you say to you? Do you know what this is referring to? I'm sorry. I Promised you I'd ask so No, I don't know what is audacis. Ah, okay, okay, so so Sorry, thank you. I'll explain it. So I I said that The tradition of a Yatra or a walk is a very deep tradition in India and I said that many great people Have used this instrument of a walk Mahatma Gandhi has used it Guru Nanak has used it and as a Instrument of conversation and as an instrument of understanding So I think they're they're saying that, you know, I shouldn't compare the Bharat Jodo Yatra to Walks that Guru Nanak and Mahatma Gandhi took but I wasn't doing that. I clearly said that look I draw inspiration from These these great leaders and what they did and there's no question of comparing this walk to to their walk But I think they misunderstood it. I see What is your what is your message to the Indian people as to why they should support Congress in the next election? Is it about economic achievement? Is it about tolerance? I said I said in my Yatra I'd say it in Hindi Nafrat ke bazaar meh muhabbat ki dhukan kholo. Do you speak Hindi? So Nafrat ke bazaar meh muhabbat ki dhukan kholo In a market of hatred Open a little shop of love and affection so I believe that India needs to be in harmony and I believe that India needs to be able to express itself to truly succeed Right if you I I don't know of one case where somebody who's angry or somebody who's full of hatred has Had an expansive Imagination and India needs an expensive imagination India needs To dream big and you can't dream big if you know the people who are leading you are angry or violent Ingrossed with hatred. So I think I feel India has a great opportunity huge opportunity which can Which can transform the lives of Millions and millions of Indians but in order to do that it needs to imagine in you India in a in a in a big Dynamic manner and I think in order to do that India needs to be in harmony India needs to start talking to itself India needs to respect itself. So that would be that would be One element of it Hatred doesn't work You know that your country knows that better than anybody else Hatred has never worked might work for six months one year and then it collapses on itself Affection love always work They have I mean that's what we've been told by The great leaders All right, well, I want to thank you for joining us today at the club and and Thank you for answering so many questions Are you inviting the prominent absolutely will invite for his for his for his time. I look forward to hearing I also want to thank Bill McCarran, Cecily Scott Martin and Poonam Sharma for their role in bringing this together and in the perhaps your Members of your family have received this in the past but as a thank you This is our press club mug highly highly coveted. Perhaps that's nice. You can go on the mantel You know, I was actually looking for a coffee mug. Okay Excellent. Thank you. Well, thank you very much. Thank you