Watch Bernie Sanders ask a group of kids if they've 'ever seen cocaine'
Before there was Bernie 2020 and CNN town halls, there was Burlington, Vermont Mayor Bernie Sanders and Bernie Speaks to the Community.
Sanders, now Vermont's Independent senator and a presidential frontrunner, spent his mid-1980's mayorship hosting on his own public access TV show. These remarkable episodes used to only be available on VHS at a local library, but thanks to Politico, they're now on YouTube for your enjoyment.
Bernie Speaks is comically low budget, with earlier episodes opening on a shot of the show's name written in marker. Some episodes feature Sanders at city meetings or meeting with prominent Burlingtonites. But other gems feature Sanders, with the same wild white hair and hunched shoulders he still sports today, channeling "Dan Rather" — his words — and shoving a wired microphone at mall punks and Boy Scouts.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
In one winning episode, Sanders meets with a group of kids who live in housing projects and asks them about drugs. "I like coke!" one kid shouts, but when Sanders probes further, he says "I like Coca-Cola." "Oh, Coca-Cola," Sanders continues, obviously disinterested, then asks "anyone ever seen cocaine?" They say no, but Sanders goes on to insist that "I bet you do" know people who "use drugs." He then asks "who here smokes?," to which one kid says "I don't smoke because I'm a little kid. I'm only 5 years old."
Politico's Holly Otterbein is sure to point out that Sanders' show wasn't all fun and pony rides. It's "part of Sanders' four-decade end run around the media," in which he "figured he should bypass reporters and simply star in his own show," Otterbein writes. And it's the same strategy every candidate uses today when they trade scrutinizing interviews for freewheeling on Facebook Live and Twitter. Read more at Politico.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
Nigeria's worsening rate of maternal mortality
Under the radar Economic crisis is making hospitals unaffordable, with women increasingly not receiving the care they need
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Elevating Earth Day into a national holiday is not radical — it's practical'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
UAW scores historic win in South at VW plant
Speed Read Volkswagen workers in Tennessee have voted to join the United Auto Workers union
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Ukraine cheers House approval of military aid
Speed Read Following a lengthy struggle, the House has approved $95 billion in aid for Ukraine and Israel
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Poland, Germany nab alleged anti-Ukraine spies
Speed Read A man was arrested over a supposed Russian plot to kill Ukrainian President Zelenskyy
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Israel hits Iran with retaliatory airstrike
Speed Read The attack comes after Iran's drone and missile barrage last weekend
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Peter Murrell: Sturgeon's husband charged over SNP 'embezzlement' claims
Speed Read SNP expresses 'shock' as former chief executive rearrested in long-running investigation into claims of mishandled campaign funds
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Mark Menzies: Tories investigate MP after 'bad people' cash claims
Speed Read Fylde MP will sit as an independent while party looks into allegations he misused campaign funds on medical expenses and blackmail pay-out
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Why Johnson won't just pass Ukraine aid
Speed Read The House Speaker could have sent $60 billion in military aid to Ukraine — but it would have split his caucus
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Sudan on brink of collapse after a year of war
Speed Read 18 million people face famine as the country continues its bloody downward spiral
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump's first criminal trial starts with jury picks
Speed Read The former president faces charges related to hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published