Two US Governors — a Democrat and a Republican — on Why There’s Hope for Democracy | On the Spot

All right, first question. We ready? Good morning, everyone. Morning. It's

great to be in this hall. It's about the size of Delaware. What can what can Democratic and Republican governors do together to restore trust in government?

Well, thank you for that. Um, you know, I think first off that trust in the federal government, uh, our founding fathers never envisioned the federal government to dominate every single part of our lives. They thought about this

idea of federalism, that the states are closer to the people. Uh, that the states know how to educate our kids. We we we're focused on education. We're

focused on infrastructure. We're focused on the economy and healthcare. And when

you have a one-sizefits-all, it is a problem. And so we know that Delaware is different than Oklahoma. Our founding fathers knew that New Hampshire was different than Virginia. And I think if we get back to states rights and

having the states, this 50 laboratories of democracy, I think we're going to be much better off than a top-down approach. Other countries were a little bit different where the federal government created these subdivisions,

but it wasn't that way in the US. The states created the federal government.

Congress has about a 15% approval rating right now and states are where it's at.

That's where the ideas, the innovation comes. I think the more we get back to that, I think the people are happier. You know, Delaware, I know Oklahoma. That's right, Kevin. Uh,

states, right? So, 10 years ago, I was a sixth and seventh grade math teacher.

Uh, and I ended up running for teachers in the crowd. not not enough of us go into go into these uh go into this business politics and I ran for office. I ran for county office and it's I'm a pretty progressive Democrat and I realized pretty quickly

the MAGA Republicans, the Bernie Democrats and pretty much everyone in between would support me if I kept sewage out of their basement and kept their sewer fees low. If we answer 911 calls quickly, police qualified,

well-trained with with a sense of the community they're serving showed up quickly at people's door. I think the way we restore trust in government is we deliver for people. If you if you go to 50 governments, if you go to 50 governors across this

country, Democrat, Republican, the bulk of our budget is four things. It's

education, it's medication, it's transportation, and it's incarceration.

And I assure you, if all 50 of of us can do those four things with excellence, deliver, and maybe reduce your tax bill a little bit so that it's affordable, I think we will get support and we will win back the American people. That's the

way we win the trust of our people. Good.

Okay. Second question. Even information is now polarized. How do you govern when people may not share our reality or your reality? >> Wow. You give me the easy ones. Okay.

You make me start on this one, huh? Um, my wife is an emergency room physician and we often joke that when someone comes into her emergency room, there is

no alternative reality. If someone cannot breathe and the data shows someone cannot breathe, she doesn't have a nurse or she doesn't say, "Hey, you you're breathing, right? There's a reality. Someone can't show a Tik Tok

video to say, "Oh, your foot is not falling off." If it's actually falling off, I wish that that same sense of data and truth that she has in her emergency

room, I had in my world. I wish that we looked at the data on vaccines, for example, and use that, it's black and white, and use that to make policy for

our country. I wish we lived in a world where one social media influencer can't

our country. I wish we lived in a world where one social media influencer can't change the course of what data actually says. Uh, I think one thing that we both get a palpable sense of is how many Americans today are in echo chambers.

They watch the same TV station, hear the same thing that gives them a pat on the back and reassures them. We need to do everything we can to to break those patterns. It's going to be hard for us to build a democracy together without that.

patterns. It's going to be hard for us to build a democracy together without that.

>> Yeah. Very good. Well, you know, and and I think the the reality is we don't all think the same, right? Delaware, like I said before, is different than than than our state. And I want I think we all should ask ourselves this question as

our state. And I want I think we all should ask ourselves this question as Americans. Uh because there's people watching this, there's probably people

Americans. Uh because there's people watching this, there's probably people in this room that hate me just because I'm a Republican. There's people

watching this that hate Matt just because he's a Democrat. that we're

polarized, that we're driven to our corners by social media and the media.

And I know Matt. I know his wife Lauren. He has three children.

>> We're I'm halfway to Kevin Stit. He's got six. >> That's right. >> You're not done yet.

>> Don't tell my wife. Yeah. we just went to Switzerland together to study education and their model there and bring back these ideas about uh workplace uh workforce learning and and apprenticeships and um but the thing is

I know that he cares about Delaware citizens and I know he cares passionately about education and giving people in Delaware a better life just like I do in Oklahoma. So I think that uh it's not our job to change

everybody's point of view. I think we need to lead and we need to ask ourselves this question and we need to not just be so driven by polarized politics and and when you bring the humanity out in each other and when you

spend time with people that think differently and this idea that we can debate policy and we can still like each other and we may have a difference of opinion on how to how to lead things. Um it's so refreshing and that's why we

love doing these type of things together. uh showing that there's a Republican and a Democrat that actually like each other and we can disagree but we don't have to do it disagreeable. That's right.

>> All right, Kevin, what's something your state has done that other states can learn from?

>> Yeah, you know, I I think it's very topical right now with the government shutdown and SNAP benefits uh are really affecting all of our states. I know

governors, we've been on the phone, we've talked, what are you doing? How

are we going to meet the needs of the most vulnerable in our state? And so we set up and really I did this back in 2019 when I was first elected, but I put up a be a neighbor be a neighbor.org because I don't believe that you can

pass a law in Washington DC or Oklahoma City that can fix some of these social issues. It takes neighbors walking with neighbors. It takes churches and

issues. It takes neighbors walking with neighbors. It takes churches and nonprofits. And so our be a neighbor concept is if you have a need, you can

nonprofits. And so our be a neighbor concept is if you have a need, you can go to this uh website that we've set up and it connects all of the nonprofits, the church communities, the state resources. And so that's something that

I'm really proud of. Also uh behind the we get a little wonky on policy behind the meter. this idea that we need to win uh the energy race that we passed in

the meter. this idea that we need to win uh the energy race that we passed in Oklahoma, the fiscal responsibility that that uh that we've done as as coming from a business world that I brought to uh state government. I believe that our

job as governors is is to be the CEO of our state. Uh I've got a $40 billion budget, 30,000 state employees. I just want to deliver better services for Oklahomaans. And uh and I think that sometimes we elect people that that

Oklahomaans. And uh and I think that sometimes we elect people that that don't have that focus. They're more playing politics and actually delivering for the people. And you said that great while ago, too. >> Yeah. No. So, that's great. I I I know

in Oklahoma I know in Oklahoma there are a lot of a lot of Tallaladega Knight fans. And uh you know, I'm a big fan of There are in Delaware, too. I'm a big

fans. And uh you know, I'm a big fan of There are in Delaware, too. I'm a big fan of Ricky Bobby who says >> I love Ricky Bobby. Yeah. >> Who says if you're not first, you're last. I happen to be from the first state. So, just want to put that out.

last. I happen to be from the first state. So, just want to put that out.

And we're we're what we're trying to do what we're trying to do on a serious note is we're trying to uh put affordability at the center of everything we do. What's happening I believe now in today's economy is you have billionaires with greater

opportunity to build their wealth than working people who are getting squeezed by public schools that don't seem to be working by energy prices that are skyrocketing by health care that seems saddled with 20th century problems and

and costs that seem to have no end. So we have an affordability agenda. We're

working on building a medical school so that the medical providers will be available in our state. There's never been a medical school in our state.

We're working on we're working on streamlining permitting something on in which I think we agree. Getting rid of what what the former president someone I like called bureaucratic malarkey, right? Getting rid of all all the friction that prevents us from building the housing that our people desperately

need to bring down rents. Uh, and we're working on building new energy sources, something that desperately needed for our economy and so people can afford their power bills.

>> Excellent.

If you could fix one aspect of American political culture, what would that be? One,

uh, 15 years ago, I was a diplomat. I was a US diplomat embedded with the army for 12 months in Mosul, Iraq. lived. I wasn't a soldier, but I lived on a base with 10,000 soldiers during Operation Iraqi Freedom. And what was amazing is

there were soldiers on that base from every corner of America. As I went to Iraq, I thought I was going to learn about Iraq and and Arab culture, which I did, but I learned a lot I learned a lot more about America. And there was a team there. I left the base two or three times a week to go and meet with Iraqis

there. I left the base two or three times a week to go and meet with Iraqis to build a lasting peace. And we weren't always on the same page with the Iraqis we were meeting with, but the American team was a singular team. I often wonder

in Delaware, how come when we're talking about housing or healthcare, education, we're talking about growing our economy, there are incredible divisions. How do

we build that same sense of teamwork? Uh we're in the midst of the greatest human experiment and self-government that's ever occurred. We're in almost year 250

of this experiment. I think we need to find a way as Americans to sit on stage together to to break bread with each other to understand that we can't just channel all of our energies into knocking each other down. There are

opportunities to be made in Oklahoma and in Delaware that people will realize if we do find a way to work together. Good. Good. You know what? The one thing I would

change, Governor, is is just inject more integrity into politics. And what I mean by that, you know, to me, integrity is is doing what's right just because it's right, even when it's costly. And and I think politicians especially, that's why

people hate politicians is because they can see right through them. They're not

doing what's right. out there blindly following uh some uh you know teams. It's either your skins or shirts. You're Democrat, you're Republican, and and uh and and you blindly are following things. Let's call a spade a spade. And

let's not be driven to the corners. Most of America, you've got 10% on the far right, 10% on the far left. But most Americans are right there and they're taking their kids to piano lessons and soccer practice. They want the best life for their for their for their kids. They want the best education, the best health

care system. And so I think the more that we can talk like this, that we can

care system. And so I think the more that we can talk like this, that we can come together uh as Americans and stop being so polarized and really debate the ideas, I think the better off we'll be. Um I also uh I'm a huge fan of of

President Lincoln and and at the end of Civil War, uh it was almost over and and he was doing his second inaugural address and he talks about a malice towards none and and and a charity for all. And there was people that wanted

to, you know, punish the other side. And and much like we are today, we've got a pendulum swinging from one side to another depending on who's in office.

And we've got to stop that. Uh I don't think Americans like it. Uh you can't weaponize the Department of Justice. You can't cancel uh business deals based on politics one side or the other. We've got to allow Americans to innovate and

meet the needs of Americans. Right.

So, next question. Uh, with AI's influence on education, what happens to the neighborhood public schools? You know, it's interesting. I it it's been said that the one thing Democrats and Republicans can agree on is social media

needs to get out of the classroom. We need kids off social media. Uh, my first year teaching, I was in a program called Teach for America in Washington DC.

TFA in the house and I had uh we had no computers in our school teach in the Anacostia section of Washington DC. Uh and so we went on a mission to go talk to businesses nearby universities get any computers we can but by within a few

months we had two three computers in every classroom. We plugged them into the wall and saw kids faces light up as we brought something called the worldwide web where they suddenly had opportunities to explore and learn

outside the walls of our school like never ever before. I think AI similarly presents incredible opportunities. Uh I think we can eliminate standardized testing in our school. If you look at the tools that AI has, we have better,

more thorough assessments of students on a day-to-day basis using modern technology than would otherwise. One of the biggest problems I had as a sixth grade math teachers is some students walked in with fourth grade, fifth grade skills and other students walked in with seventh grade, eighth grade skills.

Using technology, we can deliver education like never before that's relevant. But there are threats. We need to make sure we control the technology

relevant. But there are threats. We need to make sure we control the technology and the technology doesn't control us. And most importantly, it's not driven by trillion dollar companies. What our kids need that our kids, families, and

teachers drive what the needs are. So good. So good. You know, one of the one of the technologies that we're trying to implement in uh in schools in Oklahoma.

And back to your point, what amazed me is is I I I observed a sixth grade teacher uh teaching their class, but this sixth grade student wasn't reading at grade level and was way behind. And I was like,"Wh are you teaching? Why are

you continuing to give this kid sixth grade material?" And she's like, "Well, I'm a sixth grade teacher. What am I supposed to do?" And with AI, we can go back and teach first grade phonics to that kid or second grade and we can

bring them up to grade level. We can use technology to benefit uh the the our students and get them and help and be a tool for our teachers. So, we're

embracing it. I think we need to embrace it. um on workforce and education. I

think that uh the the thing that we need to think about is get businesses more involved. We just got back from Switzerland >> and this idea in Switzerland that

involved. We just got back from Switzerland >> and this idea in Switzerland that compulsory education ends in nth grade and then every single kid like signs a contract. It was amazing for us to see they sign a contract and they actually

contract. It was amazing for us to see they sign a contract and they actually start going to work because they think workplace education is education. And so

these kids, it's permeability. They can also go work. they get a accreditation, but then they can go on to college if they want to. And so it's not a dead end like we think of it here in the US that oh, if you're going to a vocational school, you've got a you're a dead-end person, right? We want them all going to

college. It's not that way in Germany, Switzerland. And I think we need to reinvent ourselves.

college. It's not that way in Germany, Switzerland. And I think we need to reinvent ourselves.

>> And they were making money, too. >> It was amazing. The kids were making a,000 Swiss Franks, which is at 15, which is, I don't know, 13,400 US. Uh,

but it was a great model and we're bringing that back to Oklahoma and Delaware to get more kids more engaged in the workforce. >> That's right.

>> All right, last one. Kevin, what gives you hope for American democracy?

>> You know, as the chair, we're both in the National Governor Association. It's

the bipartisan group of all the governors. I'm the chair this year. And

my initiative is reigniting the American dream. And the American dream uh is this idea that is so unique to our country and other countries all want to come

here because the idea is that you can be anything that you set your mind to. It

doesn't matter who your parents are. Doesn't matter uh if you were rich or poor through an education system, through free markets, you can achieve your American dream. And there's as many dreams as there are people. And it may be that you want to coach your daughter's soccer team or you want to

start a nonprofit or you want to start a business. Uh whatever it is, you have the freedom to do that. And as long as the American dream is alive, I think the American democracy is worth fighting for. And we need to fight for that. And

we need to not teach our children that there's such things as, you know, equal outcomes for everyone, but we want equal opportunities to go chase those dreams. And I just am so passionate about that's why I think education is so important to

giving those kids those opportunities and exposed them with what's possible because God has uniquely created everybody differently with great skills and desires and abilities and given them everybody an individual ability that we want to help that next

generation find. And and I think that's the greatness of America is we're

generation find. And and I think that's the greatness of America is we're different. Delaware is different than Oklahoma. Uh but it is worth fighting

different. Delaware is different than Oklahoma. Uh but it is worth fighting for and that's why we're up here demonstrating that we do get along. We

do like each other and we can lead our states. Uh maybe a little differently.

Uh but it's still it's still America and we're still fighting for it.

>> Yeah. I I I call that I call give him a round of applause for that. I call that Kevin a a diverse, equitable, and inclusive America. So don't use the don't use the initials. Don't make them don't make them use the initials. Listen.

I got to be frank. I didn't really come here to say this, but last Tuesday's election gave me a little bit of hope for American democracy. Um, I think I'm outnumbered in this room actually. Listen, uh, I'm a big Simpsons fan. And there's one of my favorite episodes of

room actually. Listen, uh, I'm a big Simpsons fan. And there's one of my favorite episodes of the Simpsons is when the Simpsons go to electroshock therapy. You know, if you feel empathy for the ones you love, you're going to care for them. And and

they shock each other for a few minutes till all the power goes down in Springfield. And I feel like when I look at Washington, that's a lot of what's

Springfield. And I feel like when I look at Washington, that's a lot of what's happening right now. The point I wasn't we weren't sure if we were going to be able to fly here. Uh maybe with what's going on, we'll be able to get out no problem. Our people literally aren't aren't able to eat or haven't been able

problem. Our people literally aren't aren't able to eat or haven't been able to get SNAP benefits. Um listen, there is an opportunity here for us as governors sitting together as human beings, as Americans. Go and talk to someone who disagrees with you. Not to argue with them, but actually to listen

to them, empathize with them, understand the position that they come from. That's

what I had to do as a teacher. That's what many Americans do and that's how we ultimately have hope for the next 250 years of this great experiment in self-governance. Thank you very much. Thank you.

self-governance. Thank you very much. Thank you.