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This is Model U.N. on steroids the assembled strivers are almost all conservative and white.
Its a glimpse of a politics of malleability thats only possible because the constituency is not yet 18.
At one point, a candidate is compared favorably to Ben Shapiro.
Instead, its more like a telescope pointed directly at a political pundits brain.
That makesBoys Statethe perfect film as we barrel toward the oddest and most consequential election in decades.
But youre the odd one out.
I was the short, brown, stocky, quiet one with a camera crew on me.
Going up and giving that first speech, I had no idea how it was going to go.
I was very afraid of getting a lukewarm response.
I was not expecting that reaction at all.
I was just hoping not to get scattered claps and walk out feeling dumb.
But youve got to hold your own and set an example.
Its fascinating to see which topics became red-meat issues during the election.
How do you think the teenagers at Boys State get their political education?
The news?I think a mixture of all of them.
Funny enough, I was very conservative in my youth.
But then, as I grew a little bit older, Im like,This is propaganda.
I think its a perfect allegory of what national politics is like.
We have no business debating this, right?
If I had been asked, What is your stance?
I wouldve said Im pro-choice.
Its still something that I think about a lot and talk to my female friends about.
What do you think I shouldve done?
During your candidacy, the fact that you led a March for Our Lives demonstration becomes a talking point.
All of us find it really hard to be able to afford to pay for school.
People are afraid of getting hurt because of their health care.
Its been rough, you know?
So, its inspiring to see.
Weve recovered now, but it sucked.
Youre like, Theyre the heroes.
We need to follow their lead.
But when it comes time to give young people a seat at the table, its crickets.
But people dont realize that Generation Z is more conservative than they think it is.
And thats due to parents and 24/7 news and things like that.
Their grandma will post something or their aunt will post something, and thats the views they have.
I think the biggest misconception is believing that were all liberal.
You see that in the film.
Obviously neither presidential candidate looks much like your generation or like you.
And especially 18 to 34, winning them over by huge margins.
How did he do that?
Why couldnt Bidens campaign do the same thing?
But still, its frustrating that they have to meet an exceptional Mexican-American to recognize the humanity of immigrants.
Do you think that meeting you will actually change the way these future leaders of Texas live their lives?
Is that pressure to be the reasonable liberal and the good Mexican-American exhausting?A little bit.
When the film starts streaming, youre going to become a bit of a political celebrity.
How soon are you announcing that youre running for office?
Do you want to announce it right here?
[Laughs] Im not sure that I ever will.
Im in college right now, and Im studying political science.
I hope to work on political campaigns.
If I were to do that for somebody, Id be like, Hey, mission accomplished.
I gotta say: I think your 17-year-old public history is better than most.
My girlfriend loves it, but I never will.
