On Wednesday’s “The Daily Show,” Trevor Noah had a really fun time going over footage from Bernie Sanders’ 1980s Vermont public access TV show, and chances are you will too.
“Bernie Speaks With the Community” was an actual local TV show made between 1986 and 1988, back when Bernie was the mayor of Burlington, Vermont. The entire archive was recently put online, and from what “The Daily Show” dug up, the whole thing looks like an incredible time capsule from a much cornier era.
Some of the highlights include:
* The frank discussion Bernie tried to have with a group of elementary school students about drugs.
* A chat with kids about the importance of reading, in which Bernie tells one child “I think you’re dumb.” (It’s pretty funny in context.)
* An extremely awkward moment in which Bernie tries to explain prejudice to a class full of students.
The most notable thing about the footage, as Noah points out, is how much Bernie seems to have not changed at all since the late 80s. Not only in terms of his speaking style and politics, but his appearance — Bernie at age 46 looks pretty much the same as he does today.
See for yourself in the clip above, and if you have a few hours to spare, check out the full archives here.