>> IS IT OR IS IT NOT?

QUID PRO QUO IS THE PHRASE OF THE WEEK.

UKRAINE, RUSSIA AND NATO•IS THIS THE BEGINNING OF A NEW WORLD ORDER?

AND ELON MUSK GOES AFTER THE FEDS.

STAY TUNED, "IVORY TOWER" IS NEXT.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO "IVORY TOWER."

I'M DAVID CHANATRY FROM UTICA UNIVERSITY.

I'M JOINED TONIGHT BY NINA MOORE FROM COLGATE UNIVERSITY, BEN BAUGHMAN FROM GANNON UNIVERSITY, LISA DOLAK FROM THE COLLEGE OF LAW AT SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY AND RICK FENNER FROM UTICA UNIVERSITY.

GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL HAS ANNOUNCED SHE WILL -NOT- REMOVE NEW YORK CITY MAYOR ERIC ADAMS FROM OFFICE, FOR NOW.

THE DECISION COMES AFTER THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE MOVED TO DISMISS ADAMS' INDICTMENT ON BRIBERY AND OTHER CHARGES.

THE PROSECUTOR OVERSEEING THE CASE ASSERTED THERE WAS A TRADE-OFF USED TO ENSURE THE MAYOR'S COOPERATION WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ON IMMIGRATION.

EIGHT FEDERAL PROSECUTORS RESIGNED RATHER THAN FILE TO DISMISS THE CASE.

DID HOCHUL MAKE THE RIGHT CALL?

>> IN TERM LIMITS OF NOT REMOVING HIM?

YES, I THINK SHE DID, ALTHOUGH WE CAN QUESTION FOR MOTIVES IN DOING SO BUT I THINK SHE MADE THE RIGHT DECISION.

IT'S AN EXTRAORDINARY MEASURE THAT HAS NEVER BEFORE BEEN INVOKED IN THE HISTORY OF NEW YORK.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY UNLIKELY HE IS GOING TO BE RE-ELECTED.

HE IS ONLY GOING TO BE MAYOR FOR ANOTHER 10 MONTHS AND FRANKLY, TO THE EXTENT HIS FEALTY TO TRUMP EXTENDS TO COOPERATION ON IMMIGRATION, YOU KNOW, MANY PEOPLE IN NEW YORK CITY, I THINK, SUPPORT THAT.

AND BY THE WAY, THAT HAS BEEN HIS VIEW ALL ALONG.

SO IT'S NOT-- THAT THAT UNDERMINE THE QUID PRO QUO ARGUMENT.

AND TO THE EXTENT THE FEALTY TO TRUMP EXTENDS TO OTHER THINGS AND UNDERMINES THE INTERESTS OF PEOPLE OF NEW YORK CITY, YOU KNOW, SHE IS ASKING OR ATTEMPTING TO TAKE MEASURES THAT WOULD SORT OF REIN IN HIS POWERS AND SUPERVISION OF HIS MANAGEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCES.

>> THAT'S QUITE A STEP FOR A GOVERNOR.

>> IT IS.

BUT I THINK IF SHE DOES ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, SHE LOOKS EVEN WEAKER THAN SHE ALREADY LOOKS.

>> NINA.

>> YEAH, I THINK THAT ALL OF THE THREE SORT OF STORY LINES OUT THERE CAN BE TRUE AT THE SAME TIME.

I THINK THERE IS EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST THAT, IN FACT, ADAMS DID COMMIT THE CRIMES THAT HE HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH BY THE BIDEN D.O.J.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THE IDEA THAT HE SOMEHOW CAME AROUND TO OPPOSING IMMIGRATION OR TAKING A CONSERVATIVE STANCE BECAUSE OF TRUMP IS COUNTERFACTUAL.

I MEAN IT'S DEMONSTRABLY UNTRUE.

IN 2022, HE WAS VERY PUBLIC IN CRITICIZING BIDEN FOR NOT DOING MORE TO HELP WITH THE OVER 110,000 ASYLUMS WHO HAVE GONE TO NEW YORK AND THIS IS WHAT HE SAID AND I'M QUOTING, "I BELIEVE THE WHITE HOUSE IS WRONG" TAKING ABOUT BIDEN.

THEN HE TOOK HIS FOUR-DAY TRIP TO THE BORDER AND FINALLY THIS IS WHAT HE SAID.

HE SOUNDED THE ALARM.

IN 2023, SAYING THAT THE IMMIGRANT CRISIS WILL DESTROY NEW YORK CITY.

SO THE IDEA THAT SOMEHOW HE HAS COME TO THAT POSITION NOW IS CLEARLY NOT IN LINE.

BUT THERE COULD ALSO, THIRDLY, BE A QUID PRO QUO EXCEPT HIS QID WOULD BE THE SAME AS TRUMP'S QUO FOR THE REASONS I JUST STATED.

>> HE WAS PRETTY OBVIOUSLY LOBBYING FOR A PARDON.

>> ACCORDING TO DANIELLE SASOON, THAT'S WHAT HIS LAWYERS DID.

REPEATEDLY SAID, YOU DO THIS FOR ME, I WILL DO THIS FOR YOU.

THE FACT THAT I MIGHT BE IN SUPPORT OF YOU IN THE PAST BUT NOW I'M CLEARLY SAYING YOU WANT ME TO DO THIS, YOU DO THIS FOR ME, THAT LEADS TO THE QUID PRO QUO.

BUT I AGREE WITH LISA.

I THINK AT THIS POINT FOR HOCHUL TO REMOVE HIM FROM OFFICE WOULD BE COUNTERPRODUCTIVE.

I DO WORRY ABOUT A COUPLE OF THINGS THOUGH.

1: WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN OVER THE NEXT 10 MONTHS AS PEOPLE ARE FLEEING HIS ADMINISTRATION.

YOU KNOW, HE HAD FOUR MORE DEPUTY MAYORS PULL OUT OF THIS.

SO I THINK SHE HAS THE JUSTIFICATION, BUT I AGREE THAT IN THIS CASE SHE PROBABLY SHOULDN'T EXERCISE IT.

>> WE ALSO HAVE ANOTHER PART OF THIS ENTIRE STORY.

YOU MENTIONED DANIELLE SASSOON.

THERE ARE EIGHT PROSECUTORS WHO SAID WE ARE NOT GOING TO FILE TO DISMISS.

THERE IS RESISTANCE GOING ON IN THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

PERCEPTION IS REALITY.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE CAN SPECULATE ALL DAY LONG ABOUT GUILTY MIND, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS THEY HAD CHOICES AND THEY CHOSE THE CHOICE, WITHOUT PREJUDICE, OPTION, WHICH MEANS HE IS ON THE HOOK AND IF HE DOESN'T STAY IN LINE, THEY CAN JUST PUT THE CHARGES RIGHT BACK ON THE TABLE.

THEY COULD HAVE DONE WITH PREJUDICE, OR BECAUSE THIS WAS THE DEFENSE ATTORNEY IN WIN OF THE MOST RECENT CASES OUT OF MANHATTAN FOR TRUMP, I'M SURE THEY'RE STILL TALKING IN THE FIRST 100 DAYS THAT IT COULD HAVE JUST BEEN A PARDON, BUT HE IS ON THE HOOK.

SO PERCEPTION IS REALITY.

>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

BUT I THINK THE POLICE DETECTIVES HERE ARE VERY FRAUGHT.

AND THAT IS WHY HOCHUL IS MOVING VERY CAREFULLY.

THE FACT IS, I AGREE THAT I WOULD BE SURPRISED IF HE IS REEJECTED WHEN HIS TERM ENDS AT THE END OF THIS YEAR.

FOR THIS REASON, TWO-THIRDS OF NEW YORK CITY RESIDENTS SUPPORT THE REMOVAL.

HOWEVER, HERE IS WHAT HOCHUL HAS SORT OF INDICATED.

THAT IF SHE WERE TO GO EVEN HARDER AFTER ADAMS, THEN TRUMP IS GOING TO GO HARDER AFTER NEW YORK AND JUST THIS WEEK SEVERAL REALLY HUGE BLACK MINISTERS MET WITH HOCHUL TO DISCOURAGE HER FROM REMOVING HIM.

AND THEN FINALLY, THERE IS THE STATE CONSTITUTION, RIGHT?

WHICH REQUIRES THAT HE HAS DUE PROCESS.

SO DO DEMOCRATS REALLY WANT TO HAVE THIS BE THE HEADLINE NEWS AS OPPOSED TO THE STUFF THAT TRUMP IS DOING?

>> LISA, IN YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH THE LAW, HAVE YOU EVER COME ACROSS LETTERS OF RESIGNATION OF THE TONE OF THE ONES THAT WE SAW THIS PAST WEEK?

>> NO, I MEAN THEY WERE VERY I AM PASSIONED.

-- VERY IMPASSIONED.

I FULLY AGREE WITH BEN.

THE PROBLEM HERE IS WITHOUT PREJUDICE ASPECT OF.

THIS AND I THINK THAT'S THE ONLY GROUND ON WHICH THE JUDGE, WHO HASN'T YET RULED ON WHETHER HE WILL GRANT, AS OF THE TAPING OF THE SHOW, HABIT RULED WHETHER HE WILL GRANT THE MOTION TO DISMISS OR NOT.

THAT'S WHAT IS PROBLEMATIC.

THAT'S WHAT BEN SAID.

I DO THINK THAT IT'S POSSIBLE THAT IF THE JUDGE GIVES THEM ENOUGH TROUBLE OR LIKE DECLARES THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE AN EVIDENTIARY HEARING AND BRINGS SASOON, TRUMP MIGHT JUST PARDON HIM.

BUT ONE MORE THING, WHILE SHE SAID SHE WAS IN THE ROOM AND HEARD THE QUID PRO QUO, YOU KNOW, VERY PROMINENT LAWYERS IN BIG FIRMS PUT THEIR REPUTATION ON THE LINE BY WRITING TO THE SAME JUDGE TO SAY WE WERE IN THE ROOM, TOO.

>> EXACTLY, AND THAT IS SO KEY.

>> BUT THOSE LAWYERS WERE ADAMS LAWYERS, WERE THEY NOT?

THAT WROTE ALEX SPIRO WAS ONE?

>> IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO THEY WR.

THEY DIDN'T MAKE AN ARGUMENT ON ADAMS BEHALF.

THEY SAID THEY WERE WILLING TO GO UNDER OATH AND SAY THIS WASN'T SAID.

I THINK IT'S A MATTER OF CHARACTERIZATION.

I'M NOT CALLING DANIELLE SASOON A LIAR BY ANY MEANS, I'M JUST SAYING IF THERE IS ENOUGH OF A QUESTION... >> THIS HAS BEEN A HEAD-SPINNING WEEK IN TERMS OF AMERICA'S FOREIGN POLICY.

MOST IMMEDIATELY, PRESIDENT TRUMP HAD AN UNANNOUNCED 90-MINUTE PHONE CALL WITH VLADIMIR PUTIN.

THEN SECRETARY OF STATE MARCO RUBIO MET WITH RUSSIA'S REPRESENTATIVES TO DISCUSS UKRAINE.

WHAT CAME OUT OF THOSE TALKS SEEMED MORE LIKE A PARTNERSHIP WITH RUSSIA THAN PEACE NEGOTIATION.

VICE PRESIDENT VANCE DOWNPLAYED ANY THREAT FROM RUSSIA, WHILE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE PETE HEGSETH ALSO INDICATED THAT EUROPEAN DEFENSE WAS NO LONGER AN AMERICAN PRIORITY.

BEN, SHOULD WE PULL BACK OUR COMMITMENT TO EUROPE AND NATO?

IS THIS THE END OF THE POST-WAR ORDER?

>> SHOULD WE ARE ARE WE?

BECAUSE WE ARE, BY TONE, AT THE VERY LEAST, WITH RHETORIC, IT HAS BEEN CONSISTENT THAT IT IS AMERICA FIRST.

THERE HAS BEEN NO STRAYING FROM THAT.

THAT WAS WHAT HE CAMPAIGNED ON.

THAT IS WHAT PEOPLE VOTED FOR AND THAT IS WHAT HE IS SAYING.

NOW, WHERE WE GO FROM THERE, WE KNOW HE IS TRANSACTIONAL AND HE IS LOOKING TO GET SOMETHING IN RETURN FROM EVERYBODY.

THE ONE BIG PROBLEM THAT HE HAD AS THE 55th PRESIDENT, RIGHT, BAUGH HE IS THE 57th PRESIDENT NOW, WAS-- >> 47th.

>> RIGHT, ENTHUSIASM THANK YOU.

WAS THE FACT THAT AMERICA CONTRIBUTES THE MOST IN DEFENSE GLOBALLY.

AND THAT WAS BROUGHT UP IN MUNICH THIS WEEK WHERE J.D.

VANCE SAID IT'S AMERICA FIRST.

THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE.

YOU HAVE TO STEP UP.

WE ARE TIRED OF, YOU KNOW, OUR SPEECHES BEING SUPPRESSED AND OUR, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO SAY AND PUT OUT THERE AND YET WE ARE STILL CONTRIBUTING ALL OF THIS GLOBALLY.

>> I MIGHT ARGUE THAT, YOU KNOW, SELLING OUT UKRAINE AND MAKING THESE DEALS WITH PUTIN IS A SPECIFIC VIEW OF AMERICA FIRST.

I WOULD ARGUE THOSE THINGS ARE NOT NECESSARILY AMERICA FIRST.

THESE ARE TRUMP FIRST.

AND YOU KNOW, WITH PEOPLE LIKE MUSK GOING AND ALIGNING WITH ALTERNATIVE FOR GERMANY.

PLEASE DON'T CALL THAT AMERICA FIRST TO ME.

THIS IS REALLY MOVING US TO THE RIGHT, AWAY FROM DEMOCRACY AND FREEDOM AND MORE TOWARD AUTHORITARIANISM, AND SO I JUST BLANCHE AT THAT AMERICA FIRST BECAUSE IT MAKES IT SOUND LIKE THIS IS ALL FOR US AND IT CERTAINLY IS NOT.

>> WE BUILT A POSTWAR SECURITY STRUCTURE THAT HAS BEEN REMARKABLY EFFECTIVE AND HELP MAKE US PROSPEROUS.

>> AND THAT IS PART OF THE PROBLEM, NOT BUILDING DEFENSE OR SECURITY, BUT HERE IS WHAT THE AVERAGE AMERICAN SEES.

THAT THE EUROPEAN UNION CAN DO JUST AS MUCH AS THE U.S.

WHEN IT COMES TO PROTECTING THEIR OWN BACK-YARD.

CONSIDER THE SIZE OF THE E.U.

ECONOMY.

IT'S 20 TRILLION AND SECOND ONLY TO THE U.S.

WHICH IS AT 30 TRILLION.

ONE COULD GO SO FAR AS TO ARGUE THAT THE E.U.

COULD DO MORE CONSIDERING THE NATIONAL DEBT.

E.U.

'S NATIONAL DEBT IS $16 TRILLION WHICH IS LESS THAN HALF OF THE U.S.' $36 TRILLION BUT HERE IS THE OTHER THING.

DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE E.U.

IS IN A BETTER POSITION TO DO MORE THE U.S. HAS, IN FACT DN MUCH MORE THAN ANY OTHER COUNTRY INCLUDING THE E.U.

AS A WHOLE THAT'S WHAT AVERAGE AMERICANS SEE.

WHY NOT EVERYBODY PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE.

I FEEL LIKE I'M CHANNELING CHAD HERE.

>> THAT IS THE BOTTOM LINE.

THAT WE COULD GET SIDE TRACKED ON THE DEFINITION OF WHAT TRUMP MEANS BY AMERICA FIRST AND WHAT OTHER PEOPLE MEAN BY THAT.

BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THIS COULD BE A NEGOTIATING TACTIC TO GET THE EUROPEAN UNION TO STEP IT UP AND REARM AND CONTRIBUTE MORE TO NATO.

>> AND HE WAS QUITE-- I MEAN HE WAS QUITE EFFECTIVE IN THIS.

THIS IS ONE OF HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS FROM THE FIRST TERM IS THAT HE MOVED MORE COUNTRIES IN THE DIRECTION OF THE 2%, YOU KNOW,PERCENT OF GLD SPENDING ON DEFENSE.

I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE THAT AS OF 2024, YOU KNOW, CANADA STILL DOESN'T PAY 2%, SPAIN IS WOEFULLY BEHIND 2%.

PORTUGAL, ITALY, BELGIUM, LUXEMBOURG, SO I AGREE WITH YOU THAT THIS IS WHAT PEOPLE ARE SEEING.

THE OTHER THING IS IN TERMS OF-- LOOK WHAT VANCE AND TRUMP AND MUSK HAVE DONE THIS WEEK IS SHAMEFUL IN TERMS OF TURNING OUR BACK ON AN ALLY.

BUT THE NOTION THAT THIS WAR IN UKRAINE THAT WAS STARTED BY RUSSIA, LET'S BE CLEAR.

>> NOT IF YOU LISTEN TO WHAT TRUMP IS SAYING.

HE IS BLAMING UKRAINE.

>> LET'S BE CLEAR.

IT CAN'T GO ON FOREVER.

I MEAN IT CAN GO ON FOREVER BUT THE AMERICAN TAXPAYER IS WORRIED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE CONTINUING FUNDING AND SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE WITH ABSOLUTELY NO EFFORTS TO REACH A NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT.

>> AND WE HAVE TO ADMIT THOUGH, AND I'M WITH YOU HERE, RICK, THAT TRUMP'S APPROACH IS OVER THE TOP.

>> OF COURSE.

>> THE IDEA THAT YOU ARE CALLING ZELENSKYY A DICTATOR, A TRAITOR, WHATEVER THE DISPARAGING TERM WAS, I THINK IS A BIT MUCH.

BUT THE IDEA OF ASKING FOR THE FACT THAT HE ASKED FOR UKRAINE'S MINERALS IN EXCHANGE FOR GETTING MORE MONEY, THAT WAS FIRST PUT ON THE TABLE BY ZELENSKYY.

SO I THINK THE REPORTING AROUND THIS NEEDS TO BE MORE COMPREHENSIVE.

BUT ALSO WE NEED TO CONSIDER JUST NOT THAT IT'S TRUMP, BUT DOES IT MAKE SENSE?

AND THAT HAS BEEN HIS APPROACH.

HE IS DRIVEN BY, YOU KNOW, PROFIT.

THAT'S GOING TO BE THE GUIDING PRINCIPLE FOR EVERYTHING, BUT ALSO SOME OF THE STUFF MAKES SENSE.

>> NOW WE ARE A MONTH INTO THE NEW ADMINISTRATION AND ELON MUSK'S DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY IS SLICING THROUGH FEDERAL AGENCY AFTER AGENCY.

MUSK AND HIS TEAM APPEAR TO BE MAKING DECISIONS ON WHAT TO KEEP OR PURGE.

THEY OFFERED BUYOUTS TO ALL FEDERAL EMPLOYEES, AND SHUT DOWN FOREIGN AID.

HE'S GUNNING FOR THE CONSUMER PROTECTION FINANCE BOARD.

AND THOUSANDS OF PROBATIONARY EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN FIRED.

DEFENSE SPENDING MAY BE NEXT.

OVER THE YEARS THE DEFICIT HAS SKYROCKETED.

NOTHING ELSE HAS WORKED•MIGHT THIS ACTUALLY GET THE BUDGET UNDER CONTROL?

>> NO, THE THINGS THAT HE HAS CUT ARE RELATIVELY SMALL, MAYBE TWO TO $3 BILLION AND THEN YOU ADD IN THE NIH MONEY GETTING UP TO 6 TO 10 BILLION F. HE GOES AFTER THE DEFENSE BUDGET, YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT SOME SERIOUS MONEY, BUT OTHER THAN THAT, UNLESS YOU START ATTACKING THINGS LIKE MEDICARE AND SOCIAL SECURITY, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS.

BUT WE ARE IMPACTING PEOPLE'S LIVES AROUND THE WORLD AND HERE IN THE UNITED STATES WITH THE CUTS THAT WE HAVE HAD.

INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, IF THEY REALLY WANTED TO GO AFTER SAVING MONEY, AS THEY HAVE SAID, THE G.A.O.

HAS SAID THAT THERE IS MAYBE A QUARTER, MAYBE A HALF TRILLION DOLLARS IN FRAUD.

BUT ONE PERSON'S FRAUD IS ANOTHER PERSON'S PAYCHECK.

WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL THERE.

AND THERE ARE IMPROPER PAYMENTS.

THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT VERY CAREFUL.

BUT IF IT REALLY WAS ABOUT CUTTING THE SIDES OF GOVERNMENT OR BRINGING THE BUDGET UNDER CONTROL, THEN THE TAX GAP IS ABOUT HALF A TRILLION DOLLARS AS WELL.

THAT'S THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT OUR SYSTEM DOESN'T COLLECT.

AND HOW IS TRUMP GOING TO CALL FOR THAT.

HE IS CALLING TO CUTS TO THE I.R.S.

I'M NOT SYMPATHETIC TO THE CLAIM THAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT BUDGET-- >> SAVING MONEY DOESN'T SEEM TO BE REDUCING THE DEFICIT.

IT SEEMS TO PAY FOR THE UPCOMING EXTENSION OF THE TAX CUTS.

SO IS THIS REALLY ABOUT COST REDUCTION OR ABOUT RESTRUCTURING THE GOVERNMENT?

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S REALLY ABOUT THE LATTER AND IT'S ABOUT CLAIMING MORE AND MORE POWER FOR THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH AND PUSHING THE LIMITS AS FAR AS THEY CAN BE PUSHED.

BUT TO ADOPT NINA'S FRAME FROM A MOMENT AGO WITH REGARD TO THESE CUTS, WHAT THE AMERICAN CITIZEN SEES IS NOTHING EVER BEING DONE ABOUT SO CALLED FRAUD, WASTE AND DEBT AND DEFICIT.

AND SUDDENLY SOMETHING IS HAPPENING AND EVEN IF IT'S NOT-- EVEN IF THEY KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THAT WITHOUT TOUCHING MEDICARE OR SOCIAL SECURITY OR DEFENSE, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO MAKE A MINOR DEBT IN IT, THEY SEE SOMETHING.

AND SO BETWEEN CHAINSAW APPROACH , IF YOU WATCHED THE COVERAGE FROM CPAC OR SLEDGE HAMMER APPROACH AND THEN NOTHING, OF COURSE THE RIGHT ANSWER IS SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE.

BUT THE AMERICAN PUBLIC-- >> GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN CUT BEFORE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> REINVENTING GOVERNMENT, I THINK WAS CALLED DURING CLINTON.

THEY CUT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.

>> YOU READ MY MIND, DAVID.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WANT TO GO.

THAT I DON'T KNOW THAT THIS IS THE HILL THAT DEMOCRATS WANT TO DIE ON TO BASICALLY FIGHT FOR THE JOBS OF BUREAUCRATS WHEN YOU'VE GOT A PRESIDENT ELECTED IN PART ON THE PROMISE TO GO AFTER THE DEEP STATE AND FOLLOWING THE LEAD, AS YOU POINTED OUT, THE CLINTON DEMOCRATIC ADMINISTRATION THAT LED TO THE REDUCTION OF 282,000 FEDERAL JOBS.

SO WE ARE NOWHERE NEAR THAT AS RICK POINTED OUT.

HOWEVER, THIS IS WHAT I WILL SAY.

THOSE CUTS HAPPENED OVER A PERIOD OF EIGHT YEARS AND 96% OF THEM HAD TO DO WITH THE MILITARY'S CIVILIAN PERSONNEL.

HERE WE JUST SEE THIS, YOU KNOW, BULL IN A CHINA SHOP APPROACH THAT IS ERRATIC, THAT IS UNSTRATEGIC AND DOESN'T SEEM TO BE VERY CLEARLY CONNECTED TO WHAT WORKS.

THE REASON THERE WAS THE CUT DURING THE CLINTON AND GORE YEARS IN THE MILITARY IS BECAUSE OF THE END OF THE COLD WAR.

WHAT IS THE RATIONALE HERE?

WHAT IS DRIVING IT?

WE DON'T KNOW OTHER THAN WE NEED TO CUT, CUT, CUT, CUT.

>> THEY'VE ALSO FAILED AUDITS FOR SEVEN YEARS IN A ROW.

SO THERE IS SOME WASTEFUL SPENDING, AT LEAST-- I THINK THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FRAUD AND WASTEFUL SPENDING AND MISALLOCATION OF FUNDS.

SO BRINGING IN-- AND I CAN'T BELIEVE THERE IS NOT A MEME OR DEEP FAKE OF ELON MUSK ON A WRECKING BALL COMING IN AS MILEY CYRUS.

>> IT'S COMING.

I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE IT.

BUT THAT'S WHAT IS HAPPENING.

THEY ARE SHINING A SPOTLIGHT AT THE VERY LEAST IN SOME PEOPLE'S EYES, ON THE WASTEFUL MISMANAGEMENT OF TAXPAYER MONEY.

>> BUT WASTE IS-- >> WAIT UNTIL PEOPLE DON'T GET THEIR I.R.S.

REFUNDS ON TIME BECAUSE OF THE CUTS IN I.R.S.

WAIT UNTIL FARMERS ARE AFFECTED BY SOME OF THESE POLICIES.

RIGHT NOW THE PUBLIC IS IN FAVOR OF MANY OF THESE THINGS BECAUSE WE ARE-- IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE SAVING MONEY AND THERE IS NO IMPACT ON THEM.

BUT EVENTUALLY MANY OF THESE THINGS ARE GOING TO IMPACT INDIVIDUALS.

>> ONE PERSON'S WASTE MAY BE ANOTHER PERSON'S IMPORTANT PROGRAM.

>> SOMEBODY ELSE'S PAYCHECK.

SO THIS WILL... >> BUT THAT'S WHY I DON'T THINK DEMOCRATS SHOULD WAIT UNTIL THE BOOM LOWERS.

HOW ABOUT SPEND ALL OF YOUR ENERGY TALKING ABOUT THE LIKELY IMPACT IN VERY SPECIFIC WAYS NOW.

FIGHTING FOR FOLKS ACROSS THE GLOBE IS NOT GOING TO BE IT.

BUT SHOWING WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> WHAT DEMOCRATS?

WHERE ARE THEY?

I DON'T EVEN-- THEY'RE HARD TO FIND.

>> 100%.

>> QUICKLY ABOUT THIS IDEA OF CUTTING ALL PROBATIONARY EMPLOYEES.

I MEAN WHAT DOES THAT LEAD TO?

>> DISRUPTION?

>> IT'S EASY, THEY'RE PROBATIONARY, SO THEY HAVEN'T HAD ANY IMPACT TO BEGIN WITH.

THAT'S WHY THEY HAVEN'T BEEN HIRED PERMANENTLY.

YOU MADE IT WITHOUT THEM ALL THIS TIME.

>> I AGREE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE NOT GOING TO START TO REALLY START TO FEEL THE IMPACTS FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AND THEN MAYBE PEOPLE WILL BE FRUSTRATED BUT FOR NOW, PEOPLE DON'T SEEM TO BE UNHAPPY ABOUT IT.

>> THEY HAVEN'T FELT THE DISRUPTION YET.

>> IT HAS BEEN POLLING WELL, AS WE SAY.

CUT THE GOVERNMENT AND THE DEEP STATE, I GUESS.

WE NEED TO DO As AND EVES.

LET'S BEGIN WITH YOUR EV.

>> I'M GIVING AN EV TO THE INHUMANE TREATMENT OF HOMELESS PEOPLE IN MONTANA.

ACCORDING TO THE GUARDIAN, UNHOUSED PEOPLE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO SLEEP IN THEIR OWN CARS OR TO CARRY EXCESSIVE PERSONAL POSSESSIONS IN PUBLIC.

AND THEY'RE NOT EVEN PERMITTED IN THE CITY'S PARKS WHERE THERE ARE PUBLIC BATHROOMS AND ACCESS TO WATER AND ELECTRICITY.

THE WORST PART IS THAT THE CITY ALSO VOTED TO CLOSE A PRIVATE SHELTER THAT OFFERS BEDS TO ABOUT 1/6 OF THE CITY'S UNHOUSED POPULATION.

SHAME ON THEM.

>> MY F GOES TO THE TERRIBLE OPTICS WHAT WAS DECIDED TO DO WITH ONE OF THE CONVERSATIONS WE HAD WITH ERIC ADAMS AND I THINK THE REPUBLICAN HAGAN COMMENTS FROM PROBABLY THE BEST SUMMARIZED WAY OF DOING THIS.

HE SAID ANY PROSECUTOR THAT KNOWS THE LAWS AND TRADITIONS WOULD NOT ALLOW USING ENORMOUS POWER OF THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO LEAN ON ELECTED OFFICIALS.

AND THAT GOES BACK TO THAT PERCEPTION OF REALITY.

THIS IS NOT JUST A NOBODY.

THIS IS A RETIRED CAPTAIN WITH TWO MEDALS, GRADUATE TOP OF HIS CLASS FROM HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL SO THAT'S ONE OF THOSE EIGHT THAT LEFT THEIR JOB.

>> ONE OF THE PROSECUTORS WHO RESIGNED.

>> LISA, YOUR F. >> TO PRESIDENT TRUMP'S EFFORTS TO UNDO THE RECENT IMPLEMENTATION OF CONGESTION PRICING IN MANHATTAN.

IT'S ONLY BEEN IN EFFECT SINCE JANUARY 5 AND IN THAT TIME IT HAS WORKED REMARKABLY WELL REDUCING CONGESTION INCLUDING TRAVEL TIMES FOR BUSES AND EMERGENCY VEHICLES AND RAISING MUCH NEEDED REVENUES TO SUPPORT THE IMPROVEMENT OF MASS TRANSIT.

BUT TRUMP, IN ALL OF HIS ANTIPATHY TOWARDS HIS HOMETOWN IN PARTICULAR AND NEW YORK STATE IN GENERAL, JUST CAN'T LET IT ALONE.

SO MUCH FOR THE CONSERVATIVE IDEAL OF LIMITED FEDERAL INTERVENTION INTO STATE AND LOCAL MATTERS.

>> AND RICK.

>> THIS LAST WEEK, DONALD TRUMP POSTED ON TRUE SOCIAL AND X, HE WHO SAVES HIS COUNTRY DOES NOT VIOLATE ANY LAW.

IF THERE IS ANY QUESTION THAT DONALD TRUMP THINKS HE CAN DO ANYTHING, I THINK THIS SHOULD DISPEL IT.

DO THESE SOUND LIKE THE WORDS OF A PRESIDENT OR A DICTATOR?

>> AND TO THE AS.

NINA?

>> MY A GOES TO HONOR SMOKE, A YOUNG 10-YEAR-OLD STUDENT FROM THE TANAWANDA RESERVATION.

THE YOUNGEST PERSON TO APPEAR ON THE COVER OF A SPECIAL EDITION OF SPORTS ILLUSTRATED MANAGE SEEN.

SYRACUSE.COM SAID SHE WON HER FIRST PLACE DIFFICULT DIVISION IN LAST YEAR'S STATE CHAMPIONSHIP IN SYRACUSE.

BEFORE THAT SHE PLACED THIRD IN THE USA WRESTLING KIDS CHAMPIONSHIP.

THAT IS WHY I'M USING MY A TO HONOR HONOR.

>> AND BEN, YOUR A.

>> TO THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FOR DESIGNATING CARTELS AS GLOBAL TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS.

THEY HAVE BEEN UTILIZING SINCE THEN ACTIVELY USING INTELLIGENCE ASSETS TO COLLECT INFORMATION ABOUT THESE CARTELS, BOTH HERE DOMESTICALLY AND IN MEXICO.

AND TO PREPARE TO DISRUPT THEM.

>> AND LISA.

>> I READ SOME VERY GOOD ADVICE THIS WEEK IN A COLUMN BY SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY SENIOR GRAY REED IN THE DAILY ORANGE, THE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER RUN BY S.U.

STUDENTS.

AND SO I GIVE THEM MY A AND SHARE THE ADVICE.

READ ENCOURAGED READERS TO STEP BACK FROM SOCIAL MEDIA NETWORKS WITH ALL OF THEIR NEGATIVITY, DISINFORMATION AND MANIPULATION AND DETOX BY TAKING TIME TO REEMBRACE PHYSICAL MEDIA LIKE BOOKS, RECORDS AND C.D.s AND OTHER PHYSICAL WORKS OF ART.

>> AND RICK.

>> MY A, THIS PAST WEEK, THIS ENTIRE WINTER IS TOO MUCH FOR ME TO TAKE BUT TODAY THE YANKEES PLAYED BY FIRST SPRING TRAINING GAME SO EVEN MORE THAN THE FIRST ROBIN SIGHTING, SPRING IS ON ITS WAY.

>> SPRING IS COMING.

SPRING TRAINING.

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.