Welcome to Potsave America. I'm John Lovett. I just wrapped a great conversation with the writer David Sedaris, who's out with a new collection of essays called The Land and Its People. We talked about his father's support for Trump, why no one cared when David was bit by a dog, what you can't talk about in a healthy relationship, Moby Dick, International McDonald's, the word queer punching down, why he avoids pride parades, and what he fears most about getting old. And speaking of pride over on the Leverter Leave It channel, this week we are doing a pride special with Mark and Delacado from Hacks, drag race winner Mikey Meeks, Outska, and the legend himself, Bruce Valanche, plus many more guests.

Check out, love it or leave it every Wednesday and Friday on YouTube or wherever you get your

podcast.

All right.

Now, let's go to my conversation with David Sedaris.

David Sedaris, so nice to meet you, so nice to have you here.

Oh, thanks so much for having me.

Ten years ago, after Trump won the first time, you wrote an essay for the Paris Review about arguing with your father over whether Trump is an asshole.

And then the next day, your dad says to you, so are you still talking to me?

And I thought that was interesting because he didn't say I'm not talking to you, so are you still talking to me? And I thought that was interesting because he didn't

say I'm not talking to you. He said, are you still talking to me? And I often feel like with,

especially inside of a family, when you're arguing about Trump, there's this understanding that

whether it's admitted or not, you know he's a bad person, and there's

something a little bit wrong with voting for him. And people are looking for some kind of

forgiveness or lack of judgment, even though they know they did something wrong. And I'm wondering

if you felt that when you were talking to your father, other people in your life that voted for

Trump. Well, with my dad, it started. Really, he was like a republic. when you were talking to your father, other people in your life that voted for Trump?

Well, with my dad, it started, really. He was like a Republican, like, just wanted to keep more of his own money.

And then he voted for Jesse Helms, which was a thing, because Jesse Helms, we grew up in Raleigh, and he was on the, he was, he was, did editorials on the news.

And even as a kid, you were like, wow, that guy's really severe, you know.

And then he ran for office.

And it really, it really, when he voted for Jesse Helms, it just became a different thing.

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