[Andrew Yang, Cnn Political Commentator:] This crisis. It doesn't solve many of the economic issues. But it's a stop-gap that we have to do. I certainly would never want to be, you know, proven right in this particular type of situation. You never wish this on our country. But putting cash into our hands is a must do and I'm thrilled that it seems like Congress and the administration are moving to do this as quickly as possible.
[Alisyn Camerota, Cnn Anchor:] But, Andrew, isn't it just a little crazy that when you first proposed it, people were, like, what? I mean it was jaw-dropping. It was so radical. And now the Trump administration is proposing it. I understand we're facing a pandemic. But the the speed with which your idea has caught fire, are you you find that remarkable?
[Yang:] Well, I never dreamed that I would suspend my campaign in February and then we'd be implementing universal based income in March. That was certainly never something I could have imagined to be possible. But I'm thrilled that my campaign might have advanced some of these solutions right in the nick of time to help us address this crisis.
[John Berman, Cnn Anchor:] What's the level of contact you have with the White House on this matter now because you said there had been some?
[Yang:] Yes, my team has been in touch with their team. They have asked for resources that might help inform some of the policies and we're sending them any information they want in terms of the studies that show that cash infusions make people healthier, mentally healthier, more productive, more trusting. It's vital in this kind of situation. We just want to help the country move forward through this crisis and we'll do anything to help the administration implement the right policies.
[Berman:] One of the big difference not only is yours forever. I mean you're talking about $1,000 a month forever. But you also don't have any kind of means testing on purpose. Part of the economic theory behind your plan is that everyone gets it from Warren Buffett, you know, to the rest of us here. So, why? Why do you think everyone should get some kind of a check rather than just people making below $75,000 or $100,000?
[Yang:] Well, people's circumstances can change awfully quickly. I just heard from a restaurateur who made a lot of money on paper last year, but now their restaurant's closed, they plowed everything they have into the business and they're saying, look, like I know on paper it might look like I'm flush, but the truth is, like, I'm in desperate circumstances right now. I mean we're in a situation where it's all hands on deck, we should just be putting money into people's hands. And it's hard for the government to draw lines in the best of circumstances. Like, even if we had time, if you had to figure it out, we don't have time. We're much better off just putting money into people's hands and trusting that it's going to end up finding its way back into the economy, back into local communities to help keep us afloat.
[Camerota:] I mean very, very quickly, you know, one of the proposals is just $1,000, just a one-time hit of $1,000. So what do you think of that proposal?
[Yang:] Well, I think it needs to be regular and predictable, either $1,000 a month, because we're not sure or more per month because we're not sure how long this crisis is going to last. And if we put $1,000 in your hands at the end of March, you know, this could extend into April, May, June and that money is going to evaporate. So we either need to go much, much bigger overall, we need to think much, must bigger about the situation we're in. I mean when the house is on fire, you don't worry about how much water you're using. You have to put out the fire. We're in the precipice of a new, great depression and we need to act fast. So it should either be regular installments or very, very big I would I think big and regular is the right way to go.
[Camerota:] Andrew Yang, we really appreciate you sharing your expertise on this topic with us.
[Yang:] Thank you. It's great to be here.
[Camerota:] Stay safe. All right, now, oils, teas, solutions, even toothpaste, you won't believe the strange so-called coronavirus cures that are being pushed out there. We have a must see "Reality Check" for you, next.