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The Axe Files with David Axelrod

Presenting Total Recall: California's Political Circus

The Axe Files with David Axelrod

CNN

News

4.67.7K Ratings

🗓️ 23 September 2021

⏱️ 28 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

This week we’re bringing you an episode of CNN's Total Recall: California’s Political Circus. You probably remember that Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected Governor of California. But do you remember how it all happened? The blackouts, the budget and of course, the car tax! CNN’s Chief Political Correspondent, Dana Bash, takes you back to the origins of the 2003 California Recall and talks with Schwarzenegger and the man he beat, Gray Davis to learn why this election became such a circus.

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Transcript

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0:00.0

Hi, Axe Files listeners, we're off this week, so we're sharing another podcast we think

0:08.2

you'll like.

0:09.2

There's been a lot of talk lately about the recent California recall election, but there

0:13.2

was another of these campaigns in 2003 that was truly Titanic when California voters recalled

0:19.5

Governor Gray Davis and replaced him with Arnold Schwarzenegger.

0:22.6

Well, my colleague, Dana Bash, is retelling that story in a six-part series called Total

0:28.0

Recall California's political circus.

0:30.8

Today, you'll hear Episode 1 where Dana talks to Arnold Schwarzenegger about the origins

0:35.8

of the recall from an unpopular car tax to an unreliable power grid.

0:40.3

They discuss his unique campaign tactics, and she gets his take on politics in California

0:45.2

today.

0:46.2

I hope you'll enjoy this episode, and if you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe

0:49.8

wherever you get your podcast.

1:02.2

In a world where the politicians just aren't cutting it anymore, one man has the courage,

1:09.8

the skills, and the massive muscles for the job.

1:14.1

We are mad as hell and you're not going to take it anymore.

1:18.2

He saved mankind countless times before.

1:22.4

Now can he save his state?

1:25.2

And this is why I'm going to run for Governor Schwarzenegger.

1:29.3

This summer, Arnold Schwarzenegger stars in The Governator.

1:34.7

No, that wasn't actually a movie trailer because this wasn't actually a movie.

1:42.4

The 2003 California recall was the kind of political circus that even Hollywood couldn't script.

...

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