WHO SETS THE NEWS AGENDA?

RISK AND OPPORTUNITY IN THE MIDEAST.

AND TEXAS SUES A NEW YORK DOCTOR FOR MAILING ABORTION PILLS ACROSS STATE LINES.

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 CHAD SPARBER FROM COLGATE UNIVERSITY, JENNIFER STROMER-GALLEY FROM SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY, BEN BAUGHMAN FROM GANNON UNIVERSITY, AND RICK FENNER FROM UTICA UNIVERSITY.

THE LATE SENATOR DANIEL PATRICK MOYNIHAN FAMOUSLY SAID YOU ARE ENTITLED TO YOUR OPINION, BUT NOT TO YOUR OWN FACTS.

YET AMERICANS TODAY OFTEN DON'T SEEM TO AGREE ON BASIC FACTS, OR AT LEAST THEIR INTERPRETATION OF THEM.

PEOPLE WHO WATCH FOX OR NEWSMAX AND READ GATEWAY PUNDIT AND THE LIKE HAVE A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT VIEW OF THE WORLD THAT PEOPLE WHO READ NEWSPAPERS OR MAGAZINES.

JENNY, WHAT IS THE ROLE OF CONSERVATIVE MEDIA IN OUR POLITICS AND IN SHAPING PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF THE STATE OF THE COUNTRY?

>> RIGHT.

SO I'M GOING TO SAY FOUR THINGS.

SO FIRST, FRAGMENTATION IS NOT NEW.

THE MASS MEDIA ERA WAS A KIND OF UNIQUE MOMENT IN TIME WHERE THE ORDINARY PUBLIC GOT A LITTLE BIT OF NEWS AT 7 P.M.

WHEN THEY WATCHED ONE OF THE BROADCAST STATIONS AND MAYBE THEY SUBSCRIBED TO THEIR LOCAL PAPERS BUT CREATED AN EVEN PLAYING FIELD OF THE INFORMATION ENVIRONMENT.

BUT BEFORE THAT, WE HAD A MUCH MORE FRAGMENTED ENVIRONMENT AND IT WAS PART PARTISAN.

SO WE ARE BACK TO WHERE WE WERE BEFORE THIS UNIQUE MOMENT.

SECOND, JOURNALISTS GET THEIR NEWS FROM POLITICAL ELITES.

THE PROBLEM FROM MY PERSPECTIVE IS LESS THAN THAT IT IS JOURNALISTS BUT MORE THAT IT IS OUR CURRENT POLITICAL MOMENT WHERE POLITICAL ELITES, POLITICIAN POLITICIANS, GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS HAVE NO QUALMS ABOUT SAYING THINGS THAT ARE FACTUALLY INCORRECT FOR IDEOLOGICAL PURPOSES AND PLATFORMS PLAY A KEY ROLE AND THEY DO NOT TAKE THAT ROLE SERIOUSLY.

AS A RESULT, THEY'RE ACTUALLY THROTTLING THE QUALITY OF INFORMATION THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY GETTING.

THAT'S A HUGE PROBLEM.

AND FOURTH, NIKKI USHER WROTE A BRILLIANT BOOK "NEWS FOR THE RICH, WHITE AND BLUE" AND THE ARGUMENT IS THAT JOURNALISTS AND THE INSTITUTION OF JOURNALISM IS PRIMARILY PUSHING NEWS TO THE ELITE, RICH WHITE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

AND SHE ARGUES IT IS TIME FOR JOURNALISTS TO TAKE OFF THE CLOAK OF IDEOLOGICAL NEUTRALITY AND BE MORE TRANSPARENT WITH THE PUBLIC ABOUT WHO THEY SERVE AND WHAT THEIR INTERESTS ARE.

>> YOU MENTIONED THAT IN A WAY, WE ARE GOING BACK TO WHAT HAD BEEN, WHICH IS MORE FRACTURED POLITICALLY, VARIOUS TYPES OF MEDIA BUT NOW WE CAN REACH WITH TECH, ANY ONE PERSON CAN REACH ANYBODY AND EVERYBODY.

THAT CHANGES THE PLAYING FIELD, TOO.

>> IT'S NOT.

THAT'S THE THING.

WHEN WE HAD THE THREE NETWORKS AND JENNY, YOU NAILED IT IN THE TERMS OF HOUR GLASS HOW WE GET INFORMATION AND HOW IT NARROWED WHEN EVERYONE WAS WATCHING, YOU KNOW, YOU HAD THE CHOICE OF THREE NETWORKS AND THEY WERE BASICALLY THE SAME.

WE ALL HAD THE SHARED EXPERIENCE.

AND NOW THAT WE DON'T, WHILE EVERYONE CAN REACH EVERYONE, THAT'S NOT WHAT IS HAPPENING.

PEOPLE ARE GOING TO ONE LITTLE SECTOR, YOU KNOW, THEY'LL GO TO ONE WEBSITE OR THEY'LL GO LISTEN TO ONE, I HATE THE TERM, NEWS INFLUENCER TODAY.

AND SO WHAT IS HAPPENING IS WE DON'T HAVE THAT SHARED EXPERIENCE AND AGAIN THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAD PROBABLY 100 YEARS AGO.

>> BUT SOME SHARED EXPERIENCE, I THINK, DOES EXIST BECAUSE ON THE RIGHT IT SPEAKS TO A LOT OF THE SITES SEEM TO SPEAK WITH ONE VOICE.

>> TO RICK'S POINT, IT USED TO BE AN HOUR GLASS AND NOW IT'S A FUNNEL.

AND IT'S FUNNELED BECAUSE WE ARE PREACHING TO THE CHOIR.

WE WANT TO HEAR A PARTICULAR SLANT ON WHAT HAPPENED.

AND MIND SET IS NOT PASSIVE.

IMPLEMENT IMPACTS HOW YOU INTERPRET THE WORLD AROUND YOU.

SO YOU HAVE ALGORITHMS THAT ARE FEEDING YOU WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE.

AND ON TOP OF THAT, THAT IMPACTS HOW YOU SEE THINGS OUTSIDE OF THERE.

>> CHAD.

>> I'M THINKING ABOUT THE FACTS ISSUE THAT YOU RAISED IN THE BEGIN BEGINNING.

AND ONE OF THE READINGS THAT WE ALL READ BEFORE COMING TO THE SHOW WAS "THE NEW YORK TIMES" GUEST PIECE BY JULIA ENGWIN AND SHE ARGUED THAT MANY HEADING TO THE POLLS THAT BORDER CROSSINGS ARE HIGHER THAN BEFORE AND THEY'RE NOT, CRIME IS RISING AND IT'S NOT AND INFLATION IS SOARING.

DITTO.

SHE IS IGNORANT OF A TON EVER DETAIL.

FOR EXAMPLE, TWO WEEKS AGO THE TIMES ITSELF REPORTED THAT IMMIGRATION SURGE SINCE 2021 WAS THE LARGEST IN U.S. HISTORY.

THAT NOT ALL VIOLENT CRIME IS REPORTED.

AND THAT AT 8%, ANNUAL INFLATION IN 2022 WAS HIGHER THAN IT HAD BEEN OVER 40 YEARS.

AND SO I OBJECT TO THIS ASSERTION FROM THE LEFT THAT THE RIGHT REJECTS FACTS BECAUSE THERE IS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF SANCTIMONY AND HYPOCRISY IN DOING THAT.

I'M NOT TRYING TO DRAW AN EQUIVALENCY BETWEEN THE RIGHT OR LEFT AND EXCUSE THE RIGHT'S PROBLEM WITH FACTS BUT RATHER IF YOU ARE GOING TO CHALLENGE THE RIGHT AND SAY THAT YOU ARE NOT DOING SOMETHING FACTUAL, YOUR OWN FACTS BETTER BE BULLETPROOF AND THEY'RE CERTAINLY NOT.

>> THAT DIDN'T SOUND LIKE THOSE WERE NOT FACTS.

AND YOU JUST SAID-- YOU JUST SAID THAT THE RIGHT'S PROBLEM WITH FACTS.

WHAT IS THE RIGHT EATS PROBLEMS WITH-- WHAT IS THE RIGHT'S PROBLEM WITH FACTS.

>> THE ARTICLE I AM TALKING ABOUT SAYS THE RIGHT CHOOSES THEIR OWN FACTS OR IGNORE FACTS ALL TOGETHER.

THAT MANY OF THE CONSERVATIVE VOTERS WOULD BELIEVE THAT INFLATION IS SOARING.

WHILE IT IS TRUE THAT AT ELECTION DAY INFLATION WAS PRETTY TAME, IT'S ALSO TRUE THAT PRICES WERE 22% HIGHER AT THE END OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION THAN THEY WERE IN THE BEGINNING.

SO IF YOU ARE FROM THE LEFT, AND YOU WANT TO ATTACK THE RIGHT AS BEING IGNORANT OR CONFUSED ABOUT THE REALITY ON THE GROUND, YOU BETTER RECOGNIZE THAT NUANCE AND SAY THAT, LIVED EXPERIENCE HAS SHOWN US THINGS LIKE PRICES ARE WAY HIGHER NOW.

AND CRIME IS-- VISIBLE CRIME, MAYBE NOT VIOLENT CRIME, IS WORSE NOW THAN IT WAS FIVE YEARS AGO.

>> THEN HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THAT CONSERVATIVE VOTERS THOUGHT THAT THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE WAS AT A 40-YEAR HIGH WHEN IN FACT IT WAS-- THERE IS SOMETHING, WHERE IS THAT NUANCE.

I UNDERSTAND PEOPLE CONFUSING PRICES RIGHT NOW WITH THE IMPACT OF INFLATION OVER A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME, CUMULATIVE EFFECT.

BUT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT I CLEARLY THINK THAT THE RIGHT HAS A BIGGER PROBLEM WITH ACCEPTING SOME FACTS.

>> THAT'S WHY I SAID I DON'T WANT TO DRIVE AN EQUIVALENCY THAT THE LEFT AND RIGHT ARE THE SAME IN THIS.

SAVE ME THE SANCTIMONY AND IF YOU COME TO THE TABLE ATTACKING THE RIGHT ON THEIR MISHANDLING OF FACTS, YOUR OWN FACTS BETTER BE BULL IT PROOF AND THEY'RE NOT.

>> A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THAT IS THE ORIGINS OF COVID WHERE IT WAS A CONSPIRACY THEORY IN A LOT OF MAINSTREAM MEDIA OUTLETS.

NOW THERE ARE SOME EVIDENCE THAT SUPPORTS THAT.

SO IT'S NOT JUST ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER.

BUT THAT'S THE BIGGER PROBLEM IS THAT WE ARE NOT JUST RED OR BLUE WE ARE THE WHOLE PALLET OF ART AND WHEN WE START TRYING TO BE TWO TRIBES, THAT'S WHERE THE REAL ISSUES START TO COME INTO PLAY.

>> ON THAT POINT, THE ORIGINS OF THE CORONAVIRUS ARE WHAT I WAS THINKING ABOUT.

WHEN IT WAS FIRST SUGGESTED IT WAS A LAB LEAK, THE LEFT WING MEDIA DISMISSED THAT AS THAT'S RACIST, INCENTIVE, UNNECESSARILY BAITING CHINA WHEN LIKE, I'M SORRY, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE STUDYING CORONAVIRUSES... >> IS IT LEFT WING MEDIA DOING THAT OR SOURCES WHO ARE PEOPLE IN THE... >> THAT'S THE POINT, RIGHT, IT'S NOT THAT IT'S THE JOURNALISTS MAKING THIS STUFF UP.

IT'S BECAUSE YOU HAVE ELITES, GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, POLITICIANS, WHO ARE TAKING THESE STORIES AND SHARING THEM WITH JOURNALISTS THAT ARE THEN GETTING REPORTED SO THAT'S THE PROBLEM.

>> VANCE ADMITTED THAT HE WAS GOING TO-- THEY WERE GOING TO MAKE STUFF UP AND HE IS FINE WITH THAT IN ORDER TO MEET THEIR ENDS.

>> WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE THAT THERE SO WE CAN MOVE ON IT'S SAID THAT SOMETIMES DECADES HAPPEN IN WEEKS.

CASE IN POINT: SYRIA.

IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE, ISLAMIST REBELS HAVE OVERTHROWN THE ASSAD DICTATORSHIP.

IN RESPONSE, THE U.S. HAS ATTACKED ISIS STRONGHOLDS THERE.

ISRAEL HAS DESTROYED SYRIA'S MILITARY INFRASTRUCTURE AND OCCUPIED A BUFFER ZONE ALONG THE BORDER.

IRAN'S AXIS OF RESISTANCE IS SEVERELY WEAKENED.

THIS IS A TIME OF RISK AND OPPORTUNITY IN THE MIDEAST.

DONALD TRUMP TAKES THE OATH OF OFFICE ONE MONTH FROM TODAY.

HOW SHOULD HE RESPOND?

THAT'S A TOUGH ONE.

>> YEAH, WELL, HE SAYS ONE THING NOW.

BUT HIS ACTIONS ARE GOING TO SPEAK LOUDER.

THE REALITY IS WE ALREADY HAVE MILITARY THERE IN THE NORTHEAST.

>> APPARENTLY WE HAVE MORE THAN WE THOUGHT.

>> 2,000.

>> THERE ARE A COUPLE THOUSAND NOT 800 OR 900.

>> IN ADDITION, IT IS A BREEDING BROWNED FOR ISIS WHICH TRUMP'S FIRST ADMINISTRATION WAS HIGHLY ACTIVE IN TRYING TO DISMANTLE.

AND TOP OF THAT, THIS PART OF THE REGION IS WHERE IRAN IS ABLE TO GET SUPPLIES TO THE HEWITTY-- HUTIS WHICH IS GOING TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO UTILIZE THE LAND LIKE THEY HAVE BEEN DOING.

>> SO WHAT, IF YOU ARE THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

TRUMP SAID WE SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.

>> IT'S VERY CHALLENGING, RIGHT?

WE HAVE WATCHED THE UNITED STATES, UNFORTUNATELY REALLY MESS UP, FRANKLY, THE POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT IN THE MIDDLE EAST.

THE WAR IN IRAQ WAS A DISASTER.

THE WAR OF AFGHANISTAN WAS ALSO DEEPLY, DEEPLY PROBLEMATIC.

THE UNITED STATES HAS A TENDENCY TO GO INTO COUNTRIES WHERE WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE CULTURE, THE COMMUNITIES, THE HISTORY, AND THE RELIGIONS.

AND AS A RESULT, WE DON'T KNOW WHO OUR FRIENDS ARE, WHO YOU ARE FOES ARE AND WE END UP CAUSING MORE DAMAGE, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, THAN GOOD.

AND SO PUTTING BOOTS ON THE GROUND, BEING INVOLVED, I'M ACTUALLY VERY SYMPATHETIC TO INCOMING PRESIDENT TRUMP'S POSITION HERE.

ON THE OTHER HAND, WE ALSO DO HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO TRY TO CREATE STABILITY.

AND THE UNITED STATES HISTORICALLY HAS A REPUTATION OF BRINGING SOME STABILITY WHEN WE ARE NOT DOING STUPID THINGS.

AND SO SOFT DIPLOMACY AND REALLY WORKING CLOSELY WITH OUR ALLIES TO ESTABLISH THAT THERE ISN'T INCREASED TERRORISM, THAT THERE IS NOT NEW HOT BEDS OF CHALLENGE IN THE MIDDLE EAST IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

>> SO, CHAD, YOU SAID SOFT DIPLOMACY.

THERE ARE AMERICAN DIPLOMATS THERE RIGHT NOW TRYING TO WORK WITH-- YOU CAN'T CALL IT A REGIME YET.

>> TO WORK WITH H.T.F.

>> AND THERE IS A QUESTION WHETHER YOU SHOULD TAKE THEM OFF THE TERRORIST LISTS WHICH THEY'RE CURRENTLY ON.

I'LL TAKE SOME NOTES FROM A STUDENT SAWYER BROWN.

SOME OF THE QUESTIONS DEPEND ON HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT ELIB, A CITY IN NORTHWEST SYRIA UNDER HTS CONTROL SINCE 2017.

THEY GAINED CONTROL WITH AN AUTHORITARIAN HAND.

BUT OUTLETS LIKE "THE NEW YORK TIMES" AND BBC HAVE REPORTED THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO RELAX THEIR RULES AND REBRAND TO SHED THEIR AL AL-QAEDA ROOTS AND PROTECT MINORITY GROUPS AND THAT SORT OF THING.

ANOTHER ONE OF MY STUDENTS, TY FAM SAID THEY COULD LEVERAGE THEIR OIL CONTROL IN THE NORTHEAST LIKE YOU TALKED ABOUT.

AND NEGOTIATE WITH SYRIA'S THE NEW GOVERNMENT; ULTIMATELY TO REMOVE HTS FROM THE TERROR LIST IF THEY CONTINUE IN THESE WAYS THAT THEY'VE PROMISED.

>> SO YOUR STUDENTS ARE ALL OVER THIS.

>> THEY'RE SMARTER THAN I AM.

>> I'M NOT SURE HOW MUCH OIL IS REALLY AT PLAY HERE.

>> THERE IS A LOT OF OIL IN THE NORTHEAST.

>> THAT WAS 40% OF THEIR ANNUAL INCOME.

>> THE INCOMING PRESIDENT, YOU SAID YOU ARE SYMPATHETIC.

THIS IS A TOUGH ISSUE FOR ANYBODY.

HIS ENVOY TO THE MIDEAST IS HIS DAUGHTER'S FATHER-IN-LAW AND HE HAS APPOINTED TOM BARACK, A REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER AS AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY, IS IT SO DO WE HAVE THE RIGHT PEOPLE THERE ALTHOUGH MARCO RUBIO SEC SEEMS LIKE A PLAYER.

>> WHAT ULTIMATELY ARE OUR GOALS AND HOW ARE WE GOING TO ACCOMPLISH THOSE, AND THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF THINGS THAT WE HAVE NOT HAD CLEARLY DELINEATED A NUMBER OF THE CONFLICTS THAT JENNY MENTIONED AND HOW DO WE ACCOMPLISH THEM?

SO AGAIN I'M ALSO SYMPATHETIC.

BUT THE PROBLEMS OF, YOU KNOW, TRUMP'S PROPOSAL OF JUST STAYING OUT OF IT.

WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES AND WHO IS GOING TO FILL THE VOID AND ARE YOU REALLY WILLING TO LIVE WITH THE CONSEQUENCES OF WHAT COMES OUT OF RNTLE YOU KNOW-- OUT OF, YOU KNOW, THERE IS A FEELING LET THE BAD GUYS FIGHT AGAINST EACH OTHER AND WHO IS THE BADDEST OF THE BAD GUYS AND WHAT DO WE WANT TO SEE HAPPENING, AGAIN, MUCH BEYOND MY LEVEL OF EXPERTISE.

I DO WORRY ABOUT TRUMP HAVING THE RIGHT PEOPLE GIVING HIM ADVICE ON THIS.

>> I'M REALLY WORRIED ABOUT THE KURDS.

30 TO 45 MILLION KURDS IN THE WORLD, MIGHT BE THE WORLD'S LARGEST ETHNIC GROUP WITHOUT A STATE, REPRESENT 25% OF TURKEY'S POPULATION AND THEY HAVE BEEN A U.S.

ALLY IN OUR FIGHT AGAINST ISIS LIKE BEN MENTIONED.

BUT TURKEY VIEWS THEM AS A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION.

THEY DON'T WANT A TURKISH ENCLAVE WITH AUTONOMY, BUT WE CAN'T HAVE TURKEY DESTABILIZING THIS REGION.

THE KURDS CURRENTLY HOLD 9,000 ISIS FIGHTERS IN PRISON.

THAT ALONE NECESSITATES OUR INVOLVEMENT HERE.

>> ISIS FIGHTERS AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS IN THE AREA WHERE THE U.S. IS PRESENT.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND JUST REAL QUICK, I KNOW WE WANT TO MOVE O.

BUT THE DRUG TRAFFICKING THAT HAS BEEN UNCOVERED THERE IS $2.5 BILLION IS CA A DRUG THAT IS 10 BILLION WORLDWIDE.

THAT INDUSTRIAL LEVEL OF DRUG TRAFFICKING IS GOING TO BE UTILIZED BY SOMEBODY, PROBABLY ISIS IF WE DON'T HELP IN SOME WAY.

>> THIS IS GOING TO BE A BIG PROBLEM ON THE FIRST DAY FOR THE INCOMING PRESIDENT.

AFTER THE DOBBS DECISION OVERTURNING THE RIGHT TO AN ABORTION, NEW YORK AND SEVERAL OTHER STATES PASSED SHIELD LAWS TO PROTECT DOCTORS WHO PRESCRIBE ABORTION PILLS ACROSS STATE LINES.

ALMOST ALL ABORTIONS ARE ILLEGAL IN TEXAS; NOW THAT STATE'S ATTORNEY GENERAL KEN PAXTON HAS SUED A NEW YORK DOCTOR WHO MAILED THE DRUGS TO A WOMAN THERE.

IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, I BELIEVE.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THESE SHIELD LAWS WILL BE TESTED IN COURT.

IN THE AGE OF ZOOM AND TELEMEDICINE, CAN ONE STATE DICTATE WHERE PEOPLE GET THEIR CARE?

WHAT THEIR POLICY SHOULD BE.

>> I'M GOING TO LOOK FOR A LEGAL PRECEDENT AND BE WAY OFF TRACK IN THINKING ABOUT THIS.

I WAS THINKING ABOUT 2005 GRANT HOMES VS. HEEL DECISION.

ARTICLE 1 OF THE CONSTITUTION BASICALLY GIVES THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THE RIGHT TO GOVERN INTRTD COMMERCE BUT THE 21st AMENDMENT GIVES STATES THE RIGHT TO TALK ABOUT THE ALCOHOL.

THE CASE LAW RULED 5-4 STATES CANNOT BAN THE DIRECT SHIPMENT OF WINE SIMULTANEOUSLY AUTHORIZING DIRECT SHIPMENT OF INSTATE PRODUCERS BUT EFFECTIVELY THEY CAN BAN SHIPPING ALL TOGETHER.

WHY I THINK THAT PRECEDENT MIGHT MATTER IS BECAUSE BOTH OF THESE LAWS PERTAIN TO THE INTERSTATE DELIVERY OF DRUGS.

AND ALCOHOL IS NOT THE ONLY DRUG WHERE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS EFFECTIVELY CEDED POWER TO THE STATES AND SO I CAN IMAGINE THE COURT SIDING WITH STATES RIGHTS ON THIS ONE.

>> JENNY.

>> WELL, SO THIS HIGHLIGHTS, I THINK, THE CHALLENGE WE NOW FACE WHEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT STEPS ASIDE AND SAYS LET'S LEAVE THIS TO THE STATES.

SO YOU NOW HAVE STATES THAT ARE BASICALLY ESTABLISHING CONFLICTING LAWS AND NOW ARE TAKING EACH OTHER FUNCTIONALLY TO COURT.

THE THING IS THAT THE NEW YORK STATE'S SHIELD LAW, RIGHT, SORT OF IS POTENTIALLY TRUMPING TEXAS' ABILITY TO SUE THE PHYSICIAN IN THIS CASE.

AND SO I THINK ULTIMATELY YOU END UP WITH FUNCTIONALLY WHAT LOOKS LIKE A STALEMATE.

ALL OF THIS STRIKES ME AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS TO ARGUE THAT THEY NEED TO ESTABLISH A FEDERAL BAN ON ABORTION.

>> A FEDERAL BAN, OF COURSE BECAUSE THAT-- >> THAT REVOLVES SOLVES.

>> EVEN WITHOUT THE SHIELD LAW HOW WOULD TEXAS ENFORCE THIS?

I THOUGHT ABOUT THIS, PROBABLY NOT SURPRISINGLY AS I'M AN ECONOMIST AS INTERSTATE COMMERCE.

I LOOKED INTO THE ALCOHOL LAWS.

WHILE YOU MENTION THE WINE CASE, THEY DO RESTRICT, MANY STATES RESTRICT INTERSTATE DELIVERY OF HARD LIQUOR.

AND EVEN BEER.

AND SO I THOUGHT OF THIS LESS OF A MEDICINE CASE AND MORE OF A COMMERCE CASE.

WHAT WOULD LIBERAL STATES THINK IF A STATE THAT HAD LOOSE GUN LAWS WAS SHIPPING GUNS INTO ANOTHER STATE.

SO I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT PROBABLY WILL HAVE TO BE DEALT WITH AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

>> SO THIS IS JUST A SUPREME COURT DECISION WAITING TO HAPPEN.

>> AND IT WAS.

WHEN DOBBS WAS RULED ON, COMSTOCK, BASED ON ANTHONY COMSTOCK WAS BROUGHT UP AND THAT'S CONSIDERED A ZOMBIE LAW.

BUT IT WAS ALSO IN PROJECT 2025 AND DISCUSSED IN THERE.

AND IT OUTLINES THAT YOU CAN'T MAIL OBSCENE THINGS FROM ONE STATE TO ANOTHER, INCLUDING THINGS THAT HAVE TO DO WITH CONTRACEPTION.

SO IF THAT GOES TO OUR CURRENT SUPREME COURT, THERE IS A CHANCE THAT NOT ONLY WILL IT BE MENTIONED AGAIN, BUT PART OF THE RULING.

>> YOU KNOW SOMETHING ELSE THAT CAN'T BE MAILED ACROSS STATE LINES IS MEDICINAL MARIJUANA SO YOU THINK PARALLELS ON THAT TOPIC AS WELL.

>> AND THAT IS THE COMSTOCK ACT IS WHAT YOU ARE REFERRING TO, WHICH IS FROM 19th CENTURY.

>> BUT IT'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT WE PULL FROM WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT CHILD PORNOGRAPHY THAT'S TRADED FROM STATE TO STATE AS WELL.

>> OKAY.

AFTER OUR DISCUSSION LAST WEEK ABOUT THE SYRACUSE JUDGE REFUSING TO PERFORM A SAME-SEX WEDDING, WE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM ONONDAGA COUNTY D.A.

WILLIAM FITZPATRICK.

HE WROTE TO CLARIFY THAT JUDGE FELICIA PITTS DAVIS DID NOT ARRANGE FOR ANOTHER JUDGE TO PERFORM THE CEREMONY AFTER SHE REFUSED.

FITZPATRICK SAID SHE LEFT THE BENCH AND IT WAS THE COURT CLERK WHO CONTACTED JUDGE MARIANNE DOHERTY TO MARRY THE COUPLE.

AND WITH THAT, LET'S GO TO OUR AS AND FS.

CHAD, WE BEGIN WITH YOU AND YOUR F. >> SO HAPPY THIS WEEK WHEN CONGRESS AGREED TO A BIPARTISAN SPENDING BILL.

AND THEN PRESIDENTS-ELECT MUSK AND TRUMP KILLED IT AND DEMOCRATIC HOUSE LEADER JEFFERIES SAID HOUSE REPUBLICANS WILL HARM ANY HARM VISITED ON THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT RESULTS FROM THIS GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN AND I'M AFRAID THAT HE IS RIGHT.

>> JENNY.

>> SO MY F GOES TO THE LAWSUIT FILED BY DONALD TRUMP AGAINST THE DES MOINES REGISTER AND THE PAPER'S LONG TIME POLLSTER.

SHE USUALLY GETS HER POLLING RIGHT.

JUST DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION, SHE PREDICTED HAR IS WAS LEADING TRUMP IN IOWA BY 3% AND HE WON THE STATE BY 13%.

TRUMP SAYS SHE IS A FRAUD UNDER IOWA'S CONSUMER FRAUD ACT.

PUBLIC OPINION IS POLLING IS A BIT LIKE PREDICTING THE WEATHER.

IT'S PRONE TO ERRORS.

SELZER IS A REPUTABLE POLLSTER WHO DID NOT INTENTIONALLY AIM TO DEFRAUD THE INCOMING PRESIDENT.

INSTEAD.

IT'S THE PRESIDENT WHO IS INTENTIONALLY AIMING TO SOW FEAR INTO JOURNALISTS AND IT IS THE FREE PRESS DEFRAUDED BY THE LAWSUIT.

>> THAT'S A STORY WE WILL BE COMEBACK ON ON THIS PROGRAM.

>> BEN.

>> MY F IS GOING TO THE POP POP MOVEMENT OF THE UNITED HEALTHCARE C.E.O.

WHEN THEY RELEASED A STATEMENT, BEREAVING HIS LOSS, THERE WERE 77,000 LAUGHING EMOJIS THAT WERE ATTACHED TO IT.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, THERE HAS BEEN OVER 120,000 DOLLARS THAT HAS BEEN RAISED AS A DEFENSE FUND IN FOR THE SUSPECT THAT KILLED BRYAN AND I JUST THINK THIS IS GROSSLY OUT OF WHACK EVEN FOR TODAY'S STANDARDS.

>> RICK.

>> MY F GOES TO THE DECISION TO ADMONISH U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE MICHAEL POSNER FOR HIS CRITICISM OF JUSTICE ALITO FOR FLYING AN UPSIDE DOWN U.S.

FLAG OUTSIDE OF HIS HOUSE.

HE IS GUILTY OF DIMINISHING THE PUBLIC'S CONFIDENCE IN THE JUDICIARY.

HERE I THOUGHT IT WAS THE ETHICAL LAPSES OF ALITO AND THOMAS UNDERMINING THE COURTS.

>> TIME FOR THE AS.

>> MY DAY JOB HAS KEPT ME AWAY FROM THIS SHOW FOR A WHILE.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME BACK.

HAVE I TO GIVE A BELATED A TO COLGATE'S DIVISION 1 WIMSZ VOLLEYBALL TEAM FOR WINNING THEIR FOURTH STRAIGHT LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP IN A ROW.

I HAVE AN AN AFFILIATION WITH THE TEAM.

THE COACHES, STAFF AND PLAYERS ARE WONDERFUL PEOPLE WHO REPRESENT THE TRUE SPIRIT OF THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE.

I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE PART OF THEIR COMMUNITY AND GIVING ME MORE JEWELRY.

>> CHECK OUT THAT BLING.

SO THIS WEEK, NEW YORK ALONG WITH 49 OTHER STATES CONVENED THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE TO CAST THEIR VOTE FOR PRESIDENT.

NEW YORK GOVERNOR HOCHUL CALLED TO END THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE SAYING IT GIVES STATES AN OUTSIZED VOICE AND GIVES LOW POPULATION STATES OUTSIZED REPRESENTATION.

A STATE LIKE WYOMING GETS ONE ELECTORAL SHOW THE FOR 195,000 PEOPLE.

CALIFORNIA GETS ONE ELECTORAL VOTE FOR 700,000 PEOPLE.

BILLS WERE INTRODUCED IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE THIS WEEK CALLING FOR AN AMENDMENT TO ABOLISH THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE.

IT IS FINAL FOR REAL CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS ANTIQUATED AND UNREPRESENTATIVE INSTITUTION.

>> MY A IS GOING A CUSTOMER AND EMPLOYEE OF McDONALD'S IN ALTOONA, PENNSYLVANIA, WHO RECOGNIZED THE SUSPECT WHO KILLED BRIAN THOMPSON.

CALLED THE POLICE.

MY A IS ALSO GOING TO THE POLICE WHO HAVE REALLY HANDLED THIS WELL BY RELEASING THE PHOTOS AND GETTING AS MANY EYES INVOLVED AND WITNESSES INVOLVED.

THE FIRST RESPONDER WENT THERE, HAD THE SUSPECT PULL DOWN THE MASK.

IDENTIFIED HIM ASKED FOR HIS I.D., HE GAVE A FAKE I.D.

AND THE REST WE KNOW.

>> RICK.

>> MY A GOES TO PAUL INCLUDING DR RUGMAN WHO IS RETIRING AFTER 25 YEARS OF OPINION WRITING FOR NEW YORK TIMES.

HIS ABILITY TO EXPLAIN COMPLEX ECONOMIC CONCEPTS TO A BROADER AUDIENCE WILL BE DIFFICULT TO REPLACE.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

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

SUGGESTIONS OF TOPICS, TOO, FEEL FREE TO WRITE US AT ANY OF THE ADDRESSES THAT YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN.

REMEMBER, YOU CAN WATCH US ON TV FRIDAY NIGHTS AT 8 AND SATURDAY AFTERNOONS AT 5:30 OR STREAM US ON WCNY'S YOUTUBE PAGE OR ITS WEBSITE.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

GOOD NIGHT.

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