--- title: Gary Johnson Aleppo: Read a Transcript of the Interview description: A transcript of the interview canonical: https://time.com/4483779/gary-johnson-aleppo-transcript/ author: TIME article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2016-09-08T14:07:55.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-07T06:46:04.381Z article:section: Politics og:title: Read the Interview Where Gary Johnson Asked What Aleppo Is og:description: "And what is Aleppo?" og:url: https://time.com/4483779/gary-johnson-aleppo-transcript/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt91a02c894849b129/6988a538fb4eacd44188f055/gary-johnson-what-is-aleppo.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 3000 og:image:height: 1688 og:image:alt: gary johnson what is aleppo og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Read the Interview Where Gary Johnson Asked What Aleppo Is twitter:description: "And what is Aleppo?" twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt91a02c894849b129/6988a538fb4eacd44188f055/gary-johnson-what-is-aleppo.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Read the Interview Where Gary Johnson Asked What Aleppo Is > Sponsored content. 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It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, twice a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=1993fca2-1ff2-4fde-86de-369a595e43a1&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1) ## Video: How Politicians Shouldn't Answer Questions [Watch (HLS stream): How Politicians Shouldn't Answer Questions](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/nH4ePn2B.m3u8) (1:57)  _Published 2016-09-08. Watch politicians avoid answering tough questions throughout the years._ by [Ryan Teague Beckwith](https://time.com/author/ryan-teague-beckwith/) ## Ryan Teague Beckwith Sep 8, 2016 2:07 PM UTC Watch politicians avoid answering tough questions throughout the years. by [Ryan Teague Beckwith](https://time.com/author/ryan-teague-beckwith/) ## Ryan Teague Beckwith Sep 8, 2016 2:07 PM UTC Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson is [_taking fire for not knowing Aleppo_](http://time.com/4483682/presidential-candidate-gary-johnson-asks-and-what-is-aleppo/), the Syrian city that is one of the [epicenter of the refugee crisis](http://time.com/4459354/omran-daqneesh-syria-aleppo-children/). The former New Mexico governor was on _Morning Joe_ when he was asked what he would do about Aleppo if he were elected president. “And what is Aleppo?” he responded. Below is a full text of Johnson’s interview with MSNBC hosts Mika Brzezinski, Willie Geist and Mike Barnicle. --- > “” --- ## Transcript And what is Aleppo? You're kidding? No. Aleppo is in Syria. It's the epicenter of the refuge crisis- Okay got it, got it. [ MUSIC ] When campaigning, you have a few options when faced with a tough question. You can bluff, or change the subject. One thing you can't do is simply not answer. Here are a few examples of politicians who took that approach. Why do you wanna be President? [ BLANK_AUDIO ] Well I'm- [ BLANK_AUDIO ] So you agreed with President Obama on Libya? Okay, Libya. [ BLANK_AUDIO ] I've gotta go back, see. [ BLANK_AUDIO ] I do not agree with the way he handled it for the following reasons. No, that's a different one. What newspapers and magazines? Scenes. Did you regularly read, before you were tapped for this, to stay informed, and to understand the world? I've read most of them. Again, with a great appreciation for the press, for the media. But what one specifically? I'm curious. Where you All of them, any of them that have been in front of me over all these years. Governor Chafee, you've attacked Secretary Clinton for being too close to Wall Street Banks. In 1999, you voted for the very bill that made banks bigger. The Glass- Steagall was my very first vote, I just arrived, my dad had died in office. I was appointed to the office. It was my very first vote. Are you saying you didn't know what you were voting I just arrived at senate. I would do away with the education, the- Commerce. Commerce. And let's see. I can't. The third one I can't. Sorry. [ LAUGH ] Oops. 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