Former NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams stopped by his old stomping grounds on Wednesday as he joined Late Night host Seth Meyers to recap the presidential election and discuss what Democrats need to do differently. Both men agreed that part of the problem Democrats face is that “there is a nihilism afoot” that makes it harder for the party to get its message across.

One critique Williams did lob towards Democrats was that they “have become the fancy party,” but Meyers was not convinced, “But it’s so strange, because, of course, you know, they do still, you know, they do still win a bigger share of, like, the non-white working class. So, they are speaking to someone.”

He further wondered how a working class person could prefer Donald Trump, “I mean, I understand that it’s getting eaten into, but I — you know at the same time, like, we’re talking about it like — you know, and again, I agree they have to communicate better to the working class voter. But I sometimes think it’s a little unfair to say, you know, they’re elite, when they — certainly Joe Biden stood up for unions. And, you know — and I think it’s very fair to say that Donald Trump, and certainly Elon Musk, will not. And there was a time where that meant something. And I don’t quite know why it doesn’t anymore.”

As it was, Williams replied, “To use a big word, there is a nihilism afoot, and it has been since the first Trump term. Let’s — you know, ‘It’s not working for me, let’s burn the damn thing down.’ And that’s kind of a germ that’s going around the world, it’s not limited to us. So, these are gonna be — strap in, these are gonna be interesting times.”

Meyers agreed, “I do think you’re right about the nihilism. I think it’s really tough to communicate a message when that is the pervasive feeling. But I think it’s the job of Democrats, if they really want to get through, it’s gonna be harder than they maybe put the effort in this time.”

Part of Meyers’s problem is his unwillingness to consider that elitism, or, as Williams might say, fanciness, is not just about money or rich people versus the working class. It also involves the culture wars, Democrats being unwilling to offend progressives on crime, and immigration.

Here is a transcript for the November 20-taped show:

NBC Late Night with Seth Meyers

11/21/2024

1:12 AM ET

BRIAN WILLIAMS: The Democrats have become the fancy party.

SETH MEYERS: But it’s so strange, because, of course, you know, they do still, you know, they do still win a bigger share—

WILLIAMS: Yes.

MEYERS: — of, like, the non-white working class. So, they are speaking to someone.

WILLIAMS: Yeah, they are.

MEYERS: I mean, I understand that it’s getting eaten into, but I — you know at the same time, like, we’re talking about it like — you know, and again, I agree they have to communicate better to the working class voter. But I sometimes think it’s a little unfair to say, you know, they’re elite, when they — certainly Joe Biden stood up for unions.

WILLIAMS: Yep.

MEYERS: And, you know — and I think it’s very fair to say that Donald Trump, and certainly Elon Musk, will not. And there was a time where that meant something. And I don’t quite know why it doesn’t anymore.

WILLIAMS: To use a big word, there is a nihilism afoot, and it has been since the first Trump term. Let’s — you know, “It’s not working for me, let’s burn the damn thing down.” And that’s kind of a germ that’s going around the world, it’s not limited to us. So, these are gonna be — strap in, these are gonna be interesting times.

MEYERS: I do think you’re right about the nihilism. I think it’s really tough to communicate a message when that is the pervasive feeling. But I think it’s the job of Democrats, if they really want to get through, it’s gonna be harder than they maybe put the effort in this time.

WILLIAMS: A lot of people would agree with you.

MEYERS: It is just so lovely to see you.

WILLIAMS: Oh, it’s great to see you.

MEYERS: I’ll tell you, it’s so nice to have you back in the building.