Jake Tapper is used to conducting intense interviews with lawmakers, newsmakers and pundits weekdays on The Lead, and Sundays on State of the Union.
Tapper once again put his interview skills to the test for this feature he recently wrote for Men’s Health. The CNN newser interviewed his kids for the feature to find out how they think he’s doing as a dad.
First, Tapper attempts to interview his son, who during the time of the chat seems far more interested in writing his “Lego police movie” than he is providing in-depth answers about his dad’s parenting skills.
He also wants his dad to stop yelling.
JAKE: What could I be better at as a dad?
SON: Not yelling.
JAKE: You really think I yell a lot?
SON: Your voice is too loud.
MOM: That’s just his voice. But he needs to learn to make it softer.
SON: I don’t like your angry eyebrow.
JAKE: What is my best thing as a dad?
SON: [Makes fart sounds with mouth, then pauses to think] I don’t know.
MOM: What’s something you enjoy doing with Dad?
SON: Nothing.
MOM: I know something: art!
SON: Okay, fine. Art. [Bangs elbow on table] Ow, my arm! Out of nowhere I banged my elbow on the table! [Pauses] Liam is hoping his parents will buy some items from the Lego police website. Two police cars and two police officers.
JAKE: What do you—
SON: Shhh! Be quiet, Mr. Yell!
Unlike dad, son doesn’t really care about the news (but how many kids really do?), although he does admit to liking Lego News.
Tapper lets his son go, and then interviews his daughter…who is a bit more forthcoming.
JAKE: What do I need to work on as a dad?
DAUGHTER: Being off your phone [pauses to think] and not worrying about the world around us and just spending some quality time with us.
JAKE: I spend quality time with you!
DAUGHTER: Yeah, I know. But sometimes you’re talking to Mom about whatever’s happening.
JAKE: What am I good at as a dad?
DAUGHTER: Everything. And giving us a lot of attention and making sure that we’re healthy and helping us with our homework and with issues that we have.
Tapper later asks his daughter if it embarasses her when her friends see him on TV.
“Sometimes when they do and say they saw you, I’m just like [nonchalantly], “Oh, cool,” she explains. “Because however they see you, I only see you as my dad.”