♪ ♪ >> FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS AREN'T THE LEADING CAUSE OF PREVENTABLE DEATH IN THE U.S. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> WELCOME TO IVORY TOWER.

I'M BARBARA FOUGHT FROM SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY.

JOINING ME TONIGHT ON THE PANEL ARE LUKE PERRY, FROM UTICA UNIVERSITY KRISTI ANDERSEN FROM SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY BEN BAUGHMAN, WHO HAS MOVED TO GANNON UNIVERSITY IN ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA AND NINA MOORE, FROM COLGATE UNIVERSITY OUR FIRST TOPIC IS ONE SUGGESTED BY A VIEWER, CAROL SMITH.

IT'S THE PRACTICE OF SOME DEMOCRATS TO SUPPORT FAR RIGHT CANDIDATES IN THE PRIMARIES, HOPING THAT WILL HELP A DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE WIN IN THE FALL.

NINA, IS THIS IS A WISE PRACTICE?

>> WELL, I SORT OF AGREE WITH DAVID BROOKS WHO WROTE WHAT I THINK IS A REALLY FASCINATING OP-ED IN THE NEW YORK TIMES IN WHICH HE BASICALLY SAID NO BECAUSE IF YOU BELIEVE IN DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS OFFERING VOTERS THE VERY BEST OPTIONS, THEN YOU DON'T FORCE THEM TO COULD BE TEMPLATE THE WORST OPTIONS.

AND IN THIS CASE, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT NOT JUST TRUMPISTS WHO HAVE A DIFFERENT IDEOLOGY, BUT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ELECTION DENIERS AND ALSO THE QU NON FOLKS AND BY GIVING THEM A LARGER PLATFORM WHICH IS WHAT YOU DO IF THEY MOVE TO THE GENERAL ELECTION, THEN YOU ALLOW THEM TO USE THOSE SORTS OF PROBLEMATIC IDEOLOGIES AND IDEAS WHICH I THINK ARE CORROSIVE TO OUR POLITICS.

THE OTHER THING IS DEMOCRATS ARE NO BETTER THAN WHEN RUSH LUM BAUGH DID THIS IN 2008 AND HE ENCOURAGED REPUBLICANS IN THE STATES WHERE THEY COULD CROSS OVER IN THE PRIMARY TO VOTE FOR HILLARY CLINTON, HE SAID BY HIS OWN ADMISSION, IN ORDER TO BLOODY UP OBAMA AND MAKE THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION PROCESS THAT YEAR MUCH MORE DIVISIVE.

AND SO I THINK ALTHOUGH THE AIMS HERE MIGHT BE TO GET DEMOCRATS IN OFFICE AND THEY BELIEVE THEY HAVE THE BEST OFFICE OR THE BEST OFFER POLICY, I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE ENDS JUSTIFY THE MEANS.

>> DO THE ENDS JUSTIFY THE MEANS?

>> NEVER.

I THINK BOTH SIDES DO THESE THINGS WHEN THEY'RE WILLING TO COMPROMISE THEIR ETHICAL PRINCIPLES, ELEVATING PEOPLE WHO THEY THINK ARE CLEARLY UNETHICAL TO WIN.

IN HOUSE ELECTIONS, I DON'T THINK IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE BECAUSE IT'S A SMALL ELECTORATE, 700,000 PEOPLE, MAYBE HALF OF THEM TURN OUT.

PERHAPS IN STATEWIDE ELECTIONS FOR SENATE, FOR INSTANCE, WHERE ONE PARTY DOMINATES LIKE UTAH, IT CAN MAKE A LITTLE MORE SENSE STRATEGICALLY BUT IT'S CERTAINLY RISK AGREE AND IT MAKES ME THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THE DONORS AND 9 PARTIES HAVE TOO MUCH MONEY, IN A SENSE.

I MEAN I WOULD LOVE FOR MY OWN POINT OF VIEW, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC FINANCING FOR CAMPAIGNS AND LESS MONEY SPENT ON CAMPAIGNS.

IF THEY HAVE MONEY TO, YOU KNOW, SUPPORT CRAZY TRUMP PEOPLE, THEY SHOULD BE INVESTING THAT MONEY IN FINDING AND SUPPORTING GOOD DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES, IT SEEMS TO ME.

I THINK THAT THIS IS NOT NECESSARILY A GOD-- >> OR MAYBE EVEN GET OUT THE VOTE OR VOTER EDUCATION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> SAME THING.

>> ALL GREAT POINTS.

IT REALLY DOES COME DOWN TO THE MONEY, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT'S SPENT ON ELECTIONS AND TRYING TO GET ELECTED AND THEN YOU ARE BACKING OTHER PEOPLE BUT I DON'T THINK-- I AGREE THIS LUKE, THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A WHILE.

IT HAS PROBABLY BEEN A LITTLE BIT MORE, YOU KNOW, CLOSER THAN NOT AS OBVIOUS BUT POLITICS STRATEGY HAS BEEN ALL WORKING TOGETHER FOR MANY YEARS.

THAT'S PART WHAT HAVE WE SEE.

>> I WOULD SAY WHAT IS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT HERE IS THAT DEMOCRATS RISK THE PROBLEM WITH CRED CREDIBILITY.

AT ONE OF THE MOST DIVISIVE TIMES IN OUR HISTORY AND SOME OF THE RECENT POLL DATA SHOW THAT OF THE VOTERS WHO SWITCH TBRD ONE PARTY TO THE OTHER, ONE MILLION SWITCHED TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, ONLY 600,000 TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

AND SO I DON'T THINK YOU WIN OVER THE SMALL SLICE OF INDEPENDENT VOTERS BY ENGAGING IN UNDERHANDED DISHONEST TACTICS.

>> AND AS YOU MENTIONED, THE DEMOCRATS ARE POTENTIALLY PUSHING THE WORST ALTERNATIVE IN A THREE-AMERICAN OR-- SOME KIND OF PRIMARY RATHER THAN THE ONE THEY WANT.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S DISHONEST.

I THINK IT'S UNETHICAL TO SUPPORT PEOPLE WHO ARE AGAINST DEMOCRACY.

BUT I THINK THEY'RE OVERT ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND WHY THEY'RE DOING IT.

>> DOESN'T IT LEAVE VOTERS MUCH MORE CYNICAL?

PEOPLE ARE ALREADY DOUBTING THE PROCESS.

>> LEAVES THEM CYNICAL BUT WE ARE ALSO ASSUMING THAT IF THEY ARE TO MAKE IT TO THE GENERAL ELECTION, THAT VOTERS ARE NOT GOING TO BE PERSUADED BY THOSE TRUMPISTS AND GIVEN WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT, AGAIN, RECENT POLITICS, THOSE MIGHT HAVE, AS LUKE SUGGESTED, AND ALSO BEN, WORKED IN THE PAST.

BUT HERE THERE IS A MUCH, MUCH BIGGER RISK WITH, I THINK MORE DANGEROUS CONSEQUENCES.

>> I THINK WHAT IS HAPPENING IN UTAH IS REALLY INTERESTING.

THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY DIDN'T SUPPORT THE DEMOCRAT BUT SUPPORTED A CONSERVATIVE, HOPING TO GET THE REPUBLICAN IN THE FALL OUT.

IT'S EVAN McMULLEN WHO THE DEMOCRATS ARE SUPPORTING AND AGAINST THE INCUMBENT REPUBLICAN MIKE LEE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?

>> THAT'S A DIFFERENT SITUATION OR SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT SITUATION.

McMULLEN IS SOMEBODY WHO IS A NON-TRUMP REPUBLICAN.

I MEAN HE IS A CONSERVATIVE BUT HE RAN FOR PRESIDENT, I MEAN TRIED TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT IN 2016.

AND A LOT OF DEMOCRATS SUPPORTED HIM THEN.

, SINCERELY AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO DONALD TRUMP.

SO HE DOESN'T SEEM QUITE-- SUPPORTING HIM FOR DEMOCRATS AND TRYING TO FORM SOME KIND OF A COALITION BETWEEN SOME DEMOCRATS, INDEPENDENTS, REPUBLICANS IN UTAH DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THE SAME THING WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.

>> WELL, LET ME TURN TO OUR SECOND TOPIC.

I THINK IT IS AN UNDER COVERED STORY MORE PEOPLE ARE DYING OF AN OPIOID OVERDOSE THAN IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS.

LAST YEAR IN ONONDAGA COUNTY ALONE, 186 PEOPLE DIED OF OPIOID OVERDOSES, AND THAT WAS UP BY NEARLY 20% OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

RATES ARE HIGH IN OTHER CNY COUNTIES AS WELL.

THE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES SETTLED CASES FOR $26 BILLION EARLIER THIS YEAR.

BUT THIS WEEK, TWO OF THE WEST VIRGINIA MUNICIPALITIES WHO CHOSE NOT TO GO TO TRIAL AND BE PART OF THE SETTLEMENT, INSTEAD, THEY LOST THEIR CASES.

THE JUDGE SAID THE COMPANIES WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE.

IS THIS DECISION A SETBACK, LUKE?

HOW DO YOU INTERPRET IT?

>> I THINK THERE IS A DIFFERENCE IN BEING RESPONSIBLE AND LEGALLY RESPONSIBLE.

IF YOU ARE THESE THREE COMPANIES WHO ARE THE DEFENDANTS AND YOU SHIP 80 MILLION OPIOID PILLS TO A POPULATION OF LESS THAN 100,000 OVER EIGHT YEARS, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE.

NOW WHETHER YOU ARE LEGALLY RESPONSIBLE IS ANOTHER QUESTION.

THE MUNICIPALITIES WERE ARGUING THAT THE COMPANIES CONSTITUTED A PUBLIC NUISANCE AND THE JUDGE DID NOT BUY THAT ARGUMENT.

HE SAID IT WASN'T UNREASONABLE WHAT THEY DID BECAUSE THE FDA APPROVED THESE SUBSTANCES AND DOCTORS PRESCRIBED THEM.

AND SO IT IS A BIT OF A SETBACK FOR SPECIFICALLY COUNTIES AND TOWNS WHO WANT TO SUE THESE MANUFACTURERS, BUT IT SHOULD NOT OVERSHADOW THE GAINS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE.

WEST VIRGINIA HAS SECURED $250 MILLION FROM OPIOID MANUFACTURERS, INCLUDING 70 MILLION FROM THE THREE DEFENDANTS.

THIS WAS A TEST CASE, AN EARLY TEST CASE OF WHETHER MUNICIPALITIES COULD INDEPENDENTLY GET MORE MONEY, IN THIS CASE TRYING TO GET BILLIONS, AND WERE NOT SUCCESSFUL.

>> IT SEEMS THE ARGUMENT THEY WERE USING, THIS PUBLIC NUISANCE ARGUMENT, WAS NOT VERY EFFECTIVE.

AND IT'S BEEN-- IT'S FAILED IN A COUPLE OF OTHER CASES, I THINK IN OKLAHOMA AND CALIFORNIA, WHEN I THINK MUNICIPALITIES OR COUNTIES USED THAT CREATION OF A PUBLIC NUISANCE ARGUMENT AND THOSE WERE NOT SUCCESSFUL EITHER.

SO MAYBE IT'S SOMETHING ABOUT HOW THEY TRIED TO ARGUE THIS.

BUT I THINK YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

IN THE END, THAT VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, ALL THESE STATES ARE GETTING HUGE SETTLEMENTS FROM THESE PEOPLE.

>> INCLUDING NEW YORK.

>> IT'S IN LINE WITH WHAT WE SEE WITH THESE KINDS OF CASES.

IF IT IS SEEN BY A JUDGE VERSUS A JURY, THEY TEND TO RULE IN FAVOR OF BIG PHARMA, THE JUDGES DO.

JURIES TEND TO RULE IN FAVOR OF THE PARTY THAT IS SUING THEM.

>> IS THAT THE CASE THAT MOST OF THE BIG SETTLEMENTS WERE JURY TRIALS?

>> PROBABLY.

I WOULD THINK SO.

>> ORDINARY PEOPLE.

>> AND YOU KNOW, THEY'RE LOOKING AT IT FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE, RIGHT?

AND THE OTHER THING THAT I THINK LUKE BROUGHT UP IS THE FACT THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER BITE AT THE APPLE, WHICH IS THEY SAW THAT THIS DIDN'T QUITE WORK AS PLANNED.

THEY DIDN'T MAKE A STRONG ENOUGH CASE.

SO IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT THEY DIDN'T MAKE MAKE A STRONG ENOUGH CASE.

MAYBE THEY NEED TO SHOW A BETTER LINK OF WHAT THEY KNEW WITH THE EMAILS THAT HAVE BEEN DISCLOSED AND WHEN THEY KNEW IT.

SO A TIMELINE, I THINK, WOULD HELP QUITE A BIT.

>> I ALSO WONDER ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF RESOURCES THAT THE LOCALITIES ARE ASKING FOR.

A COUPLE BILLION DOLLARS SEEMED LIKE A VERY HIGH AMOUNT WHICH PROBABLY RAISES THE BAR OF PROOF.

>> AND I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THAT EVERYONE HAS SAID, THAT THERE SHOULD BE SOME DEGREE OF LIABILITY ON THE PART OF MANUFACTURERS, BUT TO SOME EXTENT, FOR ME, IT'S ALSO A MATTER OF TRYING TO CLOSE THE DOOR AFTER THE BARN-- AFTER THE HORSE HAS ALREADY LEFT THE BARN IN THE SENSE THAT THE CDC RECENTLY POSTED A REPORT IN WHICH IT SHOWED THAT 80% OF THE NUMBER OF OPIOID-RELATED DEATHS THAT YOU MENTIONED, ARE DUE TO SYNTHETIC OPIOIDS AND A GOOD NUMBER OF THOSE OPIOID RELATED DEATHS ARE DUE TO FENTANYL.

WHAT WE KNOW, AS A MATTER OF FACT, IS THAT THE MAIN PRODUCERS, THE MAIN SOURCES OF ILLEGAL FENTANYL ARE MEXICO, CHINA AND INCREASINGLY INDIANA-- I'M SORRY, INDIA.

SO AT SOME POINT, WE HAVE TO BEGIN TO FOCUS ON DISIX DICTION EFFORTS AT THE BORDER BECAUSE WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, FIXING THE PROBLEM ONCE IT ARRIVES HERE, AND WE REALLY HAVEN'T SEEN A CONCERTED EFFORT TO DEAL WITH SECURING BOTH THE MEXICAN BORDER AND ALSO DEALING WITH CHINA SENDING A LOT OF BOTH THE FINAL FENTANYL PRODUCTS BUT ALSO THE CHEMICALS THAT MAKE THEM, THROUGH THE MAIL AND NOW INDIA AND THE MEXICAN CARTELS ARE BECOMING MUCH MORE SORT OF CREATIVE AND THINKING ABOUT HOW THEY SOURCE THEM.

BUT I AGREE.

IF THE MANUFACTURERS ARE AWARE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM IN PARTICULAR CITIES AND COUNTIES, THEY SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DISREGARD HUMAN LIFE AND ESSENTIALLY STICK THEIR HEADS IN THE SAND AND SAY THEY WERE NOT AWARE.

I ALSO THINK THAT DOCTORS AND MEDICAL COUNTY OFFICERS SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO THE AGGREGATED DATA SO THEY CAN SEE WHEN THERE IS A BEEN.

>> YEAH, AND I THINK BACK TO NINA'S POINT ABOUT DISRUPTING THE ORGANIZATION, THAT THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS THERE FOR THE DRUG CARTELS TO GET DRUGS ACROSS.

FENTANYL IS BETWEEN 50 TO 100 TIMES MORE POTENT THAN MORPHINE ITSELF.

SO YOU HAVE THIS THAT'S BEING UTILIZED IN ILLICIT DRUGS BECAUSE THERE IS NOT AN FDA OR ANYBODY THAT IS LOOKING OVER AND MAKING SURE THAT IT HAS THE STUFF THAT THEY SAY IT HAS.

AND IT'S BEING PUT IN HEROIN TO MAKE HEROIN STRONGER, TO STRETCH HEROIN.

AND TO MAKE MONEY.

SO I THINK WHAT HAPPENED THOUGH IS YOU HAD THIS ISSUE WITH DOCTORS OVERPRESCRIBING.

THEY GOT PULLED BACK AND PEOPLE HAD CHRONIC PAIN AND THEY LOOKED FOR OTHER WAYS TO DEAL WITH THAT AND ONE OF THOSE BECAUSE IS HEROIN, THAT THEY MAY HAVE TURNED TO, BUYING DRUGS ON THE STREET AND TRYING TO GET THE DRUGS TO DEAL WITH THE PAIN AND THAT'S... >> WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO?

IS IT MORE LAW ENFORCEMENT?

MORE BORDER OFFICERS, MORE MONEY?

>> DISRUPT THE ORGANIZATIONS.

SO AN INTELLIGENCE-LED TYPE OF POLICING APPROACH AND REALLY FOCUSING THE RESOURCES THAT YOU HAVE.

YOU HAVE TO ADDRESS THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT... >> THE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT THE VARIOUS STATES ARE GETTING IN THESE SETTLEMENTS OR LOCALITIES, CAN THEY BE USED FOR THINGS LIKE THAT OR-- OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE GOING TO BE USED FOR DRUG TREATMENT CENTERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> RIGHT.

>> AS WELL BUT THAT'S INTERESTING.

THEY COULD BE USED... >> THERE ARE FUSION CENTERS.

THERE ARE THINGS PUT IN PLACE THAT HELPS DEAL WITH THIS AND ADDRESS NETWORKS.

>> THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION HAS ACTUALLY PRESENTED OVER 400 SPECIFIC LAWS THAT STATES, COUNTIES, CITIES AND ALSO OTHER AGENCIES CAN IMPLEMENT.

AGAIN, THE PROBLEMS FOR ME IS HOW TO PREVENT THE INFLUX, WHICH IS ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE, RIGHT?

SO WE ARE DEALING WITH THE PROBLEM AFTER THE FACT, TO APPOINT THAT YOU MENTIONED, BEN, LAWMAKERS ULTIMATELY HAVE TO ENGAGE HERE AND THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE GREATER REGULATION OF HOW THESE DRUGS ARE PRESCRIBED AS WELL AS OVERSEEING HOW MANUFACTURERS ENSURE THAT THEIR PRODUCT ISN'T KILLING.

>> WHAT ELSE CAN BE DONE, LUKE?

>> WELL, I THINK NINA IS SPEAKING TO THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE AS WELL AS BEN AND I THINK THAT'S WEISS.

BUT I THINK WE SHOULD NOT LOSE SIGHT OF THE FACT THAT MANUFACTURERS KNEW WHAT THEY WERE DOING.

THEY KNEW IT WAS HIGHLY ADDICTIVE.

DOING ALL KINDS OF THINGS TO GET THEM OUT THERE AND PEOPLE ARE HOOKED.

THEY NEED TO BE HELD FINANCIALLY TO DISCOURAGE THIS FROM HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE.

>> THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT CRISIS AND I HOPE THAT THE MONEY THAT COMES HERE IN CENTRAL NEW YORK CAN BE USED TO HELP AMELIORATE THIS CRISIS.

THE MOVIE "TOP GUN - MAVERICK" HAS JUST SURPASSED A BILLION IN SALES AT THE BOX OFFICE.

IF YOU'RE LIKE ME AND HAVEN'T SEEN IT --- IT'S A SEQUEL --- AN ACTION DRAMA WITH A NAVY TEST PILOT .

MAKING SUCH MOVIES USUALLY INVOLVES A TRADE-OFF --- THE DIRECTOR GETS USE OF MILITARY EQUIPMENT AND THE GOVERNMENT GETS SCRIPT APPROVAL.

SOME CRITICS ARE SAYING THE MOVIE IS REALLY PROPAGANDA.

KRISTI IS HOLLYWOOD GETTING TOO COZY WITH THE PENTAGON?

>> I THINK THE MOVIES HAVE BEEN COZY WITH THE MILITARY FOR A LONG TIME.

THERE WERE MANY, MANY MOVIES PRODUCED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE MILITARY AND THE MILITARY WAS VERY MUCH A SENSOR AT THAT POINT BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO DEEP EVERYBODY'S MORALE UP AND WE WANT TO WIN AND... >> AND THEY STILL MIGHT BE BEING SENSOR CENTRALERS.

>> THE U.S. OFFICE FS WAR INFORMATION THAT STARTED AT THE FIRST OF WORLD WAR II WAS A BIG UNIT DEVOTED EXCLUSIVELY TO WORKING WITH FILM MAKERS.

AND THEY HAD ABSOLUTE RIGHTS OF CENSORSHIP TO EVERYTHING.

EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID, EVERYTHING PLACED IN THE MOVIE.

>> AND IS THAT NOT STILL TRUE?

>> IT'S NOT STILL TRUE.

THE LEVEL OF CENSORSHIP, I THINK I'VE READ, IS LOWER.

BUT WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT THE ARMED FORCES GIVE LESS SUPPORT TO OR LESS ACCESS FOR PRODUCTIONS THAT SEEM TO PORTRAY THE MILITARY OR AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY IN A NEGATIVE LIGHT.

SO IF THERE IS SOMETHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH TORTURING PRISONERS OR CORRUPTION OF ANY KIND, YES, THEN THOSE MOVIES WILL NOT GET THE KIND OF SUPPORT, SO IT'S LESS CENSORSHIP, MORE A LACK OF HELP AND SUPPORT AND ACCESS.

>> OR PUBLIC RELATIONS MAYBE?

>> AND THEY'RE AROUND CLASSIFIED ITEMS AND MATERIALS AND THAT KIND OF STUFF SO THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO CONTROL WHAT IS BEING SEEN AND WHAT IS BEING SAID ON CAMERA FOR BILLIONS OF PEOPLE TO SEE.

>> BUT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT FINAL EDIT.

SO THE ENTERTAINMENT MEDIA OFFICE FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE HAS FINAL EDIT FOR ANY MOVIE THAT THEY HAVE CONTRACTED WITH TO PROVIDE EQUIPMENT.

SO IF YOU ARE A FILM MAKER, YOU WANT THE FANCY PLANES AND THE TANKS AND THESE TYPES OF THINGS FOR ACCURACY.

BUT YOU ARE SACRIFICING, I WOULD SAY, YOUR ARTISTIC INTEGRITY BY GIVING OVER FINAL EDIT TO ANOTHER ENTITY, WHO HAPPENS TO BE THE U.S. MILITARY.

AND SO I DO THINK IT'S PROPAGANDA BECAUSE IT IS, IN SOME WAYS, MISLEADING BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IF I WAS RUNNING THE ENTERTAINMENT MEDIA OFFICE DUE DoD, WOULD I DO THE SAME THING.

I WOULD WANT TO HAVE THE VITAL INTEREST IN MAKING SURE THAT THE STORY IS TOLD CORRECTLY AND PROTECTING THE INTEREST OF MY ORGANIZATION.

>> I MIGHT DO THE SAME THING, TOO BUT I DON'T THINK IT MAKES IT RIGHT.

AND I OFTEN DO THINGS THAT ARE NOT-- I SHOULD NOT SAY THAT.

[LAUGHTER] >> GOVERNMENT TO MY MIND, SHOULD NOT BE, YOU KNOW, PICKING WINNERS AND LOSERS WHEN IT COMES TO THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY IN ORDER TO PROMOTE THE INTERESTS OF THE DEFENSE INDUSTRY.

THE VERY DEFINITION-- I LOOKED THIS UP FOR OUR DISCUSSION-- ACCORDING TO BRITANNICA, THE DEFINITION OF PROPAGANDA IS THE DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION FACTS, ARGUMENTS, RUMORS, HALF TRUTHS OR LIES TO INFLUENCE PUBLIC OPINION.

I THINK WHAT OUGHT TO HAPPEN HERE IS THAT THERE SHOULD BE SOME CLEAR GUIDELINES AS TO WHAT THE PENTAGON, OTHER DEFENSE AGENCIES CAN DO AND NOT DO AND THOSE GUIDELINES SHOULD TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHETHER OR NOT, AS YOU WERE SUGGESTING, BEN, NATIONAL SECURITY CONCERNS ARE BEING RAISED AND CERTAINLY THE MORE BASIC THINGS THAT THE EQUIPMENT AND PREMISES THAT ARE ALLOWED... >> WHY IS THAT DIFFERENT THAN WHAT LUKE IS OBJECTING TO?

>> WELL, HERE, AGAIN, I'M TROUBLED BY JUST THE IDEA THAT WE'VE GOT-- NOT JUST A GOVERNMENT, BUT A DEFENSE INDUSTRY THAT IS OUT THERE CREATING AN IMAGE AND USING THEIR RESOURCES TO CONTROL A NARRATIVE.

IF IT WERE A DIFFERENT NON-GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY, I MIGHT BE MORE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.

BUT THAT WOULD BE A SLIPPERY SLOPE TO ME.

>> JUST TO BE-- SEE, I DON'T SEE IT THAT WAY.

I SEE IT AS BEING SHOWN IN A POSITIVE LIGHT, THAT THEY WANT TO BE-- IF THEY'RE WORKING WITH MEDIA, NOT ONLY ARE THEY PROTECTING THE CLASSIFIED INFORMATION, BUT THEY WANT TO BE SEEN IN A POSITIVE LIGHT.

YOU KNOW, THEY'RE UTILIZING... >> BUT WHAT IF THEY SHOULDN'T BE SEEN IN A POSITIVE LIGHT?

WHAT IF THERE ARE THINGS THAT THE PUBLIC SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THAT ARE INAPPROPRIATE.

>> LIKE SUSPECTED TERRORISTS?

>> FOR EXAMPLE,.

>> THEY'RE NOT GOING TO ALLOW THEIR FILM OR PERSONNEL TO BE ALLOWED... >> THEY DON'T TRY BECAUSE THEY KNOW IT WOULD BE REJECTED.

>> THE MILITARY NEEDS SOLDIERS.

SO THIS IS A RECRUITEDMENT AND BRANDING HELP?

IS THAT WORTH THE MONEY?

>> YES, THAT CAME TO AGE IN THE FIRST TOP GUN ERA.

ONE OF MY BEST FRIEND WAS A NAVAL AVIATOR.

HE KNOWS EVERY WAR MOVIE OUT THERE.

THAT'S ANECDOTAL BUT I THINK, OF COURSE, THE EVIDENCE SUGGESTS AS WELL THAT THIS DOES HELP RECRUITING VOLUNTEER ARMED SERVICES AND THIS IS NECESSARY TO HELP AVOID A DRAFT WHICH HASN'T BEEN POPULAR SINCE VIETNAM.

>> EVEN IF IT IS RECRUITING, DO IT HONESTLY, RUN COMMERCIALS AND SAY WE ARE TRYING TO RECRUIT.

>> THEY DO BUT DON'T GO THROUGH THE BACK DOOR OF THE MOVIE INDUSTRY.

>> THE OTHER CRITICISM IS THAT IT EXALTS THE WHITE SUPER MAN AND OBJECT AT THIS PHIS WOMEN.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE SEEN THE FILM.

IT IS TIME TO OPEN UP THE GRADEBOOK.

YOUR F, LUKE.

>> TO REPORTING THIS WEEK THAT CONSERVATIVE SUPREME COURT JUSTICES PRAYED WITH RELIGIOUS LEADERS IN THE SUPREME COURT CHAMBERS WHILE THESE PEOPLE'S ORGANIZATIONS HAD CASES AND BRIEFS UNDER CONSIDERATION BY THE COURT.

THIS IS CLEARLY A CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND NOT GOOD FOR THE COURT.

>> I HAD NOT HEARD THAT.

TELL US SOMETHING ELSE, CHRYST AGREE AN F TO POLICE OFFICERS IN AKRON, OHIO WHO STOPPED A 25-YEAR-OLD BLACK MAN, JAYLN WALKER FOR A MINOR TRAFFIC VIOLATION WHEN HE DROVE AWAY AND RAN FROM HIS CAR, OFFICERS SHOT AND KILLED HIM.

POLICE NOT SURPRISINGLY SAID THEY THOUGHT HE WAS MOVING FOR A GUN AND THE MEDICAL EXAMINER FOUND 60 BULLET WOUNDS IN HIS BODY.

>> BEN.

>> THOMAS LEE WHO DROVE A STOLEN CAR LIKE IT WAS THE GENERAL LEE.

HE WAS A 40-MILE POLICE CHASTEN SUED, TOPPING 100 MILES PER HOUR.

HE SAID HE WAS TIRED OF WALKING, SOHO STOLE A CAR AND HE THOUGHT HE WAS A TIME TRAVELER AND WAS ON DRUGS AT THE TIME OF THE CHASE.

>> THAT MAY EXPLAIN IT.

>> NINA, YOUR F. >> UNITED NATIONS STUDY REVEALS THAT THE UNITED STATES MEXICO BORDER IS THE DEADLIEST MIGRATION LAND CROSSING IN THE WORLD N. 2021, MORE THAN 728 DEATHS OCCURRED ON THE MEXICAN BORDER.

WHILE POLITICIANS ARE ENGAGED IN PUNDITRY AND POLICY DISAGREEMENTS, PEOPLE ARE DYING EVERY SINGLE DAY ON THE BORDER AT SOME POINT SOMEBODY HAS TO SET ASIDE THEIR POLITICS.

>> OKAY.

SOMEBODY HAS DONE SOMETHING WELL.

LUKE, YOUR A.

>> MY A GOES TO A NEW $5 MILLION STATE GRANT TO AS A RESULT SPACE IN UTICA-- ART STATES.

THIS IS A BUILDING PROJECT THAT MIXES AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITH STUDIO SPACE.

>> VERY GOOD.

KRISTI.

>> NEW YORK LEGISLATURE WHICH RESPONDED QUICKLY TO THE SUPREME COURT'S RECENT DECISION ASSERTING THAT INDIVIDUALS HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO CARRY A CONCEALED GUN IN PUBLIC, THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY PASSED NEW LAWS PROHIBITING CONCEAL CARRY IN MANY LOCATIONS INCLUDING SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS, DEMONSTRATIONS AND BARS AND REQUIRES BACKGROUND CHECKS AND TRAINING IN ORDER TO GET A CONCEALED CARRY PERMIT.

>> BEN.

>> MY A IS GOING TO A CAPTAIN OF AN AIRPLANE WHO WROTE A NOTE TO THE TOOTH FAIRY FOR A SIX-YEAR-OLD WHO LOST HER TOOTH ON THE PLANE.

HE WAS-- HE SAW THE CHILD WAS IN DISTRESS BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T HAVE HER TOOTH TO PUT UNDER THE PILLOW AND HE WAS ACTUALLY THE PILOT, THE CAPTAIN OF THE PLANE THAT SHE WAS ON.

AND HE TOOK THE TIME TO WRITE A LETTER TO THE TOOTH FAIRY SO SHE COULD PUT THAT UNDER HER PILLOW AND WROTE DEAR TOOTH FAIRY, LENA HAD A TOOTH FALL OUT ON HER FLIGHT TO GREENVILLE, PLEASE TAKE THIS NOTE IN PLACE OF HER TOOTH AND I JUST THOUGHT WITH ALL THE NEGATIVE PRESS OUR AIRPLANES AND PILOTS AND ATTENDANTS HAVE BEEN GETTING, IT'S ABOUT TIME THEY GET SOME POSITIVE PRESS.

>> THAT'S A SWEET STORY.

>> FANTASTIC.

>> TELL US YOUR A.

>> I THINK THERE ARE SO MANY LESSONS FOR THE U.S. TO DRAW FROM BORIS JOHNSON'S REGULAR RESONATING I GO NATION BUT I WOULD SAY HIS RESIGNATION WAS NOT FOR HIRING AN INDIVIDUAL.

HE WAS CREDIBLY ACCUSED OF GROPING PEOPLE, OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT.

I DON'T THINK IT WAS FOR REPEATEDLY LYING ABOUT ANY NUMBER OF ISSUES OR FOR PROMPTING FULLY 60 MEMBERS OF HIS GOVERNMENT TO RESIGN DUE TO ETHICS SCANDALS IN A FAIRLY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

I THINK IT WAS A WEEK.

KRISTI MAY CORRECT ME ON THIS.

BORIS JOHNSON RESIGNED BECAUSE HIS PARTY, THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY, HAD ENOUGH AND THEY WANTED A NEW LEADER.

THEY WERE BOLD ENOUGH TO TAKE THAT STEP.

IMAGINE THAT.

>> IMAGINE THAT.

WELL, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING US.

PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU HAVE COMMENTS ABOUT THE TOPICS WE HAVE DISCUSSED TONIGHT OR YOU HAVE SUGGESTIONS FOR US.

YOU CAN ENGAGE WITH US THROUGH ANY OF THE ADDRESSES ON THE SCREEN.

AND IF YOU MISS THE SHOW ANY FRIDAY NIGHT, IT REPEATS SATURDAY AFTERNOONS AT 5:30 OR YOU CAN FIND US ANY TIME ONLINE AT WCNY.ORG.

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

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