Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
>> Sreenivasan: ON THIS EDITION
FOR SUNDAY, MARCH 11:
PRESIDENT TRUMP IN PENNSYLVANIA,
TOUTING HIS PLANS ON TRADE AND
NORTH KOREA.
ALSO, THE STORY OF A COUPLE WHO
SAVED SO MUCH MONEY, THEY
STOPPED WORKING IN THEIR EARLY
THIRTIES.
AND, A TOUR OF ONE OF THE
WORLD'S LARGEST MODERN ART
SHOWS.
NEXT ON "PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND."
FROM THE TISCH WNET STUDIOS AT
LINCOLN CENTER IN NEW YORK,
HARI SREENIVASAN.
>> Sreenivasan: GOOD EVENING AND
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
TOP TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
OFFICIALS SAID TODAY THAT THERE
WILL BE NO CONCESSIONS TO NORTH
KOREA IN THE LEAD-UP TO A
POTENTIAL HISTORIC MEETING
BETWEEN PRESIDENT TRUMP AND KIM
JONG-UN.
C.I.A. DIRECTOR MIKE POMPEO
OUTLINED FOUR CONDITIONS THAT
NORTH KOREA WOULD NEED TO ACCEPT
PRIOR TO ANY MEETING WITH
PRESIDENT TRUMP.
>> HE CAN'T CONDUCT NUCLEAR
TESTING.
HE'S GOT TO STOP THE MISSILE
TESTING THAT HE HAS BEEN HARD AT
IN THE PAST YEARS.
HE'S GOT TO CONTINUE TO ALLOW US
TO PERFORM OUR MILITARILY
NECESSARY EXERCISES ON THE
PENINSULA AND THEN HE'S TO MAKE
SURE HE LEAVES ON THE TABLE THE
DISCUSSION FOR DENUCLEARIZATION.
>> Sreenivasan: BUT PRESIDENT
OBAMA'S FOREIGN POLICY ADVISOR
BEN RHODES IS CONCERNED THE
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS NOT
PREPARED FOR SUCH NEGOTIATIONS,
SAYING THE STATE DEPARTMENT IS
UNDERSTAFFED AND THE U.S. HAS
NOT YET APPOINTED AN AMBASSADOR
TO SOUTH KOREA.
>> THERE'S NO PLACE IN THE WORLD
MORE VOLATILE THAN THE KOREAN
PENINSULA.
YOU CANNOT JUST APPROACH THIS
LIKE A REALITY SHOW.
THIS HAS TO BE SOMETHING WHERE
YOU BRING IN THE EXPERTS, YOU
INVEST IN THE SAME TYPE OF
CAPABILITIES IN OUR GOVERNMENT
THAT WE'VE SEEN THIS
ADMINISTRATION TURN THEIR BACK
ON: SCIENCE AND DIPLOMACY.
>> Sreenivasan: PRESIDENT TRUMP,
WHO WOULD BE THE FIRST SITTING
U.S. PRESIDENT TO MEET WITH A
NORTH KOREAN LEADER SINCE THE
COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED IN THE
1940's, WAS OPTIMISTIC AT A
POLITICAL RALLY IN PENNSYLVANIA
LAST NIGHT.
>> I THINK THEY WANT TO MAKE
PEACE, I THINK IT IS TIME.
AND I THINK WE'VE SHOWN GREAT
STRENGTH, I THINK THAT'S ALSO
IMPORTANT, RIGHT?
( CHEERING )
>> Sreenivasan: TRUMP SPOKE AT
THE RALLY OUTSIDE OF PITTSBURGH
TO HELP REPUBLICAN RICK SACCONE
AHEAD OF TUESDAY'S SPECIAL
CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION THERE.
CHINA ISSUED A NEW WARNING THAT
THERE WOULD BE NO WINNERS IN A
TRADE WAR WITH THE U.S. AND IT
WOULD ONLY BRING DISASTER TO THE
WORLD ECONOMY.
THESE LATEST REMARKS ARE FROM
CHINA'S COMMERCE MINISTER.
IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS, TARIFFS
OF 25% ON STEEL AND 10% ON
ALUMINUM GO INTO EFFECT.
CHINA AND SEVERAL OTHER ASIAN
COUNTRIES ARE THREATENING
TARIFFS OF THEIR OWN.
THE WHITE HOUSE ALREADY MADE
EXEMPTIONS FOR CANADA AND
MEXICO.
WHILE THE EUROPEAN UNION IS
NEGOTIATING FOR SIMILAR
TREATMENT, PRESIDENT TRUMP HAD A
WARNING FOR E.U. LEADERS,
SINGLING OUT E.U. CARMAKERS
DURING A RALLY OUTSIDE OF
PITTSBURGH LAST EVENING.
>> OPEN UP THE BARRIERS AND GET
RID OF YOUR TARIFFS AND IF YOU
DON'T DO THAT, WE'RE GONNA TAX
MERCEDES BENZ.
WE'RE GOING TO TAX B.M.W.
>> Sreenivasan: BUT PUSHBACK
FROM THE PRESIDENT'S OWN PARTY
CONTINUES.
SPEAKING ON NBC'S "MEET THE
PRESS" TODAY, REPUBLICAN SENATOR
JEFF FLAKE OF ARIZONA OBJECTED
TO HOW THE PRESIDENT IS ROLLING
OUT THE TARIFFS.
>> THAT'S AN AWFUL SITUATION TO
BE WHERE ONE PERSON IS BASICALLY
DECIDING, YOU KNOW, TARIFFS GO
UP OR DOWN DEPENDING ON WHAT
KIND OF BEHAVIOR.
IS IT SOMETHING ELSE HE DOESN'T
LIKE.
IT'S JUST UH, IT'S NOT THE WAY
TO DO BUSINESS.
FOR MORE ANALYSIS ON ALL OF THE
POLITICAL NEWS OF THE WEEK, I'M
JOINED NOW BY "NEWSHOUR WEEKEND"
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT JEFF
GREENFIELD.
JEFF, A LET'S START WITH NORTH
KOREA, PROBABLY THE MOST
CONSEQUENTIAL BIT OF NEWS THIS
WEEK.
YOU SAY IT'S CLASSICALLY
TRUMPIAN, EXPLAIN.
>> TRUMP BELIEVES HE IS A MASTER
NEGOTIATOR, BACK IN THE EIGHTIES
HE WANTED TO BE ABLE TO
NEGOTIATE NUCLEAR ARMS WITH THE
SOVIET UNION, HE THINKS HIS
PERSONALITY CAN WIPE AWAY ALL OF
THE PAST BY DISPENSING PESKY
DETAILS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, NUANCE
AND DIPLOMACY, AND JUST BY FORCE
OF PERSONALITY CREATING THIS
REALITY, SO WHEN YOU LOOK--
YOU LOOK AT WHAT HE DID, SORT OF
TAKING OF AN INCH AND THEN
IMMEDIATELY MAKING IT A MILE,
YEAH, I'LL MEET WITH HIM.
CONTRAST THAT WITH THE LAST BOLT
IN THE BLUE LIKE THIS WHEN NIXON
IN 1971 SAID "I AM GOING TO GO
TO CHINA."
NIXON HAD BEEN THINKING ABOUT
THIS FOR YEARS.
HE HAD WRITTEN ABOUT IT AND SO
IN THIS CASE, WHAT YOU HAVE
IS TRUMP SAYING, AGAIN, A
CLASSIC TRUMP NOTION, "I ALONE
CAN FIX THIS."
THAT'S A LINE FROM HIS
ACCEPTANCE SPEECH, AND ON THAT
SCORE, HE MIGHT HAVE A POINT.
MAYBE YOU NEED TO DO THIS THING
THAT ANY OTHER DIPLOMATIC NOTION
WOULD SAY THIS IS RIDICULOUS, IF
IT RESULTS IN LESSENING THE
TENSION ON THAT PENINSULA, HE'S
GOING TO GET CREDIT FOR IT.
>> Sreenivasan: SPEAKING OF
THINGS THAT HAVEN'T HAPPENED TOO
MANY TIMES BEFORE, THE PRESIDENT
GOING AGAINST HIS OWN PARTY,
ESPECIALLY ON AN ISSUE LIKE
TARIFFS, WHICH IS THE OTHER KIND
OF BIG STORY THIS WEEK.
>> ONCE AGAIN, DONALD TRUMP HAS
BEEN POUNDING AWAY AT THE NOTION
THAT THIS IS ALL A ZERO SUM
GAME, IT'S NOT WIN-WIN.
EITHER YOU WIN OR LOSE, AND WE
HAVE BEEN PLAYED BY SUCKERS BY
THESE OTHER COUNTRIES.
WE HAVE NOT HAD A PRESIDENT
SINCE HERBERT HOOVER WHO HASN'T
BEEN A FREE TRADER, BUT ONCE
AGAIN, HE HAS THIS IMAGE OF AN
AMERICA WHERE STEEL AND COAL
CAN BE BIG AGAIN, EVEN THOUGH
THEY HAVE BEEN DECLINING
LITERALLY FOR DECADES.
I WOULD ALSO SUGGEST IT'S NOT
ENTIRELY COINCIDENTAL, THIS WAS
ANNOUNCED A FEW DAYS BEFORE A
SPECIAL ELECTION IN
WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA, WHERE
STEEL IS A MAJOR ISSUE.
>> Sreenivasan: LET'S TALK
ABOUT THAT SPECIAL ELECTION.
HOW IMPORTANT IS IT?
>> YOU KNOW, SUBSTANTIVELY, IT
MAY NOT BE THAT IMPORTANT.
THE DISTRICT IS GOING TO BE
REDRAWN, THIS IS A SPECIAL
ELECTION, THEY ARE GOING TO DO
IT AGAIN IN NOVEMBER.
THE PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT OF A
DEMOCRATIC WIN IN A DISTRICT
THAT TRUMP CARRIED BY 20 POINTS,
THERE I THINK IT MATTERS, THERE
IS AN OLD SAYING THAT WHEN
LOUIS XVI WAS GUILLOTINED, EVERY
MONARCH IN EUROPE REACHED FOR
HIS THROAT AND THE ANALOGY,
BEING A LOT OF ENDANGERED
REPUBLICANS, IF THEY SEE THAT
SEAT GO DOWN, MAY THINK ABOUT
MAYBE IT'S TIME TO RETIRE.
IT'S GOING TO SEND TREMORS
THROUGH AN ALREADY NERVOUS
REPUBLICAN PARTY.
>> Sreenivasan: ONE OF THE
COMMENTS THE PRESIDENT MADE LAST
NIGHT WAS DIRECTED A
REPRESENTATIVE, MAXINE WATERS.
LET'S TAKE A LISTEN.
>> MAXINE WATERS, A VERY LOW
I.Q. INDIVIDUAL, EVER SEE HER?
>> Sreenivasan: THE PRESIDENT
HAS CRITICIZED LOTS OF PEOPLE,
CALLED LOTS OF PEOPLE LOTS OF
DIFFERENT TYPES OF NAMES, BUT
WHEN YOU LOOK BACK AT THE
HISTORY OF HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH
WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF COLOR, THIS
SEEMS TO FIT A LARGER PATTERN.
>> HE GOT VERY PROMINENT, BACK
FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AGO, BY
CLAIMING THAT HE HAD PROOF THAT
BARACK OBAMA WAS BORN IN KENYA,
NOT IN THE UNITED STATES, NO, IF
YOU DON'T HEAR A RACIALIST DOG
WHISTLE IN THAT, YOU'RE JUST NOT
LISTENING, OR THE MEXICAN JUDGE
WHO WAS GOING TO JUDGE HIM
UNFAIRLY, WHO IRONICALLY RULED
IN HIS FAVOR, OR THE WHOLE
AMERICAN EXPERIENCE OF BLACKS AS
NOTHING BUT FAILURE AND CRIME,
AND I THINK YOU HAVE TO TAKE
THAT IN THE CONTEXT OF HOW HE
TALKS AND REALIZE THAT THERE IS
A LENS THROUGH WHICH HE SEES
PEOPLE OF COLOR THAT'S VERY
NOTICEABLE, AND I THINK THOSE
WHO LIKE TO BRUSH IT ASIDE I
THINK ARE IN DENIAL.
>> Sreenivasan: JEFF GREENFIELD,
THANKS SO MUCH.
IN CHINA TODAY,
LAWMAKERS CLEARED THE WAY FOR
PRESIDENT XI JINPING TO RULE
THAT COUNTRY INDEFINITELY.
THE NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS
VOTED FOR A CONSTITUTIONAL
AMENDMENT THAT ENDED
PRESIDENTIAL TERM LIMITS.
OF THE NEARLY 3,000 DELEGATES,
ONLY TWO VOTED AGAINST THE
AMENDMENT AND THREE ABSTAINED.
THE VOTE OVERTURNS TERM LIMITS
PUT IN PLACE BACK IN 1982 TO
PREVENT ANOTHER DICTATORSHIP
FOLLOWING MAO ZEDONG'S CULTURAL
REVOLUTION.
BRITISH HEALTH AUTHORITIES FOUND
TRACES OF NERVE AGENT AT A
RESTAURANT AND A PUB.
THESE WERE LOCATIONS VISITED BY
RUSSIAN DOUBLE AGENT SERGEI
SKRIPAL AND HIS DAUGHTER LAST
WEEK WHEN THEY WERE POISONED.
THEY ARE TELLING ANYONE WHO MAY
HAVE VISITED EITHER LOCATION TO
TAKE PRECAUTIONS LIKE WASHING
THEIR CLOTHES AND OTHER
POSSESSIONS.
RUSSIA CONVICTED SKRIPAL OF
SPYING FOR BRITAIN BACK IN 2006.
HE MOVED TO ENGLAND AFTER BEING
FREED IN A 2010 SPY SWAP.
CUBANS ARE AT THE POLLS TODAY
FOR A VOTE THAT WILL SET THE
STAGE FOR THE POST-CASTRO ERA.
IN CUBA'S ONE-PARTY SYSTEM,
VOTERS ARE MERELY ASKED TO
ENDORSE A LIST OF CANDIDATES FOR
NATIONAL AND LOCAL ASSEMBLIES.
NEXT MONTH, THE NATIONAL
ASSEMBLY WILL VOTE ON A
REPLACEMENT FOR 86-YEAR-OLD RAUL
CASTRO, WHO WILL LIKELY REMAIN A
TOP COMMUNIST PARTY LEADER.
CUBA'S CURRENT FIRST VICE
PRESIDENT MIGUEL DIAZ-CANEL IS
EXPECTED TO TAKE OVER AS
PRESIDENT.
IT WILL BE THE FIRST TIME SINCE
THE CUBAN REVOLUTION IN 1959
THAT NEITHER CASTRO BROTHER WILL
HOLD THE PRESIDENCY.
IN FRANCE TODAY, THE LEADER OF
THE FAR-RIGHT NATIONAL FRONT
PARTY MARINE LE PEN PROPOSED
CHANGING THE PARTY'S NAME TO"
NATIONAL RALLY" IN A BID TO
REMAKE THE PARTY.
AT ITS TWO-DAY CONGRESS, THE
PARTY ALSO OFFICIALLY SEVERED
TIES WITH ITS FOUNDER JEAN-MARIE
LE PEN, MARINE'S FATHER.
SHE APPEARED YESTERDAY WITH
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S FORMER CHIEF
STRATEGIST STEVE BANNON.
HE RALLIED MEMBERS BY TAKING
SHOTS AT THE MEDIA, WARNING OF
THE DANGERS OF GLOBALISM AND
URGING MEMBERS TO EMBRACE
CRITICISM OF THEIR ANTI-
IMMIGRANT VIEWS.
>> LET THEM CALL YOU A RACIST,
LET THEM CALL YOU XENOPHOBES,
LET THEM CALL YOU NATIVIST.
WEAR IT AS A BADGE OF HONOR.
>> Sreenivasan: MARINE LE PEN
HAS BEEN WORKING TO REBRAND HER
PARTY SINCE HER FAILED
PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN LAST YEAR.
>> Sreenivasan: FOR MANY
FAMILIES, SAVING MONEY IS A
STRUGGLE.
THE PROBLEM IS SO SEVERE, THE
FEDERAL RESERVE FOUND THE
AVERAGE AMERICAN SAVES ONLY
ABOUT 3% OF THEIR INCOME, AND
NEARLY HALF OF U.S. HOUSEHOLDS
CAN'T COME UP WITH $400 TO COVER
AN EMERGENCY WITHOUT BORROWING
OR SELLING SOMETHING.
TONIGHT, WE ARE INTRODUCE YOU
TO A FAMILY WHO TOOK THE POWER
OF SAVING TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL.
THIS WORKING COUPLE IN BOSTON
HAD A COMFORTABLE, UPPER-MIDDLE
CLASS LIFESTYLE, AND THEN MADE A
DRASTIC CHANGE.
THEY SCRIMPED AND SAVED SO MUCH
MONEY, THAT IN THEIR EARLY
THIRTIES, THEY WERE ABLE TO STOP
WORKING ALTOGETHER.
"NEWSHOUR WEEKEND'S" CHRISTOPHER
BOOKER REPORTS.
>> Reporter: SO IS THIS A
TYPICAL MONDAY, TUESDAY,
WEEKDAY?
>> YES, YES, YES, WE TRY TO GET
OUTSIDE EVERYDAY.
AND WE REALLY DO, WITH THE RARE
EXCEPTIONS OF REALLY HEAVY RAIN.
>> Reporter: 34-YEAR-OLD
ELIZABETH WILLARD THAMES, HER
HUSBAND NATE, AND THEIR TWO
DAUGHTERS, LIVE IN A HOME ON
66 ACRES IN CENTRAL VERMONT.
AND SPENDING A WEEKDAY HIKING
AROUND IS VAST DEPARTURE FROM
THE 9 TO 5 CUBICLE JOBS THAT
THAMES AND HER HUSBAND HAD JUST
THREE YEARS AGO.
>> THIS IS WHERE WE ARE
HAPPIEST, THIS IS WHERE WE ARE
MOST AT PEACE.
AND SO WE THOUGHT, INSTEAD OF
RUNNING AWAY TO THE WOODS EVERY
WEEKEND, WE SHOULD REALLY JUST
MOVE TO THE WOODS.
>> Reporter: JUST LIVE IN THE
WOODS?
>> JUST BE THERE ALL THE TIME.
>> Reporter: THAMES IS THE
AUTHOR OF A NEW BOOK CALLED
"MEET THE FRUGALWOODS."
IT TAKES ITS NAME FROM THE BLOG
SHE'S BEEN WRITING SINCE THE
SPRING OF 2014.
IT WAS AROUND THAT TIME THAT
THAMES AND HER HUSBAND NATE
BEGAN TO RECONSIDER LIFE CHOICES
THEY HAD MADE.
THEY WERE VERY COMFORTABLY
LIVING IN CAMBRIDGE,
MASSACHUSETTS, ELIZABETH WORKING
AS A FUNDRAISER FOR A PUBLIC
MEDIA STATION, NATE AS A
SOFTWARE ENGINEER.
>> WE WERE SITTING IN A COFFEE
SHOP AND I WAS LOOKING AT OUR
REFLECTION IN THE MIRROR OF THIS
COFFEE SHOP, AND I WAS WEARING I
THINK LIKE $200 LEATHER BOOTS.
AND MY HUSBAND IS WEARING LIKE A
HIPSTER OUTFIT AND HE'S GOT A
HIPSTER BEARD.
AND I WAS THINKING WHO ARE THESE
PEOPLE?
HOW HAVE WE GOTTEN TO THIS PLACE
WHERE WE USED TO LIVE IN A
BASEMENT APARTMENT AND REALLY
SORT OF SCRIMP BY BUT WE'VE BEEN
ABLE TO BUY A HOME AND WE'D
REACHED THAT SORT OF VERY
PIVOTAL FINANCIAL GOAL.
AND THEN WE JUST COASTED.
>> Reporter: THE COUPLE, THEN
CHILDLESS, KNEW THEY WERE
EXTREMELY FORTUNATE.
THEY HAD GRADUATED DEBT-FREE
FROM A STATE UNIVERSITY, AND
BOTH FOUND WELL-PAYING JOBS THAT
ALLOWED A MORE-THAN-COMFORTABLE
LIFESTYLE.
THEY KNEW THEY WERE BETTER OFF
FINANCIALLY THAN THE VAST
MAJORITY OF AMERICANS.
BUT THAT DAY, THEY DECIDED TO
RADICALLY CHANGE THEIR LIVES AND
LIVE AS CHEAPLY AS POSSIBLE.
THE IDEA WAS TO SAVE AS MUCH
MONEY AS THEY COULD IN ORDER TO
QUIT THEIR JOBS, LEAVE THE
BOSTON AREA, AND MOVE TO THE
WOODS.
>> MY HUSBAND ASKED ME, "WHEN
ARE YOU HAPPIEST?"
AND I SAID, "I'M HAPPIEST I'M
OUT HIKING IN THE WOODS, YOU
KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THAT'S WHEN I'M
HAPPIEST."
AND HE SAID, "WHY ARE WE LIVING
IN THE CITY?
WHY ARE WE SPENDING ALL THIS
MONEY ON THIS LIFESTYLE THAT IS
NOT REALLY BRINGING US THAT HIGH
LEVEL OF CONTENTMENT."
>> Reporter: BEFORE THEY
STARTED, THEY WERE ALREADY
SAVING A LOT, ABOUT 40% OF THEIR
TAKE HOME PAY.
>> I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A FRUGAL
PERSON AND I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO
BE FINANCIALLY COMFORTABLE AND
SAFE AND STABLE AND TO HAVE A
GOOD EMERGENCY FUND BUILT UP.
BUT GOING FROM 42% TO, YOU KNOW,
70%, 80%, THAT IS A QUESTION OF
HOLISTIC TRANSFORMATION.
SO IT'S NOT JUST WELL, "I'M
GOING TO SORT OF CUT OUT ONE
RESTAURANT MEAL A WEEK."
WE'RE NOT EATING OUT AT ALL EVER
AGAIN.
>> Reporter: SAYING NO TO
RESTAURANTS WAS JUST THE
BEGINNING.
THEY PLEDGED TO BUY NO NEW
CLOTHES.
THEY LEARNED TO CUT EACH OTHER'S
HAIR.
THEY EVEN OCCASIONALLY SEARCHED
THROUGH DUMPSTERS, TAKING HOME
EVERYTHING FROM WINTER COATS TO
STEMWARE.
IN 2014, THEY MANAGED TO SAVE
71% OF THEIR INCOME.
HOW DOES THE JOY OF SAVING MONEY
TRANSLATE FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T
NECESSARILY HAVE THE SAME
FINANCIAL SITUATION THAT YOU AND
YOUR HUSBAND WERE IN?
>> I AM VERY AWARE THAT MY
FRUGALITY IS ELECTIVE AND
THERE'S SO MUCH PRIVILEGE THAT
GOES INTO CHOOSING YOUR
LIFESTYLE WHATEVER IT IS.
I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR
ME TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE WAY IN
WHICH I EXPERIENCE FRUGALITY IS
NOT GOING TO BE THE WAY IN WHICH
EVERYONE EXPERIENCES IT.
>> Reporter: DO YOU SEE A
REALITY WHERE YOU COULD ACHIEVE
THE SAME THINGS WITHOUT THE
PRIVILEGE THAT WAS KIND OF
INGRAINED TO YOUR STARTING
POINT?
>> I COME FROM A VERY STABLE
LOVING MIDDLE CLASS FAMILY NOT
WEALTHY.
I DIDN'T INHERIT ANY MONEY, BUT
CERTAINLY CAME FROM A VERY
PRIVILEGED UPBRINGING AND THAT I
WENT TO EXCELLENT PUBLIC SCHOOLS
YOU KNOW LIVED IN A SAFE
NEIGHBORHOOD HAD A LOVING
PARENTS.
AND I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY
MYOPIC TO SAY OH YOU KNOW MY
SUCCESS IS DUE TO MY OWN GOOD
DECISIONS.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT AT ALL.
>> Reporter: ALTHOUGH THE
THAMES'S DON'T DISCLOSE HARD
NUMBERS ABOUT THEIR INCOME OR
NET WORTH, THEY DO BLOG ABOUT
HOW MUCH THEY SPEND.
EACH MONTH THEY CATALOGUE THEIR
EXPENSES: FROM MORTGAGE AND
PROPERTY TAXES, TO GROCERIES, TO
THE OCCASIONAL SPLURGE ON BEER.
AND FOR ITEMS THEY HAVEN'T BEEN
WILLING TO GIVE UP, LIKE SELTZER
WATER, THEY'VE FOUND
WORKAROUNDS.
>> I WENT ON THE INTERNET AND
WAS, LIKE, "HAS ANYONE ATTACHED
A BIG TANK TO A SELTZER
MACHINE," AND IT TURNED OUT THAT
PEOPLE HAD!
>> Reporter: THE THAMES'S FOUND
THAT A 20-POUND CO2 TANK COULD
PRODUCE A LITER OF SELTZER FOR
LESS THAN A PENNY.
WHY THE DECISION TO SHARE THIS
WITH THE WORLD?
>> "FRUGALWOODS" BEGAN REALLY
FOR MYSELF JUST AS A WAY TO SORT
OF ARTICULATE OUR THINKING AND
EXPLAIN TO OUR FAMILY AND
FRIENDS HERE'S WHAT WE'RE DOING.
AND THEN IT GREW INTO THIS MUCH
BROADER MISSION OF REACHING
PEOPLE.
AND I CAN SHARE WITH PEOPLE WHAT
I'VE LEARNED.
I'M NOT A FINANCIAL EXPERT.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T HAVE A DEGREE
IN FINANCE.
I'M NOT A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL
PLANNER BUT I THINK I HAVE A
UNIQUE AND VERY PERSONAL
APPROACH TO HOW TO MANAGE MONEY.
>> Reporter: UNIQUE AND PERSONAL
APPROACHES TO MANAGING MONEY ARE
NOT HARD TO FIND ON THE
INTERNET.
"FRUGALWOODS" IS PART OF A
ROBUST AND VARIED ONLINE
COMMUNITY ADVOCATING SPENDING
LESS TO RETIRE EARLY.
BUT WHAT THEY ALL HAVE IN COMMON
IS THEY ACKNOWLEDGE YOU NEED
SOME MONEY TO LIVE ON.
>> THE SNOW CAVE HAS GOTTEN
SNOWED IN, I THINK...
>> Reporter: LESS THAN THREE
YEARS AFTER THAT REFLECTIVE
MOMENT IN A COFFEE SHOP, THE
THAMES'S MOVED TO THIS HOME IN
CENTRAL VERMONT.
THE FULL-TIME TRANSITION TO LIFE
IN THE WOODS IS MADE POSSIBLE,
IN PART, BY BEING ABLE TO RENT
OUT THEIR HOUSE IN CAMBRIDGE FOR
A PREMIUM, A CALCULATION SPELLED
OUT IN DETAIL ON "FRUGALWOODS."
THAMES GAVE BIRTH TO THEIR
SECOND DAUGHTER EARLIER THIS
YEAR, AND BELIEVES THAT
PARENTHOOD, PARTICULARLY FOR
STAY-AT-HOME PARENTS LIKE THEM,
CAN BE DONE FOR LESS THAN YOU
MIGHT THINK.
>> THE MARKETING IS TARGETED
RIGHT AT NEW PARENTS.
YOU KNOW YOU'RE TERRIFIED.
AND I HAD THOSE MOMENTS WHERE I
THOUGHT I WILL SPEND ANYTHING
RIGHT TO HELP MY CHILD TO HELP
MY CHILD SLEEP EAT LEARN GROW
DEVELOP AND SINCE I ALREADY HAVE
THIS FRUGAL MINDSET AND
ENSHRINED I WAS ABLE TO STEP
BACK AND SAY NO I KNOW THAT
NOTHING I BUY IS ACTUALLY GOING
TO YIELD THE DESIRED RESULT.
ALL OF OUR DAUGHTER'S THINGS ARE
USED.
SO THE FURNITURE, THE CLOTHING,
THE SHOES, THE COATS, THE BOOTS,
IT'S ALL USED.
>> Reporter: THOUGH HE SAYS HE
DOESN'T HAVE TO, NATE CHOOSES TO
CONTINUE TO WORK FOR A POLITICAL
NON-PROFIT FROM THEIR HOME IN
VERMONT.
THE JOB ALSO PROVIDES HEALTH
INSURANCE FOR THE FAMILY.
ALTHOUGH ELIZABETH HAS LEFT HER
FUNDRAISING JOB, SHE PREFERS TO
SAY SHE IS "FINANCIALLY
INDEPENDENT," AS OPPOSED TO
RETIRED.
IN FACT, SHE EARNS MONEY FROM
HER BLOG, AND NOW HER BOOK, TOO.
>> RETIREMENT EVOKES THIS IDEA
OF SORT OF DOING NOTHING AND
LAYING AROUND ON A BEACH WHICH
YOU KNOW WHICH WOULD BE NICE.
BUT MY HUSBAND I ARE BOTH PEOPLE
WHO LOVE DOING AND LOVE WORKING
AND LOVE HAVING PROJECTS.
BEING FINANCIALLY INDEPENDENT
MEANS THAT WE DO NOT HAVE TO
WORK IN ORDER TO LIVE AND EAT
AND FEED OUR CHILDREN.
BUT WE DO WORK THAT WE'RE
PASSIONATE ABOUT.
>> Sreenivasan: THIS WEEK IN NEW
YORK CITY, THE ART WORLD
CONVENED FOR THE ARMORY SHOW,
ONE OF THE BIGGEST ART FAIRS IN
THE WORLD.
WE TOOK A QUICK TOUR TO LEARN
MORE ABOUT SOME OF THE FAIR'S
HIGHEST PROFILE PIECES, WHICH
REFLECT THE ISSUES OF THE DAY.
ON THE EDGE OF MANHATTAN'S WEST
SIDE HIGHWAY IS A 24 FOOT TALL
MURAL BY THE FRENCH ARTIST J.R.
HE'S KNOWN FOR ENORMOUS
PORTRAITS DISPLAYED IN PUBLIC.
THIS ONE IS A MIX OF THE FACES
OF SYRIAN REFUGEES HE
PHOTOGRAPHED IN JORDAN,
SUPERIMPOSED OVER ARCHIVAL
IMAGES OF IMMIGRANTS WHO CAME TO
ELLIS ISLAND.
J.R.'s PIECE IS CALLED "SO
CLOSE," AND IT'S THE FIRST THING
65,000 VISITORS ARE LIKELY TO
SEE AT THIS YEAR'S ARMORY SHOW.
NEARLY 200 GALLERIES FROM DOZENS
OF COUNTRIES TAKE OVER TWO PIERS
ON THE HUDSON RIVER TO SHOW OFF
THEIR BEST AND BRIGHTEST
ARTISTS.
THE FAIR DRAWS CURATORS AND ART
ENTHUSIASTS FROM AROUND THE
WORLD.
I SPOKE WITH THE ART FAIR'S
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR NICOLE BARRY.
SO TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
THIS.
WHAT'S THE REACTION TO THIS
PIECE BY J.R. BEEN?
>> HE'S REALLY FOCUSING ON
OBVIOUSLY TOPICS THAT ARE
RELEVANT TO THE CULTURAL
CLIMATE.
WE AS AN ART FAIR DON'T MAKE ANY
POLITICAL STATEMENTS BUT WE--
PART OF THE MISSION OF THIS ART
FAIR IS AND HAS BEEN SINCE ITS
FOUNDING 24 YEARS AGO IS TO
SHOWCASE WORK THAT'S BEING
CREATED NOW.
>> Sreenivasan: SO THE FAIR IS
KIND OF A SNAPSHOT OF WHAT IS ON
THE MIND OF ARTISTS RIGHT NOW?
>> ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY.
WE HAVE CURATED SECTIONS, LARGE
SCALE-- THE J.R. PIECE IS PART
OF THAT LARGE SCALE WORK AS IS A
PIECE RIGHT HERE BY TARA
DONOVAN.
>> Sreenivasan: BROOKLYN-BASED
ARTIST TARA DONOVAN ARRANGED
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PLASTIC
TUBES FROM EIGHT FEET TALL DOWN
TO A FEW INCHES.
>> SO TARA DONOVAN IS TAKING A
UTILITARIAN PRODUCT.
THEY ARE JUST PLASTIC TUBES THAT
YOU MIGHT PUT A POSTER IN OR
SOMETHING.
>> Sreenivasan: OKAY.
>> AND SHE CREATES THIS
WONDERFUL LANDSCAPE, LUMINOUS
LANDSCAPE.
SO BY CREATING DIFFERENT SIZES
AND WORKING WITH THE LIGHTS IT'S
ALMOST LIKE--
>> Sreenivasan: IT FEELS LIKE
IT'S COMING FROM THE BOTTOM.
>> IT FEELS LIKE THERE'S LIGHTS
COMING FROM THE BOTTOM BUT
THAT'S THE ILLUSION THAT SHE'S
TRYING TO CREATE.
SOMEONE-- I WAS WALKING SOMEONE
AROUND YESTERDAY AND THEY SAID
IT WAS ALMOST LIKE AN ICEBERG.
EACH PERSON COMES WITH THEIR
OWN, THEIR OWN IDEAS ABOUT WHAT
IT REMINDS THEM OF.
>> Sreenivasan: THE FAIR ALSO
FEATURES THESE CHANDELIERS MADE
WITH URANIUM GLASS, REPRESENTING
NATIONS WITH NUCLEAR ENERGY,
FROM JAPANESE-AUSTRALIAN ARTISTS
KEN AND JULIA YONETANI.
THIS SERIES OF POST-APOCALYPTIC-
ESQUE PAINTINGS OF WOMEN WEARING
GAS MASKS FROM FRENCH ARTIST
CLAIRE TABOURET.
IN THIS PERFORMANCE PIECE,
TITLED "MY TURN," NEW YORK-BASED
ARTISTS ALEX SCHWEDER AND WARD
SHELLEY DESIGNED AND BUILT A
16-FOOT WHEEL, WHICH THEY ROTATE
AND TAKE TURNS SITTING IN.
THEY CALL THEIR WORK
"PERFORMANCE ARCHITECTURE."
FOR FOLKS WHO
MIGHT BE INTIMIDATED BY SAY,
PERFORMANCE ART.
THERE'S A GIANT WHEEL WHERE GUYS
LITERALLY SIT IN A CHAIR AND
THEN THEY SPIN THE WHEEL AND
THEY SIT ON THE CHAIR AND SPIN
THE WHEEL.
HOW DO PEOPLE MAKE
SENSE OF THAT?
>> PEOPLE SHOULDN'T BE AFRAID IF
THEY'RE GOING INTO A GALLERY OR
GOING TO A MUSEUM.
THERE ARE GREAT DOCENTS IN
MUSEUMS OR STEPPING IN A BOOTH
AT AN ART FAIR TO ASK.
AND THE DEALERS WILL MORE OFTEN
THAN NOT JUST START TELLING YOU
ABOUT IT BECAUSE THEY LOVE TO
SHARE.
THOUGH I WOULD ASK QUESTIONS.
IF IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE THEN
ASK QUESTIONS AND MAYBE IT WILL
MAKE SENSE OR MAYBE IT WON'T.
AND AGAIN, ART IS PERSONAL.
>> Sreenivasan: NICOLE BARRY IS
THE FIRST FEMALE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF THE ARMORY SHOW.
SHE TOOK ON THE ROLE LAST
NOVEMBER.
THE PREVIOUS DIRECTOR STEPPED
DOWN AFTER ALLEGATIONS OF ***
MISCONDUCT.
HOW IS THE #METOO MOVEMENT SEEN
NOW THROUGH THE ART WORLD?
>> FEMALE ARTISTS, ARTISTS IN
GENERAL, BUT FEMALE ARTISTS HAVE
BEEN CREATING WORK ABOUT THEIR
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE FOREVER, IF
THEY'VE BEEN OPPRESSED OR
HARASSED.
I THINK THOSE ARE ISSUES THAT
HAVE HAPPENED THROUGHOUT THEIR
LIFE IF THEY'RE A WOMAN.
IT'S LESS ABOUT THIS VERY MOMENT
AND REACTING TO THAT AND MORE
ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE
THROUGHOUT THEIR ENTIRE CAREER
OR LIFE AS A WOMAN.
>> Sreenivasan: WHAT HAS SOCIAL
MEDIA DONE FOR THIS BECAUSE I
SEE PEOPLE WALKING AROUND,
TRYING TO INSTAGRAM AND TRYING
TO GET A SHOT OF EVERYTHING,
RIGHT?
>> IT'S GREAT BECAUSE YOU CAN
SAY, "OH I SAW THIS GREAT
PIECE," AND THERE'S STILL
NOTHING LIKE LOOKING AT A PIECE
OF ART IN PERSON.
YOU KNOW WE SEE THINGS ONLINE.
PEOPLE ARE EVEN SELLING THINGS
ONLINE THESE DAYS.
BUT FOR ME AND I CAN'T SPEAK FOR
EVERYONE, BUT I DO THINK THAT
THERE'S A REALLY SPECIAL
EXPERIENCE BEING IN FRONT OF A
PIECE OF ART.
THE MORE ART YOU'RE EXPOSED TO
AND THAT YOU SEE, THE MORE YOU
DEVELOP YOUR EYE.
I WOULD SAY THAT ART-- ART THAT
MOVES YOU IN SOME WAY, WHETHER
YOU LIKE IT OR YOU REALLY DON'T
LIKE IS-- IS SUCCESSFUL.
THE WHOLE REASON I'M IN THIS
BUSINESS-- I'VE ALWAYS SAID I
WORK FOR A FAIR AND IT'S A
COMMERCIAL ENTITY, BUT IF I IF
IT EVER DOESN'T BECOME ABOUT THE
ART, THEN I'M OUT.
>> Sreenivasan: ALL RIGHT,
NICOLE BARRY, THANKS SO MUCH FOR
YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, WAS A
PLEASURE CHATTING WITH YOU.
>> Sreenivasan: READ DIRECTOR
AVA DUVERNAY'S PICKS FOR MUST-
SEE MOVIES BY BLACK DIRECTORS ON
OUR WEBSITE, pbs.org/newshour.
TOMORROW ON THE "NEWSHOUR," MORE
ANALYSIS ON THAT SPECIAL
ELECTION IN PENNSYLVANIA THAT
COULD BE A TEST OF DEMOCRATIC
ENTHUSIASM AHEAD OF THE
MIDTERMS.
THAT'S ALL FOR THIS EDITION OF
"PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND."
I'M HARI SREENIVASAN.
THANKS FOR WATCHING.
HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.