Fran Lebowitz on Trump: 'A level of moral squalor so profound' | Salon Talks

Fran Lebowitz tells Salon about her love of empty museums, refusal to own a cell phone and whether she thinks Donald Trump will win the 2024 election — even if her prediction was wrong in 2016. Plus, the writer and comedian reveals what she thinks of other major United States cities, reflects on the New York City art scene in the ‘70s and shares her advice for young people. “If I was your age, I’d go look for water,” she said. “Apparently, we drank it all.”

Chapters:
00:00 Going on tour
01:32 A message to young fans
04:53 Revisiting "The Fran Lebowitz Reader"
05:54 Not having a cellphone
07:45 How much does Lebowitz care?
09:32 Lebowtiz on New York and museums
13:33 Trump, the electoral college and 2024

[helenfleder]

I am 99 years old, born and bred in Manhattan. I can vouch for her every remark about New York, and each message she so generously espoused. We need more people like her to awaken the truth about some of our so called “leaders” today whose political affiliation, fed by greed and, or egotism, comes before loyalty to our constitution! We desperately need strong, able, honest and respectable leadership to be able to turn the dangerous tide that is about to wash onto our shores and destroy our very existence.

[Rozemarijn]

"Its better to be in your 20's in the '70's than in your 70's in the '20's. Word. 😂🎗

[moonbeanification]

"It doesn't matter what I think. I'm not in charge of anything." Ahhhh what a breath of fresh air! Wonderful interview!

[shiplesp]

I was in college in the 1970s. My memory and observation is that it was much easier to be poor and have a lot of fun than it seems to be for college students now. Everyone from every economic class seemed to fit in much more effortlessly. I couldn't have guessed which of my fellow students were from rich families because we all looked the same. Another thing we had in common was that we had no idea what we were going to do with our lives. College was not a career path, but a discovery journey. None of my peers became serious about careers until grad school. We had interests and explored skills, but we never followed a path established in grade school. And that was never considered a waste of time or money.

[Pthommie]

"If there wasn't an Electoral College there would NEVER be a Republican president." Once again Fran nails it.

[patricias]

I would love to plagiarize Fran Leibowtiz. But nobody who knows me would believe I came up with those perfect witticisms, that sarcasm that is genius, not snarky and the way she reduces that profoundly corrupt man into six perfect words. "level of moral squalor so profound." I completely understand why young people love her.

[waynejus]

Fran hit the nail on the head, people can’t differentiate between their lounge and public spaces in terms of behaviour, stop being feral in public, we are not interested at all in your dribble conversations on cell phones, or your music/movie blaring out for all to here, get some self respect.

[epluribusunum]

I’ve had this memory for at least forty years; as a New Yorker she once wrote that “The Great Outdoors is what you pass through to get from your apartment to the taxi.” 😆

[stevec]

The level of moral squalor in the entire country is shockingly profound.

[cfoxYOU]

The moral squalor actually appeals to half of the American electorate. It's not a bug, it's a feature!

[lisalivingston]

I enjoy listening to Fran Lebowitz's no nonsense style of living her life and telling it like she sees it. She will never succumb to the toxicity of social media and whine about her mental health. We can all learn a thing or two by emulating her example. Happy Birthday, Fran!

[annsmith]

I am a native New Yorker and close in age to Fran. I do not own a television but I have to have a computer because I am still working and everything is viewed from YouTube -- right now, as an example! My life is free and liberated without complication and very grateful for it. So Fran is terrific, and I too don't apologize for the desire to be alone : Solitude is the joy of being alone versus Isolation which is the pain of being alone. Perhaps what resonated with me the most was Fran's comment on Trump as :A level of profound moral squalor" ABSOLUTELY the best description EVER! And I do not want to see this country sink into his slim pit of his squalor. This country is much better than that! Thanks, Fran!

[groominator-magneticequato]

Ive such mad respect for Fran, a crush on her wit & quick intellect, and thank her for how effortless she shows us that honesty can be. 🌱

[anne]

I love Fran Lebowitz. I agree with her about the electoral college. When I think about the electoral college and gerrymandering my blood boils.

[nancyloomis]

OMGee...yes Fran Lebowitz - I too had that sad revelation that there are indeed "that many idiots in this country." And while I believe the idiocy has begun to peak, the ignorance and extremism are gonna be nipping at the heels of America forever. We must make sure that the next generation of voters fully understand how precious (and flawed) the legacy of American democracy is and how hard they will likely have to fight to keep it.

[debramcgonnell]

I love Fran, her candor, her no-nonsense moral compass. ❤

[scottkirby]

One of the best things I learned from going to AA meetings withe my ex-wife is “What other people think about you is really none of your business.” I think Fran would agree with that. I think it’s a very healthy attitude.

[ernestintownandjackintheco]

While "moral squalor" is a great try, we long ago exhausted language's ability to fully encompass the disgrace.

[winkieblink]

Thank you Fran. Wonderful listening to you! I don’t think Trump will win either. I’m praying Americans will use their brains in 2024.

[Tam]

She had the perfect explanation for how I felt about Trump winning in 2016. I never thought he had a chance, and it was like having the air knocked out of you at first. After that, I was afraid because I had no idea that people would buy the obvious crap he spewed! How come they didn't know he was a con man?