Maritza Georgiou

Thank you.

Thank you.

And I don't have somebody in my ear saying, no, no, cut, cut. We don't have time. I'll say one more, one more. I mean, ask anybody who's ever worked with me, whether it's on my former show when we were doing live interviews or out in the field, I'm always trying to, you know,

And I don't have somebody in my ear saying, no, no, cut, cut. We don't have time. I'll say one more, one more. I mean, ask anybody who's ever worked with me, whether it's on my former show when we were doing live interviews or out in the field, I'm always trying to, you know,

stretch the interview longer because I always have more questions to ask and John will see this, you know, when we're going through and I'll send him a list of all my questions. And I think I probably get about, I don't know, a fifth of the questions I always want to ask, but I think you're absolutely right. Especially right now.

stretch the interview longer because I always have more questions to ask and John will see this, you know, when we're going through and I'll send him a list of all my questions. And I think I probably get about, I don't know, a fifth of the questions I always want to ask, but I think you're absolutely right. Especially right now.

so many people consume news by just reading headlines or blurbs and they don't actually fully understand things like the context of things and why it matters and the history of it and so to be able to have guests on and actually dig in and and there's no there's no time limit and we can say go as long as you want if it's long or you know goes a little bit like god made editors yeah we can we can cut it down but i mean it might get to we had an interview

so many people consume news by just reading headlines or blurbs and they don't actually fully understand things like the context of things and why it matters and the history of it and so to be able to have guests on and actually dig in and and there's no there's no time limit and we can say go as long as you want if it's long or you know goes a little bit like god made editors yeah we can we can cut it down but i mean it might get to we had an interview

I guess it was earlier this week. It feels like a few weeks ago. But with this, you know, economist from the University of Michigan, Justin Wolfers, who also goes by Fed Lasso sometimes. And he was fabulous. That's funny.

I guess it was earlier this week. It feels like a few weeks ago. But with this, you know, economist from the University of Michigan, Justin Wolfers, who also goes by Fed Lasso sometimes. And he was fabulous. That's funny.

Yes.

Yes.

Fed Lasso was so entertaining and I've had more feedback. The two I've had the most feedback on are Fed Lasso and Sam Donaldson because we actually got into stuff with that.

Fed Lasso was so entertaining and I've had more feedback. The two I've had the most feedback on are Fed Lasso and Sam Donaldson because we actually got into stuff with that.

That's right. So, you know, we were able to actually get in and have conversations that matter. And if two people write me and say, wow, I learned so much. Or if my if my best friend calls me and says, I never heard anybody do that. And she consumes, you know, more news than I do.

That's right. So, you know, we were able to actually get in and have conversations that matter. And if two people write me and say, wow, I learned so much. Or if my if my best friend calls me and says, I never heard anybody do that. And she consumes, you know, more news than I do.

That feels great because because it feels like we're actually doing a service and helping people and not just sitting here.

That feels great because because it feels like we're actually doing a service and helping people and not just sitting here.

I mean, Montana still has a pretty strong local news community. However, we see it being chipped away at all the time. We have news deserts. I mean, you talk to Senator Tester, his closest Montana city, Great Falls, used to have the biggest, strongest, best newspaper in the state. And I think now they have one reporter.

I mean, Montana still has a pretty strong local news community. However, we see it being chipped away at all the time. We have news deserts. I mean, you talk to Senator Tester, his closest Montana city, Great Falls, used to have the biggest, strongest, best newspaper in the state. And I think now they have one reporter.

And so it's you know, I know you've talked about this a lot in these news deserts. That's a really huge issue when we talk about our country and where we are at and the breaking down of just basic knowledge and understanding of things, because if people don't have access to local news and what's going on in their communities, they're getting it from either social media or, you know,

And so it's you know, I know you've talked about this a lot in these news deserts. That's a really huge issue when we talk about our country and where we are at and the breaking down of just basic knowledge and understanding of things, because if people don't have access to local news and what's going on in their communities, they're getting it from either social media or, you know,

politicized radio programs that are broadcast in their communities. And so I think that's led to a huge polarization in this country. But I'll also say, similar to what Senator Tester said, part of the reason we're here is that so many people in the middle

politicized radio programs that are broadcast in their communities. And so I think that's led to a huge polarization in this country. But I'll also say, similar to what Senator Tester said, part of the reason we're here is that so many people in the middle

Well, and I grew up in Minneapolis, suburbs of Minneapolis. So I'm a Midwesterner. I moved out to Montana 22 years ago, very similar values. And I just think so many people feel left behind. And that's part of the reason, you know, I was laid off from Scripps News in November, but we had a nightly national show that originated in Missoula, Montana, the first ever.

Well, and I grew up in Minneapolis, suburbs of Minneapolis. So I'm a Midwesterner. I moved out to Montana 22 years ago, very similar values. And I just think so many people feel left behind. And that's part of the reason, you know, I was laid off from Scripps News in November, but we had a nightly national show that originated in Missoula, Montana, the first ever.

And that was really cool to people because it's, We did bring perspectives that you didn't hear coming out of D.C., New York or L.A. And so I think that it can't be ignored.

And that was really cool to people because it's, We did bring perspectives that you didn't hear coming out of D.C., New York or L.A. And so I think that it can't be ignored.

You know, I don't know if it's necessarily to Washington, but everybody in my world definitely wanted to move up and move up and move up. You know, I started in Missoula, Montana, which is a market where you cut your teeth and you make mistakes and you learn a lot. And and I think that if you go straight to these big cities, I think you miss out on something.

You know, I don't know if it's necessarily to Washington, but everybody in my world definitely wanted to move up and move up and move up. You know, I started in Missoula, Montana, which is a market where you cut your teeth and you make mistakes and you learn a lot. And and I think that if you go straight to these big cities, I think you miss out on something.

I mean, that for me, you know, local news is so important, not only for that reason, because you learn so much, but you learn how to form connections and you learn how to be part of a community. And people generally trust their local news personalities more than they trust network personalities.

I mean, that for me, you know, local news is so important, not only for that reason, because you learn so much, but you learn how to form connections and you learn how to be part of a community. And people generally trust their local news personalities more than they trust network personalities.

Well, that's a big yada, yada, yada. I'll just say that. But yes, I, you know, I live in this community. I stop and talk to people at the grocery store and at my son's school and, you know, out on the streets. And so, yeah, when people feel like they can come up to you and talk to you and you're accessible and also you have an understanding of the issues and why they matter.

Well, that's a big yada, yada, yada. I'll just say that. But yes, I, you know, I live in this community. I stop and talk to people at the grocery store and at my son's school and, you know, out on the streets. And so, yeah, when people feel like they can come up to you and talk to you and you're accessible and also you have an understanding of the issues and why they matter.

I mean, that I really think unless you're covering Capitol Hill, so many of our giant, giant, Breaking news stories originate locally and then the networks pick them up and they run with it. But my biggest story that propelled me had to do with Senator Tester. Actually, his office sent out just an email saying we're hearing reports that maybe the USPS is pulling up these blue collection boxes.

I mean, that I really think unless you're covering Capitol Hill, so many of our giant, giant, Breaking news stories originate locally and then the networks pick them up and they run with it. But my biggest story that propelled me had to do with Senator Tester. Actually, his office sent out just an email saying we're hearing reports that maybe the USPS is pulling up these blue collection boxes.

It was right before the 2020 election. And I was working on a story with USPS anyway. So I reached out to one of my local informants here in Missoula, Montana, and they sent me a list of all of these addresses that were slated for removal. Now, if I sent that list to anybody in New York or D.C., they would have no idea what those addresses meant.

It was right before the 2020 election. And I was working on a story with USPS anyway. So I reached out to one of my local informants here in Missoula, Montana, and they sent me a list of all of these addresses that were slated for removal. Now, if I sent that list to anybody in New York or D.C., they would have no idea what those addresses meant.

But I could look at it and say, oh, well, that's the main post office in Missoula. That's in front of the University of Montana. That's in front of Target. What is happening? And that story went gangbusters.

But I could look at it and say, oh, well, that's the main post office in Missoula. That's in front of the University of Montana. That's in front of Target. What is happening? And that story went gangbusters.

And, you know, we reversed federal policy by the end of the day because of, you know, thanks to our congressional delegation, including Senator Tester and Rachel Maddow amplified it as well that night. But without a local reporter, you You know, just that story, digging into it, it would never have gone where it went. And I think we can say that for so many of these huge stories that explode.

And, you know, we reversed federal policy by the end of the day because of, you know, thanks to our congressional delegation, including Senator Tester and Rachel Maddow amplified it as well that night. But without a local reporter, you You know, just that story, digging into it, it would never have gone where it went. And I think we can say that for so many of these huge stories that explode.

I'll tell you that because I owe you. I owe you. Thank you. Thank you for paying me.

I'll tell you that because I owe you. I owe you. Thank you. Thank you for paying me.

I have heard people, though, you know, I did a whole thing with school lunch debt. And you think about all the kids who are being shamed or punished or denied lunch at school because they can't afford to pay their school lunch debt. Right. And then you talk about the kind of money that Senator Tester's race has. And when you start to compare that and those two things with people, they do get mad.

I have heard people, though, you know, I did a whole thing with school lunch debt. And you think about all the kids who are being shamed or punished or denied lunch at school because they can't afford to pay their school lunch debt. Right. And then you talk about the kind of money that Senator Tester's race has. And when you start to compare that and those two things with people, they do get mad.

Like, think of everything that money could do for this country. Actually do things instead of just putting it toward people who say and promise they were going to do these things. And I also think in a state like Montana, you know, like John said, you walk into a TV station and they have a brand new set. You can see that. You come to Montana during an election cycle.

Like, think of everything that money could do for this country. Actually do things instead of just putting it toward people who say and promise they were going to do these things. And I also think in a state like Montana, you know, like John said, you walk into a TV station and they have a brand new set. You can see that. You come to Montana during an election cycle.

The kids on the playground at my son's school literally were calling each other shady she-he's because that's how much the ads played. Yeah. I mean, that was it was just we can't escape it. You can't escape it. And so I think if you say, hey, you sick of those ads? Because people do. They talk about it the entire cycle.

The kids on the playground at my son's school literally were calling each other shady she-he's because that's how much the ads played. Yeah. I mean, that was it was just we can't escape it. You can't escape it. And so I think if you say, hey, you sick of those ads? Because people do. They talk about it the entire cycle.

You know, at the end of the day, sadly, I think a lot of Americans care when it affects them.

You know, at the end of the day, sadly, I think a lot of Americans care when it affects them.

But I think if you make it about them, you want to stop turning on TV and the radio and Instagram and seeing an ad about Jon Tester or Tim Sheehy, guess what? Here's how we do it. You want more of this money to go to things that actually help your family? Here's how we do it. I think it's just a matter of explaining it. And I do think you're right. We get...

But I think if you make it about them, you want to stop turning on TV and the radio and Instagram and seeing an ad about Jon Tester or Tim Sheehy, guess what? Here's how we do it. You want more of this money to go to things that actually help your family? Here's how we do it. I think it's just a matter of explaining it. And I do think you're right. We get...

You know, you say numbers, whether it's about money, whether it's about the amount of people who are devastated after a hurricane and you hear a number and it's just a number and you don't think these are people. This is actually a real thing. And I think that we need to do a better job in journalism and explaining that like, no, no, this is not just a number. Think about the families.

You know, you say numbers, whether it's about money, whether it's about the amount of people who are devastated after a hurricane and you hear a number and it's just a number and you don't think these are people. This is actually a real thing. And I think that we need to do a better job in journalism and explaining that like, no, no, this is not just a number. Think about the families.

Think about this and this and this.

Think about this and this and this.

Yes. And I think that is part of the reason we are where we are and we have the extremes is because these candidates have learned what to say to reach people. But also, you're absolutely right. You know, a nod to my friend Jeff Goldblum. Life does find a way. And I have said this about, you know, everything, though, if you think about we're talking today about fentanyl.

Yes. And I think that is part of the reason we are where we are and we have the extremes is because these candidates have learned what to say to reach people. But also, you're absolutely right. You know, a nod to my friend Jeff Goldblum. Life does find a way. And I have said this about, you know, everything, though, if you think about we're talking today about fentanyl.

15 years ago, all we talked about in Montana was meth. That's all we talked about. And the thing is, we can talk about the drug all day long, but if we don't talk about the addiction and what causes the addiction, people have found ways to feed their addictions since the beginning of time. So today it's fentanyl, but if we stop fentanyl, then what?

15 years ago, all we talked about in Montana was meth. That's all we talked about. And the thing is, we can talk about the drug all day long, but if we don't talk about the addiction and what causes the addiction, people have found ways to feed their addictions since the beginning of time. So today it's fentanyl, but if we stop fentanyl, then what?

I just think we need to talk more about what's causing these things. And that brings us back to our very first question, which is, you can't do that in two-minute soundbites or news clips.

I just think we need to talk more about what's causing these things. And that brings us back to our very first question, which is, you can't do that in two-minute soundbites or news clips.

Exactly. That's exactly right. How do you reach those people?

Exactly. That's exactly right. How do you reach those people?

Again, it goes back to this trust thing and having people on the ground and leaving the studio and going out to these areas, going out to Montana, going out to Iowa, going out, you know, into Oklahoma and talking to people about what really matters and, and not just talking to them more importantly, listening to them, listening to what they're saying. You know, I think it's, it's just a,

Again, it goes back to this trust thing and having people on the ground and leaving the studio and going out to these areas, going out to Montana, going out to Iowa, going out, you know, into Oklahoma and talking to people about what really matters and, and not just talking to them more importantly, listening to them, listening to what they're saying. You know, I think it's, it's just a,

we're in a place that feels impossible for journalists because We are taught to fact check. We are taught to ask hard questions. And now we're in a place where the Associated Press. Yeah. Bye. You're not coming to the White House.

we're in a place that feels impossible for journalists because We are taught to fact check. We are taught to ask hard questions. And now we're in a place where the Associated Press. Yeah. Bye. You're not coming to the White House.

solidarity and that's what it is going to take um whether you're talking about the press corps or the united states senate i mean that's how you beat this back as you stand up to a bully and say no no no we're not going to take this no no no you're not going to ignore due process you're not going to ignore that this is congressional power and people aren't doing it

solidarity and that's what it is going to take um whether you're talking about the press corps or the united states senate i mean that's how you beat this back as you stand up to a bully and say no no no we're not going to take this no no no you're not going to ignore due process you're not going to ignore that this is congressional power and people aren't doing it

Maritza, what's your Yellowstone love?

Maritza, what's your Yellowstone love?

How do you feel about it? I've actually only watched one half of the first episode, but it is filmed where I live in Missoula. And if you come out, I'll take you to all the places where I, you know, the diner where... was it a deputy that was shot and killed? That's a big, a lot of violence.

How do you feel about it? I've actually only watched one half of the first episode, but it is filmed where I live in Missoula. And if you come out, I'll take you to all the places where I, you know, the diner where... was it a deputy that was shot and killed? That's a big, a lot of violence.

That's the thing is that what I know, I know generally about it. And people literally ask me, like, do you just, do people just disappear? And they, they kill people all the time. I was like, no, we don't take people to the train station. That's, that's not a regular part of life, but what they do get right is that we do have this, battle between wealthy people moving in and native Montanans.

That's the thing is that what I know, I know generally about it. And people literally ask me, like, do you just, do people just disappear? And they, they kill people all the time. I was like, no, we don't take people to the train station. That's, that's not a regular part of life, but what they do get right is that we do have this, battle between wealthy people moving in and native Montanans.

And so they do get that part right. But the irony is that the show is drawing more wealthy people into our state to buy a property.

And so they do get that part right. But the irony is that the show is drawing more wealthy people into our state to buy a property.

Thank you.

And I don't have somebody in my ear saying, no, no, cut, cut. We don't have time. I'll say one more, one more. I mean, ask anybody who's ever worked with me, whether it's on my former show when we were doing live interviews or out in the field, I'm always trying to, you know,

stretch the interview longer because I always have more questions to ask and John will see this, you know, when we're going through and I'll send him a list of all my questions. And I think I probably get about, I don't know, a fifth of the questions I always want to ask, but I think you're absolutely right. Especially right now.

so many people consume news by just reading headlines or blurbs and they don't actually fully understand things like the context of things and why it matters and the history of it and so to be able to have guests on and actually dig in and and there's no there's no time limit and we can say go as long as you want if it's long or you know goes a little bit like god made editors yeah we can we can cut it down but i mean it might get to we had an interview

I guess it was earlier this week. It feels like a few weeks ago. But with this, you know, economist from the University of Michigan, Justin Wolfers, who also goes by Fed Lasso sometimes. And he was fabulous. That's funny.

Yes.

Fed Lasso was so entertaining and I've had more feedback. The two I've had the most feedback on are Fed Lasso and Sam Donaldson because we actually got into stuff with that.

That's right. So, you know, we were able to actually get in and have conversations that matter. And if two people write me and say, wow, I learned so much. Or if my if my best friend calls me and says, I never heard anybody do that. And she consumes, you know, more news than I do.

That feels great because because it feels like we're actually doing a service and helping people and not just sitting here.

I mean, Montana still has a pretty strong local news community. However, we see it being chipped away at all the time. We have news deserts. I mean, you talk to Senator Tester, his closest Montana city, Great Falls, used to have the biggest, strongest, best newspaper in the state. And I think now they have one reporter.

And so it's you know, I know you've talked about this a lot in these news deserts. That's a really huge issue when we talk about our country and where we are at and the breaking down of just basic knowledge and understanding of things, because if people don't have access to local news and what's going on in their communities, they're getting it from either social media or, you know,

politicized radio programs that are broadcast in their communities. And so I think that's led to a huge polarization in this country. But I'll also say, similar to what Senator Tester said, part of the reason we're here is that so many people in the middle

Well, and I grew up in Minneapolis, suburbs of Minneapolis. So I'm a Midwesterner. I moved out to Montana 22 years ago, very similar values. And I just think so many people feel left behind. And that's part of the reason, you know, I was laid off from Scripps News in November, but we had a nightly national show that originated in Missoula, Montana, the first ever.

And that was really cool to people because it's, We did bring perspectives that you didn't hear coming out of D.C., New York or L.A. And so I think that it can't be ignored.

You know, I don't know if it's necessarily to Washington, but everybody in my world definitely wanted to move up and move up and move up. You know, I started in Missoula, Montana, which is a market where you cut your teeth and you make mistakes and you learn a lot. And and I think that if you go straight to these big cities, I think you miss out on something.

I mean, that for me, you know, local news is so important, not only for that reason, because you learn so much, but you learn how to form connections and you learn how to be part of a community. And people generally trust their local news personalities more than they trust network personalities.

Well, that's a big yada, yada, yada. I'll just say that. But yes, I, you know, I live in this community. I stop and talk to people at the grocery store and at my son's school and, you know, out on the streets. And so, yeah, when people feel like they can come up to you and talk to you and you're accessible and also you have an understanding of the issues and why they matter.

I mean, that I really think unless you're covering Capitol Hill, so many of our giant, giant, Breaking news stories originate locally and then the networks pick them up and they run with it. But my biggest story that propelled me had to do with Senator Tester. Actually, his office sent out just an email saying we're hearing reports that maybe the USPS is pulling up these blue collection boxes.

It was right before the 2020 election. And I was working on a story with USPS anyway. So I reached out to one of my local informants here in Missoula, Montana, and they sent me a list of all of these addresses that were slated for removal. Now, if I sent that list to anybody in New York or D.C., they would have no idea what those addresses meant.

But I could look at it and say, oh, well, that's the main post office in Missoula. That's in front of the University of Montana. That's in front of Target. What is happening? And that story went gangbusters.

And, you know, we reversed federal policy by the end of the day because of, you know, thanks to our congressional delegation, including Senator Tester and Rachel Maddow amplified it as well that night. But without a local reporter, you You know, just that story, digging into it, it would never have gone where it went. And I think we can say that for so many of these huge stories that explode.

I'll tell you that because I owe you. I owe you. Thank you. Thank you for paying me.

I have heard people, though, you know, I did a whole thing with school lunch debt. And you think about all the kids who are being shamed or punished or denied lunch at school because they can't afford to pay their school lunch debt. Right. And then you talk about the kind of money that Senator Tester's race has. And when you start to compare that and those two things with people, they do get mad.

Like, think of everything that money could do for this country. Actually do things instead of just putting it toward people who say and promise they were going to do these things. And I also think in a state like Montana, you know, like John said, you walk into a TV station and they have a brand new set. You can see that. You come to Montana during an election cycle.

The kids on the playground at my son's school literally were calling each other shady she-he's because that's how much the ads played. Yeah. I mean, that was it was just we can't escape it. You can't escape it. And so I think if you say, hey, you sick of those ads? Because people do. They talk about it the entire cycle.

You know, at the end of the day, sadly, I think a lot of Americans care when it affects them.

But I think if you make it about them, you want to stop turning on TV and the radio and Instagram and seeing an ad about Jon Tester or Tim Sheehy, guess what? Here's how we do it. You want more of this money to go to things that actually help your family? Here's how we do it. I think it's just a matter of explaining it. And I do think you're right. We get...

You know, you say numbers, whether it's about money, whether it's about the amount of people who are devastated after a hurricane and you hear a number and it's just a number and you don't think these are people. This is actually a real thing. And I think that we need to do a better job in journalism and explaining that like, no, no, this is not just a number. Think about the families.

Think about this and this and this.

Yes. And I think that is part of the reason we are where we are and we have the extremes is because these candidates have learned what to say to reach people. But also, you're absolutely right. You know, a nod to my friend Jeff Goldblum. Life does find a way. And I have said this about, you know, everything, though, if you think about we're talking today about fentanyl.

15 years ago, all we talked about in Montana was meth. That's all we talked about. And the thing is, we can talk about the drug all day long, but if we don't talk about the addiction and what causes the addiction, people have found ways to feed their addictions since the beginning of time. So today it's fentanyl, but if we stop fentanyl, then what?

I just think we need to talk more about what's causing these things. And that brings us back to our very first question, which is, you can't do that in two-minute soundbites or news clips.

Exactly. That's exactly right. How do you reach those people?

Again, it goes back to this trust thing and having people on the ground and leaving the studio and going out to these areas, going out to Montana, going out to Iowa, going out, you know, into Oklahoma and talking to people about what really matters and, and not just talking to them more importantly, listening to them, listening to what they're saying. You know, I think it's, it's just a,

we're in a place that feels impossible for journalists because We are taught to fact check. We are taught to ask hard questions. And now we're in a place where the Associated Press. Yeah. Bye. You're not coming to the White House.

solidarity and that's what it is going to take um whether you're talking about the press corps or the united states senate i mean that's how you beat this back as you stand up to a bully and say no no no we're not going to take this no no no you're not going to ignore due process you're not going to ignore that this is congressional power and people aren't doing it

Maritza, what's your Yellowstone love?

How do you feel about it? I've actually only watched one half of the first episode, but it is filmed where I live in Missoula. And if you come out, I'll take you to all the places where I, you know, the diner where... was it a deputy that was shot and killed? That's a big, a lot of violence.

That's the thing is that what I know, I know generally about it. And people literally ask me, like, do you just, do people just disappear? And they, they kill people all the time. I was like, no, we don't take people to the train station. That's, that's not a regular part of life, but what they do get right is that we do have this, battle between wealthy people moving in and native Montanans.

And so they do get that part right. But the irony is that the show is drawing more wealthy people into our state to buy a property.