>> TONIGHT WE GO BEYOND AFFORDABILITY TO EXPLAIN THIS WEEK'S ELECTIONS.

ALSO TONIGHT?

CAN DEMOCRATS AFFORD ACCOUNTABILITY?

AND WHAT'S THE NEW REPUBLICAN PLAYBOOK?

THE "IVORY TOWER" PROFESSORS WILL BE RIGHT BACK WITH ANSWERS.

>> THIS PROGRAM IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE MEMBERS OF WCNY.

THANK YOU.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "IVORY TOWER."

THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

I'M NINA MOORE OF COLGATE UNIVERSITY.

THE PROFESSORS AROUND THE TABLE TONIGHT ARE TARA ROSS OF ONONDAGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE, SARAH PRALLE OF SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY, RICK FENNER OF UTICA UNIVERSITY, AND CHAD SPARBER OF COLGATE UNIVERSITY.

AFFORDABILITY DOMINATED THE MIDTERMS.

BUT IT WASN'T THE WHOLE STORY BEHIND DEMOCRATS' SWEEPING ELECTION VICTORIES.

DEMOCRATS SHOWED AN UNUSUAL LEVEL OF FOCUS AND IF YOU STICK WITH ME THROUGH THIS CURVEBALL A LITTLE BIT, I WANT TO TURN TO A LESSON I THINK WE GET FROM WASHINGTON STATE WHERE THEY HAD A BALLOT INITIATIVE THAT WOULD BAN BIOLOGICAL BOYS FROM PLAYING IN GIRLS SPORTS.

IN THE BLUEST OF BLUE STATES, IN THE BLUEST OF BLUE WAVES, THAT INITIATIVE IS CURRENTLY PASSING 57-43 MUCH IT'S ONE OF THE FEW CONSERVATIVE VICTORIES GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

REGARDLESS OF HOW ANY OF US FEEL ABOUT CULTURE WAR ISSUE, THE ATLANTIC WAS RIGHT WHEN IT RECENTLY REFERRED TO THEM AS A MISPLACED DEMOCRATIC PRIORITY THAT DESTROYED THE DEMOCRATS IN 2024.

THEY AVOIDED THAT TRAP THIS YEAR AND I THINK, WITHOUT THAT FOCUS, THEY WOULDN'T HAVE DONE NEARLY AS WELL.

>> I WANT TO AGREE FIRST OF ALL THAT I THINK THAT WHILE DEMOCRATS DID SOME VERY INTELLIGENT THINGS THAT REALLY REPUBLICANS LOST THIS, IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT ONE TOPIC THAT REALLY MIRRORED THE POLLS AND THAT IS IRAN WAR.

WHEN THE WAR WAS AT ITS WORST AND THINGS WERE ESCALATING, A PERCENTAGE OF AMERICANS WHO SAID THEY FAVOR DEMOCRATS OVER REPUBLICANS WENT UP.

WHEN WE WOULD GET THE CEASE FIRES AND IT LOOKED LIKE THINGS WERE CALMING DOWN, THE NUMBERS WOULD SWITCH.

THE IRAN WAR WAS REALLY A BIG ISSUE HERE FIRST NOT ONLY BECAUSE TRUMP PROMISED THAT HE WOULDN'T ENGAGE IN THOSE WARS.

AND SO HIS BASE WAS, YOU KNOW, REALLY PUT OFF BY THE FACT THAT HE DID.

BUT THEN AGAIN, I THINK THE MAJOR REASONS THAT IT CAUSED THE PRICE OF GASOLINE, DIESEL FUEL TO GO UP SO IT'S BACK TO THE AFFORDABILITY.

BUT I THINK IF HE HAD NOT ENGAGED WAR WITH IRAN, WE WOULD HAVE HAD A VERY DIFFERENT ELECTION NIGHT.

>> I ALSO THINK ONE OF THE THNGS THAT PLAYED ITSELF OUT WAS THE FACT THAT THE DEMOCRATS DID NOT ALLOW THE REPUBLICANS TO CONTROL THE ISSUE OF RELIGION IN THIS CAMPAIGN.

FOR THE FIRST TIME REALLY SINCE I THINK JIMMY CARTER, YOU HAD A NUMBER OF CANDIDATES WHO OPENLY ESPOUSED THEIR RELIGION, TALKED ABOUT IT AS THE FOUNDATION OF HOW THEY CAME AT POLITICS.

AND WOULDN'T ALLOW THE REPUBLICANS TO TRY AND PIGEON HOLE THEM IN TERMS OF BEING TOO WOKE OR TOO MUSLIM OR, YOU KNOW,REALLY YOUR SORT OF RELIGIOUS JUST FOR THE CAMPAIGN BUT NOT REALLY IN YOUR LIFE.

AND IN PARTICULAR, JAMES TALARICO, A FORMER SEMINARIAN, HAMILTON, A FORMER CHURCH MINISTER.

THEY MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT REASONABLE WAS PART OF THEIR DAILY LIVES.

THERE WERE TIMES WHEN BOTH OF THEM ACTUALLY QUOTED SCRIPTURE.

IN ONE CASE ASKED THEM, THE PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE TO PRAY WITH THEM.

SO THE DEMOCRATS CONTROLLED THAT ISSUE.

AND SHOWED, YES, THERE ARE DEMOCRATS WHO ARE ACTIVE AND PRACTICING CHRISTIANS.

>> I THINK THERE IS LIKE A TENDENCY TO FOCUS ON WHICH ISSUES DID THE VOTERS CARE MOST ABOUT AND, YOU KNOW, YOU GET ALL THESE EXIT POLLS ABOUT WHAT WERE THEIR MOST CONCERNING ISSUES THAT THEY VOTED ON.

BUT I THINK THAT MISSES SOMETHING.

POLLSTERS ASK ABOUT ISSUES AND INDIVIDUAL ISSUES.

IT'S REALLY A COMBINATION OF A LOT OF FACTORS.

WE CAN'T REALLY UNDERSTAND THE SCALE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS ELECTION OF THE ROUTING OF REPUBLICANS WITHOUT LOOKING AT THE BIGGER STORY AND IT'S REALLY AN ABSOLUTE REPUDIATION OF TRUMP, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, TRUMPISM AND THOSE REPUBLICANS WHO SUPPORTED HIM.

AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, IT'S KIND OF LIKE TO CHAD'S POINT, THEY REALLY HAD NOTHING TO OFFER TO VOTERS.

AND SO VOTERS JUST SAW ANOTHER TWO YEARS OF THE SAME THING, WHICH ARE, YOU KNOW, DEEPLY UNPOPULAR.

SO I SORT OF IMAGINE A VOTER, YOU KNOW, REPUBLICAN VOTER IN A RURAL AREA WHO IS UPSET BY HIGH DIESEL PRICES AND THE WAR IN IRAN, AND RIGHT BEFORE THE MID TERMS, THE PRESIDENT TRUMP IS THREATENING TO BOMB IRAN THE DAY AFTER THE MID TERMS.

AND YOU CAN'T REALLY TRUST-- YOU DON'T KNOW WHETHER HE IS OR IS NOT GOING TO DO BECAUSE HIS OPINIONS CHANGE EVERY FIVE MINUTES.

AND HE THINKS YOUR HIGH GAS PRICES ARE WORTH IT.

BUT YOU WERE TOLD LAST YEAR THAT IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM WAS DECIMATED SO WHY ARE WE PAYING HIGH GAS PRICE FORCE SOMETHING SUPPOSEDLY HE ALREADY DID?

AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE BIGGER THING IS NONE OF IT MAKES SENSE TO THE AVERAGE VOTER.

IT'S JUST CHAOS.

>> I HAD A STUDENT YESTERDAY, HI, CHASE, WHO USED THIS LINE THAT MAGA DIDN'T PUT AMERICA FIRST AND THAT'S WHY THEY LOST.

AND I THINK THAT WE DON'T REALLY KNOW ALL THE TURNOUT ISSUES, BUT LIKE ONE OF THE REALLY INTERESTING TURNOUT THINGS THAT WE HAVE NOTICED IS THAT IF YOU GO TO THE DEEP SOUTH, BLACK COUNTIES CONTINUED TO TURN OUT, THAT BLACK VOTERS IN BLACK COUNTIES REALLY WENT OUT.

WHITE VOTERS TENDED TO STAY HOME.

AGAIN THAT'S WHAT THE INITIAL EVIDENCE SAYS.

THAT, TO ME, GETS BACK TO THE IDEA THAT I THINK YOU ARE GETTING AT, WHICH IS TRUMP VOTERS FEELING THAT THEY HAVE BEEN HOODWINKED BY THE WHOLE PROMISE OF MAGA THAT DIDN'T COME TO FRUITION, LIKE, YOU KNOW, YOU PROMISED NO WARS.

WHY ARE YOU SENDING US TO WAR?

AND THAT SORT OF THING.

AND SO I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT YOU ARE SEEING THESE VICTORIES, INCLUDING IN THESE DEEPLY RED STATES THAT WE TYPICALLY DON'T SEE DEMOCRATS DOING WELL.

>> I THINK ALSO QUALITY OF THE CANDIDATES, YOU KNOW, I THINK THEY LOST TEXAS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, TRUMP DECIDED TO GO WITH HIS FAVORITE RATHER THAN CORNYN WHO PROBABLY WOULD HAVE WON AND THE SAME THING IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

THE REPUBLICANS MADE SOME BAD CHOICES.

WHAT THE DEMOCRATS DID, THEY REALLY WON WITH A BIG TENT.

THEY DIDN'T INSIST THAT EVERYONE , YOU KNOW, WOULD-- WHILE THEY SAID THEY HAD THE SAME OVERARCHING CONCERNS ABOUT THINGS LIKE AFFORDABILITY, HOW THEY GOT TO SOLUTIONS, THEY LET THE INDIVIDUAL CANDIDATES DECIDE, SO VERY DIFFERENT FROM, YOU KNOW, SOCIALISTS IN MICHIGAN VERSUS CONSERVATIVES IN KANSAS.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PLAYED ITSELF OUT WAS THE CONCERNS OVER ICE AND THE IMMIGRATION ISSUES.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO POINT OUT VERY CLEARLY IS THAT IN THIS CAMPAIGN, THE PUBLIC MADE IT CLEAR THEY WEREN'T SAYING NO, WE DON'T WANT IMMIGRATION REFORM.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING IS WE DON'T WANT TO SEE AN AGENCY OF THE GOVERNMENT THAT IS THIS OUT OF CONTROL.

YOU KNOW, ICE WEARING MASKS.

WE WOULDN'T ALLOW OUR POLICE TO DO THAT SO WHY ARE WE ALLOWING ICE TO DO THAT.

ARRESTING PEOPLE, SEPARATING THEM FROM THEIR CHILDREN, YOU KNOW, YOU HAND OFF A CHILD TO SOMEONE YOU DON'T KNOW AND THEN YOU ARREST THE PARENT.

SO THE MANY THINGS THAT OCCURRED SURROUNDING ICE, WHAT HAPPENED IN MINNESOTA, I THINK, REALLY WAS A SUBTEXT HERE.

AND GAVE THAT SENSE THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS OUT OF CONTROL.

YOU USED THE PERFECT TERM, CHAOS, IN TERMS OF IMMIGRATION AND WHAT THE PUBLIC WANTS IS A CLEAR PLAN THAT CAN BE EFFECTIVELY PUT IN PLACE.

>> SOMEWHAT SURPRISINGLY, TEXAS, YOU WOULD HAVE THOUGHT BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE IMMIGRANTS ARE COMING IN BUT NO, THE HEAVY HANDEDNESS CAUSED THE HISPANIC VOTE TO COME OUT OVERWHELMINGLY FOR THE DEMOCRATS AND THAT TURNED OUT... >> I THINK YOU ARE RIGHT ABOUT TEXAS, THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE WAS TERRIBLE.

I DISAGREE A LITTLE BIT ON YOUR QUALITY OF CANDIDATES THINGS BECAUSE I THINK I CAN POINT TO A FEW DIFFERENT DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES THAT WERE ACTUALLY TERRIBLE AND THEY STILL WON.

IT CAME DOWN TO THAT TRUMP FAILED.

>> WELL NOW TO A DIFFERENT ANGLE ON THE ELECTION.

DEMOCRATS DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME TO PROVE THEMSELVES.

THE NEXT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CYCLE IS ON THE HORIZON.

WHEN DEMOCRATS TAKE CONTROL OF CONGRESS IN JANUARY, THEY HAVE TO DECIDE WHETHER THEIR TOP PRIORITY IS AFFORDABILITY OR ACCOUNTABILITY.

AND THEY MUST THINK REALISTICALLY ABOUT WHETHER THEY CAN DO BOTH EFFECTIVELY.

SARAH, IT EITHER/OR, OR IS IT BOTH/AND?

>> I THINK IT'S BOTH AND.

THESE ARE BOTH BIG ISSUES IN THE ELECTION.

AFFORDABILITY AND CORRUPTION WERE HIGH ON VOTERS LISTS.

LISTEN, CONGRESS CAN WALK AND CHEW GUM AT THE SAME TIME.

IT HAS, YOU KNOW, THE DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO HAVE CONTROL OVER ALL THE COMMITTEES.

THAT'S 20 STANDING COMMITTEES AND 100 SUBCOMMITTEES 16 STANDING COMMITTEES IN THE SENATE AND LOTS OF SUBCOMMITTEES.

THERE ARE GOING TO BE OVER 300 MEMBERS OF THEM IN CONGRESS.

THEY CAN DO MORE THAN ONE THING.

AND FRANKLY, YOU KNOW, THIS LEVEL OF CORRUPTION NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

AND IT'S NOT JUST LOOKING PAST.

I MEAN WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE NEXT TWO YEARS, WHICH IS GOING TO BE MORE ONGOING CORRUPTION, RIGHT?

TRUMP AND HIS FAMILY, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO STOP TRYING TO MILK THE TAXPAYER AND STEAL OUR MONEY AND HAND IT OUT TO THEMSELVES AND THEIR FRIENDS.

AND SO THIS IS NOT JUST A PAST ISSUE.

IT'S A CURRENT ISSUE AND IT'S A FUTURE CONCERN BECAUSE WE CANNOT SEND THE MESSAGE THAT THIS IS OKAY.

THESE LEVELS EVER CORRUPTION WOULD MAKE EVEN VLADAMIR PUTIN BLUSH, I THINK.

AND IT'S A SURE SIGN OF AUTHORITARIAN GOVERNMENT WHEN WE HAVE THESE LEVELS AND WE DEFINITELY NEED TO ADDRESS IT.

>> PHARA.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS-- TARA?

>> I THINK THEY SHOULD FOCUS ACCOUNTABILITY FIRST AND I SAY THAT-- AFFORDABILITY FIRST.

I'M SORRY.

FREUDIAN SLIP THERE.

AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING WHERE I THINK THEY CAN GET BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

AND I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE DEMOCRATS TO COME OUT, INSTEAD OF WITH A, WE WANT TO PUNISH YOU, TO COME OUT SAYING WE WANT TO WORK WITH YOU BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN FORCED TO RECOGNIZE WHAT WE HAVE RECOGNIZED, WHICH IS THAT AFFORDABILITY IS A MAJOR CONCERN FOR EVERYBODY ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM.

EVERYONE WHO SUPPORTED US OR DIDN'T SUPPORT US STILL HAS THE SAME CONCERNS.

SO LET'S SIT DOWN, LET'S WORK TOGETHER AND, QUITE FRANKLY, AS THE PRESIDENT IS SHIFTING BLAME ALL OVER THE PLACE, THIS MIGHT BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY LET'S SEND A MESSAGE TO THE PRESIDENT ABOUT YOU NEED TO TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT YOU PUT IN PLACE.

>> I WANT TO AGREE WITH YOU IN A MUCH CRAZIER WAY.

LIKE I THINK THAT AMONG THE MAIN ADVANTAGES THE DEMOCRATS HAVE RIGHT NOW IS THAT NUMBER ONE TRUMP IS UNPRINCIPLED AND IT IS REALLY UNCLEAR WHAT KIND OF POLICIES HE REALLY WANTS EXCEPT FOR NUMBER TWO, THAT HE REALLY CARES ABOUT HIMSELF.

IF THE DEMOCRATS AVOID THINGS LIKE, YOU KNOW, IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS AND INVESTIGATIONS LIKE THAT, I MEAN WE'VE SEEN TRUMP COZY UP TO LIKE MAYOR MAMDANI DESPITE BEING BOTH SOCIALIST AND AN IMMIGRANT.

THAT'S WEIRD.

AND SO THERE IS LIKE THIS WAY THAT IF THE DEMS KIND OF REFRAIN FROM ATTACKING LIKE TRUMP'S PERSONAL INTERESTS AND WHAT NOT, THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET HIM TO WORK WITH THEM ON AFFORDABILITY ISSUES, ESPECIALLY THE MOST POPULOUS ONES LIKE TAX CREDITS FOR THE POOR AND THAT SORT OF THING.

IF YOU CARE ABOUT BALANCED BUDGET THAT SHOULD ALARM YOU BUT NOBODY IN D.C.

CARES ABOUT BALANCED BUDGETS ANYMORE SO THESE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT I CAN IMAGINE MOVING FORWARD IN A COOPERATIVE WAY.

>> I AGREE WITH BOTH OF YOU.

THERE ARE SOME DEMOCRATS WHO WANT TO PUT A BIG PILE OF BILLS IN FRONT OF TRUMP THAT HE IS GOING TO VETO, YOU KNOW, SO MEDICARE FOR ALL AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND I THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE A MISTAKE.

I THINK THAT THEY DID WELL IN THIS MID TERM ON AN ANTI-TRUMP PLATFORM, BUT IN 2028 PEOPLE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR ME.

I THINK LOOK LOOKING AT SOME SUBSTANTIVE THINGS, RESTORING SOME OF THE SUBSIDIES FOR AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, AND DOING SOME SMALL THINGS THAT WHERE YOU PUT IT UNDER TRUMP'S DESK.

LIKE WE SAID, SINCE THE LOSS OF THE ELECTION, HE HAS SEEMED OUT OF SORTS AND NOT PAYING ATTENTION.

HE WANTS TO WALK AROUND THE BALLROOM.

I THINK IF YOU PUT SOME THINGS ON HIS TABLE THAT ARE SMALL AND NOT, YOU KNOW,CONFRONTING HIM, THAT HE MAY SIGN THEM SO YOU ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO POINT TO SOME THINGS THAT HAVE YOU ACTUALLY DONE TO TRY TO HELP PEOPLE ACROSS... >> ONE QUICK CORRECTION.

HE DID NOT JUST WALK AROUND THE BALL R5078, HE TOURED PEOPLE.

>> I SORT OF AGREE, BUT DISAGREE A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE I THINK THE DEMOCRATS WIN EITHER WAY.

THEY PUT UP BILLS THAT ARE POPULAR, INCREASE THE MINIMUM WAGE, ALL KINDS OF GOOD AFFORDABILITY SOLUTIONS.

AND WHETHER HE SIGNS THEM OR NOT THEY'RE STILL WINNING.

THEY'RE GOING TO FORCE HIM TO VETO.

THAT'S GREAT AND THEY USE THAT IN THE 2028 AND THEY SAY IF YOU PUT A DEMOCRAT IN THE WHITE HOUSE, WE ARE GOING TO GET THESE LAWS THAT WE SUPPORT ENACTED.

SO I REALLY THINK IT'S A WIN-WIN SITUATION IF THEY KIND OF PUT UP THESE POPULOUS ECONOMIC BILLS.

>> I'M GOING TO DISAGREE WITH YOU A LITTLE BIT.

ANOTHER ONE OF MY STUDENTS, HELLO, TUCKER, SAID THAT-- >> GO COLGATE STUDENTS.

>> IT'S BEEN A GOOD WEEK.

NEED TO GET THE G.O.P.

TO TAKE UNPOPULAR POSITIONS ON POPULAR ISSUES.

I DISAGREE THAT MINIMUM WAGE IS ONE OF THOSE EXAMPLES.

I THINK CLEAR EXAMPLES ARE LIKE ETHICS RULES, GERRYMANDERING RULES.

ICE YOU MENTIONED EARLIER.

AND IN THE WAR, AS ANOTHER ONE, I MEAN YOU ARE TALKING RIGHT NOW YOU COULD HAVE 55 DEMOCRATS IN THE SENATE AND ARE YOU GOING TO GET-- WHAT IS IT 45 REPUBLICANS TO SIT THERE AND SAY LIKE, NO, WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE WAR POWER RESOLUTION-- YOU KNOW WAR POWERS BACK IN THE HANDS OF CONGRESS.

ARE YOU GOING TO FIND 45 PEOPLE TO SAY THAT WHEN A BUNCH OF THEM HAVE TO STAND FOR REELECTION IN TWO TO FOUR YEARS?

THAT'S A DEMOCRATIC STRATEGY THAT CAN WORK, BUT BE VERY CAREFUL AND MAKE SURE THEY'RE WINNING ISSUES AND I'M NOT SURE THAT ALL THE POPULOUS ONES ARE.

>> BUT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS AS IF IT'S JUST A QUESTION OF DEMOCRATS VERSUS REPUBLICANS, WHEN YOU HAD SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE DSA, DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST OF AMERICA ALSO WIN ELECTION, ESPECIALLY IN THE HOUSE SIDE OF THINGS.

I WAS GOING TO SAY SOUTH SIDE OF CHICAGO.

ESPECIALLY ON THE HOUSE SIDE.

HOW MUCH DOES THE INCOMING SPEAKER HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT DEFECTIONS IF THEY DON'T GO BIG?

>> NO.

PROPORTIONALLY THEY'RE SMALLER IN THE HOUSE THAN THEY WERE BEFORE THE ELECTION.

THAT THERE IS ONLY A HANDFUL, THERE ARE LIKE EIGHT D.S.A.

MEMBERS IN THE HOUSE.

NO, IGNORE THEM.

>> THAT'S THE BENEFIT OF HAVING SUCH A BIG VICTORY IN THE HOUSE.

>> THAT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE I DO THINK THAT THERE IS A THREAT TO DEMOCRATS, HOW THEY HANDLE.

IT MAY HAVE BEEN EASIER TO WIN ON ELECTION NIGHT THAN RULE AFTER ELECTION NIGHT.

>> YEAH, BECAUSE YOU STILL HAVE TO GET THE COASTAL LEGISLATURES.

SO ALMOST EVERYBODY AT THE TABLE, I'M NOT SURE IF YOU DID, CHAD BUT ALMOST EVERYBODY SAID YOU CAN HAVE BOTH, AFFORDABILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

WHAT WOULD ACCOUNTABILITY LOOK PARTY.

SO, YOU KNOW, AS MUCH AS IN MY HEART OF HEARTS I MIGHT LOVE THE IDEA OF IMPEACHING TRUMP, THAT SHOULD BE OFF THE TABLE.

NOW INVESTIGATING ICE, DEPARTMENT OF HARVARD UNIVERSITY, CONTRACT-- DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, CONTRACTS, THAT'S SOMETHING THE PUBLIC CAN GET BEHIND.

THAT'S EASY TO UNDERSTAND.

IT'S EASY TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE AN OPEN BIDDING PROCESS AND NO, THE BUDDY OF THE PRESIDENT SHOULDN'T BE THE ONE THAT GOT THE CONTRACT BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT BASICALLY JUST GAVE IT TO HIM.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THE PUBLIC CAN GET BEHIND.

BUT IF IT LOOKS LIKE IT BECOMES A WITCH HUNT FOR TRUMP, THAT WILL PULL IN PEOPLE WHO WENT INTO THE DEMOCRATIC CAMP FOR THIS ELECTION.

>> REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO HELP ACTUALLY BECAUSE MASSEY I THINK IS GOING TO PUT HEGSETH UP FOR IMPEACHMENT EVEN BEFORE THE NEW CONGRESS COMES IN SO.

>> AND THE REPUBLICANS ARE LOOKING FOR SCAPEGOATS AND SACRIFICIAL LAMBS AND, YES, HEGSETH IS GONE.

>> SO MAYBE THAT IS IT.

BUT IF THE IRAN WAR IS DRIVING THE AFFORDABILITY ISSUE, WHICH DROVE THE ELECTIONS, SHOULD THE WAR ITSELF BE RELITIGATED AS THE INCOMING SENATOR FROM MICHIGAN ABDUL SAY YESTERDAY IS SAYING.

HE SAID LET'S LOOK AT HOW THE WAR STARTED.

>> I THINK THEY SHOULD TRY TO END THE WAR, NOT NECESSARILY RELITIGATE IT, RIGHT?

SO FOCUS PUTTING PRESSURE ON TRUMP.

THEY CAN DEFUND THE WAR.

THAT WOULD BE ONE THING.

THEY HAVE CONTROL OF THE PURSE.

STOP FUNDING IT.

>> YEAH.

>> SHIFTING GEARS NOW.

THE REPUBLICAN PARTY NEEDS A NEW PLAYBOOK.

NOW THAT DEMOCRATS ARE IN CHARGE, THERE IS RISK IN ANY STRATEGY TO BLOCK POLICIES DESIGNED TO EASE AMERICANS' ECONOMIC ANXIETY.

BUT THERE'S ALSO RISK IN HELPING DEMOCRATS SCORE LEGISLATIVE VICTORIES.

SO HOW DO REPUBLICANS WIN BACK THE AMERICAN ELECTORATE?

DO THEY FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT OR COMPROMISE, COMPROMISE COMPROMISE?

>> WELL ON, FIRST, WHAT I HOPE THEY DO IS THEY START ACTING LIKE REPUBLICANS AGAIN.

YOU KNOW, TRUMP, YOU KNOW, LIKE TO THROW OUT THE RHINO NAME REPUBLICAN IN NAME ONLY WHEN HE WAS THE BIGGEST RHINO.

SO IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL IF THEY WENT BACK TO SOME OF THEIR CONSERVATIVE VALUES SO THAT WE COULD HAVE A GOOD DISCUSSION ON THESE BUT UNFORTUNATELY MOST OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE GONE.

BUT IF I WAS ACTUALLY ADVISING REPUBLICANS, I WOULD SUGGEST MAYBE TAKING A BEAT FOR A SECOND.

SEE IF THE DEMOCRATS SELF DESTRUCT HERE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN THAT THE MODERATES ARE CLAIMING THAT THEY WERE THE ENGINE OF THIS VICTORY, WHILE THE PROGRESSIVES ARE, AND SO THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS TO SEE HOW THE DEMOCRATS DEAL WITH THIS.

ARE THEY GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE A BIG TENT OR ARE THEY GOING TO BE A LOT OF INFIGHTING.

SO THE FIRST THING IS, YOU KNOW, THE DEMOCRATS HAVE THE ABILITY TO HAND THINGS BACK TO THE REPUBLICANS IF THEY'RE NOT CAREFUL.

>> WELL, YOU SAID, RICK, LIKE HAVE THE REPUBLICANS BE REPUBLICANS AGAIN.

WHAT ARE THEY WITHOUT TRUMP, RIGHT?

THE PARTY IS WHAT DONALD TRUMP SAYS IT IS AND IT IS GOING TO BE THAT WAY FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

WE HAVE A LONG TIME TO WAIT FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY TO FIGURE OUT WHO THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.

>> THERE WAS A GREAT ARTICLE BY STEWART ANDERSON.

>> NOT ANOTHER STUDENT, COME ON.

>> I GOT TWO MORE.

SO STEWART ANDERSON AND FORBES HAD A GREAT ARTICLE, BASICALLY CONTRASTING REAGAN AND TRUMP AND THEIR REMARKS ON IMMIGRATION, BUT IT WAS REALLY A PIECE THAT WAS ABOUT HOW THE REPUBLICANS USED TO SUPPORT FREE MARKETS ON THINGS LIKE IMMIGRATION AND TRADE AND NOT HAVING A GOVERNMENT STAKE IN OWNING COMPANIES.

SO, YEAH, I WOULD LOVE FOR THE PARTY TO RETRACT-- REJECT TRUMP AND RETURN TO G.O.P.

ORTHODOXY.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

I THINK THERE IS ANOTHER KIND OF INTERESTING ISSUE THAT IS OUT THERE, TOO, THOUGH.

UNDER THE RADAR, ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT REPUBLICANS LOST WAS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF TEXAS RACE.

THE REASON THAT IS POROUS, BECAUSE IT USED TO BE WHEN DEMOCRATS PASSED UNPOPULAR POLICIES, TEXAS WOULD SUE.

THE FIFTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS WOULD UPHOLD.

>> THE MOST CONSERVATIVE.

THEY WOULD SIDE WITH THE REPUBLICANS AND THEN SUPREME COURT IS SUPER BUSY SO THEY WOULDN'T TAKE UP THE DEMOCRATIC APPEALS.

WELL, WITHOUT THAT CHANNEL AVAILABLE NOW, THE REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO SHIFT RESOURCES OVER TO MISSISSIPPI AND LOUISIANA AND OTHER STATES IN THAT FIFTH CIRCUIT THAT DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES THAT TEXAS HAS AND SO THERE IS LIKE DEEPER STRATEGY THAT IS GOING TO BE AT PLAY THAT IS NOT ABOUT THE HOUSE AND SENATE, BUT IS GOING TO BE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT FOR THE REPUBLICANS TO KIND OF STOP DEMOCRATIC PRIORITIES.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK THE REPUBLICANS NEED TO DO IS GO BACK AND LOOK AT WHERE THERE WERE OPPORTUNITIES PRIOR TO THIS ELECTION TO WORK WITH THE DEMOCRATS AND BASICALLY BRING THAT LEGISLATION BACK.

AND I'M THINKING OF THE IMMIGRATION BILL THAT WAS BIPARTISAN, THEY BASICALLY HAD AN AGREEMENT AND THEN TRUMP LITERALLY CALLED REPUBLICANS SAYING NO, YOU CANNOT VOTE FOR THIS.

DOING THAT, THEN PUTS THE DEMOCRATS IN THE HOT SEAT TO WORK WITH THEM.

AND THE SOONER THEY CAN BEGIN SHOWING OKAY, THEY SAY THEY WANT BIPARTISANSHIP, THE DEMOCRATS SAY THEY WANT THIS, THEY WANT THAT.

SEE, WE MADE AN OFFER AND THEY WOULDN'T TAKE IT.

SO THE SOONER THEY CAN START DOING THAT AND BEGIN UNDERMINING WHAT THE DEMOCRATS SAY THEY ARE CURRENTLY ABOUT AND WHAT THEY WANT FOR THE GOVERNMENT, THE BETTER FOR THE REPUBLICANS.

>> BETTER FOR THE REPUBLICANS.

WOW.

WHAT A GREAT CONVERSATION.

WE WERE SO PSYCHED FOR TODAY.

NOW IT'S TIME FOR OUR GRADE BOOKS AND WE ARE GOING TO START WITH OUR FS AND TARA, CAN I COME RIGHT BACK TO YOU.

>> YES.

I'M GIVING AN F TO THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FOR ITS DECISION TO WITHDRAW DUTY FREE ACCESS FOR SOUTH AFRICA AND RWANDA UNDER THE AFRICAN GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY ACT.

AND THIS WOULD START JANUARY 1, 2027.

THIS NOW MEANS THAT BOTH COUNTRIES WOULD BE SUBJECT TO TARIFFS ON THINGS LIKE MOTOR VEHICLES, MOTOR VEHICLE PARTS AS WELL AS COFFEE, TEA AND MINERALS.

REMOVING THIS DESIGNATION IS BELIEVED TO BE ABOUT BARRIERS TO U.S.

TRADE AND INVESTMENT, CORRUPTION AND THREATS TO U.S.

SECURITY.

NOW THAT'S WHAT IT IS BELIEVED TO BE.

IT ALSO MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH TRUMP'S VIEW OF WHAT IS GOING ON IN SOUTH AFRICA WITH THE AFRIKANERS.

>> SARAH.

>> YEAH, MY F GOES TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY FOR THE LACK OF WOMEN IN OFFICE.

RIGHT NOW THERE ARE ONLY 15% OF THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS IN CONGRESS IS WOMEN.

AND THOSE NUMBERS ARE GOING TO GET WORSE AS FIVE REPUBLICAN WOMEN IN THE HOUSE WERE DEFEATED.

SOME OF THESE SEATS HAVE YET TO BE DETERMINED BUT THE CURRENT COUNT IS JUST 24 REPUBLICAN WOMEN TO SERVE IN THE NEXT CONGRESS DOWN FROM 41.

THE REPUBLICAN DELEGATION LOOKS LESS AND LESS LIKE THE COUNTRY IT IS SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT AND THAT'S NOWHERE AS OBVIOUS AS THE LACK OF REPUBLICAN WOMEN IN CONGRESS.

>> RICK.

>> MY F GOES TO WEALTHY TECH EXECUTIVES, WHILE THEY MAY HAVE AVOIDED CALIFORNIA'S ATTEMPT TO TAX THEIR WEALTH, THEIR DECISION TO GO ALL IN BY INGRATIATING THEMSELVES WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP BY FUNDING HIS PET PROJECTS AND BY SPENDING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES, LED TO A REPUDIATION OF THEIR BEHAVIOR ON TUESDAY NIGHT BY THE VOTERS AND THEN THURSDAY BY THE MARKETS.

>> CHAD.

>> TRUMP EARNED HIS REBUKE THIS WEEK BUT I'M GOING TO EXPRESS SOME REMORSE AND GIVE MAINE MY F FOR OVER SUSAN COLLINS LOSS.

WE NEED MODERATE VOICES IN THE U.S.

GOVERNMENT.

COL LINSZ'S LOSS LEAVES NEW ENGLAND WITH JUST ONE REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS SCOTTLEY PAGE WHO IS CURRENTLY LEADING HIS RACE BY RAZOR THIN MARGIN.

IF POWER SHARING IS IMPORTANT TO YOU, YOU WOULD RECOGNIZE THAT ONE PARTY RULE IN THE NORTHEAST IS DEEPLY PROBLEMATIC.

>> AND NOW WE ARE GOING TO END THIS WEEK WITH SOME GOOD NEWS FOR YOU.

STARTING AGAIN WITH TARA.

>> INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH MY A GOES TO SUSAN COLLINS FOR HER 30 PLUS YEARS IN SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE OF MAINE AND THE U.S.

CONGRESS.

OVER THE YEARS, COLLINS SECURED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN FEDERAL AID AND BENEFITS FOR HER STATE.

SHE ALSO WAS A MODERATE WILLING TO CROSS THE AISLE ON A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT PIECES OF LEGISLATION, INCLUDING CONFIRMING THE FIRST TRANSGENDER ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND THE JOBS AND GROWTH TAX RELIEF ACT.

>> SARAH.

>> MY A GOES TO THE DEMOCRATIC WOMEN WHO WON POLITICAL OFFICE ACROSS THE U.S., INCLUDING DEEP RED STATES LIKE GEORGIA AND TEXAS.

IN GEORGIA, KEISHA BOTTOMS WILL BE THE NEW GOVERNOR DESPITE BEING OUTINTEBT 19 TO 1, GINA HINIHOSA PULLED OUT A SPECK LACK LAR WIN.

IN THE NEW CONGRESS, 124 DEMOCRATIC WOMEN WILL SERVE IN CONGRESS, A RECORD.

>> RICK.

>> MY A GOES TO CHUCK SCHUMER, SENATOR OF NEW YORK AFTER DODGING MANY CALLS FOR HIS RESIGNATION.

SCHUMER HELPED ORCHESTRATE AN HISTORIC NIGHT WHERE DEMOCRATS FLIPPED AT LEAST SEVEN SENATE SEATS.

IRONICALLY HE MAY NOT GET TO SERVE AS MAJORITY LEADER AS MANY OF HIS NEWLY ELECTED SENATORS SAID THEY WON'T SUPPORT HIM.

>> QUICKLY CHAD.

>> WHITNEY CUMMINGS POSTED A VIDEO OF HER SHOW IN SYRACUSE IN WHICH HE SHADE FUN OF 104 MILLION AQUARIUM CALLING IT A LEVEL OF MONEY LAUNDERING I HAVE NOT WITH IT EASED-- WITNESSED IN A WHILE.

YOU GET AN A. WELL, THAT'S ALL WE HAVE FOR YOU TONIGHT IN THE STUDIO.

WE'D LOVE TO HEAR WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THE TOPICS WE'VE DISCUSSED TONIGHT.

PLEASE WRITE TO THE ADDRESS ON YOUR SCREEN.

IF YOU WANT TO WATCH THE SHOW AGAIN OR SHARE IT WITH SOMEONE ELSE, POST IT ON YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA, GO TO WCNY.ORG.

I'M NINA MOORE.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "IVORY TOWER," HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.