KAMALA HARRIS GETS ANOINTED, BUT IS SHE RIGHT CHOICE TO TAKE ON TRUMP?

HARRIS'S FIRST BIG DECISION-WHO TO PICK AS A RUNNING MATE.

WE HAVE SOME THOUGHTS.

AND AILEEN CANNON DISMISSES THE MAR-A-LAGO DOCUMENTS CASE.

WAS THE SPECIAL COUNSEL'S APPOINTMENT AGAINST THE LAW?

STAY TUNED, IVORY TOWER IS NEXT.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO IVORY TOWER.

I'M DAVID CHANATRY, FROM UTICA UNIVERSITY.

I'M JOINED THIS WEEK BY LUKE PERRY FROM UTICA UNIVERSITY.

LISA DOLAK FROM THE COLLEGE OF LAW AT SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY, BEN BAUGHMAN FROM GANNON UNIVERSITY AND RICK FENNER FROM UTICA UNIVERSITY.

THERE'S AN OLD LINE THAT SAYS SOMETIMES THERE'S WEEKS WHEN YEARS HAPPEN, AND THIS PAST WEEK FEELS LIKE ONE OF THOSE.

THE BIG NEWS OF COURSE IS PRESIDENT BIDEN'S DECISION NOT TO RUN FOR RE-ELECTION FOLLOWED BY KAMALA HARRIS PRETTY MUCH WRAPPING UP THE NOMINATION.

HARRIS DID NOT FARE WELL THE FIRST TIME SHE RAN, BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE GENUINE EXCITEMENT ABOUT HER CANDIDACY.

BUT IS SHE THE BEST CANDIDATE TO DEFEAT DONALD TRUMP?

LIST LISA, SHOULD THERE HAVE BEEN A MORE OPEN PROCESS IN CHOOSING THE CANDIDATE?

>> THE THING IS, WE'LL NEVER KNOW.

FIRST OF ALL, I HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE A MONTH AGO I SAT HERE AND SAID IT WAS TOO LATE FOR A CHANGE.

I WAS OBVIOUSLY WRONG ABOUT THAT.

BUT I THINK IT WAS TOO LATE FOR THE PARTY TO CONTEMPLATE ANYBODY ELSE BY THAT POINT.

AND SO-- AND SO AGAIN WE WON'T KNOW BECAUSE WE ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE THAT PROCESS.

SHE IS NOT GOING TO BE TESTED IN THE FIRE OF THE PRIMARY WHICH COULD HAVE HAPPENED HAD THERE BEEN AN ANNOUNCEMENT 20 MONTHS AGO THAT BIDEN WASN'T GOING TO RUN.

>> AND I AGREE 100% WITH LISA.

IT IS THE ONLY CHOICE AT THIS POINT IN THE GAME TO SHOW UNITY WITHIN THAT PARTY, TO REALLY HAVE A CHANCE TO HAVE ANY CHANCE AGAINST TRUMP.

>> GO AHEAD, RICK.

>> I THINK BIDEN SEALED IT BY, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY ENDORSING HER SO QUICKLY AFTER ANNOUNCING THAT HE WAS NOT GOING TO RUN.

AND I THINK PART OF THE EXCITEMENT IS SOMEWHAT ABOUT HER, BUT MOSTLY THE EXCITEMENT IS THAT BIDEN ISN'T RUNNING.

>> SO UTSZ NOT EXCITEMENT.

IT'S RELIEF.

>> I WOULD DEFINITELY SAY IT'S RELIEF.

AND NOW THAT WE ARE AT THIS POINT, I AGREE WITH LISA, THE DEMOCRATS HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE HERE BUT TO GO FORWARD AT THIS POINT TO TRY TO HAVE AN OPEN CONVENTION OR TO TRY TO STALL THIS, I THINK, WOULD HURT THEM MUCH MORE.

>> EVEN BEYOND THAT, I THINK HE IS A FORMIDABLE CANDIDATE WITHIN THE TEXT OF THE DEMOCRATIC BENCH.

YES, THERE ARE RISING GOVERNORS WHO WILL MOST LIKELY RUN FOR PRESIDENT AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT A POTENTIAL V.P.

PICK BUT HANSING AND HARRISBURG IS NOT THE SAME AS WORKING IN WASHINGTON AS SHE HAS.

SHE HAS EXPERIENCE AS A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE WHICH OTHER PEOPLE DO NOT.

SHE GETS A BAD RAP FOR HER CAMPAIGN.

SHE MADE SOME STRATEGIC FLAWS BUT AS OUR FORMER COLLEAGUE HAS DOCUMENTED, TOP FIVE IN POPULARITY ALONG WITH COREY BOOKER.

AND THE PROBLEM THAT THOSE CANDIDATES FACED WAS NOT SO MUCH THEIR POPULARITY, IT WAS THAT THEY WERE NOT POPULAR IN IOWA AND NEW HAMPSHIRE AS MOST BLACK CANDIDATES ARE NOT.

I THINK WE HAVE SEEN EARLY ON SHE HAS RAISED $250 MILLION, 100 MILLION FOR HER OWN CAMPAIGN, $1,350,000,000 HAS GONE TO PACS.

THAT'S UNPRECEDENTED.

HER INITIAL OPENING SPEECH WAS WIDELY WELL RECEIVED.

CERTAINLY IT'S GOING TO BE A THREE MONTH SPRINT AND THERE ARE GOING TO BE STUMBLES.

SHE WAS THE BEST OPTION.

>> THE THREE-MONTH SPRINT COULD POTENTIALLY WORK TO HER ADVANTAGE.

>> THERE ARE A COUPLE OF PROBLEMS HERE.

FIRST OF ALL, BORDERS ARE, THAT'S GOING TO COME UP.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S PROBABLY LARGEST FAILURE OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, SHE WAS IN CHARGE OF.

THE SECOND IS ACCORDING TO GOV TRACK, SHE IS THE MOST LIBERAL-- SHE WAS THE MOST LIBERAL SENATOR WHEN YOU LOOK AT SPONSORED AND CO-SPONSORED BILLS.

CALIFORNIA ISN'T SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO LEAD MICHIGAN, WISCONSIN, PENNSYLVANIA, ARIZONA, AND GEORGIA VOTERS TO VOTE DEMOCRATIC, AT LEAST THOSE THAT THEY'RE GOING NEED TO WIN THIS.

SO THERE ARE SOME PROBLEMS HERE.

>> SHE WAS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF CALIFORNIA, WHICH IS A PRETTY BIG... >> AT LEAST SHE WAS A PROSECUTOR.

>> THE SHORT TIMEFRAME IS ACTUALLY BENEFICIAL TO HER AND I HONESTLY THINK THAT IT'S GOOD.

IF YOU WANT HER TO WIN, I THINK IT'S GOOD THAT THE PUBLIC DOESN'T KNOW AS MUCH ABOUT HER AS WE WOULD KNOW HAD THERE BEEN A 20-MONTH CAMPAIGN.

I REALLY DO.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, SHE CAN KIND OF RIDE THE WAVE OF THIS EXCITEMENT, RELIEF, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT, TRY NOT TO MAKE ANY MISTAKES.

SHE IS NOT GOING TO LOSE YOUNG VOTERS OR VOTERS OF COLOR.

SHE HAS TO WORRY ABOUT LOSING INDEPENDENTS BY MAKING MOVES THAT ARE OVERLY PROGRESSIVE OR, RIGHT?

>> I THINK SHE IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO BRING SOME YOUNG VOTERS TO THE POLLS-- NOT TO THE POLLS, BUT TO VOTE.

I THINK ABOUT 8 MILLION NEW VOTERS THAN THE LAST ELECTION AND THEY'RE ALL ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND SHE IS ALL OVER SOCIAL MEDIA RIGHT NOW.

>> WE'VE ALREADY SEEN THAT IN THE PRELIMINARY POLLING THAT HAS COME OUT SINCE THE ANNOUNCEMENT.

SHE IS DOING WELL, BETTER THAN BIDEN IN THOSE VERY DEMOGRAPHICS YOU MENTIONED.

SHE COULD LOSE SOME OTHER DEMOGRAPHICS BUT IT'S A TOSS-UP IN TERMS OF NATIONAL POLLS.

SHE HAS CLOSED THE GAP IN MANY OF THE SWING STATES.

IT'S SUPER EARLY AND TO RICK'S POINT, YES, THE BORDER ISSUE AND PARTICULAR WHERE REPUBLICANS HAVE POUNCED WHERE SHE SAID SHE HAD BEEN TO THE BORDER AND REALLY MESSED THAT UP, I THINK WAS THE LOW POINT OF HER VICE PRESIDENCY, BUT I THINK THE BENEFIT OF THAT, AS YOU LEARN FROM IT AND SHE WILL BE PREPARED AND BETTER OFF THIS TIME, IN A WAY THAT INEXPERIENCED CANDIDATES WILL MAKE THAT GAFF AND THEY'LL HAVE TO RECOVER IN REAL TIME.

>> I DO THINK SHE IS GOING HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, IF AND WHEN TRUMP SAYS HE WANTS MULTIPLE DEBATES WITH HER.

I THINK THAT THAT COULD BE A TURNING POINT.

IF SHE IS ABLE TO BE THE PROSECUTOR AS OPPOSED TO THE FELON AND MAKE THOSE POINTS, I THINK SHE HAS THE ABILITY TO TURN THINGS AROUND FOR THE DEMOCRATS HERE.

>> I WONDER WHETHER WHEN PUSH COMES TO SHOVE, IF HE REALLY WILL HAVE THOSE DEBATES.

SHE WAS PRETTY TOUGH IN THE VARIOUS HEARINGS ON THE SENATE COMMITTEE, ACTING AS A PROSECUTOR.

DEBATE WILL BE DIFFERENT BECAUSE SHE WON'T BE THE ONES ASKING THE QUESTIONS.

>> I JUST THINK HER SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE, HER QUIRKINESS AND PERSONALITY IS SO APPEALING, I THINK, TO YOUNG VOTERS IN PARTICULAR BUT I THINK IT'S SO REFRESHING COMPARED TO JOE BIDEN.

THE CONTRAST... >> THE QUIRKINESS OR AWKWARDNESS COULD WORK TO HER ADVANTAGE IN THE AGE OF TIKTOK AND ALL THESE VIDEOS I HAVE BEEN WATCHING.

I SENT MY 21-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER ONE OF THOSE VIDEOS AND COULDN'T STOP LAUGHING BECAUSE I SENT IT TO HER.

>> IT'S COMING ACROSS AS RELATABLE AND GENUINE.

>> HER FIRST BIG DECISION WILL BE TO NAME HER RUNNING MATE.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YEARS THE DEMOCRATS HAVE QUITE A STRONG BENCH.

SEVERAL DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS, INCLUDING SOME FROM RED STATES, HAVE HAD THEIR NAMES FLOATED AS POTENTIAL CANDIDATES FOR VICE PRESIDENT.

IF YOU HAD KAMALA HARRIS'S EAR, WHO WOULD YOU ADVISE HER TO PICK?

I THINK IT IS GOING COME DOWN TO FOUR CHARACTERISTICS.

IT'S GOING TO BE WHITE, MALE, IT'S GOING TO BE A MODERATE AND IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE A GOVERNOR.

YOU KNOW, JOSH SHAPIRO, PENNSYLVANIA, DEFINITELY HE POLLS VERY WELL WITH TRUMP SUPPORTERS.

PEA IS NECESSARY FOR THE DEMOCRATS TO-- PENNSYLVANIA IS NECESSARY FOR THE DEMOCRATS TO WIN.

HAS PRETTY STRONG PRO-ISRAEL STANCE WHICH MAY BE A PROBLEM.

ANDY BESHEAR OF KENTUCKY HAS BEEN NAMED, AGAIN, AS A COUNTERPOINT TO J.D.

ADVANCE.

-- J.D.

VANCE.

I THINK THEY ALL SHARE THE ABILITY TO MODERATE THE LIBERALNESS OF KAMALA HARRIS.

THEY ALSO CAN SAY WE'VE DONE STUFF AS GOVERNORS AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO LOOK WHAT DID THE V.P.

DO.

>> YOU MENTION MARK KELLY AND HIS NAME, TWO WEEKS AGO I WOULDN'T HAVE PUT HIM ON THIS LIST AND ALL OF A SUDDEN HIS NAME IS EVERYWHERE.

SO BEN, WHAT DOES HE BRING?

>> HE ADDRESSES THE BORDER THING THAT CAME UP.

THERE ARE 354 MILES OF LAND THAT'S BORDERED BETWEEN TWO STATES OF MEXICO AND ARIZONA.

HE HAS BEEN THE SENATOR THERE TAKING OVER FOR McCAIN FOR A WHILE NOW.

SO HE HAS NOT ONLY SEEN IT BY LIVING THERE, BEING A RESIDENT, BUT ALSO BEING AS A SENATOR, AND WORKING FROM THAT ANGLE.

SO I DO THINK HE BRINGS THAT PERSPECTIVE.

AND THE MISSTEPS THAT TOOK PLACE DURING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND, YOU KNOW, HARRIS' JOB THAT SHE HAS DONE.

SO THAT, ALONG WITH WHO HE IS AS A PERSON.

HE HAS SOME GENUINE STORIES TO TELL THAT WILL HOOK INTO PEOPLE'S NEEDS AND DESIRES FOR PEOPLE IN THOSE POSITIONS.

LIKE RETIRED U.S. NAVY CAPTAIN WHO FOUGHT IN THE GULF WAR, FORMER ASTRONAUT.

SO HE IS A VERY COMPELLING PERSONALITY.

>> MAN, HE LOOKS PRESIDENTIAL, TOO.

I MEAN TO THE EXTENT THAT PEOPLE ARE WORRIED ABOUT IS THERE SOMEONE WHO COULD, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST LOOK LIKE THEY'RE READY ON DAY ONE.

BUT HE'S A SENATOR AND TO TAKE HIM OUT OF THE SENATE IS RISKY IN ARIZONA.

>> BUT THEY HAVE A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR WHO WOULD APPOINT, RIGHT?

>> YES.

>> SO IF YOU HAD... >> I LIKE HIM A LOT.

I JUST WISH HE WERE A GOVERNOR AND NOT A SENATOR BECAUSE I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO WORRY ABOUT THAT A LOT.

SHAPIRO, I HAVE YOUR EXACT VIEW ABOUT.

I HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT HIS CRITICISMS OF PRO-PALESTINIAN SUPPORTERS WHETHER, YOU KNOW, THAT'S-- HE WOULD BE MY CHOICE, PENNSYLVANIA I AGREE WITH CRITICAL.

I REALIZE THAT HER CANDIDACY OPENS UP SOME OF THE SOUTHERN STATES, BUT, YOU KNOW, 19 ELECTORAL SHOATSZ IN PENNSYLVANIA I DON'T SEE THEM GETTING THERE.

IT'S CRITICAL.

I'LL TELL YOU WHO I AM NOT A BIG FAN OF IS ROY COOPER.

IT'S AGE AGAIN.

I JUST THINK KELLY IS 60, COOPER IS 67.

>> I'M GOING TO PUSH BACK A LITTLE BIT ON ROY COOPER BECAUSE HE WAS MY BOSS.

I GOT TO WORK FOR ROY COOPER AND FANTASTIC LEADERSHIP.

I'M GOING TO PUSH BACK A LITTLE BITS ON THAT.

I SEE THE AGE BUT 67 IS NOT OLD.

>> I AGREE.

I'M 67.

>> LUKE.

I THINK THE VARIABLE WE HAVEN'T CONSIDERED THAT IS IMPORTANT BEHIND THE SCENES IS HOW HARRIS CONNECTS WITH THESE POTENTIAL NOMINEES.

THAT IS THE BIGGEST THING.

THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE NEEDS TO PICK SOMEBODY THEY CAN TRUST AND BE THEIR SURROGATE IN ALL POSSIBLE SITUATIONS AND A LOT OF THAT IS JUST PERSONAL VIBE AND SPENDING TIME WITH THE CANDIDATES.

SO WE DON'T KNOW HOW THAT'S GOING.

I THINK IN TERMS OF WHICH CANDIDATE MAKES SENSE IF I'M ADVISING HER, IT'S GOT TO BE SHAPIRO.

YOU CAN'T WIN WITHOUT PENNSYLVANIA AND THERE IS LITTLE OTHER WAY TO HELP GUARANTEE A VICTORY OR GET YOU AS CLOSE TO THAT AS POSSIBLE AS PICKING SHAPIRO.

I THINK SENATOR KELLY WOULD BE GREAT AS WELL BUT I'M NOT SO SURE ARIZONA IS GOING TO BE IN PLAY.

I ALSO THINK WE ARE SLAMMING THE DEMOCRATS AND BIDEN ON IMMIGRATION.

I THINK A LOT OF THAT IS HOW THE DEMOCRATS HAVE FAILED TO MAKE THE ARGUMENT THAT THEY'RE DOING THINGS WELL, RIGHT?

I DON'T THINK THE BORDER WAS WELL MANAGED UNDER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, BUT THROUGH HIS HYPERBOLIC APPROACH IT WAS AND EVERYTHING IS GREAT AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, THINGS ARE BETTER NOW.

I THINK REBOUNDING RECLAIM THAT ISSUE-- I THINK THEY CAN RECLAIM THAT ISSUE NOW.

>> THE BORDERS ARE A TERM.

I DON'T RECALL EXACTLY WHAT SHE WAS CHARGED TO DO.

>> SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO GET TO THE ROOT CAUSES.

SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO FIGURE OUT WHY PEOPLE WANT TO LEAVE CENTRAL AMERICA AND, YOU KNOW-- I MEAN IT WASN'T... >> I DON'T THINK IT MATTERS WHAT WE THINK.

I THINK THE POLLS CLEARLY STATE THAT THEY DON'T TRUST OR THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION-- THEY DON'T BELIEVE THAT THEY'VE DONE THE RIGHT THING WITH IMMIGRATION SO I'M NOT SURE HOW, IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO RECAPTURE THAT, AND CONVINCE PEOPLE THAT THINGS ARE NOT AS BAD... >> I THINK IT'S A MESSAGING FAILURE MORE THAN A POLICY FAILURE.

THE POLICY SITUATION HAS IMPROVED AS BIDEN HAS SAID ABOUT IT THE MESSAGING IS NOT CAPT CAPTD VAITING.

>> THE ECONOMY, THEY HAVE DONE A POOR JOB OF MESSAGING AND SEEING THE BENEFITS OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

PART OF THAT, BIDEN HELPED BY PERFORMING SO POORLY DURING THE DEBATE.

>> SO KELLY ALSO, OF COURSE, IS THE HUSBAND OF REPRESENTATIVE GIFFORD, WHO, FORMER REPRESENTATIVE GIFFORD, RIGHT, WHO WAS BADLY WOUNDED IN A SHOOTING A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO.

AND THAT DOES PLAY TO THE GUN ISSUE, TOO.

HE SAYS HE IS A SECOND AMENDMENT GUY, BUT WITH LIMITS.

SO THAT COULD-- >> AND HE DOES.

IN ADDITION TO THAT STORY, HE ALSO, BOTH HIM AND HIS WIFE, WERE TRYING TO HAVE CHILDREN WITH MEDICAL SUPPORT.

SO HE ALSO BRINGS THAT PART... >> THE IVF ISSUE.

>> BEFORE SHE WAS-- BEFORE THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION.

>> NOW, OF ALL THE STATE AND FEDERAL CHARGES BROUGHT AGAINST FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP, THE MAR-A-LAGO DOCUMENTS CASE WAS THOUGHT TO BE THE STRONGEST AND MOST EASILY UNDERSTOOD.

LAST WEEK JUDGE AILEEN CANNON DISMISSED THE CASE BECAUSE SHE SAID SPECIAL COUNSEL JACK SMITH WAS NOT LEGALLY APPOINTED.

CANNON HAS BEEN HEAVILY CRITICIZED FOR HER DECISION, BUT CONSERVATIVE LEGAL SCHOLARS HAVE BEEN MAKING THAT ARGUMENT AGAINST SPECIAL COUNSELS FOR YEARS.

WAS CANNON'S DECISION AS OUT OF LINE AS MUCH MEDIA COVERAGE SUGGESTED?

>> NO.

DEFINITELY NOT.

IT WAS, AS WE'VE SEEN, WITH MAINSTREAM MEDIA, IT IS COVERED WITH ONE PARTICULAR SLANT, THE MAJORITY OF IT.

AND I DO THINK THERE IS SOME GROUNDS FOR THERE AND THANKFULLY WE HAVE A LEGAL EXPERT ON OUR-- WITH US TODAY.

BUT THE POINT BEING, IN 1999, CONGRESS HAD A CHANCE TO KEEP THE STUFF THAT WAS THERE DUE TO WATERGATE FOR SPECIAL COUNSELS AND THEY LET IT RUN OUT.

THEY DID NOT RENEW IT.

SO WE HAVE BEEN BASING OUR PRECEDENTS OFF OF INTERNAL REGULATIONS OF THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT.

>> YEAH, I THINK THAT IS A FACTOR, CERTAINLY, RIGHT?

BECAUSE THE ONLY PRECEDENT THAT BINDS HER IS U.S.

VS. NIXON, THE SUBPOENA AUTHORIZATION FROM THE SUPREME COURT OF THE OVAL OFFICE TAPES IN THE NIXON ADMINISTRATION.

BUT FIRST OF ALL, THAT WAS APPLYING THE OLD LAW IN PLACE BY CONGRESS.

AND SECONDLY, YOU KNOW, NIXON NEVER CHALLENGED THE AUTHORITY OF THE INDEPENDENT COUNSEL AS A CONSTITUTIONAL MATTER OR EVEN AS A STATUTORY MATTER.

SO HER ARGUMENT AND THE ARGUMENT OF THE CONSERVATIVE SCHOLARS WHO HAVE SUPPORTED THIS THEORY IS THAT THIS ISSUE HAS NEVER BEEN LITIGATED BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT AND IT'S NOT REALLY BEEN LITIGATED AS A CONSEQUENCE EVEN BY THE APPELLATE COURTS AND OTHER TRIAL JUDGES WHOSE RULINGS DON'T CONTROL HER.

IT'S NOT AN ILLEGITIMATE RULING.

IT MIGHT BE AN INCORRECT RULING.

IT IS GOING UP ON APPEAL, WE BELIEVE, ALL INDICATIONS ARE.

BUT, YEAH, I THINK IT HAS BEEN OVERSTATED THAT, YOU KNOW, SHE HAS BEEN OUT OF-- THAT ALL THESE COURTS HAVE RULED THE OTHER WAY AND SHE THEREFORE IS CATEGORICALLY WRONG.

>> I CAN'T ARGUE WHETHER SHE IS RIGHT OR WRONG.

YOU KNOW BETTER THAN I.

IT IS SO UNORTHODOX TO ME.

THE SAME CHALLENGE WAS POSED AGAINST ROBERT MUELLER, THE SAME CHALLENGE POSED AGAINST HUNTER BIDEN.

THEY WERE ALL DISMISSED.

WE JUST HAPPEN TO HAVE A TRUMP APPOINTEE WHO, WHETHER IT'S FAVORITISM OR WHETHER IT'S TRUE IDEOLOGY, SAYS, NO, ALL THESE PREVIOUS RULINGS WERE WRONG.

I THINK I REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE LAW IS AND HOW IT SHOULD BE APPLIED.

IN A NATIONAL SECURITY CASE WITH DOCUMENTS THAT NOBODY IS ARGUING THAT TRUMP-- EXCEPT HIMSELF-- DIDN'T DO SOMETHING WRONG.

IT'S MIND BOGGLING TO ME AS A NON-LAW PERSON WHO FOLLOWS CLOSELY.

>> I WILL AGREE WITH LUKE.

I WILL DEFER TO LEGAL JUDGMENTS BUT THIS IS A CASE, AGAIN, WE HAVE SEEN TIME AND TIME AND TIME AGAIN, PRECEDENTS STRUCK DOWN BY YOU KNOW, TRUMP JUDGES.

AT THE SAME TIME THEY GO BACK AND COMPLAIN ABOUT ACTIVISTS JUDGES IN THE PAST.

WELL, THIS IS ACTIVISM BUT FROM THE RIGHT.

AND SO I HAVE A TOUGH TIME NOT SEEING THIS AS POLITICAL.

>> A DISTRICT COURT JUDGE-- >> DISTRICT COURT JUDGES, THAT'S WHY WE HAVE APPELLATE JUDGES.

>> THE RESULT IS THAT HE WON'T GO ON TRIAL BEFORE THE ELECTION.

AND SO-- >> HE WASN'T GOING TO GO ON TRIAL... >> POLITICAL OR NOT, THAT WAS THE GOAL OF TRUMP AND HIS LAWYERS AND THEY HAVE SUCCEEDED.

>> THIS ALSO HIGHLIGHTS A CONCEPT THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND BETWEEN FACTUALLY GUILTY AND LEGALLY GUILTY.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE WAITING FOR THE APPELLATE COURT TO DECIDE IF, CAN HE BE FOUND LEGALLY GUILTY.

FACTUALLY EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE NEWS AND OTHER PLACES, IT SURE LOOKS LIKE THERE IS A STRONG CASE THERE TO BE LEGALLY GUILTY.

>> AND THE COURTS, SUPREME COURT AND BEYOND ARE FACING ACQUISITIONS OF PARTISANSHIP.

ELECTORAL POLITICS.

IS IT JUST A RANDOM COINCIDENCE THAT THIS JUDGMENT WAS MADE ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION?

THAT DEFIES LOGIC.

SO I THINK JUDGES ARE PUTTING THEMSELVES IN A DIFFICULT POSITION AS WELL.

I THINK PROCESS MATTERS AND THE SELECTION PROCESS MATTERS, TOO.

I THINK GETTING RID OF THE FILIBUSTER FOR JUDICIAL NOMINATIONS WAS A PROBLEM.

23 SENATORS DIDN'T EVEN VOTE FOR AILEEN CANNON.

SHE GOT 56 VOTES.

THERE WERE SOME DEMOCRATS IN THAT BUT WE NEED FILIBUSTER TO GET MODERATE JUDGES THAT MAKE DECISIONS.

>> IF THE DEMOCRATS COME IN, WE MAY... >> THAT'S FOR ANOTHER SHOW, RIGHT?

>> SO THIS DOES RAISE AN ISSUE ABOUT THAT CASE AS TO WHETHER JACK SMITH WENT TOO BIG.

COULD HE HAVE JUST FOCUSED ON THE OBSTRUCTION ISSUE AND NOT ABOUT THE ESPIONAGE?

>> THERE IS AN ISSUE THERE AND I'M GOING TO GET SHOUTED DOWN HERE BUT THE ESPIONAGE CHARGES, THE PROBLEM IS RIGHT, THERE IS A MATTER OF DEGREE THERE.

JOE BIDEN TOOK DOCUMENTS HOME, TOO.

BUT THE OBSTRUCTION WAS CLEAR AND, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK IT WOULD HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE.

I THINK THIS JUDGE WAS GOING BEHAVE LIKE THIS JUDGE WAS GOING TO BEHAVE.

IRONICALLY JACK SMITH PICKED THIS COURT.

THERE IS AN ISSUE OF CONSTITUTIONAL VENUE POTENTIALLY THAT WOULD HAVE CREATED ANOTHER CHALLENGE.

>> AND COULD HE HAVE PICKED SOMEONE TO BE SPECIAL PROSECUTOR WHO WOULDN'T HAVE RUN INTO THIS PROBLEM.

>> WE ARE GOING TO LEAVE THAT RIGHT HERE BECAUSE WE HAVE TO GO TO THE AS AND Fs.

LUKE YOUR F. >> TO EXTREME TEMPERATURES THIS WEEK.

SUNDAY WAS THE HOTTEST DAY ON RECORD IN TERMS OF GLOBAL TEMPERATURES AND THAT WAS BROKEN ON MONDAY.

THIS COMES AFTER 13 MONTHS OF RECORD HIGH MONTHLY TEMPERATURES.

THIS IS NOT GOOD.

>> LISA.

>> MY F GOES TO DELTA AIRLINES FOR ITS DISASTROUS PERFORMANCE IN THE LAKE OF LAST FRIDAY'S CLOUD STRIKE TECHNOLOGICAL OUTAGE.

DELTA AND ITS REGIONAL CARRIER IT CANCEL OVER 5,000 FLIGHTS OVER THE COURSE OF FOUR DAYS IMPACTING MORE THAN HALF A MILLION TRAVELERS.

DELTA'S PROBLEMS WHICH REPORTEDLY RELIED ON OUTDATED CREW SCHEDULING SOFTWARE CONTINUED FOR DAYS AFTER OTHER AIRLINES GOT THEIR ACT TOGETHER.

EVEN DELTA'S PILOTS WERE COMPLAINING ABOUT BEING STRANDED.

>> I AGREE WITH LISA.

I'M GIVING MY F TO CLOUD STRIKE.

I WAS A WEEK FROM TODAY.

I WAS STUCK AS WELL AS ONE OF THE PASSENGERS, NOT WITH DELTA.

BUT THAT IMPACTED SEVERAL DIFFERENT SECTORS AND THAT SHOULD BE A RED FLAG FOR US.

IT POINTS OUT THAT WE NEED TO BE FOCUSING ON CYBER INTELLIGENCE AND PUTTING THINGS IN PLACES THAT IT DOESN'T IMPACT US THIS MUCH ONCE WE HAVE A OUT OF THE SAND BOX WHICH WE HAVE FOR OVER A YEAR NOW.

>> RICK,.

>> MY F GOES TO ERIN GALL, STATED SUPREME COURT JUSTICE IN ONEIDA COUNTY SUSPENDED AND FACING REMOVAL FROM OFFICE.

POLICE BODY CAM FOOTAGE RELEASED FOOTSAGE POLICE TELLING POLICE SHE IS A JUDGE IN ORDER TO TRY TO INFLUENCE THEIR BEHAVIOR AND SHE WOULD SHOOT A GROUP OF BLACK TEENAGERS IF ME WERE TO COME BACK FOR HER FRIEND'S PROPERTY TO LOOK FOR THEIR LOST KEYS.

THEY FOUND HER RACIALLY BIAS AND IMPROPER.

>> AS LUKE.

>> TO A NEW 10 MILLION-DOLLAR NAVY CONTRACT AT THE NANO TECH CENTER IN MARCY.

KUDOS TO THE ELECTED OFFICIALS, FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL WHO HELPED TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

>> MY A GOES TO AN OHIO COALITION CALLED CITIZENS NOT POLITICIANS WHICH HAS SECURED ENOUGH SIGNATURES TO PLACE ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT AN INITIATIVE TO AMEND THE OHIO CONSTITUTION TO REMOVE POLITICIANS AND LOBBYISTS FROM THE REDISTRICTING PROCESSING AND CREATE AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION WHICH WOULD BE REQUIRED TO REFRAIN FROM DISCRIMINATING AGAINST OR FAVORING PARTICULAR PARTIES OR INDIVIDUALS.

>> BEN.

>> MY A IS GOING TO GO TO BLOOMBERG FOR DONATING A BILLION DOLLARS A COUPLE WEEKS AGO TO JOHN HOPKINS TO HELP COVER MEDICAL EXPENSES AND TUITION IN PARTICULAR FOR MANY STUDENTS.

HE CITED A DECLINE IN LIFE EXPECTANCY, SERIOUS SHORTAGE WITHIN THE FIELD, AND SO FORTH, SO THAT'S WHERE MY A GOES.

>> A TO MICHAEL BLOOMBERG.

AND RICK.

>> MELANCHOLY A TO BOB NEW HART WHO PASSED AWAY AT THE AGE OF 95 LAST WEEK.

HIGHLIGHTS OF HIS 60 PLUS CAREER INCLUDE HAVING FIRST COMEDY ALBUM TO HOLD THE NUMBER ONE SPOT ON BILLBOARDS POP ALBUM CHART, TWO INCREDIBLY POPULAR SIT-COMS, WHICH, TOGETHER SPAN MOST OF THE 70s AND 80s.

A ROLE IN THE HOLIDAY CLASSIC EFL, HIS LOW KEY DEAD PAN DELIVERY BROUGHT LAUGHTER INTO MY HOUSEHOLD AND MILLIONS OF OTHERS FOR DECADES.

>> DON'T FORGET HIS ROLE ON THE BIG BANG THEORY.

HE WAS VERY GOOD.

>> YES.

>> LUKE, YOU MENTIONED THE TEMPERATURES.

YOUR F. THE RECORD TEMPERATURES.

HARRIS COULD RUN ON CLIMATE, TOO.

THE FLEATIONZ-- THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT AND THE CLIMATE ACT AND YOU MENTIONED WOLFSPEED AND I'M GLAD THEY'RE GETTING A CONTRACT, THAT CONTRACT AND SOME ATTENTION.

WE HEAR ABOUT MICRON ALL THE TIME AND AS FROM UTICA I'M ALWAYS...

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WATCHING "THE IVORY TOWER."

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

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO VIEW THE SHOW AGAIN YOU CAN VIEW IT ONLINE AT WCNY.ORG.

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

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪