So it is Our Time Is Now.

You want to tell everybody about that?

So that's going to help people with the voting process also.

Absolutely.

Thank you.

Our Time Is Now is a book I started writing early in 2019

in the wake of not only my election, but in the wake

of the voter suppression that happened here

and around the country.

And so the first half of the book

talks about the history of voter suppression,

but how we fight back.

But I also spend a lot of time talking about the instruments

of justice--

like the census.

The US Census is something we tend to take

for granted as an annoyance.

It's just accounting.

But really what it is, it's an analysis of power.

When you participate in the census,

you not only tell people where you are,

you tell them what you need.

And the undercount that happens in the census

means that the very communities that need the help the most

don't get the financial resources they're entitled to,

but they also don't get the political power.

Yeah.

How do you think Joe Biden has been handling everything

in the past few months?

I have been exceptionally impressed by his willingness

to listen, his willingness to go into spaces that may not always

be comfortable, but more importantly, to be

accountable-- to say the things that are hard and harsh,

the things that may cost him some votes

because he knows that what he's standing for

is the principle of who we are as Americans.

And his willingness to anger some in order to empower all

is exactly what we need in a leader.

Yep.

So true.

It's exciting to think that your name is

on the short list for vice president.

How do you-- how do you-- are you excited?

I have been very candid about the fact

that if somebody liked me, I'd be happy to like them back.

I think unfortunately early on, I was--

a few weeks ago, I started talking.

I went on a few television shows,

but people missed my point.

I was trying to help families that weren't

getting their stimulus checks.

I live in a state where the governor

was trying to kill us by reopening the state too

quickly.

And so they missed the first 2/3 of what I said and focused

on the last piece.

But that said, I think Vice President Biden

knows who he needs as a partner, and he's

going to follow the process of his experience

and he's going to decide who he needs,

and I'm honored to even have my name included in the mix.

Do you know-- I mean, I was hoping

he would have announced by now.

Do you know anything about when he's going to announce?

He said that he intends to make a decision by August,

and that's in keeping with the timing of the convention, which

is pretty normal.

But again, I think what we need to remember

is that this is an incredibly important decision.

He has a lot to consider.

He has a really smart team, but this is a really smart man

who's done the job.

He's going to know what he needs,

and we all look forward to finding out what he decides.

Yeah.

I bet you do.

I bet you do look forward to it.

Well, Stacey's book is called Our Time Is Now,

and it's out now.

You're marvelous, and thank you for taking the time

to talk to me today.

And I look forward to talking to you again as we get closer

to the election--

Or maybe Madam Vice President.

Or maybe calling you Madam Vice President next time.

I just think of you as the bookstore owner

who made me laugh for a number of years

when I used to watch your show.

I'm the daughter of a librarian from Gulfport, Mississippi.

And I knew you were from Metairie, Louisiana.

And when you started the Ellen Show, it was the most fun.

So it's my pleasure to get to be here.

Oh, thanks.

Well, my aunt was a English teacher.

She lived in Pass Christian, Mississippi.

So I used to go there all the time.

Well, thank you again.

And I'm honored that you used to watch my sitcom.

Thank you so much, and I hope to see you soon.

Thank you.

Take care.