Megan Rapinoe and her ambitious plans for politics

Megan Rapinoe has big goals for her new HBO show Seeing America

Megan Rapinoe wants to make sure you’re paying attention. She wants you to get in the game. The soccer star is trading in her boots for a microphone as she encourages political participation with her new HBO show Seeing America with Megan Rapinoe.

Rapinoe became a household name and American sports hero when she helped the U.S. Women’s National Team win the 2016 World Cup. As the Golden Ball winner, Rapinoe was the standout player on a team full of standout players.

Not content with just the adoration of fans for her accomplishments on the field, Rapinoe has used her platform to address social and political issues. She was the first athlete after football player Colin Kaepernick to kneel during the national anthem. Equal pay for women and LGBTQ rights are other causes that Rapinoe has championed during her time in the spotlight.

On Tuesday night, Rapinoe was a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to promote her latest cause. She discussed Seeing America and the ambitious goal for the show when it comes to getting people involved in politics:

Megan Rapinoe should have no problem achieving the goal of Seeing America

Making politics cool is no easy task. As Rapinoe and Fallon covered in their interview, 100 million Americans didn’t vote in 2016. Voter turnout among young people was also discouraging, suggesting many are uninformed, disinterested, or pessimistic when it comes to politics. Rapinoe aims to change that with Seeing America.

Rapinoe can follow the example set by Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, and other late night hosts. Covering politics has been an important part of late night television’s growth and popularity other the past few years. There is a reason that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert has been the number one show for four consecutive seasons.

Seeing America will also get a boost from guests known for motivating and inspiring others. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Patriot Act host Hasan Minhaj, and journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones will join Rapinoe for a conversation on the challenges facing the country.

On her own, Rapinoe has everything needed to achieve the goal of Seeing America. She has the passion, intelligence, and fearlessness necessary to deliver her message. And on top of all that, she has countless fans that support her both on and off the field.

Rapinoe’s fans are sure to tune into her HBO show and help boost its message. Many fans who became enamored with Rapinoe during the 2016 World Cup may be voting for the first time in 2020. If even one person is doing so because of Rapinoe, then it can be counted as a success. But Rapinoe has shown she isn’t one to settle and that’s why Seeing America has the lofty goal of making politics cool. But it has the right host to make that a reality.

The past few months have seen more athletes stand up for their political and social beliefs. Rapinoe has always been at the forefront of that movement. She’s proved that athletes shouldn’t just “stick to sports” in the same way nobody should ignore politics and stick to their profession. The stakes are too high and the consequences are felt every single day. Rapinoe will prove that with Seeing America while adding her signature flair along the way.

Seeing America with Megan Rapinoe airs on Saturday, Aug. 1 at 10:00 PM ET on HBO. Keep checking Last Night On for more highlights from The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and the rest of late night television.