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I’M SOLEDAD O’BRIEN. WELCOME TO. MATTER OF FACT. THIS YEAR, WE’RE MARKING TEN SEASONS AS A SHOW. OUR GOAL HAS BEEN TO HIGHLIGHT YOU AMERICANS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WE’RE GRATEFUL TO ALL WHO LET US INTO THEIR LIVES TO TELL THEIR STORIES, STORIES THAT MIRRORED OUR SHARED CHALLENGES, OUR PERSEVERANCE, INGENUITY AND COMPASSION. TODAY, WE TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THOSE. I LEARNED HOW TO PUT DOWN FLOORING. I LEARNED HOW TO DO CABINETS. ANGEL BROWN WAS BUYING AND FLIPPING HOMES IN BALTIMORE WHEN SHE HAD AN IDEA. MOST OF THEM HAD SQUATTERS. MOST OF THE PEOPLE, OF COURSE, WERE SUBSTANCE ABUSERS. HER PLAN FOR ADDRESSING TWO PROBLEMS AT ONCE A GLUT OF VACANT HOMES AND DRUG ADDICTION. PLUS, BEHIND THE SCENES OF NEW YORK FASHION WEEK WITH DESIGNER SERGIO HUDSON. HE MAY DRESS SOME OF THE BIGGEST NAMES IN AMERICA, BUT HE STILL WANTS TO CREATE LOOKS THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL. THAT FASHIONISTA THAT’S RAISING THREE KIDS ON HER OWN THAT CAN ONLY BUY CLOTHES FROM TARGET. I WANTED TO DO THIS FOR THEM. AND WE MEET KAYLEIGH DUNN. INFORMATION IS ITS OWN POT OF RICHES. IT BETTERS US ALL. HOW THIS ALABAMA COLLEGE STUDENT IS USING WHAT SHE’S LEARNING IN THE CLASSROOM TO HELP OTHER GENERATIONS BUILD WEALTH. THOSE STORIES RIGHT NOW ON MATTER OF FACT. IT’S A STORY OF HOPE IN A PLACE WITH ITS SHARE OF DESPAIR. IN 2023, BALTIMORE CITY SAW MORE THAN 1000 DRUG AND ALCOHOL RELATED DEATHS. THE MAJORITY OF THOSE WERE CAUSED BY THE SYNTHETIC OPIOID FENTANYL. WHILE EARLY DATA IS SUGGESTING THE OVERDOSE RATE DECLINED LAST YEAR, FRAUD WITHIN THE TREATMENT INDUSTRY AND A LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING OFTEN HINDER PEOPLE’S EFFORTS TO GET AND STAY CLEAN. ONE BALTIMORE REALTOR LOOKING FOR AN OPPORTUNITY, STUMBLED UPON WHAT COULD BE THE SOLUTION? OUR CORRESPONDENT JESSICA GOMEZ INTRODUCES US TO ANGEL BROWN. THE STREETS OF WEST BALTIMORE, A PLACE SO MANY HAVE ABANDONED. IT’S WHERE ALL THE DRUG DEALERS HANG. BUT IT’S WHERE ANGEL BROWN SEES OPPORTUNITY. WE HAVE OVER 14,000 VACANT PROPERTIES IN BALTIMORE CITY. HELLO. IT WAS MORE THAN A DECADE AGO THAT ANGEL FLIPPED HER FIRST PROPERTY. SINCE THEN, THE REALTOR AND CONTRACTOR HELPING TO BREATHE NEW LIFE INTO DOZENS OF BALTIMORE’S VACANT HOUSES. I LOVED SHOWING HOUSES. I LOVED SEEING SMILES ON PEOPLE’S FACES WHEN THEY GOT APPROVED FOR LOANS. THIS IS GOING TO BE ALL NEW WIRING, NEW PLUMBING. BUT SHE QUICKLY LEARNED THAT THE CENTURY OLD PLUMBING HERE ISN’T THE BIGGEST PROBLEM. IT WAS SCARY, ACTUALLY. WALKING INTO A LOT OF VACANT HOMES BECAUSE MOST OF THEM HAD SQUATTERS. HOMELESS PEOPLE WHO HAD NOWHERE TO GO. MOST OF THE PEOPLE, OF COURSE, WERE SUBSTANCE ABUSERS. AND THEN WE PROBABLY HAVE TO DO THE EXTERIOR STAIRS AS WELL. SO ANGEL AND HER HUSBAND DAMON, BOTH OF WHOM GREW UP WITH PARENTS WHO STRUGGLED WITH ADDICTION, CAME UP WITH A PLAN. WE SAY, HEY, WE HAVE THESE RESOURCES. WE HAVE THESE PROPERTIES. I’M A REGISTERED NURSE. I KNOW HOW TO TREAT THESE PEOPLE. LET’S GET TOGETHER. LET’S START OUR OWN PROGRAM. IT WOULD JUST BE ONE OF THEM DAYS WHERE IT’S JUST NOT MY DAY. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? RIGHT. IN 2016, THEY OPENED NEW WAVE HEALTH SERVICES, A SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT CENTER. SO CLICK ON THAT LINK. THEY’RE ADDING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE, FINANCIAL AND GED CLASSES. WE HAD SO MANY PEOPLE WHO SIGNED UP. WE WERE OVERWHELMED. WE WANT TO DO MIDNIGHT SHIFT TONIGHT. MIDNIGHT SHIFT OKAY. OVERWHELMED NOT ONLY BY THE NEED FOR TREATMENT, BUT ALSO FOR LONG TERM HOUSING. THEY HAVE NOWHERE TO GO. MOST WILL GO TO A SHELTER, WHICH, AFTER YOU’VE DONE ALL THAT TREATMENT, AND NOW YOU HAVE TO GO BACK TO A SHELTER OR LIVE UNDER THE BRIDGE. ALL THAT WE DID WENT OUT THE WINDOW. HOUSING IS FIRST. IN CHRIST’S SAKE. AMEN. SO FAR, NEW WAVE OPENING UP MORE THAN 30 OF THOSE ONCE VACANT HOMES FOR PARTICIPANTS DURING AND AFTER TREATMENT. TO MOVE FORWARD, YOU GOT TO REMEMBER SOME PART OF THE PAST, RIGHT? LAMAR MCROY IS 18 MONTHS CLEAN. HE WORKS FOR NEW WAVE AS A HOUSING COORDINATOR. WHEN I LOOK AT THIS, I LOOK AT LIKE MY MY PAST. THAT’S GOOD. YOU WANT TO STIR THE BROCCOLI? HE AND HIS FIANCE, AMANDA ISLER, FINALLY HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE AS THEY RECOVER FROM THE PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL SCARS CAUSED BY YEARS OF ADDICTION AND HOMELESSNESS. SHE’S NOT LOOKING AT US AS JUST PEOPLE. THAT’S HERE FOR A SHORT STAY AND THEY GOT TO GO. SOMETIMES YOU JUST WANT TO JUST REACH DOWN AND HUG THEM REALLY TIGHT, AND THAT’S JUST NOT ENOUGH. WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY? IT WASN’T ENOUGH FOR 24 YEAR OLD KAM FIRST GIVEN DRUGS AT THE AGE OF FOUR. IT’S UPSETTING BECAUSE HE’S YOUNG. HE DOESN’T KNOW THAT HE’S WORTH IT. THE NEXT DAY HE WAS BACK ON THE STREETS. WHERE ARE YOU COMING FROM? WHERE? I DIDN’T BELONG. KAM GETS A GROUP, BUT WITHIN A WEEK, HE WOULD BARELY SURVIVE YET ANOTHER OVERDOSE. I HURT FOR THEM. I FELT LIKE SOME OF THEM ARE SO MISUNDERSTOOD. THEY’RE STIGMATIZED. AND I JUST WANT THEM TO GET WELL. NEW WAVE MISSION STATEMENT. TO SERVE THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN BATTERED, BETRAYED. DESPITE THE SETBACKS. ANGEL EMBRACING HER NEW MISSION FROM FLIPPING HOMES, SHE SAYS, TO FLIPPING PEOPLE. THEY COME IN ONE WAY, AND I WANT TO SEE WHAT THEY’RE GOING TO LOOK LIKE WHEN THEY LEAVE. AND THEY ALWAYS LOOK DIFFERENT. AND WHEN YOU START TO SEE A HOUSE OR A PERSON LOOKING DIFFERENT, IT WARMS MY HEART. 61 DAYS. YEAH, THAT’S THE PLAN. THANK YOU. YEAH. ALL RIGHT, GUYS IN BALTIMORE. FOR MATTER OF FACT, I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE IT. I’M JESSICA GOMEZ NEXT ON MATTER OF FACT. WHEN YOU LOOK AROUND, ARE YOU JUST LIKE, DUH, DUH. I’VE MADE IT. NO. DESIGNER SERGIO HUDSON TAKES US INSIDE HIS RUNWAY COLLECTION AND TELLS US HOW HE DEFINES SUCCESS. PLUS, WE HAVE GRANDPARENTS WHO TAKE THEIR MONEY, PUT IT IN THE FREEZER, AND SAY THAT’S THE WAY THEY’RE GOING TO KEEP UP WITH MONEY. WHAT ONE COLLEGE FINANCE MAJOR IS DOING TO HELP OTHERS CREATE A FINANCIAL LEGACY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS? AND LATER, A FORMER NFL CHEERLEADER SHARES HER UNLIKELY JOURNEY TO BECOMING AN AWARD WINNING CHEF. YOU’RE WATCHING, MATTER OF FACT, AMERICA’S NUMBER ONE NATIONALLY SYNDICATED PUBLIC AFFAIRS NEWS SERGIO HUDSON IS A MAINSTAY IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY. THE DESIGNER FROM SOUTH CAROLINA DRESSED 18 PEOPLE FOR THE 2025 MET GALA. IT’S A BIG ACCOMPLISHMENT, BUT HE’S NOT DONE YET. IN 2023, I HAD A CHANCE TO INTERVIEW HUDSON AND GET A LOOK BEHIND THE SCENES OF FASHION WEEK. SO THIS IS MY LITTLE. THIS IS IT CLOSET. THIS IS NOT ALL, BUT A LOT OF THE COLLECTION. WE’RE GOING TO BE SHOWING. GORGEOUS. WHEN YOU LOOK AROUND, ARE YOU JUST LIKE, DUH, DUH, I’VE MADE IT. NO. AND IT’S LIKE, WOW, I’M DOING A FASHION SHOW. LIKE THE SAME THING I USED TO WATCH PEOPLE DO WHEN I WAS YOUNG. HUDSON’S DESIGNS AREN’T JUST APPEARING ON THE RUNWAY. HIS WORK IS ON THE COVER OF ESSENCE AND HAS BEEN ON THE RACKS AT SAKS AND NEIMAN MARCUS AND TARGET. I TAKE THE TIME TO REALLY THINK ABOUT DIFFERENT WOMEN IN THE SAME GARMENT, AND I REALLY DO, HUDSON SAYS HE’S ALWAYS HAD AN EYE FOR FASHION. EVEN AS A KID GROWING UP IN RIDGEWAY, SOUTH CAROLINA, A TOWN OF FEWER THAN 500 PEOPLE. I REMEMBER JUST HAVING THIS INNATE SENSIBILITY ABOUT FASHION, REALLY JUST HELPING MY MOM GET READY. AT AS YOUNG AS 5 OR 6 YEARS OLD, HER ASKING ME WHAT COLOR SHOES SHE SHOULD WEAR, OR DOES THIS JACKET LOOK RIGHT? AND ME TELLING HER YOU NEED TO TAKE IT IN A LITTLE IN THE WAIST. THINGS LIKE THAT. AS A FIVE YEAR OLD? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. I REMEMBER IT CLEAR AS DAY. WHILE HE HAD SOME BREAKOUT MOMENTS IN HIS 20S, IT TOOK A WHILE BEFORE HE WAS ABLE TO MAKE A LIVING FROM HIS LIFELONG PASSION IN FASHION. THERE ARE SO MANY AVENUES, AND YOU CAN BE THE BEST, BUT IF YOU’RE NOT IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME, OR YOU DON’T KNOW THE RIGHT PERSON, OR YOU DON’T DRESS THE RIGHT PERSON, IT COULDN’T HAPPEN FOR YOU. HOW DO YOU THINK ABOUT BUILDING A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS? I LOVE TO TELL PEOPLE I AM A CREATIVE AT HEART, BUT I’M ABOUT BUSINESS AND I THINK COMING FROM THE SOUTH AND COMING FROM A PROUD BLACK FAMILY, I HAVE A BIGGER RESPONSIBILITY THAN JUST BECOMING RICH AND FAMOUS FOR MYSELF. MY GOAL IS NOT JUST TO OPEN UP DOORS FOR PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE ME IN THIS INDUSTRY, BUT MY GOAL IS TO NORMALIZE ME IN THIS INDUSTRY. HUDSON TAKES INCLUSION SERIOUSLY AND IS MINDFUL OF THE MODELS HE CASTS AND THE ACCESS HE PROVIDES. YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS BUSINESS, THEY HIDE THEIR CONTACTS. THEY HIDE WHAT THEY KNOW. AND HOW IS THE BUSINESS EVER GOING TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE IF WE KEEP DOING THAT? TO EXPAND HIS OWN BUSINESS AND REACH THE EVERY GIRL OF FASHION, HUDSON PARTNERED WITH RETAILER TARGET IN 2022. HI, I’M SERGIO AND I’M SO EXCITED TO BRING THE WORLD OF SERGIO HUDSON TO TARGET. WHAT WAS YOUR THOUGHT GOING INTO THAT? I LOOKED AT IT AS ALL THOSE PEOPLE IN SOUTH CAROLINA THAT SUPPORTED ME SPIRITUALLY, MENTALLY, YOU KNOW, HUG ME AND CRY WITH ME THROUGH WHATEVER I WAS GOING THROUGH. BUT THEY NEVER CAN GO IN THE STORE AND PAY $1,500 FOR A JACKET. THAT FASHIONISTA THAT’S RAISING THREE KIDS ON HER OWN THAT CAN ONLY BUY CLOTHES FROM TARGET. I WANTED TO DO THIS FOR THEM. EVERY TIME I TALK ABOUT IT, I GET EMOTIONAL BECAUSE IT WAS JUST SUCH AN HONOR. AS HUMBLE AS HUDSON IS, HE’S A POWER PLAYER ON THE RUNWAY. HIS NEW YORK FASHION WEEK SHOW, CLOSING AS THE DESIGNER BACKSTAGE, EYES THE FUTURE. I SAY, WHAT’S NEXT? I LOVE IT. AHEAD ON MATTER OF FACT, HIS DAUGHTER HAD SOME FINANCIAL ADVICE FOR HIM. I DIDN’T WANT TO LISTEN, BUT HE DID. WHY? HE’S NOW ENCOURAGING OTHERS TO LISTEN TO. AND COMING UP A TOUR INSIDE A MOCK UP OF THE TINY CAPSULE THAT’S DESTINED FOR THE MOON. THOSE ARE REAL WINDOWS. AND THAT IS WHAT WE WILL BE GLUED TO WHEN WE GO AROUND THE FAR SIDE OF THE MOON. SOLEDAD VISITS NASA’S CHRISTINA COOK AS SHE PREPS FOR HER NEXT MISSION. THE RACIAL WEALTH GAP IN AMERICA IS A PERSISTENT AND SYSTEMIC PROBLEM. IN 2021, THE MEDIAN WEALTH OF A BLACK HOUSEHOLD WAS $24,520. THAT’S JUST ONE TENTH THE MEDIAN WEALTH OF A WHITE HOUSEHOLD. $250,400 IN ALABAMA, COLLEGE STUDENT KAYLEIGH DUNN IS DOING HER PART TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. SHE’S AN AMBASSADOR WITH THE SOCIETY FOR FINANCIAL EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. OUR CORRESPONDENT, DIANE ROBERTS TAKES US TO ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY TO MEET THIS YOUNG WOMAN ON A MISSION. I’LL BE SEEING YOU WITH THE MATTEL DOLLARS. I’M GONNA TEACH YOU HOW TO KEEP THEM. BE RIGHT BACK. KAYLEE DUNN IS ALWAYS ON THE MOVE, SHARING HER FINANCIAL KNOWLEDGE TODAY WITH KIDS IN THE DUTCHESS. DIVAS AND GENTS AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM IN MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA. THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR COMING. AND COLLEGE STUDENTS AT A MEETING OF THE WOMEN IN FINANCE CLUB, A CLUB SHE FOUNDED AT ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY. WHAT IS IT ABOUT FINANCE THAT GIVES YOU A FIRE? BECAUSE YOU HAVE A PASSION FOR IT. THE TRUTH OF IT IS THAT FINANCES AND MONEY BUDGETS ARE KIND OF AT THE BASE OF A LOT OF DECISIONS AND A LOT OF THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN OUR COUNTRY AND IN THE WORLD. KAYLEE, A JUNIOR FINANCE MAJOR, IS A STUDENT AMBASSADOR WITH THE STUDENT FINANCIAL EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. SFPD IS IN 70 HBCUS AROUND THE COUNTRY AND REQUIRES ITS STUDENT AMBASSADORS TO SHARE WHAT THEY’RE LEARNING ABOUT FINANCIAL LITERACY WITH FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND THE COMMUNITY. YOU CAN SEE THERE’S A CLEAR DISPARITY BETWEEN AFRICAN AMERICANS AND WHITE HOUSEHOLDS IN THE AMOUNT THAT THEY INVEST AND AMOUNT THEY’RE MAKING FOR THEMSELVES. IN 2019, ONLY 34% OF BLACK AMERICAN HOUSEHOLDS OWNED EQUITY INVESTMENTS, COMPARED TO 61% OF WHITE HOUSEHOLDS. HEARING INFORMATION LIKE THAT ENCOURAGED KAYLEE’S FRIEND LAUREN EVANS TO TAKE ACTION. SINCE I’VE HEARD HER PRESENTATION, I HAVE REACHED OUT TO AN ADVISOR AND I’VE STARTED INVESTING. STUDENT AMBASSADORS SHARE TIPS LIKE HOW TO ACQUIRE A CREDIT CARD, DIVERSIFY AND BUILD AN INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO, AND ACCUMULATE FUNDS FOR RETIREMENT. I WANT A HOUSE. I WANT A FAMILY, AND I ALSO WANT MY KIDS TO BE ABLE TO PURSUE THEIR EDUCATION WITHOUT HAVING FINANCIAL WORRIES. EVEN KAYLEE’S FATHER HAD SOMETHING TO LEARN. I DIDN’T WANT TO LISTEN UNTIL SHE SAID, YOU, I’M GOING TO GIVE IT TO YOU. YOU DO WHAT YOU WANT WITH IT. AND SO GUESS WHAT? IT CHANGED MY SCORE FROM, I DON’T KNOW, 630 TO 830 SOMETHING. MY MY CREDIT SCORE AT 830. HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT YOUR FINANCES, YOUR ASSETS, AND PASSING THEM ON TO THE NEXT GENERATION? WE HAVEN’T ACTUALLY SAT DOWN AS A FAMILY TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THAT. THAT’S THE NEXT STEP OF WHAT KAYLA HAS PROVIDED. THE STEPPING STONE TO, DOING THOSE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO, WHICH MY DAD DIDN’T DO FOR ME. HIS GRANDFATHER DIDN’T DO FOR HIM. WE FOCUS ON FINANCIAL COMPANIES. WE CAN’T ALLOW OURSELVES TO LET THE KIDS NOT TEACH US. WE HAVE TO LEARN AS WELL. AND THAT’S WHAT HAPPENED WITH A LOT OF TIMES WITH THE WITH OUR AFRICAN AMERICAN FAMILIES. WE THINK THAT WE KNOW WHAT WE’RE SUPPOSED TO KNOW, BUT WE DON’T. SEEING THAT, I COULD HELP MY DAD, THE FIRST THING ONE OF THE PEOPLE I LOVE THE MOST IN THE WORLD. IT’S AMAZING. KAYLEE PROVIDING A STEPPING STONE FOR NOT JUST OLDER GENERATIONS, BUT FUTURE ONES TOO. I WOULD PROBABLY GET THE OCULUS. OKAY, SO YOU’RE AT $200 NOW. OH, SO YOU SEE THERE HOW, LIKE WHEN YOU WERE DECIDING WHAT YOU WANT TO PICK, YOU HAVE TO DETERMINE WHAT YOU CARE ABOUT AND WHAT YOU REALLY WANT TO SPEND MONEY ON. IN MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA, FOR MATTER OF FACT, I’M DIANE ROBERTS. ON A PERSONAL NOTE, AS MATTER OF FACT, NEARS THE END OF OUR 10TH AND FINAL SEASON, A BIG THANK YOU TO DIANE ROBERTS FOR ALL OF HER THOUGHTFUL AND INSIGHTFUL REPORTING OVER THE YEARS. DIANE, YOU ARE TRULY AN INSPIRING MEMBER OF OUR TEAM. THANK YOU. NEXT, ON MATTER OF FACT, HER CAREER AS AN NFL CHEERLEADER WAS SIDELINED BY INJURY. I ALWAYS WANTED TO INTRODUCE SOME SIDE OF MY CULTURE THAT PEOPLE REALLY DON’T KNOW ABOUT. HOW THAT LED TO A DREAM JOB AS AN AWARD WINNING CHEF. AND STILL AHEAD, SLEEPING IN SPACE. MY PLAN LITERALLY IS TO HANG KIND OF LIKE A BAT LIKE THIS. ASTRONAUT CHRISTINA KOCH TAKES US INSIDE THE MOCKUP. ORION SPACE CAPSULE. TO STAY UP TO DATE WITH MATTER OF FACT, SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER ATA JAMES BEARD AWARD IN WASHINGTON, DC IS LIVING HER OWN AMERICAN DREAM. MASAKO MORISHITA DESCRIBES HER FOOD AS JAPANESE COMFORT FOOD WITH A TWIST. HER SUCCESS IN THE KITCHEN IS ANYTHING BUT ORDINARY AND INCLUDES A STINT ON THE NFL SIDELINES. HERE’S HER STORY IN HER OWN WORDS. THE NFL CHEERLEADER DOES TRIPS ALL OVER THE WORLD. I HAD THIS LIKE IN MY HEART. SOMEDAY I WANT TO BE LIKE THEM. ONE DAY I JUST DECIDED TO COME TO DC AND TRY IT OUT FOR THE COMMANDERS. I STILL DON’T KNOW WHY, BUT I MADE A TEAM. BUT I ALWAYS WANTED TO INTRODUCE SOME SIDE OF MY CULTURE THAT PEOPLE REALLY DON’T KNOW ABOUT, AND THAT WAS ACTUALLY COOKING. I STARTED WORKING FOR PERRY’S 2022. I WAS THE FIRST WOMAN CHEF. THEY HAD. MY KITCHEN STAFF IS 100% IMMIGRANTS, INCLUDING MYSELF, AND MOST OF THEM ARE MOMS. SO FOR ME TO, YOU KNOW, PROVIDE A WORKSPACE FOR WOMEN, IT’S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT FOR ME. RECENTLY, MORISHITA COLLABORATED WITH HER MOM TO CREATE A FOUR COURSE DINNER AT PERRY’S. WHEN WE COME BACK, A NASA ASTRONAUT GIVES SOLEDAD SOME TRAINING TIPS. TUCK AND ROLL. YOU GOT IT. WHAT YOU’RE SAYING? YEAH, YOU’RE NAILING IT. YOU’RE READY. WE FIND OUT WHAT IT TAKES TO GET READY FOR LIFTOFF. FINALLY, LAST SUMMER, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT DOWN WITH ASTRONAUT CHRISTINA COOK AT THE JOHNSON SPACE CENTER. SHE GAVE ME A VERY COOL TOUR OF THE TRAINING CAPSULE THAT SHE AND HER THREE TEAMMATES USE AS THEY PREPARE FOR THE ARTEMIS TWO MISSION AROUND THE MOON. HERE’S A LOOK INSIDE. SO YOU’LL JUST BE FLOATING. WE WILL JUST BE FLOATING. AND WHEN YOU FLOAT, YOU KIND OF USE ANY ANYTHING TO HOOK A TOE UNDER, HOOK AN ELBOW TO STAY IN PLACE IF YOU NEED TO. SO MY GUESS IS WE’LL ALL KIND OF FIND OUR FAVORITE NOOKS IN HERE, AND WE’LL HAVE KIND OF STANDARD LOCATIONS. BUT THINGS LIKE WHEN PEOPLE NEED TO EXERCISE, WE’LL KIND OF ALL HAVE TO SHIFT AROUND FOR THAT. IT’S SO GREAT TO BE INSIDE HERE. IT REALLY IS SO INSPIRING. THERE’S SO MUCH PACKED IN HERE. A COUPLE THINGS I CAN POINT OUT. THIS AREA HERE, THE CENTER OF ALL THINGS SPACE, FOOD AND EATING IS CREATING WATER BECAUSE EVERYTHING WE HAVE IS DEHYDRATED. SO TO BASICALLY COOK MEANS YOU’RE ADDING WATER TO SOMETHING. SO THAT IS WHERE THE WATER DISPENSER IS. SO ALL THE ACTION FOR DINNER HAPPENS OVER HERE. AND THEN WHAT WE HAVE OVER HERE UNDER YOUR FEET IS ACTUALLY THE TOILET. IT’S BUILT INTO THE FLOOR. IT’S A SMALL LITTLE COMPARTMENT. AND IT’S ALL JUST REALLY COMPACT, LIKE A SPACE RV. IT’S AMAZING. MY THANKS TO CHRISTINA AND HER TEAM FOR THAT EXPERIENCE. THE MISSION IS SET TO LAUNCH SPRING 2026. THAT’S IT FOR THIS EDITION OF MATTER OF FACT, I’M SOLEDAD O’BRIEN. I’LL SEE YOU BACK HERE NEXT WEEK TO WATCH MORE STORIES LIKE THIS ANYTIME, HEAD TO MATTER OF FACT.