WHY IS HE RUNNING IF 70% DON'T WANT HIM TO?

IS CABLE NEWS TURNING OVER A NEW LEAF?

HOW CAN A SINGLE JUDGE BLOCK THE ABORTION PILL?

WE'LL HAVE ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS ON IVORY TOWER COMING UP NEXT.

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

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M NINA MOORE OF COLGATE UNIVERSITY.

JOINING ME HERE AT THE TABLE FOR A DEEP DIVE INTO THIS WEEK'S NEWS ARE: TARA ROSS OF ONONDAGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE, SARAH PRALLE OF SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY, MICHAEL TILLOTSON OF SUNY CORTLAND, ANIRBAN ACHARIYA OF LEMOYNE COLLEGE.

THERE WERE SEVERAL BIG NEWS ITEMS THIS WEEK, INCLUDING PRESIDENT BIDEN'S FORMAL ANNOUNCEMENT THAT HE'S RUNNING FOR REELECTION.

THE OTHER BIG NEWS?

70% OF AMERICANS DON'T WANT HIM TO.

THE PRESIDENT SAID THAT HE WANTS TO FINISH THE JOB... TO FINISH THE FIGHT FOR EVERYDAY AMERICANS, FOR EQUALITY, FREEDOM, AND DEMOCRACY.

BUT, SARAH, IF AS MANY AS 60% OF THOSE IN HIS OWN PARTY DON'T THINK HE'S THEIR BEST SHOT AT WINNING THE WHITE HOUSE, WHAT ARE WE TO MAKE OF HIS PLANS TO RUN ANYWAY?

>> WELL, BIDEN DOESN'T HAVE TO BE POPULAR.

HE JUST HAS TO BE MORE POPULAR THAN WHOEVER HE IS RUNNING AGAINST.

AND I THINK ONE OF THE WAYS HE IS GOING TO TRY TO WIN OVER SOME VOTERS OR INCREASE HIS POPULARITY IS TO TOUT HIS LEGISLATIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, WHICH ARE IMPRESSIVE, ESPECIALLY DURING THE FIRST TWO YEARS.

AND IT KIND OF MAKES COMMON SENSE.

YOU PASS POLICIES THAT ARE WIDELY POPULAR, MAYBE THAT GIVE LITTLE GOODIES AND BENEFITS TO INDIVIDUALS AND TO COMMUNITIES, AND YOU WOULD THINK THAT THEY WOULD THEN REWARD YOU WITH THEIR VOTE.

BUT POLITICAL SCIENCE RESEARCH SUGGESTS IT'S NOT THAT SIMPLE FROM LINE TO POLICIES TO VOTES.

FIRST OF ALL, PEOPLE HAVE A PRETTY WEAK UNDERSTANDING OF HOW POLICIES OPERATE.

THEY'RE OFTEN NOT AWARE OF WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THEM; PARTICULARLY WHICH PARTY IS.

OR EVEN SOMETIMES HOW THEY BENEFIT.

SO MANY POLICIES ARE RELATIVELY INVISIBLE TO PEOPLE.

SO-- AND EVEN WHEN THEY ARE AWARE OF IT, AWARE OF THE PARTY THAT GAVE IT TO THEM, WE ARE SO HIGHLY POLARIZED RIGHT NOW THAT A LOT OF AMERICANS ARE JUST GOING TO VOTE FOR WHATEVER PARTY THEY IDENTIFY WITH, EVEN IF THE OTHER PARTY HAS PROVIDED A FEW POLICY BENEFITS THAT THEY APPROVE OF.

WE SAW THIS HAPPEN WITH THE OBAMACARE.

EVEN PEOPLE WHO BENEFITED PERSONALLY FROM OBAMACARE AND APPRECIATED THAT COVERAGE, IF THEY WERE REPUBLICANS, THEY DID NOT VOTE FOR OBAMA.

>> SARAH SAYS PARTY IS GOING TO RULE THE DAY ULTIMATELY.

BUT TO THE QUESTION ABOUT POLICY SUCCESSES, DOES HE HAVE A RECORD IF IT WERE POSSIBLE TO GET VOTERS TO TUNE IN MORE TO POLICY?

>> THE CHALLENGE FOR JOE BIDEN, ARE THESE THINGS TRANSLATABLE?

CAN HE CREATE MORE CHARISMA.

HE IS A SERIOUS PERSON.

HE LOOKS AT JOBS, HOUSING, HEALTHCARE, LIFE EXPECTANCY, PRENATAL CARE AND THE GROWING DISPARITY OF EDUCATION AND HEALTHCARE.

A CONSEQUENTIAL GUN SAFETY BILL, PROPOSING CANCELLATION OF STUDENT DEBT, REFORMING THE POST OFFICE.

RELEASING OILS IN THE RESERVES.

THERE IS SOMETHING IN THE AGENDA FOR EVERY DEMOGRAPHIC.

BUT CAN HE MAKE IT TRANSLATABLE?

THAT'S THE QUESTION.

>> IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE HE HAS BECAUSE 40% APPROVE OF HIS JOB PERFORMANCE, AND THAT'S FAIRLY LOW.

>> YEAH, I MEAN THE APPROVAL RATING IS ALWAYS, YOU HAVE TO TAKE IT WITH A PINCH OF SALT.

THEY CHANGE OVER TIME AND PRESIDENTS GENERALLY HAVE BAD APPROVAL RATINGS DURING THIS TIME OF THEIR TENURE.

BUT THERE WERE SEVERAL AFTER THE PURPORTED RED WAVE THAT CRASHED AND BURNED DURING THE MID TERM, PEOPLE SAID THIS WAS BECAUSE THAT A LOT OF MID WESTERN VOTERS, WORKING CLASS VOTERS VOTED FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY BECAUSE OF PROLABOR POLICIES THAT BIDEN PUT FORWARD AND THAT DID TRANSLATE INTO VOTES AND THERE WERE SEVERAL THINGS THAT CAME OUT DURING THAT TIME.

HOWEVER, I DO WORRY THOUGH THAT BIDEN IS, AGAIN, HE IS HELD THE FEWEST NEWS CONFERENCES SINCE REAGAN.

SEVERAL NEWSPAPERS HAVE REPORTED THAT HE FINDS OUT A WAY TO NOT HAVE UNSCRIPTED INTERVIEWS WITH NEWS CHANNELS, WITH PEOPLE.

HE DOESN'T HAVE PRESS CONFERENCES.

SO SOMETHING-- THAT'S SOMETHING I WORRY ABOUT THAT, YOU KNOW, HE WANTS TO AVOID THE UNSCRIPTED, YOU KNOW, VENUES WHERE HE NEEDS TO REALLY TALK AND BE ON HIS FEET TO KIND OF THINK ABOUT AMERICAN POLICY AND CONVINCE VOTERS.

SO I'M WORRIED ABOUT THAT.

>> AND THAT TAKES US TO THE NEXT BIG ELEPHANT THAT IS IN THE ROOM THAT EVERYONE SEEMS TO SEE AND THAT IS THE ISSUE OF AGE.

BY THE END OF HIS SECOND TERM, HE WOULD BE 86, AND WHAT IS STRIKING IS THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE A BIG DEAL FOR VOTERS, INCLUDING 66% OF SENIORS.

SO WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT?

DO YOU THINK THAT'S TIED TO WHAT APPEARS TO BE HIS RELUCTANCE TO GO OFF SCRIPT?

>> YEAH, I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE NEWS MEDIA IS TRYING TO SAY, IT'S NOT AGEIST TO SAY AT LEAST, IN THIS CONTEXT, THAT HIS-- THAT HE IS TOO OLD TO RUN.

THE REASON THEY'RE SHOWING IS THAT HE HAS BEEN AWAY FROM THE WHITE HOUSE FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

AGAIN, HE DOESN'T SIT FOR UNSCRIPTED INTERVIEWS.

AND HE IS REFUSING TO DEBATE THE TWO OTHER PRIMARY OPPONENTS.

THEY MAY BE VERY WEAK ONEONTA OPPONENTS BUT WHY NOT DEBATE THEM.

SO THAT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING BASED ON FACTS AND BASED ON BEHAVIOR THAT THEY'RE OBSERVING ABOUT THE PRESIDENT.

>> I WANT TO TURN TO TARA TO TALK ABOUT KAMALA, BUT YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THE DEBATE.

BUT COULD I ASK YOU, WOULD A DEBATE BE HELPFUL?

>> PROBABLY NOT.

HOWEVER, WHY DO WE JUDGE JOE BIDEN FROM A DIFFERENT LENS THAN DONALD TRUMP.

HE DOESN'T DO MOST THINGS NORMAL CANDIDATES DO.

WHY DO WE HOLD JOE BIDEN TO THAT STAND ATTAR?

>> AND HE ALWAYS GOES OFF SCRIPT.

>> WHAT ABOUT KAMALA HARRIS?

>> THAT'S THE OTHER REASON FOR THE LOW APPROVAL RATING.

AND I NOTICE IT MOST BECAUSE IF YOU THINK BACK WHEN BARACK OBAMA WAS FIRST RUNNING FOR THE PRESIDENCY, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS MENTIONED ABOUT HIM WAS HIS LACK OF EXPERIENCE AND AGE SORT OF BECAME WRAPPED INTO THAT.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT COUNTERED THAT WAS THAT BACKING HIM AT THE TIME WAS THEN SENATOR KENNEDY, AND ALSO HIS RUNNING MATE JOE BIDEN.

SO YES, HE WAS YOUNG, YES HE WAS SOMEWHAT INEXPERIENCED BUT HAD THE ELDER EXPERIENCED GENTLEMEN BEHIND HIM.

SO YOU ARE SEEING THIS NOW IN REVERSE WITH KAMALA HARRIS.

PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE MORE FAITH IN HIS APPROVAL RATINGS MIGHT BE HIGHER IF KAMALA HARRIS HAD STRONGER APPROVAL RATINGS BUT HER APPROVAL RATINGS ARE LOWER.

SHE HAS NOT HANDLED THE ONE BIG PROJECT THAT SHE HAD, WHICH WAS THE IMMIGRATION AND THE BORDER, VERY WELL.

NOW YOU KNOW, THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT DEBATE, A WHOLE DIFFERENT SHOW.

BUT, AGAIN, PEOPLE LOOK-- YOU COMBINE THAT WITH HIS AGE, WITH THE LACK OF SITTING DOWN FOR INTERVIEWS, AND PEOPLE SAY OKAY, IF HE SHOULD DIE IN OFFICE, WHICH THE REALITY IS IT'S MORE LIKELY THE OLDER YOU GET, THEN WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE IS KAMALA HARRIS, AND THAT MAKES PEOPLE VERY NERVOUS BECAUSE THEY'RE VERY UNSURE ABOUT HER BOTH AS A PRESIDENT AND WHETHER SHE COULD REALLY HANDLE THE RIGORS, THE CHALLENGES OF THE JOB.

>> CHALLENGES OF THE JOB.

BUT BOTH SHE AND BIDEN ARE MAKING THIS AN ELECTION THAT HAS TO DO WITH SAVING THE SOUL OF AMERICA.

AND I WONDER IF THAT, IF TRUMP WERE THE OPPONENT, I WONDER IF THAT MANTRA WOULD HELP.

>> WELL, I WOULD JUST SAY ABSOLUTELY.

AGAIN, ELECTIONS ARE CONTESTS.

THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY REFERENDUM ON THE SITTING PRESIDENT.

THAT'S WHAT HE IS GOING TO TRY TO MAKE IT.

HE IS GOING TO EMPHASIZE THE CONTRAST BETWEEN WHAT THE REPUBLICANS ARE STANDING FOR, MUCH OF WHICH IS UNPOPULAR OUTSIDE OF THE REPUBLICAN BASE.

AND SO IT'S KIND OF A REPLAY OF 2020 IN SOME SENSE.

AND I DO WORRY ABOUT THAT PART BECAUSE I WORRY THAT YOUNG VOTERS ARE JUST GOING TO SEE THE SAME OLD CANDIDATES, A REPLAY OF 2020 AND THEY MIGHT GET TURNED OFF BY THIS IDEA THAT THINGS NEVER CHANGE, RIGHT?

THAT PEOPLE NEVER CHANGE.

>> AND SO WE'LL SEE HOW THAT TURNS OUT.

STUNNING DEVELOPMENTS IN CABLE NEWS THIS WEEK RAISED SERIOUS QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW WE GET OUR NEWS AND FROM WHOM.

TELEVISION PERSONALITY TUCKER CARLSON IS NO LONGER WITH FOX NEWS.

OVER AT CNN DON LEMON'S 17-YEAR RUN HAS COME TO AN END.

WE DON'T HAVE AN OFFICIAL EXPLANATION FROM EITHER NETWORK YET, BUT, THERE'S A TON OF SPECULATION ABOUT WHY THE DEPARTURES HAPPENED AND WHAT THE DEPARTURES MEAN.

ANIRBAN, LET'S READ THE TEA LEAVES.

TUCKER CARLSON HOSTED THE MOST-WATCHED EVENING SHOW ON TELEVISION.

DOES HIS DEPARTURE SIGNAL A SHIFT AT FOX NEWS?

SHOULD WE EXPECT SOMETHING DIFFERENT NOW?

>> NO, I DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD EXPECT ANYTHING DIFFERENT NOW.

INCREASINGLY, FOX NEWS LOOKS AT THE LEADERSHIP LEVEL IS THIS CABAL OF RACIST HOMOPHOBIC SEXUAL PREDATORS AND TUCKER CARLSON HAS SAID HATEFUL THINGS FOR YEARS ON END.

IN ONE OF THE RADIO SHOWS HE COMPARED WOMEN TO DOGS.

AND DEFENDED STATUTORY RAPE.

HE CALLED IRAQIS PRIMITIVE MONKEYS BECAUSE THEY DON'T WASH WITH WATER AND DOESN'T USE FORKS.

AND FOX NEWS DID NOTHING, RIGHT?

HIS RATINGS WENT UP AND UP AND UP.

AND NOW, YOU KNOW, FOR WHATEVER MYSTERIOUS REASON THERE MIGHT BE A CASE ANOTHER PRODUCER ABBY BROAS BERG HAS BEEN SUING FOX REGARDING TUCKER CARLSON FORCING HER TO DELETE EMAILS REGARDING DOMINION AND ANTI-SEMITISM AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

NO, I THINK FOX THRIVES ON A CERTAIN KIND OF MAGA ECOSYSTEM RESERVED FOR THE PROGRESSIVE RIGHT.

AND TUCKER CARLSON IS JUST ANOTHER CLOWN IN THAT GAME.

THEY WILL GET OTHER CLOWNS IN THERE TO SAY HATEFUL STUFF, NAZI STUFF, AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN.

IT JUST BOGGLES MY MIND TO SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU SEE THIS KIND OF STUFF BEING TOLD ON TV WHERE TUCKER CARLSON CLAIMS THAT IT IS THE TRUTH.

HE IS SEEKING TRUTH TO POWER.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY.

>> BOGGLES YOUR MIND, BUT SARAH, IT'S THE MOST WATCHED OR WAS THE MOST WATCHED EVENING SHOW ON CABLE NEWS.

AND AFTER HIS DEPARTURE, THE VERY NEXT NIGHT, RATINGS DROPPED BY A THIRD.

SO IS THIS ABOUT CARLSON AND ALL THE TERRIBLE THINGS ABOUT HIM THAT ANIRBAN POINTED OUT?

OR IS THIS SOMETHING BIGGER?

>> I THINK IT'S SO IRONIC, RIGHT, THAT WHAT SET THIS ALL OFF WAS SORT OF PANIC BY FOX NEWS THAT THEY WERE LOSING VIEWERSHIP TO O.A.N.

AND NEWSMAX WHEN THEY WEREN'T AS PRO-INSURRECTION AND BEHIND DONALD TRUMP'S LIES THAT THE ELECTION HAD BEEN STOLEN.

SO THEY WERE WORRIED ABOUT LOSING MARKET SHARE TO THOSE.

AND THAT'S WHY IT LED TO THIS WHOLE DOMINION ISSUE, RIGHT?

AND HERE THEY ARE RIGHT BACK WHERE THEY STARTED, WHICH IS BECAUSE TUCKER CARLSON NOW IS LEAVING, THAT THEY MIGHT BE SEEING THAT SOME OF THEIR VIEWERSHIP GO ELSEWHERE TO THE MORE RIGHT WING.

SO I FIND IT SORT OF TRAGIC IN A SENSE, RIGHT, IN THAT SENSE.

BUT TO ANIRBAN'S POINT ABOUT CARLSON HIMSELF.

I MEAN I WOULD SAY YES, HE IS JUST GOING TO BE REPLACED BY SOMEONE LIKE THAT.

BUT I THINK CARLSON HAD A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THAT MIGHT NOT BE DUPLICATED BY THE NEXT PERSON.

>> YEAH, WITH THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND HIS BASE, WHICH HAS FOLLOWED HIM FROM MSNBC, CNN, TO FOX AND PERHAPS TO THE NEXT PLACE.

WHERE DO YOU COME DOWN ON THIS, TARA?

>> WELL, I THINK THIS IS PARTIALLY FOX LOOKING FOR A FALL GUY.

AND I THINK IN LOOKING FOR A FALL GUY AND LOOKING AT TUCKER CARLSON, THERE IS A GAME BEING PLAYED HERE.

OKAY, WELL ON' SORT OF MAKE HIM THE DOMINION FALL GUY, TRY AND SORT OF REPAINT THIS AS THIS WAS TUCKER CARLSON'S SORT OF LEADING THIS WHOLE CONSPIRACY THEORY, LESS IT WAS FOX NEWS.

BUT I ALSO THINK THEY'RE TRYING TO SORT OF REINVENT THEMSELVES, NOT TOTALLY, BUT A LITTLE BIT AS MORE REAL NEWS.

BECAUSE I THINK THE DOMINION CASE AND TUCKER CARL SON'S CONSTANTLY REHASHING OF THE CONSPIRACY THEORIES MADE THEM APPEAR TO BE LESS REAL NEWS.

>> ESPECIALLY SINCE IT WAS REVEALED THAT HE DIDN'T BELIEVE IN HIMSELF.

AND IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, MICHAEL, SHARE WITH US YOUR THOUGHTS.

>> AS FAR AS FOR ME, THE TUCK ARE CARL SON DON LEMON CIRCUS GOES, THE FREE MARKET CAPITALISM HAS NO MORAL CODE.

HE MANIPULATED POPULISM BY APPEALING TO THE DISENCHANTED BASE OF THE FORMER PRESIDENT AND CONSTANTLY FEEDING THEIR INSATIABLE UNSATISFIABLE CRAVING FOR EMOTIONAL SATISFACTION WHERE DON LEMON'S FUTURE IS MORE UNCERTAIN AS HE HAS FEWER SPACES OF OPPORTUNITY.

WHAT IS HE GOING TO DO?

CHRIS MATTHEWS OR IS FOX NEWS GOING TO HIRE HIM TO BE THE NEXT HUMAN PUNCHING BAG?

WE'LL HAVE TO SEE HOW IT PLAYS OUT.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.

WHAT WERE DON LEMON'S FAUX PASS?

>> I'LL LET YOU ANSWER THAT BETTER THAN I CAN.

I THINK YOU HAVE A BETTER GRASP.

>> LEMON HAS A VERY, LONG, LONG HISTORY OF MISOGYNY AND ATTACK TOWARDS FEMALE REPORTERS, ESPECIALLY KYRA PHILLIPS CHOSEN OVER DON LEMON TO DO THE IRAQ WAR AND DON LEMON STARTED TO THROW A HISSY THEFIT.

AND THIS HAS BEEN COMING TOWARDS HIM.

I DON'T THINK HE WILL MAKE LEMONADE OUT OF IT.

>> YOU NEVER DISAPPOINT WITH THE PUNS, ANIRBAN.

THANK YOU.

THE CONTROVERSY OVER ABORTION IS PLAYING OUT IN PRETTY MUCH EVERY STATE IN AMERICA, BUT A SINGLE, SOLITARY FEDERAL JUDGE IN TEXAS DECIDED THE ISSUE FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

JUST ONE DISTRICT COURT JUDGE IMPOSED A NATIONWIDE BLOCK ON USE OF THE ABORTION PILL MIFEPRISTONE BECAUSE, IN HIS OPINION, THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION DID NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO APPROVE THE PILL.

THIS WAS 20 YEARS AGO.

MICHAEL, THIS IS A CASE OF JUDICIAL ACTIVISM OR SOMETHING ELSE?

>> ABSOLUTELY BUT LET'S NOT FORGET THE QUESTION OF LEGAL STANDING IN THIS CASE BECAUSE AT ISSUE HERE DOES THIS CASE, DOES IT QUALIFIED FOR STANDING.

YOU MUST SUSTAIN THE INJURY BEFORE THE FIGHTING OF THE LAWSUIT.

NUMBER 2 NOT GRANTED FOR HYPOTHETICAL CLAIMS OR THE RISK OF BEING INJURED AND INJURY MUST BE REAL AND PROVEABLE THROUGH EVIDENCE.

THE PLAINTIFFS IN THIS CASE, THE PRO-LIFE DOCTORS, ET CETERA, TECHNICALLY THEY CANNOT OVERTURN THE FDA'S APPROVAL OF THE PILL UNLESS THEY CAN PROVE THEY'RE HARMED BY THIS.

THE DOCTORS DID NOT PRESCRIBE THE PILLS TO THE PATIENT.

OTHER DOCTORS DO.

THE PLAINTIFFS CLAIM THEY WERE HARMED BECAUSE HYPOTHETICALLY ANOTHER DOCTOR COULD PRESCRIBE THE PILL TO THE PATIENTS.

THE MAJORITY OF EGALITARIAN LEGAL SCHOLARS MAINTAIN IT IS TOO HYPOTHETICAL TO ESTABLISH STANDING UNDER THE ESTABLISHED PRESENCE OF THE SUPREME COURT.

SO IN MY VIEW, THIS IS RELIGIOUS POLITICAL JUDICIAL ACTIVISM FROM THE BENCH MASK MASQUERADING AS LAW AND JURISPRUDENCE.

>> AND THE LAW IS THAT THE PLAINTIFFS OR THOSE WHO APPEALED IT KNEW THAT THIS JUDGE WOULD BE SYMPATHETIC AND SO ENGAGED IN?

JUDGE SHOPPING.

DO YOU THINK THAT'S WHY WE STILL ENDED UP WITH A CASE THAT ARGUABLY LACKS STANDING AND A NUMBER OF OTHER IMPORTANT LEGAL CRITERIA?

>> I ABSOLUTELY AGREE.

THERE WERE HINTS DURING HIS CONFIRMATION HEARINGS.

FOR EXAMPLE, IT CAME OUT THAT IN THE CASE WHICH MADE THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT FOR SAME SEX COUPLES TO MARRY, HE HAD WRITTEN, AMICUS BRIEF TO THE COURT SAYING THAT ALAWING SAME-SEX MARRIAGE CONSTITUTIONALLY SPEAKING WOULD LEAD TO A ROAD TO POTENTIAL TYRANNY.

NOW I DON'T KNOW, AS A SOCIAL SCIENTIST, SHOULD I TAKE THIS PERSON SERIOUSLY AS A JUDGE OR JUST ASK HIM TO TAKE A CHILL PILL, FOR EXAMPLE?

AND AGAIN, THE PILL IS ALSO USED FOR MISCARRIAGES, BY DOCTORS FOR LEGITIMATE REASONS.

SO I DO THINK THAT THERE HAS BEEN THIS KIND OF IDEA OF SHOPPING FOR JUDGES WHO WOULD KIND OF EXTEND TOWARD THE FEDERAL DOMAIN.

SO I HONESTLY THINK THAT IF YOU WANT TO OBSERVE THE JUDICIALRY TRAJECTORY FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, REGRESSIVE RIGHT TAKING ON THE ISSUE OF GOVERNMENT SANCTIONED PREGNANCY, NOT TO RETURN IT TO THE STATES, BUT TAKING IT TO THE FEDERAL LEVEL SO THAT FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS MORE CONTROL OVER BODIES.

I THINK THAT'S THE MAIN GOAL THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO GET AT.

>> LET ME PUSH BACK A LITTLE BIT ON THAT.

SHOE ON THE OTHER FOOT, RIGHT?

MANY MADE THE SAME ARGUMENT AGAINST LIBERAL FORMER CHIEF JUSTICE EARL WARREN AS HE WAS PUSHING FOR LIBERAL DECISIONS.

DON'T WE WANT JUDGES TO FAITHFULLY INTERPRET AND APPLY THE CONSTITUTION AS THEY SEE IT, EVEN IF IT'S SOMETHING WITH WHICH WE DISAGREE?

>> YES, BUT NOT FROM A JUDGE WHO THINKS IF SAME SEX COUPLES WE WILL END UP ON A ROAD TO TYRANNY.

THAT'S SOME OUT THERE LEFT FIELD STUFF THAT IS HARD TO DEFEND.

I DON'T KNOW.

I THINK HIS INCAPABLE AND NOT FIT FOR THE JOB.

I JUST DON'T THINK HE IS A GOOD PERSON THAT WAY.

>> I DON'T MIND JUDGES INTERPRETING THE LAW IF THAT INTERPRETATION IS BASED ON SOMETHING OTHER THAN THEIR MORALS.

THERE IS SOMETHING MORE SCIENTIFIC OR LEGALISTIC BEHIND IT.

MANY OF THE ARGUMENTS THAT WERE MADE BY THIS JUDGE, FOR EXAMPLE, HE TALKS ABOUT THE HARM THAT WOMEN EXPERIENCE, SAME, ANXIETY AND REGRET.

IT'S NOT THE DRUG THAT CAUSES THAT.

IT'S HAVING THE ABORTION THAT CAUSES THAT.

BUT HE IS BLAMING IT ON THE DRUG.

HE SAYS THAT THERE IS SCIENCE THAT SHOWS THAT THE FDA DID NOT DO DUE DILIGENCE.

WELL, THERE IS PLENTY OF EVIDENCE THAT THEY DID DO DUE DILIGENCE.

>> SO HE READ IT HIS WAY.

>> EXACTLY.

>> I WOULD SAY ACTUALLY THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT WOMEN EXPERIENCE SHAME AND REGRET ABOUT ABORTION, EITHER.

SO HE-- NONE OF THIS WAS BASED ON ANY EVIDENCE.

AND THAT'S PART OF THE REAL PROBLEM HERE AS WELL.

AND THE KIND MUCH JUDICIAL ACTIVISM THAT OVERTURNS EXPERT DECISIONS OR THAT UNDERMINES THE THE POPULAR WILL, IF THERE IS TOO MUCH OF THAT, THAT BECOMES A REAL PROBLEM FOR A DEMOCRACY.

>> I THINK THE SUPREME COURT IS GOING TO BE MINDFUL OF THAT WHEN IT TAKES ON THIS CASE IN FULL.

WELL NOW IT'S TIME TO GO TO THE GRADEBOOK.

AFTER HAVING GRADED SO MANY OF OUR LAWMAKERS ALREADY, WE ARE GOING TO START WITH Fs AND I THINK TARA, WE ARE GOING TO YOU FIRST.

>> MY F GOES TO RIOTERS WHO DESTROYED A 113-YEAR-OLD LIBRARY MADRASA AZIZARA IN INDIA, THE RIOTERS CAME PREPARED TO DESTROY THE LIBRARY.

MANY OF THESE DOCUMENTS WERE HAND WRITTEN, CAN NEVER BE REPLACED.

SADLY THE REASON FOR THE DESTRUCTION IS NOT CLEAR.

>> SARAH.

>> SO MY F THIS WEEK GOES TO SENATOR DIE QAN FEINSTEIN OF CALIFORNIA.

SHE HAS HAD AN ADD MIRNL CAREER.

TIME FOR HER TO RESIGN.

SHE HAS BEEN ABSENT FROM THE SENATE SINCE EARLY MARCH AND HAS SLOWED DOWN THE PROCESS OF THE JUDGE CONFIRMATION PROCESS BECAUSE THE DEMOCRATS NO LONGER HAVE A MAJORITY ON THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.

SOME DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATORS ARE ASKING HER TO RESIGN BUT TOO FEW OF THEM ARE AND SENATOR SCHUMER FROM NEW YORK SHOULD BE ONE OF THOSE WHO ASKS HER TO RESIGN NOW AND PUT HER PARTY ABOVE HER PERSONAL INTERESTS.

>> MICHAEL.

>> MY F GOES TO REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE NIKKI HALEY WHO SAID PRESIDENT BIDEN WOULD LIKELY BE DEAD IN FIVE YEARS WHY RE-ELECT HIM.

THAT DEMONSTRATES HER AMBITION HAS NO TERMS, NO LIMITS AND NO BOTTOM.

>> ANIRBAN.

>> MY F TO THE DEPARTMENT IN CALIFORNIA WHERE HALF THE POLICE OFFICERS INCLUDING THE SUPERVISORS AND UNION LEADERS HAVE BEEN IMPLICATED IN TEXTING GROUPS WHERE OFFICERS BRAGGED ABOUT BEATING UP RESIDENTS AND EXTRACTING FALSE CONFESSIONS AND DEHUMANIZING TERMS.

THIS DEPARTMENT HAS HAS ALSO BEEN LIKE MANY OTHER POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN THE U.S. REPORTED TO BE TREATING COMMUNITIES LIKE A WAR ZONE AND PEOPLE LIKE WHO IS TILES BUT NO FEAR IF THE POLICE OFFICERS GET FIRED, THEY CAN ALSO JOIN FOX NEWS.

>> AS COMMENTATORS.

CAN I CIRCLE BACK, MICHAEL, TO YOUR F TO NIKKI HALEY?

IT'S INTERESTING THAT SHE MADE THAT COMMENT CONSIDERING THE KERFUFFLE AT CNN HAD TO DO WITH HER.

DID YOU SEE THAT?

>> SHE WENT UP AGAINST DON LEMON.

SHE IS HAVING A GOOD MOMENT ON ONE HAND BUT A BAD MOMENT ON THE OTHER HAND.

>> SO LET'S TURN TO SOMETHING GOOD.

GOOD NEWS.

STARTING AGAIN WITH TARA.

>> LATE GREAT HARRY BELLAFONTE.

HIS SUPPORT FOR CIVIL RIGHTS AND MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. AND HIS FAMILY IS WELL KNOWN.

LESSER KNOWN IS HIS FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF THE MOVEMENT.

ON YOUR SCREEN YOU ARE SEEING A PICTURE OF HE AND SYDNEY PORTIER AFTER THEY BAILED OUT YOUNG CIVIL RIGHTS ACT VISITS WHO WERE PROTESTING APARTHEID AT THE SOUTH AFRICAN EMBASSY.

>> SARAH.

>> SO MY A THIS WEEK GOES TO JUDY BLUME WHO IS ENJOYING SOMEWHAT OF A RENAISSANCE NOW THAT HER BELOVED NOVELS ARE BEING ADAPTED TO THE SCREEN.

HER NOVELS WERE GROUNDBREAKING IN THE 1970s TALKING ABOUT SENSITIVE TOPICS LIKE RELIGION, PUBERTY, THE DEATH OF A PARENT.

SHE DEPICTED THE INNER LIFE OF GIRLS THAT WERE REVOLUTIONARY AT THE TIME.

AND ON A MORE PERSONAL PHOTO FOR ME AND MANY OTHERS, I THINK SHE HELPED US FEEL LESS ALONE DURING THAT VERY AWKWARD AGE BETWEEN BEING A KID AND BECOMING A YOUNG ADULT.

>> MICHAEL.

>> MY A GOES TO THE PEOPLE PROTESTING IN MASS FOR PERSONAL FREEDOM AND ACCESS TO EGALITARIAN EDUCATION.

>> AND ANIRBAN.

>> MY VERY FIRST KASS IT I BOUGHT WITH MI MONEY AS A TEENAGER WAS HARRY BELLAFONTE'S LIVE AT CARNEGIE HALL.

AND I LISTENED TO IT AGAIN AND AGAIN AND THE FIRST SONG I PLAYED ON MY VIOLIN WAS JAY FAREWELL.

SO MAW I LIVE IN ENDLESS POWER AND PEACE AND MEMORIES OF RESISTANCE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.

>> THAT SPEAKS TO THE POINT THAT TARA WAS MAKING ABOUT HIS INVOLVEMENT IN POLITICS AND I WAS TRUCK STRUCK BY THE OP-EDS THAT TALKED ABOUT HOW HE WAS MORE ACTIVIST THAN HE WAS AN ACTOR OR PERFORMER.

AND IF WE COULD HAVE MORE OF THAT, THE WORLD WOULD BE A BETTER PLACE.

THAT'S IT FOR US TONIGHT HERE IN THE STUDIO, BUT WE'D LOVE TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION WITH YOU.

WRITE TO THE ADDRESS ON YOUR SCREEN.

IF YOU WANT TO WATCH THE SHOW AGAIN OR SHARE IT WITH OTHERS, GO TO WCNY.ORG.

I'M NINA MOORE.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT IVORY TOWER GOOD NIGHT.