DEBATE WEEK ON THE NATIONAL STAGE.

AND HERE IN CENTRAL NEW YORK, CANDIDATES MAKE THEIR CASE FOR ELECTION.

AND THE FEDS VERSUS THE MAYOR.

NEW YORK CITY LEADER ERIC ADAMS INDICTED FOR BRIBERY.

STAY TUNED, IVORY TOWER IS NEXT.

♪ ♪ >> GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO IVORY TOWER.

I'M DAVID CHANATRY, FROM UTICA UNIVERSITY.

I'M JOINED AROUND THE TABLE TONIGHT BY NINA MOORE FROM COLGATE UNIVERSITY, JENNIFER STROMER-GALLEY FROM SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY, TARA ROSS FROM ONONDAGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE, AND LUKE PERRY FROM UTICA UNIVERSITY.

WE HAD TWO IMPORTANT DEBATES THIS WEEK, ONE NATIONAL AND ONE RIGHT HERE FOR REPRESENTATIVE FROM NEW YORK'S 22ND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

WE'LL START WITH THAT ONE.

DEMOCRAT JOHN MANNION IS CHALLENGING THE INCUMBENT, FIRST-TERM REPUBLICAN BRANDON WILLIAMS.

THE CONTEST IS ONE OF THE MOST CLOSELY WATCHED RACES IN THE COUNTRY, WITH CONTROL OF THE HOUSE AT STAKE.

DURING THIS FIRST OF FOUR DEBATES, THEY FOUGHT OVER ABORTION, BAIL REFORM AND TAXES.

LUKE, DID EITHER DO ENOUGH TO GET A LEG UP IN THIS ELECTION?

>> NO, I DON'T THINK THE DEBATE WILL BE SUPER IMPACTFUL.

LIKE YOU SAID, IT'S ONE OF MANY.

IT WAS RELATIVELY UNEVENTFUL.

WHAT HAPPENED WAS PRETTY MUCH WHAT WE EXPECTED IN TERMS OF WHAT BOTH SIDES SAID.

TWO THINGS DID STAND OUT TO ME THOUGH.

ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, I THINK SENATOR MANNION, BEING A STATE LEGISLATOR IS SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO SERVE HIM WELL.

HE WAS ABLE TO SPEAK TO HIS RECORD IN A WAY THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN CANDIDATES BE ABLE TO DO ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE IN THIS AREA.

YOU THINK OF FRANCIS CANOLE OR DANA BALTER, HE IS PUGNACIOUS SO CERTAINLY DEMONSTRATED THAT HE'S NOT GOING TO BE PUSHED AROUND AT ALL.

THAT IS ONE THING THAT STOOD OUT TO ME.

REPRESENTATIVE WILLIAMS, I WAS CONFUSED AT THE DIRECTION OF THE CAMPAIGN.

THE GROUND HAS SHIFTED UNDER HIM.

THIS IS THE DEMOCRATIC DISTRICT AND HIS STYLE IS DIFFERENT THAN CLAUDIA TENNEY, LONG TIME NY 22 REPRESENTATIVE.

BUT THE SUBSTANCE IS TALKING TO A REPUBLICAN AUDIENCE.

AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHO IS GOING TO SUPPORT HIM IN THIS DISTRICT ASIDE FROM THE DIE HARD REPUBLICANS AND HE NEEDS TO GO BEYOND THAT TO WIN.

>> BUT THE DISTRICT DOES LEAN DEMOCRAT AND HAS A REPUBLICAN INCUMBENT, I WOULD SAY THIS WAS A REMARKABLY PREDICTABLE DEBATE THAT NEITHER OF THEM SAID ANYTHING THAT ONE WOULD NOT HAVE EXPECTED OF THESE CANDIDATES ON ABORTION, MANNION SAID THAT HE SUPPORTS YOU KNOW, THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE.

AND WILLIAMS, OF COURSE SAID HE SUPPORTS LIFE EXCEPT IN THE INSTANCE OF RAPE, INCEST AND WHEN THE LIFE OF THE MOTHER IS AT STAKE.

ON THE INFLATION QUESTION, CERTAINLY WILLIAMS BLAMED THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

MANNION, ON THE OTHER HAND, SAID IT HAD TO DO WITH COVID AND ITS IMPACT ON THE SUPPLY CHAIN AND YOU JUST GO TO SOME OF THE OTHER STUFF.

THE TAX POLICY.

WILLIAMS DEFENDED TRUMP'S REDUCTION OF THE CORPORATE TAX RATE; ALTHOUGH THIS IN RACE, MANNION DIDN'T EXACTLY SAY HE WOULD SUPPORT THE INCREASE THAT HARRIS IS PROPOSING.

ALL IN ALL, DON'T WANT TO SAY THERE IS NOTHING TO SEE HERE, BUT AS I SAID, YOU COULD HAVE PREDICTED IT WITHOUT HAVING WATCHED THE DEBATE, WHICH I DIDN'T.

I ACTUALLY SAW A REALLY EXCELLENT RECOUNT AND TRANSCRIPTS OF IT.

THE ONLY OTHER THING I WOULD ADD, AND I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR SOME OTHER THOUGHTS ON THIS, IS WILL THESE TWO CANDIDATES, NEITHER OF THEM HAVE MANAGED TO ATTAIN THE KIND OF HOUSEHOLD NAME RECOGNITION THAT THEIR PREDECESSORS ON BOTH SIDES DO.

I MEAN WE STILL REMEMBER DAN MAFFEI.

YOU MENTIONED ANTHONY BRINDISI AND ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, JOHN KATKO AND ANN MARIE BUERKLE WE ARE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO THESE FOLKS ARE.

>> AND WILLIAMS FOR THE FIRST TERM OF HIS OFFICE, HE HAS ONLY BEEN IN OFFICE FOR ONE TERM, DIDN'T SEEM LIKE HE WAS AROUND A LOT.

THAT'S ONE OF THE CRITICISMS.

I WANTED TO ASK YOU, JENNY, NINA LISTED A WHOLE NUMBER OF THE ISSUES.

WHAT ISSUES SEEMS TO RESONATE WITH THE VOTERS?

>> RIGHT.

SO IT WAS NOTEWORTHY DURING THE DEBATE, THERE WAS BACK AND FORTH WITH REGARD TO THE QUESTION OF WILLIAMS' STANCE ON ABORTION.

I AM NOT REGISTERED WITH EITHER POLITICAL PARTY, BUT I SIGNAL TO BOTH POLITICAL PARTIES THAT I'M ENGAGED WITH THEM THROUGH LITTLE CONTRIBUTIONS SO THAT I GET ALL OF THE COMMUNICATIONS, ESPECIALLY THE MAILERS.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS I'M CURRENTLY GETTING ARE MAILERS FROM THE MANNION CAMPAIGN ATTACKING WILLIAMS FOR ADVOCATING FOR A FEDERAL BAN ON ABORTION.

AND AT THE DEBATE, WE SAW THAT WAS SOMETHING WILLIAMS PUSHED BACK ON.

I'M NOW GETTING MAILERS THAT ARE CORRECTING THE RECORD THAT WILLIAMS DOES SUPPORT ABORTION IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE IS SOME-- I GUESS WHAT IT SAYS TO ME IS THAT FOR UNDECIDED VOTERS, OR THOSE WHO ARE AT LEAST INDEPENDENT,, THEY ARE UP FOR GRABS IN THE ELECTION.

SO BOTH PARTIES SEE THIS AS AN IMPORTANT WEDGE ISSUE TO TRY TO DRAW VOTERS TO THEM.

>> TARA.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SURPRISED ME ABOUT THE DEBATE WAS THE ECONOMIC DISCUSSION.

AND TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, HOW LITTLE OF THE DEBATE REALLY DID DEAL WITH CENTRAL NEW YORK.

IT MAINLY DEALT WITH NATIONAL ISSUES.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I BELIEVE IT WAS WILLIAMS BROUGHT UP THAT HE HAD BROUGHT MILLIONS TO CENTRAL NEW YORK, BUT HE DIDN'T REALLY EXPLAIN HOW HE BROUGHT MILLIONS TO CENTRAL NEW YORK.

MANNION TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW,, MICRON.

AND YOU WOULD THINK THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A PLACE THAT WILLIAMS WOULD HAVE PERHAPS PUSHED BACK A LITTLE BIT AND SAID YES, WE HAVE THIS WONDERFUL MICRON DEAL.

BUT HOW SOON WILL IT IMPACT ALL OF CENTRAL NEW YORK?

IT'S IMPACTING PARTS BUT NOT ALL OF IT.

I WAS SURPRISED THERE WASN'T A BETTER DISCUSSION OF ECONOMICS IN CENTRAL NEW YORK.

THE OTHER THING THAT SURPRISED ME, AND THEY WERE ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT POVERTY IN CENTRAL NEW YORK, AND WE'VE DISCUSSED ON THIS SHOW, THE POVERTY RATE HERE IN CENTRAL NEW YORK AND, YOU KNOW, AND HOW BAD IT IS.

AND IT WAS ALMOST, I WOULD SAY ALMOST LIKE A FLUFFY CONVERSATION.

I WAS REALLY SURPRISED THERE WASN'T MORE SERIOUS DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT IS A MAJOR ISSUE HERE AND CERTAINLY HAS AN ECONOMIC IMPACT.

>> YEAH, I WOULD SAY THAT I TOOK A LITTLE BIT MORE AWAY FROM HAVING READ THE TRANSCRIPTS AND ONE IS THAT WILLIAMS WAS VERY CLEAR IN SUPPORTING SCHOOL CHOICE.

AND HE HAS A HISTORY OF SUPPORTING SCHOOL VOUCHERS, NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH BECAUSE HIS OWN FAMILY HAS HOME SCHOOLED HIS DAUGHTER.

BUT I THINK SORT OF THE FLUFFINESS WAS ON THE SIDE OF MANNION, WHO SAID THAT HE WANTS MORE FUNDING FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

WELL, WHO DOESN'T WANT THAT.

BUT THEY WERE BOTH, I THINK, RELATIVELY SMART IN CONNECTING THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION TO POVERTY.

IF I COULD JUST SAY ONE OTHER THING.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE FOR THE NEXT DEBATE MORE CONVERSATION ABOUT WHO THEY ARE AS INDIVIDUALS BECAUSE WE ALREADY KNOW THEY'RE BOTH GOING TO TOW THE PARTY LINE AND I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR WILLIAMS AT A LOCAL CHURCH AND I WAS REALLY TAKEN BACK BY HIS PRESENTATION OF HIMSELF, HIS BELIEFS AND HOW SINCERE HE SEEMED.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE OF THAT BESIDE SAYING WHAT WE EXPECT THEM TO SAY.

>> SPEAKING OF THE NEXT DEBATE, THAT WILL BE TUESDAY OCTOBER 8.

AND YOU CAN WATCH IT RIGHT HERE ON WCNY AT 8 P.M.

THE BIG NATIONAL DEBATE OF COURSE WAS BETWEEN CANDIDATES TO BE VICE PRESIDENT.

VICE-PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES USUALLY DON'T MATTER VERY MUCH.

THE ONLY THING I REMEMBER FROM FOUR YEARS AGO IS THE FLY ON MIKE PENCE'S HEAD.

BUT IN A PRESIDENTIAL RACE THIS CLOSE, WITH AN ELDERLY CANDIDATE, MAYBE MAKING A GOOD IMPRESSION ON VOTERS WILL MAKE THE DIFFERENCE.

AND SO, JENNY, DID J.D.

VANCE ACCOMPLISH THAT?

DID HE MAKE A GOOD IMPRESSION?

>> I THINK HE DID MAKE A GOOD IMPRESSION.

SOMETHING THAT NINA SAID ABOUT THE '22ARACE APPLIES AT THE VICE PRESIDENTIAL LEVEL WHEN THE PUBLIC IS MAKING DECISIONS ON WHOM TO VOTE, THE FIRST FACTOR IS THE CHARACTER FACTOR.

THEY'RE THINKING ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THE PERSON WHO IS APPEALING TO THEM FOR THEIR VOTE IS SOMEBODY THEY WANT TO GIVE THEIR VOTE TO.

SO DO THEY LIKE THEM?

DO THEY SEE THEM AS BEING A GOOD REPRESENTATIVE?

DO THEY FEEL THAT THEY WILL REPRESENT THEIR INTERESTS?

DO THEY GET THE ORDINARY PERSON?

THOSE THINGS ARE REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT TO THE PUBLIC'S DECISION MAKING AROUND WHO TO VOTE FOR.

OF COURSE PARTY IS TIED UP IN THAT.

BUT THE PERSONALITY AND THE CHARACTER MATTERS.

AND I THOUGHT VANCE DID AN EXCELLENT JOB.

I WATCHED HIM DURING THE CONVENTION SPEECH WHEN HE INTRODUCED HIMSELF BACK IN JULY, AND HE WAS EXTRAORDINARILY EFFECTIVE AS A PUBLIC SPEAKER AND THAT TRANSLATED VERY CLEARLY AS WELL IN THE DEBATE PERFORMANCE.

I THOUGHT HE MADE A VERY CLEAR AND COMPELLING ARGUMENT AROUND THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY AND THE PROBLEM WITH FAIR TRADE AND HOW IT HURTS ORDINARY PEOPLE, WORKING CLASS PEOPLE AND TAKES JOBS AWAY.

WALZ, ON THE OTHER HAND, I THOUGHT DID AN ABYSMAL JOB OF MAKING A CLEAR ARGUMENT FOR THE ECONOMIC POLICIES THAT THEY'RE ADVANCING.

IT'S A THEME I CONTINUE TO SEE FOR THE DEMOCRATIC TICKET; THEIR INABILITY TO CLEARLY ARTICULATE HOW THEY'RE GOING TO HELP THE ECONOMIC SITUATION FOR SO MANY.

YOU KNOW, BACK TO WHAT TARA SAID, THE ECONOMY MATTERS GREATLY.

AND THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

>> TARA, YOU MENTIONED IN THE MANNION DEBATE ABOUT HOW HE TALKED ABOUT SUPPLY CHAIN AND COVID AS REASONS FOR INFLATION.

AND IN THE VICE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE, WALZ DIDN'T DO THAT.

HE KIND OF LET IT, YOU KNOW, LET THE CHARGE STICK THAT WELL, YOU GUYS CAUSED INFLATION.

>> ABSOLUTELY, AND THAT WAS ONE OF HIS BIG FAILINGS, WAS, AS YOU CORRECTLY STATED, HE WAS UNABLE TO ARTICULATE, YOU KNOW, A: WHAT THE DEMOCRATS HAVE DONE AND B: WHAT THEIR PLAN IS.

EVERY TIME HE ATTEMPTED IT, IT WAS ALMOST AS IF HE, IN HIS HEAD, HE COULDN'T GET HIT FACTS STRAIGHT SO HE WAS HESITANT TO GO FORWARD.

>> NINA.

>> YEAH, BUT YET I'M GOING TO DISAGREE A LITTLE BIT WITH BOTH OF YOU IN THE SENSE THAT GOING INTO THIS, IT WAS REALLY J.D.

VANCE WHO HAD TO PERFORM BETTER BECAUSE HE, YOU KNOW, HE HAD MADE SOME HUGE GAFFS AND I'M STILL NOT OVER THE, WHAT IS IT CHILDLESS CAT LADY.

>> WHICH NEVER CAME UP IN THE DEBATE.

>> I'LL SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.

AS THE POLLS HAVE SHOWN POST DEBATE, HE BENEFITED MORE THAN WALZ WHEN THOSE WHO WATCHED THE DEBATE WERE ASKED WHO SEEMED TO GIVE A BETTER IMPRESSION OF THEMSELVES.

VANCE HAD MOVED UP.

HOWEVER, WHEN IT CAME TO THE QUESTION OF WHO, AFTER WATCHING THE DEBATE, IT SEEMED, WOULD BE BETTER AS PRESIDENT, WERE THAT TO BECOME NECESSARY, THEN IT WAS CLEARLY WALZ WHO RAN AWAY WITH IT.

BUT AS TO THE OVERALL IMPACT OF VICE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES, THEY RARELY HAVE HAD MUCH IMPACT OVER THE PAST SIX PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CYCLES.

THERE IS ONLY ONE WHERE THERE WAS, AND THAT WAS BACK IN 2000 WITH CHENEY AND JOE LIEBERMAN AND THAT MOVEMENT WAS IN FAVOR OF THE BUSH CAMPAIGN BUT ONLY BY 1.2 PERCENTAGE POINTS.

HERE IS WHERE I THINK THERE WAS EVEN AT THE TABLE, THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT SUBSTANCE.

MORE OF THAT, PLEASE.

>> THIS IS A DEBATE WOULD I ASSIGN TO MY STUDENTS.

YES THERE WERE INACCURACIES OR MISLEADING STATEMENTS BUT FOR THE MOST PART THERE WAS A POLICY DISCUSSION AND PEOPLE DISAGREED WITHOUT BEING DISAGREEABLE.

I THINK FROM A STRATEGIC POSITION, THE REASON WE DIDN'T SEE BOTH ATTACK EACH OTHER AS MUCH AS WE MIGHT HAVE WANTED HERE IS BECAUSE THEY'RE BOTH TRYING TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES AND BUILD THEIR NATIONAL PROFILE.

THEY DON'T HAVE THAT, LIKE SOME OF THE OTHER PEOPLE YOU JUST MENTIONED, IN PREVIOUS VICE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES.

SO IF YOU COME OUT AND MOST AMERICANS DON'T KNOW YOU WELL AND YOU START ATTACKING YOUR OPPONENT FOR AN HOUR, THAT'S NOT A WAY TO BUILD A GOOD IMPRESSION.

SO I THINK THAT HELPS EXPLAIN WHY THERE WERE SOME LIMITATIONS THERE ON BOTH SIDES.

>> JUST AS YOU SAID THAT, I WAS THINKING OF TIM KAINE LAST TIME WHEN HE WAS AN ATTACK DOG.

WHAT ABOUT THE MEDIA?

HOW DID CBS DO?

THEY SAID THEY WEREN'T GOING TO FACT CHECK, AND THEY LIGHTLY DID.

BUT EVEN THE FACT THAT THEY SAID THAT UP FRONT, ARE THEY SORT OF BENDING TO THIS MOVEMENT NOW THAT NO, JUST LET US TALK.

>> I THINK THAT'S A HUGE ISSUE WHEN CANDIDATES, POLITICAL ACTORS SAY THINGS THAT ARE FACTUALLY INCORRECT, AND THEY'RE NOT CORRECTED.

AND IF THERE IS GOING TO BE A CORRECTION THAT HAS ANY EFFECT, IT HAS TO HAPPEN IN THE MOMENT.

SO AFTER THE FACT THE CORRECTIONS THAT MEDIA COME OUT WITH TEND TO NOT MAKE MUCH DIFFERENCE FOR THE PUBLIC.

BUT THOSE IN THE MOMENT, WHEN CANDIDATES SAY THINGS THAT ARE FALSE, GETTING CORRECTED ACTUALLY WILL HELP THE PUBLIC BETTER UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES.

AND SO THIS "WE ARE NOT GOING TO FACT CHECK IN THE MOMENT," I THINK, IS REALLY PROBLEMATIC.

I ALSO REALLY DISLIKE THE FALSE EQUIVALENCY.

SO WHEN WALZ MISSPOKE ABOUT BEING AT TIENANMEN SQUARE, THAT'S A MISSTATEMENT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS ABOUT.

THAT'S NOT THE SAME FALSE STATEMENT AS DONALD TRUMP WON THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

THAT IS HUGELY CONSEQUENTIAL FOR OUR REPUBLIC, AND THAT NEEDS MUCH MORE ATTENTION.

>> AND THE QUESTION ABOUT THAT LED TO THAT POINT ABOUT DEMOCRACY WAS THE VERY LAST THING, WHICH SEEMED LIKE A PRETTY IMPORTANT POINT TO BRING UP.

>> A DELICATE BALANCE.

I FEEL FOR MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS PARTICULARLY THE PEOPLE DOING THE DEBATES BECAUSE YOU DON'T-- THEY DON'T WANT TO MAKE THEMSELVES THE CENTER OF THE ATTENTION.

SO, YES, IN AN IDEAL WORLD, I WOULD WANT THEM TO SERVE THE GOVERNMENT WATCHDOG ROLE AND FACT CHECK PEOPLE BUT THE REALITY IS YOU HAVE TO DO IT SPARINGLY OR YOU DISTORT THE OVERALL NATURE OF THE DEBATE.

>> I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT.

AND MY PROBLEM IS THIS: THAT IT IS VERY DIFFICULT, IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE, TO DO IT CONSISTENTLY.

AND THE QUESTION OF WHAT CONSTITUTES A MAJOR LIE VERSUS A SMALL LIE, AND WHAT IS AN IMPORTANT ONE VERSUS ONE THAT IS NOT.

THAT IS REALLY IN THE EYES OF THE BEHOLDER.

I WOULD MUCH RATHER LEAVE IT TO THE CANDIDATES TO PRESENT THEIR POSITIONS, AND LET THE PUBLIC MAKE UP ITS OWN MIND AS TO WHETHER OR NOT IT WAS ACCURATE.

>> OKAY.

NEW YORK CITY HAS SEEN ITS SHARE OF POLITICAL SCANDALS OVER THE YEARS, BUT NOTHING QUITE LIKE WHAT IT HAS NOW.

MAYOR ERIC ADAMS, A FORMER POLICEMAN, HAS BEEN INDICTED FOR BRIBERY, WIRE FRAUD AND SOLICITING ILLEGAL FOREIGN CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS THE CASE THE CASE RUNS FROM HIS TIME AS THE BROOKLYN BOROUGH PRESIDENT TO HIS TERM IN GRACIE MANSION.

SEVERAL OF HIS CLOSE AIDES AND CITY OFFICIALS ARE UNDER FBI INVESTIGATION.

ADAMS INSISTS HE IS INNOCENT.

GOVERNOR HOCHUL HAS THE AUTHORITY TO REMOVE ADAMS FROM OFFICE.

SO, TARA, SHOULD SHE EXERCISE THAT POWER?

>> NOT AT THIS TIME.

BASICALLY HE HAS BEEN INDICTED.

HE HASN'T BEEN FOUND GUILTY.

HE IS ENTITLED TO HIS DAY IN COURT.

NOW THE BIGGER ARGUMENT IS, IS HE GOING TO BE ABLE TO BE AN EFFECTIVE MAYOR WHILE HE IS HAVING HIS DAY IN COURT?

AND THAT IS WHERE MANY OF THOSE WHO ARE URGING THE GOVERNOR TO GO AHEAD AND BASICALLY REMOVE HIM FROM OFFICE, THAT'S THEIR ARGUMENT, IS THAT HE CAN'T BE EFFECTIVE BECAUSE HE WILL BE FOCUSED ON THESE INDICTMENTS.

SO RIGHT NOW, I DON'T THINK SO.

BUT AS THIS PROGRESSES, AS MORE INFORMATION COMES OUT, SHE NEEDS TO RETAIN THAT OPTION.

>> WELL, IF WE ARE WAITING FOR MORE INFORMATION, EVEN IF MORE INFORMATION COMES OUT, HE IS STILL INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY.

>> TECHNICALLY HE IS.

BUT THAT PRINCIPLE HAS PRETTY MUCH BEEN LOST IN SO MUCH BUT I HOPE THE GOVERNOR STICKS TO IT THAT HE IS INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY.

BUT I WOULD AGREE WITH TARA THAT THIS IS THE MAYOR OF A MAJOR CITY THAT HAS MAJOR ISSUES, LOW PERFORMING SCHOOLS HISTORICALLY LOW PERFORMING SCHOOLS.

A POLICE OFFICER SHORTAGE, MIGRANT CRISIS AND OTHER MAJOR ISSUES.

AND THE ONLY REAL POWER THAT AN EXECUTIVE HAS IS THE POWER TO PERSUADE OTHERS TO DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

AND PART OF THAT RESTS IN THE INTEGRITY OF THE EXECUTIVE HIM OR HERSELF.

SO I THINK SOME OF THAT HAS BEEN ERODED.

BUT HAVING SAID EVERYTHING I DID ABOUT INNOCENT UNTIL BEING PROVEN GUILTY, THERE IS QUITE A BIT OF A SMOKING GUN HERE BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH IT WAS STAFF MEMBERS WHO WERE PASS AGO LONG THESE EMAILS AND TEXTS SO THAT HE DOESN'T HAVE HIS HANDS ON THE ACTUAL EVIDENCE, IT'S HARD FOR ME TO IMAGINE THAT HE WASN'T AWARE THAT YOU HAVE THESE LAVISH FIRST CLASS SEATS, LAVISH HOTEL ROOMS, AND AS A PERSON WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR TAXPAYER MONEY, YOU OUGHT HAVE BEEN ASKING WHERE IS THIS MONEY COMING FROM AND IF IT'S COMING FROM TAXPAYERS, WE SHOULDN'T BE SPENDING THIS MUCH MONEY.

SIT IN COACH.

>> NO FIRST CLASS SEATS.

>> MY CONCERN IS WITH THE REALITY WE SEEM TO FIND OURSELVES IN THAT FOREIGN AGENTS ARE TRYING TO INFLUENCE THE POLITICIANS, NOT JUST AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL NOW BUT NOW AT THE LOCAL LEVEL WITH MUNICIPALITIES.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT WORRIES ME A LOT THAT WE ARE SEEING THIS SORT OF INFLUENCE PEDDLING HAPPENING BY COUNTRIES AROUND THE GLOBE.

AND IF IT'S HAPPENING IN NEW YORK, WHERE ELSE IS IT HAPPENING?

>> LUKE?

>> I THINK HOCHUL IS IN A DIFFICULT POSITION.

OBVIOUSLY YOU DON'T WANT SOMEONE WITH MULTIPLE CORRUPTION ALLEGATIONS RUNNING THE LARGEST CITY IN THE COUNTRY, AND SHE IS THE ONLY ONE WITH THE POWER TO REMOVE HIM.

ONE OF THE CHALLENGES IS EVEN THOUGH I THINK THERE IS LITTLE DOUBT ACROSS THE BOARD THAT ADAMS ENGAGED IN INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR, WHETHER IT'S GOING TO MEET THE LEGAL STANDARD AND HE IS GOING TO BE CONVICTED OF THESE THINGS.

YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THE COURTS HAVE MADE IT HARDER TO CONVICT ELECTED OFFICIALS OF CORRUPTION.

IT'S NO SLAM DUNK THAT HE IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE CONVICTED EVEN THOUGH MOST PEOPLE THINK HE DID THESE THINGS.

I THINK SHE IS DOING THE RIGHT THING TO NOT REMOVE HIM, AND INSTEAD WHAT SHE IS DOING IS MAKING SURE HE IS REMOVING EVERYBODY ELSE AROUND HIM WHO IS ENTANGLED IN THESE THINGS, AND THAT'S WHERE BEHIND THE SCENES SHE HAS BEEN EXERCISING POWER.

>> HERE IS THE OTHER THING SHE HAS TO THINK ABOUT IS THE POTENTIAL IMPACT ON THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

BECAUSE HE HAS GONE AFTER BIDEN AND ACCUSED THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION OF SORT OF COMING UP WITH THIS PROSECUTION, SIMPLY BECAUSE HE CRITICIZED THEM.

SO LET'S SEE WHERE THAT GOES.

>> OKAY.

WE'LL LEAVE THAT RIGHT THERE.

AND WE WILL MOVE TO OUR AS AND Fs, AND NINA, THAT MEANS YOUR F. >> AN F TO THE CROWD THAT CHEERED AS FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP CALLED FOR VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS TO BE IMPEACHED AND PROSECUTED FOR WHAT HE CALLED THE QUOTE UNQUOTE INVASION AT THE U.S. MEXICO BORDER.

I'VE SAID IT BEFORE AND I WILL SAY IT AGAIN: THE GRAPHMAN OF THE PROBLEM WITH TRUMP AND HIS NASTY DIVISIVE BRAND OF POLITICS ARE THE PEOPLE WHO CHEER HIM ON.

>> MINE IS A VERY SIMILAR THEME.

MY F GOES TO LAURA LOOMER AND THE RIGHT WING POLITICAL INFLUENCERS MANIPULATING THE PUBLIC BY USING A.I.

TO GENERATE FAKE VICTIMS OF HURRICANE.

CREATING A FALSE NARRATIVE THAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ISN'T HELPING WITH DISASTER RELIEF AND DOING SO TO BOOST DONALD TRUMP'S ALTERNATIVE REALITY THAT NO OTHER GOVERNMENT BUT HIS WILL HELP PEOPLE.

IT'S TIME TO DRAW A LINE IN THE SAND AND UPHOLD PEOPLE, INCLUDING POLITICAL INFLUENCERS TO PRINCIPLE OF INTEGRITY AND HONESTY.

>> TARA, YOUR F. >> MY F GOES TO POLISH AIRLINES WHO ENFORCED THE PASSENGER FRANK GARDNER TO CRAWL TO THE BATHROOM BECAUSE HIS WHEELCHAIR COULD NOT BE BROUGHT TO THE PLANE.

WHILE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR MOST AIRLINES, THE BIGGER ISSUE IS THE FAILURE OF AIRLINES TO ACCOMMODATE PEOPLE WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES.

>> LUKE.

>> MY F GOES TO THREE MILE ISLAND.

THEY'RE SEEKING OVER A BILLION DOLLARS IN FEDERAL SUPPORT TO REOPEN.

THIS IS THE SITE OF THE WORST NUCLEAR ACCIDENT IN AMERICAN HISTORY THAT COMBINED DESIGN.

FLAW, MACHINE FAILURE.

THE ENERGY DEPARTMENT SHOULD REJECT THIS APPLICATION.

>> AND TIME FOR THE As.

>> I'M GIVING AN A TO THE WASHINGTON POST EDITORIAL BY KATHLEEN PARKER IN WHICH SHE LAID OUT THE FACTS ABOUT LATE-TERM ABORTION; THAT THEY ARE REAL, THAT NINE STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA DO ALLOW ABORTION NO MATTER WHAT THE AGE OF THE FETUS AND AS KATHLEEN WROTE, "THIS BASICALLY MEANS UP TO THE MOMENT OF BIRTH."

WE COULD USE TRUTH.

THIS IS NINA SPEAKING.

WE COULD USE MORE TRUTH ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

>> JENNY.

>> MY A GOES TO ALL THE GOOD PEOPLE ADOPTING PETS IN NEED.

SO THE PHOTO YOU ARE SEEING IS HERMAN.

HE WAS ADOPTED THIS WEEK FROM HELPING HOUNDS, A LOCAL ANIMAL RESCUE.

THERE IS SADLY DRAMATIC RISE IN THE NUMBER OF ANIMALS IN SHELTERS AND WHO ARE BEING EUTHANIZED.

SO TO ALL OF YOU WHO OPEN YOUR HEARTS AND YOUR HOMES TO THESE HAPPY BEASTS, THANK YOU, AND DON'T FORGET TO SPAY AND NEUTER YOUR PETS.

>> AND TARA ARE YOUR A.

>> MY A GOES TO FORMER PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER FOR HIS LIFETIME OF SERVICE AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL AND MOST IMPORTANTLY FOR ALL OF HIS MUTUAL ACTIVITIES.

-- ALL OF HIS HUMANITARIAN ACTIVITIES.

>> AND LUKE.

>> MY A GOES TO THE BASEBALL CAREER OF PETE ROSE WHO DIED THIS WEEK.

THERE HAS BEEN AN EXTENDED DEBATE WITHIN THE "THE IVORY TOWER" FAMILY ON HOW TO VIEW PETE ROSE.

HE IS A CONTROVERSIAL FIGURE, AN ICONIC PLAYER.

23 SEASONS, 17 ALL STAR APPEARANCES FIVE DIFFERENT POSITIONS, THREE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, THREE BATTING TITLES, TWO GOLD GLOVES ONE M.V.P.

AND ALL TIME LEADER IN HITS.

>> I BELIEVE HE GAMBLED ON BASEBALL, DID HE NOT, LUKE.

>> HE DID.

>> THAT'S WHY-- >> I DIDN'T GIVE HIM AN A FOR THAT.

>> AND YOU LEFT IT OUT.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> JENNY, THE A.I.

IMAGE YOU MENTIONED ON THE F, THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM AND IT IS NOT JUST GOING TO BE PEOPLE ON THE RIGHT DOING IT.

I DON'T KNOW HOW WE ARE GOING TO DEAL WITH THIS IN THE FUTURE.

>> WE NEED LEGISLATION.

>> WITH THAT, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING.

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.