KAMALA HARRIS HAS A PLAN FOR THE ECONOMY-DOES IT INCLUDE PRICE CONTROLS?

AND A KENNEDY ON TEAM TRUMP.

STAY TUNED, IVORY TOWER IS NEXT.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO IVORY TOWER.

I'M DAVID CHANATRY, FROM UTICA UNIVERSITY.

I'M JOINED AROUND THE TABLE TONIGHT BY TARA ROSS FROM ONONDAGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE, JENNIFER STROMER-GALLEY FROM SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY, MICHAEL TILLOTSON FROM SUNY CORTLAND, AND RICK FENNER FROM UTICA UNIVERSITY.

POLICE ON LONG ISLAND ARRESTED A MAN WEARING A FACE MASK, AND SAID HE WAS CARRYING A 14-INCH KNIFE.

THE ARREST WAS THE FIRST UNDER NASSAU COUNTY'S NEW LAW BANNING FACEMASKS.

THE LAW WAS PASSED AFTER MANY PRO-PALESTINIAN PROTESTERS WORE MASKS TO HIDE THEIR IDENTITY.

SUPPORTERS OF THE LAW SAY THE ARREST PROVES THEIR POINT THAT BANNING MASKS CAN PROMOTE PUBLIC SAFETY.

GOVERNOR HOCHUL SAID SHE WOULD LIKE SOME SORT OF A STATEWIDE BAN TARA, LD THE STATE OR LOCAL AUTHORITIES BAN FACEMASKS?

>> I THOUGHT ABOUT THIS A BIT AND I DON'T SEE A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH IT AS LONG AS THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS FOR RELIGIOUS PREFERENCE, HEALTH ISSUES AND THAT'S USUALLY WHERE THE BIG PROBLEM IS IS THAT HOW DO YOU PROVE THE HEALTH ISSUES, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU ARE OUT AT A PROTEST AND YOU HAVE A MASK ON AND SOMEONE SAYS WELL WHY DO YOU HAVE ON A MASK.

YOU SAY YOU HAVE HEALTH ISSUES.

DO YOU HAVE A CARD THAT SAYS YOU HAVE ASTHMA OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

THAT'S WHERE I SEE THE BIGGEST PROBLEM BUT OTHERWISE I DON'T REALLY SEE A PROBLEM WITH SAYING THAT PEOPLE SHOULDN'T BE WEARING MASKS.

AND AS LONG AS THERE ARE REASONABLE EXCEPTIONS AND RESTRICTIONS ON THAT, I DON'T SEE THAT THERE SHOULD BE ANY PROBLEM WITH IT.

>> JENNIFER.

>> I DON'T KNOW.

I PERSONALLY FIND THE IDEA THAT, ESPECIALLY IN THE CONTEXT OF PUBLIC SPEECH AND THE PUBLIC'S FEAR WHERE PEOPLE ARE ENGAGING IN PEACEFUL PROTEST.

I THINK THERE ARE CONTEXT AND SITUATIONS WHERE IT IS UNDERSTANDABLE THAT PEOPLE WOULD CHOOSE TO HIDE THEIR FACIAL IDENTITIES BECAUSE OF THE KIND OF SPEECH THEY'RE ENACTING.

I DON'T BELIEVE PEOPLE SHOULD BE USING MASKS WHEN THEY'RE ENGAGING IN CRIMES, BUT THAT'S A DIFFERENT SITUATION.

AND IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY, THAT WAS REALLY THE FUNCTION OF THAT LEGISLATION, WAS INITIATED BECAUSE OF PUBLIC PROTEST.

>> YOU ARE SUGGESTING YOU THINK IT MIGHT CHILL CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE IF PEOPLE WANT TO GO OUT AND PROTEST ABOUT WHATEVER.

>> BASICALLY IT SAYS YOU ARE NOW ENGAGING IN A CRIMINAL ACT IF YOU WEAR SOME KIND OF FACE HIDING MATERIAL WHEN YOU ENGAGE IN FREE SPEECH.

AND I THINK THAT'S A HUGE PROBLEM.

>> THERE IS CLEARLY A TENSION HERE BETWEEN COMPETING NEEDS.

ONE IS FOR PEOPLE TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS AND SECOND, THOUGH, TO PROVIDE SOME LEVEL OF ANONYMITY FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE PROTESTING AND IT COMES DOWN TO ONE, WHAT IS THE PRESUMPTION OF PRIVACY THAT YOU HAVE WHEN YOU ARE OUT ON THE STREETS OPPOSED TO IN OTHER PLACES.

AND THERE ARE OTHER ALTERNATIVES.

SOME STATES HAVE LOOKED INTO INCREASING THE PENALTIES IF YOU ENGAGE IN CRIMINAL ACTS WHILE CONCEALING YOUR IDENTITY.

>> SO, IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, I MEAN THE GUY THAT WAS ARRESTED, POLICE SAID HE HAD A KNIFE AND THEY STOPPED HIM AND THE SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY THAT HE WAS ENGAGING IN WAS SIMPLY WEARING THE MASK.

SO MICHAEL, DOES IT GIVE POLICE MAYBE TOO MUCH AUTHORITY TO STOP SOMEBODY ON A PRETEXT FOR STOPPING SOMEONE?

>> LIKE MOST THINGS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, IT'S GOING TO BE SUBJECTIVE.

THEY'RE GOING TO PICK AND CHOOSE WHO THEY STOP AND DON'T STOP.

I THINK ALONG THE LINES OF TERROR IN THE TERMS OF EXCEPTIONS FOR RELIGIOUS CULTURAL USE, HOW DO YOU ENFORCE IT.

DO YOU PUT IT ON THE REAL I.D., ARM BAND, WRIST BAND BORDERS THE RIDICULOUS AND ABSURD LIKE KAFKAESQUE TO SOME DEGREE.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PERSONAL CHOICE AS A HOSTAGE SITUATION IN THE NAME OF FEALTY TO A POLITICAL AGENDA AND I THINK IT CAN DO SOME BAD THINGS IN THE PUBLIC SQUARE.

>> THE OTHER THING THAT IS INTERESTING, THEY SAY THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE LAW WORKING.

WHAT I HAVEN'T HEARD IS HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE STOPPED THAT WERE WEARING MASKS THAT DIDN'T HAVE A KNIFE IN THEIR PANTS OR WHATEVER.

I MEAN THIS IS REALLY, I THINK, STRETCHING THE POINT TO SAY THAT THIS IS SOMEHOW JUSTIFYING THIS LAW.

>> WE USED TO HAVE A BAN, WHICH I DIDN'T KNOW, RIGHT?

AND THAT BAN WAS REPEALED DURING THE PANDEMIC, OBVIOUSLY, WHEN WE WANTED PEOPLE WEARING FACE MASKS FOR HEALTH REASONS.

WHY IS THIS ANY DIFFERENT.

>> THOSE OF HOUSE WENT TO COLLEGE YEARS AGO, I USED TO SEE ASIAN KIDS WEAR MASKS AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANT.

MASKS HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME.

IT WASN'T UNTIL 2020 IT BECAME THIS EVIL IDEA, SO IT'S A SLIPPERY SLOPE WHEN WE START GIVING LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT SORT OF POWER OVER INDIVIDUAL PERSONAL CHOICE.

>> WHEN YOU SAY THIS EVIL IDEA; NOT THAT YOU MEAN EVIL BUT THE POINT THAT IT'S BECOME A POLITICAL STATEMENT NOW.

IS THAT PRETTY MUCH WHAT WE ARE SAYING HERE, THE OPPOSITION TO MASKS, DON'T WEAR A MASK BECAUSE IT'S TIED UP TO THE WHOLE BIG GOVERNMENT WANTED TO MAKE US, YOU KNOW, TAKE COVID VACCINES?

>> IT'S PARTIALLY IT HAS BEEN POLITICIZED IN CONNECTION WITH COVID-19 AND YOU ARE QUITE CORRECT, BIG GOVERNMENT IS FORCING US TO WEAR MASKS BUT IT'S ALSO BECOME POLITICIZED BECAUSE IT'S BECOME VERY CONNECTED IN THE ONGOING FIGHT BETWEEN ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINIANS.

AND ACCORDING TO THE REPORTS-- AND THIS WAS SOMETHING I HAVEN'T EXTENSIVELY RESEARCHED-- IT IS MAINLY PRO-PALESTINIAN PROTESTORS WHO WEARING THE MASKS.

NOW EVERYTHING I'VE READ SO FAR DOESN'T SAY THAT THERE WERE ANY PRO-ISRAELI PROTESTORS WEARING MASKS.

I'M NOT SAYING THERE WEREN'T.

IT JUST DOESN'T SAY.

I'M WONDERING IF EVEN THAT IS PROBLEMATIC IN THIS DISCUSSION.

IS ANYONE PAYING ATTENTION?

IS IT JUST THE PRO-PALESTINIAN PROTESTORS?

OR ARE THERE PRO-ISRAELI PROTESTORS WHO ARE WEARING MASKS AS WELL?

BUT CERTAINLY THAT IS A BIG PART OF THE POLITICALIZATION OF THIS AND THAT'S ONE OF THE ANTI-CIVIL LIBERTIES ARGUMENTS IS THIS IS NOW ABOUT THE POLITICAL, NOT ABOUT THE CRIMINALITY.

>> SO IF YOU ARE OUT THERE PROTESTING, TRYING TO MAKE A POINT, ISN'T PART OF MAKING THAT POINT BEING VISIBLE?

YOU KNOW,... >> YOU WOULD HAVE TO ASK THE KNIGHTS OF THE KU KLUX KLAN THAT QUESTION IN 1896.

TAKING AWAY PERSONAL CHOICE FOR SOME PEOPLE IS CONSIDERED EVIL.

>> THERE IS ALSO THIS IDEA THAT SOMEHOW WE MUST ALWAYS BE IDENTIFIED IN OUR PUBLIC SPEECH.

IF THAT WERE TRUE, WE WOULD BE PASSING LAWS REQUIRING EVERYBODY TO SIGN ANY SOCIAL MEDIA POST WITH SOME KIND OF I.D.

THAT TIES THEMSELVES TO THEIR MESSAGING ONLINE.

>> AND VOTING.

>> HOW IS THAT DIFFERENT.

>> TAKE THE EXAMPLE OF VOTING, YOU KNOW, PRESUMPTION THAT NO ONE SHOULD KNOW WHO YOU VOTE FOR OTHER THAN YOURSELF.

AND SO THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT, I THINK.

>> SO WE HAVE A FIRST AMENDMENT ISSUE ON THIS.

>> I THINK SO, YES.

>> DONALD TRUMP AND REPUBLICAN ALLIES HAVE BEEN TRYING TO PAINT KAMALA HARRIS AS FAR-LEFT CALIFORNIA LIBERAL, EVEN A COMMUNIST-ALL CAPS.

WHILE HER CAMPAIGN THUS FAR HAS BEEN MORE ABOUT VIBES THAN POLICY, SHE DID RELEASE AN ECONOMIC PLAN A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.

IT CALLS FOR AN EXPANDED CHILD TAX CREDIT, INCENTIVES TO INCREASE HOUSING SUPPLY, AND A LAW BANNING PRICE GOUGING ON GROCERIES--AN IDEA SOME HAVE LABELED PRICE CONTROLS.

IS IT A SERIOUS ECONOMIC PLAN OR A CAMPAIGN GIMMICK?

>> IT'S A CAMPAIGN GIMMICK.

YOU KNOW, I HAVE BEEN WATCHING THE DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS DEBATE AND COMPETE ABOUT WHO IS DEFINING THE ECONOMY.

AND WHO REALLY HAS THE ECONOMIC MESSAGE WHO CAN ADDRESS THE PUBLIC'S PAIN-- BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT OF PAIN AND THERE REALLY HAS BEEN SINCE 2008.

THE ECONOMIC COLLAPSE HAPPENED AND SINCE THEN OUR ECONOMY HAS BEEN WEAK AND THE DEMOCRATS HAVE STRUGGLED THROUGH THE LAST TWO DECADES TO REALLY FIGURE OUT HOW TO TELL A STORY THAT ORDINARY PEOPLE WILL UNDERSTAND.

TRUMP HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY EFFECTIVE AT HAVING A CLEAR, SIMPLE FORWARD MESSAGE THAT HE REPEATS ENDLESSLY.

AND THE DEMOCRATS DON'T HAVE THAT.

THEY DON'T HAVE A SIMPLE MESSAGE.

THEY DON'T HAVE A CLEAR PLAN.

THE HARRIS POLICIES FROM MY PERSPECTIVE ARE GIMMICKY.

THEY'RE NOT ANYTHING THAT WILL TRULY REVOLUTIONIZE OR THINK DIFFERENTLY ABOUT HOW THE ECONOMY FUNCTIONS IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> NOW, AS YOU STARTED TO MAKE THAT, I COULD SEE RICK SORT OF DROP HIS HEAD A LITTLE BIT.

SO... >> MOST OF THIS IS FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES.

THIS IS POPULISM OTHER THAN, YOU KNOW, THE CHILD TAX CREDIT, INCREASING THAT, I THINK MOST OF THIS, YOU KNOW, LET'S GO BACK TO HER IN NEVADA TELLING, YOU KNOW, THAT WE SHOULDN'T BE TAXING TIPS PEOPLE ARE UNHAPPY ABOUT PRICE OF GROCERIES.

IT'S THE BIG BAD GROCERY STORES AND WE ARE GOING TO CRACKDOWN ON PRICE GOUGING.

HOUSING HOUSING, AN INTERESTING ISSUE.

THERE SHE HAS A WORTHY GOAL BUT MOST OF THE THINGS THAT IT IS PROMOTING GIVING $25,000 TO FIRST TIME HOMEBUYERS IS ONLY GOING TO INCREASE THE DEMAND FOR HOUSING AND PUSH PRICES UP MORE AND MOST OF THE IMPEDIMENTS TO HOUSING WHICH WE'VE TALKED ABOUT ON THIS SHOW MANY, MANY TIMES, ARE STATE AND LOCAL, AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO POWER OVER FIXING.

>> SO ARE YOU ESSENTIALLY SAYING IT'S AGREEING WITH JENNY THAT IT'S A GIMMICK OR ARE YOU SAYING IT'S A POLICY AND A BAD POLICY.

>> IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH.

MUCH OF THIS IS POPULISM ARGUMENTS TO MAKE PEOPLE FEEL BETTER.

AND I DON'T THINK ARE GOING TO GO FORWARD.

SOME OF THEM THOUGH ARE BAD POLICIES.

>> THE EXPANDED CHILD TAX CREDIT.

WHEN THAT WAS IN PLACE PREVIOUSLY, AS PART OF PANDEMIC RELIEF, I BELIEVE, AND HARRIS WILL SAY THIS OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

RAISED A THIRD OF AMERICA'S CHILDREN OUT OF POVERTY OR SOME STATISTIC LIKE THAT.

MICHAEL?

>> I THINK WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TRUMP'S MESSAGE AND BEING CONSISTENT, THE ONLY THING CONSISTENT ABOUT IT IS ANGER, GRIEVANCE AND ANGER.

THAT'S TOM THING THAT'S BEEN CONSISTENT ABOUT IT.

LET'S BE CLEAR HERE.

HE HAS HAD EIGHT YEARS TO DEVELOP AN ECONOMIC MESSAGE.

SHE HAS HAD BARELY FOUR WEEKS.

LET'S BE UNDERSTANDING ABOUT THAT.

WHAT IS IMPRESSIVE ABOUT WHAT SHE HAS DONE IS HOW SHE SHIFTED GEARS AND TIED HERSELF TO SOME OF THESE SUCCESSES OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL.

I SEE A MESSAGE STARTING TO DEVELOP SUCH AS INFLATION IS EASING.

HELP IS ON THE WAY.

INTEREST RATES ARE EASING HELP IS ON THE WAY.

PRESCRIPTION DRUGS PRICES ARE GOING NEGOTIATED.

INSULIN IS $35.

HELP IS ON THE WAY.

IF YOU VOTE FOR ME, MORE HELP IS ON THE WAY.

I THINK THAT WILL TAKE HOLD TO JENNIFER'S POINT AND I THINK ALSO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE HARRIS CAMPAIGN, IT IS EXTREMELY MATURE FOR BEING 30 DAYS OUT IN PUBLIC.

VERSUS EIGHT YEARS OF CHILDISH PETULANT NONSENSE.

>> CERTAINLY-- I SHOULDN'T SAY FLIP, BUT STARTING FROM NOTHING AND HITTING THE GROUND RUNNING, TO USE THE CLICHE, SHE HAS BEEN PRETTY REMARKABLE IN THAT.

>> BUT SHE WAS VICE PRESIDENT FOR FOUR YEARS.

LET'S NOT SAY SHE WAS.

>> AND SHE IS CARRYING FORWARD THE MESSAGING FROM THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN.

THERE IS NOT REALLY ANYTHING NOVEL OR NEW IN ANYTHING SHE IS OFFERING.

>> SHE DID THAT INTERVIEW LAST NIGHT ON CNN AND THE INTERVIEWER ASKED HER AT ONE POINT ABOUT BIDEN ONLYICS-- BIDENOMICS.

>> THE ONLY COMMENT I WANTED TO MAKE WAS IN TERMS OF SOMETHING THAT RICK WAS SAYING IN TERMS OF THE REALITY WHAT SHE IS PROPOSING.

SHE IS IN A POSITION WHERE SHE CAN DO THIS.

THROW SOME PROPOSALS OUT BECAUSE IF SHE WINS, SHE CAN SAY THIS WAS MY PROPOSAL.

THIS SORT OF SOUNDS OUTLANDISH, OKAY, AND I'LL JUST TAKE THE HOUSING, FOR EXAMPLE.

I BELIEVE SHE WANTS TO SEE-- I'M SORRY.

I'M LOOKING FOR THE NUMBER-- FOUR MILLION NEW HOME BUILDS.

THAT'S PRETTY UNLEEL REALISTIC IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT IT SOCIAL SECURITY .4 TO 1.5 NEW HOME BUILDS PER YEAR BUT WHAT THAT DOES IS IT GIVES HER SOME NEGOTIATING RANGE SO IF SHE BECOMES PRT, NO ONE THINKS SHE IS REALLY GOING TO, YOU KNOW, BE ABLE TO GET HOME BUILDERS TO DO THIS.

BUT IF SHE IS TRYING TO WORK WITH CONGRESS AND, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S DEMOCRATIC LED CONGRESS OR REPUBLICAN-LED CONGRESS, BOTH ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING TO THE NEXT CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS.

THIS GIVES SOME ROOM WHERE MAYBE SHE CAN GET-- IT MIGHT NOT BE FOUR MILLION BUT IF SHE GETS .5 MILLION OR 1 MILLION, SHE CAN SAY I COMPROMISED WITH CONGRESS AND I ALSO KEPT MY PROMISE.

SO I SEE THESE THINGS AS THINGS SHE IS THROWING OUT THERE AS POTENTIAL PROPOSALS SO THAT IF I WIN, I HAVE A BASE WHERE I CAN START.

>> SO HER PROPOSALS DO HAVE, WOULD YOU AGREE, RICK, PRETTY ACTIVE STATE ROLE IN THE ECONOMY, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T REALLY FLY IN AMERICA.

>> RIGHT.

YOU ARE GOING TO SEE, AGAIN, ESPECIALLY WITH HOUSING, AGAIN AS TARA SAID, VERY GOOD GOAL, UNREALISTIC, BUT ALSO I DON'T THINK SHE HAS THE POWER TO BRING ABOUT MUCH OF WHAT SHE WOULD LIKE.

IT'S UP TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO REDUCE THE REGULATIONS, THE RED TAPE, IMPEDIMENTS TO INCREASING THE SUPPLY OF HOUSING, WHICH IS WHAT WE NEED.

>> BUT WHAT ABOUT THE IDEA OF THE GROCERY PRICES?

AND FOOD PRICES.

SHE IS TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, PRICE GOUGING.

ARE WE REALLY SEEING THAT?

OR IS THAT THE GIMMICK YOU ARE REFERRING TO.

>> BACK TO YOUR POINT.

IT'S A NICE POPULOUS MESSAGE BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE REAL PRACTICAL CONSEQUENCE AND THAT'S NOT THE PROBLEM.

THE REASONS THAT WE ARE HAVING THE CONTINUED INFLATION IS MUCH MORE COMPLEX THAN PRICE COWJING.

AND I THINK WHAT CONCERNS ME IS THAT IF HARRIS DOESN'T ARTICULATE VERY CLEARLY AND REPEATEDLY WHAT HER POLICIES ARE GOING TO BE AS PRESIDENT, TRUMP IS GOING TO DEFINE THEM FOR HER AND SHE IS AT RISK, WITH THE BANAL, THE INTERVIEW LAST NIGHT, IT WAS VERY BANAL.

I DIDN'T HEAR ANY CONCRETE POLICY POSITIONS.

AND IT REALLY LEAVES THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OPEN TO THE REPUBLICANS MAKING LABELS LIKE COMMUNISM AND WHATEVER, BECAUSE THERE ISN'T ANY CLEAR COUNTERMESSAGE.

>> I'LL TELL YOU ONE THING THOUGH.

AT LEAST SHE IS NOT CALLING PEOPLE CHILDLESS CAT LADIES OR DECEMBER DESECRATING VETERANS GRAVES.

THERE IS A MATURITY TO HER CAMPAIGN.

I GIVE HER THAT >> A NUMBER OF PROMINENT REPUBLICANS HAVE ENDORSED HARRIS FOR PRESIDENT.

NOT TO BE OUTDONE, DONALD TRUMP HAS BEEN PLAYING THAT GAME, TOO.

RFK JUNIOR AND FORMER REPRESENTATIVE TULSI GABBARD HAVE JOINED TEAM TRUMP AND HAVE BEEN GIVEN ROLES IN TRANSITION PLANNING.

KENNEDY IN PARTICULAR MAY BRING ALONG SOME VOTERS, BUT WHAT IS THE RISK OF HAVING THESE ENDORSEMENTS?

WILL HAVING THE DEMOCRATS 'ROGUES' ON THE TEAM BACKFIRE?

>> THE POLLS CLEARLY SHOW THAT KENNEDY WAS TAKING MORE VOTES FROM TRUMP THAN FROM HARRIS SO BY TAKING HIS NAME OFF THE BALLOT IN THE BALLOT BATTLE GROUND STATES IS GOING TO HELP TRUMP.

WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF THE ENDORSEMENT GOING TO BE?

THAT'S MORE COMPLICATED BECAUSE YOU CAN POINT TO A NUMBER OF BIG CONTRADICTIONS BETWEEN THE POLICIES AND THE BELIEFS OF BOTH TRUMP AND KENNEDY.

YOU KNOW, FROM ABORTION WHERE RECENTLY KENNEDY SUGGESTED THAT WOMEN SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE ABORTION FULL TERM.

GLOBAL WARMING, ENVIRONMENTALISM, YOU KNOW, HE AT ONE TIME KENNEDY HAD ADVOCATED CUTTING MILITARY SPENDING BY 50% AND BREAKING UP BIG BANKS AND MONOPOLIES.

I THINK THAT THIS IS A LOT OF ROOM FOR UNCOMFORTABLE QUESTIONS FOR BOTH KENNEDY AND TRUMP ON THIS AND IF DEMS ARE SMART, JUST USE ROBERT KENNEDY'S OWN WORDS IN 2018, HE WROTE IN TIME MAGAZINE "TRUMP HIMSELF IS THE LATEST DRAMA AND HIS PRESIDENCY HAS NOT JUST DISCREDITED OUR NATION BUT THE ENTIRE EXPERIMENT IN SELF GOVERNMENT."

I THINK THE ENDORSEMENT ITSELF COULD... >> KENNEDY HAS GOT A LOT OF BAGGAGE YOU MIGHT SAY, RIGHT?

THERE ARE THINGS, MICHAEL, THE BRAIN WORM, THE CHEM TRAILS, THE CONSPIRACIES.

THAT'S WHAT I'M WONDERING.

YES, THERE IS GOING TO BE SOME PERCENTAGE OF VOTERS, MOSTLY BECAUSE OF THE VACCINATION ISSUE, I THINK, THAT WILL COME OVER WITH HIM.

BUT THERE IS A WHOLE BUNCH OF PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE THAT THEY'RE BOTH PEOPLE ARE APPEALING TO AND I WONDER WHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO BE TURNED OFF BY THINGS LIKE CHEM TRAILS.

>> THESE TWO CHARACTERS, YOU KNOW, THEY MIGHT BRING A MINISCULE TEMPORARY BUMP WHICH WILL BE NEUTRALIZED BY HARRIS BRINGING BACK RECAPTURING THE BLACK VOTE THAT WENT NEUTRAL ON BIDEN.

THAT BUMP WILL HAVE NO MEANING.

THERE IS MORE CURRENCY IN WELL RESPECTED REPUBLICANS SUPPORTING HARRIS THAN THESE TWO DESPERATE OUTLIARS WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED JOINING THE FORMER PRESIDENT.

>> I LOVE THAT.

SO, YEAH, TULSI GABBARD IS INTERESTING.

AS A DEMOCRAT SHE DIDN'T FIT VERY WELL WHEN SHE RAN IN 2020.

SHE HAS A VERY STRONG FOREIGN POLICY ORIENTATION TO HER MESSAGING.

SHE WAS MUCH MORE CONSERVATIVE THAN I THINK THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, MORE GENERALLY.

SO I'M NOT SURPRISED THAT SHE IS KIND OF COME TO THE TRUMP CAMP.

AND TO EXPLOIT THE RESEARCH IS PRETTY CLEAR THE ENDORSEMENTS HAVE VERY LITTLE MEASURABLE EFFECT ON ELECTORAL OUTCOMES.

IT MIGHT HAVE A LITTLE BUMP, AS YOU SAID, MICHAEL, TO THE FEELING THAT PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE, OH OKAY, TRUMP IS BRINGING DEMOCRATS IN THE FOLD.

HE MUST REALLY BE, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY WHO SPEAKS BROADLY TO ALL AMERICANS.

BUT IT WON'T LAST.

>> TARA.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK BOTH OF THESE TWO ARE INTERESTING.

I THINK GABBARD, THEY'RE HOPING WILL BRING IN FEMALE PLUS VETERAN.

THAT'S WHAT I THINK THEY'RE HOPING WILL COME WITH HER IS THAT THAT WILL PULL SOME OF THE FEMALES-- NOW, YOU KNOW, WE ALL KNOW NOT THE MAJORITY WHO ARE GOING TO SUPPORT HARRIS, BUT THAT WILL PULL SOME OF THE FEMALES AND CERTAINLY THAT IT WILL PULL AN INCREASING NUMBER OF VETS.

I THINK THE OTHER THING IS THAT WITH WITH RFK, WHAT THEY'RE HOPING IS QUITE FRANKLY, PEOPLE WILL NOT HEAR THE RF AND JUST HEAR KENNEDY AND SUPPORT.

>> 100%.

>> OKAY.

AND MICHAEL, YOU WANTED TO GET A QUICK POINT IN.

>> I WAS IN ATLANTA A FEW WEEKS BACK FOR A FAMILY REUNION.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE BLACK VOTE AND GO TO PLACES IN ATLANTA, YOU ARE GOING TO SEE AN ENERGY THAT YOU HAVEN'T SEEN SPINS THE SPRING OF 2007.

THEY'RE ON FIRE.

>> WE ARE GOING TO BEGIN OUR AS AND F. >> MY F TO THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF WAILS COLLEGE, JONATHAN JI BALTER AND THE ADMINISTRATORS OF WALES CLOSURE BARGAINING TEAM.

THE BARGAINING TEAM WAS TO MEET WITH THE FACULTY TO NEGOTIATE REASONABLE SENCHES PACKAGES FOR THE FACULTY AND TO EXPLAIN HOW THE COLLEGE REACHED THE FINANCIAL POSITION THAT CAUSED THE CLOSURE.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE TEAM HAS FAILED TO REALLY SERIOUSLY NEGOTIATE WITH THE FACULTY AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE FACULTY ARE FRUSTRATED ABOUT, THE SAME TIME THE COLLEGE FINANCES WERE DECLINING, THE FORMER PRESIDENT WAS TAKING $100,000 BONUSES PER YEAR FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

>> JENNY.

>> SO, LAST WEEK FACEBOOK PARENT COMPANY META CLOSED A TOOL THAT JOURNALISTS AND RESEARCHERS LIKE MYSELF USE TO STUDY THE LARGE VOLUMES OF PUBLIC SPEECH SO THAT WE CAN HELP INCREASE TRANSPARENCY AND HOLD BAD ACTORS LIKE RUSSIA WHEN THEY'RE MEDDLING IN OUR ELECTIONS ACCOUNTABLE.

THE SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES RUN THE 21st PUBLIC SPHERE BUT THEY'RE NOT TAKING THAT SACRED RESPONSIBILITY SERIOUSLY AND OUR DEMOCRACY WILL SUFFER.

>> MICHAEL.

>> MY F GOES TO UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA FORMER PRESIDENT BEN SASSY FOR MISUSING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF STATE FUNDING TO LINE THEIR POCKETS OF HIS CRONIES.

SHAME ON YOU STEALING STUDENTS FUTURES.

>> MY F GOES TO DONALD TRUMP OR LONG LINE OF DISRESPECT TOWARDS OUR NATION'S MILITARY.

VIETING THE SANCTITY OF THE NATIONAL CEMETERY TAKING PHOTOS AND VIDEO IS IN A HEAVILY RESTRICKED AREA AND POSTING THEM TO HIS TICK TOCK ACT FILMING AT THE CEMETERY FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES IS A VIOLATION OF FEDERAL LAW.

EARLIER THIS MONTH HE SAID THE PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM TO CIVILIANS IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN MILITARY PERSONNEL.

>> AND TO OUR AS.

>> MY A GOES TO Dr. JOHN W. BOYD, JR. AND THE NATIONAL BLACK FARMERS ASSOCIATION AFTER YEARS OF PROTESTS, LAWSUITS AND FAILED LEGISLATION, THE ORGANIZATION WON A $2.2 BILLION PAYOUT FOR YEARS OF DISCRIMINATORY FARM LENDING FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

>> AND JENNIFER.

>> MY A GOES TO NEW YORK STATE LEGISLATURE AND THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR EXTENDING TO ALL REGISTERED VOTERS THE EASE OF VOTING BY MAIL.

THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT MAIL-IN BALLOTS INCREASE ELECTION FRAUD.

THAT'S FIX.

WHAT IS FACT IS MAKING VOTING EASIER MEANS THAT MORE PEOPLE VOTE.

SO, NEW YORKERS, IF YOU ARE REGISTERED TO VOTE, GET YOUR MAIL-IN BALLOT.

>> AND MICHAEL, YOUR A.

>> TO JACOB WRIGHT AND CARMEN WINGUARD WHO REVIVED THE MINORITY MALE INITIATIVE FOR RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF MALE STUDENTS OF COLOR.

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.

>> RICK.

>> MY A GOES TO DECOY, WEDNESDAY NIGHT DECOY DID WHAT MANY FAMOUS PERSONALITIES FAIL MISERABLY AT, DELIVERING THE CEREMONIAL FIRST PITCH AT A BASEBALL GAME.

HE WENT TO THE MOUND.

SEE HIM PICKING UP THE BALL, RUNNING IT STRAIGHT TO THE PLATE AND DROPPING IT PERFECTLY AND GIVING HIS OWNER A HIGH 5, BASEBALL IS THE BEST.

>> SO ARE DOGS, RIGHT?

SO I WILL JUST SAY THAT MAYBE THE YANKEES COULD SIGN DECOY BECAUSE THEY NEED SOME PITCHING.

ON THAT NOTE, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING.

FOR COMMENTS YOU CAN WRITE TO THE ADDRESS ON YOUR SCREEN.

IF YOU WOULD LUKE TO WATCH THE SHOW AGAIN, YOU CAN DO SO ONLINE AT WCNY.ORG.

I'M DAVID CHANATRY, FOR ALL OF US AT IVORY TOWER, HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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