>> i started the firm in 1998. the united states' domestic politics was never part of it. the u.s. was doing a lot of leading by example. didn't make everyone around the world happy and we made our share of mistakes but there wasn't really any question about the legitimacy of american political institutions. now, i mean, you and i know ali and that kind of fundamental to a functioning democracy is the ability to have free and fair, legitimate elections that whoever wins, whoever loses, you go on and you continue to govern. and all around the world major democracies continue to function like that. but not the united states. and so -- and i see so many people out there saying can we keep our denokeracy, can we save our democracy? i think it's more can we rebuild some of the democracy that we've already lost because, as of today, the national election cycle in the u.s. has fundamentally eroded. we can no longer count on having a free, fair and legitimate