>> Braude: TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON," MASSACHUSETTS CONGRESSMAN SETH MOULTON, JUST BACK FROM HIS SECOND TRIP TO UKRAINE, HIS FIRST SINCE RUSSIA'S INVASION, JOINS ME ON WHAT HE SAW, WHAT HE THINKS THE U.S. SHOULD BE DOING NOW, AND THE WIDER DANGER THAT WOULD COME FROM A RUSSIAN VICTORY IN THIS WAR.

WE'LL ALSO DISCUSS THE UNITED STATES ABANDONING THOSE WHO NEVER ABANDONED US IN AFGHANISTAN.

THEN LATER, AWARD-WINNING LOCAL RESTAURATEURS TIFFANI FAISSON AND KEN ORINGER ARE HERE, ALONG WITH A LITTLE FOOD, OF COURSE, TO TALK ABOUT HOW THEY MANAGED TO MAKE IT OUT OF LOCKDOWNS, AND OPEN NEW RESTAURANTS ALONG THE WAY.

>> Braude: NEARLY 10 MONTHS INTO RUSSIA'S INVASION OF UKRAINE, AS TROOPS HEAD INTO THEIR SECOND WINTER OF BATTLE, BOTH SIDES ARE VOWING TO FIGHT ON, WHILE UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY IS CALLING ON RUSSIAN TROOPS TO WITHDRAW BY CHRISTMAS.

THE KREMLIN IS CALLING ON UKRAINE TO, "TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE REALITIES THAT HAVE DEVELOPED."

ALTHOUGH FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2013 RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN HAS CANCELED HIS ANNUAL YEAR-END NEWS CONFERENCE, SO I GUESS WE WON'T HEAR THE DETAILS OF THOSE REALITIES FROM HIM.

BUT I'M ASSUMING HE MEANS THE ONES FACING MILLIONS OF UKRAINIANS WORRIED ABOUT BEING LEFT IN THE DARK, WITHOUT HEAT OR HOT WATER IN THE COLDEST MONTHS, THANKS TO HIS CONSTANT ATTACKS ON CRITICAL CIVILIAN INFRASTRUCTURE.

MASSACHUSETTS CONGRESSMAN SETH MOULTON WAS AMONG A GROUP OF FIVE LAWMAKERS FROM BOTH PARTIES WHO RECENTLY GOT A FIRST-HAND LOOK AT THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND IN KYIV.

CONGRESSMAN MOULTON JOINS ME NOW.

GOOD TO SIGH YOU, THANKS SO MUCH.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU TOO.

>> Braude: WHEN YOU WERE THERE ABOUT A YEAR SOOG YOU CAME BACK AND SAID THE U.S. WAS WAY BEHIND IN DOING WHAT IT HAD TO DO TO DETER A RUSSIAN INVASION.

OBVIOUSLY YOU WERE RIGHT.

HOW ARE WE DOING NOW?

AND HOW ARE THE UKRAINIANS DOING NOW?

>> WELL, THE UKRAINIANS ARE DOING INCREDIBLY WELL.

NOBODY EXPECTED THEM TO BE ACTUALLY WINNING THIS WAR AGAINST RUSSIA.

AND DEFEATING PUTIN IN HIS MARCH WESTWARD, IS AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT VICTORY NOT JUST FOR UKRAINE BUT FOR US AS WELL.

THERE IS ONE LESSON WE SHOULD HAVE LEARNED OVER THE LAST 15 YEARS IS THAT PUTIN IS NOT GOING TO STOP.

HE IS GOING TO KEEP GOING.

WE EXPECT HIM TO STOP AFTER GEORGIA, THEN AFTER CRIMEA.

WE CAN'T EXPECT HIM TO STOP AFTER UKRAINE.

IF HE SHOW CONVINCES HIMSELF THAT HE GETS A WIN HERE.

SO HE HAS TO BE DEFEATED.

THE UKRAINIANS ARE DOING THAT AND IF IS THANKS TO OUR HELP, OUR HELP HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE.

AND ALTHOUGH THE ADMINISTRATION WAS SLOW TO ACT AT FIRST, I THINK THEY HAVE RUN THIS WAR EFFORT QUITE BRILLIANTLY OVER MOST OF THE LAST EIGHT MONTHS.

MY ONE COMPLAINT IS THEY ARE STILL JUST A LITTLE BIT SLOW.

WE TALKED WITH THE UKRAINIANS ABOUT GETTING THEM PATRIOT MISS EL-- MISSILES, FOR EXAMPLE.

IT HAS TAKEN WEEK, THE ADMINISTRATION IS-- -- .

>> Braude: THAT IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN, RIGHT.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

IT HAS TAKEN TOO LONG, JIM, BUT THEY ARE APPROVED AND THAT WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN STOPPING THESE RUSSIAN ATTACKS ON CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE.

IF PUTIN IS TRYING TO USE WINTER AS A WEAPON, PERSONALLY I DON'T THINK IT WILL WORK.

I THINK THE UKRAINIANS ARE FAR MORE RESILIENT THAN HE THINKS.

BUT IT ST STILL GOING TO BE A TOUGH WINTER AND MAKE NO MISTAKE, THIS IS AN ABSOLUTELY BRUTAL WAR.

>> Braude: I WILL GET BACK TO THEIR RESILIENCY IN A MINUTE BUT BACK TO THE AMERICAN SUPPORT.

OTHER THAN PATRIOT MISSILES ARE THERE OTHER THINGS WE SHOULD BE DOING THAT WE ARE NOT, AND WHEN I SAY WE, I DON'T JUST MEAN THE UNITED STATES BUT OUR WESTERN ALLIES BECAUSE IT SEEMS PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS DONE A PRETTY GOOD JOB OF HOLDING THEM TOGETHER.

>> HE HAS DONE A REMARKABLE JOB OF BUILDING THIS COALITION AND THEN KEEPING IT TOGETHER.

AND WE ARE DOING A LOT.

OF COURSE THERE IS ALWAYS MORE THAT WE CAN DO.

THE BIGGEST THING IS WE HAVE TO GET THEM AID QUICKLY.

ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT THIS WAR IS THE UKRAINIANS NEED CHANGE OVER TIME.

IF YOU REMEMBER WHEN IT STARTED, IT WAS ALL ABOUT STINGER MISSILES TO KEEP RUSSIAN WARPLANES OUT OF THE SKY.

THOSE WERE SUCCESSFUL.

THAN IT WAS ABOUT GEGHT THE RIGHT KIND OF ARTILLERY TO PUSH BACK THE RUSSIAN LINE.

NOW IT IS ABOUT PATRIOT MISSILES TO KNOCK DOWN THESE RUSSIAN CRUISE MISSILES.

ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I HAVE FOR THE UKRAINIANS IS WHAT WILL YOU NEED THREE MONTHS FROM NOW, SIX MONTHS FROM NOW.

THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF QUESTIONS THAT WE NEED TO BE ASKS TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ANTICIPATING THEIR NEEDS AND WE CAN ALSO AT LEAST SUPPORT A UKRAINIAN VICTORY.

>> Braude: YOU KNOW, I WAS ABOUT TO SAY TO YOU THAT IT IS EASY FOR SOMEONE LIKE ME WHO SITS ON HIS COUCH AND WATCHES TELEVISION AT NIGHT AND NOD MY HEAD AND SAY I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW BRAVE AND RELENTLESS THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE ARE.

YOU BRING A LITTLE MORE CREDIBILITY TO THE TABLE.

I'M SURE MOST PEOPLE KNOW, FOUR TOURS OF DUTY IN IRAQ.

BUT IT SEEMS TO ME THAT SPIRIT IS ONE THING.

FREEZING COLD WINTERS WAS-- WITH AS I SAID NO HOT WATER, NO HEAT FOR A TON OF PEOPLE, AS PUTIN IS FOCUSED ON THE ELECTRIC GRID THAT INFRASTRUCTURE, IS PRETTY TOUGH EVEN FOR PEOPLE WITH GREAT RESOLVE, IS IT NOT?

>> IT IS.

AND THIS IS GOING TO BE A TOUGH WINTER FOR UKRAINE.

BUT I TELL YOU, I HAVE JUST BEEN SO IMPRESSED BY THEIR RESILIENCY, BY THEIR RESOLVE.

ONE OF THE MOST SHOCKING THINGS TO ME ABOUT VITSING THE CAPITOL THIS MONTH, EXACTLY A YEAR AFTER I WAS THERE, BEFORE THE INVASION STARTED, IS SHOW MUCH IS SUSTAINED.

KYIV IS STILL A FUNCTIONING CITY.

YOU WANT KNOW THAT THERE IS A WAR GOING ON IN THE COUNTRY BECAUSE THE PEOPLE HAVE SO MUCH RESOLVE.

IT MUST HAVE BEEN LIKE LONDON DURING THE GREAT BLITZ WHEN YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY JUST REFUSED TO BE COWED BY HITLER.

AND IN FACT, I WILL TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPARISONS BEING MADE IN UKRAINE TODAY BETWEEN PUTIN AND HITLER.

I THINK THAT'S HOW PUTIN IS GOING TO GO DOWN IN HISTORY.

>> Braude: SETH MOULTON, CAN WE TALK ABOUT OUR RESOLVE.

YOUR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES IN ITS HOUSE WHO ARE ABOUT TO TAKE CONTROL, ARE LESS ENTHUSIASTIC, IT SEEMS TO ME, ABOUT FULL SUPPORT.

AND SO ARE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

I MEAN I'M SURE YOU HAVE SEEN THIS POLL.

LET ME PUT IT UP, THE QUINCY INSTITUTE POLL FROM SEPTEMBER, LIKELY U.S.

VOTERS DO YOU SUPPORT THE U.S. PURSUING NEGOTIATIONS TO END THE WAR EVEN IF UKRAINE WOULD HAVE TO MAKE SOME COMPROMISE, 57-326789 AND YOU KNOW AS WELL AS I, WE ARE ALL HEARD THE INCREDIBLE FIRST LADY OF UKRAINE ON "60 MINUTES" SAYING NO COMPROMISE AT THIS POINT.

HER HUSBAND, THE PRESIDENT SAYING NO COMPROMISE.

THAT 57 TO 32 SOUNDS TO ME LIKE A PEOPLE, AMERICAN PEOPLE WHO ARE LOSING THEIR RESOLVE.

DO YOU DISAGREE WITH THAT?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT WE PROBABLY NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF HELPING PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE CONSEQUENCES OF RUSSIA SHOW GETTING A WIN OUT OF THIS.

>> Braude: WHAT ARE THEY?

>> THAT THEY WILL GO SOMEWHERE NEXT.

AROUND THE NEXT PLACES THAT THEY WILL GO ARE NATO ALLIES.

BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT BORDERS YOU YOU CRANE.

AND IF THEY ARE ATTACKING NATO ALLIES LIKE POLAND, WHERE WE FLEW INTO IN ORDER TO TAKE AN OVERNIGHT TRAIN TO KYIV, THE CAPITOL OF UKRAINE, THEY ATTACK POLAND, U.S.

TROOPS WILL BE INVOLVED IN THAT FIGHT.

AMERICANS WILL DIE.

SO THE INVESTMENT THAT WE ARE MAKING IN THIS WAR NOW WILL ULTIMATELY SAVE DOLLARS AND SAVE LIVES, AMERICAN DOLLARS, AMERICAN LIVES, DOWN THE ROADS.

>> Braude: BUT IT SEEMS TO ME YOU DON'T ONLY, WE DON'T ONLY HAVE TO MAKE THE CASE TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, AS I SAID, THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP APPEARS TO BE NOT WILDLY ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THIS LEVEL OF SUPPORT.

EVEN YOUR COLLEAGUES, THE PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS PUT OUT THAT LETTER WHICH THEY WITHDREW, THE DEMOCRATS IN ABOUT A NANO SECOND, TALKING ABOUT NEGOTIATING DIRECTLY, THE UNITED STATES NEGOTIATING DIRECTLY WITH THE RUSSIAN.

SO IT SEEMS TO ME BEFORE WE WORRY ABOUT EDUCATING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, A LOT OF EDUCATING OF YOUR COLLEAGUES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE NEEDS TO GO ON.

>> YOU ARE RIGHT, YOU ARE RIGHT, JIM, OBVIOUSLY.

THERE IS EDUCATION THAT NEEDS TO GO ON IN CONGRESS.

BUT IF IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF CONGRESS, THE VAST MAJORITY OF REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS SUPPORT UKRAINE, SUPPORT THEM GETTING A VICTORY OUT OF THIS WAR.

IT IS THE FAR LEFT AND THE FAR RIGHT, REALLY THE FRINGES OF BOTH PARTIES THAT ARE THE PROBLEM HERE.

AND THE PROGRESSIVES WERE VERY QUICK TO WITHDRAW THAT LETTER ON THE LEFT.

ON THE RIGHT PEOPLE LIKE MARJORIE TAYLOR GREEN, THEY ARE DOUBLING DOWN.

I DON'T ANY THE ISSUE IS THAT REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP REALLY WANTS TO LISTEN TO MARJORIE TAYLOR GREEN.

BUT THE POLITICAL REALITY IS THAT THEY ARE.

AND THAT IS THE CONCERN THAT I HAVE, NOT THAT SOMEONE LIKE KEVIN McCARTHY IF HE BECOMES SPEAKER, REALLY WANTS TO STOP AID TO UKRAINE.

BUT THAT HE MIGHT BE COWED BY THE FAR RIGHT IN HIS PARTY TO DO THEIR BIDDING, AND THEY, OF COURSE, ARE OPPOSED.

SO WE DO HAVE SOME WORK TO DO IN CONGRESS.

BUT THE VAST MAJORITY OF CONGRESS IS WITH YOU DRAIN-- UKRAINE AND THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE.

>> Braude: SETH MOULTON, EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO HAS SOME EXPERTISE IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD HAS SAID TO ME OF ALL POLITICAL STRIFE, THIS ONLY ENDS WHEN PUTIN ENDS.

DO YOU FEEL ANY DIFFERENTLY?

NESS I MEAN I THINK THERE IS PROBABLY SOME TRUTH TO THAT.

I CAN'T PREDICT THE FUTURE BUT ONE OF THE MOST PRESSING QUESTIONS THAT WE'RE ALL ASKING IS EXACTLY HOW DOES THIS END?

YOU KNOW, WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE WHEN THIS SAUL OVER.

WHAT DOES DEFEAT FOR RUSSIA ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE ON THE GROUND.

THE REALITY RIGHT NOW IS THAT NEITHER SIDE IS IN A POSITION TO NEGOTIATION BECAUSE THERE IS NO OVERLAP BETWEEN THEIR NEGOTIATING POSITIONS, SO UKRAINE RIGHTLY SAYS THEY WANT THEIR COUNTRY BACK.

I DON'T THINK THAT IF PUTIN WERE INVADING AMERICA, WE WOULD SETTLE FOR JUST GIVING UP THE EAST COAST OR JUST GIVING UP CALIFORNIA, IN SOME NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT.

UKRAINE WANTS THEIR WHOLE COUNTRY BACK AND THEY DESERVE IT OF COURSE PUTIN ON THE OTHER HAND IS WILDLY DELUSIONAL ABOUT WHAT HE THINKS HE IS GOING TO GET OUT OF UKRAINE.

I THINK THE WAY TO GET TO A POINT WHERE YOU COULD ACTUALLY HAVE A NEGOTIATION TO END THIS WAR IS TO PRESS UKRAINE FURTHER ON, TO HAVE UKRAINIANS TAKE MORE TERRITORY OF THEIR OWN BACK FROM RUSSIA TO PUT RUSSIA IN A MORE REASONABLE NEGOTIATING POSITION.

>> Braude: CAN WE MOVE FROM UKRAINE TO AFGHANISTAN.

WE MADE PROMISES, WE AS A COUNTRY, TO THOSE WHO HELPED US IN AFGHANISTAN WHEN WE WERE THERE.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THERE ARE TENS OF THOUSANDS, I I THINK MOST RECENTLY 7 3,000 PEOPLE AFTER WE WITHDREW WHO CAME TO THIS COUNTRY, WHO INCREDIBLY TO ME,ARE AT RISK OF DEPOR TAITION, BACK TO A COUNTRY WHERE I ASSUME SHOULD IT HAPPEN, THEY ARE FACING NEAR CERTAIN DEATH.

CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE CURRENT SITUATION AND WHAT IS GOING ON?

>> I MEAN, YOU ARE TELLING THE STORY EXACTLY RIGHT, JIM.

AND IT IS DESPICABLE.

WE LEFT A LOT OF AFGHANS BEHIND.

THERE WERE A LOT OF AFGHANS, FENS OF-- TENS OF THOUSANDS THAT WE COMPROMISED TO SAVE WHO ARE STILL IN AFGHANISTAN TRYING TO GET OUT.

THAT SHOULDK THE FIRST PRIORITY IS TO GET THEM BEFORE THE TALIBAN GET TO THEM.

BUT UNBELIEVABLY EVEN THE ONES WHO WE DID GET TO SAFETY HERE IN AMERICA, ARE NOW FACING GETTING SENT BACK TO AFGHANISTAN BECAUSE ITS REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS ARE BLOCK THE EFFORTS, THE EFFORT THAT BIPARTISAN AMONG VETERANS TO GIVE THEM THEIR RIGHTFUL FUTURE IN AMERICA.

THIS IS BREAKING A PROMS THAT ALL OF US WHO FOUGHT IN THESE WARS MADE TO OUR ALLIES, TO OUR FRIENDS WHO PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE NOT JUST FOR AFGHANISTAN OR IRAQ, BUT FOR US TOO.

AND BECAUSE WE'RE BREAKING THAT PROMISE THAT WE MADE, IT HONESTLY FEELS LIKE A REAL BETRAYAL.

I THINK FOR VETERANS LICK MYSELF, IT FEELS LIKE WE'RE BETRAYING OUR AFGHAN ALLIES BECAUSE OUR OWN GOVERNMENT IS BETRAYING US.

>> Braude: WELL, I WOULD GO FURTHER, I WOULD SAY WE WERE NOT ONLY BETRAYING OUR AFGHAN ALLIES BUT WE ARE BETRAYING PEOPLE LIKE YOU IN THE FUTURE WHO CHOOSE TO FIGHT ON BEHALF OF THIS COUNTRY BECAUSE I'M ASSUMING THAT THAT INTERPRETER, THAT AID IN THREE YEARS IN SOME EAR COMBAT ZONE IS GOING TO BE LESS LIKELY TO PUT HIS OR HER FAMILY AT RISK BY HELPING US WHEN THEY KNOW THAT THE COUNTRY THEY HELPED IS UNLIKELY TO HONOR OUR COMMITMENT TO THEM, YES?

>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

SO WE VETERANS FEEL LIKE WE'RE LETTING OUR ALLIES DOWN.

WE FEEL LIKE WE'RE BEING BETRAYED BY TODAY'S U.S. GOVERNMENT.

BUT FUTURE SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN IN CONFLICTS THAT WE DON'T KNOW YET, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIND FRIENDS AND ALLIES TOO AND IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY HARD WHEN THEY GO OUT AND SAY WE SAW WHAT HAPPENED.

WE SAW WHAT HAPPENED IN AFGHANISTAN WHEN YOU PROMISED TO SAVE YOUR ALLIES.

YOU YOU ARE YOU DON'T UPHOLD THAT PROMISE WE ARE NOT GOING TO WORK WITH YOU.

AND THAT WILL COST AMERICAN LIVES.

>> I DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS.

MY UNDERSTANDING, CORRECT MEE IF I'M WRONG, THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION USUALLY INCLUDES THESE EXTENSIONS OF VISAS AND THESE KINDS OF CIRCUMSTANCES.

WHAT IS THE PUBLIC ARGUMENT OR PRIVATE ARGUMENT MONGSZ THE REPUBLICANS FOR NOT HONORING OUR COMMITMENT TO THOSE WHO HONORED THEIR COMMITMENT T US.

>> THAT ARGUMENT IS THAT THERE THEY JUST DON'T LIKE IMMIGRATION.

THEY DON'T LIKE AFGHANS MOVING TO AMERICA.

AND THE CHIEF OF THIS ARGUMENT IS CHUCK GRASSLEY.

SENATOR GRASSLEY OF IOWA WHO IS ANTIIMMIGRANT, IS HE NOT A VETERAN SO HE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS TO BE IN A SITUATION WHERE YOU PROMISE SOMEONE WITH YOUR LIFE.

THEY ARE PUTTING THEIR LIFE IN THEIR HANDS ARE YOU PUTTING YOUR LIFE IN THAIRKS AND YOU WILL HAVE THEIR BACK.

HE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THAT AND FRANKLY, JIM, I THINK IT IS ROOTED IN RACISM.

I THINK THAT IS WHAT IS GOING ON HERE.

AND ST JUST SUCH A SHAME THAT A FEW RACIST REPUBLICANS ARE BREAKING THE PROMISES THAT STHOWS OF AMERICAN VETERANS MADE TO OUR FRIENDS.

>> Braude: ARE YOU CONFIDENT THAT SOME VERSION OF THIS, WHETHER ST TIEDED TO THE DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION OR NOT IS GOING TO PASS IN TIME TO PROTECT THOSE THAT ARE HERE, TO AT LEAST EXTEND THEIR STAY?

>> I'M HONESTLY NOT.

>> Braude: NOT?

>> AND I'M DOING EVERYTHING I CAN, WITH MY FELLOW-- AGAIN, ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE, REPUBLICAN VETERANS ARE WITH US TOO HERE.

WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN.

BUT TO BE HONEST, RIGHT NOW IT LOOKS PRETTY BLEAK.

>> Braude: CAN WE END ON SOMETHING THAT IS A BLEAK SITUATION, WHERE I THINK THERE SAY LITTLE BIT OF GOOD NEWS AND YOU ARE INVOLVED.

CAN YOU DESCRIBE TO PEOPLE WHAT THIS 988 LIFELINE IS, HOTLINE IS AND HOW IT IS WORKING SINCE IT WENT INTO PLACE I THINK EARLIER THIS SUMMER?

>> SO THIS IS A BILL I PASSED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WITH A FELLOW VETERAN OR REPUBLICAN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE TO ESTABLISH A THREE DIGIT NATIONWIDE MENTAL HEALTH HOTLINE TO WORK JUST LIKE THE 911.

YOU WAKE UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND YOUR HOUSE IS ON FIRE, YOU DIAL 911.

NOW EVERYONE WILL KNOW IF YOU WAKE UP AND YOU OR A LOVED ONE HAS A MENTAL HEALTH EMERGENCY YOU CAN CALL 988.

SINCE IT WENT INTO AFFECT, THIS JULY, CALL TO THE SERVICE HAVE GONE UP OVER 40%.

AND SOMETHINGS LIKE OVER 80% ARE CALLS WHERE A LIFE IS SAVED JUST BY TALKING TO SOMEONE.

SO THIS IS SAVING THOUSANDS OF LIVES A MONTH.

JIM, I THINK ST HONESTLY THE MOST MEANINGFUL THING THAT I HAVE DONE THUS FAR IN CONGRESS AND ST IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE T IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE'S LIVES BECAUSE THEY KNOW HOW TO-- THEY KNOW A NUMBER TO CALL.

AND I THINK IT IS ALSO JUST NORMALIZING THE CONVERSATION ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH.

SO I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING IT UP.

AND I APPRECIATE EVERY OPPORTUNITY I GET TO JUST TALK ABOUT IT SO PEOPLE KNOW 988 IS OUT THERE, IF YOU NEED IT.

>> Braude: AND TO BE CLEAR, A LOT OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING THOSE CALLS AND WHOSE LIVES ARE BEING SAVED ARE FELLOW VETERANS OF YOURS, NO?

>> THERE IS A GOOD NUMBER OF FELLOW VETERANS AND A REAL EFFORT MADE IF YOU CALL 911 TO GET DIRECTED TO SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS YOUR PARTICULAR NEEDS SO IF YOU RAY VETERAN YOU WILL BE DIRECTED TO AN EXISTING VETERAN'S CRISIS LINE TO TALK WITH SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS YOUR PARTICULAR SITUATION AS BEST AS POSSIBLE.

BUT IT DOESN'T, YOU KNOW, WHETHER YOU ARE A VETS RAN OR SOMEONE JUST GOING THROUGH TRAUMA, I THINK EVERY ONE US EXPERIENCES TRAUMA IN SOME FORM IN OUR LIVES AND YOU DESERVE TO GET HELP.

YOU SPRAIN YOUR ANKLE, YOU DESERVE TO GET HELP.

IF YOU HAVE MENTAL INJURIES, YOU DESERVE TO GET HELP TOO, SO CALL 9 IS 88 IF YOU NEED IT.

>> CONGRESSMAN, THANKS SO MUCH FOR YR TIME, REALLY APPRECIATE T BE WELL.

>> GREAT TO SIGH, JIM AND WE'RE GOING TO MISS YOU, THANK YOU IT IS AN HONOR TO BE BACK ON THE SHOW AND I WILL MISS COMING ON WITH YOU.

>> Braude: TUNE IN TO THE RADIO, I WILL BE THERE, SETH MOULTON, THANKS SO MUCH, BYE BYE.

>> OKAY.

>> Braude: AS WE KNOW, THE PANDEMIC HAS FORCED MANY BUSINESSES TO RE-GROUP, AND RE-IMAGINE, AT LEAST THOSE WHICH SURVIVED.

I'M JOINED BY TWO OF THE CHEF-OWNER-SURVIVORS, WHO ACTUALLY EXPANDED.

WINNER OF THE FOOD NETWORK'S "TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS," FOUR-TIME JAMES BEARD AWARD FINALIST AND 2016 "BOSTON" MAGAZINE BEST CHEF TIFFANI FAISON, WHO YOU MAY KNOW FROM HER WILDLY POPULAR FOOL'S ERRAND AND SWEET CHEEKS Q.

WE'RE ALSO JOINED BY JAMES BEARD AND MANSIONED TO OPEN FOUR NEW PLACES OVER THE PAST YEAR.

WITH.

AWARD-WINNER KEN ORINGER, WHO, ALONG WITH FELLOW CHEF-OWNER JAMIE BISSONNETTE, IS KNOWN FOR COPPA, TORO, AND LITTLE DONKEY, AND, JUST A FEW MONTHS BACK, OPENED FACCIA A FACCIA AND BAR PALLINO ON NEWBURY STREET.

LESS' GREATS TO SEE YOU BOTH.

SO THE ANTICIPATION YOU COME ON, I'M SAYING, I'M A RESTAURANTEUR IN THE MIDDLE OF PANDEMIC WHEN MY FRIENDS HAVE HAD TO CLOSE DOWN RESTAURANT, YOU HAD TO CLOSE ONE.

>> I DID.

>> Braude: AND I'M SITTING IN A ROOM SAYING I'VE GOT A GREAT IDEA.

WHY DON'T I OPEN A NEW RESTAURANT OR A BUNCH OF-- I'M SERIOUS.

WHAT IS IT.

>> HOW DUMB AM I.

>> Braude: SO CAN YOU BRIEFLY DESCRIBE THE THOUGHT PROCESS THAT SAYS I'M GOING TO DO THIS?

>> I MEAN IT WAS A TIMING, KIND OF, NOBODY EXPECTED THE PANDEMIC TO LAST THAT LONG.

I MEAN WE HAD A RESTAURANT KIND OF IN THE WORKS,-- .

>> Braude: EVEN BEFORE.

>> YEAH, IN ITS INCUBATION PERIOD.

AND WE COULD HAVE PULLED OUT OF IT.

BUT THEN WE DECIDED TO KIND OF GO THROUGH IT AND SPEND DOUBLE THE MONEY AND YOU KNOW, AND TAKE TWICE AS LONG TO BUILD IT.

>> Braude: BUT YOU DIDN'T HAVE THAT, YOU HAD THE OPEN TENDERONI, HIGH PLACE.

>> WHICH HAVE I BRNTION HAVE I BEEN TO YOUR LOCATION ON HIGH STREET BUT NOT YOUR NEW LOCATION AT THE FENWAY.

BUT YOURS WAS DIFFERENT, YOU SUFFERED THROUGH THE CLOSING THE GREAT ORFANO WHICH I ASSUME WAS FROM THE PANDEMIC, WASN'T THE TREPIDATION HIGHER.

>> SURE STAWCIALTION REALLY HIGH.

>> Braude: BUT EVEN MORE, NO?

>> YEAH, OF COURSE.

I DON'T THINK THAT-- TIGERS DON'T CHANGE THEIR STRIPES.

AT SOME POINT-- .

>> Braude: TIGER MAMAS DO.

>> THAT IS FAIR.

>> Braude: I WILL BE IN THE LOUNGE ON THURSDAY.

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK WE ARE SORT OF NATURALLY WHO WE ARE AS PEOPLE WHICH SIN HERENT RISK-TAKERS.

I DON'T THINK YOU BECOME A RESTAURANTURE OR QUHEF FRANKLY WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO SHOULDER A GOOD AMOUNT OF RISK.

>> Braude: YOU CAN DESCRIBE YOUR PLACE.

>> TENDERRONI.

>> Braude: YEAH.

>> ST WILD, A LOT OF FUN T QUEENED OF LIKE ALMOST 70S, '80S INSPIRED ROLLER RINK.

>> Braude: YOU DON'T ROLLER SKATE TO YOUR RINK.

>> PLEASE, DON'T.

>> THAT WOULD BE AMAZING.

>> THERE ARE ROLLER SKATEDS IN THE ROOM BUT PLEASE DON'T ROLLER SKATE IN THE RESTAURANT.

>> Braude: WHAT IS THE DEAL.

>> TONS OF PIZZA LOTS OF FUN ITALIAN, SALAD, QUICK BITES T IS JUST A REALLY FUN KIND OF ITALIANISH STYLE RESTAURANTS.

>> WHAT IS THIS.

>> OKAY.

>> Braude: LET'S START WITH DESSERT.

PUSH THAT IN MY DIRECTION.

>> SURE.

>> Braude: WHAT IS THAT.

>> WE CALL THIS NONA PISTACHIO CAKE.

SO THIS IS-- CHIN.

>> YOU DON'T MIND IF I HAVE A BITE.

>> I DON'T HAVE A FORK.

>> Braude: YES, YOU DO, HERE YOU GO.

>> THIS IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHAT I WANT IT TO BE, I WANT IT TO BE WILDLY DELICIOUS, UNABASHEDLY FUN, WE TAKE OUR JOB SERIOUSLY WE WANT THAT.

>> OKAY.

>> SO FACCIA, FACCIA IS BASICALLY A COASTAL ITALIAN RESTAURANT WITH, BY THE FAMPLER'S MARKET, WE HAVE BAR PALLINO DOWNSTAIRS, THE WINE BAR, A SMALL PLATES AND VINYL PLAYING PRETTY OF ALL NIGHT, REALLY FUN, FUNKY VIBE.

BUT NEWBURY STREET WE WANT TO BE A NEIGHBORHOOD RESTAURANT AND THAT IS WHAT ALL OUR RESTAURANTS HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL AS NEIGHBORHOOD RESTAURANTS AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT NEWBURY STREET ARE YOU LIKE WHY AREN'T THERE MORE NEIGHBORHOOD RESTAURANTS, SANTIS HAS BEEN THERE FOREVER, CONTESSA OPENED UP, AMAZING, AMAZING RESTAURANT.

BUT THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE LIVING IN THE BACK BAY NOW.

AND YOU KNOW, DOONY AND CLEO FOR SO LONG, I HAVE WALKED THE STREETS FOR 20 SOMETHING YEARS, MAN, THERE SHOULD BE MORE RESTAURANTS ON NEWBURY STREET.

>> YOU CAN PUSH THAT OVER HERE, I HEAR IS GOES GREAT WITH PISTACHIO CAKE.

>> WHAT IS THIS.

>> THIS IS CALLED MAFAL DID A, ST A HANDMADE, WE MAKE ALL OF OUR OWN PASTAS AND GLUTEN FREE PASTAS AS WELL, THIS IS IN SEASON NOW, CHINNEDIALI RAGU.

WILD BORE COOKED WITH COCOAND RED WINE AND PORCINNI MUSHROOMS AND ALL SPICE, ALL THOSE WARMING KIND OF STARBUCKS PUMPKIN SPICY TYPE THINGS.

>> THESE ARE STARBUCKS.

>> SOMEONE ELSE IS SPEAKING WITH THEIR MOUTH FULL.

>> Braude: SO CAN PEOPLE SHED THEIR FEEFERS ABOUT SITTING IN SHALL-- WHEN I WAS THERE IT WAS OUTSIDE ON THE STREET.

ARE PEOPLE, GOTTEN OVER THEIR ANXIETY ABOUT BEING INSIDE.

>> OH YEAH.

JUST LIKE NIGHT AND DAY.

>> Braude: BECAUSE OF ALL THE PENT UP DEMAND OR WHAT IS IT?

>> NO, ACTUALLY, IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE NOW, THE CITY HAS CHANGED SO MUCH.

BETWEEN LAST YEAR, LIKE THE OTHER NIGHT IT WAS LIKE, I DON'T KNOW 45 DWE GREES OUTSIDE.

AND WE COULDN'T BEG A PERSON TO EAT ON THE PATIO, WHERE A YEAR AGO, WE WERE HAVING 50, 60, 70 PEOPLE SIT ON THE PATIO, YOU KNOW, EVERY NIGHT.

AND THEY WERE JUST POUND EL UP AND DEAL WITH IT AND HAVE A GREAT TIME.

>> Braude: ARE YOU EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING.

>> I THINK PEOPLE ARE BACK, THERE IS AN INEVITABILITY, PEOPLE WANT THEIR LIVERS TO MOVE ON.

AND I THINK THERE IS STILL SOME TREPIDATION.

THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE CAUTIOUS.

I UNDERSTAND THAT A LITTLE BIT.

BUT I JUST THINK THAT YOU CAN ONLY GO FOR SO LONG AS A HUMAN WITHOUT BEING AROUND OTHER HUMANS AND EXPERIENCING.

>> Braude: ARE YOUR WORKERS COMFORTABLE, YOUR SERVERS AND OTHER SERVES COMFORTABLE, YOURS.

>> ABSOLUTELY, ESPECIALLY HOLIDAY TIME TOO.

PEOPLE JUST WANT THE EXCUSE TO BE TOGETHER.

AND MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME.

>> YEAH.

>> Braude: OKAY, THAT IS OBVIOUSLY BROADWAY PIZZA DUH.

I WILL TASTE IT.

>> YOU SURE IT CAN.

>> WITH YOU NEVER KNOW WITH TICHANI, SHE MIGHT SHAVE B, URATTI.

>> IT SAY FON TINA, BROCKLY FONDU ON THE BOTTOM, PECORINO.

>> WHY DID HE KNOW?

>> BROCCOLI WITH A RAW BROCCOLI SALAD ON TOP OF PECORINO.

>> I DON'T WANT TO GET BROCCOLI ON MY TEET ON TV.

>> Braude: THIS IS KEEPING WITH THE GREEN THEME, WHAT KIND OF PIZZA IS THIS.

>> THIS IS VODKA-BASED SAUCE SO REALLY CREAMY AND DELICIOUS.

OUR OWN HOUSE MADE-- ON TOP, GOOD AMOUNT OF FONTINA MOZZARELLA.

>> IT IS GREAT PUTTING IT ON ON YOUR NEATS WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THAT.

>> IT IS LIKE SALAD.

>> DELICIOUS.

>> WHAT IS WITH THE LONG-- RECTANGLE THING.

>> ST REALLY JUST DESIGNED SO YOU GET FOR ME THE PERFECT PIZZA IS A GOOD AMOUNT OF CRUNCH THAT FATINESS AND I WANT BURNT CHEESE ON LITERALLY EVERYTHING SO THE IDEA IS THAT EVERY PIECE GETS THAT BURNT CHEESE CRUST.

>> Braude: I KNOW THIS SAY CLOSE KNIT COMMUNITY, THE RESTAURANTEURS, BOTH OF YOU, AND ALL OF YOU HAVE PRETTY STRONG BONDS WITH EVERYBODY ELSE DOING THEIR THING.

DO MOST OF YOU FEEL LOCAL, STATE, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DID ENOUGH TO GET YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES THROUGH THIS NIGHTMARE OR NO?

>> NO WAY.

WE SAW THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF RESTAURANTS CLOSING, YOU KNOW, OVARY WHERE.

AND IN BOSTON ALL OVER THE STATE, I MEAN WE HAVE-- TIFFANI, WE KNOW SO MANY PEOPLE THAT CLOSED.

THEY WERE WAITING AND WAITING AND WAITING FOR HELP AND IT TOOK FOREVER.

AND THE RRF WAS A DISASTER.

SOME PEOPLE GOT WAY TOO MUCH MONEY THAT DIDN'T NEED IT AND THE SMALL TIME PEOPLE THAT COULDN'T GET THEIR PAPERWORK TOGETHER GOT NOTHING.

>> YEAH.

>> AND YOU KNOW, IT IS REALLY HORRIBLE.

>> Braude: IS THAT YOUR TAKE.

>> I THINK IT WAS REALLY TOUGH FOR VERY SMALL RESTAURANTS THAT IF YOU ARE ALREADY TRYING TO NAVIGATE HOW TO DO BUSINESS IN THE UNITED STATES, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE NOT FROM HERE THAT BECOMES REALLY, REALLY CHALLENGING.

I THINK THAT-- I ALSO JUST THINK THE HELP DIDN'T COME FAST ENOUGH, RESTAURANTS AREN'T BUSINESSES THAT SILT WITH A TON OF CAPITOL.

THAT IS JUST HOW-OF-NOT HOW WE WORK.

YOU HAVE AS MUCH AS YOU CAN POSSIBLY-- .

>> Braude: SMALL MARGINS.

>> YEAH, SO WHEN IT DOESN'T COME FAST.

>> Braude: I HATE TO INTERRUPT.

>> TIRAMISU NACHOS.

>> Braude: OH MY GOD, WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THAT.

>> PICK IT UP LIKE NACHOS.

>> THERE IS A COCOCREAM, SOME CARAMEL IN THERE, THERE THR IS COOKIE CRUNCH, CHOCOLATE CRUNCH, A LITTLE-- .

>> Braude: OH MY GOD.

>> WHAT I HAVE LEARNED IS THAT TIRAMISU IS VERY HARD TO DO STRAIGHT UP BECAUSE NO MATTER HOW GOOD IT IS YOU ARE COMPETING WITH THAT TIME, WITH MY WIFE AND IT WAS PERFECT.

>> Braude: ARE YOU ON A DIET?

>> YEAH, COME ON.

>> I'M NOT ON A DIET BUT I STILL HAVE BROCCOLI IN MY TEETH.

I WANT TO CON VERSE AND NOT EMBARRASS MYSELF.

>> Braude: IT'S TOO LATE FOR THAT.

>> WE'RE HERE NOW.

>> Braude: ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MOST IMPRESSED ME, IF IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS PANDEMIC, THE LEVEL THAT PEOPLE LIKE YOU INCLUDING YOU HAVE ELEVATED YOUR CHARITABLE WORK TO IS UNBELIEVABLE.

YOU ARE HANGING BY A THREAD THROUGH THIS NIGHTMARE, I TALK TO YOU AND MING RIGHT BEFORE DID YOU THAT MILLION DOLLAR DIN TORE BENEFIT JOSE AND THE WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN, IN UKRAINE.

WERE YOU ALL OVER EVERY LGBTQ CAUSE EVER.

YOU WON SOME NATIONAL COMPETITION ON TELEVISION, GAVE ALL THE MONEY TO SUSAN G COMEEN BREAST CANCER, WHAT IS THE-- I MEAN THIS IS, TALK ABOUT A SOFTBALL TO END THIS.

WHAT IS THE THING WITH RESTAURANTEURS WHOSE SEEM TO SPEND SO MUCH ENERGY HELPING OTHER PEOPLE WHEN THEY NEED HELP THEMSELVES.

>> WE DON'T EXIST WITHOUT OUR COMMUNITIES, PERIOD.

END-OF-STORY.

>> Braude: SO IT IS SELFISH AT THE SAME TIME, ARE YOU BEING SELFLESS.

I DON'T MEAN THAT IN A CRASS WAY.

>> I KNOW YOU DON'T.

BUT I THINK WE ARE NATURALLY GIVERS.

WE ARE PEOPLE WHO INHERENTLY WANT TO MAKE PEOPLE FEEL GOOD, TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE IT IS THE CORE OF WHAT WE DO.

>> IT IS IN OUR DN, A.

EVERY RESTAURANT PERSON, ANYONE IN HOSPITALITY WANTS TO TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE.

AND IT'S IN OUR DNA THAT EVEN IF WHATEVER, THE OLD GRANDMA MAKING FOOD FOR THE SICK KID, WHATEVER, I MEAN IT IS JUST OUR WAY OF TAKING CARE OF PEOPLE IS FEEDING THEM AND ST ALSO WE'RE LUCKY ENOUGH THAT PEOPLE SPEND A TON OF MUP TO BE ABLE TO RAISE MONEY FOR THESE CHARITIES.

>> Braude: SO THE GOOD NEWS IS WE ARE DONE SO YOU CAN GET THE BROCCOLI OUT OF YOUR TEETH.

>> Braude: TIFFANI FAISON, KEN ORINGER, THANKS.

CONGRATULATIONS, MERRY CHRISTMAS.

I HOPE YOUR PLACES DO GREAT, THEY ARE GREAT, THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT, BUT COME BACK TOMORROW, WHEN I'M JOINED BY FORMER MASSACHUSETTS SENATOR-TURNED U.S. SPECIAL PRESIDENTIAL ENVOY FOR CLIMATE JOHN KERRY, ON THE BREAKTHROUGHS THAT CAME OUT OF THE LATEST GLOBAL CLIMATE CONFERENCE AND THE LONG ROAD STILL AHEAD.

THAT AND MORE, TOMORROW AT 7:00.

THANKS FOR WATCHING, AND PLEASE DON'T FORGET UKRAINE.

Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org