>> IS THE MICRON DEAL IN JEOPARDY FOLLOWING TRUMP'S SPEECH?

WHAT WILL IT MEAN FOR UPSTATE SCHOOLS, IF THE [FEDERA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IS ELIMINATED?

AND IT FEELS LIKE WE'RE ENTERING A NEW WORLD ORDER, ARE WE???

WE'LL HAVE ANSWERS COMING UP NEXT • ON IVORY TOWER ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ GOOD EVENING • AND, WELCOME TO IVORY TOWER.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M NINA MOORE OF COLGATE UNIVERSITY.

THE PROFESSORS JOINING ME AROUND THE TABLE TONIGHT ARE: TARA ROSS OF ONONDAGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE LUKE PERRY OF UTICA UNIVERSITY BEN BAUGHMAN OF GANNON UNIVERSITY AND • AARON STRONG OF HAMILTON COLLEGE IN HIS ADDRESS TO CONGRESS, PRESIDENT TRUMP CALLED THE CHIPS ACT A "HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE THING."

HE SAID GET RID OF IT AND USE THE LEFTOVERS TO REDUCE DEBT AND DO OTHER THINGS.

THE PROBLEM FOR UPSTATE IS THE CHIPS ACT IS WHY MICRON WAS AWARDED $6 BILLION DOLLARS TO BUILD A SEMINCONDUCTOR COMPLEX IN CLAY.

BUT ONONDAGA COUNTY EXECUTIVE RYAN MCMAHON IS UNBOTHERED.

BEN.

SHOULD MCMAHON BE WORRIED, SHOULD WE ALL BE WORRIED?

>> THE CHIPS ACT, ONCE YOU POP, YOU CAN'T STOP.

THIS IS THE WAY FORWARD.

I THINK HE IS RIGHT.

I THINK MOST OF THE MONEY THAT'S ALREADY BEEN ALLOCATED HAS BEEN CONTRACTED.

IT'S IN THE BANK.

THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF MOVING FOAFERRED, THE JOB OPPORTUNITIES -- MOVING FORWARD, THE JOB OPPORTUNITIES, THE TECHNOLOGY MOVING FORWARD AND NATIONAL SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS ARE HUGE BECAUSE ALTHOUGH TSMC HAS COMMITTED TO $100 MILLION MORE IN INVESTING, THAT'S ONLY WORDS AT THE MOMENT VERSUS THINGS ARE IN MOTION RIGHT NOW.

>> YEAH, THEY'RE IN MOTION RIGHT NOW FOR THE REASONS THAT YOU JUST MENTIONED.

BUT THOSE THINGS AREN'T DONE YET, RIGHT?

AND WE'VE ALREADY SEEN DELAYS OF TWO OR THREE TIMES ON THE PROJECT.

SO YOU ARE EXPECTING THAT THINGS ARE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK THEY HAVE TO.

WHEN WE RELY ON OTHER COUNTRIES AND WE BECOME LESS HELPFUL WITH OTHER COUNTRIES, IF THAT'S THE DIRECTION WE CONTINUE TO MOVE IN, THEN IT'S GOING TO BE A PROBLEM FOR NATIONAL SECURITY PURPOSES IF WE GET IN ANY CONFLICT OURSELVES.

>> I THINK THERE IS A DANGER RIGHT NOW IN LATCHING TOO MUCH TO EVERY SINGLE WORD THAT TRUMP SAYS.

WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF CHAOS.

OH MY GOD, HE SAYS HORRIBLE TWICE, TARIFFS, NOT TARIFFS, GAZA IS THE NEW IBIZA.

HE WANTS TO JUSTIFY THE FOCUS TARIFFS AND HE SEES TARIFFS AS THE WAY TO ON SHORE MANUFACTURING AND BUILD PLANTS IN THE UNITED STATES AND THAT'S THE STRATEGY.

AND HE IS WORRIED THAT CONGRESSIONAL SPENDING HAS THE STRATEGY FOR GETTING COMPANIES LIKE MICRON TO BE HERE, GOES AGAINST HIS GRAND NARRATIVES TARIFFS BUT I THINK BEN IS RIGHT.

THIS IS MOSTLY BLUSTER.

WE ARE AT RISK IF WE LATCH ON TO EVERY SINGLE WORD HE SAID IN THAT SPEECH IS GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE IT'S NOT.

>> AARON, COULD I FOLLOW UP WITH YOU AND ASK, PART OF THE HOLDUP IS THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW HAS TO BE DONE AND THERE IS A WHOLE BUNCH OF STUFF INVOLVED THERE, AND SO McMAHON IS TALKING ABOUT PERHAPS ROLLING BACK THE REGULATIONS.

ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT THAT?

>> I'M ACTUALLY NOT SUPER CONCERNED ABOUT THAT RIGHT NOW WHEN IT COMES TO MICRON.

I'M CONCERNED IF WE KIND OF VIOLATE THE RULES AND THE LAWS THAT WE HAVE.

BUT THIS HAS BEEN A LONG AND ONGOING PROCESS OF ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW.

THAT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE CAUSES OF DELAY AND THAT'S TOTALLY SEPARATE FROM THE CALL OF GUTTING THE CHIPS ACT WE HEARD IN CONGRESS.

WE DO TO DO OUR DUE DIAL-- DILIGENCE ON THE REVIEWS AND THAT PROCESS SHOULD CONTINUE TO PLAY OUT BUT THAT'S AN UNRELATED CHALLENGE TO THE CHALLENGING OF MAKING SURE THIS MONEY ALLOCATED FROM CONGRESS SUPPORTS DEVELOPMENT LIKE THIS.

WE DO HAVE TO DO IT RIGHT AND I THINK WE WILL.

>> ONE OF THE OTHER REASONS THAT I THINK WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE MICRON DEAL GOING FORWARD IS THE FACT THAT THIS MICRON DEAL IS SIMILAR TO OTHER DEALS INTEL IN OHIO AND OTHER PLACES AROUND THE COUNTRY.

IN FACT I THINK IT'S UP TO 20 DIFFERENT STATES, IF I HAVE THE NUMBER RIGHT, THAT HAVE SIMILAR TYPES OF DEALS GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

AND SO THE PUSHBACK, EVEN AFTER THE SPEECH, WOULD BE PRETTY GREAT ON PRESIDENT TRUMP, WHO IS GOING TO WANT CONGRESS TO SUPPORT HIM IF A WHOLE NUMBER OF OTHER WAYS AS ALL OF THESE EXECUTIVE ORDERS PLAY OUT AND THE LAWSUITS, ET CETERA.

AND SO I THINK THIS WILL GO FORWARD EVEN THOUGH HE IS RIGHT NOW SORT OF ACTING AS IF HE CAN MAKE THE DECISION IT WILL OR IT WON'T.

SIMPLY BECAUSE YOU HAVE REPUBLICANS WHO HAVE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE INVESTED IN THESE VARIOUS TYPES OF CONTRACTS AND AGREEMENTS AND THEY NEED THEM TO GO FORWARD.

>> AND REPUBLICANS VOTED FOR THIS.

17 REPUBLICAN SENATORS VOTED FOR IT AND 24 HOUSE MEMBERS SO IT'S NOT ONE OF THESE SUPER LIBERAL PARTISAN VOTE BILLS THE DEMOCRATS WERE ABLE TO PASS UNDER UNIFIED GOVERNMENT.

THERE IS SUBSTANTIAL REPUBLICAN SUPPORT.

THE ONE THING THAT MAKES ME A LITTLE NERVOUS WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE CHIPS ACT, PART OF IT IS THE FINANCIAL INCENTIVES FOR COMPANIES AND A BIG PART OF IT IS RESEARCH IN REGARDS TO THIS TYPE OF TECHNOLOGY.

AND THAT PART OF IT DOWN THE ROAD COULD BE IN MORE JEOPARDY, I THINK THAN THE FINANCIAL INCENTIVES PIECE.

>> GOING DOWN THE ROAD BECAUSE NOTHING COMES OUT OR IS GIVEN TO MICRON UNTIL THERE IS ACTUALLY SOMETHING THAT'S DONE IN THE WAY OF CONSTRUCTION.

BUT I WANTED TO ASK YOU, LUKE, ARE YOU CONCERNED THAT THIS MIGHT GET CAUGHT UP IN THE BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN TRUMP AND GOVERNOR HOCHUL BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEN THAT HAPPEN IN CONNECTION WITH THE CONGESTION PRICING.

DO YOU THINK HE MIGHT USE THAT BECAUSE BASED ON WHAT ALL OF YOU HAVE SAID AND THE REASSURANCES McMAHON OFFERED, TRUMP SEEMS TO BE ON A DIFFERENT PAGE WITH WHAT WE'VE HEARD.

DO YOU THINK HE WOULD USE THIS TO LEVERAGE SOMETHING.

>> ANYTHING IN POSSIBLE BUT IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, HE DOESN'T HAVE THE UNILATERAL AUTHORITY LIKE HE DOES DIRECTING THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH TO ACT IN CERTAIN WAYS WHEN IT COMES TO EMIGRATION IMMIGRATION SO HE WOULD NEED TO BACK UP WHATEVER HE WOULD THREATEN HOCHUL WITH IN REGARDS TO NEGOTIATIONS AND I REALLY JUST THINK IT'S CLEAR HE DOESN'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE.

>> ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE.

SO ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I HAD SENT OUT TO THE GROUP BEFORE TODAY IS WHAT ARE THE RISKS INVOLVED?

EVEN IF MOST FOLKS ACCEPT THIS IS GOING TO GO FORWARD, IT HASN'T GONE FORWARD YET.

AND THERE IS DESTINY, THERE IS THE DEWITT PLANT THAT ALSO SORT OF FELL TO THE WIND.

ARE THERE RISKS INVOLVED WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS BUILDING NEW STRUCTURES, NEW BUILDINGS WITH OTHER ONONDAGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE, FOR EXAMPLE, REVAMPING PARTS OF ITS CURRICULUM.

SHOULD ALL OF THE OTHER PARTIES THAT MIGHT BE AFFECTED CONTINUE TO GO FULL STEAM AHEAD OR WAIT FOR THERE TO BE GROUNDBREAKING?

>> I THINK PART OF THE PROBLEM IS THAT SOME OF THE POTENTIAL CONSTRUCTION, ET CETERA, HAS ALREADY BEGUN.

SO WHAT DO YOU DO?

JUST LEAVE A BUILDING SORT OF HALF BUILT?

SO I THINK THEY HAVE TO GO FORWARD, BUT I WOULD SUGGEST, AND THIS IS JUST ME TALKING, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT FOR ANYONE WHO HAS BUILT A BUILDING OR IS BUILDING NEW CLASSROOMS, THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME PRIVATE DISCUSSION ABOUT, OKAY, IF FOR SOME REASON THIS FALLS THROUGH, WHAT IS OUR BACKUP PLAN.

HOW ARE WE GOING TO UTILIZE THIS SPACE?

DO WE RENT IT OUT, ET CETERA?

SO I DO THINK YOU PREPARE AS IF EVERYTHING IS GOING TO GO JUST AS IT HAS, MAYBE WITH A GLITCH HERE OR THERE, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE A PLAN B.

>> BE MINDFUL OF THE FACT THAT THERE COULD BE SOMETHING ELSE GOING ON.

WITH THAT, WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON TO OUR SECOND TOPIC CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

SECRETARY LINDA MCMAHON ANNOUNCED THE "FINAL MISSION" FOR THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION .

IT'S THE FIRST STEP TOWARD A PLAN TO CLOSE THE DEPARTMENT AND IN MCMAHON'S WORDS "END THE OVERREACH FROM WASHINGTON."

THE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN IN OPERATION SINCE 1980.

TARA, ARE WE COMFORT WABL THERE?

WHAT ARE THE POTENTIAL RAMIFICATIONS FOR UPSTATE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND PARENTS WERE THIS TO ACTUALLY HAPPEN?

>> PROBABLY THE BIGGEST RAMIFICATION IS WHAT HAPPENS TO THE OVERSIGHT AND THE FUNDING FOR SPECIFIC COMPONENTS OF WHAT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION DOES?

FOR EXAMPLE, THE TITLE I FUNDS THAT GO TO DISTRICTS WITH LARGE NUMBERS OF LOW INCOME STUDENTS.

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE FUNDING FOR THE SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAMS, WHICH ARE PRETTY MUCH FUNDED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT?

SO THAT'S THE BIGGEST QUESTION, I THINK, FOR UPSTATE SCHOOLS, DOES THE STATE ABSORB THAT COST THERE HAS BEEN TALK OF SHIFTING SOME OF THE PROGRAMS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, ET CETERA.

SO DOES THE STATE ABSORB THOSE COSTS?

AND IF THE STATE DOES DECIDE TO ABSORB THOSE COSTS, IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOESN'T CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THAT FUNDING, THEN DOES THAT, IN TURN, MEAN THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY HIGHER PROPERTY TAXES, ET CETERA.

>> RIGHT, IN ORDER TO FILL IN THAT GAP.

AND IF THE ENTERPRISE OF DOGE AND THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS TO CUT BACK ON SPENDING, IT SEEMS YOUR CONCERN IS A REAL ONE.

OTHER THOUGHTS.

>> I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE A STEP BACK.

THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WAS CREATED BY AN ACT OF CONGRESS THAT SPELLS OUT WHAT IT IS SUPPOSED TO DO.

I THINK WE ARE ENTERING INTO A MIND SET WHERE THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS SAID HASY LIMB ELIMINATED THIS DEPARTMENT OR THAT DEPARTMENT, WE JUST ACT LIKE IT WOULDN'T BE ILLEGAL FOR HIM TO ELIMINATE THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION BECAUSE HE SAID DURING THE CAMPAIGN THAT HE PLANNED TO.

IT IS GOING TO TAKE AN ACT OF CONGRESS TO DO THIS.

NOW I THINK TARA IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT THAT THE BIG QUESTION HERE IS WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE FUNDING.

YOU KNOW, FUNDAMENTALLY THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IS ABOUT PROTECTING CIVIL RIGHTS.

CIVIL RIGHTS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, ENSURING IEPS, IT ALSO HAS A SPECIFIC CHARGE TO ADMINISTER STUDENT LOANS.

THERE IS A LOT GOING ON HERE.

IF IT IS NOT CAREFULLY THOUGHT OUT ABOUT THE CHANGES IN THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AS IT SEEMS FROM THE INITIAL MEMOS AND FINAL MISSION EMAIL, THE THOUGHT ABOUT AFFECTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IN THIS WAY IS REALLY ABOUT CONTINUING TO GO AFTER DEI AND THINGS LIKE THAT, I THINK THAT WE ARE GOING TO RUN INTO A WHOLE LOT OF CHAOS THAT IS GOING TO BE REALLY FELT IN THESE SCHOOLS, EVEN IF THE DEPARTMENT STILL EXISTS IN NAME, IF ALL THAT FUNDING IS CUT, WITHOUT AN ACT OF CONGRESS, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF URT HURT IN OUR SCHOOLS AND IT'S GOING TO BE MORE CHAOS AND INTENSITY FOR STUDENTS WHO REALLY NEED THAT SUPPORT.

>> IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, RIGHT?

AND I THINK PART OF THE CONVERSATION AROUND THIS NATIONALLY HAS BEEN THAT FOLKS ARE TALKING AS IF THIS IS A NEW THING.

FROM THE MOMENT THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WAS PUT IN PLACE IN 1980, REPUBLICANS STARTED TALKING ABOUT GETTING RID OF IT BACK THEN.

REAGAN REALLY MOVED FORWARD TO DO SO.

BUT HE WAS FACING A DEMOCRATIC CONTROLLED CONGRESS AND WASN'T ABLE TO AND THEN AS LATE AS 1996, SO THERE IS NOTHING NEW HERE.

SO THE ARGUMENT, AARON, IS TO GET RID OF IT, SO THAT STATES CAN NOW TAKE OVER WHAT MANY OF THEM SEE IS SOMETHING THAT FALLS WITHIN THE STATE'S PURVIEW.

>> YOU CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS.

YOU CAN'T SAY IT'S STATES RIGHTS WE ARE GOING TO LET THE STATES DO THIS AND THEN ISSUE ANY DIRECTIVES IN ANY SCHOOLS IN ANY WAY TOUCH ON DIVERSITY IN EDUCATION IN ANY WAY, THEY'RE VIOLATING THE LAW.

YOU CAN'T HAVE STATES RIGHTS BOTH WAYS AND THAT'S WHAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS TRYING TO DO.

I GET YOUR POINT.

MANY REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES HAVE SAID EDUCATION SHOULD BE A STATES ISSUE BUT WE ARE NOT SEEING AN ELIMINATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WITH A BIG RETURN PLAN TO RETURN THE FUNDING TO THE STATES.

WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS WE THINK THIS IS A WAY TO GO AFTER WOKENESS ONE MORE TIME.

THAT'S WHAT IS COMING OUT OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

>> IT CAN'T BE DONE WITHOUT AN ACT OF CONGRESS.

THE DEPARTMENT OF DAYCARES ORGANIZATION ACT SPECIFIES 11 OFFICES THAT HAVE TO BE HOUSED IN THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

YOU CAN'T ELIMINATE THEM WITHOUT AN ACT OF CONGRESS DOING THAT.

NOW AS AARON MENTIONED, YOU CAN CHANGE THE ALLOCATION.

YOU CAN LAY OFF MASSES AMOUNTS OF PEOPLE THAT WILL BE SIGNIFICANT BUT I AGREE THE RHETORIC HAS BEEN THERE.

THIS IS AN ESCALATION OF THAT.

I DON'T SEE IT HAPPENING IN THE SHORT-TERM AND I DON'T THINK MOST PEOPLE APPRECIATE HOW IMPACTFUL THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IS.

TO TARA'S POINT, EVERY CHILD GETS A FREE BREAKFAST AND FREE LUNCH WHO LIVE IN ONONDAGA COUNTY AND ONEIDA COUNTY PAID FOR BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

WE HAVEN'T EVEN MENTIONED HIGHER EDUCATION.

HOW THE VAST MAJORITY OF STUDENTS PAY FOR HIGHER EDUCATION GOES THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WHO SUBSIDIZES A LOT OF COLLEGE TUITION IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST.

SO THE RAMIFICATIONS ARE ENORMOUS.

I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD UNDERESTIMATE THE IMPORTANCE OF.

THIS I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT TO IMPLEMENT THE SHORT-TERM IN TERMS WHAT HAVE TRUMP WANTS TO DO.

>> AS AN ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, LUKE, IF I COULD FOLLOW UP AND ASK, ALSO ABOUT IN ADDITION TO THE STUFF THAT YOU JUST MENTIONED, THERE ARE THE LOSSES FROM COVID, RIGHT, THE FACT THAT THERE IS STILL EXCESSIVE ABSENTEEISM, LOW READING SCORES, SO HOW DOES YOUR SCHOOL BOARD ANTICIPATE, WERE THIS TO HAPPEN, TO ANTICIPATE OR DEALING WITH THOSE?

>> EACH SCHOOL BOARD IS GOING TO EVALUATE HOW MUCH FEDERAL MONEY THEY HAVE.

BIGGER DISTRICTS WITH MORE LOW INCOME STUDENTS LIKE UTICA, FOR INSTANCE, GET MOST OF THEIR FUNDING THROUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

SO MAJOR CHANGES TO THAT WILL BE CATASTROPHIC BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE REVENUE TO MAKE IT UP.

OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS, THEY'RE TRYING TO DEAL WITH COVID LEARNING LOSS AND THEY'RE ALSO TRYING TO DEAL WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND THE MENTAL HEALTH PIECE COSTS MONEY IN TERMS OF GETTING MORE STAFF TO HELP STUDENTS WITH THAT.

>> GREAT POINTS TO FOLLOW UP ON LUKE'S POINT ABOUT POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION, ONE OF THE POINTS THAT'S MADE, AND SHE SAYS WHAT TRUMP'S ADMISSION IS SAYING, DISRUPTION LEADS TO INNOVATION AND GETS RESULTS.

I'M PROUD TO WORK FOR A UNIVERSITY THAT HAS BEEN PROACTIVE IN THIS AND LOOKING AT STEM AND HAVING APPLIED DEGREES WHERE THEY CAN PAIR WITH A DUAL DEGREE AND GET REAL JOB EXPERIENCE WHILE THEY'RE GETTING THEIR EDUCATION AND THAT IS WHAT THEY'RE PUSHING.

WE GET VERY DISTRACTED WITH THE DEI COMPONENT OF THIS.

IT GETS SO MUCH ATTENTION IN THE MEDIA.

BUT THEY DO HAVE SOME GOOD POINTS THAT ARE OUTLINED IN THIS AS WELL.

>> I AGREE, BEN.

IT SEEMS THAT THERE ARE ANY NUMBER OF GOALS INVOLVED HERE.

AND SO SEEING HOW THEY COME DOWN WILL BE SIGNIFICANT FOR ASSESSING THE IMPACT.

SO WE ARE GOING TO EXPAND OUR LENS A LITTLE WIDER AND LOOK AT WHAT IS HAPPENING ON THE GLOBAL SCALE.

THE U.S. HAS PAUSED MILITARY AIDE TO UKRAINE.. AS WELL AS INFORMATION-SHARING .

THEN THERE'S THAT OVAL OFFICE DEBACLE • AND [NOW] EUROPE .

IS STEPPING IN TO FILL THE GAP•.

26 COUNTRIES PLEDGED WHAT THEY CALL "REGULAR AND PREDICTABLE" HELP TO UKRAINE THIS AS THE U.S. PIVOTS TOWARD RUSSIA AND SPARS WITH OUR NEIGHBOR TO THE NORTH .

SO, LUKE, WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?

ARE WE ENTERING A NEW WORLD ORDER?

>> WE ARE TAKING A STEP IN THAT DIRECTION AND IT'S A BIG STEP.

I'M AN AMERICAN BECAUSE MY ANCESTORS FLED THE FORMER SOVIET UNION, LITHUANIA IN PARTICULAR BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT TO BE CONSCRIPTED IN THE RUSSIAN ARMIMENT SO HERE I AM A FEW GENERATIONS LATER, THE FIRST PERSON IN MY FAMILY TO EARN A Ph.D. AND BE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO LIVE AND TEACH THROUGHOUT EUROPE AND IT'S DISTURBING AND DISORIENTING TO ME TO SEE HOW PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS HANDLED THE CONFLICT WITH RUSSIA, ESSENTIALLY PUTTING TREMENDOUS PRESSURE ON OUR DEMOCRATIC ALLY IN UKRAINE WITHHOLDING WEAPONS NOW, WITHHOLDING INTELLIGENCE AND BASICALLY TRYING TO SUBMIT THEM INTO A CEASE FIRE AND SIGNING OVER HALF THEIR MINERAL RIGHTS TO US, WHICH SIGNIFICANTLY BENEFITS A DICTATOR AND VLADAMIR PUTIN SO I DON'T THINK WE CAN SHAKE THIS ONE OFF AND EUROPE IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO RESPOND.

THE PROBLEM FOR UKRAINE IS THAT 90% OF THEIR AID COMES FROM US AND EUROPE.

SO IF YOU TAKE US OUT OF THE EQUATION, WE ARE ROUGHLY HALF OF THE 90%.

IT'S EXTRAORDINARILY DIFFICULT FOR EUROPE TO MAKE THAT UP AND THEY'RE IN A DIRE SITUATION.

>> YEAH, AND YET THEY MET YESTERDAY IN BRUSSELS TO TALK ABOUT WAYS THAT THEY CAN COMMIT MORE OF THEIR BUDGETS TO THIS.

AND SO YOU ARE SAYING YOU DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE FEASIBLE?

>> I THINK EUROPE WILL GIVE MORE MONEY BUT I DON'T THINK IT CAN FILL THE HOLE THAT IS BEING VACATED BY THE UNITED STATES.

>> YEAH, AND LUKE IS RIGHT.

AT LEAST SHORT-TERM.

I DO THINK THAT LONG-TERM, IF THEY'RE FULLY COMMITTED, WHICH THEY DO APPEAR TO BE AND RIGHTFULLY SO, THEY SHOULD BE.

I DO THINK THAT THEY CAN, LONG-TERM.

BUT THE PROBLEM IS THE WEEKS OR MONTHS BETWEEN THAT WITHOUT THE INTELLIGENCE THAT DOESN'T COST US MUCH TO GIVE THEM, QUITE HONESTLY.

THAT IS HARD TO GRASP THAT WE ARE DOING THAT, WITHHOLDING THAT.

I CAN GET THE MONEY PART.

I GET THAT WE WANT TO CUT COSTS.

BUT THE FACT THAT WE ARE NOT HELPING THEM IN ANY WAY WHATSOEVER IS SCARY.

>> YEAH, IT'S SCARY.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT IS ABOUT?

I MEAN LET ME PLAY DEVIL'S ADVOCATE HERE AND SAY THAT WHAT TRUMP MIGHT BE TRYING TO DO IS TO MAKE THESE VERY GENEROUS OVERTURES TO PUTIN IN ORDER TO MAKE HIM MORE AMENABLE TO ENDING THE WAR.

DO YOU THINK THIS MIGHT BE-- >> I DO BELIEVE THAT TRUMP BELIEVES THAT THE ENDS DO JUSTIFY THE MEANS, AND I DO.

I AGREE 100% WITH DEVIL'S ADVOCATE THAT THAT WHAT IS HE IS DOING.

HE IS TRANSACTIONAL.

AND STRATEGICALLY IT MAKES SENSE.

I CAN GET IT.

RATIONALLY I CAN GET IT BUT PEOPLE ARE LOSING THEIR LIVES.

PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES LAST NIGHT IN UKRAINE DUE TO NOT HAVING INTELLIGENCE AND NOT HAVING THE DEFENSE MECHANISMS IN PLACE.

>> YOU KNOW, YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

TRUMP AND COMPANY ARE TRANSACTIONAL AND I'M GOING TO ADD ONE OTHER THING THAT IS THE HUMAN COMPONENT OF THIS.

SOMETHING WE DON'T THINK ABOUT.

TRUMP LITERALLY SPENT HIS WHOLE FIRST TERM ENVIOUS OF OBAMA.

TRUMP WANTS THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE AND SOMEWHERE, I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT SOMEWHERE IN THE BACK OF HIS MIND, IF HE CAN NEGOTIATE THIS PEACE BETWEEN UKRAINE AND RUSSIA, I THINK IN HIS MIND, HE THINKS OKAYA OF, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NOMINATION PROCESS IS, BUT THAT SOMEHOW HE WILL GET NOMINATED BY THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE BECAUSE OBAMA HAS ONE.

I ALSO DO AGREE THAT HE SEES THIS AS A WAY OF INFLUENCING PUTIN.

I THINK FROM PUTIN'S POINT OF VIEW, THIS IS FINE, IF YOU THINK THIS IS INFLUENCING ME, FINE.

I'LL LET YOU BELIEVE THAT AND THEN, YOU KNOW, I'LL MAKE WHATEVER DEAL I MAKE WITH UKRAINE, LET THERE BE PEACE FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND THEN I'LL JUST MAKE MY NEXT MOVE.

I DON'T THINK PUTIN DOESN'T SEE WHAT TRUMP IS TRYING TO DO.

BUT THE OTHER COMPONENT OF THIS IS THAT HERE YOU HAVE THE U.S. PRESIDENT CHANGING WHAT HAS BEEN A PART OF AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY IN THE SENSE THAT AMERICA MADE ITSELF THE WORLD'S POLICE PERSON.

NOW THIS OCCURRED DURING THE COLD WAR.

BUT AMERICA MADE ITSELF THAT WAY.

AND SO WE HAVE BENEFITED FROM THAT AND THAT'S THE PART THAT I THINK EUROPE, WITHOUT SAYING IT PUBLICLY, IS RESPONDING TO IS AMERICA, YOU MADE YOURSELF THE WORLD'S POLICEMEN, SO NOW DO THAT OR DON'T.

>> I'M TAKING A QUICK STEP BACK.

WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT NEW WORLD ORDER MOSTLY ABOUT RUSSIA AND UKRAINE.

HERE IS WHO U.S. HAS ALLIED ITSELF WITH.

LIBYA, YEMEN.

THE THREE COUNTRIES THAT ARE NO LONGER AND HAVE NEVER BEEN PART OF THE PARIS AGREEMENT THAT ADDRESSES CLIMATE CHANGE, AN IMPORTANT GLOBAL ISSUE AND WHO IS FILLING THE VOID AND THE GAP ON THAT IS CHINA.

SO I JUST WANT TO SAY A MUCH BIGGER ISSUE HERE IN THE NEW WORLD ORDER IS THE ROLE OF CHINA DIMMATICALLY DIPLOMATICALLY, THEY'RE TAKING IT OVER IN THE BORLD AS WE CUT OUR DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS IS GOING TO HAVE HUGE CONSEQUENCES.

>> I SUSPECT THAT WE WILL COME BACK TO THIS TOPIC AGAIN.

NOW IT'S TIME TO GO TO THE FS AND AS, STARTING WITH YOUR F TARA.

>> TO SELF PROCLAIMED POLITICAL COMMENTATOR SHAPIRO AND ELON MUSK CALLING TO TRUMP TO PARDON DEREK SHAW SHOW VAUGHN, THE APPARENTLY THERE ARE NO CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS WHICH SHAPIRO AND MUSK THINK SHOULD STAND.

>> LUKE.

>> MY F GOES TO FINDINGS THIS WEEK THAT THE BUTTERFLY POPULATION HAS DECLINED BY 22% THIS CENTURY.

KEY FACTORS INCLUDE RISING TEMPERATURES, SHRINKING HABITATS AND THE USE OF TOXIC PESTICIDES.

>> BEN.

>> MY F GOES TO OUR POLITICIANS WHO HAVE POORLY REPRESENTED AMERICA VALUES THIS WEEK FROM AN ALLY OF-- A WAR WORN COUNTRY BEING PUBLICLY BELITTLED AND BULLIED IN THE OVAL OFFICE TO THE DEMOCRATS BLATANT DISRESPECT FOR THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AT THE CONGRESSIONAL ADDRESS.

EVEN WHEN A 13-YEAR-OLD BOY WITH BRAIN CANCER WAS MADE AN HONORARY SECRET SERVICE AGENT, D.J.

DANIELS, THE DEMOCRATS DID NOT STAND.

THIS WAS A TERRIBLE WEEK FOR AMERICA.

>> AARON.

>> MY F GOES TO SECRETARY OF INTERIOR DOUGBURGHAM.

GO APPLY FOR A JOB.

THOSE WERE THE SECRETARY'S WORDS ANNOUNCING PLANS TO REHIRE FIRED WORKERS IN THE NATIONAL PARKS SERVICE FOR SUMMER POSITIONS, WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE TWO MONTHS AGO.

IT'S A MESS RIGHT NOW AND IT'S GOING TO HAVE BIG CONSEQUENCES FOR OUR COUNTRY.

>> OKAY, AND NOW WE ARE GOING TO LEAVE YOU WITH SOME POSITIVE NEWS WITH OUR AS STARTING WITH TARA.

>> MY A GOES TO SWEDEN WHICH ACCORDING TO THE ECONOMIST IS THE BEST COUNTRY FOR WORKING WOMEN.

THE MAGAZINE BASED ITS CHOICE ON PAY, EDUCATION PARENTAL LEAVE AND REPRESENTATION IN LEADERSHIP ROLES AND IT FOUND THAT IN ALL OF THOSE CATEGORIES OR AT LEAST ALMOST ALL OF THEM, SWEDEN WAS AT THE TOP.

COMPARATIVELY AMERICA WAS 19th.

>> MY A GOES TO HAMILTON COLLEGE'S HARVEST PROGRAM STUDENT VOLUNTEERS GATHER UP THOUSANDS OF POUNDS OF SURPLUS DINING HALL FOOD EACH WEEK AND DONATE IT TO LOCAL SOUP KITCHENS.

>> BEN.

>> MY A IS GOING TO A PARTNERSHIP WORKING ON THE HUDSON HIGHLANDS FJORD TRAIL POWERED BY A PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP, 7.5 MILES, CONNECTED TWO COUNTIES, FOUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND WHAT IT DOES IS IT HELPS THE STRAIN WHERE THEY TYPICALLY ARE GETTING ON THE TRAILS THAT WERE TREACHEROUS AT PLACES AND NOW IT'S GOING TO BE SAFE, MORE ENJOYABLE AND IT'S GOING TO BE MORE ACCESSIBLE.

>> MORE ACCESSIBLE, THAT'S ALWAYS GOOD.

AND AARON.

>> SO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN DO GOOD THINGS.

AND MY A GOES TO THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, A GEM OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

VISITORS TO NATIONAL PARKS WERE AT THEIR HIGHEST LEVELS EVER IN 2024.

SO GET OUT THERE AND VISIT OUR PARKS AND THANKS, ALSO, LUKE FOR THE SHOUTOUT TO HAMILTON'S HARVEST PROGRAM WHICH IS A GREAT PROGRAM.

>> I HOPE WE HAVE ALL THE WORKERS SO THEY CAN BE FULLY STAFFED AND OPEN.

>> AND THAT THE BATHROOMS ARE OPEN WHICH I HAVE SEEN PICTURES OF THEM SHUTTERED.

THAT'S NOT A GOOD LOOK.

>> WE NEED BATHROOMS IN THE PARK.

BACK TO YOUR A, LUKE, I FOUND IT INTERESTING.

YOU TALKED ABOUT HAMILTON AND THE USE OF SURPLUS FOOD.

I WONDER THE POSSIBILITYIES FOR OTHER AREA COLLEGES TO DO THE SAME.

I SEE THE AMOUNT OF WASTE THAT HAPPENS ON THE COLLEGE CAMPUS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?

LET'S SPREAD THE... >> I'M TEACHING A NUTRITION IN PUBLIC POLICY COURSE AND NUTRITION STUDENTS ARE VERY INTERESTED IN FEEDING PEOPLE AND MAKING GOOD USE OF FOOD AND THIS IS A GREAT MODEL.

>> LET'S ALL THINK ABOUT FOLLOWING THAT.

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